Pima County, AZ Building Safety: Scaffold & Sidewalk Shed (2026)

Arizona operates its own OSHA-approved state plan through the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health (ADOSH), a division of the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA). ADOSH enforces scaffold safety standards that are at least as effective as federal OSHA 29 CFR 1926 Subpart L. All scaffolds on Pima County construction sites must be erected, modified, and dismantled under the supervision of a competent person as defined by OSHA. Workers on scaffolds 10 feet or more above a lower level must use guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems. Scaffold platforms must be fully planked with no gaps greater than 1 inch. The competent person must inspect scaffolds daily before each work shift and after weather events, alterations, or periods of non-use. ADOSH conducts programmed and complaint-triggered inspections of construction sites throughout Pima County. Pima County heat (regularly exceeding 110 degrees F in summer) creates additional scaffold hazards including heat stress, thermal expansion of metal components, and the need for shade and hydration protocols. Scaffolds on public sidewalks or rights-of-way in unincorporated Pima County require encroachment permits from Pima County DOT.