Knowing is Seeing, p. 17 • Around the Table, p. 23 • SAIA Convention Preview, p.31 scaffold & access magazine May-June 2013 A project team works long hours to accommodate a historic retrofit It’s all about . Universal Manufacturing engineers and fabricates custom access products to meet your specific needs. From work platforms, stair towers and modular steps to custom designed access ladders and fall protection platforms. Our engineering team will work with to meet and exceed your industry-specific challenges down to the last detail. Rely on our experience, innovation and quality to provide a custom access solution for . universalscaffold.com Zelienople, PA (800) 836-8780 2 • May-June 2013 scaffold & access • 3 table of contents features 17 Knowing is Seeing Being able to see the five W’s of traceability on the scaffold plank you intend on purchasing is vital. scaffold & access magazine may-june 2013 20 Above & Beyond A new scaffold system takes safety to the next level. 23 Around the Table on the cover Scaffold industry veterans discuss where the industry’s been, where it’s going, and its competitive advantage. 14 Day & Night A project team works long hours to accommodate a historic retrofit Columns 6 The President’s Desk 8 Editor’s 2 Cents 10 Litigation News 12 Technically Speaking DEPARTMENTS 26 Business and Development 29 New Equipment 31 SAIA 38 Advertiser’s Index 4 • May-June 2013 permanently installed & custom designed equipment.WINSAFE. Come check us out at booth 201 at the SAIA show. We specialize in temporary. INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS Suspended Scaffolding Outrigger Beams & Suspension Systems Large Area Work Platforms Building Maintenance & Restoration Window Washing Industrial Access Confined Space Fall Protection Specializing in the business of ‘gravity management’ WINSAFE 905-474-9340 WWW.CHALLENGING APPLICATIONS Winsafe is an innovative manufacturer of access & fall protection products & solutions for people who work at height & in hard to reach locations.COM
[email protected] scaffold & access • 5 . Tradeshow Season It was. a busy tradeshow season. held in New Orleans. Committee Week. If not. and the yearly site visits for staff to ensure the venue meets the groups needs will be reduced. The feedback on the new training program has been excellent.” We have been displaying new products and technologies—trying to create the interest—now where is the demand? There are strong pockets of activity going on. and taking advantage of SAIA’s new programs. Steve Smith • Immediate Past President Edge International . I hope you all were able to take advantage of the winter to catch up on things not possible during the busy construction season.The President’s Desk Is Momentum Gaining? By Marty Coughlin W elcome to spring. was another success. • 2012-2014 SAIA Executive Committee Marty Coughlin • President Dependable Scaffolding LLC Mike Russell • President Elect Power Climber Jeff Stachowiak • Vice President Sunbelt Rentals 6 • May-June 2013 Paula Manning • Secretary Century Elevators Colby Hubler • Treasurer Power Climber James Holcomb • Presidential Appointee Crom Equipment Rentals Inc. Finally. The SAIA attended the World of Concrete and held another popular Safety Boot Camp. Some are reporting good inventories and materials in stock. there is still time. and the results are evident in the program. We have some special plans for the President’s Reception as well—it will be truly memorable. don’t miss out this year. Looking Ahead Attending the tradeshows and meetings this year. Check with SAIA Director of Education and Training Granville Loar at granville@saiaonline. I found the mood and outlook for 2013 vastly different than last year. The Rental Show. per usual. It seemed a number of attendees are tired of waiting for the economy to turn around and are becoming more aggressive. however. In doing this. eliminating the need and expense of another site visit. We have elected to return to New Orleans for the 2014 Committee Week. and while we are still negotiating room rates. including training programs. we took advantage of our time there to decide on a location. During the board meeting. and then there are those that can’t keep up with current demand. the topic of venues was discussed with everyone agreeing that instead of changing venues yearto-year. Bob Backer and his team have worked tirelessly in getting this program together. With spring upon us. Jay Gordon • Board Appointee Klimer Platforms Inc. better prices can to be negotiated for meeting space and rooms. and a number of guest speakers have been lined up for the meetings that you don’t want to miss. and I hope you were able to attend at least one of them. it’s a good idea to check with your suppliers and plan accordingly. if you weren’t able to join us in Nashville 10 years ago. I found the mood and outlook for 2013 vastly different than last year. It seems a number of attendees are tired of waiting for the economy to turn around and are becoming more aggressive. but not demand. We will follow up with a new location for 2015-2018 and have already begun contacting venues that are centrally located so we can begin working on locking in favorable rates. The councils have been working on the programs. Manufacturers and suppliers are offering different outlooks.org for additional information. others are reporting four to six weeks on deliveries of new orders. I am a believer of the adage: “You can create interest. Frank Frietsch • Board Appointee Layher Inc. a city will be selected to hold Committee Week for two to three years Attending the tradeshows and meetings this year. and also debuted its Aerial Work Platform Training course at the American Rental Association’s (ARA). updating your competent cards. We have a number of courses scheduled throughout the country led by the SAIA staff or your local ATI. and there has been a definite increase in bidding activity. the impact that reduced government spending will have in your market remains to be seen and could put a damper on the enthusiasm that we saw at World of Concrete and ARA. consecutively. scaffold & access • 7 . May-June. it’s time to see how strong the industry’s safety culture is.Those that do the forecasting predict it highly unlikely we return to our previous state of boom where money and jobs grew on trees—almost literally. LLC. You’ll notice the themes of safety. businesses.” The concept behind it is that businesses doing safety right engage everyone in the company—top-down. July-August. plus an Annual Directory.org/nsm. With good times ahead and challenges to figure out. MO 64106 SA Magazine is published six times per year in January-February. In this issue. industries. and November-December. The industry has been making huge strides for decades to put safety at the center of what it does—now as we barrel towards a boom and demand peaks along with prices.com 8 • May-June 2013 May-June 2013 Volulme 41 • Issue 3 PRESIDENT Guy Ramsey 602-368-8552 gramsey@maxcapmedia. connecting their importance to each and every person. innovation. followed domino-style by all the others—among the most positively impacted. again.com jody colee 515-574-2312. Issue of SA! Look for articles on: • Permanent Installations • Suspended Scaffolds • Fall Protection scaffold & access magazine Be on the lookout for SA Connection: the digital supplement to SA magazine that features new articles. Phone 515-574-2312.com VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS BARBARA BENTON 800-231-8953. Today. MOTZ 602-368-8552 fmotz@maxcapmedia. bottom-up—in safety processes and procedures. and hope wafting in an out—something’s definitely in the air. 2114 bbenton@maxcapmedia. All rights reserved. March-April. The difference though is instead of hurdling towards an economic black hole. Deadlines and Mechanical Requirements furnished upon request.Editor’s 2 Cents Change is in the Air By Lindsay Minard S omewhere around five years ago.com ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES jeff shumar 602-368-8552 jshumar@maxcapmedia. there seems to be something looming—something big about to happen. and SAIA resources.com ADVERTISING SALES 800-231-8953 515-574-2312 (direct) • FAX 515-574-2361 Advertising Rates. • For more information or article submissions please contact: lminard@maxcapmedia. check out the articles on supported scaffolds. Fort Dodge..com GRAPHIC DESIGNER NATE CARNAHAN 515-574-2273 nate@hlipublishing. For more information visit http://nsc. Subscription: SA magazine is $85 per year . the looming change in the air—the something big about to happen—took the country from economic boom to bust. And while we’ve conditioned ourselves after years of riding the good and bad news waves. Entire contents copyright 2013 by Maximum Capacity Media.com EDITOR lindsay minard 602-288-7289 lminard@maxcapmedia. 1003 Central Ave. industry briefs. LLC. Opinions expressed by writers of SA are not necessarily held by the publisher. IA 50501. remember that June is the National Safety Council’s National Safety Month (NSM). ext. The theme in 2013 is: “Safety Starts with Me.com ACCOUNT MANAGERS Cindy kirby 515-574-2312. let’s begin planning now (if you haven’t already heard and started) to tackle the challenges that certainly will come when the residential market springs to life. Fax 515-574-2361. plank and platform.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Katie Parrish 480-241-5625 kparrish@maxcapmedia. ext. and households have adjusted to what they call the new normal. by Maximum Capacity Media. ext. PROJECT MANAGER elouise schultz 602-368-8552 eschultz@maxcapmedia. In the years since. and shoring. Kansas City. With change again filling the air. 2278 fgeopfert@maxcapmedia. 2112 jcolee@maxcapmedia. With a boom in the residential industry will come lots of work for the industry. September-October. This approach sets the stage for a safety culture based on accountability. fast. ext. 2284
[email protected] Floyd Geopfert 515-574-2312. beyond the workplace. its economy. we’ve turned around and are gaining ground on that light at the other end of what has turned out to be a very long tunnel. to be cautiously optimistic (emphasis on cautious)—there are numbers—real numbers that indicate a boom in the residential construction industry is coming.com Coming in the July-Aug. scaffold and access businesses. the country.com DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA FRANCI M.com CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send new address with mailing label to: Scaffold and Access Industry Association 400 Admiral Blvd. For more information contact Lindsay Minard: lminard@maxcapmedia. and an opportunity to apply and test how strong its safety culture has become during slower times when there was opportunity to nurture that culture and get serious about training. and in the spirit of lessons learned. instead of waiting for impact and then reacting. TN – July 21-23.SAFE T Y • RELI AB I LI T Y • Q U A L I TY BY D E S I GN TOP QUALITY SCAFFOLD PLANKS IN STOCK Planks are available in a variety of sizes and are compatible with all types of scaffold systems. 2013 World Headquarters: 5602 Armour Drive | Houston. All products meet or exceed OSHA and ANSI specifications.comscaffold & access • 9 . TX 77020 | USA Offices In: Hong Kong | China | India | Latin America | Canada | United Kingdom 713-673-7701 Phone | 800-720-6629 Toll Free | www. Visit us at the SAIA Annual Convention (booth #100) –Nashville.directscaffoldsupply. but the fact remains that there are still significant numbers of accidents on these machines. however. Decks & Platforms CALL NOW 877-890-8490 www. all of the manufacturers of hoist motors had manuals outlining the correct use of their motors and the correct manner in which to set up the entirety of the suspended scaffold. and the operator’s manual is extensive. As for suspended scaffolding. The remaining option for SCAFFOLD • SHORING • SYSTEMS MANUFACTURING & SALES We Carry a Full Line of Quality Scaffold Planks. . SAIA members had access to codes of safe practices—beneficial documents that provided extensive information on what to do. the size and scope of the operator manuals. and what not to do. The point is. users have an extraordinary amount of information on these machines at their fingertips. the modest amount of information available to the end-user for both products was.STVAonline. Mo. These instructions were crucial to the end-user. All the manuals and labels in the world don’t add up to the knowledge and understanding gained through training programs. classroom. Contact him at zinselmeier@specialtyclaims. given the amount of information available the opposite should be true: less information early on. in comparison to today’s standards. more/better quality information today. to today’s current world of booms and lifts. renting. • About the Author Robert Zinselmeier is a Senior Litigation Specialist with Specialty Claims Management in St. When an operator walks up to a lift. Today.Litigation News Where is the Disconnect? By Robert Zinselmeier I n my March-April column. Warning labels had not yet been introduced and did not come into play until years later. To the best of my recollection. The Manual of Responsibilities as part of the ANSI standards outlines specifically what each entity in the chain must do to comply with the proper handling and safe use of the equipment. or using frame scaffolding.com. Louis. There is also at least one manufacturer who reprints the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) Manual of Responsibilities in their equipment manual. Perhaps the number of lifts being used on a daily basis. in some measure. the amount of labeling on the unit is significant. the evolving landscape of claims concerning the scaffold industry was discussed with respect to the changes we’ve seen since the 1970s/1980s when frame scaffolding (in all its multiple configurations) and suspended scaffolding dominated the industry. This undoubtedly led to frequent accidents and the industry’s acknowledgment of the need for training. less accidents—right? I believe the answer circles back to training programs—inperson. regardless of who the manufacturer is. Then and Now Think back to those days and consider what product information was available for distribution in terms of selling.com 10 • May-June 2013 a scaffold user was to make contact with their local OSHA office for guidelines. visual information. and the Manual of Responsibilities—the information available to today’s users is far superior to what end-users had in the past. The industry needs to continue to promote and develop programs that coincide with the fingertip information in order to put a real dent in the accident reports. practical training. more accidents. minimal. there was one manufacturer who had a pamphlet that provided written instructions for the proper and safe use of their product. accounts for the number of accidents in which they are involved. As such. So between the labeling. the control panel on the machine is outlined with vital. training programs were developed and the results have been monumental. considering the system’s other component parts not within the hoist motor manufacturers’ control. scaffold & access • 11 . Because it is constructed of rigid tubes. are described by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as: “Any device.com. The suspension ropes are supported by rigid towers constructed of metal tubes. or an aerial platform is determined by what is holding up the platform—it’s that easy. Contact him at dglabe@dhglabe. Examples of supported scaffolds include tubular welded frame scaffolds. Examples of suspended scaffolds include single and two-point. The device may also be used to handle material. Suspended scaffolds are temporary elevated platforms that are supported by non-rigid means such as chains. both the OSHA Construction Supported Scaffold Regulations [29 CFR 1926. horse scaffolds. A Masons’ adjustable supported scaffold has a platform that is supported by suspension ropes and a redundant (back-up) tower support. some food for thought: If you’re considering a table as a scaffold you may want to think twice. or uprights. is the hanging scaffold. system scaffolds. is the Founder of Glabe Consulting Services. Suspended Scaffolds on a project. self-propelled elevating work platforms (scissors lifts). or both. However. The first. articulating. or slings. Supported scaffolds are temporary elevated platforms that are supported by rigid means such as legs. but does it matter if a scaffold is supported but not a supported scaffold? The answer is a resounding yes. there has to be an exception or two. • About the Author David H. which is primarily designed and used to position personnel. (a window washer’s scaffold). pump jack scaffolds. P. and Founder and Partner of DH Glabe & Associates. P. Glabe. Aerial platforms are unique. Regulations that apply to supported and suspended scaffolds do not apply to boom supported elevating work platforms (boom lifts). it’s actually not. Aerial platforms on a project. tube and coupler scaffolds. Inc. some from the ground and some from above. A Masons’ adjustable supported scaffold is the common exception to the supported/suspended classification. While the usual assumption is that it is a suspended scaffold. it is a supported scaffold even though it is suspended from above. suspended scaffold. If your platform is suspended from your mother’s clothesline (rope) you may really want to rethink that one. Glabe. materials. C an a scaffold be supported but yet not a supported scaffold? Obviously all scaffolds require support. Whether it’s a supported scaffold. Aerial platforms.E. suspended scaffolds. and supports employees. if designed and equipped for that purpose. and aerial platforms. depending if the platform is supported by ropes only or also by the tower itself. or both.451(c)] and the OSHA Construction Suspended Scaffold Regulations [29 CFR 1926.451(d)] may apply. . or mast-climbing work platforms (mast climbers).E. such as the roof of a building. which isn’t really an exception but more 12 • May-June 2013 of a clarification. Supported scaffolds on a project. Glabe is SAIA’s Regulatory Liaison. This results in a tower that is both a suspended scaffold and a supported scaffold. and multi-point. Consequently. A hanging or hung scaffold is a scaffold typically constructed of rigid metal tubes that hangs down from a structure above. extensible. catenary scaffolds. and tank scaffolds. or at least aerial devices. There are three types of scaffolds: supported scaffolds.Technically Speaking Is it Supported? David H. temporary.” Exceptions to the Rule As with any categorization. vehicle-mounted elevating and rotating aerial devices (truck-mounted boom lifts). These machines have specific ANSI standards. Knowing what type of scaffold you’re dealing with is crucial to making sure it’s in compliance with recognized safety standards and therefore a safe scaffold—making the real question: How are scaffolds classified? An elevated platform is a scaffold if it is elevated. ropes. poles. SAIA also assists our members to become more efficient and profitable in their businesses. craftsmanship and ethics. Beyond training. Training courses are available throughout the year for SAIA members and non-members. regional meetings. conducting educational seminars and training courses. SAIA’s mission is to ensure that those who make.4860 • www. and 90+ Accredited Training Institutes. depend on.org . In its 40+ year history. SAIA promotes safety by developing educational and informational material. SAIA Course Offerings Include: Scaffold User Safety and Hazard Awareness Scaffold Primary Access Training Supported Scaffold Training Scaffold Competent Person Safety Training (CPT) Professional Scaffold Erector Safety Training Challenge Exam Suspended Scaffold Hazard Awareness and Operator Safety Training Suspended Scaffold Training Mast Climber Operator Training Aerial Work Platform Operator Training Scaffold & Access Industry Association • 400 Admiral Blvd. These training courses teach contractors how to meet and exceed those standards with best safety practices. The SAIA embraces learning through participation and facilitates the processes via its committees and councils. Committee Week. reducing employee injuries and lost time on the job. With over 900 member locations spanning the globe..saiaonline. MO 64106 816. or govern the use of access tools and equipment pursue the highest standards of safety. provide audio-visual programs and codes of safe practices and other training and safety aids.Quality Training. Kansas City. Scaffold & Access Industry Association is the unified voice of the scaffold and access industry. install. and the Annual Convention. Proven Results. SAIA has provided safety education to thousands of contractors through its renowned seminars and training courses.595.org • info@saiaonline. heading east over the Sierras to meet up with the Union Pacific. After World War I. located in Sacramento. the transcontinental route to Council Bluffs. and other multi-use purposes. The rail yard site will eventually be an extension of downtown Sacramento with housing. Sacramento pressured Southern Pacific to build a new. therefore. today. The depot is the country’s seventh largest Amtrak station with 1. In 1885 the Southern Pacific. History Lesson Located at the foot of the Sierra Mountains. closing for renovations was not an option for the project team. was completed. grander station to welcome people to the city. Close by was 14 • May-June 2013 the Overland Trail—a route for stagecoaches. which includes relocation of tracks and platforms. became the state’s capital in 1854. The chief engineer of the SVRR was Theodore Judah. and construction of a light rail station on the site of the old platforms. The depot project is part of the revitalization of the old Southern Pacific rail yard. retail. is undergoing an $11 million seismic retrofit to bring the historic structure into compliance with today’s Seismic Life Safety and Americans with Disabilities standards. Sacramento was the logical choice to be the western terminal of the Transcontinental Railroad. The building was designed and constructed in renaissance revival style with a red tile roof and terra cotta trim throughout. . in 1926. The first railroad in California was the Sacramento Valley Railroad (SVRR). the famous Pony Express. Seven years later on May 10. Utah. 1869. which eventually ran 22 miles from Sacramento to Folsom by 1852. The architecturally and historically significant depot is named on the National Registry of Historic Places as the Southern Pacific Railroad Sacramento Depot. in Promontory Point.. once the hub of the California gold rush and the largest inland port. absorbed the Central Pacific.Day & Night A project team works long hours to accommodate a historic retrofit • by David Johnson T he Sacramento Valley Depot in Sacramento. Tracks for the Central Pacific Railroad began being laid in 1883. Iowa. The depot also serves the Sacramento Regional Transit Light Rail and bus service along with Amtrak’s thruway motor coaches. Construction was completed on the Southern Pacific Railroad Sacramento Depot. the trail is Highways 50 and 80. and later the Transcontinental Railroad through the Sierras. who later would be the chief engineer on the Central Pacific Railroad and championed having the Transcontinental Railway pass through the Sierras. now the Sacramento Valley Depot.2 million riders every year and is the ground transportation hub for Sacramento. Sacramento. Calif. mail routes. These towers stabilized the ceilings while carpenters added joists and blocking.m. vendors. Opening the floors above these ceilings highlighted the beauty of the full-dimension redwood that was used in the building’s construction.m. scaffold & access • 15 . so Skyline designed an overhead canopy using system scaffold to allow for the greatest use of space while providing the maximum protection. Next was the full overhead protection of the waiting room and ticketing areas. The majority of the work was completed at night as the station’s hours of operation are 4:00 a. The mahogany benches are part of the historic fixtures of the building and connect to the building’s heating system. minimal plywood pads cut to the size of the base plate were used to protect the marble flooring.000-plus passengers a day along with Amtrak employees. The overhead protection was built at a height of 14 ft. The Retrofit When the time came to retrofit the historic structure. and its waiting room hosts 3. A crane at midnight picked and placed the necessary gear for the ceiling restoration onto the roof. and the general public. keeping them in use. overhead protection. scaffold towers. The first pieces of scaffold erected were shoring towers to help suspend the lath and plaster ceilings while the retrofit was going on above them. To combat a trip hazard created by a forest of columns with standard mudsills inside a public space. and a full deck inside the hung ceiling of the building. to allow the ticketing sign boards to be viewable to the public..The main waiting room has soaring 40-ft. Aluminum hook plank was used while working on the ceiling to prevent against a fire hazard and to keep the weight down. Since they could not be moved the scaffold was designed to go around them. light rail and bus passengers. The overhead protection needed to be as unobtrusive as possible and allow for the maximum public use of the space. to 12:00 a. Skyline Scaffold provided shoring. Preserving Historic Integrity One of the greatest challenges to the interior overhead protection was the waiting area benches. seven days a week. Full overhead protection in the waiting room and ticketing areas had to be as unobtrusive to the public as possible. arched ceilings and a mural depicting the groundbreaking of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1883 by western mural artist John MacQuarrie. Inc. The historic nature of the ceiling meant using tool lanyards to control all tools in the ceiling and working around all of the centenary wires. The grand ceiling in the waiting area was constructed from wire grid lathe and plaster. suspended from the main roof trusses. the deck allowed the contractor to have full access to the trusses above and the ceiling below to complete the seismic retrofit and install fire sprinklers in the ceiling. therefore could not be removed. The curve meant that the supports had to come down 3 ft. To reduce the roof load all plank and trusses were moved inside the adjacent roof space leaving just the horizontals and verticals on the roof. He can be reached at david@skylinescaffold. 4-in. and suspension points with minimum disturbance of the system.The Depot’s mahogany benches connect to the building’s heating system. ensuring not only the end-product. Overall historic restoration projects are always approached differently than other construction projects. Skyline started building the deck moving the scaffold parts and pieces through the 3’x3’ roof vents into the ceiling void. warning lines. This allowed for the end decks to be installed without drilling into the end wall that were part of the seismic retrofit. Once the overhead protection was complete. In order to keep the weight down.com. a crane at midnight picked and placed all of the necessary gear onto the roof. and didn’t impact its demanding schedule. • About the Author David Johnson is the Vice President of Operations and Safety at Skyline Scaffold. in the center from the bottom cord of the trusses. upheld the depot’s historic integrity. The contractor also had to reroute roof drain lines and some mechanical fixtures around the deck space. work on the deck in the ceiling began. met the needs of the team. from the bottom of the truss at the edges of the building. The deck was built to engineered drawings using suspending lattice girders over the buildings trusses and then building a deck down from them—stair-stepping to match the contour of the ceiling. To protect the public. The Skyline team worked day and night to accomodate the City of Sacramento and the general contractor. aluminum hook plank was used with steel plank filling in the remaining spaces. Another challenge on the project concerned the long cantilevered decks on each side of the platform that could not be supported from the lattice girders. The deck had to be built with metal plank because wood was not allowed in the ceiling void because of fire hazard concerns. and then curve down to 16 ft.The team began with a solid site survey. The solution involved using roof beams and beam clamps to suspend the free ends of the decks that were then cantilevered back to the main deck with double diagonal braces. and calculations of the imposed roof load. plastic corrugated drainpipe tubing was cut down one side and wrapped around the columns providing padding so that the standard would be softened. and then set necessary fall protection measures. but the path to it was safe. So the Skyline project team designed the scaffold around them. and the Co-Chair of SAIA’s Supported Council. 16 • May-June 2013 . Once in place. cables. Another hazard to combat with the columns was the rosettes sticking out from the standards. respectively. but for LVL it should be clearly traceable back to the LVL manufacturer’s name. This is particularly important for wood-based scaffold planks that bear similar resemblance to lower-grade products not intended for scaffold use. The challenge for wood-based scaffold planks is that it can be difficult to distinguish a suitable product from a lower grade product not intended for scaffold use. or from Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) manufacturers who have produced the LVL billets. many manufacturers of scaffold plank in North America will include an OSHA or CSA S259. Would you purchase a car off a lot at a deal if it didn’t have a make. Traceability is generally tied back to the scaffold plank manufacturer for all wood-based planks. for example. A car needs proper traceability. The issues related to scaffold plank traceability are understandable.S.knowing is seeing ( Being able to see the five W’s of traceability on the scaffold plank you intend on purchasing is vital • by Jeff Jack S caffold planks and platforms are frequently used in harsh environments and are responsible for supporting workers and materials at elevated heights. Every plank must support the loads applied to it. Additionally. especially when there is a problem with performance or application. and easy to operate (no need for information from the manufacturer). and production period.2 marking to indicate conformance with the applicable scaffold regulations in the U. or a VIN number? Is the risk of not knowing if you’re in a safe vehicle worth the reward of a deal way below sticker? The same concept applies to scaffold planks. owners. and any defects in functionality could create life-threatening safety hazards. Some scaffold plank manufacturers purchase their raw materials from sawmills who have cut the lumber. Additionally. a detailed owner’s manual is always provided by the manufacturer. the quality of materials and manufacturing of every scaffold plank is vastly important. One piece of essential information is a marking that indicates the product is specifically “SCAFFOLD PLANK” or “SCAF PLK”. manufacturer name or emblem. model. Good To Know There are cases concerning solid-sawn wood products. while scaffold planks aren’t exactly complicated to operate. however. and Canada. and users. non-life threatening. This can be costly to all involved. scaffold & access • 17 . traceability concerning scaffold plank should at a minimum give clear information as to who manufactured the plank. the ramifications of inadequate traceability tend to be ignored. and because failure to do so is potentially life-threatening. Adequate traceability can be simplified as follows: • Communicating what the product is • Communicating who manufactured and inspected the product • Communicating when and where the product was manufactured • Method of communicating how this information The Why There are many products that without proper traceability have no great impact on our lives—items generally low in cost. They are a significant investment for distributors. mill location. and the ability to easily identify who that manufacturer is and how they can be contacted. there is significant value in having technical and field support provided by the manufacturer. often along with a network of authorized dealers to assist with service and maintenance. Therefore. and where it was produced. or you probably wouldn’t make the purchase. where the manufacturer of the scaffold plank product is not the manufacturer of the board. But take a car. The What So what defines adequate traceability? Simply answered. It is a significant investment. The performance and quality of each plank is critical to the safety of their users. This information should be permanently embossed on both sides of the plank. when. process control. CHARLES ENGINEERING.com 18 • May-June 2013 D. For wood-based plank products. CA 92007 (760) 436-9756 charlesengineering. The Where The markings on a plank should include the manufacturer’s mill number assigned by the respective agency. CA 95405 (707) 537-8282 So. Typically. or the manufacturer’s name or logo can be easily determined. Santa Rosa. Again. It is possible to get a good deal in the scaffold plank industry on products with poor traceability. Because of jobsite conditions and the environmental elements scaffold planks are exposed to. These markings tie back to important information from the manufacturer including: raw material sources. markings for traceability should be able to withstand the elements and still be readable well into the product’s service life. For example. a specific date. and quality assurance data from the time period in question. the grade agency or third-party inspection agency used by the manufacturer must be included. it is important that either the product name or logo. it can generally be stated that the tighter the timeframe on a production period listed on the product the better. or a time the product was produced. But questionable traceability puts everyone involved at risk. INC. production data. For this reason permanent emboss is highly recommended over ink stamps on wood-based plank products. traceability to an hour of production would be better than to a day or shift of production. Scaffold EnginEEring PE LicEnsEd in ALL 50 stAtEs VArious cAnAdiAn ProVincEs & iL sE Access Scaffold Suspended & Work Platforms Containment Systems Structural Shoring Temporary Structures Bridge Jacking Special Event Scaffold Falsework/Formwork Bridge Structural Analysis Wall Bracing . knowing when the plank was produced is essential information to have should the product’s quality or safety from a given production lot be called into question. While manufacturers may have varying degrees of internal traceability. Suite 200 Cardiff. inadequate traceability is the direct result of a questionable material source. The When The date or production period when scaffold plank was produced is also of critical importance. There are several different ways to provide traceability and technology continues to produce more innovative ways to do so.The Who While it is not a requirement that the plank manufacturer’s name be fully spelled out.H. and traceability to a day or shift of production would be better than to a month of production. The product should include a date stamp of a month and year. This is critical information to have in case the quality or safety of a product from a production lot is called into question. Any questions about meanings of markings or concern of adequate traceability are best addressed directly with the plank manufacturer. The How It is largely up to the product manufacturer to determine how to imprint this information on their product. • Corporate Office 4706 Hoen Ave. Some manufacturers will further identify their product with the country of origin with a claim like “Made in USA” or similar. This provides critical information as to where the plank was manufactured. California Office 2187 Newcastle Ave. the American National Standards Institute. minimum design properties.saiaonline. What to Look For www. Information about the scaffold plank grade. Contact him atAd-SIA-half-horiz-13-05. pvroduct name.Traceability Guidelines OSHA. P.E. 1 5/9/2013 6:25:28 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K scaffold & access • 19 . mill location or number.pdf jjack@redbuilt. and third-party inspection agency are missing.org/ plankandplatform About the Author Jeff Jack. A description of the required information is covered in Purchasing Guidelines developed by SAIA’s Plank & Platform Council for various scaffold plank and platform products. product name. is the Chair of SAIA’s Plank and Platform Council and is a Division Engineer for RedBuilt LLC (Boise.com. third-party inspection agency is missing. manufacturer name. mill location/number. The guidelines are available at: What is Missing from These Pictures? The manufacturer name. and the SAIA provide regulations. and recommendations about proper traceability of scaffold plank products. ID). using the training they receive during Manual Handling courses. the lifting bars are removed. armed with the knowledge that 100 % tie-off is possible. more efficient. are apt to start seriously weighing the risks and rewards of above and beyond safety measures—regardless of when the standards catch up. workplace injuries. Barry and Deaton have 50-plus years of experience in the construction industry—both starting as HVAC engineers.. but fall prevention built into the scaffold? The Story Based in Dublin. There is also buzz in the U. Lifting bars allow users to construct and deconstruct the scaffold without leaving the ground. innovative scaffold products aren’t exactly a common occurrence. with similar deck space to a standard double width scaffold without a weaker narrow side. Additionally. and so on. allowing the user to harness to a point that gives access through 360 degrees on the deck with a low center of gravity. Combined. The Possibility of Fall Prevention So what if there was a scaffold product that actually prevented a worker from falling—not fall protection. but as far as scaffold innovations that have really rocked the boat? Not since the system scaffold hit 20 • May-June 2013 the market and really did revolutionize the industry. 16 and 10 sq. One January morning in 2008 over a cup of coffee. Scaffolds have been around for centuries and certainly have seen modifications that have broadened their application-scope. industrial market—the bread and butter for so many in the scaffold industry—about 100% tie-off making itself known and prevalent. with lots of dollars dropped into marketing zero-incident safety records. Once the scaffold is erected and at the required height.S.S. the industry still tops the shortlist when it comes to OSHA violations. (Triple-deck. As that buzz gets louder. Ireland. the motorized access industry has gained significant momentum in some sectors as the equipment of choice when possible. the scaffold will not tip over. U. Pyrascaf Safe Solutions Ltd.A bove & Beyond A new scaffold system takes safety to the next level • by Lindsay Minard The Pyrascaf Mobile Working Tower at a Glance • • • • • Conforms to BS 1004-2004. perhaps even standard in the U. both witnessed a scaffold being assembled badly on a construction site—something they’d both seen too many times before. as big general contractors. . Overall the scaffold is for all trades working up to a height of 18 to 21 ft. become more comfortable spending dollars upfront in order to have what they consider a safer work platform and less possibility for a fall. owners with extraordinary and growing potential liabilities. What has impacted the industry greatly are OSHA’s scaffold regulations that wholly changed the way the industry approached safety on a scaffold and laid the foundation for a safety first culture within it. In the event of a fall. and has been independently tested. But despite the scaffold standards being in place for some time. and death. ft. has there been a product that deserved serious fanfare. 36. led by directors Alan Barry and Acquelino Deaton has developed a scaffold system across the pond that may just be the start of something revolutionary for the near and far scaffold industry and its safety reputation. N ew. made them safer.S. double-deck and single-deck options) The only scaffold in existence with a tested designated harness point. outriggers not required on the triple deck up to 18 ft. “The scaffold is built to suit.” ed scaffold—a mobile working tower specifically. and he told me he had some funds to make it happen. Additionally. falling off is impossible. services.” The sweet spot market for the system at the moment is the blue chip industry. If a fall occurs. “We have built a 30’x6’x6’ high deck in less than 30 minutes that gives the user access to 12 ft. “If the system we have doesn’t work for the client.” By somewhat of a coincidence. Pyrascaf system takes 15 minutes total. thus eliminating the opportunity to fall during erection. Zarletti saw major potential for the product in the U.” says Zarletti. Barry says: “It took us nearly two years to get the production model American-ready and that timing happened to unfortunately coincide with the economic slump that’s been lingering for five or so years. The Pyrascaf mobile working tower is built from the ground using lifting bars that eliminate the need to climb the structure while it’s being built. Barry says: “The harness point provides a tie-off point for use above and below the deck. “The aluminum design also significantly minimizes the exposures to strains and sprains common while lifting and erecting scaffolding. the Pyrascaf system has a square deck profile that provide equal strength on all sides.S. “On a standard mobile platform a harness point doesn’t exist. however. nuclear—it’s applicable to them all. “Our hope and intention is that by the 2013 SAIA Convention in July the deal will be completed and we will be introducing our new American partners at the show. “After getting the drawings ready for the prototypes we headed to the patent office and applied—everything snowballed from that point. I’ve seen workers attaching to the aluminum components of the scaffold—ladder rungs and cross bars—neither of which would be of any benefit should the worst happen.S. with three elements that work to prevent a fall. If we put a 6’x6’ deck alongside another joined together by joiner boards now you have an 18’x18’ deck. scaffold & access • 21 .” Today.S. and have now moved to the UK to do the same.” says Barry.” The third component of the Pyrascaf system is the working platform that utilizes a stainless steel rotating harness point attached to a mast at the scaffold’s center of gravity. The Product What Barry and Deaton had developed was a new way to erect a support- Configurations and Applications According to Barry the possible configurations for the Pyrascaf system are nearly infinite and exponentially growing as they continue to manufacture scaffolds to suit their customer’s needs. below for climbing and above for working.” Barry and Deaton ended up working on four prototypes for their scaffold system that were tested and retested with a production model ready in early 2010. Anyone that sees this can’t believe it hasn’t been thought of before – it’s so simple.-based risk management/safety consulting firm. the system will not topple over—the difference between a minor and serious/fatal injury. A fall arrest system is then attached to a central harness point built into the scaffold and lowered along the ladder as each new section is put in place. Once the scaffold is completely erected. Barry and Deaton’s scaffold system is about to break through the slowly but surely recovering U. The user can move 360 degrees around the platform without moving the harness point. The Pyrascaf mobile towers will take the construction industry by storm as it becomes more appreciated with every use. this is the product they’re going to need.“That day I looked at Acquelino and told him I had an idea that would solve that problem. If you use the system the way we designed it. on a standard scaffold workers move around attaching and reattaching their harness on a rectangular platform. market. president and CEO of Ill. we simply modify it until it does. “Pyrascaf has joined the strength and durability of T-6 aluminum with a design that incorporates an access ladder as it is being built from the ground and a fully compliant access point. industrial markets makes 100% tie-off standard.” The fall arrest system attaches to a central harness point built into the scaffold. applications for it range from providing access to a guy painting the side of his house to major construction with Barry indicating that’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of applications and markets in which the system can be utilized. Sustainable Safety Solutions.” says Barry. the user harnesses to that centrally located system and is able to climb the scaffold without fear of falling—again.” Safe with Efficiency Still in Mind Barry says that erecting and dismantling a 15 ft. market. Inc. and that morning we decided to do something. because the user is connected to the scaffold’s center. Barry and Deaton met Dan Zarletti. while eliminating the fall exposures associated with scaffold erection—providing confidence and security to the erector. “If the U.” says Barry. it’s a usable tool because it’s adaptable to any construction environment including the industrial markets—gas and oil. So we established a baseline of customers in Ireland first. tied off 100%. ” says Brown.” Patents are pending on the three new innovations. increased use of MEWP’s. 100% tie off policies etc. Several U. interior access jobs—at the 2013 SAIA Convention.S. Scaffold Training Institute • Providing professional scaffold training services worldwide for over 20 years.scaffoldtraining. and that means no cost on the back-end. but their mobility. Thinking Ahead “The industry has to get beyond the old perception of a scaffold’s potential. “Being able to couple the units together to create large working areas.S. “The guys requested them for a stateside prefab job and they weren’t here. and as far as their American partners go.” Barry says that he anticipates the reaction by the industry to the Pyrascaf system to be mixed. • .” contemplates Barry. This means we could hold onto all of the gates and parts of the scaffolds that we use. “We need scaffolds and aluminium towers in the construction industry because it gives us a predictable form of height access with the added bonus of remaining within budget. “We’re about to bring something into the market that is really going to shake things up.” While U. with the actual manufacturing set to take place stateside versus in order to keep costs down and delivery efficient. once the final business agreements are done the system will be unveiled to the U. an electrician by trade with 25 years of experience in Ireland’s construction industry says that trying to engineer out the risks of working at height has been an ongoing battle. Barry says that it’s more economical considering the time saved in erection and performing the work without having to reattach repeatedly to a harness point. project manager with Daifuku America.” Gray is currently working on a fit-out project utilizing the Pyrascaf system in Ireland. “We have tried the complete elimination of A frame ladders. “So I met with Barry and Deaton and we started working on getting them here. The units are being used in clean areas as well as support areas where general overhead congestion is a challenge. data firms are already onboard with the possibilities the new system offers as an alternative/solution to tasks MEWPs aren’t suited for – now with the same safety ability of an MEWP. The units also have an added bonus of not having multiple diagonal bars and single hand rails. with 100%tie off is just genius. and once inside can be adjoined together to create a long ‘train’ platform at one access level that can be used to do low level maintenance. and doesn’t have to be disassembled to move around the project. “The components cannot be removed from the system. We’re going to bring it over and let our American partners run with it. Winston Dennis Brown. It may cost more upfront.” explains Barry. The 100% tie-off is huge. We have not had one CAR (corrective action report) for our work while using the Pyrascaf units. Some of these programs work with a limited effect. so we don’t lose poles.” says Gray.” Crossing the Pond With established customer bases already in Ireland and the United Kingdom. that is faster to erect.” says Barry. low weight. “This scaffold is going to save lives and I believe dictate the direction the scaffold industry heads in terms of safety innovations.S. The system also doesn’t have diagonals and horizontals. and quick setup are major advantages and are a cheaper access solution to a MEWP that can’t be used in all applications. they wanted to see them in U. “We have developed a 100% tie-off solution.S. the Pyrascaf system is on its way to the U.A Solution Conor Gray. Texas 281-332-1613 www. The Pyrascaf system has changed the way we plan to access and work at heights. “These scaffolds go straight through a door.S.S. but the companies we deal with have made safety a priority and are willing to pay the 10% to 15% more to ensure their employees safety.” contemplates Barry. the Pyrascaf system has been the solution to our battle. his team was so impressed with the system. market. users may be concerned about the costs associated with the product. market. says that after working with the Pyrscaf scaffolds on a new prefabrication install in Ireland.com 22 • May-June 2013 There are so many options for us in the U. Barry says.” Barry and Deaton intend on rolling out their mini scaffold—suited for low level. • Courses from 8 hours to 40 hours • “Train-The-Trainer” courses Scaffold Training Institute Houston. The lifting bars have eliminated the risk of having to be on a scaffold while it’s being assembled. often lost on a jobsite that cost the contractor at the end of a project. and the working platform provides free range of movement with less restriction considering the square deck. the tie-off point gives our crews the ability to achieve 100% tie-off without difficulty. weighed in. Contact him the industry. establishing rules and regulations that are more stringent than OSHA’s. goggles. And with the system scaffold we’re able to do things we never were able to with frame and brace. industrial market is very close to requiring 100% tieoff—we’re going to see that soon. no short-sleeve shirts. In terms of product it really did change the industry. David Johnson. Johnson: “I agree on both points. you’re tied off. today. Today. As far as next steps. Mike. and its competitive advantage Michael Bredl is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Universal Manufacturing Corp.500 lbs. if you’re above 6 ft. And it’s not just fall protection.com. vice president of operations and safety with Skyline Scaffold. 4.S. Mike Bredl. that’s occurred in the industry dur- ing your careers? Richad Martinez is the General Manager with Imperial Scaffold. Today in Southern California. the biggest change I’ve seen in the Southern California scaffold market has been the increase in the Hispanic workforce.round the table Scaffold industry veterans discuss where the industry’s been. the scaffold workforce is predominantly nonEnglish speaking. Twenty-five years ago there were a dozen or more domestic scaffold manufacturers. general manager with PCI Scaffold Concepts. and how the evolving world of access equipment and safety regulations are impacting its ability to compete.com. In the power market. t-shirt. as a HispanicAmerican. and we were expected to speak English perfectly. I was one of the first few. gloves. the U.500 to 3. Contact him at: SA: What is the biggest change david@skylinescaffold.. with frame and brace the loading is typically between 2. I think our biggest challenge today is training scaffold & access • 23 . Zelienople Pennsylvania. where it’s going. Richard Martinez. the changes that have had the greatest impact were the rolling out of safety regulations by OSHA and the SAIA becomMike Thompson is ing a resource and advocate for training the General Manager and safety. general manager with Imperial Scaffold. where it’s going.net Bredl: “The biggest change that we’ve seen as a domestic manufacturer of steel scaffolding products is the influence of imported product in the marketplace. David Johnson is the Vice President of Operations and Safety with Skyline Scaffold. safety really is at the forefront of what we do.” Thompson: “From my perspective. a pair of boots. When I started in the 1970s there weren’t HispanicAmerican’s in the scaffold industry. Also. Contact him at: mbredl@versalscaffold. it’s personal protective equipment as well—hard hats. When I went to work.” SA: Where is the industry today in terms of safety challenges and culture? What’s the next step? Thompson: “The industry itself has taken safety to the next level. and a hardhat was the protection required. It makes for an interesting mix on a jobsite as you have the veterans who are skilled at working at heights with no fall protection working alongside the young guys who’ve never worked at heights without a harness and lanyard. before you have to double-leg the bottom of the scaffold. the introduction of the with PCI Scaffold system scaffold really revolutionized Concepts. shorts. Contact him at: nltrly@sbcglobal. We’ve had to find ways to combat the large influx of imported products that have commoditized the scaffold market and forced us to promote quality and value added services – finding ways to differentiate ourselves. With a system scaffold at: mikethompson@ the leg loading may be anywhere from pciscaffoldconcepts.com S A magazine recently conducted a roundtable discussion with four scaffold industry veterans to find out where the industry has been. it’s just a handful.000 lbs.” Martinez: “Personally. and Mike Thompson.000 to 6. sales and marketing manager with Universal Manufacturing Corp. As far as next steps. it is just as safe as the powered platform. no short-sleeve shirts. This means there is always a cable to be hooked off to. which takes us out of the world of lines. it’s personal protective equipment as well—hard hats. We all fought the horizontal lifelines for awhile. and yo-yos.”—Mike Thompson workers. goggles. Most of what you’re seeing today is tweaking of existing systems to meet requirements while maintaining a reasonable rate of productivity. that has meant the option for people rates substantially. contractors.” Bredl: “We’re also seeing more end-users understanding the value of having a scaffold built by professionals. OSHA doesn’t monitor and regulate the erection of scaffolding on all projects. Today almost every scaffold company I know offers erection and dismantling (E&D) services. If a scaffold is built to regulation. we go to a new jobsite before construction is scheduled to begin and create the plan. I think it’s simply reputable versus non-reputable when it comes to safety. The industry. we have the option of using an advanced guardrail system on certain projects that have strict safety requirements. the U. whether natural or human.—so we’re seeing it on the commercial side too. industrial market is very close to requiring 100% tie-off —we’re going to see that soon. gloves.S. but we’ve had to find ways to make the new safety systems work and not compete with the production levels. A properly trained scaffold builder can build scaffold that will withstand forces.” Bredl: “Most of the innovations that I am seeing have to do with fall protection and safe access to work platforms—panelized guardrail systems.” 24 • May-June 2013 Johnson: We recently took a Layher product and re-engineered it for frame and brace.” SA: What innovations are you seeing in the industry that keep scaffolding competitive with powered platforms that are often considered a more safe way to access? Thompson: “Tractel is always coming up with new innovations in safety equipment to better facilitate tying-off. harnesses.” Johnson: “Yes. and the reputable ones are working every day towards finding better safety solutions for the equipment. and powered access really made us take safety regulations more seriously. Also the system scaffold is strong enough to tie-off to the verticals and certain-size horizontals. We have a Tractel system on a long scaffold that has two towers at each end and a cable that runs lengthwise over the top. In terms of a market or group of contractors that do safety better. the industry has taken safety into its own hands. That is a direct effect of OSHA devoting more time to monitoring the scaffolding industry and putting more of the responsibility on the scaffold builders.” Martinez: “I don’t believe that powered platforms are a more safe way to access. guardrail. that has meant the option for people to look seriously at using aerial lifts for a particular job when they would typically rent scaffold- . Everyone is trying to play by the rules now. The general contractors and the majority of scaffold users are staying away from the E&D for liability reasons and that has been beneficial for scaffold businesses and safety.” Thompson: “Also today all commercial and industrial jobs require a site specific fall protection plan prior to beginning the work—that has definitely not always been the case. Before we would bid off a sterile plan then go to the site day one and figure out we actually needed to do.“The industry itself has taken safety to the next level. Safety depends on the builder or the operator. then back down to the ground. versus a cable that runs at your feet where if one person falls everyone goes down. They need to step up and cite those small and large projects that can be hazardous to workers. There are applications for both products and the cost associated with renting a steel scaffold versus an aerial lift are on opposite ends of the spectrum.” Martinez: “The safety challenges I believe the industry has today concern the lack of qualified carpenters who know the regulations and are trained to erect a safe scaffold. ” SA: What is the impact of powered access equipment on the scaffold industry in terms of competition today? What is the forecasted impact? Bredl: “Normally there is not a lot of competition between powered access and the non-motorized steel scaffold. However. It has an advanced guardrail system that allows us to put up a 200 lb. access gates and hatch platforms to name a few. particularly on the residential side. And it’s not just fall protection. Turner Construction is notorious for fall protection over 6 ft. Today. the recession slowed everything down. which seems more behind the curve than other sectors where safety processes and procedures are set and followed if you want the job. Today. For us that has meant more preplanning. establishing rules and regulations that are more stringent than OSHA’s. so-to-speak. Additionally. and the aerial lift industry started reducing rates substantially. Stair units have also become a very popular and safe way to access a scaffold deck or work platform. Scaffolds can be used more widely than powered platforms as powered platforms cannot be used in all areas of construction. but they can be used in conjunction with scaffolds on certain jobs.” Johnson: “The residential market is always a big piece of the puzzle.” Bredl: “When the residential market picks up the scaffold industry will follow. You can engineer anything with a scaffold – the power equipment can’t compete with the scaffold’s versatility. they do compete directly with the scaffold rental suppliers—mainly in the commercial sector. We’re just not really feeling competition here at all. So they are both a competitor and asset. where as the downturn in the economy had homeowners deferring maintenance. it’s simply quicker than erecting a scaffold. Typically a swing stage is best-suited for windows and scaffolds are better for plaster. The mast climbers do compete directly with the scaffolds.”—Richard Martinez well together. As far as the mast climbers go. We lose a job ever so often to powered equipment—they’re a good platform with a great safety record.” • scaffold & access • 25 . people are starting remodeling and maintenance again. Scaffold companies should be able to rise above the recession and once again begin to build up their companies and look to a brighter future for the company and their employees. What type of impact on the scaffold industry can be anticipated? Martinez: “I agree.” Martinez: “When I first started in the industry there were no boom or scissor lifts—today they’re a staple. We are seeing lots of multi-family units in Sacramento and the surrounding area. We’ve lost work to powered platforms because of timing. But the powered equipment will never take the place of a scaffold.ing. however. with powered access you work at one level at a time. high that’s the go-to equipment.” Thompson: “Whether or not powered or non-powered equipment is utilized typically depends on the job type and application. Swing stages and scaffold usually work “Scaffold companies should be able to rise above the recession and once again begin to build up their companies and look to a brighter future for the company and their employees. I believe that this will continue. The economy is getting stronger though so we’re not seeing as much of that as we have in the last three to four years. it is going to have enormous impact on the scaffold industry.” Johnson: “Powered platforms haven’t hit the west coast market as much as some regions. whereas with scaffolding you can work on multiple simultaneously.” SA: Word on the street is that the residential market is on the upswing. It will also be an indicator that weare truly coming out of this recession. Anytime a window needs to be changed that’s 30/40 ft. Additionally. The two types of laminated wood used in scaffold applications are Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) and Laminated Edge Glued Lumber (LEG). manufacturing. a tried-and-true source of an economy on the mend has been buzzing with tangible signs of hope. state that March 2013 posted the second-best single-family home sales record since early 2010 with an increase of 1.000 and 600.000.8 Plank: A wood board or fabricated component that serves as a platform unit. Inc. both solid sawn and engineered. . “U. president of Oregonbased Breault Industrial Group. “Mills shut down because of the economy and China is buying logs from warehouses before they even get to the saw mill. The tried-and-true result of a boom is demand and one of the spotlight materials in the residential construction boom is and will continue to be lumber—lumber used among other fancier displays--for wood scaffold plank. “Scaffold plank is a blip on the lumber industry’s radar.036. the government reported 890. from January 2012 to January 2013. and suggests this is what the scaffold plank industry needs to prepare for today. and while the timing may be up for debate. in February that number rose to 968. lumber mills have stopped making scaffold plank twice in an attempt to keep up with the housing boom of the moment. and labor standpoint for the residential boom that is the light at the end of the tunnel the country is barreling towards.plus years—quality lumber—is in no way.000— a 46. Plank (wood. Bill Breault. going to be easy or cheap.S. All of the 26. lack of qualified labor to work in the mills. a scaffold plank distribution-manufacturing company.000 U. housing starts less than two years ago were between 500. The planks shall be sized to support one or more workers and materials.. Many industries have been in survival mode for awhile now and today are unprepared from an inventory. Handling all the inspired home buyers is where things get tricky. it simply makes more sense for a mill to produce commodity items with zero liability than scaffold plank. 26 • May-June 2013 “Because of the way the economy has been. lending. housing starts were up 24% and residential building permits were up 35%. Plank (metal): A metal platform unit sized to support one or more workers or uniformly distributed loads.5% according to numbers released by HUD and the U. In January 2013.000. the economy has been in a bad way anywhere from four to six years. sawn): A board of sawn lumber whose grading rules and assigned design values contemplate flat use in a scaffolding application.to 28-year olds that have been jobless and living with their parents are going to move out and the banks are going to be forced to ease up restrictions and that home inventory shortage is going to exponentially increase.S Census Bureau. Not Easy A few obstacles beyond demand for the finite amount of lumber that scaffold plank manufacturers are up against include: a shortage in lumber mills to actually produce the lumber.” Recent reports from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Planks (wood. housing starts. And the tried-and-true indicator of an economy headed for solid ground? All together now: “a residential market on the upswing. materials. and a decreasing lack of lumber being imported because of concerns over quality. Engineered wood or Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) scaffold plank has seen up to five price increases in the last 12 months. Metal planks would be of similar dimensions as wood planks.” Breault says that in the last 12 years many U. the proof is in the numbers.” Plank Defined by the ANSI A10.” affirms Breault. and in March to 1. Supply and Demand 101— Buyer Plan Organizations that support home builders and buyers are busy lobbying to reduce the construction credit and lending restrictions that are keeping builders from actually being able to build. however.Business and Development Taking the Good with the Bad By Lindsay Minard D epending on the source. laminated): A platform unit of glue-laminated wood whose method of manufacture and assigned design values contemplate flat use in a scaffolding application.S.7% increase from March 2012. follows the trends in lumber closely and says for those that need to see to believe. the inventory of home units is at a 50 year record low with forecasters predicting a shortage of 1. According to government reports. increasing lumber exportation to Asian markets willing to pay top price.” That’s the good news.” affirms Breault. “With the good comes the bad. and the scaffold plank industry is really going to feel the shortage of quality fiber lumber used to make scaffold plank. the “bad way” part is universally agreed upon and the corresponding waves of despondence are universally old. That means getting lumber the next two. But lately.S. material inventory and price escalation is going to be the bigger issue that’s impact will reach beyond the residential construction industry.2 million by the end of 2013—3 million by the end of 2014. Why take chances? There are The Bigger Industry Picture “I am concerned as a manufacturpeople’s loved ones on those scaffolds. “Because there agency. the reper.” in the wrong place at the wrong time. Corners are going to be cut plank. no FDA saying we can’t use is no policing. there is no design value change.” been sold that ‘don’t look right. it’s going to last longer and save you money in the long-run. continuing to escalate 40% to 50% compared to six months ago. assuming they are police the scaffold plank industry. silvacultural practices. Bob Browder. slope of grain and fiber-bending that ensure the existing integrity and validation of the existing design values (ref: ASTM Standards D245 and D2555).accident – someone seriously or fatally ing. specific site characteristics. modulus of elasticity. and harvesting decisions. “Unfortunately enough. director.is injured or killed on those products. so we need to change the way purchasing is viewed. “Dense Industrial 65 .” Breault warns that there are spepassed off as such.ments for producing scaffold plank.Scaffold plank is NOT affected by this change. OSHA isn’t big enough to look the other way. it’s a choice—accidents only happen with two-year-olds. explains that part of the growing predicament is the fact that the lumber mills can’t control the price of the log they need to produce their product and that raw material price tag is somewhere around 75% of the cost of the gross product—the other 25% being tied up in the labor and manufacturing. forecast better.org). it’s not scaffold plank grade. It is not uncommon to review and change (up or down) the existing design value changes. there’s going to be an low quality materials—it’s all self-polic.” in our industry there is no policing continues Breault. 31. Lumber Program Manager of the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau. Until there is an accident. 2013. But risk –knowingly ignoring the requirecutting corners on scaffold plank—pur. People need to also realize that while the pricing seems high based on what it’s been. It’s simple supply and demand and the lack of supply is going to have a major impact on the industry’s ability to get its hands on quality plywood—a material we use a lot of in the scaffold industry. plank can be used anywhere from two to five-plus years. Additional information on what grades & sizes are affected by the forthcoming design value changes can be found by contacting the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (http://www. If what you’re supplying is clothing and cutting corners cific manufacturers that are turning a means cheaply made clothing.” states Mr. If you avoid the cheapest product out there. fold with that poor quality plank placed it’s not an accident. careful planning is the only way to combat the supply and demand issues we’re going to face over the next few years.’ Sure contemplates Breault.”—Bill Breault ing supplier of wood scaffold planks. concerning products they’ve by some in order to stay in the game.Business and Development Changes to Southern Pine Design Values By Bill Breault On Jan. climate.” says Gilleran. Finding quality fiber lumber at the low scaffold & access • 27 . “I am getting calls from scaffold comcosts we’ve gotten accustomed to the past few years is going to be hard to panies who aren’t experts in scaffold come by. there how scarce the supply or costly the were growing issues with what was being materials.spib. Wood is a natural product subject to variations in geography.blind eye and putting the industry at cussions are not life threatening. the American Lumber Standards Committee (ALSC) Board of Review approved the new southern pine design values submitted by the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau (SPIB). many injured. CEO and owner of Michigan-based McCausey Lumber Co. the price is cheap for a reason. it should be noted that no change is made to any of the Industrial Grades found within the SPIB grading rules. And Definitely Not Cheap Mike Gilleran.” Before any kind of boom or lack of to monitor what manufacturers are supply and availability of materials was putting out in the marketplace to prethreatening impact to the quality of vent injuries and loss of life no matter lumber used for scaffold plank. through 2014 and then stabilize. and plan further out to save money and guarantee getting quality materials when needed. The approval applies to certain grades and sizes of visually-graded Southern Pine Dimension lumber. Additionally. it’s still lower than before the recession.” Still Manageable Gilleran says to meet the challenge the industry needs to get beyond the initial sticker shock. and that leaves it up to the industry getting the product they intended. “Bottom line. “The attribute scaffold plank has going for it is that it’s not a one-time application. chasing lumber from mills that should “In some cases it is willful disregard not be used for plank—could mean the for the requirements and if someone life of someone who ends up on the scaf. Amongst the many requirements for scaffold plank are density. “These factors are going to aggressively impact the cost of wood products over the next four to six months. plank can be used anywhere from two to five-plus years so we need to change the way purchasing is viewed. there is mounting concern about the strength properties of the more juvenile logs used now to manufacture lumber products. Today with the need for speed in all things trees aren’t being given long to grow before being cut down. Additionally.” Not taking any risks. especially Douglas Fir and Spruce. the price is cheap for a reason. The result is that today’s wholesaler is hard pressed to offer either Douglas Fir or Spruce rough sawn scaffold plank. Get Educated.” Among the available educational tools are handbooks that not only tell. SPIB Gets Ahead of Raw Material Scrutiny Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) remains an industry staple. He also cautions that such equipment does not and cannot replace the visual test required for solid wood plank. Today. second. companies started almost exclusively going with the cheapest bid because every dollar has such an impact. Beyond those rings telling you how old the tree is they indicate the density and strength of the tree.saiaonline. Today proof loading machines are only used by a handful scaffold plank manufacturers. More stringent government regulation concerning harvesting trees has put pressure on logging companies and saw mills to adapt. If you avoid the cheapest product out there it’s going to last you longer and save you money in the long-run. Breault says that the second line of defense that the machine provides in the testing process has meant 22 years with no failure. 30 Years Later A lot has transpired over the past 30 years and the raw material supply has changed dramatically. The machine puts weight on the center of the plank. Go Above and Beyond “In the last 10 to 15 years the industry and SAIA’s Plank and Platform Council have released a substantial amount of educational material that explains and shows what is good and bad scaffold plank. The design value changes occurring June 1.org/plankandplatform • The Impact Given the shift away from larger timber and growing dependency on smaller diameter trees. not visually tested. strong lumber. the logging industry has to be more accountable and thus their focus has shifted toward utilizing smaller plantation grown trees. but show the characteristics of good and bad scaffold plank. combatting any language barrier present on a jobsite and any reason to use below grade plank. beyond the allotted 2 in. the closer the rings are together the more dense and strong the tree – the result of slow growth. Back then there was confidence in the strength of lumber being purchased for scaffold plank because the harvested trees were larger and developed. while Spruce and Southern Yellow Pine were predominant in the east. Douglas Fir was primarily the product of choice in the west. If the plank deflects too much.” says Breault. then the plank is thrown out. “When business slowed down. it’s starts with density.” continues Breault. This is not to say the industry has pilfered the timber stands. conformance first and value. but the practices of harvesting have become more selective and there are more controls in place to ensure sustainability. Remember sixth grade science class and checking out the rings on tree. the availability of large old growth timber. saw mills are having difficulty cutting wider boards in the proper grade quality needed to make scaffold plank. Engineered or LVL scaffold plank is only mechanically. and as plywood and panel products gained popularity. Respectively. Is the Wood Good? By Mike Gilleran Solid sawn lumber has been used for scaffold plank for decades and in years past the industry had several options from which to choose. is less plentiful. Culling boards with the proper slope of grain and density can be challenging. not price. But as we all know. What the manufacturer is looking for is deflection. specified by OSHA. as it does not have continuous fiber. “Why take chances? There are people’s loved ones on those scaffolds. Brealt and Gilleran’s companies take the proof loading process of wood scaffold plank one step further than the visual test by running their planks through a proof loading machine. There was an abundance of timber being harvested and making a choice was merely a matter of determining which wood species could be purchased and transported most cost effectively. 28 • May-June 2013 “The attribute scaffold plank has going for it is that it’s not a one-time application. resulting in significant separation between the rings thus less dense. it too is beginning to face scrutiny and mills are beginning to fight the same raw material dilemma. therefore. best price doesn’t necessarily equal best quality and we need to get back to/become an industry that’s more quality-based. Essentially. the grading agencies were confident about the physical design properties of the raw material. impacting the lower design values of SYP are the Southern Pine Inspection Bureau’s way of combatting the issue. able to comfortably publish grading rules with some assuredness. weaker grades could be included. the competition for raw material intensified.Business and Development What Quality Looks Like When talking quality lumber. For information and purchasing guidelines concerning various scaffold plank products visit: http://www. Scaffold plank and other industrial grades have been excluded because specific criteria for density and slope of grain are a mandatory metric. the product of choice for many. A few questions to consider: • Are you conscious of your plank sourcing? • Are you paying close attention to the quality of the plank you’re purchasing? • Do you know what grading technics your supplier performs? • Do you know if your supplier is visually grading and mechanically evaluating? . however. Without this adherence. ” says Andrassy. designed by a group of engineers. While on a trip abroad Andrassy met Luis Cabazon who worked for the Chile-based company Unispan that specializes in formwork and scaffolding solutions. Andy Meier.” says Andrassy. but we’ve done an analysis and determined it can be done. Michigan. It may cost more upfront. The two struck up a friendship that resulted in Unispan opening its doors in the U. “The markets we do business in are mainly in the Northeast and Midwest—Ohio. owner of Calif. and ultimately saves contractors dollars By Lindsay Minard Six-ft.—a West Coast-based. reduces the amount of materials. D ale Andrassy has been in the scaffold and shoring industry for a long time. After our chance meeting abroad in 2002.” scaffold & access • 29 . the simpler dimensions have the side effect of being easier to consolidate and ship. and in January 2013 Unispan USA doors opened stateside in Stow. I haven’t seen that in my career.S. Kentucky. full-service manufacturer of formwork and shoring products. but in the end customers are most certainly looking at cost savings because they’re going to be able to do more with less materials and labor. and anything west of New York City. division. We stick mainly to those locations in order to be a flatbed away in a day. Andrassy and Cabazon seized the opportunity to work on entering the market at its low point. to be a more versatile.” says Andrassy. Ohio. high. efficient solution for concrete shoring applications. wide frames reduce the total number of frames needed.New Equipment Less is More A new shoring system arrives on the East Coast that simplifies the shoring process. And with all our years of experience we know what those best products are and how to match them with our customer’s needs. “The number one impact this system is going to have in this market is labor savings for contractors because of its efficiency. including Atlas’ owner. so we’ll get it done. Andrassy says they were fortunate to be able to decide what products they wanted to put in the marketplace versus inheriting an asset base they may or may not have wanted. We’re looking at a job right now where a customer wants the formwork 42-ft. “The products we’ve brought in are the best out there.-based Pacific Southwest Structures says: “The Al-Speed system is efficient and simple to erect which makes it fast and non-labor intensive. spending the majority of his career at Waco Scaffolding and Equipment Co. Indiana. With the economy in recession the past five or so years. The design team worked with the material dimensions in order to create the safer. Louis and I developed a strong business relationship that led to a partnership as we began working on bringing the Unispan products to the states. Unispan is now the exclusive East Coast dealer. Pennsylvania.” Unispan USA With the majority of their customer base being general and specialty contractors that pour concrete—98% of Unispan USA’s business is shoring and formwork.” Applying 185 Years The shoring system the Unispan USA team decided to buy and sell to their customers was the creation of Atlas Construction Supply. West Virginia. The company’s mission statement revolves around customizing design solutions to meet the needs of a particular job.S. The Atlas aluminum. more production-friendly system they were going for.S. “I knew of Unispan and had always wanted them to be in the U. and their product line is the result of 185 years of experience between the five involved with the U. Inc. We use it on our projects because of its ability to adapt easily to steps and slopes and the quality of concrete produced. “The recession created a lot of holes in the industry and we were able to step in and fill those gaps in that radius. Al-Speed shoring system has been utilized in the West Coast market for 10 years. the frame’s dimensions also simplify the process of constructing the system. they can take the 6-ft.up to 16 kip per leg 32. 3’x2’8” High Shoring Coverage. up to 12-ft. thick slab Fewer parts and components 2 revolutions per inch for Uni-Speed jacks for quick set up and dismantling Striated horizontal rails Quicklock System for easy connection and removal of crossbraces direction and 6 ft. “The frame is the critical part of the whole system and why we decided this was the system we wanted for our customers in the first place. in one 30 • May-June 2013 Frame Sizes: 6’x6’. The larger frames mean more can be done with less as they’re spaced out further. brace on it. Our subcontractors appreciate how fast it is to erect and dismantle. 3’x5’.” Additionally. and load capacity make it light. “On typical systems. frame. space the frames 8 ft. support capacity per 50 lb. and columns were all pretty comparable to other systems. and user-friendly. versatile. “The supporting joist. weight. with 4”x4” Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL) as joists laying across the stringers. provide more coverage per leg. put an 8-ft. the other way. per leg at a 2:1 safety factor.” The Uni-Speed frame has a capacity of 16. • The dimensions of the frames simplify the process of erecting the system. The frame helps create the shoring grid by supporting high capacity aluminum stringers running perpenducular to the frame direction.5-in.. wide frame reduces total number of frames needed to support suspended concrete and formwork. 100 sq. according to Andrassy. says: “The frame’s dimensions. The Uni-Speed system is best suited for single podium deck applications and for industrial and commercial multistory and high-rise applications. with greater capacity—all totaling out to mean big cost savings.New Equipment Uni-Speed Shoring Frame At a Glance • • • • • • • • • The 6’x6’ aluminum frame weighs 50 lbs. the frame legs can be used for re-shoring as contractors work their way up the building as the system minimizes the need to bring in additional equipment for reshoring purposes.” Beyond the point of doing more with less. beams. and its adaptability to nearly any shoring application. 6’x2’8” 3’x6’. high and have a tendency to roll the first time they’re put down which causes a safety hazard. It’s All About the Frame The system’s key feature are the dimensions of its UniSpeed frame that is 6’x6’ versus the standard 4’x6’. but the frame was the driver here. slab or less.000 lbs.000 lbs. “The LVL beams are edge-eased and sealed providing a safer shoring beam than other systems. ft.frame Capable of accomodating simple or intricate deck designs 6-ft.” says Andrassy.” explains Andrassy. “With a typical system customers spend days figuring out dimensions and detailing out drawings. Bill Hansen. aluminum beam joists or I-beams are laid perpendicular to the stringers that are 6. Say a user has a 12-in. per frame. run the stringers in the same direction—joists on top—and the system is built. project superintendent for Calif-based Matt Construction Co. screw jacks.” says Andrassy. . 6 x5’. The SAIA Exposition has been developed in order to give owners. you will meet industry leaders. buyers. and dealers the opportunity to meet manufacturers and suppliers.org Hotel Information Renaissance Nashville 611 Commerce Street Nashville. industry-recognized training programs that will be offered in Nashville on Sun. this is where you can take the classes.saiaonline. six training classes.4860 or visit convention.” Training SAF-T The SAIAU has a portfolio of world class. conduct business. plus we are expanding the tradeshow with the Safe Access.” says Laurie Weber..SAIA In Perfect Harmony 2013 SAIA Annual Convention and Exposition Preview July 21-24 • Nashville. July 21. 2013. The one-day SAF-T Conference is scheduled for July 24. Exhibition and Sponsorship Contact SAIA at (816) 595.org/training for details and how to register.00 USD per night. If you need training or your current training card is older than three years. Are you interested in becoming an Accredited Training Institute (ATI) of the SAIA curriculum? Come early and take our Train-the-Trainer class.org/saf-t • scaffold & access • 31 . Classes offered in Nashville: • Train-the-Trainer • Competent Person Training—Frame • Competent Person Training—Suspended • Operator Training—AWP • Competent Person Training —System Scaffold • Operator Training—Mast Climbers More details can be found at: convention. SAIA executive director.4860. and rejuvenate your enthusiasm for your work. 2013 Nashville. you can fill them in Nashville! Contact SAIA headquarters at 816. July 21-24 in Nashville. purchasing. iscover the perfect harmony of education.saiaonline. and investigate new products. No matter what your training needs are. “This year’s convention has 18 industry-trend educational presentations. to receive your special hotel rate of $179. “The annual convention and exposition is targeted for anyone that uses scaffold and access equipment.saiaonline. and training all intertwined with expert advice at the 2013 SAIA Annual Convention and Exposition. or visit convention. network with the industry experts. 2013. immediately following the SAIA 2013 Annual Convention & Exposition at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel in the heart of downtown Music City. have fun. safety professionals.org for information concerning displaying products or supporting the Association’s efforts to educate users on scaffold and access equipment. In cooperation with SAIA.595. Tennessee D SAIA 2013 Annual Convention & Exposition at a Glance Scaffold & Access Industry Association 2013 Annual Convention & Exposition July 21 – 24. We look forward to seeing you in Nashville. Fall Protection & Training seminar. Information will be given. Tennessee Renaissance Nashville convention. networking. Maximum Capacity Media announces the live Safe Access.8400 **Mention SAIA before June 21. managers. The Renaissance Nashville is in downtown Music City—a melting pot of different genres of music that can be found at more than 100 music venues in town 24/7/365.255. TN 37203 P: 615. Fall Protection & Training (SAF-T) Conference.saiaonline. – 100% Tie-Off.m. – Train-the-Trainer Facilitator Skills Workshop 10:00 a.m. 2013 Sun.m..m.m.m.m. – Near-Miss 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.SAIA 2013 Annual Convention & Exposition July 21-24. – 1:30 p. – Global Construction Outlook 11:30 a. – 4:40 p. July 19 8:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m..m. – 8:45 a.m. – Working at Height.m. – 4:30 p.m. 2013 Renaissance Nashville.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Lunch with Exhibitors 2:30 p. . – Aerial Work of the Fall Prevention Campaign? Platforms Operator Training 10:45 a. July 22. Fri. 2013 Familiarization System Scaffold *Exhibitors move out after 1:30 p.m.m. – SAIA Golf Outing 10:15 a. . – Prestigious & Technically Demanding Jobs 6:00 p.m. – 8:20 p.. – CPT Training: Frame Innovative Safety Technology 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p. Is it a 11:00 a. 2013 Reporting: the Missing Link of a Safety Exhibitors 8:00 a.. – 12:00 p. July 21 *Exhibitors move out after 1:30 p.m.m. – Lunch with Mon.5:00 p.m.m. – Win. 8:30 a. – 3:45 p.m.m. – SAIA Executive 12:45 p. – All Access PassWork Converges on Industrial Tower Project in Texas 4:40 p.m.m.m.m. – Hyatt Regency Ceiling & Sky Light Replacement 5:30 p.m. – 1:00 p. – 10:30 a. – 4:30 p.m..m. – 6:00 p. – CPT Training: Suspended 9:15 a.m.m.m. – 4:30 p.m. Keep. 7:30 a.m. July 24. – 9:00 a.m. – President’s Gala Dinner & Industry Awards Wed.m.m. – Leading Through 7:30 a. Nashville. – Benefits of Knowing Operator Training with Exhibitors) 8:20 a.m. – 4:15 p.. – CPT TrainingTues. – Online Training & 7:30 a. *Exhibitor move-in complete by 4:00 p. – One World Trade 8:45 a.. – What is the Impact 7:30 a. – Mast Climbers 12:00 p.m.m.m.m. – 4:30 p.m. Access. – SAIA General Culture Revolution 1:30 p. – 11:30 a. Myth. – Project Profiles Membership Meeting 3:45 p.m. – 7:00 p. – 12:45 p. – 2:30 p. – Shoring.m. – 5:00 p. – Box Lunch (Not 7:45 a.m. – 8:00 p. July 20 8:00 a.11:00 p.Train-the-Trainer Facilitator Skills Workshop Sat. – Welcome Subcontractors Reception with Exhibitors Scaffolding.m. Equipment on Jobsites Center. – 10:00 a.m.m. Creative Hoisting Solutions and Fall Protection 32 • May-June 2013 . – Reception with Exhibitors 3:00 p. or Even Achievable? Committee Lunch What a General Contractor Expects of 10:45 a. and Simplify Business 4:00 p.m.m.m.m.m. .m.m.m. – 4:30 p. – Safe Movement of 2:25 p.m.5:00 p.m. – 2:25 p. July 23. – 12:00 p. a Reality.m.m.m.m. – 5:15 p.m.m. – 3:15 a.m. – 7:00 p. – Suspended 5:30 p.m.m.m. Tenn.Applications and Opportunities 2:15 p. – Tweet This! Engaging a 5000-Yr-Old Industry in 140 Characters or Less 3:15 p. – 2013 President’s Gala Reception 7:00 p. and how to tell which standards apply for given situations. In his session. and profitability. but communities in which we operate. Gil Prado. and fall protection is an exciting seminar that will highlight the standards and regulations that must be adhered to when dealing with shoring.E.776-ft. He will guide the seminar attendees with easy to follow examples. It has been the tallest building in New York City for over a year. and Fall Protection Shoring. Ted Beville. while minimizing the impact on the financial aspects of the contract. Panel Discussion: Prestigious and Technically Demanding Projects Mast Climber Manufacturers will present an overview of some of their most technically demanding projects. ON branch. scaffold & access • 33 . editor of International Construction magazine. What is laser scanning? The questions on increased safety. Jim Dorris. common scaffold components were used to complete the suspended deck.400 workers along with their tools. Mathieu Grumberg. supporting all critical business functions including sales. Safway Services: One World Trade Center. a Reality or Even Achievable? While acting as the branch manager of Safway’s Hamilton. Safway Services: Benefits of Knowing This presentation will cover laser scanning and the benefits it adds to the scaffold and access industry. Investing in and leveraging technological and thought process advances now will ultimately grow the industry by improving safety. and materials daily was the challenge to be met. Glabe will compare requirements for shoring and scaffold. will be a symbolic 1. commercial buildings. and transparency. Andrew experienced several significant owner mandated changes to site specific fall protection requirements at a major petrochemical facility. Stephen Pike. cost. Avontus Software: Win. tanks and vessels. and beyond.Work Converges on Industrial Tower Project in Texas This presentation will highlight project challenges and difficulties encountered when designing and installing a 300 ft. access.E. Creative Hoisting Solutions One World Trade Center.SAIA 2013 SAIA Annual Convention & Exposition Presentations David Glabe P. Keep and Simplify Business: How Scaffold Management Software can Help You Impress Your Clients and Improve Efficiency This session will discuss challenges industrial scaffold companies face in daily operations and how modern software addresses these obstacles. P. and Scanclimber will all present some of their most demanding projects from the last 12 months. human resources. DH Glabe and Associates: Shoring. CSP. Moving over 1. also referred to as Freedom Tower. Safway Services: Suspended Scaffolding . scaffold tower on a chemical processing unit in a hurricane-force storm wind region of the Gulf Coast of Texas. ScaffoldNation: Tweet This! Engaging a 5000 Year old Industry in 140 Characters or Less! “Like” it or not . Mike Thompson. BETCO Scaffold: All Access Pass . Phoenix Industrial Services: 100% Tie Off. when. Working within the framework of his existing maintenance contract he was able to achieve 100% compliance with changing site conditions— completing these changes with little to no impact in site productivity. International Construction: Global Construction Outlook Sleight. training. traversing platforms. bridges. marketing. focusing on key drivers for growth over the next one to two years.Applications and Opportunities This presentation will review selected suspended scaffold projects.. Eric Schmidt. suspended scaffold in the atrium area of the Hyatt Regency that had to be engineered and supported from an existing truss system. large-area platforms. Is it a Myth. Seminar attendees will be guided through some of the hoisting challenges that were overcome along the way. high upon completion—the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the third-tallest building in the world. Fraco. and product development. All projects will include discussion of challenges suspending systems from a given structure and how to ensure an effective and profitable system for client. Klimer. Access. It will be explained how. heavy duty swing stages.. loss control. and the benefits of using these two pieces of access equipment in conjunction with one another. PCI Scaffold Concepts: Hyatt Regency Ceiling & Sky Light Replacement Thompson will discuss an unusual. United Rentals: Leading Through Innovative Safety Technology Technological and thought innovation not only contributes to a safer work environment but are good business practices. This technical presentation will detail the engineering required for the scaffold system and elevators. The organizations that will survive and thrive will be those that embrace these technologies and develop their own corporate brands in the industry. Chris Sleight. improving not only the industry. EZ Scaffold. and industrial applications. offering some practical advice on achieving site compliance. fixed platforms. thereby. Hydro-Mobile. efficiency.social media is here to stay. Ali Hajighafouri. the features of the this particular project. Attendees will get an insider’s look at this fascinating project. cost efficiency. Despite its intricacies. and added precision will be answered. describe the differences between them. Attendees will also learn how using software will not only save them money but also strengthen new bids and existing client relationships. Century Elevators: Project Profiles Prado will present a special project profile on a highly engineered scaffold and elevator installation on a C2 Splitter while in turnaround. Andrew Smith. while on a hard timeline and strict budget. Work was performed without disturbing operations of the hotel. Smith will share his experience and learning. equipment. David Demorest. It is crucial that rental organizations partner to shape a viable business model that will continue to be robust and forward-looking 10 years from now. will give a regionby-region look at construction markets around the world. and why this technology should be used. Top safety managers from major construction companies including. Brad Boehler. 34 • May-June 2013 Panel: Working at Height: What does a General Contractor Expect of Subcontractors? Sunbelt Rentals’ Jeff Stachowiak will lead a panel discussion on the topic of jobsite expectations for the suppliers of access equipment now. Skyjack. and safety concerns about this type of training. and features of the equipment will be addressed. and Lend Lease will participate. Plus Familiarization: Is it Making Things Safer or Just Reducing Service Calls? K u r t S o u t h e r l a n d . Also expectations with regards to documentation and inspections will be discussed to better help the evolution of more jobsite driven safety initiatives. and in the future. Mike Williamsen. When few near misses are reported and acted upon in an organization it indicates something about the safety culture. OSHA: What is the Impact of the Fall Prevention Campaign? What are the fall statistics on scaffold and access equipment? Falls are the leading cause of deaths in construction. m a n ager. Caterpillar: Near-Miss Reporting: The Missing Link of Safety Culture Revolution Culture is often described simply as the way it is around here. Safety. Equipment design. options. Environment & Sustainability for United Rentals. Cochran. A robust near-miss process that engages employees to identify and permanently solve hundreds of potentially injury-causing situations is crucial to healthy safety cultures. • . Parsons. Opportunities. safety systems. C S P. and Train campaign that is impacting the construction industry. Understand the Plan. Skyjack: Safe Movement of Equipment on Jobsites Brad Boehler. what opportunities this provides for equipment operators. or does this indicate something else— s o m e t h i n g m u c h l e s s p o s i t i v e ? To o many organizations fall into the comfortable trap that comes by believing t h e fo r m e r. Roundtable: Online Training Evolution. Can it be considered safe and healthy. Skanska.SAIA William R. Provide. a n d d o s o at t h e i r o w n peril. and Concerns. president.Health. will explore the key responsibilities of the operator and jobsite manager necessary to facilitate the safe use of mobile aerial work platforms. will moderate a discussion on the aerial work platform industry’s recent shift to complementary online training. Industrial Safety . He will lead the conversation on how it has evolved. but not limited to. and giving first. New contacts may not always respond according to your timetable. skill for finding new clients. that is not networking. SAIA Director of Training and Education. Every time you meet someone. you have to learn to respect the timetables of others. I immediately record this in my contact profile model. we also need to learn and refine our soft skills and business acumen. Or even mention that you hope to connect with them at an upcoming conference or meeting.SAIA What Makes Business Networking So Important? By Andrea Nierenberg “In past magazine issues. • Check on new contacts regularly. When you network. When developed correctly. friends. Quantity With all the current challenges tation from people are thinking first: in business today. Mark your calendar for the next significant date on your contacts’ calendar. If the goal was about size you could copy in the names of your local phone directory. networking is a necessary coming across that way by asking these productive questions that will help you get the desired response: • “Which way do you prefer to learn about new suppliers or external partners?” • “What is the best way to present the product information?” • “What is your preferred method of communication?” Rushing communications is another networking stumbling block. So are attending any type of meeting and how can you move the process forward without coming across too aggressive? function. • Develop a networking game plan. Keep a list of all contacts readily available in your preferred database so you scaffold & access • 35 . Often salespeople are told to deal quickly with people without having a long-term follow-up plan in place. centers of influence. and building a strong referral pipeline through relationships. T he opposite of networking is not working. If someone you met or were intro• Serendipitous—every life encounter duced to does not call. or text adds to your life network. For this issue. respect. Andrea Nierenberg. back. while others would rather receive a quick follow-up phone call or e-mail. it can be your most important business skill. Three ways to do it: • Ask the contact how they want the issue to be handled. and time your efforts got some business out connections. of the contact. avoid bothering them with fol• Unconscious—the daily interactions low-up calls. e-mail. While these are important to the Association and our members. Do your research and set up a Google Alert to keep up-to-date information on them and their firm. Networking is not about an immediate gain and can take years to cultivate. networking and “What is in it for me?’ This is not the way building strong alliances is of critical to build strong relationships. Not only do we need to focus on the technical aspects of running the business. This happens when we don’t use the phone well and/or send poorly written correspondence. making the networking focus quantity rather than quality. Time and Patience Trust takes time and patience to generate. You can phone or e-mail them a month before new information or material is sent. Connections often do not develop into anything important because there is no long-term plan in place. Over the years we have stayed in touch and offered referrals even when there was no immediate work to be done. avoid In business. Some people prefer that everything be done in writing. I see this when people ask me: “How many people are linked in with you?” Or: “How big is your universal network?” The true value of my network is the quality of the relationships. I am turning to one of my colleagues. there is an opportunity to learn from and be a resource to them. there are so many more business areas that have gone unaddressed. Today we are still good business friends because of mutual trust and respect. and indicates to the new contact that you are simply trying to “get through” the process. I have focused on technical industry issues or updates to training numbers and classes. Being impersonal when connecting importance because it delivers the element of face-to-face credibility and trust. and her forte of networking and relationships.”—Granville Loar. can do more harm than good. I often say that the word “networking” is misunderstood. Andrea has literally written the book (six to be exact) on the importance of networking and how to do it properly. even if you’re thinking it’s we have with colleagues. Personalize and research every new contact call you make. I met and worked with a fellow advertising executive on a project that turned out successful. The clue to their communication style is in how they replied. Nearly three years ago. many people fail to make personal connections when following up with initial contacts. Networking is about trust. They have their own deadlines and a lot of responNetworking can be: • Strategic and structured when you sibilities and you are not a priority. However. while other times something can develop positively within days. Networking gets its negative connoQuality vs. seemingly looking for some• Friends. Help them make walk into a room or meeting and smile for 20 seconds you the referral easy. Once you discover what is effective. There are a variety of ways to meet people. train. LLC Authorized Master Dealer for North America 36 • May-June 2013 8221 Main Street Laurel. UpRight Scaffold USAand (1/2in pgtime. Make the effort to strike up conversations with people in your building and neighborhood. You can more able to approach them. Contact us today for your Instant access solutions! Stop by our booth at the SAIA Show UpRight Scaffold USA. These are the people you meet by chance or connect with in unexpected ways. As you learn more about your friends’ from everyone you meet. and it is — but it is not someone. Sounds easy.uprightscaffoldusa. with a personal note and phone call. warm smile feel advocates because they know what you have to offer. Life often connects you when least expected. You work hard at building friendships that include one more important. You can meet them on a plane. and someone comfortable introducing you. then you see a sincere. and then opportunities often present themselves. Many people look over. build on that and develop the skills you need to develop meaningful connections. you may see that it is effective to look for the contact at an upcoming business function. thank them that others want to get to know. priceless as in turn they will do the same for 1you. • Happy. it takes valuable time. A smile is a universal welcome sign. work and careers. Advert SAIA Magazine)_Layout 12/04/2013inner 13:30 Page 1 UpRight Aluminum Scaffold Quality and Strength you can Trust UpRight Aluminum Scaffold is tried and trusted the world over and provides one of the highest rental returns on investment. but the payback is conversation in your head and focus on the other person. through. MD 20724 Tel: 1-855-872-8774. approachable. or around always done. People often hear but don’t truly listen. Email: bill@uprightscaffoldusa. 3. Turn down the This is the giving part. develop relationships. Keep them in the loop 2.com www. Smile. As part of the UpRight Scaffold expansion program.com . or waiting in line at the movies. Making Networking Practical Positive networking experiences center on how contacts are identified and appropriate follow-up. In reality. What better referral? They can be your best knew no one there. Utilize techniques Seven Rules for Follow-up specific to the following categories of contacts and find ways 1. Try it. helpful people. Most importantly. For instance. It’s comforting to look at with a simple thank you. Have you ever to leverage them: been at a meeting or function and felt frozen because you • Satisfied clients. LLC SCAFFOLD USA. • Neighbors. someone as they are speaking. you can learn something mutual trust and respect. Look the person in the eye. seek opportunities to make referrals for them. Research says that when you ask them to introduce you to other people. Listen. we are looking for like-minded companies to join us as Dealers. be ready for the opportunity. This serendipitous networking is the most beneficial. Discuss with them how they would feel most will become more confident. while another contact might appreciate a note with helpful information.SAIA can develop plans for each contact and choose your style and method for continued communication. Postal Service indicates that ful about coming on too strong.0930 a note with a copy of the announceness cards as treasures and give them or andrea@nierenberggroup. you tense. Contact her at 212. The ultimate goal of networking is 5. the most respect. The power of three is writing a folup as meeting new people can make low-up note to three contacts a day. a compliment can • “Heard something good about you. with the insurers who want to write your business • One-stop solution for general liability. 7.” If you ers’ achievements. and 55% of able information is a good way to communication is visual. avoid having sending notes puts you ahead of 96% of tionships with people. Even only 4% of the mail is personalized—so to develop mutually beneficial relaif you just lost your job. but only offer yours author of six books on networking and guest at a special program by sending when someone requests it. She is the invite a contact to join you as your people’s cards. It’s important to reach out of our comfort zone and people think that you are desperate or the competition. think opportunity to send a note. develop more relawant something from them.” This that they are not interested in comand are truly interested. Business cards are golden. Avoid being too aggressive.SAIA travels to the Far East that they study • “Gone but not forgotten. Be care.com. and clout. Give genuine compliments.980. municating with you right now.” Even Allow someone to tell their story and if your contacts have clearly stated the business card—ask questions discover the “news you can use.S. People read you by follow-up note offering some valusince handled cards that I receive. Monitor keep current and potential customyour facial expressions and loosen Power of Three ers aware of your company. ment for the event. auto. and learn that even with our 6. Treat busisales. tionships. Andrea Nierenberg is a business participate in an association meeting. how you communicate. Body language. even notes work well: with new contacts. Yes. it is good If you hear about someone’s personal to “surround the account” and know be appropriate. I witnessed in my Visit Us at SAIA Convention Booth #120 Register to win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet 7.The U. of a way to sincerely acknowledge othAbout the Author • “Give-away information. scaffold & access • 37 .alliedforscaffold. When you listen to achievement or if you read something several people at the company. This left an will help to develop rapport. Ask for development authority. take the tion something they are proud of. workers’ compensation and other coverages • More than 100 scaffold clients nationwide • MyWave Elements risk management website • Online certificate and auto ID card issuance • Webinars on safety topics • In-house loss control services LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ALLIED ADVANTAGE AT www. a indelible mark on the way I have 4.0 WHY IS ALLIED the insurance broker of choice ? for the scaffolding industry Allied Advisor services give you more back for your premium: • 25 years of industry experience — we have relationships.” strongest business accounts. often they will menpositive about their company.com or call 1-800-569-9427. Good examples of where personal know more people. • people carefully.
[email protected] Zampell Scaffold. 707-537-8282 • charlesengineering. LLC 855-872-8774 • uprightscaffoldusa. Aug. Minn. June 20 • AWP Operator Training • Minneapolis. LLC Daniel Johnson Carson. Ore. LLC Jason Heath Newburyport. Inc.com. N. Nova Scotia 902.com����������������������������������������������2 Upright Scaffold USA.com������������������������������������������������������������� 34 Layher 866-300-0904 • layherusa. July 21 • Suspended • Nashville.com��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 40 Hydro Mobile 888-484-9376 • hydro-mobile.saiaonline. July 30 • System CPT • Oklahoma City. July 21 • AWP Operator Training • Nashville. SAIA TRAINING June 3 • Frame CPT • Portland.org/Treg/Step3 800-836-8780 • universalscaffold.com�������������������������������������������������� 11 Klimer 800-494-0496 • klimer.D.com����������������������������������������� 36 WINSAFE 905-474-9340 • winsafe. June 4 • System CPT • Portland. June 24 • System CPT • Miami. Okla. Fla. *Training Conducted at SAIA Annual Convention July 19&20 • Train the Trainer • Nashville. Tenn. June 17 • Frame CPT • Minneapolis. Tenn.com Modern (Int’l) Access & Scaffolding Ltd. May-June 2013 Advertiser’s Index Allied Insurance Brokers 800-569-9427 • alliedforscaffold.324. N. Aug. Mass. 19 • Frame CPT • Bismarck.com��������������������������������������������������������19 Century Elevators 713-640-5422 • centuryelevators.com��������������������������������������� 9 Eagle Enclosures eagleenclosures.com��������������������������������������������������������7 STROS 800-255-5438��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������16 STVA 877-890-8490 • stvaonline. Ore.com������������������������������������������18 Direct Scaffold Supply 800-720-6629 • directscaffoldsupply.com����������������������������������������������� 22 Step Up Scaffold 888-STEPUP-1 • stepupscaffold. Minn. Aug.com������������������������������������������������������� 25 Scaffold & Access Industry Association 816-595-4860 • saiaonline. Ore. 978. 1 • AWP Operator Training • Oklahoma City. Okla. June 26 • AWP Operator Training • Miami.com������������������������������������������������������� 10 Universal SAIA Events July 21-24 • SAIA Annual Convention & Exposition • Las Vegas Full class details and registrations can be found at https://www. Aug. Minn. Charles Engineering. July 21 • Mast Climber Operator Training • Nashville. N. 20 • System CPT • Bismarck.com������������������������������������������������3 D.22.D.hk Maritime Environmental Training Institute Joseph Pembroke Sydney.0055
[email protected]����������������������������������������������� 32 Strong Man Building Products Corp. visit www.com 38 • May-June 2013 .465. Hong Kong 85. Fla. June 25 • Suspended CPT • Miami. 14 • Mast Climber Operator • Kansas City. June 5 • Suspended CPT • Portland. 22 • AWP Operator Training • Bismarck. July 31 • Suspended CPT • Oklahoma City.com����������������������������������������������37 Bee Access 561-616-9003 • beeaccess.org or call 816.com��������������������������������������������������������������5 SAIA's New Members California Access Scaffold.3388 l. 310. June 27 • Mast Climber CPT • Miami. Okla. Fla.D. June 18 • System CPT • Minneapolis.org��������������������������������������������������� 13. Aug. June 6 • AWP Operator Training • Portland. Mo. Tenn.9766 meti@atlantic. Minn. Tenn. July 29• Frame CPT • Oklahoma City.745.H.4860. Okla. July 21 • Frame CPT • Nashville.595.6011 geoffrey@modernhk. Ore. Tenn.539.D. 39 Scaffold Training Institute 281-332-1613 • scaffoldtraining.saiaonline. 21 • Suspended CPT • Bismarck. Geoffrey Lee Kowloon. June 19 • Suspended CPT • Minneapolis. July 21 • System CPT • Nashville. Calif. Tenn. Fla.SAIA Training & Events For more information or to register for the events below. 800-950-6999 • strongman. Aug. the SAIA has helped to develop the industry’s safety standards. These training courses teach contractors how to meet and exceed those standards with best safety practices.best practices reDuce risks learn scaffolD safety through saia training programs During its 40+ year history. saia access course offerings incluDe: • Aerial Work Platform Operator Training – New for 2013! • Mast Climber Operator Training Additional training courses are available throughout the year for both SAIA members and non-members. SAIAUNIVERSITY for more information.org or visist www. please contact the scaffold & access industry association at 816.org. the Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA) has provided safety education to thousands of contractors through its renowned seminars and training courses. scaffold & access • 39 . reducing employee injuries and lost time on the job.saiaonline.595. info@saiaonline. Working with legislative agencies.4860.