Toolbox talk · Falls, ladders and scaffolds
Scaffold safety
We have crews working on scaffolds this week, and a fall from even one level up can end a career or a life. Most scaffold accidents come from things we can catch: missing planks, missing guardrails, bad footing, or someone changing the scaffold without telling anyone. Let's take a few minutes to make sure every scaffold we use is solid before we step on it.
Published 2026-10-23
Key points
- 1Do not use a scaffold until the competent person has inspected it this shift. If you see damage or something changed, get off and report it.
- 2Check the footing: base plates or mudsills on solid ground, no bricks, blocks, or buckets holding it up.
- 3Make sure the platform is fully planked, planks are not cracked or bowed, and they are secured so they cannot slide or kick up.
- 4Guardrails, midrails, and toeboards must be in place on open sides. Never stand on or lean over a rail, and never use a bucket or ladder on the platform to reach higher.
- 5Climb using the built-in ladder or stair access, not the cross braces.
- 6Don't overload the platform. Keep material stacked neat and only what you need, and keep tools from falling on people below.
- 7Stay off scaffolds in high wind, storms, or when planks are covered with ice, snow, or mud, and keep a safe distance from power lines.
Talk it over
- Who is the competent person for our scaffolds, and how do you know a scaffold has been checked today?
- Have you seen anyone remove a rail or plank to get work done? What should we do instead?
- Where on this site is the footing or nearby traffic a problem for our scaffolds?
Remember
If the scaffold isn't inspected, fully planked, and railed, don't climb it.
Also in the other language: Seguridad en andamios
Official sources
Print it with a sign-in sheet
Pro prints every talk on your letterhead with an attendance sheet, records who attended, and emails your foremen this week's talk every Monday.
General information, not legal advice. Templates and examples should be reviewed by a competent person before use. HardHat Binder is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.