Masonry Magazine November 2006 Page. 28
SCAFFOLD PLANKING
I guess, in a nutshell, contractors need to be aware - especially mason contractors, where their application is considered heavy-duty. They are loading their planks with very heavy materials, and if they're not using planks designed to carry the intended loads, there could very well be an accident. Official, scaffold-grade plank is purposely selected to be stronger and will not fatigue as fast when it is exposed to the weather elements and repeatedly loaded with heavy materials. That would be one of my biggest concerns.
QUALITY MASONRY TOOLS
KING BRICK HOD
W
TOOLS....
www.rweltools.com
4818 Du Creek House Springs 63051
Phone: (806) 671-4107 Fax: (836) 305-3625
Tall Free: 1-800-245-3544
CIRCLE 154 ON READER SERVICE CARD
SCAFFOLD PLANK
LAMINATED OR SOLID SAWN
STORAGE AND CARE REVIEW
Provided by Kennison Forest Products, the following care tips are a good review of important safety information to make sure your planking practices aren't rusty.
Keep Scaffold Planks Dry
The strength and performance of a scaffold plank is reduced by moisture.
Storage
Store in a dry, well-ventilated area. Storing in wet or unventilated areas will accelerate wood decay and plank deterioration. Always allow wet planks to dry quickly by providing proper air circulation.
Protection
Protect planks from extreme weather conditions, including excessive exposure to water and temperatures exceeding 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Store planks under a roof or under a porous cover that will shed water while allowing moisture to escape.
Stacking Stored Planks
Keep planks stacked in bundles off of the ground and supported by sticks spaced no more than eight feet apart. Be sure to line up the sticks between the bundles with the ground sticks. This will allow easy forklift access and provide air circulation. Misalignment of the sticks can damage the planks by creating a bow. Do not store heavy objects on the planks.
Safety First
Remember to immediately remove damaged scaffold planks from service. Damaged planks may result in injury or death.
People need to be aware that they should only use OSHA-recognized grades of solid sawn lumber or a specific type of engineered wood plank that is proven to be certified by a nationally recognized, third-party inspection agency.
Kennison: I agree with that. Not all mason contractors consider this point when making their purchase. Not all scaffold plank are created equal. I feel that our customers make safety a priority, as they do on every job. They purchase quality equipment for their workers; scaffold plank shouldn't be any different.
What are the possible repercussions that mason contractors might incur if they use uncertified scaffold planking?
Gilleran: First and foremost, death and injury. It's senseless for someone to get injured or killed just because of irresponsible choices or actions pertaining to safety in the field.
When it comes to jobsite safety, your workers deserve the best!
•Microllam
•Master Plank
•DI-65 Pine
OSHA Recognized
•Third Party
Inspection
Proof Tested &
Stamped
• Readily Available
A WORLD OF SOURCES FOR SPECIALTY WOOD PRODUCTS
SERVING THE INDUSTRY FOR OVER 60 YEARS
800 365 9663
586 294 9663
Roseville, MI USA
MCAU
www.mccauseylumber.com
26
Masonry
CAUSEY LUMBER CO.
CIRCLE 160 ON READER SERVICE CARD
November 2006
www.masoncontractors.org