Do OSHA standards prohibit the use of plywood as a platform decking material?
It is permissible under certain conditions to use plywood as platform decking material. OSHA’s construction industry standards addressing scaffolds are in 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart L. “Platform[s],” which form the working surfaces of scaffolds, are defined in §1926.451(b). That definition, in part, provides: Platforms can be constructed using individual wood planks, fabricated planks, fabricated decks, and fabricated platforms. [Emphasis added.] Section 1926.450(b) defines “Fabricated decking and planking” as: manufactured platform[s] made of wood (including laminated wood, and solid sawn wood planks), metal or other materials. [Emphasis added.] General scaffold requirements are set forth in §1926.451. Significantly, §1926.451(a)(1) states: Capacity. Except as provided in …, each scaffold and scaffold component shall be capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load applied or transmitted to it. Section 1926.451(a)(6) continues: S
