Masonry Magazine November 2006 Page. 32
SCAFFOLD PLANKING
of regulating the job site, but then you also have associations, like SIA, that have a strong role in the industry.
Kennison: Each agency has a different role to play. Basically, for the contractors' information, they need to know OSHA does not approve scaffold plank; they police the job sites for standards and designs as set by ANSI. In regards to grading the products, LVL should be certified by a qualified, independent, third-party inspection agency, and D165 grading standards are set by the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau, followed by TP [Timber Products] and overseen by American Lumber Standards Committee. Meanwhile, SIA is 'the voice of the industry.
Gilleran: That's right, ANSI writes the guidelines pertaining to the strength performance standards for scaffold plank. OSHA then observes these minimum requirements and does it's best to enforce that safe plank products are being used.
The SIA is primarily there to educate, whereas OSHA is there to regulate and enforce. And that's where some of the issues lie nowadays; there are only so many resources available to regularly enforce safety in the field. Unfortunately, it's much like your local police department; they're there after the crime has been committed. There's no way you can have a police officer sitting in every convenience store waiting for a robbery.
Unfortunately, OSHA has limited resources available to do that on an on-going basis. That's why SIA is so involved in educating.
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What can mason contractors do to help fight this problem with uncertified planking?
Gilleran: I guess I would say the main thing is that they strive to learn all they can about the products they are considering and be sure the products have the proper credentials. They ought to have their own checklist by which they could go to their supplier and say 'Hey, I need some scaffold plank and these are the qualifications that I need the material to adhere to.
Kennison: Absolutely. They need to do their research, quite simply. They need to ask the right questions to make sure that the products they are buying are certified. Knowledge is power. All contractors must know the consequences of buying uncertified scaffold plank.
Gilleran: The whole thing basically boils down to: Buyer beware.
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