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804 Safe Scaffold Erection and Inspection
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Crawling Board (Chicken Ladder) Scaffolds

A crawling board (chicken ladder) is a supported scaffold consisting of a plank with cleats spaced and secured to provide footing for use on sloped surfaces such as roofs.

  • Make sure the crawling boards extend from the roof peak to the eaves when used in roof construction, repair, or maintenance.
  • Verify crawling boards are secured to the roof by:
    • ridge hooks; and
    • by means that provide equivalent strength and durability
  • Check that crawling boards are no less than 10 inches wide and 1 inch thick.
  • Check the cleats on crawling boards to make sure they:
    • are equal in length to the width of the board;
    • are spaced at equal intervals not to exceed 24 inches; and
    • have a minimum cross-sectional area of 1 x 1-1/2 inches

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-8. What is the minimum width allowed for crawling boards?