Skip to main content
Calcimator

Scaffold Safety Checklist Calculator

Inspection scoring from OSHA scaffold standards.

Inputs

Results

Score (out of 10)

10

Risk level (1=OK, 2=Minor, 3=Major, 4=Critical)

1

Compliance (%)100%
Critical items score (out of 3)3
Items failing0
Safe to use (1=yes, 0=no)1
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Rate each safety item (1=compliant, 0=deficient): footing & base plates firm, plumb and level, cross bracing complete, platforms fully planked, guardrails installed, and access.
  2. Include personal protective equipment and overhead protection assessments.
  3. Review total safety score (%), risk level (low/medium/high/critical), and critical item score.
  4. Any critical item scored 0 requires immediate corrective action before scaffold use.
  5. Document this checklist at the start of each shift -- OSHA requires daily pre-shift inspections.

What each input means

Footing & base plates firm
CRITICAL: Base plates on mudsills/firm foundation, not on barrels or loose material.
Plumb and level
Scaffold is plumb (vertical) and level (horizontal) within tolerance.
Cross bracing complete
All bays have proper X-bracing or diagonal bracing installed.
Platforms fully planked
Working platforms fully decked with max 1-inch gaps between planks.
Guardrails installed
CRITICAL: Top rails at 38-45 in, mid rails, on all open sides and ends.
Toeboards installed
Toeboards min 3.5 in high along all open edges to prevent falling objects.
Ties/anchors adequate
Scaffold tied to building at required vertical and horizontal intervals.
Access points adequate
Ladder or stairway access within 50 ft of every worker location.
Competent person inspected
CRITICAL: OSHA-qualified competent person has inspected before each shift.
Electrical clearance OK
Min 3 ft from power lines <300V, 10 ft for >300V per OSHA 1926.451(f)(6).

What each result means

Score (out of 10)
Total inspection items passing.
Compliance (%)
Percentage of inspection items passing.
Risk level (1=OK, 2=Minor, 3=Major, 4=Critical)
1=Compliant, 2=Minor issues, 3=Major (do not use), 4=Critical (evacuate). Bumped up if critical items fail.
Critical items score (out of 3)
Score for footing + guardrails + competent person (the 3 most critical items).
Items failing
Number of inspection items that did not pass.
Safe to use (1=yes, 0=no)
1 if risk level is acceptable (1-2), 0 if scaffold should not be used.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Footing & base plates firm = 1, Plumb and level = 1, Cross bracing complete = 1, Platforms fully planked = 1 = 10 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Score
    Score = footing + plumbLevel + crossBracing + fullyPlanked + guardrails +
    10 = 10
  3. Calculate Risk level
    1 = 1
  4. Calculate Compliance
    Compliance = (totalScore / 10) * 100
    100 = 100%
  5. Calculate Critical items score
    Critical items score = footing + guardrails + competentPerson
    3 = 3

Engine last updated .

Related Calculators

The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.

Scaffolding

Scaffold Load Rating Calculator

Duty rating from workers, tools, and material on platform.

Scaffolding

Scaffold Tie Spacing Calculator

Tie count and spacing from scaffold height and configuration.

Scaffolding

Scaffold Access Calculator

Stairway and ladder access from scaffold height.

Fire Stopping

Firestop Inspection Checklist Scorer

Score firestop installations against IBC/UL inspection criteria and estimate remediation effort.

Auto Repair

Used Car Inspection Checklist Calculator

Inspection score and expected issues cost.

More in Construction & Building Trades.