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29 CFR 1926.451 · 1926.454

Scaffold Competent Person

Scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before every work shift and after anything that could affect their structure. This course covers what to look for on supported scaffolds, from the mud sills to the guardrails.

Who this course is for

  • Foremen and leads who inspect and sign scaffold tags
  • Workers designated as scaffold competent person
  • Masonry, stucco, painting, and restoration contractors
  • Safety managers who audit scaffold use

What you will be able to do

  • Explain capacity, platform, and access requirements in 29 CFR 1926.451
  • Inspect foundations, frames, bracing, ties, planking, and guardrails
  • Determine when fall protection and falling object protection are required
  • Supervise erection, alteration, and dismantling
  • Use a scaffold tag system and document inspections
  • Identify electrical clearance and weather hazards

Course outline

  1. Scaffold types and termsSupported and suspended scaffolds, and the parts of a frame scaffold.
  2. Capacity and foundationsThe four-to-one rule, base plates, mud sills, and plumb and level.
  3. Platforms and accessPlanking, gaps, overhang, ladders, and stair towers.
  4. Fall and falling object protectionThe 10-foot trigger, guardrail heights, toeboards, and netting.
  5. StabilityBracing, ties, the height-to-base ratio, and wind.
  6. The inspectionA walk-through from the ground up, tagging, and what to do when you find a defect.
Know before you enroll

A competent person is designated by the employer, who must also give that person the authority to correct hazards. Training supports the designation; it does not make it.

The course focuses on supported frame and system scaffolds. Suspended scaffolds are introduced but need additional training specific to the equipment.

Questions about this course

Does this course make me a competent person?

Not by itself. Your employer designates the competent person and must give that person authority to correct hazards. This course gives you the knowledge the standard expects and a record of it.

Is this the scaffold user training OSHA requires?

It covers the hazards every scaffold user must be trained on under 29 CFR 1926.454(a) and goes on to the inspection and supervision duties of the competent person.

How does the final exam work?

The course ends with a timed, multiple-choice exam drawn from a question bank. The passing score is 70 percent and retakes are included. Your certificate is issued the moment you pass.

Will my employer or general contractor accept the certificate?

Every certificate shows the course, contact hours, completion date, the standard covered, and a unique ID with a QR code, so anyone can confirm it in seconds. Acceptance is always the employer's or site owner's decision. If a site requires a specific provider or a hands-on evaluation, check with them before you enroll.

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