Protection Deck Scaffolding – What You Need to Know
Protection deck scaffolding – an essential safety tool for any project, especially demolition projects! This simple guide covers some of the basics, from identification and build, through to storage and maintenance.
Protection deck scaffolding is an important safety measure to be utilised for various projects including those with lifting operations and critically during demolition, by providing access to workspaces along with coverage of critical thoroughfares and property, protecting people from injury and property from unnecessary damage.
What is a Protection Deck Scaffold?
A protection deck scaffold is exactly what it is called, i.e. a ‘protection deck’. Incorrectly labelled within many circles as a ‘crash deck’, a protection deck is a bespoke designed scaffolding structure or system, used to create safe working conditions and coverage. The hirer and principal designer identify a load class, pre-determined by the load that can impact along with the height from which it can fall. Protection decks usually consist of solid platforms supported by bolstered foundation scaffolds and bridge beam work, along with multiple layers of scaffold decking and polythene sheeting, sometimes topped by plyboard overlay, providing a barrier between the worksite and any potential hazards. Protection decks are designed to prevent falls from heights as well as collect materials that fall under controlled, planned operations, along with those that are unintended but perceived could happen. Effectively, protection decks are a form or risk mitigation, where it is known operations have the potential to cause harm or damage. Protection decks usually have sheeted guard rails or hard wall protection in addition to contain propelled debris/objects that bounce onto the deck.
Importantly, protection decks are not an unfactored solution that solve all problems, they must be categorised and deal with a real set of values, otherwise they are a scaffold that is simply utilised in vain ‘crash deck’ and may faulter.
Benefits
There is no secret that protection decks are an essential part of construction and demolition projects. However, what are the benefits of protection decks? Aside from the obvious health and safety related benefits, they are an effective option to be utilised by responsible contractors, demonstrating their approach to risk mitigation by a utilising reasonably practicable, engineered solution. Protection deck scaffolds also offer significant flexibility for changes during a project, this can be beneficial to both time and financial constraints.
Maintenance
Safety checks by trained and competent Inspectors should be undertaken regularly to identify any change, damage or wear and tear that may have occurred over time, such as warped decks or weakened components. Once the project is completed, protection deck components should be stored flat and away from weather exposure which can reduce their integrity. It is also important to keep an inventory of any separate parts required to form a complete system.
Safety
Safety is always the top priority on work sites. Ensuring your protection deck is designed and installed by suitable contractors, level and securely stabilised using suitable anchors to provide additional support are just some ways to ensure the safety of the protection deck. A fall prevention or arrest system that meets industry standards such as those contained within SG4:19 should be implemented during the erect, modification, use and dismantlement of the structure, along with routine checks. It is also important to manage the maximum load limit of the scaffolding system, ensuring this is a work up to value and is maintained during inclement weather such as snowfall. A load management plan should be drawn up to ensure load limits are not exceeded.
