According to OSHA, employers must have a ___ to supervise and direct scaffold erection.

• A. Competent person
• B. Supervisor
• C. Foreman
• D. Engineer

Answer: (A)

OSHA requires having a competent person to supervise and direct scaffold erection. A competent person is someone who can identify hazards on the job and has the authority to take corrective action to eliminate them. This matters for scaffolds because erection involves evolving conditions—loads, supports, planks, tie-ins, and guardrails—that must be checked and adjusted as work progresses. A competent person ensures the scaffold is built to the design, remains stable, and complies with safety requirements, and can immediately address issues such as improper base support, misplaced planks, or missing guardrails.

A supervisor or foreman may oversee crew activity, but OSHA specifically calls for a competent person who is trained to recognize scaffold-specific hazards and empowered to fix them. An engineer may design the scaffold, but not necessarily supervise day-to-day erection and adjustments in the field.