Masonry Magazine March 2009 Page. 40
PLANKS & DECKING
First, the contractor should buy from a reputable supplier of quality scaffold plank," Jared Kennison, executive VP and general manager of Kennison Forest Products, said. "This ensures they meet all applicable standards. Second, all planks should be inspected routinely for damage and wear, so that they can be replaced as quickly as necessary. Correct storage and inspection are the keys to keeping good plank on the job."
Interpreting what you see can be aided by illustrations, such as those in Kennison's handouts, but it takes experience to make the right call each time. In most cases, it's best to make the conservative call. "When in doubt, kick it out."
Notched plank can lead to problems since, essentially, a potion of the plank is now missing, thereby weakening the plank at that particular area. Mike Gilleran, CEO of McCausey Lumber, has several pages of information available as well. "The bottom line is, it is the responsibility of the contractor to provide safe equipment to work with and scaffold plank is just like any other piece of equipment," he says. "Scaffold boards must be cared for and not abused. Proper care also can ultimately
prolong the life of the boards. That means it can save money as well as prevent injuries."
As OSHA reports, wood ages and reacts to usage and will begin to show checks, splits and notches. These will vary in degree, depending on the loads a plank has carried, the weather to which it has been exposed, the length of time it has been in use, etc. Planks with splits-that is, cracks that go completely through the wood-for more than a few inches should not remain in service, as they may no longer maintain the necessary load-bearing capacity.
Planks with checks-cracks that are on the surface only and do not go completely through the wood - should be watched, as the checks may develop into splits over time. Sometimes, the contractor literally will notch a section of the board with a saw, perhaps so the plank can fit around a portion of a scaffold assembly. Notched plank can lead to problems since, essentially, a potion of the plank is now missing, thereby weakening the plank at that particular area.
OSHA says that scaffold planks that have accumulated layers of mortar, grout, paint, plaster, etc., are not permitted to remain in service, since it is impossible to determine their conditions. Dangerous splits may be hidden underneath those coatings.
If a scaffold plank has been used as a mudsill, it should not be returned to service on a platform. Moisture from standing water as well as point-loading from the scaffold legs may have weakened it, making it unable to bear the weight that will be placed on it.
The flex or "give" of a plank can indicate its condition. OSHA calls for deflection criteria of L/60 (the length of span in inches divided by 60) to get the maximum deflection limit at center span in inches. An example would be a seven-foot (84-inch) span between scaffold frame supports: 84/60 = 1.40 inches. Therefore, you'd never want to allow a plank to deflect more than 1-3/8 inches at the mid-
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March 2009 www.masoncontractors.org