Bracing masonry walls built beside scaffolds

February 16, 1993

Mr. Mark W. Monson
Manager of Projects
Chicagoland Construction
Safety Council
[Recipient address omitted]
Dear Mr. Monson:

This is in response to your September 24 letter requesting an interpretation of an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard addressing the construction of masonry block walls. I apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry.

With regard to the procedure of not bracing the scaffolded side of a wall until after the wall is completed and the scaffold is removed, please be advised that all walls over eight feet in height, and not otherwise adequately supported, must be braced to prevent overturning or collapse of the wall in either direction. The degree of difficulty in bracing the scaffolded side of a wall depends on the type of scaffold used. For example, because there are fewer components that would get in the way of bracing installation, a mason tower type of scaffold might be an easier system to install bracing around than would be a tubular welded frame system.

As you know, the requirements for masonry block walls contained in 1926.706 address two wall heights. For walls eight feet and less in height, the employer has the option of adequately supporting the wall during and after construction or establishing a limited access zone on the unscaffolded side as outlined in paragraphs 1926.706 a(1) through (5). For walls over eight feet in height, the option of maintaining a limited access zone may not be used in lieu of adequately bracing or supporting the wall to prevent collapse or overturning in either direction.

If we can be of any further assistance, please contact me or Dale Cavanaugh of my staff at (202) 219-8136.

Sincerely,
Roy F. Gurnham, Director
Office of Construction and Maritime
Compliance Assistance

[Requester letter reproduced on OSHA page; omitted here.]