[Mike Vezina]

What is the industry good practice for the maximum length of dead end platforms. Industrial site.

Researching numerous owners and EC’s, the range has been 20 ft to 26 ft.
OSHA USA states 20 ft., U.S.Department of Health makes no mention, Alberta Building Code makes no mention.

Adding insight, the spacing between two ladders on elevated platforms shall not exceed 75 ft.
Can anyone explain why a dead end platform could not be one half of 75 feet?
Can anyone explain a principle behind the EC’s choosing 20 to 26 feet?

Thanks
MNV

Discussion

[Anton Dooley]

Hi Mike,

I always go with 20′ … as it seems to be the most stringent max. length out there.

Reasoning why the dead end is not half of the spacing between ladders?
I always assumed that the longer distance between ladders is allowed because you have more than one means of egress in case of fire / emergency etc – the likelihood of a fire breaking out on both sides of you is fairly remote.

Explaining the principle behind it? Not a clue!

[Mike Vezina]

Thanks Anton

Your reasoning makes sense for the shorter dead end platform length.
Considering how long the old EC majors and old energy companies have been using this standard, it must have been well hashed out with actual operations and concern for personnel safety being paramount in setting the layout limitations.
I’m trying to establish a maximum acceptable to the industry to finalize an access layout specification, while also being able to have reasonable industry backup for my decision, since it involves redesign time for those who do not adhere to the layout rules.

MNV

[knives]

What would you design that would require a “longer” dead end platform?

In some energy company specification, there is also a minimum platform area (say 20 sq.m) where you need to drop a ladder as secondary means of escape. I think you can slightly veer away from the max. 20 ft requirement depending on where the platform location is. If this was on obvious hazardous area or there’s a high risk of fire from hydrocarbon handled by unit for example, I don’t recommend deviating on the specified dead end length.

[Mike Vezina]

knives

Working on large scale facilities the platforming for equipment, control and operating valve stations, PSV valves, become quite large and a lot of them. The natural layout configurations produce a lot of dead end platforms.
…I got off track and since that posting and more research, the short answer would be:
– Dead-end platforms shall not be more than 6 meter long. (plus or minus using common sense)
– All elevated platforms within a hazardous work site classification shall have two means of emergency egress.
– Emergency egress facilities shall be positioned as far from each other as practicable provided that they are so arranged that travel distances in high hazard situations shall not exceed 75 feet (23 m).

Please excuse my previous rambling on
MNV

[Author]

Replies