Masonry Magazine November 2006 Page. 29
Kennison
FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.
The Solid Choice for
Scaffold Plante
Dense Industrial 65 Solid
Sawn Scafold Plank
Z-Plank Laminated
Scaffold Plank
Services Available:
Rod-Clip-Brand
End Painting
Precision End Trimming
Paper Wrapping
Meets OSHA/ANSI Standards
Smooth and Rough Surfaces
2x8", 2x10", 2x12"
4'-20' Lengths
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prices to your area on
partial or full loads!
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Bob Edens
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Jared Kennison
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Joe Kennison
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John Warlikowski
Western Region Sales
1-877-784-9163
www.kennisonforest.com
If an OSHA inspector visits a job site and finds the contractor is not using OSHA-recognized products, the job could be red tagged and basically a stop work order is put into place until those planks are replaced. Fines could also be involved; it just depends on the severity and the circumstances.
Finally, it is my understanding that if there is an accident of some nature in the field, the burden of proof lies on the contractor's shoulders. If the plank failed and someone got hurt, the contractor is responsible to prove that the material that his or her men were working on was ample enough to carry the intended load.
Kennison: Besides the obvious safety concerns, they are going to experience a loss of time, productivity and the expense of having to replace the uncertified plank that they've already purchased.
Do you feel that uncertified lumber will not last as long as the certified types of scaffold planking?
Gilleran: In general, brand new OSHA-recognized solid sawn plank or laminated plank, is already stronger than non-certified products. Therefore, by reasonable deduction, it should last longer. However, it is like any piece of equipment in the field; you need to take care of it and only use it for the application it is designed for a work platform.
Kennison: That's generally what mason contractors always ask. 'How long is this going to last?' Everyone expects a warranty with products, but with scaffold plank there's no real warranty, aside from the manufacturer's warranty. It all depends on the work environment and general usage. Scaffold planks take a lot of abuse, so they must be inspected on a consistent basis. Care should be taken to ensure proper storage and inspection of all certified scaffold plank.
Gilleran: Most manufacturers and suppliers of reputable products publish their own proper usage and care guide. Also, the SIA [Scaffold Industry Association) Platform Council has developed a user care and handling guide for solid sawn and laminated planks. The best thing to do is reference these user guides and study how the plank should be properly stored and handled. Believe it or not, some contractors use their scaffold boards for ramps and mudsills this exerts a tremendous amount of load on the boards that can easily cause a fracture within the plank. If it goes undetected and that plank makes it back into the scaffold system, someone could likely get hurt.
We were previously discussing the possible repercussions that mason contractors might have to deal with. What are the possible repercussions that legitimate