Scaffold Competent Person & Inspection Fundamentals

(Scaffold Safety, Inspection, Erection & Dismantling Fundamentals – 29 CFR 1926.454 / .451)
Duration: Minimum 16 hours

Course Objective

Who Should Attend:

Workers, foremen, leads, and supervisors who need to become an OSHA/Cal-OSHA compliant Scaffold Competent Person or who are involved in erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, maintaining, or inspecting scaffolds and must be able to identify, control, and correct scaffold hazards in the workplace.

Course Objectives / Modules (order may change):

• Module One: Competent Person fundamentals—scaffold regulations, roles and responsibilities, hazard recognition and mitigation, and emergency response considerations.
• Module Two: Inspection fundamentals—how to inspect scaffolds for compliance and safe use before each shift and after changes or events that could affect integrity.
• Module Three: Capacity, loading, and stability fundamentals—scaffold components, load limits, platform requirements, access considerations, and stability/securement principles.
• Module Four: Hands-on fundamentals—basic erection and dismantling practices (as applicable to the scaffold type used), inspection walkdowns, identification of deficiencies, and corrective actions.
• Module Five: Written Exam

Course Requirements:

To successfully complete the course, participants must engage in hands-on training specific to the type of scaffold they will be working with (customized accordingly) and successfully complete a written evaluation demonstrating understanding and application of the knowledge and skills taught.

Course Description:

This hands-on training course provides participants with the knowledge and skills needed to safely erect, use, inspect, and dismantle scaffolds in accordance with OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L, reinforcing best practices and real-world applications to prevent falls, tip-overs, and structural failures on the jobsite while preparing participants to recognize scaffold hazards and apply correct procedures.

Employer Responsibility:

This training certificate does not establish the individual a competent person. Requirements for being designated a competent person under Part 1926 Subpart L (Scaffolds) definition provides “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.” By its terms, the definition of a “competent person” compels the employer to select an employee based upon their capability to identify hazards. No course can provide that authority, since it can only be provided by the employer.