EFFC/DFI Guide to Working Platforms

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The <strong>EFFC/DFI Guide to Working Platforms, 2nd Edition (May 2025)</strong> provides international good-practice guidance for designing, constructing and managing temporary platforms used by piling rigs, cranes and other construction equipment. Its central aim is to prevent instability and overturning, while supporting efficient and sustainable site operations. The guide supplements—not replaces—applicable laws, regulations or professional expertise.

It recommends managing working platforms as temporary works through a coordinated process: raise awareness, define responsibilities, establish equipment loads, design the platform, verify its construction, and inspect and maintain it throughout use. Clients, designers, general contractors and specialist contractors all have roles; these should be clearly allocated in contracts and recorded through formal acceptance, such as the EFFC/DFI Working Platform Certificate.

Design should be carried out by a competent geotechnical engineer using suitable ground investigation and accurate equipment-loading information. Track pressures depend on machine configuration, operating mode and orientation—not simply machine weight—so critical activities such as travelling, operation and rigging should be considered. The selected load model, bearing-capacity calculation method, safety factors and testing regime must be compatible.

No single field test verifies every aspect of a platform. Plate-load and lightweight-deflectometer tests mainly assess platform-layer properties, while penetrometer tests can help assess platform thickness and underlying soils. Test results can vary substantially, so adequate sampling, lower-bound interpretation and review by the designer are important.

Regular inspections should check for distress, inadequate drainage, edge hazards, damage and poorly reinstated excavations. The guide also encourages training, effective enforcement and sustainable choices, including appropriate recycled materials, efficient design and planned reuse. Overall, it promotes a documented, collaborative approach that balances safety, cost and environmental impact.
Keywords
working platforms
temporary works
EFFC DFI Guide
piling rigs
crane stability
geotechnical design
platform inspection
load assessment
bearing capacity
sustainable construction