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Regulation Review Part 28

Workers in Manitoba have legislated regulations to help keep us safe, day in and day out – no matter what job we do. These regulations are a part of the framework for building safe workplaces in Manitoba.

The Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Act and associated regulations are in place to protect you – the worker – from workplace hazards and the risks they present. Manitoba Regulation 217/2006 is a 44-part document containing requirements and guidelines for workplaces, including site-specific rules and other valuable information to prevent harm from coming to workers.

Safety Check is profiling one part of the Regulation in each issue to help remind you of the Regulation’s specifics and to help keep safety top-of-mind for all Manitobans.

This issue, it’s Regulation Part 28: Scaffolds and Other Elevated Work Platforms.

Every workplace where a scaffold or elevated work platform is used is required to develop and implement safe work procedures. Workers must also be trained on these procedures. Commercially manufactured scaffold and elevated work platforms must be installed, used, maintained and dismantled according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
 
Open access scaffolds of more than 10 m high and enclosed or hoarded access scaffolds more than 7.5 m in height must be designed by an engineer and must be able to safely support
at least four times the maximum load that will be imposed on it. If the scaffold is partially
or fully enclosed, it must have components that are adequate to support any added load from wind, wind gusts or other environmental conditions. The scaffold must be installed plumb and must also be stabilized.
 
Scaffolds of certain heights have specific requirements:
  • Scaffold platforms of 3 m or more above the level a worker may fall must be equipped with a guardrail.
  • Scaffolds of more than 6 m in height must be equipped with hoisting device for hoisting material.
  • Scaffolds of more than 9 m in height must be equipped with an internal stairway or ladders, and if any ladder exceeds 3 m in height, the ladder must be equipped with fall protection attachments.
 
Rope, wire rope and tie backs on scaffolds must be protected against abrasion or other physical damage and made of heat or chemical resistant material, if there is a possibility of exposure to heat or chemicals.
 
If the platform is to be used by bricklayers, stonemasons, plasters or a similar tradespeople and the scaffold is used to hold their immediate supply of building materials, the platform must be secured and have a minimum width of 500 mm wide; or 1.5 m wide.
 
Manufactured or wood planks must be used, stored, inspected and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
 
No scaffold may be loaded in excess of its rated load and competent persons are required to supervise and inspect the scaffolds.
 
Specific provisions for particular types of scaffolds are outlined in Section 28.14 to Section 28.20 of this Part of the Regulation.
 
Elevated Work Platforms
Suspended work platforms must be designed, constructed, installed, maintained, used and dismantled according to the most current CSA Standards.
 
If a platform is used at a height in excess of 3 m above ground, the Workplace Safety and
Health Division must be notified at least eight hours before the platform is suspended. The Division will assign a serial number to the worksite.
 
Specific requirements for suspended work platforms are outlined in Section 28.23 to Section 28.31 of this Part of the Regulation.
 
When a crane is used to suspend a personnel basket or cage:
A crane may only be used to hoist a personnel basket or cage where it is not reasonably practical to do the work by use of a scaffold or other type of elevated work platform.
 
Specific requirements for basket or cage when crane is used to hoist a personnel basket or cage – outlined in Section 28.33 to Section 28.36 of this Part of the Regulation.
 
Specific requirements for aerial devices and self-elevating work platforms are outlined in Section 28.37 to Section 28.44 of this Part of the Regulation.
 
Forklift-Mounted Work Platform
Forklift-Mounted Work Platforms must be commercially manufactured or constructed according to professional engineer specifications.
 
When a worker is on a work platform mounted on a forklift, the employer must ensure that the forklift is on a stable, level surface and the operator of the forklift remains at its controls when the platform and forklift are in the elevated position. A fall arrest system is also required.
 
Note: This is a high-level summary. Please refer to the Regulation for more detailed requirements.