Part 23 Protection in Construction, Demolition and Excavation Operations

Except in hard rock, whenever any excavation is to be performed in the vicinity of buildings, structures or utilities, the integrity, stability and structural adequacy of such buildings, structures or utilities shall be maintained at all times by the use of underpinning, sheet pi…

(a) Whenever any person is required to work in or is lawfully frequenting any trench or excavation five feet or more in depth which has sides or banks with slopes steeper than those permitted in Table I of this Subpart, such sides or banks shall be provided with sheeting and shor…

Ladders, stairways or ramps constructed in compliance with this Part (rule) shall be provided in every excavation more than three feet in depth for safe access and egress. Such ladders, stairways or ramps shall be installed in sufficient number and in such locations as to be read…

(a) Where any excavation is not protected by sloped sides or banks in compliance with Table I of this Subpart, any person in such excavation shall be protected by sheeting, shoring and bracing in compliance with Tables II, III and IV of this Subpart. Sizes of materials listed in …

The use of Tables III and IV shall be subject to the following requirements: (a) The sizes of members shown in Tables III and IV are the minimum requirements for timber bracing systems used in the sheeting and shoring of excavations. (b) Steel, aluminum or combinations of steel, …

The provisions of this Subpart pertaining to all scaffolds used in construction and demolition operations shall not be construed or applied in contravention of the special provisions pertaining to specific types of scaffolds hereinafter set forth. The footing or anchorage for eve…

(1) Every multiple-point suspension scaffold, including all its supports and fastenings, shall be designed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of New York. A copy of the typical drawings and all specifications, signed by such professional engineer, shall …

Needle beam scaffolds shall be used only for the support of persons performing riveting, plastering, painting and other similar work. Needle beam scaffolds shall not be used for the storage of materials. Wood needle beams shall not be less than four inches by six inches in size a…

Horse scaffolds shall not be constructed with more than two tiers of horses and the height of the working platforms of such scaffolds shall not exceed 10 feet. The footings for horses shall be level and secure against accidental movement in any direction. Where horse scaffolds ar…

Each supporting bracket of a carpenters' portable bracket scaffold shall consist of a triangular portable frame constructed of wood not less than two inches by three inches in cross-section or shall be constructed of metal of equivalent strength. The members of such brackets shal…

Bricklayers' square scaffolds shall not be used as heavy duty scaffolds. (1) The squares of bricklayers' square scaffolds shall not exceed five feet in width by five feet in height. The minimum sizes of members shall not be less than those specified in Table XIV of this Subpart. …

Lean-to scaffolds shall not be used or erected to a height exceeding 10 feet above the ground, grade or equivalent surface. Lean-to scaffolds shall be used only as light duty scaffolds. The spread between the legs of any lean-to scaffold, measured at the feet, shall be at least e…

The elevation of working platforms of trestle and extension trestle ladder scaffolds shall not exceed 20 feet above the ground, grade, floor or equivalent surface. Where the working platform of any trestle ladder scaffold is located more than 10 feet above the ground, grade, floo…

Ladder jack scaffolds shall not be used unless approved. Ladder jack scaffolds shall be used only as light duty scaffolds. The scaffold platform elevation of any ladder jack scaffold shall not be more than 20 feet above the floor or equivalent surface. Ladders used in the constru…

Scaffold platforms for manually-propelled mobile scaffolds shall be tightly planked for the full width of the scaffolds except for necessary access openings. Such planking shall consist of planks not less than two inches thick full size, exterior grade plywood at least three-quar…

(a) When elevator scaffold jacks are used for the installation of elevator hoistway doors, such scaffold jacks shall be constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule). (b) The platforms of such scaffolds shall consist of planks at least equal in strength to No. 1 g…

The use of any scaffold of a type not named, specified or described in this Part (rule) is prohibited unless such scaffold has been granted a special approval.

All window jacks shall be approved. All window jacks shall be constructed, installed and used in compliance with section 23-5.1 of this Subpart. Every window jack shall be limited to light duty loading and shall be used only for the purpose of working at the window opening throug…

(1) Strength. Every boatswain's chair and supports shall be capable of sustaining four times the maximum weight intended to be placed thereon. (2) Chair or seat. Every boatswain's chair or seat shall be suspended from its four corners by means of rope slings. Such chair or seat s…

(1) Stilts shall be used only for the work of taping joints in wallboard used for wall and ceiling construction, commonly known as “dry wall” construction. The use of stilts for any other purpose is prohibited. (2) Stilts shall be used only by competent persons who have voluntari…

This section applies to all scaffolds constructed of metal except mobile types. Any metal scaffold erected after June 1, 1972 to a height exceeding 125 feet above the ground, grade or equivalent surface shall not be placed in service until such scaffold has been granted a special…

(1) Tubular welded frame scaffolds shall be properly braced by cross bracing or diagonal bracing, or both, for securing vertical members together laterally. Such braces shall be of such length as will automatically square and align the vertical members of such scaffolds so that w…

The structural members of tube and coupler scaffolds shall be constructed of steel tubing. (1) All vertical, horizontal and diagonal members of tube and coupler metal scaffolds shall be securely fastened together with approved safe locking devices to form positive connections. (2…

The foot end of any pole used in a pole scaffold shall rest on firm footing and shall be secured against lateral movement by nailing, the use of cleats or by any other effective means. Where wood poles are spliced, the ends shall be square and the upper sections shall rest square…

Outrigger beams shall extend not more than six feet beyond the face of the building or other structures. The inboard ends of outrigger beams, measured from the fulcrum points to the extreme inboard points of support, shall be not less than one and one-half times the outboard ends…

All load-carrying parts or components and means of suspension including adequacy of anchorage or support of every suspended scaffold shall be inspected before such scaffold is installed. No parapet, curtain wall or similar portion of a building or other structure shall be used to…

Two-point suspension scaffold platforms shall be not less than 20 inches nor more than 32 inches in width. Every such platform shall be of sufficient width to properly fit the hangers and shall be securely fastened thereto by U-bolts which pass around the hangers or by other equi…

The general requirements of this Subpart shall apply to all material hoisting equipment except cranes, derricks, aerial baskets, excavating machines used for material hoisting and fork lift trucks. Material hoisting equipment shall at all times be maintained in good repair and pr…

(1) Types required. Only wire rope of the improved plow steel classification or equivalent having a safety factor of not less than six shall be used with power-driven hoisting machinery, except for winchheads or capstan hoists where fibre rope may be used. (2) Fibre rope. (i) Fib…

Every material platform or bucket hoist erected after June 1, 1972 shall be designed by a professional engineer licensed to practice in the State of New York. The design plans and specifications for any such hoist shall be kept on the job site available for examination by the com…

This Subpart applies to personnel hoists where the temporary use of permanent elevators is made or where temporary workmen's hoists are provided to transport persons to and from their working levels in the construction of buildings or other structures. Personnel hoisting equipmen…

Passenger or freight elevators being installed in buildings or other structures for permanent use may be used before completion of the building or other structure during construction to carry persons or material, or both, provided such elevators conform to the following requireme…

Mobile cranes, tower cranes and derricks used in construction, demolition and excavation operations shall be so constructed, placed and operated as to be stable. No component or part of any such crane or derrick shall be stressed beyond its rated capacity as determined by the man…

(1) A mobile crane which is moved from one job site to another without dismantling beyond the folding of the boom and such additional dismantling as may be necessary for that purpose is not required to be inspected before being first erected or operated on each job site to which …

(1) Every tower crane used in construction shall be erected in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and under the supervision of a competent, designated person experienced in tower crane erection. (2) Prior to the erection of any tower crane the ability of the suppo…

The foot blocks of every derrick shall be securely supported and firmly anchored against movement in any direction. (1) Number and spacing. The top of any guy derrick mast more than 25 feet in height shall be steadied by not less than six wire rope guys so spaced as to make the a…

The provisions of this Subpart shall apply to power-operated heavy equipment or machinery used in construction, demolition and excavation operations. These provisions shall not apply to material or personnel hoists (see Subpart 23-6) nor to cranes and derricks (see Subpart 23-8).

Before placing or advancing a pile driver, the ground shall be inspected and, where necessary for firm and level footing, cribbing or timber mats shall be provided to assure stability for the pile driver. After placing or advancing a pile driver, inspection and correction of the …

Each time before raising or lowering a charging skip, the operator shall make sure that no person is located in the danger area. In addition, there shall be a safety railing constructed and installed in compliance with this Part (rule) on both sides of the charging skip so arrang…

All power-operated equipment shall be maintained in good repair and in proper operating condition at all times. Sufficient inspections of adequate frequency shall be made of such equipment to insure such maintenance. Upon discovery, any structural defect or unsafe condition in su…

Walkways along and adjacent to conveyor belts shall be kept free of materials and shall be unobstructed for their entire length. Where such walkways are located three feet or more above the ground, grade, floor or equivalent surface such walkways shall be provided with a safety r…

Where power shovels and backhoes are used for material handling, such equipment and the use thereof shall be in accordance with the following provisions: Such equipment shall be so constructed, placed and operated as to be stable. Such equipment shall not be stressed beyond their…

Excavating machines shall not be used where unstable conditions or slopes of the ground or grade may cause such machines to tilt dangerously. To prevent such unstable conditions, mats of timber or equivalent means to afford stable footings shall be provided. Where an operator of …

Prior to the use of an aerial basket the operator shall make a daily inspection of the equipment. (1) Such daily inspection shall include the following: (i) All attachment welds between the actuating cylinders and the boom or pedestal. (ii) All pivot pins for security of their lo…

The brakes of every motor truck shall be so maintained that such truck with full load may be securely held on any grade that may be encountered in normal use on the job. (1) Provision shall be made to apply wheel blocks to any truck ascending any ramp with a slope steeper than on…