Yesterday morning, I read about three people that were hurt when a deck collapsed in Coon Rapids. According to the Minneapolis Tribune:
Six to 10 people were on the deck when it broke away from the second story and fell about 8 feet,
It was interesting that fellow Injuryboard member, Michael Phelan recently looked at this topic:
Unsafe Decks a Hazard to College Students, June 04, 2010 9:50 AM
as did Jon Lewis:
Decks Can Collapse, July 13, 2010 10:05 PM
I also ran across this video about how these collapses happen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKTkoz-W1r0
Fairfax County, Virginia responded to a collapse there with the following advice:
“Decks don’t last forever, so it’s important to check your deck regularly, especially if it’s older,” said Ray Pylant, Fairfax County’s building official. “Decks usually fall down because they aren’t attached to your home properly. Another common cause for injuries is loose guardrails or posts. But you can avoid injuries and accidents with regular inspections and maintenance.”
Follow these five safety tips:
Check support posts and beams for rot, splitting or abnormal movement.
Closely check the attachment points between the deck and the house.
Check all fasteners, bolts, joist hangers and other hardware for rust or corrosion.
Check all guards and rails to be sure they are sturdy and secured.
Use grills, heaters and outdoor fire pits with care.
Warning signs that a deck may be unsafe include: loose or wobbly railings or support beams, missing or loose screws that connect a deck to the house, corrosion, rot and cracks. Homeowners must get a county permit and inspections anytime they make structural repairs or changes to their deck.
Hopefully, those that were injured will heal quickly. Also that others with decks will take a minute to make sure theirs are safe.
