The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is the principal federal regulatory agency responsible for workplace safety and health in the United States, operating under the US Department of Labor. Although OSHA is a regulatory body rather than a trade association, its scaffolding standards in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart Q (Scaffolding) for construction and 29 CFR 1910.28 for general industry are among the most comprehensive and influential scaffolding regulations in the world. OSHA’s scaffold standards cover all major scaffold types including frame, systems, tube-and-coupler, and suspended scaffolding, and establish requirements for capacity, access, fall protection, and the training of scaffold erectors and users across the United States.

OSHA’s scaffolding regulations require that all scaffolds be designed, erected, and dismantled by qualified persons, and that all scaffold users receive task-specific training from a competent person. The agency enforces these standards through inspections and can issue citations and penalties for non-compliance, making OSHA compliance a critical priority for US-based scaffold contractors. OSHA also publishes extensive guidance documents, eTool resources, and safety bulletins on scaffolding, and its standards have influenced scaffolding regulations in many other countries. For international scaffold manufacturers, rental companies, and contractors seeking to operate in the US market, a thorough understanding of OSHA’s scaffolding requirements is essential.