STSC Scaffolding Erection and Inspection 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A suspended scaffold rope shows several broken wires in one lay length. What is the OSHA-mandated action?
- Document the damage and continue monitoring
- Replace the rope immediately and remove the scaffold from service (Correct answer)
- Splice the rope at the damaged section
- Reduce the scaffold's rated load capacity by 25%
Correct answer: Replace the rope immediately and remove the scaffold from service
Any rope with broken wires must be removed from service immediately and replaced before the suspended scaffold is used.
Question 2: What is the maximum slope allowed for a scaffold access ladder?
- 70 degrees from horizontal
- 75 degrees from horizontal (Correct answer)
- 80 degrees from horizontal
- Scaffold ladders must be vertical (90 degrees)
Correct answer: 75 degrees from horizontal
OSHA requires scaffold access ladders to be pitched no more than 75 degrees from horizontal (or 15 degrees from vertical).
Question 3: Which of the following is an acceptable method to extend the height of a rolling scaffold tower?
- Stacking additional frames without adding diagonal bracing
- Using extender pins rated for the added load with proper bracing (Correct answer)
- Attaching additional sections with rope ties at each joint
- Welding additional sections to the existing frame on-site
Correct answer: Using extender pins rated for the added load with proper bracing
Rolling scaffolds may only be heightened using manufacturer-approved extender pins and proper diagonal bracing rated for the intended load.
Question 4: A STSC supervisor notices scaffold legs are resting on frozen ground. What is the primary concern?
- Ice increases friction, making the scaffold more stable
- Thawing ground can cause legs to shift or sink, destabilizing the scaffold (Correct answer)
- Frozen ground is too hard for mudsills to penetrate
- Cold temperatures reduce steel strength significantly
Correct answer: Thawing ground can cause legs to shift or sink, destabilizing the scaffold
When frozen ground thaws, base plates can shift or sink unevenly, causing scaffold instability and potential collapse.
Question 5: What documentation must a competent person maintain after completing a scaffold inspection under OSHA 1926 Subpart Q?
- A written report filed with OSHA within 24 hours
- A written record is not explicitly required, but findings must be communicated and hazards corrected (Correct answer)
- A signed log book kept at the scaffold base at all times
- An inspection certificate posted at the job site entrance
Correct answer: A written record is not explicitly required, but findings must be communicated and hazards corrected
OSHA does not mandate a specific written inspection report format, but the competent person must communicate findings and ensure hazards are corrected before use.
Question 6: When erecting a scaffold on a sloped surface, what is the correct method to achieve level base plates?
- Shim the base plates with wood scraps until level
- Use screw jacks (adjustable base plates) to achieve a level base (Correct answer)
- Excavate the slope until a flat surface is created
- Tilt the scaffold frames to match the slope angle
Correct answer: Use screw jacks (adjustable base plates) to achieve a level base
Screw jacks (adjustable base plates) are the approved method for achieving a level scaffold base on sloped surfaces.
Question 7: Which of the following changes to a scaffold DOES NOT require re-inspection by a competent person before reuse?
- Moving a rolling scaffold to a new location on the same level surface (Correct answer)
- Adding a second platform level to an existing scaffold
- Exposing the scaffold to high winds exceeding 40 mph
- Repairing a damaged upright with an identical replacement component
Correct answer: Moving a rolling scaffold to a new location on the same level surface
Rolling a scaffold to a new location on the same level surface does not require re-inspection, though the competent person should verify the new surface conditions.
STSC Scaffolding Erection and Inspection 5
A suspended scaffold rope shows several broken wires in one lay length.
What is the OSHA-mandated action?