SAIA Competent Person — Frame Scaffolds

Under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.32(f), who qualifies as a "competent person" for scaffold work?

• AAny worker with at least five years of scaffold erection experience
• BA person capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards and who has authority to…
• CA licensed professional engineer who has reviewed the scaffold drawings
• DA supervisor who has completed the OSHA 10-hour construction course

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451 requires that frame scaffolds be inspected by the competent person at which interval?

• AOnce before initial use and then weekly thereafter
• BBefore each work shift and after any occurrence that could affect structural integrity
• CDaily at the end of each shift
• DOnly after weather events such as rain or high wind

A frame scaffold base plate is found resting directly on frozen ground with no mudsill. What should the competent person do?

• AAllow work to continue because frozen ground is temporarily solid
• BTag the scaffold as out of service and require mudsills to be installed before use
• CAdd a second base plate under the first as a substitute for a mudsill
• DReduce the scaffold load to light-duty classification and continue

What minimum width must a scaffold platform be according to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451(b)(2)?

• A12 inches
• B14 inches
• C18 inches
• D24 inches

OSHA limits the gap between scaffold planks or between a plank and the structure to a maximum of:

• A½ inch
• B1 inch
• C1½ inches
• D2 inches

When using 2×10 nominal lumber planks on a frame scaffold, what minimum overlap is required at each end according to OSHA?

• A4 inches
• B6 inches
• C8 inches
• D10 inches

The top rail of a scaffold guardrail system must be installed at a height of:

• A36 to 42 inches above the platform surface
• B38 to 45 inches above the platform surface
• C42 to 48 inches above the platform surface
• D36 inches minimum with no maximum specified

At what working height does OSHA require fall protection for employees on a scaffold in the construction industry?

• A4 feet or more above a lower level
• B6 feet or more above a lower level
• C8 feet or more above a lower level
• D10 feet or more above a lower level

A toeboard on a frame scaffold must be at least how tall according to OSHA 29 CFR 1926.451(h)?

• A2 inches
• B3.5 inches
• C4 inches
• D6 inches

What is the load-bearing capacity per square foot for a medium-duty frame scaffold under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.452?

• A25 pounds per square foot
• B50 pounds per square foot
• C75 pounds per square foot
• D100 pounds per square foot

A frame scaffold is 24 feet tall and has a base width of 5 feet. Under OSHA's 4:1 height-to-base ratio rule, what action is required?

• ANo action is needed because the scaffold is less than 26 feet tall
• BThe scaffold must be tied, braced, or guyed before the height exceeds 20 feet
• CThe scaffold must be dismantled because the ratio exceeds the limit
• DAdditional outriggers must be added to widen the effective base

After the first tie-in point, OSHA requires ties on supported frame scaffolds to be installed at vertical intervals not exceeding:

• AEvery 20 feet vertically
• BEvery 26 feet vertically
• CEvery 30 feet vertically
• DEvery 4 scaffold frame heights vertically

Horizontal bracing (horizontal ties) on a frame scaffold must be installed at intervals not exceeding how many feet along the length of the scaffold?

• A20 feet horizontally
• B26 feet horizontally
• C30 feet horizontally
• D40 feet horizontally

What type of cross-bracing on a frame scaffold serves as the primary means of preventing the frames from racking?

• AHorizontal braces connecting adjacent frames at the same level
• BDiagonal cross braces that lock opposite corners of each scaffold bay
• CVertical ties connecting the scaffold to the building
• DLeveling screws adjusted equally at each leg

A leveling screw jack on a frame scaffold may extend a maximum of how many inches beyond the frame leg before additional support is required?

• A8 inches
• B12 inches
• C18 inches
• D24 inches

Which access method is preferred by OSHA for frame scaffolds more than two frames high when a built-in ladder is not part of the frame design?

• AStep-across from the building structure
• BPortable extension ladder leaned against the scaffold cross braces
• CAttachable scaffold ladder with a stand-off bracket
• DClimbing the cross braces as rungs

Under OSHA 1926.452(c), what must a competent person verify about cross braces before counting them as a mid-rail equivalent?

• AThat the brace is painted safety orange
• BThat the mid-brace point is between 20 and 30 inches above the platform
• CThat the brace spans the full width of the scaffold bay
• DThat the brace is made of aluminum rather than steel

A worker notices that a frame scaffold leg is visibly bent after a forklift made contact with it overnight. What is the competent person's first required action?

• AHave the worker estimate the bend angle and continue if it is less than 5 degrees
• BRemove the scaffold from service immediately and inspect all affected components
• CAdd a sister leg alongside the bent one to share the load
• DPaint the bent area red and note it in the inspection log

When must materials stored on a frame scaffold platform be arranged?

• AMaterials may be stored anywhere on the platform as long as they do not exceed the rated…
• BMaterials must be stored so that they do not obstruct access or egress and do not place e…
• CMaterials must be stored only in the center of the platform to equalize load
• DMaterials are not permitted on frame scaffold platforms; they must be hoisted directly to…

What is the maximum height of a frame scaffold that may be erected without engineering approval under standard OSHA provisions (absent specific manufacturer data)?

• AThere is no height limit; only the height-to-base ratio matters
• BFrame scaffolds over 125 feet above their base require a registered professional engineer…
• CFrame scaffolds over 60 feet must have an engineering review
• DFrame scaffolds over 50 feet must be designed by a PE

ANSI A10.8 requires that the competent person have workers who erect and dismantle scaffolds meet what training standard?

• AWorkers must hold an OSHA 30-hour construction certificate
• BWorkers must be trained to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold bei…
• CWorkers must have a minimum of three years of scaffold erection experience
• DWorkers must be licensed scaffold erectors under state regulations

Under OSHA 1926.451(e)(9), employees must not work on scaffolds when which condition exists?

• AThe wind speed exceeds 15 mph at any location on the scaffold
• BThe scaffold is covered with ice, snow, or slippery conditions that have not been cleared
• CThe air temperature is below 32°F
• DOverhead electrical lines are within 100 feet of the scaffold

What OSHA standard specifically covers scaffolding in the construction industry?

• A29 CFR 1910.28
• B29 CFR 1926.502
• C29 CFR 1926 Subpart L (1926.450–1926.454)
• D29 CFR 1926 Subpart M

A competent person observes that a coupling pin between two frame sections is missing from one bay of the scaffold. What action must be taken?

• AContinue use until the end of the shift, then install the missing pin
• BMark the missing pin with flagging tape and note it in the inspection log
• CRemove workers from the affected bay and install the pin before resuming use
• DReduce the load on that bay to light-duty and continue work

According to OSHA 1926.451(b)(3), what is the maximum distance a scaffold platform can extend beyond the centerline of its support when the plank is not cleated or otherwise restrained?

• A6 inches
• B12 inches
• C14 inches
• D18 inches

Under OSHA 1926.451(c)(2), scaffold footings must support the scaffold's maximum intended load without:

• AVibration
• BSettling or displacement
• CCorrosion
• DTemperature fluctuation

Which of the following is a correct statement about sole boards used under scaffold base plates on soft ground?

• ASole boards must be at least 2 inches thick and wide enough to distribute the load over a…
• BSole boards are required only when the soil is visibly wet
• CAny scrap lumber may be used as a sole board as long as it is placed flat under the base…
• DSole boards are optional when casters with brakes are used

A frame scaffold is to be erected adjacent to high-voltage power lines. What must the competent person do before allowing erection to begin?

• AEnsure workers wear rubber-soled boots
• BDetermine the line voltage and verify that all scaffold components will be kept outside t…
• CInstall a non-conductive platform on the uppermost tier closest to the lines
• DNotify the site safety officer and proceed with erection under observation

The safe erection sequence for a frame scaffold requires the erector to install cross braces:

• AAfter all frames have been stacked to the full planned height
• BAt each tier as the scaffold rises, before climbing to the next level
• COnly on every other tier to save time during erection
• DAfter the platform planks have been installed at the working level

During frame scaffold dismantling, what sequence should the competent person enforce?

• ARemove all planks first, then braces, then frames, starting from the bottom
• BRemove components in the reverse order of erection, starting from the top tier down
• CCut all ties simultaneously to speed the process, then dismantle from the top
• DDismantle can proceed in any order as long as workers wear personal fall arrest systems

When is a personal fall arrest system (PFAS) required instead of—or in addition to—a guardrail on a frame scaffold platform?

• AAlways, regardless of guardrail presence
• BWhen working on a platform over 25 feet above the ground
• CWhen the task requires leaning out over a guardrail or when a guardrail must be removed f…
• DOnly when the employer's safety plan requires it

A competent person finds scaffold planks that are green (newly cut), unseasoned, and still retain significant moisture. What is the primary concern?

• AGreen planks are heavier, reducing the scaffold's rated load capacity
• BGreen planks may contain resin that makes the surface slippery
• CGreen planks may warp, cup, or crack as they dry, creating gaps and uneven surfaces
• DGreen planks attract insects that can compromise the wood's integrity

According to OSHA 1926.454, who is responsible for training employees who use scaffolds?

• AThe scaffold manufacturer's representative
• BA qualified person who is knowledgeable about the hazards relevant to the type of scaffol…
• CAny supervisor on the job site with more than two years of construction experience
• DThe general contractor's safety officer regardless of scaffold-specific knowledge

What is the primary purpose of outrigger frames on a frame scaffold?

• ATo extend the platform width past the standard frame width
• BTo increase the effective base width of the scaffold to meet the 4:1 height-to-base ratio
• CTo support overhead protection canopies
• DTo provide mounting points for ties and anchor bolts

OSHA 1926.451(g)(2) requires that for frame scaffolds, fall protection be provided by either a guardrail system or:

• AA safety net system installed below the work platform
• BA personal fall arrest system
• CA warning line system set back 6 feet from the platform edge
• DControlled access zones established by the competent person

A heavy-duty frame scaffold must support a working load of at least how many pounds per square foot?

• A25 psf
• B50 psf
• C75 psf
• D100 psf

Which of the following frame scaffold components is specifically designed to prevent the frames from spreading apart at the top?

• AScrew jack
• BCross brace
• CCoupling pin (frame-to-frame connector)
• DHorizontal brace or stringer

What is the maximum amount a frame scaffold's frames may be out of plumb before corrective action is required?

• A1/16 inch per foot of height
• B1/8 inch per foot of height
• C¼ inch per foot of height
• DThere is no OSHA numerical limit; the competent person must judge when plumb deviation be…

According to OSHA, tools and materials may be dropped to lower workers from a scaffold platform if:

• AThe area below the scaffold is designated a hard-hat zone
• BThe lower workers are notified in advance
• CThe scaffold has toeboards on all open sides
• DNever — materials and tools must not be dropped from scaffolds

A competent person determines that a scaffold platform needs to be repositioned 18 inches to one side to align with a new work area. What must occur before workers get onto the repositioned scaffold?

• ANo special inspection is needed if only the horizontal position changed
• BThe scaffolding must be fully dismantled and re-erected in the new location
• CThe competent person must re-inspect the scaffold after repositioning to confirm it is st…
• DWorkers may use the scaffold but must wear PFAS until the end of the shift

When must the competent person ensure that workers on a frame scaffold have received scaffold-specific safety training?

• AWithin 30 days of initial scaffold use
• BBefore initial work on scaffolds, with retraining when hazards change
• CAnnually at the company's regular safety training session
• DOnly when a new type of scaffold is introduced to the project

What does ANSI A10.8 add beyond OSHA's Subpart L scaffold requirements that the competent person should know?

• AANSI A10.8 replaces OSHA Subpart L and has the force of federal law
• BANSI A10.8 provides industry best-practice recommendations and specifications that may ex…
• CANSI A10.8 applies only to mobile scaffold towers, not frame scaffolds
• DANSI A10.8 is enforced by SAIA and carries the same penalties as OSHA citations

What is the minimum inside clear distance between the mid-rail and the top rail of a scaffold guardrail system?

• AThere is no minimum; the mid-rail may be at any height below the top rail
• BThe mid-rail must be positioned at approximately the midpoint between the top rail and th…
• CThe mid-rail must be at least 18 inches below the top rail
• DOSHA does not specify mid-rail positioning as long as a mid-rail is present

A worker on a frame scaffold needs to use a personal fall arrest system. Where must the PFAS anchor point be located?

• AOn the scaffold cross brace closest to the work area
• BOn a structural member rated for the anchor load, independent of the scaffold when possib…
• COn the worker's tool belt D-ring
• DOn the scaffold guardrail top rail

A competent person discovers that two bays of a 30-foot-high scaffold have not been tied to the structure. What is the appropriate response?

• AMark the untied bays and add ties at the next available opportunity
• BStop all work on and below the untied section and install the required ties before resumi…
• CReduce the load in the untied bays to light-duty and continue
• DAdd additional cross braces in the untied bays as a substitute for ties

What does OSHA require if a scaffold plank is found to have a large knot, split, or decay along its length?

• AThe plank may remain in service if the defect does not exceed one-third of the plank's cr…
• BThe plank must be marked and replaced before the scaffold is used
• CThe plank must be repositioned so the defect is away from the support points
• DThe plank must be cut shorter to remove the defect