New EFFC-DFI Guide to Working Platforms The European Federation of Foundation Contractors (EFFC) and DFI recently published a free 175-page illustrated Guide to Working Platforms, which pools experiences from EFFC and DFI members to increase awareness of the state of practice regarding the multiple considerations — including pumps, platforms, vehicles, and personnel — for managing working platforms. The guide addresses the fact that on a typical construction site, the provision of a safe surface to work on involves and affects a number of the contracting parties (client, principal designer, general contractor, specialty contractor, platform designer, platform installer or earthworks contractor, platform tester and platform maintainer). As a consequence, organizing the platform design, installation and maintenance can be complex. As it concerns money and liability, it is often a contentious issue, but nonetheless one that needs to be addressed. The guide takes each step in turn and describes what good practice is, with reference to documents and resources that have been made available through EFFC and DFI. In compiling this information, responses have been collated from founda- tion contractors in France, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Sweden, United States and Canada. The guide is available to download for free atwww.dfi.org www.effc.org . or DEEP FOUNDATIONS • MAR/APR 2020 • 53
