Masonry Magazine December 2016 Page. 27
SCAFFOLD PLANKS AND DECKING
8. (d) Done incorrectly, can be damaging to planks.
OSHA does not require annual mechanical evaluations, though there are a handful of agencies that do require this internally. There are also facilities that have this requirement for their contractors. While many manufacturers have a proof test, mechanical evaluation is also not a requirement or the responsibility of the manufacturer. Mechanical eval�uation can be a great supplement to visual inspection, but it is not an alternative. The visual inspection is still what is required by OSHA. There are good and bad mechanical evaluation methods, and some can do more harm to your inventory than good. Ask your manufacturer or supplier for their recommended specs regarding loads, spans, etc., and how to properly conduct the evaluation.
Some proof tests can be very accurate and informative, and others not so much. A proof test only provides informa�tion about a plank at the time of manufacturing, not after it was put into service.
9. (e) Grade stamp.
Many planks will have an emboss on them, and many will claim to comply with OSHA by showing "OSHA" on the emboss. Many planks will have rods and clipped comers to improve end-split resistance. The invoice will usually
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indicate the product grade. But the only reliable way to confirm a scaffold plank is the grade stamp. It shows the agency whose stamp confirms the material is in-grade.
10. (a) Any plank that has previously been used as a mud sill.
While a plank with an 18-inch-long end split is not permit�ted to be used, that plank can be trimmed back to remove the end split and go back into service as a shorter plank. While you would not want to use a plank with cupping of� inch, a lot ofcupped plank, particularly LDL plank, can be dried out, al�lowing the moisture to equilibrate across the plank. This will straighten the plank back out, and there is a good potential the plank could be returned to service. There are certain types of rust that you would not want to have in a serviceable plank, but white rust is not an indication that the plank's strength has been compromised, so it could be used again. You also would not want to use a composite plank with a saw kerf across the wide face, but the plank could be cut to eliminate the kerf IMAS
JeffJack is forming and shoring specialist for Red Built.
He can be reached atjjack@redbuilt.com
The SAIA, or the Scaffold & Access Industry Association,
promotes safety in the use of scaffolding. More information
on identification and inspection of scaffold planks can be
found at www.saiaonline.org.
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24 I MASONRY � December 2016 � www.masoncontractors.org The Voice of the Masonry Industry