A scaffold platform must generally be fully planked or decked between the front uprights and the guardrail supports, with a gap no greater than:

Explanation

Title 8 CCR §1637 (and the corresponding federal scaffold standard) generally requires the space between planks/decking units and between the deck and uprights to be no more than 1 inch wide, except where the work requires a wider gap and the contractor can show the gap is as small as feasible. The 1-inch rule prevents tools and materials from falling and reduces trip/fall hazards. The 3-inch, 6-inch, and 12-inch numbers are common wrong answers drawn from other standards (e.g., toe-board clearances, mid-rail spacing).