Safety Standards for Scaffolds Used in the Construction Industry

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hereby revises the construction industry safety standards which regulate the design, construction, and use of scaffolds. The final rule updates the existing scaffold standards and sets performance-oriented criteria, where possible, to protect employees from scaffold-related hazards such as falls, falling objects, structural instability, electrocution and overloading. In particular, the final rule has been updated to address types of scaffolds--such as catenary scaffolds, step and trestle ladder scaffolds, and multi-level suspended scaffolds--not covered by OSHA's existing scaffold standards. In addition, the final rule allows employers greater flexibility in the use of fall protection systems to protect employees working on scaffolds and extends fall protection to erectors and dismantlers of scaffolds to the extent feasible. Another area that the final rule strengthens is training for workers using scaffolds; the conditions under which such employees must be retrained are also specified in the final rule. Finally, the language of the rule has been simplified, duplicative and outdated provisions have been eliminated, overlapping requirements have been consolidated, and the performance orientation of the rule has been enhanced to allow employers as much flexibility in compliance as is consistent with employee protection.