scaffold and access industry association

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 10OCTOBER 2007

Sky Climber Q&AWind Turbine AccessUpdating ANSI Z359

Sky Climber Q&AWind Turbine AccessUpdating ANSI Z359

The harshest winter conditions are no match

for Strong Man.

Our specially reinforced enclosures wrap your

building in a “blanket” of protection that can

keep your crew on the job and your project on

track. You also can count on Strong Man for:

•A large inventory that ensures on-time delivery

•Products that meet OSHA specifications

•A sales staff with the answers you need, when you need them

Our Weather Enclosures can help youbattle the elements...and win!

STRONG MAN. Whatever winter throws at you,we’ve got you covered.

Strong Man. Quality products. Exceptional service.For more information and your nearest dealer, call 1-800-950-6999.Fairfield, New Jerseywww.strongman.comE-mail: [email protected]

www.scaffold.org Scaffold Industry OCTOBER 2007 3

FeatureUpdating

ANSI Z359 22Fall protection

standards see firstrevisions since 1999

FeatureFrom Putlogs to

Weblogs 33Scaffold

training goes high tech

TableOf Contents

5 From the President’s Desk

8 Technically Speaking

26 Schedule of Events

36 Industry Briefs

40 Advertisers Index

departments

Questions and answers with Sky Climber’s vice president salesand marketing Todd King

10

FeatureIt’s All About the Future at Sky Climber

FeatureR Tex Inc.

24Scaffold safetysystems aimed

at improving jobsite safety

O C T O B E R> VOLUME 35 > ISSUE 10 > 2007

On the CoverSky Climber provided access for a bridge project in Hawaii.

ColumnPreventing

Worker Falls 17Making proper connec-

tions for fall protection insuspended scaffolds

Scaffold Industry OCTOBER 2007 5

It’s October. Fall,leaves changing colors,football season, theWorld Series, and atthe SIA we’re onemonth into our firstannual 2007 Outstan-ding Scaffold and/orAccess Applicationcontest. To date, wehave received entries

for projects in both supported and suspend-ed scaffolds along with one Mastclimberproject. For those of you in the Aerial WorkPlatform segment of the industry, we wantto hear from you as well to ensure that wehave the entire scaffold and access industryrepresented.

If you recall, last month we officiallylaunched the contest with a December dead-line. The winning project will be featuredwithin an upcoming Scaffold Industry maga-zine complete with a cover promotion. Thecriteria are simple. If the project or applica-tion started or was ongoing in 2007, utilized

VOLUME 35 ISSUE 10

F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T ’ S D E S K

Time to Show Us Your BestP R O M O T I N G T H E B E S T T H E S C A F F O L D & A C C E S S I N D U S T R Y H A S T O O F F E R

Scaffold Industry is published monthly withan extra issue in March by the Scaffold IndustryAssociation Inc. Subscriptions are $85 for an annualsubscription / $45 for additional subscription.Postmaster: Send address changes to: ScaffoldIndustry Assocation Inc., P.O. Box 20574,Phoenix, AZ 85036- 0574

For further information, please contact the SIAoffice at:

Scaffold Industry Assocation Inc.2001 E. Campbell Ave.

Suite 101Phoenix, AZ 85016

Phone: (602) 257-1144Fax: (602) 257-1166

[email protected] • www.scaffold.org

Scaffold Industry is the official publication of theScaffold Industry Association Inc. Opinions expressedherein are those of the respective authors and do notnecessarily reflect the official view of the SIA.

The material contained in this publication is forinformational purposes only and, unless otherwisenoted, is not to be considered as the official positionof the SIA, its members or advertisers; does not con-stitute legal advice; is not to be considered as approv-ing or recommending any product or advertisementby the SIA; and the SIA does not promulgate rules orregulations governing the industry or its members.

John R. Miller owns and operates the Millstone Companies based in Upper Marlboro, Md. He can be reached at (602) 257-1144 or e-mailed at [email protected].

Published by:

John R. Miller

JOHN R. MILLERPresident

The Millstone Companies

BILL BREAULTPresident Elect

Breault Industrial Group, Inc.

JOHN BRASILVice President

Etobicoke Ironworks Limited

STEVE SMITHSecretary

Edge International

LIZ CALLAHANTreasurer

Power Climber

RANDY MOODYBoard Appointee The Brock Group

JEFF STACHOWIAKBoard Appointee

Sunbelt Rentals

CHUCK HUTCHINSONPresidential Appointee

Bil-Jax, Inc.

HOWARD SCHAPIRAImmediate Past-President

Action Equipment & Scaffold Co. Inc.

2006-2008 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

P U B L I S H E RMike Mehno

(972) 819-1460

E D I T O RNatalie Keith(561) 364-0113

M A N A G E R , D E S I G N & P R O D U C T I O N

Mike Baker(626) 932-6197

G R A P H I C D E S I G N E RChuck Muela

(626) 932-6147

A D C O O R D I N A T O RTerri Wujek

(212) 904-3903

A C C O U N T M A N A G E RElizabeth Stemac

(832) 524-4947

A C C O U N T M A N A G E RJoan Callahan(972) 819-1496

a large amount of equipment, required asubstantial amount of manpower, wasdesigned and/or engineered overcomingchallenging site conditions while requiringsuccessful completion safely, on-time andunder budget, we want to hear about it.

Continued on page 7

Each year, member firms tackle the toughest scaffold and access projects worldwide and provide solutions for various contractors proving once again that this

industry is indeed a critical component, integral to the construction process.

6 OCTOBER 2007 Scaffold Industry www.scaffold.org


Each year, member firms tackle thetoughest scaffold and access projectsworldwide and provide solutions forvarious contractors proving once againthat this industry is indeed a criticalcomponent, integral to the construc-tion process. Over the years, andmore prominently the last two years,the SIA has cited examples of ourindustries expertise when profilingoutstanding scaffold and access appli-cations such as the restoration of theWashington Monument, the construc-tion of the U. S. Air Force Memorial,the assembly of the Cedar RapidsRollercoaster, along with the construc-tion of the Disney Concert Hall.These are the ones we know about.Now we want to hear about the oneswe don’t know about. No project istoo large or too small to be submitted.

The upcoming months will be busyones for our association as we lead upto our 2008 Committee Week inScottsdale, AZ. Now that we havecaught a breath after convention, theplanning and scheduling of regionalchapter meetings are underway.President Elect Bill Breault and I havecommitted to split the country andconduct chapter meetings before theend of the year. The meetings areprojected to include an aspect of safe-ty training, guest speakers with lunchalong with a national SIA report out-lining both regional and nationalgoals and objectives. Future leadersof our association will be identified atthe chapter level as we continue tobuild the future of a stronger SIA.On the 26th of this month, executivevice-president Richard Marshall and Iwill yet again visit Capitol Hill to meetwith OSHA officials on a myriad ofissues as the dialogue and outreachcontinues between our respectiveoffices. Director of membershipElouise Schultz will travel to Chicagothis month for the National SafetyCouncil show where she will repre-sent the SIA while promoting mem-bership, scaffold training programs

President’s Message

Continued from page 5

upcoming issue...International Access Industry Inside Insurance

For Advertising Rates or to submit an article, please call:

Elizabeth Stemac (832) 524-4947

Joan Callahan (972) 819-1496

and opportunities along with partici-pation within our rapidly expandingFall Protection Council. And lastly,preparations are being made with ourpartners at the Scaffold, Shoring &Forming Institute (SSFI) for theirannual fall meeting in Chicago toaddress the development of mini-mum guidelines and expectations forimporters of scaffold equipment. Theheadlines of late have been littered withreports of faulty goods imported fromabroad; contaminated dog food, faultytires, toys recalled, and yes, now we have

reports of substandard steel being soldand utilized to fabricate scaffolding,piping used in power plants andrefineries, and bridge trusses. More onthis to follow, but in the meantime,buyer beware.

It’s October, the last quarter of theyear 2007. Momentum is on our side.There is much going on and muchmore to do. We could use your help.Drop us a line and tell us where youwant to get involved. We look forwardto hearing from you. Go Redskins!

What’s next! ■


stairs when he tripped over his four-legged friend. Luckily, Eddie grabs onand avoids fall opportunity #8 (FO8).Realizing that he’s running a bit late,Eddie decides to postpone breakfastand heads for his truck in the garage.He looks behind the front seat to veri-fy that his tools and fall protectionequipment is still there and proceedsto step on the running board to climbinto his truck – the one with the bigwheels and bigger engine.

He almost slips off the runningboard because, in his haste to get intothe truck, he didn’t place his footproperly (FO9). It’s been a tough dayfor Eddie so far.

Eddie gets to work, picks up the restof the crew (he has a crew cab truck)and off they go to the jobsite. Remem-bering that he has yet to eat breakfast(and remembering from his youththat his mother always said that break-fast was the most important meal)Eddie stops at the local 7-Eleven for adelicious breakfast sandwich. Aftercarefully climbing out of his truck,Eddie is distracted by an attractive cus-tomer and immediately trips over theconcrete bumper in the parking lot(FO10). Picking up his pride, Eddieheads into the store and makes his

How Many Hazards?By David H. Glabe, P.E.

When the subject ofscaffold erectorsarises, fall protec-tion is invariablypart of the conversa-tion. For the mostpart, the focus ofthe conversationseems to be thaterectors don’t care

about themselves and that rules mustbe established that will protect erectorsfrom falls and other perils. Oddlyenough, those that are marginallyinvolved with the erection of scaffold-ing are the same individuals who arethe most knowledgeable on the sub-ject. Consequently, it is time to put thewhole issue into perspective. Let’s lookat a day in the life of Eddie the Erector.

Eddie is a skilled worker like mosterectors and, for that matter, anyonethat works in the construction industry.On this day Eddie is about to go to workat a mid-rise commercial building in aburgeoning suburban area of a typicalcity in North America. He is the leadingedge erector and Competent Person forthe internationally-recognized scaffoldcompany known as “Scaffolds WeErect,” which is recognized for theirinnovation in jobsite safety.

Like most of us, Eddie starts his dayby getting out of bed. Here is his firstopportunity to fall (fall opportunity #1,also known as FO1) since his bed isone of those high-rise jobs that has ashort ladder to climb into. (It has acanopy too, but that was his wife’schoice, not his.) Since it’s early in themorning before sunrise, he can’t see

too well and runs into the bench at theend of the bed and almost falls (FO2).Muttering to himself, he rebalancesand immediately trips over the dogwho has decided it’s still too early torise and shine (FO3). About now,Eddie realizes that the day isn’t off to areal good start. However, he decidesto persevere and heads toward thebathroom to shave and shower.Noticing that he is out of shampoo, hegoes to the linen closet to get another

bottle of Look Good Styling Shampoo,which is on the top shelf. Yep, hestands on a chair to get to it and al-most falls off (FO4). Now, he heads tothe bathtub and almost slips gettinginto the tub (FO5). While using thatnew bottle of shampoo, he drops thecap and while bending over to retrieveit, he almost slips on the bar of soapthat he also dropped (FO6). Happythat he didn’t slip (FO7) while gettingout of the tub, Eddie starts thinkingthat things are getting better.

Eddie gets dressed and, with abounce in his step, heads to the stairs,oblivious that the dog has now gottenup and moved to the top of the stairswhere he waits for Eddie. If it weren’tfor the banister and railing, Eddiewould surely have fallen down the

David H. Glabe

A look at the fall opportunities that Eddie the Erector faces during a typical day

ColumnTechnically Speaking

After carefully climbing out of his truck, Eddie is distracted by an attractive

customer and immediately trips over the concrete bumper in the parking lot (FO10).


breakfast selections. While standing inline to pay, Eddie notices that a personahead of him is purchasing a bananaand thinks maybe he should, too, sohe can say he ate healthy. What Eddiedoesn’t notice is that the banana eatercarelessly discarded the banana peelnext to Eddie’s truck. His fellowemployees get a good laugh whenEddie almost falls (FO11) after slip-

ping on the banana peel. Eddie fails tosee the humor.

The remainder of the journey tothe jobsite is uneventful, mainly be-cause Eddie stays inside the truck.After arriving at the jobsite, Eddiehops out of the truck, grabs his toolsand fall protection equipment andproceeds to explain the day’s activitiesto the crew. Eddie also surveys the siteto determine if personal fall protectioncan be used by the erectors to mini-mize the potential for a fall. After con-sidering the feasibility of using person-al fall protection, he determines that itis feasible and instructs everybody thatthey are to be “tied off” while erectingthe scaffold, using the anchors that areavailable. Upon completion of givinginstruction, Eddie turns around andimmediately trips over several scaffoldplank lying on the ground (FO12). Bythis time Eddie is getting pretty dis-gusted with the day and wonders howit can get worse. Unknown to Eddie, itis about to get worse.

Being the leading edge erector,Eddie climbs the partially-erected scaf-fold, preparing to work hard at finish-ing the scaffold by the end of the day.He, and his co-leading edge erectorBobby, climb to the very top of thescaffold and begin erecting anothertier. Things are going well. The break-

Technically Speaking

that this fall protection thing has justbecome more personal. Sam decidesthat it’s more important to focus onkeeping Eddie from falling than toworry about meeting the letter of thestandard. They all agree to meet atRed’s Bar later for a beer.

The rest of the day goes smoothlyand without incident. After work, theymeet at Red’s Bar and have a real goodtime. So good, as a matter of fact, thatthey decide to call Bobby’s wife to pickthem up since they cannot drive.When Bobby’s wife shows up, they allimmediately try to get off the barstools and fall (FO 13, 14, and 15).

Is there a moral to this story? Itlooks to me that there are plenty of op-portunities to fall. It also looks like fallprotection is much more personalthan rules in a book. The next timeyou see a worker at height, pretendyou dated his sibling – maybe it willrevise your attitude of him/her. Ohyeah, it was Sam who threw the bananapeel on the ground. ■

David H. Glabe, P.E., is president of D.H.Glabe & Associates Inc. of Denver. Glabe alsoserves as the SIA’s liaison to OSHA. E-mail himat [email protected].

fast sandwich is settling in and theindigestion is tolerable. The weather isgood and productivity is high. Spiritsare too. Of course, this can’t continue.The general contractor’s hired safetyconsultant, Safety Sam, shows up andnotes that he has been observingEddie and Bobby erecting the scaf-fold. Sam points out that Eddie is tiedoff at his feet, in violation of applica-

ble standards and that Eddie mustcease and desist immediately. A livelydiscussion ensues, with Eddie pointingout that he has nowhere else to tie toand, as the employer’s CompetentPerson it is he, not Sam, who gets tomake the decision. Sam does notagree. Bobby quietly steps back out ofthe way since the outcome of this dis-cussion is in doubt. Suddenly, Eddierecognizes Sam. He went to highschool with Sam and dated his sister.Furthermore, Sam dated Eddie’s sisterwho ultimately became Bobby’s wife.The tone of the discussion changesand Eddie, Bobby and Sam realize

By this time Eddie is getting pretty disgusted with the day and wonders how it can get worse.

Unknown to Eddie, it is about to get worse.

Elizabeth Stemac(832) 524-4947

or Joan Callahan(972) 819-1496

For advertising rates and information, contact:

To submit an article, contact Natalie Keith, Editor [email protected]


Sky Climber has taken a chapter out ofthe Harley Davidson’s playbook. LikeHarley Davidson, Sky Climber, anAmerican manufacturing company, ex-perienced a difficult time period dur-ing the turn of the century. During thistime, investment in business opera-tions, and product development wasminimal and the company lacked along-term strategy for its future. What adifference two years have made.

It’s All About the FutureA Q&A with Sky Climber’s vice president sales and marketing Todd King

Under new ownership, Sky Climberhas made an incredible transformationover the past two years. The companyhas been rebuilt, retooled and re-ener-gized. The new owners have investedheavily in engineering, product devel-opment, new equipment, quality pro-grams, operations, and computer sys-tems. In its most recent commitmentto the future, Sky Climber built a newmanufacturing facility in Delaware,

Ohio. The new 50,000-sq-ft building,which has the ability to expand to100,000 sq ft, has been designed fromthe ground up to incorporate leanmanufacturing and streamline workflow throughout the organization.

Scaffold Industry magazine recentlydiscussed the company’s new head-quarters and other initiatives with vicepresident sales and marketing ToddKing. A transcript follows:

FeatureCompany Spotlight

Todd King works on the hoist assembly line at Sky Climber’s new manufacturing facility in Delaware, Ohio.


Scaffold Industry: Sky Climberopened a new facility in Delaware,Ohio in June. Can you describe thenew facility and the factors that promp-ted its opening?

Todd King: It’s a beautiful newfacility. The manufacturing/warehousespace has 24-ft-high ceilings with openspans enabling operations to be very ef-ficient and inventory significantamounts of finished product to rapidlyrespond to our customers’ needs. Theplant includes a technical laboratoryand product development center,along with dedicated space for producttesting and evaluation. The office has10,000 sq ft, utilizing a layout that facil-itates communications and work flow.The building has a training facility, dis-play room for new equipment and con-ference rooms for customer, supplierand internal company meetings. Wewanted to create a dynamic and effi-cient work environment that enablesSky Climber to respond to our cus-tomers’ requirements whether they beproduct-, service-, engineering- or train-ing-related needs. Sky Climber has along history as the leading manufactur-er of suspended access equipment andwe believe our new facility enables thecompany to provide the highest level ofquality and service our customers wantand deserve at a cost position thatoffers a competitive advantage intoday’s market.

SI: How has the new facility impac-ted the company’s operations (i.e. in-creased production capacity, the hiringof new personnel, etc.)?

King: The new facility is enablingSky Climber to accomplish three ob-jectives we established two years ago asnew owners. The first is the ability toship standard products within one totwo days of receiving orders. The sec-ond is the ability to rapidly developand launch innovative, new productsto the market. This increases our cus-tomers’ productivity and return ontheir investment from our equipment.The third is to install efficient manu-

facturing operations to drive cost outof our system enabling Sky Climbercustomers to enjoy a competitive ad-vantage in their markets.

We are very excited to be in the newfacility and have already experiencedits impact on operations. Before and

during the moving process, Sky Clim-ber offered every employee a positionat the new facility. We were honored tohave all our employees stay on to thelast day in Atlanta with many transfer-ring to Ohio for a temporary or per-manent position to be part of the ex-citement and future of the company.

Sky Climber has made substantialinvestments in new equipment, signifi-cantly increasing productivity and ex-panding our capabilities and capacity.Inventory and stocking levels havebeen increased to meet the short turnaround times of dealers, enabling

them to support their end users in atimely fashion. In addition, we havehired quality controller and processengineers to continuously improvethe quality of our products. We arenever satisfied with our progress and,therefore, continuously strive to im-

prove in all areas of our business tobring value to our customers.

We want to provide our customersthe most innovative, durable and cost-effective products on the market. Weappreciate and listen to our customers’feedback regarding new product ideas,improvements and needs. To acceler-ate product development, Sky Climberhas taken this feedback and made sig-nificant investments in product devel-opment over the past two years bygreatly expanding its engineering de-partment. As a result, Sky Climber is

Company Spotlight

An example of a Sky Climber permanent installation.

The global economy for commercial and industrialconstruction continues to be strong and we have

seen substantial growth all over the world.

Continued on page 12


Company Spotlight

Scaffolding work on a hot dayor in the rain is somethingpeople certainly don’t relish.With Alum-A-Pole’s Alum-A-Shade this discomfort can bevirtually a thing of the past.

The Alum-A-Pole ScaffoldingSystem uniquely provides theability to work comfortably andsafely at the exact heightrequired. OSHA recognized toa 50 working height. Joinablehorizontally and vertically toprovide positive securementand pick-up truck portability.Our bright yellow Saf-T-Netoffers job site sign capability.A non-overlapping continuous staging walkway system meets ANSIstandard #21.2.

Call 1-800-421-2586 today for more information or visit our web site.www.alumapole.com

© Alum-A-Pole Corporation 2005 Scranton, PA.Patents Issued & Others Pending

launching many new products includ-ing, a new air hoist, new electric hoists,modular platform for boiler applica-tions, new work cages, low mount stir-rups, and new roof rigging products.We have also added engineering capa-bilities to design and manufacture cus-tom staging and rigging products tomeet unique project requirements.

SI: Sky Climber operates in boththe United States and Europe. Wheredoes the company anticipate growth inthe use of suspended access systems?Are there markets the company has yetto tap that are on the horizon?

King:In 2006, Sky Climber soldproducts into 54 countries. We havepurchased a new manufacturing facili-ty in Belgium that provides the samecapabilities we have in the U.S. Wehave installed Lean Manufacturingprocesses and substantially increasedproduct development resources in

Europe. As a global company, we mer-ged the resources in engineering tomaximize productivity and decreasethe time to market for new products.

The global economy for commer-cial and industrial construction contin-ues to be strong and we have seen sub-stantial growth all over the world.North America, Asia and the MiddleEast are regions doing well for con-struction equipment. Global expan-sion is clearly one of our key objec-tives. We want to be able to supply ourcustomers cost-effective products any-where in the world.

SI: In what areas of product devel-opment does the company believethere is room for expansion, innova-tion or growth?

King: As mentioned previously,this is the most exciting area and thearea of the company where we havedevoted the most resources over thepast two years. Sky Climber has devel-

oped numerous patented productsusing technology previously unused inthe suspended access industry. Theseproducts are being developed forboth the commercial and industrialmarkets. For example, Sky Climber isdeveloping an electric hoist that willprovide the dealer and contractor fea-tures not available today. A few ofthese features include soft start andstop, fully integrated circuit boards,GPS, ability to accept any single voltpower source between 208 and 440,as well as on-board diagnostics fortrouble shooting.

Other products for the commercialindustry include aluminum and steelparapet clamps with adjustable capabili-ties, a stage designed for permanentinstallations, a confined space rescuesystem and compact electric hoists withcapacities between 750 and 1500 lbs.

SI: As a manufacturer of suspend-ed access systems, what does the com-



Company Spotlight

pany believe is its role in terms ofsafety? How do you ensure the safe useof equipment or systems?

King: Sky Climber takes the safeuse and operation of its equipmentvery seriously and makes this a priorityin the company. Sky Climber conductsmonthly safety and operator trainingprograms at its facility. We also offeron-site training for Sky Climber equip-ment at our customer’s locations.Each Sky Climber dealer has trainedand certified mechanics and followsprocedures to repair, test and recertifyeach hoists once they are returnedfrom a rental. Our dealers share thissame commitment to safety and quali-ty control giving the users of SkyClimber equipment the level of sup-port and service they need to confi-dently use our suspended accessequipment.

SI: How do you ensure that endusers are properly trained in the safeuse of equipment or systems?

King: The training takes place attwo levels. Sky Climber provides in-house and customer site training toour dealers and their end-user cus-tomers. The in-house training classes

are scheduled monthly online via ourwebsite, www.skyclimber.com. The SkyClimber dealers also provide trainingat their customers’ jobsites.

SI: As a member of the ScaffoldIndustry Association, how can Sky Clim-ber assist the association with its goals?

King: Sky Climber has developed,manufactured and sold suspended ac-

Sky Climber’s new headquarters in Delaware, Ohio.

An example of a Sky Climber permanent installation with platform.

cess equipment since 1955. The com-pany has product and applicationknowledge valuable to the industry.Sky Climber is supportive of SIA’s mis-sion and objectives and will continueto support the industry.

SI: As an SIA member, how can youassist in efforts to promote the image ofthe scaffold and access industry?

King: It is important that SkyClimber and all its members commu-nicate the value and importance ofhaving a strong industry association.SIA has made substantial advance-ments in the two years we have beenwith Sky Climber. As SIA members, weall need to recruit new members tofurther grow the association into astronger voice for the industry.

SI: Is there anything else about SkyClimber that you think is worth men-tioning?

King: We believe Sky Climber hasa tremendous amount to offer ourdealers and end-users. We are bettingon this industry through the invest-ment of facilities, people and productdevelopment. Sky Climber is focusedsquarely on its future and looks for-ward to bringing added value to ourcustomers every day. ■


Wind Turbine Access

FeatureSuspended Scaffold

Scaffold industry provides access solutions to the wind energy industry

The scaffold and access industry isadding the wind energy industry to thelist of industries where access solutionsare being provided.

Among companies providing thoseservices is Power Climber, a division ofSafeWorks LLC. Power Climber hassupplied wind turbine platforms andaccessories to wind farm developers,owners and managers, utility compa-nies and maintenance contractorsaround the globe. Among the compa-ny’s customers are Vestas, Repower,Suzlon, Gamesa and Enercon. Thecompany operates throughout NorthAmerica, Europe, Australia and inemerging Asian markets.

Power Climber originally enteredthe wind energy industry over 10 yearsago, in response to demands fromwind turbine manufacturers and theirend customers in Europe for access sol-

utions for increasingly tall towers. Inrecent years, the growing installation oftowers over 75 meters in height has cre-ated similar opportunities for the com-pany in the North American market.

Another company serving the windturbine industry is Tractel. Tractel’s BillMcBrayer says there are two niches with-in the industry, providing access to thewindmill blades for maintenance pur-poses and providing access to turbinefloors. “We promote the safety side ofthe business through fall protectionand rescue equipment,” McBrayer says.

An example of recent work by PowerClimber includes the installation of tur-bine service lifts in a farm of more than150 towers near Ellensburg, Wash.,operated by Puget Sound Energy(PSE), the major electric utility servingmuch of Western Washington. Thecompany met the site needs and state

regulations displacing a competitorwho previously installed several systemswhich WISHA red-tagged for non-com-pliance. The utility appreciated our pro-fessionalism and technical capability.

Power Climber Wind recently hiredGreg Crew for the newly created globalwind product manager position. In thisposition, Crew will help guide PowerClimber Wind’s sustained growth in sup-plying service lifts and related turbineaccess solutions. The company alsorecently launched a website, at www.pow-erclimberwind.com, to connect windenergy professionals to access solutions.

The wind industry requires custom-engineered access solutions to operatein the often crowded and confinedenvironment inside a tower, alongsideother electrical and mechanical equip-ment. These solutions must be design-ed to operate safely in extreme envi-


ronments – both hot and cold, on-shore and offshore – over long life-times with minimal maintenancerequirements, Crew says.

Providing access to the wind tur-bine industry poses some unique chal-lenges. As with other fast growing mar-ket segments, lack of unified statesafety regulations into a federal code isa challenge facing the entire industry.Supply side challenges from the majorcomponent suppliers, i.e. generatorsets, project execution risk and thinoperating margins are part of this in-dustry now, say access professionals.

Equipment requirements can alsopose challenges. With some addition-al instrumentation depending on thejurisdiction, Power Climber’s Titanhoist is powering lifts all over theworld. “Access to the blades of thewind turbine requires platforms that

adjust to get the worker close to thesurface of these elliptical shapes,”Crew says. “Blade technology evolvesquickly, changing blade shape andsurface materials to generate betterproduction rates.”

Professionals agree that the windturbine industry is a potential area ofgrowth for the access industry. MoreU.S. states are mandating that at least15% of the state’s energy is generatedfrom renewable sources within thenext decade. A pending federal man-date for the same requirement is beingdeveloping. Much of the west andsouthwest are well suited to majorwind project developments and theavailability of lower-cost, high windgenerating land within proximity tomajor consumption areas makes forgood wind turbine development.

McBrayer adds that the wind mills

constructed will be larger in futureyears. A typical windmill is 80 meters,or 256 ft, tall. Each blade from the cen-ter hub is about 50 meters. The nextgeneration of windmills will be 100meters tall with blades that are 75meters. “As the industry develops, thesize and height of the windmills willget bigger,” he says. “The third genera-tion under development is going off-shore. This will create another set ofaccess challenges.” ■

Suspended Scaffold


Need Stanchions?(SLAB GRABBERS)

We Got’emGuard Rail Stanchions

• All steel construction guard rail stanchion with adjustment from 0" to 24"

• Positive clamping mechanism withthreaded rod and wing nut

•“L” brackets on post to accept guardrails and toe boards.

From a handfull to a truckload(No freight charge on full container loads)

Call:Bald Eagle Scaffold Products, Inc.

Bill Oliver

Tel: 352-281-4077Fax: 352-473-3870

THE NEW MAXSRACK™SCAFFOLD SYSTEM

IS SETTING THE STANDARD FOR SCAFFOLD ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY!!!•SAVINGS OF$1.00 OR MORE OF YOUR LABOR COSTPER FRAME EVERYTIME YOU SET UP AND EVERY-TIME YOU TEAR DOWN.

ADDITIONAL SAVINGS CAN BE REALIZED IN EASE OFTRANSPORT AND STORAGE.

•MORE EFFICIENT METHOD TO INVENTORY ANDREDUCE WEAR AND TEAR ON YOUR SCAFFOLD.

• VERY USER - FRIENDLY

• OSHA COMPLIANT

• AFFORDABLE LEASING OPTIONS AVAILABLE

TO FIND OUT MORE AND WATCH OUR VIDEO JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE

@ http://www.scaffold-system.comor contact us at:

Phone# 319-325-1700 or 319-325-0304or fax# 319-643-2727


PreventingWorker Falls

This article addresses the leading haz-ard in suspended scaffold work, work-er falls. Falls to a lower level are pre-ventable by following guidelines estab-lished by government regulation andindustry best practices.

Protection from falls in a suspend-ed scaffold consists of both fall arrestsystems and guardrail systems. Two-point scaffolds require both personalfall arrest systems and guardrails. Fed-eral OSHA requires that fall protec-tion must be provided on any scaffold10 ft or more above a lower level. Thisis especially critical with suspendedscaffolds, because they often are oper-ated at extreme elevations.

In this article, we will address two-point scaffolds, also referred to asswing stage scaffolds. However, theserequirements also apply to other typesof suspended scaffolds, including sin-gle-point adjustable scaffolds (bosun'schairs), multi-point adjustable scaf-folds, interior hung scaffolds, needlebeam scaffolds and catenary scaffolds.

Fall Arrest SystemsPersonal fall arrest systems for su-

spended scaffolds must comply with therequirements of federal OSHA29CFR1910.66 Appendix C for generalindustry, or 29CFR1926.451 and29CFR1926.502 for construction appli-cations. In addition, equipment shouldalso meet the requirements of the newUS voluntary consensus standard, ANSIZ359.1-2007. Equipment certified to theANSI Z359.1-2007 standard can providescaffold workers with a higher level ofprotection than products meeting thede minimus requirements of OSHA.

Personal fall arrest systems on scaf-folds should be attached by lanyard to

ColumnFall Protection

Making proper connections for fall protection in suspended scaffolds

a vertical lifeline, horizontal lifeline orscaffold member if the scaffold is de-signed as an anchor. Vertical lifelinesmay not be used on two-point adjust-able suspension scaffolds that haveoverhead components such as over-head protection or additional platformlevels. In most other cases, vertical life-lines offer a simple and reliable meansof personal fall protection.

When vertical lifelines are used, theymust be fastened to a fixed, safe pointof anchorage, independent of the scaf-fold, and be protected from sharpedges and abrasion. Safe points of an-chorage include structural members ofbuildings, but not standpipes, vents,electrical conduit, etc. which may giveway under the force of a fall. Anchorstructures for fall arrest must be ratedfor 5,000 lbs static strength, or at least

two times the maximum fall arrestforce (when designed by a QualifiedPerson), in accordance with OSHArules and ANSI Z359.1-2007.

Vertical lifelines cannot be attachedto each other or to the same point ofanchorage. Guard rails should not beused as anchors for fall arrest systemsin suspended scaffolds. Use only tie-off points identified by the scaffoldmanufacturer for this purpose.

When horizontal lifelines are used,they must be secured to two or morestructural members of the scaffold.Horizontal lifeline systems can gener-ate higher loading to the end anchorsdue to the catenary effect of the flexi-ble lifeline under tension. To ensurethat the system will not be overloaded,especially when more than one worker

By Joseph Feldstein

Protection from falls in a suspended scaffold consists of both fall arrest systems and guardrail systems.



is connected to it, manufacturers rec-ommend commercial horizontal life-line kits which include an in-line ener-gy absorber.

Scaffold operators should be equip-ped with personal fall arrest systems thatinclude a personal fall arrest lanyardwhich limits the maximum fall arrest

forces to 900 lbs or less, regardless ofwhether the worker will be tied-off to ahorizontal lifeline or a scaffold member.Personal fall arrest systems must beanchored to an approved tie-off pointthat possesses a minimum strength of5,000 lbs in the direction of intendedloading, or is certified to at least twotimes the maximum fall arrest load.

When lanyards are connected tohorizontal lifelines or structural mem-bers of the scaffold, the scaffold musthave additional independent supportlines and automatic locking devicescapable of stopping the fall of the scaf-fold in case one or both of the suspen-sion ropes fail. These independent

Fall Protection

support lines must be equal in numberand strength to the suspension ropes.

On suspended scaffolds with hori-zontal lifelines that may become verti-cal lifelines, the devices used to con-nect the personal fall arrest system tothe horizontal lifeline must be capableof locking in both directions. One canvisualize a two-point suspension scaf-

fold that has lost support on one side,causing the scaffold platform to hangnearly vertical from the remaining sup-port line. In this example, a workerconnected to the horizontal lifeline onthe scaffold platform would slide downthe lifeline as the platform fell from ahorizontal to a vertical plane. If the fallarresting device did not lock-up imme-diately, the worker could free-fall to theend of the line, causing a catastrophicseparation of the line termination.

Erecting and DismantlingWorkers who install suspended scaf-

folds are at particular risk from fallingwhen working from floors, roofs and

other elevated surfaces. They must beproperly equipped with fall protectionand secured to a fall arrest anchor whentheir work exposes them to a fall to alower level of greater than 6 ft andguardrails are not the primary fall pro-tection. This will include all floor open-ings, including the hatch or roof open-ing the worker came up through. Em-ployers must designate a competent per-son, who is responsible for determiningthe feasibility and safety of providing fallprotection for employees erecting or dis-mantling supported scaffolds.

SummaryAccording to OSHA, “almost all

incidents that involve scaffold failurewould not lead to fatality or seriousinjury if proper personal fall arrest sys-tems were in use.” Such incidents al-most always result from two violations:one that causes the scaffold to fail, andthe worker fails to use (or their em-ployers fail to provide) the appropriatefall protection equipment. ■

Joseph Feldstein is manager technical services forMSA Fall Protection, of Englewood, Colo., andchairman of the SIA Fall Protection Council. Hemay be reached at (303) 975-2304 [email protected].

“almost all incidents that involve scaffold failurewould not lead to fatality or serious injury if

proper personal fall arrest systems were in use.”



It’s a perfect storm….Industrial falls

are still the number1 killer for manytrades. With everypassing day, theworkforce is gettingolder. Once a rarity,scaffolders are nowbuilding well into

their 50s and even their 60s. Perhapsmore prevalent, the users of our scaf-folding are extending their careerswell past what was once considered a“retirement age.” By 2011, it is estimat-ed that 41% of the working populationin Canada will be between the age of45 and 64. What does this mean? Thefollowing are 10 factors of the agingworkforce that are contributing toindustrial falls:

1.Only The Strong Survive –Studies have shown that the aver-

age worker loses about 25% of its mus-cle bearing capacity between the agesof 18 and 65 years old. This loss ofmuscle, combined with an increase inoverall worker weight, has a dramaticinfluence on “work at height” particu-larly climbing.

2.Do You Hear What I Hear?– Hearing loss, either through

natural or occupational causes, dra-matically affects the workers sense ofbalance. Hearing loss can begin as


early as age 25. In a complex process,the brain receives and processes datagathered from the ears, eyes, muscles,skin and joints. If the brain receivesmisinformation from one of these sen-sory organs, the worker’s critical senseof balance suffers.

3.I Can See For Miles – Asnoted above, good eyesight is criti-

cal for a worker’s sense of balance.Failing eyesight will also dramaticallyaffect workers ability to perceivefootholds, ladder rungs, edges andplatforms. Finally, in an example of“the cure is worse than the disease,”studies have shown that the use of bifo-cal and multifocal eyeglasses actuallydouble the risk of falling by impairingdepth perception and edge contrastsensitivity.

4.Hard To Hold – Closely relat-ed to our overall loss of muscle

mass, the impacts of aging are alsoshown in our bodies’ flexibility andagility. Stiffening joints, tendons, carti-lage, and arthritic conditions will re-duce the workers’ ability to grasp lad-der rungs, duck under guardrails, andhandle snaphooks and carabiners.

5.He Ain’t Heavy – One of themost prevalent themes in the

recent round of fall protection stan-dards changes by the CanadianStandards Association were those to

accommodate heavier workers in fallarrest equipment. Full body harnesseswill now be tested to 360 lbs and awhole new class of “stiffer” energyabsorbers will now be available forheavier workers. Why? We don’t haveto look farther than our waistlines.

6.End Of The Line – For all agecategories, industrial falls account

for the longest (and most expensive)rehabilitation periods. To make mat-ters worse, as we get older, our abilityto recover from these injuries dramati-cally deteriorates. Rehab times forolder workers can be often double ortriple that of a younger worker. Forolder workers, fall from height injuriesare much more likely to be career-end-ing than for younger workers. Finally,statistics have shown that as a workerages, their chances of surviving anindustrial fall drop accordingly for allof the reasons noted here.

7.Jacob’s Ladder – Ladders area big issue for older workers. Lad-

der falls are one of the few injury cate-gories that see a noticeable increase atthe age of 45. By 55, ladder fallsincrease exponentially. Again, many ofthe possible physical factors are dis-cussed here. Sadly, “work at height”access in general and ladder usage inparticular, is arguably one of the poor-est regulated, poorest enforced safetystandards in the field today.

Will You Still Need Me...When I’m 64?Ten age-related factors influencing industrial fallsBy Stephen Pike

Stephen Pike


Fall Protection

8.I’m So Tired – Another factorin the connection between falls

and the aging workforce is the reduc-tion in stamina and endurance. This,combined with muscle loss andincreased body mass, has a seriousimpact on the worker’s ability for longclimbs, working long hours, and heavywork while at height.

9.Money, Money, Money –This perfect storm of falls and

aging is not only about the worker’sphysical capabilities. It’s just as much afactor of the worker’s “financial fitness”as their physical fitness. Many tradesworkers are working later into theircareers simply because they can’t affordto retire! Financial setbacks, inade-quate pensions, second mortgages,multiple marriages – the list of factorsis long. Nonetheless, it all adds up toolder workers working longer hours.

10.Baby, Please Don’t Go –Of course, extending the em-

ployment of older workers is a two-waystreet. Not only can many workers notafford to retire, many of their employ-ers can’t afford to let them go either!Many industries are facing severe skillsshortages. Several provinces haverecently repealed or prohibited man-datory retirement rules. Depending onthe industry, many workers are beingtempted with special compensationand benefits packages to stay “on thejob” much longer.

Yes, this is a perfect storm. Thereare more older workers, who are work-ing longer and working at height. It’s astorm we can’t sail around, and dis-criminating against older workers isnot an option. As an industry, we needto recognize this reality and focus ourefforts on accommodating older work-ers on our worksites and on our scaf-

folds. We must improve the awarenessof these issues, not only with olderworkers but by communicating withthe entire workforce.

We must improve our hazard engi-neering techniques, such as exchang-ing ladders for scaffold stairs in certaincases to provide easier access. Finally,we must improve our work planningand project management methodsthrough better consideration of ourworkers abilities and limitations.Remember, aging is a disease that weall are suffering from. If you don’t likethe thought of growing older, considerthe alternative. ■

Stephen Pike is the director of HightekScaffolding and Fall Protection Training. He isalso the national director of the SIAC – OntarioChapter. He may be reached at (709) 682-2104 or [email protected].

Scaffolding Today, Inc.Industrial Scaffold Division - System Scaffold

www.scaffoldingtoday.com

STI is pleased to announce the opening of their Industrial Scaffold Divisiontogether with the launching of our new STI system scaffold

product. This will now allow us to expand our supply service to include bothsales and rent of system scaffold to industrial maintenance

contractors and full service scaffold companies.

STI provides all of the inherent benefits of a high quality product combinedwith a total commitment to service our customers ever demanding needs.

STI system scaffold is manufactured to ISO 9001-2000 Standards and has been designed to meet and exceed ANSI an OSHA requirements.

For further information, sale or rental pricing and technical data, call your nearest local STI office.

• Quality

• Versatile

• Productivity

• Safety

• Simplicity

• Galvanized

New York201.330.1188

Houston281.449.7900

Philadelphia215.535.3511

Toronto416.817.7244


For the first time since 1999, changeshave been made to the ANSI Z359Standards for Fall Protection. MSA FallProtection manager technical servicesJoseph Feldstein, who is also the chair-man of the SIA’s Fall Protection Coun-cil, outlined those changes during pre-sentations at the SIA 35th AnniversaryConvention & Exposition in July.

The standards were originally pub-lished in 1992 and were revised slightlyin 1999. In 2006, those standards wererevised and expanded. The standardswere published in August and becameeffective Oct. 15. Copies of the newstandard can be obtained by contact-ing American Society of SafetyEngineers, of Des Plains, Ill., at (847)699-2929 or www.asse.org. “The newstandards address a critical need forguidance in creating fall protectionprograms,” Feldstein said. “They alsobroaden the scope to include addition-al work tasks and equipment types.”

In addition, the new standards im-prove the strength and performanceof products intended to protect workerhealth and safety. The expandedZ359.1 standard includes four new sec-tions in addition to the original fallarrest safety requirements. These are:• Z359.0 – Definitions and Nomen-

clature Used for Fall Protection andFall Arrest

• Z359.1 – Safety Requirements forPersonal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsys-tems and Components

• Z359.2 – Minimum Requirementsfor a Comprehensive Managed FallProtection Program

• Z359.3 – Safety Requirements forPositioning and Travel Restraint Systems

FeatureFall Protection

Updating ANSI Z359Fall protection standards see first revisions since 1999

• Z359.4 – Safety Requirements forAssisted Rescue and Self-Rescue Sys-tems, Subsystems and ComponentsThe Z359.0 section contains terms

used in the other four sections of thestandard and serves as a single point ofreference for definitions that applythroughout the family of standards.“This serves as the spine, the backboneof all the other standards,” he said.

The Z359.1 section remains essen-tially the same as it was in 1999, with afew notable exceptions. For example,gate strength requirements for snap-hooks and carabiners have been in-creased from 220 lbf (gate face) to 350lbf (gate side.)

The Z359.2 section is a guidance

document for safety professionals withdetailed requirements to organize andmanage a fall protection program. Itincludes guidelines on how to identify,evaluate and eliminate or control fallhazards through job planning; ensureproper training of personnel exposedto fall hazards; ensure proper installa-tion and use of fall protection and res-cue systems and implement safe fallprotection and rescue procedures,according to Feldstein.

The section also describes dutiesand responsibilities for those involvedwith fall protection programs, requires

By Natalie Keith

The new ANSI Z359.1 Standard contains addi-tional provisions for full body harnesses.

Rescue lanyards and anchorage connectorsmust meet requirements of ANSI Z359.1.


Fall Protection

fall protection procedures to be basedon results of a fall hazard survey reportand outlines the minimum require-ments for fall protection procedures.

In the ANSI Z359.3 section, workpositioning is defined as “supporting aworker on a vertical surface whileworking with hands free.” “Work posi-tioning systems are designed to pre-vent a fall from occurring,” accordingto the standard. “When a fall hazard ispresent, positioning systems must beused in conjunction with a separate

and independent personal systemarrest.” In the same section, travel re-straint is defined as “limiting a worker’stravel in such a manner that they can-not reach a fall hazard zone.” Restraintsystems do not support a portion of theworker’s weight and are used only onwalking/working surfaces with a slopebetween zero and 18.4 degrees.

The ANSI Z359.4 section is “the firstof its kind anywhere,” Feldstein said.Equipment covered in this standard in-cludes connectors, harnesses, lanyards,anchorage connectors, winches/hoists,descent control devices, rope tackleblocks and self-retracting lanyards withintegral rescue capacity. “Equipmentthat’s been manufactured to the oldstandards can still be used, but newequipment built after Oct. 15 mustmeet new standards,” he said. “Manu-facturers must produce to the newstandards after Oct. 15.”

An example of the new standards isthat full body harnesses must meet

ANSI Z359.1 requirements. The dorsal(back) D-ring is suitable for rescueapplications unless specifically prohib-ited. Other rescue/retrieval attach-ment elements must meet the 3,600 lbfstatic load test and dynamic test with220-lb test weight and 2-ft free fall. Fora synthetic rope tackle block, the ropemust be synthetic rope with minimumbreaking strength of 4,500 lbf and stat-ic strength of 3,100 lbf.

The new standards will have a widerange of implications for the scaffoldindustry. Scaffold manufacturers mustprovide safe designs that take into ac-count fall hazards. Scaffold users mustfollow a comprehensive managed fallprotection program in accordancewith Z359.2-2007 and provide fall pro-tection products certified to the newstandard. Safety professionals withinthe scaffold industry must promotesafe practices according to the newrequirements and provide expandedtraining, Feldstein said. ■

Additional testing and warnings against mis-use of twin leg lanyards is included in the newANSI Z359.1 Standard.


FeatureNew Member Profile

R Tex Inc.Scaffold safety systems aimed at improving jobsite safety

R Tex Inc., based in Baltimore,Ontario, Canada, is the manufacturerand distributor of Gladder ScaffoldSafety Systems.

The systems are designed and de-veloped to increase jobsite safety byproviding safe and easy access to alllevels from the ground up where stan-dard walk-through style scaffold isused. The systems, which are patentedin the United States and Canada,include guardrails, ladders and accessdoors. Among advantages of usingthese systems are that they are light-weight and easy to assemble and disas-semble. The products are engineeredand certified to meet CSA, OSHA andBuilding Code Standards and becomean integral part of the scaffold struc-ture and cannot slip or fall away.

The guardrails, which weigh about11 lbs, feature a latch design that

allows one “click” single-ended secure-ment and a resilient powder coat fin-ish. They can be used on the ends ofscaffold and extend to protect the endof side brackets. The ladders weighabout 26 lbs and can be latched toscaffold frame structures. The accessdoors weigh about 18 lbs and providea continuous working platform whenclosed, eliminating the possibility ofworkers falling through an open holein the platform.

“I hold the position of superintend-ent with EllisDon Corp. in Ontario.Limen Masonry has been on my jobsite for two years at the DurhamCollege in Oshawa, Ontario project,”says Ron Nord, of EllisDon. “DuringLimen’s time on the job site, they usedthe Gladder system on their scaffold-ing structures for their bricklayers andlaborers. The Gladder guardrails, lad-

ders and access doors ensured safe,easy access for all the workers usingthe scaffold system.” ■

An example of an R Tex guardrail. An example of an R Tex ladder.

An example of an R Tex access door.

SIA Training ProgramFor more information,

Call (602) 257-1144

or visit www.scaffold.org


S I A N E W M E M B E R S

Approved Equipment Inc.1313 NW 65th Place #3Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309(954) 957-8245www.api.comContact: Alfredo Gonzalez

California PlasteringConsultants1718 N Neville St.Orange, CA 92865(714) 283-8740www.stuccoexperts.netContact: Michael Roberts

Complete ScaffoldServices, LLC75 Hockanum Blvd.Vernon, CT 06066(860) 490-5337Contact: Greg Scharr

Global Building System11024 Neeshaw DriveHouston, TX 77065(281) 970-0832www.gbs-na.comContact: Nick Greenhaw

Joseph Holt Plastering541 North Main St.Corona, CA 92880(866) 829-4658www.holtplastering.comContact: Scott McKernan

KSE Scaffold Erectors Inc.P.O. Box 1165West Caldwell, NJ 07007(973) 364-1401Contact: Jack Robol

Patuxent EngineeringGroup6360 Hanover RoadHanover, MD 21076(410) 796-8130Contact: John O’Connor

Plasterers and CementMasons12973 Velvet St.Moreno Valley, CA 92553(800) 424-5111www.opcmiajobcorps.orgContact: Jim Lee

R & R Scaffolding Co.751 Laurel St., Suite 444San Carlos, CA 94070(650) 589-7900Contact: Barry Downhill

R TexR.R. #2Baltimore, Ontario, CanadaK0K1C0(905) 349-2585www.rtexinc.comContact: Ron Nieuwstraten

Secure Services457 Lehigh Ave.Union, NJ 07083(908) 688-5110www.secureservicescompany.comContact: Wendell Frazier

Skyline Solutions, Inc.5125 Walker CourtCumming, GA 30040(770) 296-2786Contact: John Boswell

Spring Scaffolding Inc.28-20 Borden Ave.Long Island City, NY 11101(718) 392-4921www.springscaffolding.comContact: Rob Ryan

Valley Scaffold RentalLLCBox 4324Eugene, OR 97405(541) 520-7477Contact: Gordy Paddock

XSPlatformsPapland 11Gorinchem, Sweden 4206 CK+31(0)183 56 91 11www.xsplatforms.comContact: Geert Cox


ScheduleOf Events

Industry Events

Oct. 14-16SWR Institute’s Fall Technical MeetingSan Diego, Calif.

Oct. 15-172007 National Safety Council ExpoChicago, Ill.

Dec. 11-12Scaffolding, Shoring & FormingInstitute Inc.,Annual Fall MeetingSheraton Gateway Suites O’HaraRosemont, Ill.

Jan. 21-25World of ConcreteLas Vegas, Nev.

SIA Events

Nov. 4-6ASC A92 Aerial Platforms AnnualMeetingPalms Casino ResortLas Vegas, Nev.

Jan. 27-312008 Committee WeekThe Westin at KierlandScottsdale, Ariz.

July 20-2636th Annual Convention & ExpositionDenver Marriott City Center &Denver Convention CenterDenver, Colo.


Snap Hook CompatibilityMany in the safety profession are un-aware of the new American NationalStandards Institute (ANSI) Z359.1 stan-dard for locking snap hooks. The olderversion of the standard only required asnap hook to support 220 lbs on theface of the gate and 350 lbs on the sideof the gate. These are static loads, notdynamic loads.

What is referred to as “forced” roll-out and “burst” out may occur withthese types of snap hooks on rigidanchorages. The issue of incompatibili-ty is still a concern for specialists in thefield of personal fall arrest. As theoriesexist between specialists in this indus-try, the notion of “forced” roll-out or“burst” out still exists when a lockingsnap hook is connected to an anchor-age or other connector where there’sthe possibility of the face or side of thesnap hook resting on an object orother connector that is incompatiblyshaped or dimensioned.

My theory on this subject is that“forced” or “burst” out can only occurwhen a snap hook is attached improp-erly to a rigid anchorage. In my pro-fessional opinion, there cannot be a“roll-out” of any kind with a lockingsnap hook connected to a flexibleanchorage. Since the use of non-lock-ing snap hooks for personal fall arrestand positioning was disallowed as ofJan. 1, 1998, I am only referring tosnap hooks of the “locking” design,with self-closing, self-locking gates.

Snap hook gates must now supporta static load of 3,600 lbs on both theface and side of the hook. Obviouslythere will be a phase-out period of theolder types of hooks. Some may seethis new rule as a burden and an addi-tional cost for personal fall arrestequipment, but this will eliminate any

possibility of a “roll-out” of any kind,even when a snap hook is attached tosmall, rigid anchorages. No longer willthe safety professional need to be con-cerned with the subject of incompati-bility with snap hook connections.

Many manufacturers of connectors,snap hooks and hardware are workingon prototypes of these new hooks, andsome are actually producing thesehooks for manufacturers of personalfall arrest equipment. As one wouldguess, these new connectors are moreexpensive, but not substantially morethan the hooks currently being used.

Another topic I would like to ad-dress is the ANSI A10.32-2004 stan-dard. Many safety professionals areunaware of this standard. There are acouple of areas that (as a manufac-turer) I am particularly concernedwith: first is the need to maintain acopy of the particular manufacturer’sinstructions (which comes with newequipment) on site for ready refer-ence, and second is the need for a site-specific rescue plan. Many contractorsrely on the client to rescue fallen work-ers. I find this to be most prevalentwith “land” contractors. The offshoreindustry has addressed this area for amuch longer time and has done verywell with their particular rescue plans.

The need for promptness in thisarea is of major concern and shouldbe addressed by the entire industry.Studies have shown that the definitionof a “prompt” rescue is five to seven

minutes in a full-body harness. Thismay seem impossible, but it can easilybe achieved with trained personneland the proper equipment. (I haveclients who have performed a rescue inas little as four minutes.)

Also remember that “practicemakes perfect,” so please be sure thatany rescue plan is practiced on a regu-lar basis and that the proper rescuegear is close at hand and frequentlyinspected — even if not used for anextended period of time. Rescue gearcomponents (such as carabiners) aresometimes used for fall arrest without

being replaced or kept track of. Pre-planning for a rescue should occurbefore any climbing takes place. Post-rescue procedures should be consid-ered as well.

The subject of suspension trauma isof major concern. If a fallen worker issuspended for a prolonged period oftime in a full body harness, venouspooling takes place and may causedeath. A full-body harness is basically aseries of tunicates around a fallenworker’s body.

I trust this information will be of helpto those who share my interest in elimi-nating falls as the No. 1 cause of fatalitiesin the construction industry. We are inthis profession to save lives. ■

Scott Rousseau is vice president of WebDevices, of Houston, Texas. He may be reachedat (225) 791-2139.


By Scott Rousseau

In my professional opinion, there cannot be a“roll-out” of any kind with a locking snap hook

connected to a flexible anchorage.


headlines screaming large jury verdicts.• The rising cost of medical care.

For example, a fractured ankle 25years ago may have cost several thou-sand dollars to treat. Today, the cost isdouble or triple that figure.

• Wage claims. What was a unioncarpenter making 25 years ago versushis wage today? Loosing eight to 12weeks of work (or months) cost muchmore than it used to.

I cannot cite specific numbers but,from reading law journals, case reportsand other industry information, thenumber of cases routinely settling for

seven figures in today’s climate, com-pared to 1981, is staggering. Perhapsthe easiest explanation is, “the stakesare considerably higher!”

Just as the stakes are higher so hasthe cost of defending the cases. Insome cities or jurisdictions, the cost issignificantly higher than in others.This is another reason to get your“how tos” in place. The better you andyour company are with respect todoing the “how tos,” the better yourchances are of resolving a file morequickly by (1) convincing a plaintiff at-torney he/she has no case and shoulddismiss you from the litigation on avoluntary basis and/or (2) if the case isnot dismissed, filing a motion for sum-

Greetings to all and welcome to myworld. You ask, “Whatis my world?” Well,the answer to thequestion is relativelysimple. Since 1981, ithas been the world ofclaim handling andmanaging litigationon behalf of scaffoldand lift manufactur-

ers, distributors, dealers and erectors.You further ask, “So, what will be

the point and purpose of these month-ly articles?” Perhaps the best way toanswer the question is to say what theintent of these articles will not be.They will not be “how to” articles.While there may be some commentaryfrom time to time about a “how to,”the articles will not address them inthe context of simply being a "how to."

However, the articles will detail spe-cific cases (with names and other iden-tifying issues masked to protect theentity) with the aim of trying to learnfrom those cases. To learn if any of the“how tos” worked, or alternatively, tosee if the failure to follow a “how to”caused or created problems in thehandling of a claim or litigated matter.

Simply stated, the aim is as follows:(1) to make the articles practical toeveryday life within the scaffold or liftindustry, (2) to make them readableby not sermonizing or lecturing onany issue and (3) most of all to usethem as a continuing educationalprocess and at the same time making

them enjoyable.Enjoyable? Reading about claims

and litigation is something to beenjoyed? Why is it so important for thearticles to be “enjoyable?” Simple! Thereality of your life in the scaffold andlift industries suggest – sooner or later– a claim and/or piece of litigation willbe a part of your daily life. The verynature of the scaffold and lift industrycreates this potential, i.e., putting work-ers up and off the ground, in a varietyof ways and doing a variety of jobs.

However, the enjoyable part willcome from the idea (as well as the

facts) that, on the whole, scaffold andlift cases can be successfully defended.This simple idea or fact has beenproven over and over again, by follow-ing the “how tos” and putting all of thepuzzle pieces together correctly, scaf-fold and lift litigation cases are unques-tionably winners!

Knowing these cases can be success-fully defended is comforting and enjoy-able? View it in this fashion, 25 yearsago what did you pay for an automo-bile, a home or even a suit of clothing?Just as those items have escalated invalue so have the values of claims. Thereasons for the escalations probablyrun along these lines:

• Headlines. The obvious reason is

ColumnLitigation News

GettingYour “HowTos”In PlaceScaffold industry must take aim at the rising costs of claims and litigation

Robert Zinselmeier

By Robert Zinselmeier

Theories that – if it weren’t so costly to defendthem – would be laughable.


mary judgment and having the courtdismiss the case. In either of those twoinstances the cost of defending thematter reduces significantly.

Hovering over all of the above issuesis yet another phenomenon in today’sclimate, as evidenced by work withinthe SIA and other organizations. Thecontinued efforts to enhance jobsitetraining and safety since 1981 have, in-deed, reduced the number of acci-dents and fatal occurrences.

Most of the claims that were pur-sued 25 years ago could be character-ized as “straight forward.” While theclaims were certainly defendable thefact was they were, routine would notbe the word, but straight forward fits.

With the reduction in accidents,attorneys are now taking scaffold andlift cases they would have previouslyignored. As a result, the theories ofclaims now being presented are, in a

word, absurd. Theories that – if itweren’t so costly to defend them –would be laughable.

To give you a quick example, plas-tering company employees erect athree-tiered scaffold running the en-tire length of the building – some 120ft. The employees erecting the scaffoldfail to properly tie the structure to thebuilding and it falls. Three of theemployees who erected the scaffoldhave now filed suit against the manu-facturer of the scaffolding. The litiga-tion is brand new so other than somebland allegations of the scaffold fail-ing, the specific theories still have notbeen detailed. Perhaps they will takethe tactic they needed warning and/orinstructions (better than the onesalready provided?)

In the particular jurisdiction this lit-igation has been filed the ability to getthe case dismissed by a motion for

summary judgment is almost impossi-ble. The issue here is the cost the man-ufacturer will incur stemming frompeople not taking responsibility fortheir own actions.

One final thought, a simple way tolook at the objective of these articles isto take the “how tos” previously givento you in an abstract format and seehow that abstract idea works in the realworld of scaffold and lift litigation.

Next month will take on the first ofthe actual cases. ■

Robert Zinselmeier is a senior litigation specialistwith Specialty Claims Management in St. Louis,Mo. with over 45 years experience in complexclaims, specializing in scaffolding, lift and con-struction equipment claims arising from within therental industry as well as the manufacturing sector.He can be reached at [email protected] or (314) 569-9828.

Litigation News


ColumnMarketing Successes

Advanced Electronic MarketingUsing the right tools in your marketing toolbox

Many methods ofInternet market-ing, or e-market-ing, can help youreach your cus-tomers or dealersthrough the Web.You can choosefrom a variety oftechnology tools to

deliver your message cost-effectively. But first, one question with many

useful answers: why use online technol-ogy in your marketing toolbox? Thereasons are it deploys easily, producesmeasurable results and can produceresults quickly. Also, it is relatively inex-pensive and testable. Success stories areeasy to find and failure is rarely fatal.

You can easily start by generating ane-mail list from people requestinginformation from your Web site, tradeshow leads, or rented double opt-inlists. The creation of a solid onlinemarketing list is more important thanthe number of names you start with.

Once you’ve defined your audi-ence, analyze and test each potentialcommunication technology tool forhow it will impact your audience andyour ROI. Many companies get caughtup with the vastness of today’s technol-ogy, only to find the chosen method ofcommunication was not the best forthe targeted audience.

E-mailing to your contact list withpertinent information they can act onis the key to a successful campaign.Many companies e-mail monthly newsto customers, but if this information isnot new or specific to their interests, itseffectiveness will diminish.

New technology tools are constantlybeing created, but what is their value?Here are a few of the current and newelectronic tools for consideration. Don’t

feel that you need to use all of them; justuse what makes sense for your audience.

Web 2.0 – Refers to a “secondgeneration” of Web-based communitiesand hosted services that facilitate collab-oration and sharing between users.These sites are built around informa-tion provided and edited by users. Websites commonly associated with Web2.0: Google Maps, Flickr, Del.icio.us,Digg, Technorati, MySpace.

Videocasting or Vodcast –Recorded videos that can be viewed asa file or video streaming from the Web.This medium is a great way to demon-strate products on the Web, or link avideo to an e-mail campaign to en-hance the value of the message.

Extranet – Extranets, or Internetportals, are private, secured areas of aWeb site in which company informationcan be accessed. They can provide secur-ed information to suppliers, vendors,partners, customers and other businesses,and are an ideal way to provide sensitiveinformation to only those who need it.

Web Analytics – The analysisand understanding of Web site visitors’behavior. Understanding how visitorsare finding your Web site and wherethey are going on your site are impor-tant marketing advantages. Findingscan help direct a marketing campaignor enhance a Web site for improvedaudience responsiveness.

Webinars – A live meeting or pre-sentation via the Internet that allows inter-active sharing of desktops, whiteboards,videos and chatting. This is a great toolfor training, announcements and updatesto sales forces, conferences and meetings.

Blog (Weblog) – Web sites thatmaintain an ongoing chronicle of infor-mation. Blogs often provide commen-tary or news on a specific subject, suchas industry information and product

information. Blogs are well known forsocial networking, and are a great toolfor traditional viral marketing (a newtake on word-of-mouth marketing.)

RSS – Family of Web-feed formats,specified in XML (a generic data formatspecification), and used for Web syndi-cation. Users subscribe to an RSS feed,which provides them with a summary ofcontent. RSS feeds allow people to keepup with news and information on Websites in an automated manner, and aregreat for sites that offer regular newsupdates on a weekly or daily basis.

Social Networking – Communi-ties of people who share interests andactivities, or who want to explore the inter-ests and activities of others. Social network-ing is the electronic interaction represent-ed by various methods, such as chat; mes-saging; e-mail; video; voice chat; file shar-ing; blogging; and discussion groups.

Wiki – Web sites that allow visitors toadd, remove, edit and change content.The most popular is Wikipedia.org. Ifyou haven’t checked this site out, youshould search here for your product – ifyou don’t find it, it only takes a few min-utes to register and input your com-pany’s information.

These are just a few of the new “techtools” available that enable you to dis-perse information quickly and readily tothose that need it. The Web is the per-fect way to reach many people instantlywith very little cost. As technology grows,so will the needs in the industry.

An e-marketing plan is a vital compo-nent of your company’s overall market-ing strategy. You should find the paybackboth measurable and profitable. ■

Julie Clark is with Barlow Marketing Group(BMG). BMG is an SIA member and works withSIA on strategic development and marketing. Clarkmay be contacted at [email protected].

Julie Clark

By Julie Clark


ColumnEducation & Training

From Putlogs toWeblogsScaffold training goes high tech

In a recent survey, conducted byHightek for this training program, theTop 5 most preferred features of theSupported Scaffold Inspector Trainingcourse are:

1. Learn anytime - 24/7 accessibility 2. Scaffold Inspection Simulations 3. One-on-one coaching/more in-

teractivity 4. Ability to ask questions directly

with instructor 5. Multiple learning methods (work-

book, eLearning, simulations, etc.)Most of our scaffold inspector train-

ees are busy people. They need a pro-

gram that is flexible in terms of sched-ule and can allow them to learn attheir own pace, site and schedule.“World is the first ‘w’ of ‘www’” addsPike. “We have scaffold inspectiontrainees who are now learning fromsites all across Canada and the UnitedStates, as well as on four other conti-nents around the world.” ■

For more information, Hightek’s SupportedScaffold Inspection training program can befound at www.scaffoldinspection.com.

Call it a sign of the times. Call it evolu-tion. Call it what you wish, training anddevelopment in the scaffolding indus-try has met the 21st century, throughonline training.

Powered by Hightek, an SIA Ac-credited Training Institute, scaffold in-spection.com is now offering an online,blended learning training program forthe inspection of supported scaffolds.

The program features the tradition-al program manual workbook, but thelearning process is blended with on-line eLearning modules and scaffoldinspection simulations. The programis completed with a live one-on-onescaffold inspection coaching sessionwith a Hightek instructor and an on-line written test.

“The blended learning programgives us the best of all worlds,” statesStephen Pike, lead instructor for High-tek. “Between the workbook, eLearningmodules and the simulations we areable to tap into all three learning stylesfor the adult learner. The simulationsand coaching sessions provide a greatopportunity for the trainee to practiceand demonstrate their skills in a safeand interactive environment.”

Using special software, the simula-tions are based on typical “real world”supported scaffolds in frame, systemand/or tube & coupler scaffold struc-tures. The simulations provide typicaldata on the scaffold type, purpose,design, construction and condition forthe scaffold inspector trainee to evalu-ate and make their determination.

The scaffold industry is beginning to offer online training courses.


Training Program

UNITED STATESALASKAR&R Scaffold Erectors, Inc.– AnchorageDavid Bond (907)344-5427/ (888)550-5427

ARIZONAAction Scaffolding, Inc.– PhoenixHoward Schapira (602)252-3417

Waco Scaffolding & Equipment– PhoenixHardy Roloff (216)749-8900

CALIFORNIAArise Waco Scaffolding& Equipment– San DiegoPaul Zimmerman (619)591-2300

Elevator, LLC- Santa RosaJoe Aujay (415)798-0021

Harold Gidish– La MiradaHarold Gidish (714)522-6590

G.F. Towse– ArbuckleGerald Towse (916)997-0340

I.A.T.S.E. Local 80– BurbankKent Jorgensen (818)526-0700

Imperial Scaffold– AnaheimRichard Martinez714-996-5040

Jax Scaffolding Systems LLC– San MarcosDave Cave (760)744-8105

Safety Management Services- San DiegoJ. Robert Harrell (858)259-0591

FLORIDAAtlantic Scaffolding Company– BartowAndy Herron (410)799-0304

Crom Equipment Rentals, Inc.– GainesvilleErik Hauger (352)378-6966

Spectrum Contracting- NaplesIvan Figueroa (239)643-2772

Haynes Scaffolding– West Palm BeachRick Haynes (561)833-8689

HAWAIIAtlas Sales Co., Inc. - HonoluluRonald Camp (808)841-1111

IDAHOBuilding Materials Holding Corp.– BoiseJim Schreiber (208)331-4300

ILLINOISSafety Partners Ltd.– GodfreyBill St. Peters (618)467-0480

KENTUCKYAtlantic Scaffolding Company– AshlandAndy Herron (410)799-0304

LOUISIANABrock Group– Baton RougeJack Rhodus (225)756-7709

Atlantic Scaffolding Company– Baton RougeBarry Guidry (225)766-0386

Patent Construction Systems- New OrleansTim Holden (504)733-2811

MASSACHUSETTESLynn Ladder & Scaffolding Co.– West LynnAlan Kline (800)225-2510

Patent Construction Systems- MedfordBill Halkovitch (781)396-3727

Tractel Inc.– CantonCliff Theve (781)401-3288

MARYLANDAtlantic Scaffolding Company– BaltimoreAndy Herron (410)799-0304

Millstone Corporation– Upper MarlboroJohn Miller (301)599-7500

MICHIGANFRG Corporation– MonroeBernard Brewer (734)457-9131

MINNESOTAWaco Scaffolding & Equipment– MinneapolisMinneapolisHardy Roloff (216)749-8900Scaffold Service– St. PaulMicki Hentges (651)646-4600

MONTANAEnvironmental Contractors LLC– BillingsRick Kirn (406)652-6337

NEBRASKAMidwest Scaffold Service, LLC– OmahaTim C. Weber (402)597-9100

NEW HAMPSHIRESeacoast Scaffold & Equipment Corp.– ConcordMark Harless Sr. (888)701-1119

NEW JERSEYR&R Scaffolding Ltd.– MoonachieCrister J. Hogne (201)438-3020

NEW MEXICOTerritorial Scaffold, Inc.– AlbuquerqueTim Sims (505)242-1892

NEVADANevada Scaffold & Equipment– Las VegasJerry Peck (702)262-9197

NEW YORKTri-City Scaffold, Inc.– DelansonJohn James (518)895-2587

NORTH CAROLINABrewer Equipment Co.– GreensboroTom Brewer (336)292-6737

Occupational Safety & Hygiene Institute- RaleighJim Bruce (919)749-4937

OHIOWaco Scaffolding & Equipment– ClevelandHardy Roloff (216)749-8900

OREGONWaco Scaffolding & Equipment Co., Inc.Daryl Hare (503)232-9226

PENNSYLVANIAPatent Construction Systems- PittsburghDon Bigley (412)505-5701

Universal Manufacturing Corp.– ZelienopleChris Lindquist (724)452-3100


Training Program

TEXASJohn R. Jordan– Consultant– San AntonioJohn Jordan (830)980-7244

Atlantic Scaffolding Company– NederlandBarry Guidry (225)766-0386

Brock Group– HoustonAlvin Conji (713)472-5677 x228

VIRGINIAArise Waco Scaffolding & Equipment– PortsmouthHardy Roloff (757)487-1400

Culbertson Company of VirginiaJim Morasco215-783-2330

Anchor Scaffolding & Ladder Co.- ChesapeakeVinny Culcasi (757)545-2800

WASHINGTONG.E. McPherson & Associates - RichlandGerald McPherson (509) 539-3952

WISCONSINBird Scaffold Rentals– MilwaukeeCharles Cain (414)645-8502

CANADA

ALBERTABAR Industries, Inc. - BonnyvilleRobert Hollasch (780)207-1278

Pinnacle Scaffold Training Ltd - Red DeerGeoff Lagoutte (403)358-6948

Quinn Contracting Ltd.– BlackfaldsGeorge Van Dorp (403)885-6215

Summit Swingstage - Sherwood ParkBlake McGrath (780) 406-2099

Urban Scaffolding– EdmontonWendy Larison (780)452-5950

Van Dyke, Stewart and Assoc.- CalgaryStewart Van Dyke (403)291-2293

Cobra Group, CochraneRos Skelton (403)722-7148

Christian Labour Union of Canada - Edmonton

Co Vanderlann (780) 454-6181

Link Scaffold Services - EdmontonSimon Simoes (780) 449-6111

MANITOBAManitoba Hydro - WinnipegBrian Atkinson (204)474-3311

NEWFOUNDLANDHIGHTEK Fall ProtectionStephen Pike (709)682-2104

ONTARIODunn-Wright Engineering, Inc. - CaledonJohn Rosenthal (905)880-4422

PERULIMAClimber SACGrocio Paredes Maibach (511)254-5650

TRINIDAD/TOBEGOTRINIDADScaffold Man T&TSean Nedd (868)678-7155


DepartmentIndustry Briefs

Aluma Systems Acquires Doug Chalmers Construction

Kennesaw, GA-based Aluma Systemsacquired Doug Chalmers ConstructionLtd. (DCCL) effective Aug. 1.

Aluma Systems is a division of BrandEnergy & Infrastructure Services andDCCL is a supplier of industrial and civilconstruction services to the petrochemi-cal industry in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

For over 30 years, DCCL has earneda reputation for delivering qualityindustrial and civil construction servic-es. The acquisition will enable theBrand family to leverage synergies andoffer clients a more comprehensiveportfolio of service solutions.

O’Malley Joins Atlantic Industrial

Columbia, Md.-based Atlantic In-dustrial Inc. hasappointed MichaelO’Malley as vicepresident, opera-tions support.

In this newlycreated position,O’Malley will takethe lead role in

helping drive continued improve-ment in the utilization of scaffoldmaterial. He will also be tasked withhelping drive improvements in theareas of freight, fleet managementand purchasing. “As Atlantic contin-ues to increase the amount of scaffoldin our asset base, as well as grow thenumber of customer sites, the task ofensuring we have the right material atthe right place at the right time at the

lowest cost is becoming increasinglycomplicated,” says Atlantic Industrialpresident Steven Sisney.

Prior to joining Atlantic, O’Malleyheld previous positions including vicepresident, supply chain operations, fora division of MASCO Corp., as well asvice president, customer service opera-tions for Black & Decker in Towson,Md. While at Black & Decker, he alsoheld various management positions indistribution, transportation, demand

planning and customer channel opera-tions. “I am fortunate to be working fora company that understands the im-portance of making investments, suchas the new asset management systemsoftware, which will make the organiza-tion more effective,” O’Malley says.

Turner Access Wins Scaffold Awards

The term Best Practice is heardoften and used extensively withinHealth & Safety charters of companiesand organizations including the SIA,but what exactly is Best Practice withrespect to scaffolding?

One company in Europe believes ithas the answer and this is backed bythe awards that they have receivedrecently including the prestigious 2005and the 2006 UK Construction WinnerAwards under the Access & Scaffoldingcategory and Best Safety Product in the2006 UK Health & Safety Awards.

Turner Access based in GlasgowScotland and members of the SIAsince 1998, won these awards againstfierce European competition due to

their revolutionary methods and sys-tems of working practice. Thereforewe invited them to tell us how andwhy their practices for the erection,dismantling, alteration and mainte-nance of their scaffolds are now con-sidered as “Best Practice.”

Their managing director, GaryGallagher, explains, “the catalyst forour innovation and revolutionaryworking practices in general has comefrom the Pan-European Directive onFalls from Height. The main aim ofthis directive was to reduce fatalitiesand major injuries caused by fall. Thedirective was adopted throughout

Michael O’Malley

“I am fortunate to be working for a company that understands the importance of making

investments, such as the new asset management system software,

which will make the organization more effective.”

Turner Access recognized; SSFI to develop certification program


Industry Briefs

Europe and, in April 2005, the Work atHeight Regulations introduced.

The main change that these regula-tions imposed was that prevention ofthe risk of fall was required over miti-gation where avoidance of work atheight could not be achieved. The reg-ulations apply to all industries and sec-tors including scaffolding erection etc.

Therefore the normal use of har-nesses in the way that they are typicallyused in the scaffolding industry where-by they do not prevent, but normally atbest, only arrest the fall, was somethingthat we embraced to resolve. This wasno small challenge, to find a solutionto a practice that has been aroundsince the Pyramids were built and scaf-folding was first erected.

How to take away the risk of fall atall times during the process to com-plete the scaffold?

Moreover the regulations also madethe use of harnesses and PPE in gener-al, as a last resort and only suitable foruse where collective means of protec-tion (passive, such as guardrails or net-ting) could not be achieved.

However we could see that if wecould solve this problem, we wouldalso eliminate other concerns over theuse of harnesses not least e.g. the possi-bility of suspension trauma, the needfor rescue planning and resources thatshould always accompany the use ofharnesses and the general uncertaintysurrounding inspection and the har-nesses ability to do what it should do inthe event of an arrest fall, due to envi-ronmental degradation. Additionally atruly safe system of work for scaffold-ing erection, dismantling and altera-tion is something that in its detailshould not just minimize risk of fall,

but eliminate completely the risk of fallin every single stage of the methodolo-gy required to build the scaffold. Thescaffolding expert reader of this articlewill know that such systems of workhave currently not been developed foruse in the Industry.

That is until now.Additional equipment in the form of

scaffolding like pieces are required(known as Advance Guard Rails) in com-bination with new processes in the erec-tion, dismantling and alteration metho-dology to achieve fall risk prevention.

We produced, following extensivedevelopment over several years, theworlds first universal Advance Guard-rail. However while this equipmentwas developed to fit and operate withany type of scaffolding, we soon real-ized that this can only work if incor-



or with single or multiple deck levels,birdcages, static or mobile towers, in-stallation of cantilevers and buttressescan all now be configured to be builtwithout risk.

This is now also having a huge im-pact commercially, as safety led compa-nies and organizations to which realBest Practice is important, adopt andindeed specify the Turner methods.

T5, the next London HeathrowAirport Terminal and largest construc-tion site in Europe run by BAA (BritishAirports Authority), is an example ofthis. Their Safety Executive, Clive John-ston, adopted the Turner methods andproduced new policy and practiceapplicable to the Heathrow site.

Clive Johnston is also chairman ofan organization named SA-FE (SafeAccess- Fall Elimination), See (www.sa-fe.org for more info).

Generally speaking we are delight-ed now with the response from keypeople in the industry and the recog-nition that we are now receiving in theform of awards.

Those judging those awards simplyhave to compare current so called BestPractice with the Turner methods asillustrated below and only one answercan emerge – Turner Access has theanswer to scaffolding Best Practice.

For further information on this goto www.turner-access.co.uk

SSFI Discuss Certification,Standards at SIA Conference

The Scaffolding, Shoring & Form-ing Institute, a trade association com-prising manufacturers of scaffolds,shoring, forming, suspended scaffolds,planks, and platforms, met in conjunc-tion with the SIA convention in Long

Industry Briefs

porated fully and properly, into thework process of the particular scaffold-ing type involved.

Therefore we started with our ownmanufactured types including Plus-Eight and our ALTO and BETA alu-minium ranges. The main scaffoldingindustry training centre at BirchamNewton in England (CITB) then adopt-ed our systems for incorporation intoTraditional Tube & Clamp. The HSE(OSHA equivalent) has now adoptedour methodology within their DVDDon’t Fall for It which they produced toillustrate to industry the processes thatshould be followed.

Our erection methodology providesfall prevention protection from theground and we now build most config-urations including tied and non tiedstructures. Wall scaffolds fully decked



• Forming Standard: The institute’sstandard test methods for forming hasbeen finalized and will be submittedfor recognition as an AmericanNational Standard.

• Scaffold Standard: Test meth-ods for additional components wereadded to the ANSI/SSFI SC 100standard, which will form the basisfor the SSFI Certification Programfor Scaffolds.

• Suspended Scaffold Standards:The SSFI Suspended Scaffold Sectionhas been very active in developingstandards. The section’s ANSI stan-dard for rigging devices, ANSI/SSFISPS 1.1, is being updated and revised.The new version of the standard willbe submitted for recognition again asan American National Standard. Ad-ditional section standards coveringcorner sections and articulated hin-

ged platforms will also enter the SSFIANSI process.

• Technical Bulletins: The SSFIcontinues to add to the wealth of tech-nical information available to pur-chasers and users of scope equipment.Eight new technical bulletins are be-ing developed and will join the exist-ing materials on the SSFI website,www.ssfi.org.

• The Plank and Platform Sectionis finalizing a guide to planks and plat-forms and a test standard for manufac-tured planks. ■

If you have questions about the SSFI, or if youare a manufacturer and would like to join theseefforts, contact SSFI at (216) 241-7333.

Industry Briefs

Beach. SSFI is devoted to advancingthe interests of the industry and focus-es on technical and safe use issuesrelated to scope products.

The various committees and sectionsof the SSFI met over a two-day period.The following is a brief summary ofsome of the highlights of the meeting:

• SSFI Certification Program: Theinstitute has been working for manyyears to formalize industry test methodsin the form of ANSI/SSFI standards.The members agreed that the stan-dards are now in place to permit devel-opment of a certification program forscaffolds and other scope products. Adetailed plan for third-party verificationof performance is being developed.

• Shoring Standard: The SSFI stan-dard test methods for shoring hasbeen recognized as an AmericanNational Standard.


Advertisers’Index16 Action Scaffold Mfg.

actionscaffold.com29 Allied Insurance Brokers

alliedinsbrokers.com12 Alum-A-Pole Corp.

alumapole.com34 ATI16 Bald Eagle Scaffold

Prod., Inc.4 Bennu Parts & Services

bennuparts.com1 Bil-Jax

biljax.com23 Direct Scaffold Supply

directscaffoldsupply.com38 Falcon Ladder

falconladder.com

19 Formwork Exchangeformwork-exchange.com

IBC Hydro-Mobile, Inc.hydro-mobile.com

6 Klimer Mfg.klimer.com

18 MSAmsanet.com

26 Layfield Group Limitedlayfieldgroup.com

39 Layher, Inc.layherscaf.com

26 Marr Scaffolding Co.marrscaffolding.com

16 Max Investorsscaffold-system.com

21 Scaffolding Today, Inc.scaffoldingtoday.com

40 Scaffold Industry Assoc.scaffold.org

32 SIA Insurancencisltd.com

OBC Stepup Scaffoldstepupscaffold.com

2 Strong Man Building Prod.strongman.com

30 ThyssenKrupp Safwaysafway.com

IFC Universal Mfg.universalscaffold.com

37 Waco Scaffolding & Equipmentwacoscaf.com

SIA Enforces Copyright ProtectionThe Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) produces safety and training materials as well as many codes, warning signs and labels for the access industry in addition

to standards and manuals for all products governed by ANSI A92. These products all carry copyright protection to the association to maintain their authenticity as wellas to protect their revenue stream for our members.

The SIA encourages its members as well as users of high reach equipment to report any unauthorized reproduction or modifications of these products so that theassociation can take legal steps to protect our copyright. “For the protection of our members, violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law” says John Miller,SIA President. “Our SIA members and ANSI A92 subcommittee members work too hard as volunteers to generate these products for the good of the scaffold andaccess industry to not legally protect them.”

Please call the SIA office at 602-257-1144 or email RJ Marshall at [email protected] to report any suspected violations.

To order your copies, visit our website at www.scaffold.org.For any questions, please contact Sarah Haines via email at [email protected].

Now AvailableManuals of Responsibilities for Aerial Work PlatformsThe Scaffold Industry Association announces

now available2006 Manuals of ResponsibilitiesANSI/SIA A92.5 Boom Supported Elevating Work Platforms

ANSI/SIA A92.3 Manually Propelled Elevating Aerial Platforms

For Dealers, Owners, Users and Operators, Lessors and Lessees.

Section 5.2.2 of the standard (A92.3 2006 & A92.5 2006)The current Manual of Responsibilities for dealers, owners, users, operators, lessors,

lessees and brokers .. . . shall be provided and stored in the weather resistant storage compartment.

THE POWER TO RAISE PRODUCTIVITY

With a load capacity of 20,000 lbs and a 7' wide deck, Hydro Mobile’s M-Series is ideal for masonry, stone or marble facade work from 20' to 250' in height.

Both highly adaptable and safe, it can adjust to different architectural configurations and reduces the risk of work-related injuries and loss of man-hours.

All of which contribute to an estimated 30% increase in productivity.

For more information on the M-Series or to locate your nearest distributor, call us now or visit our Web site.

1.888.484.9376 | www.hydro-mobile.com

scaffold and access industry association

Documents