TIL some job sites still use wooden scaffolding for boiler work - is that safe or just old school?

I was out at a chemical plant near Baton Rouge last Tuesday, helping swap out a heat exchanger. The crew had us working off this old wooden scaffold setup, like 12 feet up, with planks that looked like they'd been through a few hurricanes. The foreman said it's all they've ever used, said steel scaffolding takes too long to set up. But I couldn't stop thinking about fire risk or a board snapping. Then again, these guys have been doing it for 20 years without issues. What do yall think? Is wooden scaffolding a legit trade secret or a hazard waiting to happen? Anyone else run into this on a job?

2 comments

2 Comments

tara34520d ago

Wood burns, right? If it's so safe, why don't they use it for everything?

amy_reed7920d ago

Wooden scaffolding has its place, but fire risk is real especially near boiler work. In my experience, those old planks can hide rot or splits that a quick walk won't show. Your mileage may vary, but I'd rather wait an extra hour for steel than gamble on a 12 foot drop.