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Scaffolding

This month’s Safety Toolkit features a 3-minute micro-training video on scaffold safety, highlighting common hazards, inspection requirements, and the mistakes that most often lead to falls and collapses. The video breaks down safe access, fall protection basics, and what to do when a scaffold has been altered or doesn’t look right. You’ll also find links to four Toolbox Talks that reinforce key scaffold topics, including general scaffold safety, rolling scaffold use, scaffold setup and structural integrity, and working safely on scaffolds.

 

 

Select the cog wheel to turn on the closed captioning for Spanish subtitles.
SMG U Toolbox Talks

Toolbox Talks

Staying safe on a busy jobsite starts with staying aware. Toolbox talks are a simple, effective way to keep safety top of mind—especially when workers are navigating heavy equipment, moving vehicles, and constantly changing conditions. These short, focused briefings help teams recognize risks, reinforce best practices, and meet safety training requirements in a practical, real-world way.
01

General Scaffold Safety

Scaffolds are common on jobsites, but routine use can lead to missed hazards. This talk covers inspections, access, fall protection, and common shortcuts that cause injuries. Crews learn how to recognize unsafe conditions, use scaffolds correctly, and stop work when something doesn’t look right.

Download (English)

Download (Spanish)

Created by SMG U
02

Rolling Scaffolds

Rolling scaffolds are convenient, but movement creates added risk. This talk focuses on wheel locks, proper movement, and stability requirements. Crews learn when rolling scaffolds are appropriate, how to reposition them safely, and why riding or pushing from the platform leads to tip-overs.

Download (English)

Download (Spanish)

Created by SMG U
03

Scaffold Design & Construction

Scaffolds fail when they’re built incorrectly or modified without oversight. This talk explains proper footing, load limits, planking, and the role of the competent person. Crews learn how to spot setup issues early and why small shortcuts can lead to serious collapses or falls.

Download (English)

Download (Spanish)

Created by SMG U
04

Scaffold Safety Tips

Scaffold safety depends on daily inspection and responsible use. This talk reviews tagging systems, safe access, fall protection, and housekeeping. Crews learn how to identify unsafe conditions, follow OSHA requirements, and take action if a scaffold is damaged, altered, or improperly used.

Download (English)

Download (Spanish)

Created by SMG U
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Got another topic in mind? Let us know!

Take a minute to let us know which safety topics matter most to you and your team. Your feedback helps us create toolbox talks and tips that speak to the challenges you're facing right now—on your job, with your crew, in real time.

✅ Check any topics you want more of
✍️ Suggest your own in the box at the bottom

Let’s make safety content that works for you.

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Ground’s frozen? Put the downtime to work.

If the weather’s too cold to get much done on site, bring your crew to the Safety Yard. Winter slowdowns are the perfect time to knock out OSHA courses and hands-on training that keeps your team sharp.

✓ Check the open enrollment schedule
✓ Pick the sessions that fit your downtime
✓ Get your crew trained while the jobsite’s on pause

Make the most of the freeze.

 

Links to Free OSHA Resources
OSHA Resource

Narrow Frame Scaffold Safety

 

OSHA Fact Sheet

This OSHA-3722 fact sheet provides clear, practical guidance on the safe use of narrow frame scaffolds, a common type of mobile scaffold used in construction tasks such as painting, drywall installation, and plastering. It explains what narrow frame scaffolds are, identifies key hazards like falls, tip-overs, and electrical shock, and outlines essential safety practices employers must follow to protect workers. It includes information on proper training, scaffold inspection, load limits, guardrails and fall protection, wheel locking, and safe movement practices.

OSHA Resource

Scaffold Safety

 

Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry

OSHA 3150: A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry is a comprehensive PDF booklet published by OSHA that helps employers and workers understand and apply scaffold safety requirements. The guide explains common provisions of OSHA’s scaffold standards, addresses frequent questions about compliance, and highlights key hazard areas and safety practices. The publication also includes references to the actual regulatory text and an index for quick look-ups, making it a practical supplemental resource to the official standards for improving scaffold safety in construction.

OSHA Resource

Scaffold Safety

 

Scaffolding eTool

OSHA’s Scaffolding eTool is an interactive, web-based guide designed to help employers and workers understand safe scaffold use in construction. It provides easy-to-navigate information on scaffold hazards, OSHA requirements, and recommended control measures; covering topics like scaffold types, fall protection, safe access, proper setup, inspections, and training responsibilities. It’s a practical resource for improving jobsite compliance and reducing the risk of falls, collapses, and struck-by incidents.

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