Engineer Duties
According to OSHA regulations, certain types of scaffold designs require the involvement of a registered professional engineer. These engineers have the education, certification, and legal authority to plan and approve complex structures. Their main role is to make sure the scaffold systems are structurally sound and safe for workers under specific, high-risk conditions.
For Suspension Scaffolds
Engineers must design the direct connections for masons' multi-point adjustable suspension scaffolds. These systems are used to support large platforms where bricklayers or other tradespeople perform work on building exteriors. The platforms hang from several points and require careful design to keep them balanced and secure.
Example: A bricklaying crew working on the fifth floor of a building uses a large suspended scaffold supported by cables at multiple points. The engineer must design how those cables connect to the building, ensuring that the structure can carry the full weight of workers, bricks, mortar, and tools without failure.
For Design
In several special cases, engineers are required to design specific types of scaffolding systems. These include systems that involve unusual height, movement, or heavy loads that extend beyond the typical use of scaffolds.
- Scaffolds that are moved with workers on them: If a scaffold is designed to be mobile while workers are still standing on it, an engineer must ensure that the scaffold remains stable during the move. This may involve designing locking wheels, low center of gravity, or secure tie-ins to the structure.
- Pole scaffolds over 60 feet (18.3 meters) in height: These scaffolds are supported by vertical poles and become less stable as they get taller. Engineers must calculate the correct spacing, bracing, and anchoring to prevent tipping or collapse.
- Tube and coupler scaffolds over 125 feet (38 meters) in height: These scaffolds are made of pipes joined by clamps and are often used for tall or complex structures. Engineering design is needed to ensure the pipes can handle the expected loads without bending or breaking.
- Fabricated frame scaffolds over 125 feet (38 meters) in height above base plates: These pre-assembled frames must be carefully engineered at great heights to resist swaying, wind pressure, and weight loads. The design includes calculating cross-bracing and secure anchorage to the building.
- Brackets on fabricated frame scaffolds supporting cantilevered loads: When platforms extend out beyond the base of the scaffold to hold materials or workers, engineers must design brackets strong enough to support the added weight. Cantilevered designs add stress that needs detailed analysis to avoid failure.
- Outrigger scaffolds and scaffold components: Outriggers are extended supports used to stabilize the scaffold. These systems must be engineered so that the extra arms or beams can safely distribute weight without tilting or collapsing the entire scaffold.
In these situations, only a registered professional engineer has the qualifications to ensure that the scaffold system is both compliant and safe. Their expertise helps prevent serious structural failures that could result in injury or death on the job site.
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2-7. Who is responsible for the design of outrigger scaffolds and scaffold components?
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