Which elevation aide must support four times the maximum intended load?

The correct answer focuses on scaffolding, which is designed to support heavy loads during construction and maintenance work. Scaffolding must be engineered to handle not only the weight of the workers but also the materials and equipment that will be used at height. The requirement for scaffolding to support four times the maximum intended load is a critical safety standard, ensuring stability and preventing accidents that can occur if the structure fails under weight.

This standard highlights the importance of safety in construction environments, where scaffolding is often exposed to dynamic forces and additional loads that can exceed initial estimates. This precaution helps maintain the integrity of the scaffold under unexpected conditions.

In contrast, other options like portable ladders, fixed ladders, and cleat ladders typically have different load requirements and applications, usually focusing on safe usage without the same level of load-bearing capability as scaffolding. While they are essential tools for elevation, they do not have the same robust specifications required for scaffolding in terms of supporting multiple times the intended load safely.