Scaffold boards refer to a solid platform that is used on the scaffold ladders to support the weight of the workers. There are many types of scaffold boards including materials and size. Scaffold boards can be made from steel, aluminum and wood. Wooden scaffold boards are made from whitewood and redwoods. It must not contain any defects such as splits and denture. If the scaffold board has a lot of defects, it is unsafe to be used by the workers. The board will break while the worker is performing the job halfway. If the worker is standing on a very high scaffold platform, he may die from falling down.
Scaffold boards sold in the store are made from laminated plywood. The layer of lamination on the plywood increases the durability of the scaffold board so that it is robust. Plywood that are treated with laminate is less susceptible to fire and chemical substances. The scaffold board should have an appropriate thickness. The thicker the scaffold board, the higher the safety standard. Generally, scaffold board has a thickness between 45 – 70 mm. The scaffold boards must comply with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) standard.
Scaffold boards that are made from steel and aluminum are also used in the construction site. Aluminum scaffold boards are lightweight and can last for a longer time compare with the wood scaffold boards. Wooden scaffold board are vulnerable to cracks. If the wood scaffold board touches water, it will rot and become damaged. The wood will gradually become softer after a period of usage. Steel and aluminum scaffold boards will have a hard and robust surface all the time. They won’t become soft if the workers keep standing on it. They also don’t rot and can last for a long time. Most of the steel and aluminum scaffold boards are made from recyclable materials.
Scaffold boards are available at an affordable price. You can buy scaffold boards from the home improvement store for $10 each. Scaffold boards that undergo special treatment to increase its strength are more expensive. If you want to save money, you can take advantage of online shopping. The scaffold boards in the online store are always cheaper than the retail store. Online storeowners don’t have to bear the cost of a brick and mortar store such as rental, and utility bill. As a result, the products sold in online store are much cheaper than the retail store. Many scaffolding boards supplier list their products on their website at a cheap price.
When shopping at the store, the safety standards of the scaffold board should be your primary deciding factor. It must comply with the standard of the OSHA so that your worker can have a save working environment. The scaffold board should have enough room for the workers to walk around. If there are multiple workers using the scaffold, you have to buy a larger scaffold board. If only one person is going to use the scaffold, you can buy a scaffold board with a smaller dimension. The wooden board must be checked to ensure it can support the weight of the workers.
