Secured Oregon scaffold and lean-to prohibition

NOTICE: This is an OSHA Archive Document, and may no longer represent OSHA Policy. It is presented here as historical content, for research and review purposes only.

January 9, 1979
Mr. O.M. Nygaard
Technical Prevention Division
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Nygaard:
This is in response to your letter dated December 15, 1978, and a telephone conversation with a member of my staff, Mr. William Simms. You have expressed concern over the prohibition of lean-to scaffolds.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Construction Safety and Health Regulation, specifically 1926.541(a)(20), prohibits the use of shore or lean-to scaffolds as indicated in your letter. However, the information you have provided this office substantiates that the subject Oregon secured scaffold arrangement is not a lean-to scaffolds.
The Oregon secured scaffold appears to meet the applicable general requirements of 29 CFR 1926.451(a). It is recommended that the subject scaffold should not be referred to as a lean-to scaffold, as it is not, and would only cause confusion in the field. In addition the planking and spacing of the bearers shall comply with 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(10) and Table L-3.
If I can be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
John K. Barto,
Chief Division of Occupational Safety Programming