COS

CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH

H
Legal Basis

 Labor Code of the Philippines (1974)

 DOLE Occupational Safety & Health
Standards (1978, 1989)
 Department Order No.13: Guidelines
Governing OSH in the Construction
Industry (1998)
 RA 11058 : OSH Law
(2018)
 OSH Laws &
Issuances

Book IV, Title I – Medical, Occupational Safety and DO 13 –

Dental and Occupational Health Standards, Guidelines
Safety (OSHS)1978 Governing Safety
and Health in the
Construction
Industry
RA 11058

“The State shall ensure a safe and

healthful workplace for all working
people by affording them full
protection against all hazards in
their work environment.”
(Chapter I. Section 1)
Coverage

 Excavation Safety
 Mobile & Crane
 Fall Protection
 Demolition Safety
 Environmental Safety
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Job Hazard Analysis
 Site Safety Inspection
 Accident Investigation
 COSH
CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH

EXCAVATION
SAFETY
EXCAVATION
HAZARDS
. Surface . Hazardous
encumbrances atmospheres
. Utilities . Water accumulation
. Access/Egress
. Adjacent structures
. Loose rock or soil
. Vehicle traffic
. Falls
. Falling loads . Cave-in
. Mobile equipment
 EXCAVATION
Surface
SAFETY encumbrances
Surface
encumbrances
like fencing,
piping, structure
or materials
need to be
removed or
supported.
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Utilities
Underground
utilities must be
located prior to
digging.

Certification of
deactivation
must be secured.

Utilities must be
supported or
protected
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Access/Egress
Every excavation
over 3 ft deep shall
be provided with
means of access
and escape.

Every excavation
must have at least
one ladder in
every 50 ft. length
which shall extend
3ft above the top
of the excavation.
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Vehicle Traffic
In sites where a
worker’s safety
is likely to be
endangered by a
vehicular traffic,
flagmen, warning
signs, barriers or
lane control
devices shall be
installed.
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Mobile Equipment

No person shall
operate any
vehicle or
equipment in a
site unless he
has adequate
training and
experience.
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Mobile Equipment

No vehicle or
other machinery
shall be driven,
operated or
located near the
edge of the
excavation at
least a distance
of 1/3 of its
depth.
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Water Accumulations

Protection
against cave-in.

Every excavation
over 1m(3ft)
shall be kept free
of water at all
times.

Temporary shut-
off of water lines.
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Adjacent Structures

Structure
stability must be
adequately
evaluated by the
project engineer.

Ensure structure
stability by
shoring or
bracing.
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Soil Collapse

Employ
protective
systems.

Conduct regular
inspection.

Mandatory
training for
workers
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Soil Collapse

General zone of
exposure
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Soil Collapse

Types of
Collapse
---------------

.Spoil pile slide

.Slide wall shear

.Slough-in or
cave-in

.Rotation
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Excavation Protection

SOIL TYPE RATIO SLOPE (degrees)

Maximum
allowable slope Stable vertical 90
rock
Note: applicable Type A ¾:1 53
for excavation
less than 20ft Type B 1: 45
deep
1Type C 1 ½ : 1
34
EXCAVATION
SAFETY Excavation Protection
SOIL DESCRIPTIO
TYPE N
Stable natural solid mineral matter that can be

rock excavated with vertical sides and remain

intact while exposed

Type A cohesive soil with unconfined

compressive strength of 48 kPa or less
Soil
Classification Type B cohesive soil with unconfined
compressive strength greater than 48
kPa but less than 144 kPa
Type C cohesive soil with unconfined
compressive strength of 144 kPa or
greater
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Berm
Excavated material shall
be kept from the edge of
the excavation to provide
a clear berm of a distance
not less than 1/3 of the
excavation depth.

Where the disposal area

is limited, a berm of
reduced width of not less
than 3 ft may be allowed,
provided the excavated
materials are stable,
shoring is designed to
carry the additional load
and barriers are provided
to prevent roll-back of the
excavated materials.
EXCAVATION
SAFETY Protection Systems

SHORING OR TIMBERING

Shoring or timbering in excavation over

6.6m(29ft) deep and those installed to
prevent collapse of an adjacent structure
shall be designed by a structural engineer
and approved by proper authority.
EXCAVATION
SAFETY Protection Systems

SHORING OR TIMBERING

Before shoring or timbering, the

walls of an excavation must be
stripped of loose rocks or other
materials that might slide, roll or fall
on workers.
 EXCAVATION
SAFETY Protection Systems
SIZE AND SPACING

Sheating shall not be

less than 2”x6” in
section, wales not less
than 4”x6” in section
and struts not less
than 4”x6” in section.

The length, section

and spacing of
timbering members
shall be designed
based on the nature of
soil, depth and the
surroundings.
EXCAVATION
SAFETY ADDITIONAL OSH RQMTS

INSPECTION Every part of an excavation over 2m (6ft)

deep where workers work shall be
inspected by the person in charge at least
once everyday.
A competent person shall conduct daily
inspections of excavations, adjacent areas,
and protective systems for evidence of a
situation that could result to accident.

SUPERVISION An experienced and trained worker is

designated to directly supervise each
excavation project
EXCAVATION
SAFETY ADDITIONAL OSH RQMTS

PPE Personal protective equipment shall be

provided the workers as required by law
COSH
CONSTRUCTION OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY & HEALTH

SCAFFOLDING
SAFETY
OSHS Rule 1414

 Every scaffold shall be of good construction of

sound materials and strength for the purpose for
which it is intended.
 All scaffolds shall be properly maintained and
every part shall be kept, fixed and secured in
position to prevent displacement.
 Scaffolds left standing for 4 months shall not be
used until damaged members are replaced and
the whole structure returned to its original
strength.
OSHS Rule 1414

 Scaffold shall be erected, added, altered or

dismantled only under the supervision of the
person in charge of the construction.
 All materials used in any scaffold shall be
inspected before use.
 Every scaffold shall be capable of supporting
twice the maximum load to which it may be
subjected without exceeding the allowable
unit stresses of the materials used.
OSHS Rule 1414

 Every scaffold shall have all standards diagonally

and horizontally braced to prevent lateral
movement.
 Every scaffold shall have no splices between the
points of support of horizontal members and
secured to prevent lateral movement.
 A scaffold platform shall not project beyond its
end support to a distance exceeding 4 times the
thickness of the plan, unless secured to prevent
tipping.
 SCAFFOLD ANATOMY
TOP RAIL
MID RAIL
DROP BAR

FALSE UPRIGHT
0.95m – 1.15 m
(38”-45”)

36” in.

SCAFFOLD PLANK
LADDER CLAMP
BEARER (TRANSOM
TOEBOARD
LONGITUDINAL BRACING
STANDARD
SWIVEL COUPLER

FIXED COUPLER (90º

RUNNER (LEDGER)
TRANSVERSE BRACING
BASE LIFT
(KICKER LIFT
6"
BASE PLATE
SILL (SOLE BOARD)
 CAPACITY
• Every scaffold and scaffold component shall be capable of supporting, without
failure, its own weight (dead load) and at least four (4) times the maximum intended
load applied or transmitted to it (D + 4*L).
• Scaffolds and scaffold components shall not be loaded in excess of their load rating.
• The maximum allowable span for planks/platforms shall be the shortest span
required to support, without failure, the platform units own weight and at least four
times the most critical maximum intended load as shown.
Concentrated Load Cases for Platform Units
110 kg (250 lbs.) 110 kg (250 lbs.) 110 kg (250 lbs.) (250 lbs.) (250 lbs.) (250 lbs.)

One Man Two Man Three Man

. The maximum deflection for platform units shall not exceed 1/60th of the span
length when supporting any of the unfactored concentrated or uniformly distributed
concentrated loads.
 STABILITY
ONLY ONE ADDITIONAL
LIFT ALLOWED ABOVE
RAKER TIE-IN POINT

RAKER TIE-IN POINT

SINGLE RAKER TUBE 6.4m (21ft.)

MAX. LENGTH (NO SPLICES)

LONGITUDINAL
STRUT TUBE

BASE PLATE
SOLE BOARD

SHORT BUTT
TUBE

BASE PLATE
DETAIL GROUND LEVEL

1.25 m
45 APPROX.
APPROX.

ALTERNATIVE ON
HORIZONTAL TIE
TUBES (REQUIRED)
HARD GROUND CROSS TUBE
RAKER
 SCAFFOLD PLATFORM
CONSTRUCTION
POSTS (STANDARD)

BEARER
(TRANSOM) OVERLAP OVERHANG
300 mm. 150 mm. (6") MIN.
RUNNER (UNLESS CLEATED)
(12") MIN.
(LEDGER) 300 mm. (12") MAX.
38 mm.
BOARD BEARER (1.5") THK.
(INTERMEDIATE TRANSOM) BEARER
(TRANSOM)
RUNNER
SUPPORT SPACING FOR PLANKS (LEDGER)
38mm (1-½") THICK
BOARD BEARER BEARER POST
(INTERMEDIATE TRANSOM) (TRANSOM) (STANDARD)
POSTS (STANDARD)

BEARER
(TRANSOM)
RUNNER
(LEDGER)
50 mm.
BOARD BEARER (2") THK.
(INTERMEDIATE TRANSOM) BEARER
(TRANSOM)
SUPPORT SPACING FOR PLANKS
50mm (2") THICK
 LOWERIN AND RAISING MATERIALS
USING GIN WHEELS
. The gin wheel shall be mounted on a cantilevered horizontal tube projecting outward from the
scaffold and shall be kept to a minimum distance, not greater than 750 mm. (30”). Tube shall be
fixed with right-angle couplers to two scaffold post (standard).
. Materials to be raised shall not exceed 50 kg. (110 lbs.), the rope shall be of the correct size to
suit the gin wheel, usually 18-mm. (3/4”).
RIG

STANDARDS
STANDARDS

MOUSING
RING TYPE GIN WHEEL
(PREFERED) HOOK TYPE GIN WHEEL
 HORIZONTAL
V.

MEMBERS
No lift height shall exceed 2m. .
SCAFFOLD LIFTS
2nd LIFT

2 Meters
maximum lift height

1st LIFT

2 Meters
maximum lift height

BASE LIFT
(KICKER LIFT)
6"
POSTS RUNNERS BEARERS
(STANDARDS) (LEDGERS) (TRANSOMS)
 HORIZONTAL
MEMBERS
. Bearers (transoms) and board bearers (intermediate
transom) shall be installed on top of and not underneath
supporting runners. BEARER
(TRANSOM)

RUNNER
(LEDGER)
[UNDERNEATH BEARER]
. Every line of posts (standards) shall have runners (ledgers) installed
horizontally in continuous lengths along the entire scaffold length
(longitudinally) and bearers (transoms) installed in continuous lengths
across the entire scaffold width (transversely), at each lift.
 BRACIN
. G
Vertical bracing to prevent excessive sway is necessary in both the transverse and
longitudinal direction of all system and tube & coupler scaffolds for the full height of the
scaffold.
. Transverse (sectional) braces shall be connected to either posts (standards) or runners
(ledgers) as close as possible to the intersection (node point) of the bearer (transom) and
post (standard).
. Longitudinal (façade) braces shall be connected to posts (standards) as close as possible to
the intersection (node point) of the runner (ledger) and post (standard).
POST (STANDARD) BEARER (TRANSOM) POST (STANDARD)

4th LIFT RUNNER (LEDGER)

BRACING REPEATED EVERY
5th POST (STANDARD)

3rd LIFT 3rd LIFT

MAX. 3OPEN BAYS

2nd LIFT 2nd LIFT

1st LIFT
1st LIFT

35o-55o
35o-55o
(TYP. ) Base Lift
(TYP.) Base Lift

TRANSVERSE (SECTIONAL) "ZIG-ZAG" BRACING

LONGITUDINAL (FAÇADE) "ZIG-ZAG" BRACING
TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD
 BRACIN
G
. Brace ends may be joined together with end-to-end (sleeve)
couplers. Alternatively, for braces subject to large tension
loads, shall be overlapped & joined with at least two adjustable
(swivel) couplers.
DIAGONAL
BRACE

ADJUSTABLE POST
ADJUSTABLE (SWIVEL)
COUPLERS
(SWIVEL) COUPLER (STANDARD)
BEARER
DIAGONAL
BRACE
(TRANSOM)
300 mm (12")
Max. (typ.)
NODE POINT
300 mm (12")
Max. (typ.) (TYP. )
RUNNER
(LEDGER)
BRACE SPLICE BRACE CONNECTION
 RUNNERS (LEDGERS) AND
BEARERS (TRANSOMS)
. Runners (ledgers) and bearers (transoms) shall be securely fixed to the inside of each posts.
(standard).
. When bearers (transoms) and board bearers (intermediate transoms) are coupled to runners
(ledgers) they shall always be installed on top of the supporting runners
. Bearers (transoms), including board bearers, shall extend at least 100 mm. (4”) beyond the
runner centerline. BIOARD BEARER
BAY LENGTH
(INTERMEDIATE TRANSOM)
[on top of ledger]

RUNNERS
(LEDGERS)
RUNNERS &
BEARERS
INSTALLED
BEARERS
INSIDE POSTS
(TRANSOMS)
[on top of ledger] TYP.

POST
(STANDARD)

BASE PLATES

SILLS (SOLE
BOARDS) BASE LIFT
(KICKER LIFT)
VERTICAL BRACING
BEARER
(TRANSOM)

( Transverse Zigzag Bracing)

NODE POINT
(TYP.)
300mm. (12")
. For wide scaffolds, this transverse Max. (Typ.)
3rd LIFT

“zigzag” bracing shall be shall be POST

repeated across the width of the (STANDARD)

scaffold such that no more than 3

adjacent bays are open without 2nd LIFT

transverse bracing. This set of

transverse “zig-zag” braces shall
be installed at both scaffold ends ADJUSTABLE
(SWIVEL) COUPLER 1st LIFT

and repeated along the length of (TYP.)

the scaffold at least every third

line of posts (standards). 35 - 55
(TYP.)
BASE LIFT
6"

TRANSVERSE (SECTIONAL) “ZIGZAG” BRACING

TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD
 VERTICAL BRACING
(TRANSVERSE “ZIGZAG” BRACING)
POST (STANDARD) BEARER (TRANSOM)

4th LIFT

3rd LIFT

MAX. 3OPEN BAYS

2nd LIFT

1st LIFT

35o-55o
(TYP. ) Base Lift

TRANSVERSE (SECTIONAL) "ZIG-ZAG" BRACING

TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD
VERTICAL BRACING
BEARER
(TRANSOM)

(Transverse “X”
. Bracing)
Transverse (sectional) “X” bracing: the first
NODE POINT
(TYP.)
300mm. (12")
Max. (Typ.)
two diagonal braces are installed forming 3rd LIFT

an “X” shape. Thus, the first brace is POST

installed from the base of the first post (STANDARD)

(standard) diagonally upward to the first

lift at the post (standard) required for the 2nd LIFT

base to be between 35 and 55 degrees

(may be across two bays in one lift height).
The second brace is installed from the ADJUSTABLE
(SWIVEL) COUPLER 1st LIFT
base of the same post (standard) (TYP.)

diagonally upward to the first post

(standard). This “X” bracing should be 35 - 55

repeated up to the height of the scaffold at (TYP.)

BASE LIFT
6"
least every third lift (two adjacent open lift
TRANSVERSE (SECTIONAL) “X” BRACING
heights permitted. TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD
 VERTICAL BRACING
(TRANSVERSE “X” BRACING)
POST (STANDARD) BEARER (TRANSOM)

4 th LIFT

3 rd LIFT
MAX. 3OPEN BAYS

2 nd LIFT
LIFT HEIGTH
(TYP. )
1 st LIFT

35 o -55 o
(TYP. )
Base Lift
TRANSVERSE (SECTIONAL) "X" BRACING
TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD
 VERTICAL BRACING
(LONGITIUDINAL “FAÇADE” BRACING)

ADJUSTABLE (SWIVEL)
COUPLER POST (STANDARD)
POST (STANDARD)
300 mm (12") BEARER (TRANSOM)
Max. (typ.)
RUNNER (LEDGER)
NODE POINT RUNNER (LEDGER)
(TYP.)
BRACE CONNECTION

3rd LIFT

2nd LIFT
th
POST
(STANDARD)
1st LIFT

35o-55o
(TYP. ) Base Lift

LONGITUDINAL (FAÇADE) BRACING

TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD
 VERTICAL BRACING
(LONGITUDINAL “FAÇADE” BRACING)
scaffold whose length is less than its height

POST (STANDARD)
BEARER (TRANSOM)
8th LIFT

7th LIFT

6th LIFT

5th LIFT

4th LIFT

3rd LIFT

2nd LIFT

1st LIFT
35 -55
o o

(TYP. )
Base Lift

TRANSVERSE (FACADE) DIAGONAL BRACING

TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD
 VERTICAL BRACING
(INTERIOR LONGITUDINAL “ZIGZAG” BRACING)
scaffold with multiple bays across its width (“birdcage” scaffold)

POST (STANDARD)
BEARER (TRANSOM)
8th LIFT

7th LIFT

6th LIFT
MAX. 4 OPEN BAYS

5th LIFT

4th LIFT

3rd LIFT

2nd LIFT

1st LIFT
35o-55o
(TYP. )
Base Lift

TRANSVERSE “ZIG-ZAG” BRACING

TUBE & COUPLER SCAFFOLD
MOBILE AND TOWER SCAFFOLD
TIMBER COVER FOR TOP RAIL
ACCESS HOLE (OR HINGED)
MIDRAIL

TOEBOARD

WIRE LASHING
(TOP, MIDDLE &
BOTTOM)
PLAN BRACE
UNDER DECK

LADDER SHOULD
BE FIXED TO THE
NARROWER WIDTH

TRANSVERSE
(LEDGER) BRACING

PLAN BRACE LOCKING CASTERS

BOTTOM OF LADDER
SUPPORTED
 SCAFFOLD
TAGGING

RED GREE YELLO

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