Who needs scaffold training?
Updated October 16, 2026
Under 29 CFR 1926.454, every employee who performs work on a scaffold must be trained by a person qualified in the subject, and every employee who erects, dismantles, moves, operates, repairs, maintains, or inspects scaffolds must be trained by a competent person. Retraining is required when specific triggers occur.
Workers who use scaffolds
Section 1926.454(a) requires the employer to have each employee who performs work while on a scaffold trained by a person qualified in the subject matter to recognize the hazards associated with the type of scaffold being used and to understand the procedures to control or minimize those hazards.
The training must include, as applicable: the nature of electrical, fall, and falling-object hazards in the work area; correct procedures for dealing with electrical hazards and for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling fall protection and falling-object protection systems; proper use of the scaffold and proper handling of materials on it; the maximum intended load and load-carrying capacities of the scaffolds used; and other pertinent requirements of Subpart L.
Erectors, dismantlers, and inspectors
Section 1926.454(b) applies to employees who erect, disassemble, move, operate, repair, maintain, or inspect scaffolds. They must be trained by a competent person to recognize the hazards associated with that work.
This training must include, as applicable: the nature of scaffold hazards; the correct procedures for erecting, disassembling, moving, operating, repairing, inspecting, and maintaining the type of scaffold in question; the design criteria, maximum intended load-carrying capacity, and intended use of the scaffold; and other pertinent requirements of Subpart L.
Qualified person versus competent person
The two groups have different trainer requirements. Users may be trained by a person qualified in the subject matter. Erectors, dismantlers, and inspectors must be trained by a competent person. Users who are not erecting, moving, or inspecting the scaffold do not need the paragraph (b) training, though they still need paragraph (a) training.
Because both paragraphs tie training to the type of scaffold in use, instruction should cover the specific scaffold systems on the job.
When retraining is required
Section 1926.454(c) requires retraining when the employer has reason to believe a trained employee lacks the skill or understanding needed for safe work involving scaffolds, so that the required proficiency is regained. Retraining is required at least where there are changes at the worksite that present a hazard the employee has not been trained on; changes in the types of scaffolds, fall protection, falling-object protection, or other equipment that present a hazard the employee has not been trained on; or inadequacies in the employee's work involving scaffolds that indicate the employee has not retained the required proficiency.
The standard does not set an annual or other fixed refresher interval, and 1926.454 does not include a written certification requirement comparable to the one in the fall protection rule.