Safety Criteria Requirements for Suspended Scaffolds

The safety criteria requirements for Suspended Scaffolds are as follows:
Only those items specifically designed as counterweights must be used.
Counterweights used for suspended scaffolds must be made of materials that cannot be easily dislocated. Flowable material, such as sand or water, cannot be used.
Counterweights must be secured by mechanical means to the outrigger beams.
Vertical lifelines must not be fastened to counterweights.
The materials like sand, masonry units, or rolls of roofing felt cannot be used for counterweights.
No. Such materials cannot be used as counterweights.
Outrigger beams (thrust-outs) must be placed perpendicular to their bearing support.
Tiebacks for outrigger beams, cornice hooks, roof hooks, roof irons, parapet clamps, or similar devices must be secured to a structurally sound anchorage on the building or structure. Sound anchorages do not include standpipes, vents, other piping systems, or electrical conduit.
A single tieback must be installed perpendicular to the face of the building or structure. Two tiebacks installed at opposing angles are required when a perpendicular tieback cannot be installed.
The suspension ropes must be long enough to allow the scaffold to be lowered to the level below without the rope passing through the hoist, or the end of the rope configured to prevent the end from passing through the hoist.
The scaffolding standard requirement prohibits using repaired wire.
Drum hoists must contain no less than four wraps of the rope at the lowest point.
Employers must replace wire rope when the following conditions exist: kinks; six randomly broken wires in one rope lay or three broken wires in one strand in one lay; one-third of the original diameter of the outside wires are lost; heat damage; evidence that the secondary brake has engaged the rope; and any other physical damage that impairs the function and strength of the rope.
Suspension ropes supporting adjustable suspension scaffolds must be a diameter large enough to provide sufficient surface area for the functioning of brake and hoist mechanisms.
Suspension ropes must be shielded from heat-producing processes.
Power-operated hoists used to raise or lower a suspended scaffold must be tested and listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
The stall load of any scaffold hoist must not exceed three times its rated load.
The stall load is the load at which the prime-mover (motor or engine) of power-operated hoist stalls or the power to the prime-mover is automatically disconnected.
Gasoline power-operated hoists or equipment are not permitted.
Drum hoists must contain no less than four wraps of suspension rope at the lowest point of scaffold travel.
Gears and brakes must be enclosed.
An automatic braking and locking device, in addition to the operating brake, must engage when a hoist makes an instantaneous change in momentum or an accelerated overspeed.
Manually operated hoists used to raise or lower a suspended scaffold must be tested and listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
These hoists require a positive crank force to descend.
No materials or devices may be used to increase the working height on a suspension scaffold. This includes ladders, boxes, and barrels.