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Open-flame work on rope-supported staging

Summary An OSHA field office asked about welding and other open-flame work on suspended staging. OSHA said it was prohibited where the staging was supported by fiber or synthetic rope, with stated exceptions for boatswain's chairs and float or ship scaffolds meeting their rules. OSHA archives the interpretation.
Document
Federal opinion letter
Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Document number
1974-06-12
Date issued
June 12, 1974
Status
Archived by the agency
OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy.
Status last verified October 10, 2026
Topics
Workplace Safety OSHA 1926 Scaffolds Welding Fire Safety
Source
View the official document

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OSHA labels this an archive document and warns that it may no longer represent OSHA policy. It may no longer reflect the agency's current position. Treat this page as historical context, not current guidance, and verify current law before relying on anything here.
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NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

June 12, 1974
OSHA
Interpretation - 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(18)
Area Directors
Mr David W. Hadden was contacted May 30, 1974 concerning the above subject. The interpretation furnished is as follows.
Welding, burning, riveting, or any open flame operation is prohibited when performed on suspended staging supported by fiber or synthetic rope. This does not apply, however, to boatswains chairs and float or ship scaffolds, if in fact the applicable requirements of 29 CFR 1926.451(l) and (w) are met.
C.R. HOLDER Associate Assistant Regional Director for Technical Support

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