OSHA Instruction STD 3-10.1B AUGUST 14, 1979 Office of Compliance Programming

SUBJECT: General Industry and Maritime Industry Standards as Related to Construction Standard, 29 CFR 1926. 451(a)(10)

A. Purpose. This instruction provides information and guidance on laminated planking which meets the equivalent requirements of 29 CFR 1910.28(a)(9), 29 CFR 1915.41(h)(1), 29 CFR 1916.41(h)(1), 29 CFR 1917.41 (d)(1), 29 CFR 1918.98(a)(2) and 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(10).

B. Scope. This instruction applies OSHA-wide.

C. Cancellation. OSHA Instruction STD 3-10.1A, February 28, 1979, Office of Compliance Programming, is canceled.

D. Action.

1. 29 CFR 1910.28(a)(9) and 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(10) state: "All planking shall be scaffold grades, or equivalent, as recognized by approved grading rules for species of wood used." The applicable maritime standards, 29 CFR 1915.41(h)(1), 29 CFR 1916.41(h) (1), 29 CFR 1917.41(d)(1) and 29 CFR 1918.98(a)(2), require that planking shall be straight-grained lumber, 2-inch by 10-inch, free from large or loose knots, and of specified woods.

2. A comparison of engineering data on certain laminated planking with engineering data on planking of scaffold grades, as indicated in the West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau Grading Rule, finds that some laminated planking provides the equivalent strength of scaffold grade planking, and meets the equivalent requirements of the standards mentioned in the previous paragraph D.1. Laminated

OSHA Instruction STD 3-10.1B AUGUST 14, 1979 Office of Compliance Programming

planking which is equivalent to scaffold grades is acceptable in General Industry, the Maritime Industry and the Construction Industry and complies with 29 CFR 1926.451(a)(10). CSHO's shall check laminated planking engineering data to insure that it is equivalent.

E. Federal Program Change. This instruction describes a Federal program change which affects State programs. Each Regional Administrator shall:

1. Ensure that this change is forwarded to each State designee

2. Explain the technical content of the change to the State designee as requested.

3. Ensure that State designees are asked to acknowledge receipt of this Federal program change in writing, within 30 days of notification, to the Regional Administrator. This acknowledgment should include a description either of the State's plan to implement the change or of the reasons why the change should not apply to that State.

4. Review policies, instructions and guidelines issued by the State to determine that this change has been communicated to State program personnel. Routine monitoring activities (accompanied inspections, spot check visits and case file reviews) shall also be used to determine if this change has been implemented in actual performance.

F. Background. Several Regional Offices have reviewed and provided documentation indicating that some laminated planking is equivalent to scaffold grade planking.

Grover C. Wrenn Director, Federal Compliance and State Programs

DISTRIBUTION: National, Regional and Area Offices All Compliance Officers State Designees NIOSH Regional Program Directors