An evaluation of scaffold safety at construction sites.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated common scaffold safety practices in construction.


METHODS
A 150-point checklist was used to evaluate supported scaffold safety practices at 113 scaffolds in nine areas of the eastern United States.


RESULTS
Thirty-six scaffolds (31.9%) were either in danger of collapse or missing planking, guardrails, or adequate access. There was a strong statistical correlation between structural flaws and fall protection hazards, and between proper scaffold safety practice and (a) competent persons with scaffold safety training, (b) use of separate scaffold erection contractors, and (c) scaffolds that were not simple frame types. A slightly weaker correlation was found with union status of the scaffold erector, and no correlation was found with geography, site size, number of scaffold users, and trade working on the scaffold.


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations are made for safer scaffold practice, including a simple four-factor scaffold inspection method.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of the four-factor method could result in a cost-effective way to identify unsafe scaffolds.
Halperin
Kopl M
KM
The Center to Protect Workers' Rights, 8484 Georgia Avenue, Ste. 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
McCann
Michael
M
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D014481:United States