Masonry Magazine March 2009 Page. 39
SCAFFOLDING PLANK SAFETY
PLANK SAFETY REQUIRES INSPECTION AND CARE. Several organizations have published "controlling documents, including OSHA Safety and Health Standards and the Scaffolding Industry Association (SIA), with the most binding being those from OSHA. Sort through the legalese and technical jargon, and you're left with simple, common sense things to consider on the jobsite and in the yard.
Inspection is critical, and both OSHA and SIA say an inspection must be done by a qualified person meaning "one who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate or professional standing or by extensive knowledge, training and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve or resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work or the project." Most contractors have at least one such person on staff - whether it's the owner, a long-time supervisor, or someone who has been sent for specialized training in safety issues.
Although the rules call for a qualified person to perform inspections, the reality of life on the job indicates that anyone who steps a foot on a scaffolding plank must know enough to say if the rig is safe. For these daily ad hoc inspections, the worker can use guidelines and common sense equally well. Several companies that manufacture scaffolding planks produce detailed guidelines for selecting the right planks and simple, but complete, guides for field care and inspection.
McCausey Lumber Co. in Roseville, Mich., and Kennison Forest Products, in Sulphur, La., are examples of companies with guidelines available to clients and non-clients. Like you, these companies are concerned about job safety and the proper use- and avoidance of misuse of their products.
"When in doubt, kick it out."
- Kennison Forest Products
KENNISON FOREST PRODUCTS, INC.
The Solid Choice for Scaffold Plante
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1-888-697-5585
Fax: 337-527-0412
Bob Edens
Sales, ext. 17
Jared Kennison
Sales, est. 15
Joe Kennison
Sales, est. 14
John Warlikowski
Western Region Sales
1-877-784-9163
www.kennisonforest.com
READER SERVICE #144
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phone 866.480.6516
fax 337.480.6582
cell 337.540.9847
ELRIDGE SCHWARTZENBURG
phone 877.612.3656
fox 337.948.7010
enal:
advantagelumber@yahoo.com
READER SERVICE #274
March 2009
MASONRY 35