Crash Deck vs
Work Platform
Crash Deck or Work Platform?
A Crash Deck was originally a temporary scaffolding platform used to stop falling objects during the demolition process in construction projects.
It has since come to be associated with stopping a person from falling and providing height safety. This is wrong and is in fact dangerous because it implies that if a ‘crash deck’ is installed, a worker is safe.
There are two options for working at height – a work platform such as RhinoDeck that prevents the falls or fall arrest bags such as AirDeck that provide fall arrest. A work platform provides a large, stable and flat surface for users to work on, and load materials to, preventing falls from height. Work at height platforms can also be combined with accessories such as hand rails etc to improve protection.
Fall arrest bags such as AirDeck, arrest the potential fall by providing a cushioned / soft landing surface and reducing the g force from the fall protecting the user. If the user falls onto a ‘crash deck’, the fall is not cushioned (A crash deck is typically made from timber and steel) making the fall potentially dangerous.
The standard for fall arrest bags PAS 59 :14 recommends that a falling person is not exposed to a force of more than 14 g. The more rigid the ‘crash deck’ the greater the g force and the chances of serious injury or fatality.
For this reason, a typical ‘Crash-Deck’ should never be considered as an option for protection when working at height and equally a Work platform should never be referred to as a ‘Crash-Deck’ – confusing the two could be deadly.
A work at height platform is designed to provide a safe and stable working surface for workers who need to work at height. These platforms are typically used in construction, maintenance, and repair work where workers need to access high or hard-to-reach areas safely.