Washington Administrative Code

(1) You must position portable, hook-on, and attachable ladders so they do not tip the scaffold.(2) You must make sure hook-on and attachable ladders meet all of the following:(a) Specifically designed and used for that type of scaffold;(b) Have rungs that are:(i) Uniformly space…

(1) You must make sure stairway-type ladders meet all of the following:(a) Position the bottom step not more than twenty-four inches (61 cm) above the scaffold supporting level;(b) Have rest platforms not more than twelve feet (3.7 m) apart vertically;(c) Have slip-resistant surf…

(1) You must make sure stair towers (scaffold stairways or towers) meet all of the following:(a) Are positioned so the bottom step is not more than twenty-four inches (61 cm) above the scaffold supporting level;(b) Are at least eighteen inches (45.7 cm) wide between stair rails;(…

(1) You must provide a stair rail that meets all of the following on each side of a scaffold stairway:(a) Has a toprail and midrail;(b) Has a toprail that can serve as a handrail if a separate handrail is not provided;(c) Is at least twenty-eight inches (71 cm) but not more than …

(1) You must make sure ramps and walkways are not inclined at a slope steeper than one vertical in three horizontal (1:3 or twenty degrees from the horizontal).(2) You must make sure ramps and walkways that are inclined at a slope steeper than one vertical in eight horizontal (1:…

You must make sure a surface used to provide access to or from a scaffold is not further from the scaffold than:(1) Fourteen inches (36 cm) horizontally;(2) Twenty-four inches (61 cm) vertically.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050. WSR 15-23-086, § 296-874-2…

You must make sure scaffolds and scaffold components are inspected for visible defects by a competent person:(1) Before each work shift; and(2) After anything occurs that could affect the scaffold's structural integrity.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050. W…

You must make sure any scaffold or scaffold component that has been damaged or weakened so that it no longer meets the minimum strength requirements of this chapter, is immediately either:(1) Repaired, replaced, or braced to meet the minimum strength requirements; or(2) Removed f…

(1) You must load scaffolds as specified in the:(a) Manufacturer's instructions; or(b) Design of the qualified person.(2) You must make sure scaffolds and scaffold components do not exceed their maximum intended load or rated load, whichever is less.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.1…

You must make sure scaffolds are not moved horizontally while employees are on them.EXEMPTION:A scaffold may be moved horizontally with employees on it if the scaffold: 1. Has been specifically designed for such movement by a registered professional engineer; or 2. Is a mobile sc…

(1) You must make sure makeshift devices, such as boxes and barrels, are not used on scaffold platforms to increase the working level height for employees.(2) You must meet all of the following when using stilts on scaffolds:(a) Use stilts only on large area scaffolds.(b) Increas…

You must use a tag line or equivalent measures to control loads being hoisted onto or near a scaffold if the load could swing and contact the scaffold.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050. WSR 15-23-086, § 296-874-20044, filed 11/17/15, effective 12/18/15. St…

You must make sure scaffolds are erected, moved, altered, or dismantled so that they, and any conductive material handled on them, are kept at least as far from exposed and energized power lines as shown in Table 2, Minimum Separation Distance from Energized Power Lines.Table 2Mi…

(1) You must prohibit work on or from scaffolds during storms or high winds unless both of the following are met:(a) A competent person has determined that it is safe for employees to be on the scaffold;(b) The employees are protected by either:(i) A personal fall arrest system; …

(1) You must make sure debris does not accumulate on platforms.(2) You must prohibit employees from working on scaffolds covered with snow, ice, or other slippery material.EXEMPTION:Employees may be on scaffolds as necessary to remove the slipping hazard.[Statutory Authority: RCW…

See requirements in chapter 296-880 WAC, Unified safety standards for fall protection.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060, and chapter 49.17 RCW. WSR 20-12-091, § 296-874-20052, filed 6/2/20, effective 10/1/20. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, …

Reference:Hardhats and possibly other personal protective equipment has to be used to protect employees exposed to overhead hazards. 1. Those requirements are found in the safety and health core rules, chapter 296-800 WAC. 2. Go to personal protective equipment (PPE), WAC 296-800…

You must equip suspended scaffolds, that use a canopy for falling object protection, with additional independent support lines that meet all of the following:(1) Have the same number of support lines as there are suspension ropes;(2) Are equivalent in strength to the suspension r…

You must make sure toeboards, when used, are:(1) At least three and one-half inches (9 cm) high from the top edge of the toeboard to the platform;(2) Securely fastened along the outer edge of the platform;(3) Installed for enough distance along the platform to protect employees b…

(1) You must have a qualified person train each employee who works on a scaffold to:(a) Recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold they are using; and(b) Understand the procedures to control or minimize the hazards.(2) You must include the following subjects in yo…

(1) You must have a competent person train each employee who erects, disassembles, moves, operates, repairs, maintains, or inspects scaffolds to recognize any hazards associated with the work.(2) You must make sure the training includes at least the following subjects:(a) Hazards…

(1) You must retrain employees to reestablish proficiency if you believe they lack the skill or understanding to safely erect, use, or dismantle a scaffold.(2) You must retraining is required in at least the following situations:(a) An employee's work involving scaffolds is inade…

SummaryYour responsibility:To meet these requirements when using suspended scaffolds.You must meet the requirements …in this section:Make sure suspended scaffolds and scaffold components meet these strength requirementsWAC 296-874-30002Make sure suspended scaffold outrigger beams…

(1) You must meet the following strength requirements:(a) Suspended scaffolds must support, without failure, the total of their own weight plus four times the maximum intended load;(b) Suspended scaffold components must meet the requirements contained in Table 4, Suspended Scaffo…

(1) You must make sure outrigger beams are made of structural metal or equivalent strength material.(2) You must stabilize the inboard ends of outrigger beams by using either:(a) Bolts or other direct connections to the floor or roof deck; or(b) Counterweights and tiebacks.EXEMPT…

(1) You must make sure counterweights:(a) Are made of material that cannot flow; and(b) Have been specifically designed to be used as counterweights.Note:The following cannot be used as counterweights: 1. Sand, gravel and similar materials that can be easily dislocated; 2. Constr…

(1) You must make sure tiebacks are equivalent in strength to the suspension ropes.(2) You must make sure tiebacks are secured to a structurally sound anchorage on the building or structure and installed:(a) At a right angle (perpendicular) to the face of the building or structur…

You must make sure suspended scaffold support devices, such as cornice hooks, roof hooks, roof irons, parapet clamps, or similar devices, are:(1) Made of steel, wrought iron, or other material of equivalent strength;(2) Supported by bearing blocks;(3) Prevented from moving by usi…

(1) You must make sure the stall load of any scaffold hoist is not more than three times its rated load.(2) You must make sure the design of scaffold hoists has been tested by an independent nationally recognized testing laboratory.(3) You must make sure scaffold hoists have both…

(1) You must make sure the suspension rope on winding drum hoists is long enough to wrap around the drum at least four times when the scaffold is at its lowest point of travel.(2) You must make sure the suspension rope on hoists that do not use a winding drum:(a) Is long enough t…

(1) You must make sure a competent person inspects each rope for defects:(a) Before each work shift; and(b) After anything happens that could affect the rope's integrity.(2) You must replace a rope if it has any of the following:(a) Physical damage which impairs the function and …

(1) You must only use eye splice thimbles connected with shackles or cover plates and bolts to join wire suspension ropes together.(2) You must make sure the load ends of wire suspension ropes are:(a) Equipped with proper size thimbles; and(b) Secured by eye splicing or an equiva…

(1) You must make sure, if wire rope clips are used on suspended scaffolds, such as on the suspension ropes or support lines, that:(a) A minimum of three clips are installed;(b) The distance between clips is at least six rope diameters;(c) Clips are installed according to the man…

You must tie or use other means to keep two-point and multipoint suspension scaffolds from swaying, if an evaluation by a competent person determines it is necessary.Note:Window cleaners' anchors cannot be used to secure scaffolds since they are not designed to withstand the load…

You must make sure devices whose sole function is to provide emergency escape and rescue are not used as working platforms.Note:Systems which are designed to function both as suspended scaffolds and emergency systems may be used as working platforms.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.1…

(1) You must shield suspension ropes from heat-producing processes.(2) You must make sure, when acids or other corrosive substances are used on a scaffold, that the suspension ropes are protected by at least one of the following:(a) Shielding;(b) Treating to protect the rope from…

You must do the following to protect employees while welding on suspended scaffolds:(1) Use an insulated thimble to attach each suspension wire rope to its hanging support, such as a cornice hook or outrigger;(2) Insulate excess suspension wire rope and any additional independent…

You must make sure gasoline-powered equipment is not used on suspended scaffolds.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050. WSR 15-23-086, § 296-874-30030, filed 11/17/15, effective 12/18/15. Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050, 49.17.060. WSR…

(1) You must make sure catenary scaffolds have:(a) No more than one platform between consecutive vertical pickups; and(b) No more than two platforms per scaffold.(2) You must make sure any platform that's supported by wire ropes has hook-shaped stops placed at each end of the pla…

(1) You must support the platform with at least two bearers.(2) You must make sure each bearer:(a) Projects at least six inches (15.2 cm) beyond the platform on both sides; and(b) Is securely fastened to the platform.(3) You must make sure rope connections won't allow the platfor…

(1) You must suspend the scaffold only from the roof structure or other structural member, such as ceiling beams.(2) You must inspect the overhead supporting members and check to make sure they're strong enough before erecting the scaffold.(3) You must connect suspension ropes an…

(1) You must equip scaffolds with additional independent support lines that meet all of the following:(a) There are the same number of support lines as there are connection points for the suspension ropes;(b) The support lines are equivalent in strength to the suspension ropes;(c…

Important:This requirement applies when using multipoint adjustable suspension scaffolds, stonesetters' multipoint adjustable suspension scaffolds, and masons' multipoint adjustable suspension scaffolds.(1) You must make sure masons' multipoint adjustable suspension scaffold conn…

(1) You must install scaffold support beams on edge.(2) You must use ropes or hangers for scaffold supports. One end of a needle beam scaffold may be supported by a permanent structural member.(3) You must securely attach ropes to the needle beams.(4) You must arrange the support…

(1) You must make sure two scaffolds that have been combined to form a two-point adjustable suspension scaffold meet the requirements of the section. Make sure two-point adjustable suspension scaffolds (swing stages) meet these requirements, WAC 296-874-30046.(2) You must make su…

Important:This section does not apply to two-point adjustable suspension scaffolds used as masons' or stonesetters' scaffolds.Reference:For requirements for masons' or stonesetters' scaffolds, go to WAC 296-874-30040.(1) You must make sure platforms more than thirty-six inches (0…

SummaryYour responsibility:To meet these requirements when using supported scaffolds.You must meet the requirements …in this section:Make sure supported scaffolds and scaffold components meet strength requirementsWAC 296-874-40002Prevent supported scaffolds from tippingWAC 296-87…

You must make sure each supported scaffold and scaffold component can support, without failure, the total of its own weight plus at least four times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it.[Statutory Authority: RCW 49.17.010, 49.17.040, 49.17.050. WSR 15-23-086, § …

(1) You must make sure supported scaffolds with a height to least base dimension ratio of greater than four to one are prevented from tipping by one or more of the following:(a) Guying;(b) Tying;(c) Bracing;(d) Other equivalent means.Note:The least base dimension includes outrigg…

(1) You must make sure supported scaffold poles, legs, posts, frames, and uprights are:(a) Plumb; and(b) Braced to prevent swaying or displacement.(2) You must make sure supported scaffold poles, legs, posts, frames, and uprights, bear on base plates that rest on:(a) Mudsills; or…