OSHA Training

Duration: 4 Hours

$165.00 per person

Course Overview

Scaffolding incidents are among the leading causes of serious injuries and fatalities on construction and maintenance sites. OSHA requires that scaffolds be erected, moved, altered, and dismantled under the supervision of a competent person who can identify existing and predictable hazards and take prompt corrective action.

Mid-America Safety & Environmental’s Scaffold Competent Person Training is an intensive, half-day course designed to give supervisors and key personnel the knowledge and skills necessary to oversee scaffold operations safely and in full compliance with OSHA standards. Through a combination of lecture, practical examples, and interactive discussion, participants will learn how to evaluate scaffold systems, recognize unsafe conditions, and implement effective controls that protect workers and support regulatory compliance.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

• Construction foremen, site supervisors, and crew leaders responsible for scaffold use
• Safety managers, coordinators, and safety representatives
• Maintenance managers and facilities personnel overseeing scaffold work
• Competent and qualified persons designated by their employer for scaffold activities
• Any employee involved in the planning, erection, inspection, modification, or dismantling of scaffolds

Key Topics Covered

Training content is aligned with OSHA’s scaffold standards for construction:

Scope, Application & Definitions (29 CFR 1926.450)

• Scope and application of the construction scaffold standards
• Key definitions and terminology related to scaffolding
• Understanding how the standard applies to common jobsite scenarios

General Requirements for Scaffolds (29 CFR 1926.451)

• Design and capacity requirements, including load ratings
• Platform construction, use, and fall protection provisions
• Access, egress, and guardrail requirements
• Criteria for scaffold stability, footing, and foundation
• Prohibited practices and common violations

Additional Requirements for Specific Types of Scaffolds (29 CFR 1926.452)

• Tube and coupler, welded frame, and system scaffolds
• Mobile (rolling) scaffolds
• Suspended scaffolds, pump jack scaffolds, and other specialized systems
• Manufacturer instructions and industry best practices for each type

Aerial Lifts (29 CFR 1926.453)

• OSHA requirements and safe use of aerial lifts in conjunction with scaffold operations
• Fall protection, safe positioning, and hazard recognition when using lifts near scaffolds

Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.454)

• OSHA requirements for training scaffold users, erectors, and dismantlers
• Retraining triggers and documentation expectations
• Role of the competent person in ongoing training and supervision

OSHA Definition of “Competent Person” — Scaffolding Context

• OSHA’s definition of a competent person and how it applies specifically to scaffold operations
• Distinction between “competent person” and “qualified person” roles
• Employer responsibilities in designation and support of competent persons
• Authority, accountability, and decision-making expectations for competent persons

Additional Core Topics

• Scaffold hazard recognition: falls, collapses, electrical hazards, struck-by, and caught-in/between
• Pre-use and periodic inspections, documentation, and corrective actions
• Evaluating environmental and site conditions (weather, ground conditions, proximity to power lines)
• Safe erection, modification, and dismantling procedures
• Incident prevention strategies and lessons learned from common scaffold accidents

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the purpose and scope of OSHA’s scaffold standards (29 CFR 1926.450, 1926.451, 1926.452, 1926.453, and 1926.454) as they relate to their work.
2. Accurately interpret key definitions and requirements necessary for compliant scaffold operations.
3. Identify scaffold-related hazards and evaluate their potential impact on worker safety and system integrity.
4. Conduct thorough scaffold inspections before use, at designated intervals, and after events that may affect safety.
5. Verify that scaffolds are erected, modified, and dismantled in accordance with OSHA standards and manufacturer instructions.
6. Ensure appropriate fall protection, guardrails, access, and platform conditions are in place for workers.
7. Apply OSHA’s definition of “competent person” to real-world scaffold supervision, including exercising authority to stop work and correct unsafe conditions.
8. Support and oversee scaffold user training in alignment with OSHA’s training requirements.

Competent Person Responsibilities Upon Completion

Following successful completion of this course, participants will be prepared to:

• Oversee scaffold erection, modification, and dismantling activities on their sites
• Perform and document scaffold inspections, including pre-use and ongoing checks
• Identify and correct unsafe scaffold conditions, including structural, access, and fall protection issues
• Evaluate site conditions that affect scaffold safety (soil conditions, weather, proximity to overhead hazards)
• Confirm that workers using scaffolds and aerial lifts are properly trained and follow established procedures
• Communicate scaffold-related requirements and restrictions clearly to crews and subcontractors
• Coordinate with management, safety staff, and other trades to ensure scaffold activities support overall site safety objectives

Note: Designation as a competent person is made by the employer. Successful completion of this course provides the knowledge and skills necessary for that designation but does not, by itself, confer regulatory status.

Prerequisites & Requirements

• Experience: Basic familiarity with construction or industrial work environments where scaffolds are used
• Basic Knowledge: Foundational understanding of general safety practices and OSHA regulations (recommended but not mandatory)
• Employer Designation: Participants should have — or be on a path to having — the authority to take corrective actions and stop work if unsafe scaffold conditions exist
• Participants are encouraged to bring any relevant company scaffold procedures or policies for discussion

Wear appropriate clothing suitable for a practical, safety-focused training environment.