Report of the MCAA Safety Committee
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MCAA conducted the Region V OSHA Training Seminar at the Chicago Laborers Training Center in IL.
As Chairman of the MCAA Safety Committee, I would like to submit the following report to the Board. Since our Annual Meeting in the Spring, we have been working hard on many issues that protect mason contractors throughout the nation.
Region V OSHA Training Seminar
On October, 26, 2006, the MCAA along with the Laborers-AGC Training Fund and the Laborers Health & Safety Fund conducted a full day training program at the Chicago Laborers Training Center in IL. The morning portion of this session featured occupational safety presentations on topics such as Silica Protection, Ergonomics, Fall Protection, Wall Bracing and Overhand Bricklaying. The afternoon portion consisted of hand-on demonstrations at three stations. These stations included Masonry Basics with different types of masonry materials and equipment, Rough Terrain Forklift Safety and Scaffold Safety. Assisting with the afternoon sessions were Jim O’Connor, Executive Director of the MCA of Greater Chicago. Roughly 20 OSHA field personnel from Region V which included the states of Illinois and Wisconsin attended the training program.
One of the major benefits of the program was the elimination of the myriad of interpretations of OSHA Standards from different OSHA inspectors that mason contractors often deal with on their jobsites. Another benefit and outcome of the session was a stronger understanding by OSHA personnel of the steps that the masonry industry and the MCAA have taken to provide a safe work environment.
This program is a continuing effort to work more closely with the Laborers International Union and Laborers Health and Safety Fund to conduct training program in all 11 OSHA Regions over the next two years. Two regions are complete and we are currently planning a best practices seminar for OSHA Region I (New England area) for the early portion of 2007.
Wall Bracing Standard Update
The 2001 Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls under Construction is currently being updated. The Council for Masonry Wall Bracing is currently reviewing the document and will begin a series of meetings to complete the update by the end of 2006. This update must be done no later than every 5 years to ensure its adoption in many local and national Building Codes.
ASTM Committee E34 on Occupational Health and Safety
ASTM Committee E34 on Occupational Health and Safety was formed in 1972. E34 meets twice annually, in April and October, with two days of technical meetings. The Committee, with a current membership of approximately 235, has jurisdiction of 20 standards. These standards are published in the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Volume 11.03. E34 has 8 subcommittees that maintain jurisdiction over these standards. The Committee's standards address the identification, exposure, symptomatology, treatment, control and administrative aspects of diverse occupational safety and health issues such as silica, metalworking fluids and ergonomics.
Subcommittee E34.30 is the called Occupational Health and Safety in Construction. MCAA’s Rashod R. Johnson, P.E. is the Chairman of this subcommittee. ASTM realized that the construction industry has mobile work area and in many instances a transient workforce. This causes the construction industry to do things differently than manufacturers when protecting workers. The first item of business of this subcommittee is to develop a Silica Standard that is specific to the construction industry. The committee has already met this past October in Atlanta and will be balloting the first version of this standard soon.
OSHA Regulations
There are currently three open letters to OSHA requesting official Interpretation that affects contractors. One is concerning Non-Stop Scaffolding, a second is concerning, stacking material and a third on the use of man baskets on rough terrain forklifts. We will keep the membership abreast of any responses we may receive as we continue to fight for better construction safety regulations at OSHA.
OSHA / MCAA Alliance
In July of this year, the MCAA renewed our National Alliance with OSHA. This Alliance states that our members will work together with OSHA to ensure the safety of our workers. There are four areas of special interest outlined in the Alliance; silica, scaffold safety, rough terrain forklift safety and masonry wall bracing. The MCAA staff is working closely with OSHA to develop training and outreach materials to MCAA members on these topics.