Platform Integrity

Welcome back, let’s Build Smart & Build Safe! The platform is your primary working surface, yet "plank failures" are a leading cause of scaffold injuries. Many treat any piece of wood as a scaffold plank, but the deck must be an engineered system capable of supporting 4 times its intended load without excessive deflection or sliding.

The Rules of the Deck

A safe platform is not just about the strength of the wood; it’s about how that wood is positioned.

• Fully Planked: Between the uprights and the guardrails, the platform must be fully planked or decked. Gaps between planks cannot exceed 1 inch unless necessary to fit around uprights.

• Plank Grade: Only use lumber stamped with the "DI-65" or "Scaffold Plank" stamp. Standard construction-grade lumber is not rated for the span and weight requirements of a scaffold and can snap without warning.

• The 6-Inch Rule: To prevent planks from "see-sawing" or sliding off the support, they must extend over their end support by at least 6 inches, but no more than 12 inches (unless cleated or secured) to prevent a tipping hazard.

Overlaps and Gaps

When planks are joined to create a long run, how they meet determines the stability of your footing.

• The Overlap: Planks must overlap each other by at least 12 inches and only over a support member (bearer), unless the planks are nailed or otherwise restrained to prevent movement.

• Maximum Gap: The front edge of the platform must be within 14 inches of the face of the work. If you are plastering or lathing, that gap can be up to 18 inches. Anything wider requires an inside guardrail.

Implementation: The Walking Surface Audit

Before you start staging materials on the deck today:

1. Check for "Spring": If a plank deflects significantly when you step on it, it may be overloaded or under-rated.

2. Mind the Ends: Ensure no plank ends are "blind" (unsupported) or extending more than 12 inches past the frame.

3. Clear the Debris: Mud, ice, and scrap material on a plank hide cracks and create trip hazards. Keep the deck clear.

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-The Safety Man