Masonry contractors spend the majority of their time on scaffolding — building block walls, setting stone veneer, and laying brick at every elevation of a commercial structure. Scaffold fall protection is the central element of your Fall Protection Plan, and your GC will evaluate it closely.
GC safety coordinators know that masonry scaffolding is among the most common fall hazard citations on commercial projects. Your plan needs to address scaffold erection, use, and dismantling — plus the unique hazards of working near unfinished wall tops and open floor edges.
Masons work from scaffolding throughout the project. Guardrails, toeboards, and access points must be maintained at all times.
Masonry materials (block, mortar, stone) are heavy. Exceeding scaffold load capacity can cause platform failure and falls.
Unsupported masonry walls can collapse during and after construction, pulling scaffold systems and workers with them.
Workers assembling and disassembling scaffolding face fall exposure before guardrails are in place.
Masons building walls near floor edges or on upper levels face falls from both the scaffold and the structure.
Scaffolding citations are among the most common on OSHA's top-10 violations list every year, and masonry is the most scaffold-intensive trade. GC safety coordinators will verify that your plan addresses scaffold load ratings, guardrail requirements, access procedures, and competent person scaffold inspections.
In addition to the 10 standard sections of every SafeDocs Fall Protection Plan, your plan will address these trade-specific elements:
Scaffold erection, inspection, and dismantling procedures
Scaffold load capacity and material staging
Guardrail and toeboard requirements at all levels
Scaffold access points — ladder and stair towers
Masonry wall bracing and limited access zones
Competent person scaffold inspection schedule
OSHA requires fall protection on scaffolds above 10 feet in construction. However, your GC may require fall protection at lower heights as part of their site safety policy. Check your GC's pre-mobilization requirements.
Yes. Identify the scaffold types you'll use in the form, and the plan addresses fall protection requirements for each. Mast climbers, frame scaffolds, and suspended scaffolds each have specific OSHA requirements.