Inspection and tagging
Scaffold should be inspected and tagged before use and re-inspected after any change or event that could affect it. A clear tag tells everyone on site whether the scaffold is safe to work from.
This guide is an overview, not a compliance document. Always follow the applicable Cal/OSHA and federal OSHA requirements for your work.
Load, ground, and access
Every scaffold has a load rating; overloading a platform is a leading cause of failure. Scaffold must sit on firm, level ground with proper base plates or mudsills, and workers need safe access, never climbing cross-braces. Guardrails and fall protection apply at height.