august - scaffold and access industry association

VOLUME 36 ISSUE 8AUGUST 2008

Fixeo Just the FixScaffolding Down UnderA New Nashville SkylineFall Restraint Review

Fixeo Just the FixScaffolding Down UnderA New Nashville SkylineFall Restraint Review

2 AUGUST 2008 Scaffold Industry www.scaffold.org

www.scaffold.org Scaffold Industry AUGUST 2008 3

Project ProfileA New

NashvilleSkyline 20

How access challengeswere met at a busy hospi-

tal environment

Project ProfileFixeo Just the Fix 12

How sensitive timeand site conditions were

met during a condo-minium project

TableOf Contents

5 From the President’s Desk

9 Technically Speaking

42 Industry Briefs

47 Schedule of Events

48 Advertisers Index

departments

Bartlett’s, Team One tackle access issues at the OconeeCommercial Nuclear Power Plant

Project Profile‘Excelling’ at a Power Plant

FeatureScaffolding

Down Under 16Lessons learned from

a trip to Australiaand New Zealand

A U G U S T> VOLUME 36 > ISSUE 8 > 2008

On the CoverThe Fixeo product was used to address access challenges at a condominium project in Palm Beach, FL.

President’s DeskHere ComesTeam SIA! 5

A newly elected presi-dent shares his thoughts

after taking office

2222

Scaffold Industry AUGUST 2008 5

Changing of theguard! Changeis normally as-

sociated with uneasi-ness, future uncertain-ty, and the shift fromone vision to another,among other things.As I write my first ofmany monthly presi-dential messages, I

have emphaticallyplaced myself in theshoes of my fellowSIA members. Ladiesand gentlemen ofthe Scaffold IndustryAssociation, pleaseunderstand that thechange in leadershipis in name and subtle style only. The visionthat I have worked on tirelessly with past-president John Miller remains in place.

Another change! By now you are fullyaware of the most recent decision to placethe operational functions of our associa-tion in the hands of the experts, TheRobstan Group. The SIA has been run thelast couple of years by dedicated associa-tion members with the untiring efforts ofsome very, very special people on staff. Inthe pursuit of “raising the bar,” we as anassociation are now fortunate enough tohave a solid foundation with a long-termvision that can be taken to the experts. TheRobstan Group is that “expert company.”

VOLUME 36 ISSUE 8

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

Here Comes Team SIA!A N E W L Y E L E C T E D P R E S I D E N T S H A R E S H I S T H O U G H T S A F T E R TA K I N G O F F I C E

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

For further information, please contact the SIAoffice at:

Scaffold Industry Assocation Inc.2001 E. Campbell Ave.

Suite 101Phoenix, AZ 85016

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

[email protected] • www.scaffold.org

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

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

Bill Breault is owner of Breault Industrial Group, Inc. in Tualatin, OR. He may be reached at (503) 691-7044or [email protected]

Published by:

Bill Breault

BILL BREAULTPresident

Breault Industrial Group, Inc.

STEVE SMITHPresident Elect

Edge International

RANDY MOODYVice President

The Brock Group

CHUCK HUTCHINSONSecretary

Bil-Jax, Inc.

DARYL HARETreasurer

Waco Scaffolding & Equipment Co.

GENE MORGANBoard Appointee

MDM Scaffolding Services

MIKE RUSSELLBoard Appointee

Power Climber, A Div. of Safeworks

JEFF STACHOWIAKPresidential Appointee

Sunbelt Rentals

JOHN R. MILLERImmediate Past-PresidentThe Millstone Companies

2008-2010 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

P U B L I S H E RMike Mehno

(972) 819-1460

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

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

Jeff Kruger(626) 932-6193

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

(626) 932-6147

A D C O O R D I N A T O RKatherine Culliver

(626) 932-6172

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

I can surely appreciate any uneasiness thatlong-time members may have in placing thedaily functioning of our accredited associa-tion in the hands of others. That past nowrepresents a learning curve whose institutionis unwavering. Let that myth be dispelledimmediately! Considerable time and analysiswere put forth to decide: 1) Is this the rightchoice for the SIA? and 2) which is the rightcompany to run with it? I can tell you, wehave made a monumental decision that will

surely elevate ourpresence, our mis-sion and our voice!

Among the manyagenda items that willrapidly fill the nexttwo years, I promiseyou what I believe tobe the key to success

during any initiative:1) Communication –Communication needs to be clear, consistentand repeated again and again.

2) Gain commitment – Truly an earnedtrait. I am extremely fortunate to have beenelected as the leader of our association. I trulybelieve that I will serve the fiduciary objectivesand lead this association to the global fore-front of the scaffold and access industry.

3) Leading - Emotions can run high dur-ing a period of transition, and not to men-tion economic uncertainty that is biggerthan all of us. I believe that strong leader-ship for the organization during this time isnot a luxury…it is a requirement.

Continued on page 7

The vision that I haveworked on tirelessly with

past-president John Millerremains in place.


President’s Message


President’s Message

Continued from page 5

In today’s 24/7 driven business world,accountability is becoming a more criticalissue for every business. The continuedsuccess of the SIA is absolutely no differ-ent. The challenge is to realize that ac-countability is just not a single issue, butan issue with many supporting competen-cies. Ladies and gentleman, you will have100% accountability from me and myfamily. The past months have been filledwith alignment at home and at work toplace myself in the very best position ofleadership for the next two years. Pleaseexpect nothing less than the best!

The success of any association is aproduct of participation. We currentlyhave approximately 1,000 members inthe SIA. Just think – if each and everyone put forth an effort to a current un-dertaking (big or small) the reckoningwould be unbelievable. Everyone wantsto be a part of a great team – I ask, “Howcan you help?” Better yet – you ask!Today, proactive teamwork is a greater

part of American business. Teams helpachieve greater success than individuals,but sometimes team members lacksome of the necessary skills. We oftenhear of the 20% of the team doing 80%of the work. Are your behaviors helpingothers to be more accountable or areyour behaviors allowing others to shoul-der more of the workload?

I cannot wait to get started! n

SIA Past President David F. Beatty

We deeply regret to inform you of thepassing of David F. Beatty, one of SIA’smost influential past presidents, whoserved the association from 1975-1977.Mr. Beatty, former president of ScaffoldConsultants, passed away in his sleep inhis Jackson, CA home on July 28 at theage of 79. He is survived by his lovingwife Sandra.

A special tribute to Mr. Beatty willtake place in our upcoming Septemberissue of the Scaffold Industry magazine.We look forward to recognizing theefforts, life and work of Beatty, who will be sorely missed by all those in the scaffold and access industry.

Due to Mr. Beatty’s wishes, a memorial will not be held. However, please contact the SIA office at (602) 257-1144 for more information on paying respects. n

I N M E M O R I A M


Call for ArticlesScaffold Industry

magazineWe are always interested inarticles on innovative proj-ects, unique solutions, trendsand issues impacting ourindustry. If you are an experton a topic related to one ofour upcoming magazinethemes, or have an interest-ing project to share, pleasecontact Natalie Keith, editor,at [email protected].

OctoberFocus on FallProtection

NovemberMaterial Hoists/

ConstructionElevators

Joan Callahan (972) 819-1496For advertising rates and information, contact:

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


grity is not compromised.Here are some factors that deter-

mine if seemingly different types ofscaffolds are really compatible:• What does the manufacturer say

about it?• Are the scaffolds the same type of

scaffolds (e.g. systems scaffolds)?• Are the scaffolds manufactured of

the same material (e.g. steel)?• Do the scaffolds fit well together?

(although this isn’t a real good gaugeof whether the scaffold is compatiblesince a really big hammer will solvethis problem)

For tubular welded framescaffolds, consider this:• Are the tube diameters

the same?• Is the cross brace stud spac-

ing the same?• Is the distance from the top

cross brace stud to the topof the frame the same?

• What is the height ofthe frame? (A 5-ft-, 0-in.frame isn’t necessarily5-ft tall)

• Does the coupling pin have a collar?• If it does have a collar, is it the same

height? (Some coupling pins have nocollar, some have a 1/8- or 1/4- in.collar and some have a 1-in. collar)

• Do the holes for the coupling pinretainer pins line up?

• Are the tube diameters the same?Some tubes are 1.625-in. diameter(1 5/8-in.) and others are 1.69-in.

• Is the steel the same type of steel? Is it

Is it Compatible?By David H. Glabe, P.E.

How’s your scaffold?Is it compatible?The federal Occu-pational Safety &Health Administra-tion (OSHA) stan-dards require that“scaffold compo-nents manufacturedby different manu-

facturers shall not be intermixed un-less the components fit together with-out force and the scaffold’s structuralintegrity is maintained by the user.” (29CFR 1926(b)(10))

What does that mean?What if your scaffold isdifferent colors, say redand yellow. Does thatmake it incompatible? Isa wood pole scaffoldcompatible with a tubu-lar welded frame scaf-fold? What about a tubeand coupler scaffoldbeing used with a systemsscaffold? Can two seem-ingly different scaffoldspossibly coexist?

Generally there are two issues thatdetermine if scaffolds are compatible.The first issue applies to the same type ofscaffold of different designs or manufac-tured by different manufacturers. Forexample, a tubular welded frame scaf-fold manufactured by company A has aleg diameter of 1 in., while the tubularwelded frame scaffold manufactured bycompany B has a leg diameter of 3 in.Obviously, the 1-in. diameter tube would

not fit onto the 3-in. diameter leg. Thiswould make it incompatible.

The second issue applies to differenttypes of scaffolds. For example, can atube and coupler scaffold, typically usingtubes that are a nominal 2-in. diametertube, be used with a systems scaffold thathas the same diameter tube? Can thissame scaffold be used with a tubularwelded frame scaffold that has a tubediameter of 1-5/8 in.? These are legiti-mate questions for the scaffold inspector.

The Scaffold, Shoring & FormingInstitute (SSFI) and manufacturershave guidelines about the matter. So

does the Scaffold Industry Association(SIA.) The guidelines typically agreewith the OSHA standards which suc-cinctly sum it up: “Scaffold compo-nents manufactured by different manu-facturers shall not be modified in orderto intermix them unless a CompetentPerson determines that the resultingscaffold is structurally sound.” Thismeans that scaffold components fromdifferent manufacturers can indeed beintermixed as long as the scaffold inte-

David H. Glabe

Determining whether scaffold components can be intermixed

ColumnTechnically Speaking

Continued on page 11

“Scaffold components manufacturedby different manufacturers shall notbe modified in order to intermix themunless a Competent Person determines

that the resulting scaffold isstructurally sound.”


36 ksi, 50 ksi, or stronger?• If you know who the manufacturer

is, what he/she says about it?For systems scaffolds, consider this:

• Are the connections compatible?Most connection points (rosettes,node points, etc.) are proprietarybut many “ring” type connectionsmay be compatible)

• What is the spacing between con-nection points? Most connectionsare a half meter (19.685 in.) butone systems scaffold connectionspacing is 21 in.

• Is the steel the same type of steel? Isit 36 ksi, 50 ksi, or stronger?

• What is the tube diameter?• If you know who the manufacturer is,

what does he/she say about it?

For tube and coupler scaffolds, con-sider this:• Are the couplers (clamps) compatible?• Are the end fittings compatible?

(While the “bayonet” fittings maylook alike, they do not necessarilylock together)

• Is the steel the same type of steel? Is it36 ksi, 50 ksi, or stronger?

• What is the tube diameter?• What is the tube wall thickness?• Pipe is not the same as tube. Are you

specifying the correct product?• Are the couplers sized for the tube

being used?• If you know who the manufacturer is,

what does he/she say about it?This isn’t meant to be a complete

list since there are many manufactur-ers with many products. The OSHA

standards exist to ensure that inter-mixed equipment performs as antici-pated. By requiring an evaluation by aCompetent Person, the scaffold userwill have a safe scaffold to use. If youare not comfortable determining thecompatibility between scaffold compo-nents, manufacturers, materials, andscaffold types, don’t guess – contact aCompetent Person and/or a compe-tent/qualified manufacturer. n

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

Technically Speaking



Fixeo Just the FixHow sensitive time and site conditions were met during a condominium project

Project ProfilePalm Beach Condominium

Seldom does a new product arrive onthe scene of access equipment thatallows the combination of higher sta-bility and worksite performance thanthat offered by the Fixeo product fromFixator, France.

Fort Lauderdale-based access equip-ment supplier Reach Service &

Equipment Inc., which served as deal-er distributor, in conjunction withWest Palm Beach-based Bee Access,which served as agent and importer,were awarded the Palm Beach condo-minium project to provide equipmentmeeting very specific and time sensi-tive parameters.

Primary concern was the limitedaccess to the roof service, as well as theneed to provide a safe working environ-ment on a fast track project. Rules ofconstruction and renovation precludeany work being performed on theisland of Palm Beach near a worldfamous hotel in “season,” which runs

By Dave McAllister and Tom DeJong


stable work area that will not sway inwindy applications and allows for analternative to some excessive overhangand soffit conditions.

The mast sections weigh only 55 lbseach, and can be erected to an eleva-tion of 330 ft. Length of the platform

from Nov. 1 to May 31. Added concernwas the fact the entire project would betaking place over an active parkinggarage area, so load bearing weight wasa concern. Evaluation led all involved toagree that the Fixeo alternative wouldoffer an advantage while meeting allthe requirements from building owner,

engineer and general contractor.The Fixeo product allows all stan-

dard domestic suspended scaffoldequipment to be converted into alight weight mast climbing platformwith the same capacities and limita-tions of standard suspended scaffoldsystems. This equipment provides a

Palm Beach Condominium



is determined by the jobsite require-ments and the limitation of the plat-form system. Ties to the structure areat the base and within every 20 ftthereafter, plus one more at the top.The size and light weight allow for theequipment to be placed in very smallareas with easy access into elevatorsand other jobsite conditions. Allequipment is modular and the heavi-est item is traditionally the electrichoist and lock assembly.

There is no need for a fork lift atany phase of the handling of theequipment. A feature in the concernof safety is the ability to run a staticline on the platform for attachment ofsafety lanyards and equipment. Whilethis was not practical for this project,it is a feature to be considered in thefuture. Also unique is the require-ment of a level sensitive electric yokethat prevents the hoists from becom-ing excessively out of level placing sig-

nificant loads on the masts and ties.Jobsite superintendent Jason Levitt

says, “The nearly $14 million projectwas bid under the condition that theroof was not to be used for rigging. Thisprecluded the use of standard swingstaging on the job. Furthermore, fixedscaffold was considered too risky duringthe hurricane season and mast climberstoo heavy and costly because of the lim-ited height and parking garage limita-tions. To make matters more challeng-




ing, the entire first year of the projecthad to be completed in six months,without a single day’s grace allowed.This meant that large platforms wouldbe a huge advantage so the entirefacades could be worked at one time.”

Levitt adds, “The Fixeo system hasprovided a highly efficient and effec-tive means of accessing the building forall the work that is being performed.The platforms remain solid and reli-able despite the wind on the beach,

and allow for work to continue whenless stable hanging scaffolds wouldhave meant lost production. The Fixeosystem has given us a competitiveadvantage in bidding the work and thebenefits in time and money savingscontinue in daily operation.” n

Dave McAllister can be reached at (954) 928-1323 or [email protected] and TomDeJong can be reached at (561) 616-9003 [email protected].



FeatureCanadian Corner

Scaffolding Down UnderLessons learned from a trip to Australia and New Zealand

They say that if youstop learning, youstop growing. I’vedecided that I wantto stop growing hor-izontally, but I dowant to continue togrow mentally.

I’ve always beenan advocate of ask-

ing questions – the most frequentbeing, “Why are we doing this?” If theanswer is, “That’s the way we’ve alwaysdone it,” that’s not good enough.There’s got to be another way.

Those of us (myself included) whohave been in this business for an un-

specified number of years, tend tothink of ourselves as the experts. Wethink we know just about all there is toknow about our kind of work.

When the opportunity came for meto visit Australia and New Zealand, I hadto find out what they were doing as far asscaffolding was concerned. I discoveredthat we have a lot to learn from them!

The first thing I became aware ofwhen I looked into scaffolding DownUnder is that all workers on scaffoldsmust hold a “Certificate of Compe-tence.” What a great idea! That meansthat everyone working on scaffoldsmust have at least a certain minimumamount of training.

Without a certificate, a worker canbuild frame scaffolds and system scaf-folds up to two lifts high. (Sort of like ourPAT limitation, but without really gettinginto height-to-base ratios.) Workers with-out certificates can work with“Competent Workers,” to build tallerstructures, but cannot lead the work.

A trainee in Australia/New Zealandmust maintain a logbook listing thenames and addresses of each employ-er, description of the types of work per-formed with dates, the type of equip-ment used, formal training sessions,the supervisor’s name and certificatenumber, and the supervisor’s signaturefor every day the work is done.

John Rosenthal

By John Rosenthal


Once they have their Basic ScaffoldCertificate, workers can construct atower scaffold with outriggers, install abarrow hoist, build a modular bird-cage scaffold, install a safety net, andconstruct a mobile frame scaffold. Aworker with a Basic certificate cannotconstruct any of the following: can-tilevered scaffold, barrow ramp, tubeand coupler scaffold, swing stage, mastclimber, personnel or material hoist.

An Intermediate Scaffold Certificateenables a worker to erect tube and cou-pler scaffolds. Topics covered in thetraining course include measuring andmarking, general scaffold construction,


more than 4 meters. A Basic Certificateenables a person to erect any modularscaffold, such as aluminum mobiles,steel modular, kwikstage and cuplock.The maximum height to which a basicscaffolder may build a modular scaffoldis the maximum height specified by themanufacturer of the particular scaffoldbeing used. Topics covered in the Basictraining program include inspection ofequipment; fibre ropes, splicing, bendsand hitches; scaffold construction –steel and aluminum; erection and dis-mantling skills; tie construction; scaf-fold inspection; calculating loads; esti-mating equipment and basic scaffold-ing knowledge questions.

Competency is determined by asses-sors who determine the extent of thepractical skills held by the trainee, evalu-ate the worker’s knowledge based oncompletion of a written “closed book”examination, and an acceptable writtenassignment consisting of a total of sevenseparate tasks including: estimating quan-tities, calculating live and dead loads, loaddistribution, and tie construction.

The requirements for a Basic Certifi-cate state that a worker who has at least100 working days’ experience in erect-ing and dismantling scaffolds (of whichat least 50 days involved modular scaf-folds) does not require assessment forscaffold construction and ties.

A Basic Scaffold Certificate is re-quired to erect any modular systemwhere a person or object could fall


sloping platform construction, spurconstruction, use of compatible equip-ment, lashing of planks, scaffold de-sign, equipment quantities, and inter-mediate knowledge questions.

With an Intermediate Scaffold Cer-tificate, workers can install a canti-levered crane loading platform, con-struct a barrow ramp, build a single-pole tube and coupler scaffold, con-struct a tube and coupler covered wayor gantry, erect a mast climber, andcarry out all work covered by the BasicCertificate. The Intermediate worker isnot allowed to construct a personnelor material hoist, a hung scaffold, aboatswain’s chair or a swing stage.

A worker who has recorded at least50 working days experience erectingand dismantling tube and coupler scaf-

folds does not require practical skillsassessment for Intermediate Scaf-folding. The written assignment forIntermediate consists of an informationsheet, a drawing sheet and a list of 10tasks to be carried out. Knowledge as-sessment is determined by correct an-swers to the majority of the questions inthree categories.

The Advanced Scaffold Certificateallows the worker to carry out all workcovered by both Basic and Inter-mediate certificates as well as con-structing hanging scaffolds and sus-pended scaffolds. As with Basic and In-termediate, the assessment for Ad-vanced requires successful completionof specified tasks.

This year, my daughter received apost graduate diploma in design fromone of the New Zealand Universities.Of course, Dad and Mom had to at-tend the graduation ceremony. On thisvisit, I arranged to take an offshoot tripover to Australia to meet in Sydneywith Adrian LaManna, project manag-er, Standards Australia and DougCrawford, chairman of the scaffoldcommittee, to discuss their standardscompared with ours.

One of the first topics that came upwas duty ratings. Australia has done awaywith light duty, medium duty and heavyduty scaffold ratings as we know them.They are concerned with bay loading,which makes a lot of sense to me. Whenyou consider it, we are asking our work-ers to do quite a bit of mathematicalwork before they even start to performtheir jobs. Of course, they’re supposed tobe able to do that. But why not take outsome of the drudgery?

Do we really expect our workers tocalculate platform loads on a squarefoot basis? Take an aluminum/plywooddeck, for example. We slap a label onthe side that says its capacity is 75 per sqft. How much load can we place on thedeck? Who, on a jobsite, is going tomeasure 19 in., divide it by 12 and mul-tiply by seven, and then by 75, to get831.25 lb? Why don’t we just label it asan 825-lb deck? Then everyone readilyknows that, if you want to set a 1,400-lbvalve on the deck, it’ll be overloaded.

It’s similar with planks. We talkabout the maximum load on a plat-form spanning 8 ft being 50 per sq ft.Why not just say that, because planksare 9 1/4–in. wide and the span is 8 ft,

Canadian Corner



we can place a maximum load of 300lb on each plank? Wouldn’t that be eas-ier for the workers and so much lesslikely to end up as a mistake?

Going in that direction, we can elimi-nate the idea of 25 per sq ft, 50 per sq ft,and 75 per sq ft as light-, medium- andheavy-duty loadings. For most of ourjobs, we are using 5-ft, 7-ft and 10-ftbraces. So our bay widths have thosedimensions. On that basis, can’t we saythat 5-ft bays can be loaded to 300 lbper plank (based on 75 per sq ft), that7-ft bays can be loaded to 275 lb perplank (based on 50 per sq ft), and that10-ft bays can be loaded to 200 lb perplank (based on 25 per sq ft)?

I mentioned previously that Cer-tificates of Competence are deter-

mined/issued by assessors. I met withKent Fisher, owner of the ScaffoldTraining Company outside Melbourne.He told me that the assessor functionwas being done away with in Australiaand that training was going to be car-ried out by Registered TrainingOrganizations (RTO’s). One of theproblems he sees with the change isthat what he presently covers in threedays will be spread out over five days.He regards that only as a decrease inproductivity and an increase in costs.

I had planned to meet with a repre-sentative of Worksafe Victoria while Iwas in Melbourne to get his ideas onreciprocity of recognition for Com-petency Certificates. Unfortunately, hehad to be out of town during the time Iwas there. However, his last commentto me was that the WorkCover organi-zation (at least in Australia) had decid-ed that it would not recognize overseasqualifications. I plan to get back intodiscussions with him to find out what itmight take for them to accept, say, theSIA Competent Person certification.

In New Zealand, I met with DavidCrowley, of Scafit, Inc. We discussedsome of the topics I had gone over inAustralia. He gave me contact info for

various people involved in scaffoldstandards in his country. I’ll be writingmore on New Zealand after I’ve had achance to communicate with thesefolks. It seems to me that Kiwis justmight be more amenable to reciproci-ty than the Aussies, but I’m told thatscaffold workers’ pay in New Zealand isconsiderably less than in Australia.

While I was Down Under, I didn’tsee much in the way of frame scaffold-ing in use, except for some AcrowShorbrace shoring frames. In Australia,it seemed that Waco pretty well hadcontrol of the scaffold market withtheir KwikForm. I did see quite a bit oftube-and-clamp in use, and in NewZealand, I saw a lot of Layher Allround.

The folks Down Under also seem to

be somewhat more safety consciousthan we are. Fall protection is requiredat two meters (6.5 ft). WorkSafe Victoriaissues a weekly e-mailed newsletter,Safety Soapbox, which included theBodgey Scaffold of the Week. If you wishto receive a copy, simply e-mail [email protected] and provideyour name, organization, position, tele-phone contact and preferred e-mailaddress. WorkSafe Victoria is a divisionof the Victorian WorkCover Authority.

Australian and New Zealand stan-dards are not as much “our way or thehighway” as ours seem to be. TheAussies and Kiwis are ready to acceptthat products meeting other countries’standards may be suitable for use intheir own. For example, “Couplers thatmeet the performance requirements ofBS1139/EN 74 for similar type couplersare deemed to comply with this stan-dard without the need for type testing.”

I have no idea at this time whatparts, if any, of our scaffold standardsand regulations the folks Down Undermight wish to adopt. Wouldn’t it benice if, sometime in the future, wecould have a set of standards and pro-cedures that would be uniform world-wide? Heck! We can’t even agree on

how things ought to be done on bothsides of our own borders, let aloneacross the world.

But wouldn’t it be nice if we could?Acknowledgements: Details of

scaffold training programs andphoto of Kent Fisher “borrowed”from his website at www.scaffold-trainingcompany.com.au. AwapuniRacecourse scaffold photo fromLayher New Zealand featured job,photo by David Crowley [www.lay-her.co.nz/assets/projects/awa-puniracecoursegrandstand.pdf.] n

John Rosenthal, P.Eng. is president of Dunn-Wright Engineering Inc., in Caledon, Ontario.Rosenthal also serves as SIAC international direc-tor. E-mail him at [email protected].

Canadian Corner

The folks Down Under also seem to be somewhatmore safety conscious than we are.


When Bob Dylan recorded NashvilleSkyline in 1969, the result was describedas “ground breaking.” As Atlanta-basedMastclimbers LLC continues to explorethe true value and flexibility of theproduct, ground breaking is again theword that comes to mind.

Bobby Reese, co-founder of Mast-

climbers LLC described the complexityof the task. “The extension to the exist-ing Vanderbilt hospital is in a tight citycenter environment, and since the orig-inal hospital was built, there have beenmany building additions and trafficmanagement changes, making it impos-sible to erect anything from the ground

up. We have ambulances racing out ofthe ground level area and helicopterslanding on the helipad on the roof, andin between we had to provide façadeaccess for the specialist trades!”

The answer was to mount the mastclimbers on an arrangement of sup-port beams, keeping everything 75 ft

Project ProfileMonitoring Mastclimbers

A New Nashville SkylineHow access challenges were met at a busy hospital environment

Support structure for masts.


above the busy streets below.Steve Kunz, Mastclimbers project

manager on the job, explained thecomplexity, “In addition to the ambu-lances and helicopter activity (the towercrane had to stop operations when thehelicopter was landing/taking off, andit was a regular occurrence), there was

only room on the job to unload onetruck at a time, and concrete drillingwas prohibited after 8 am! But, despitethe obstacles, everyone one was de-lighted with the result.”

“There was no viable solution for theprovision of access on this job until wegot involved. The contractor, Alexander

Metals, was delighted with the result,”Kunz said. “Balfour Beatty, the generalcontractor on the project, needed accessto the external façade areas for multi-dis-cipline contractors. The key was toachieve this aim safely, while the hospitalcontinued its day-to-day business undis-turbed. We like win/win solutions.” n

Monitoring Mastclimbers

Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville.


‘Excelling’ at a Power PlantBartlett’s, Team One tackle access issues at the Oconee Commercial Nuclear Power Plant

Project ProfileIndustrial Scaffold

The Excel specialty scaffold wasinstalled above a spray ring suspendedoverhead grid network at OconeeCommercial Nuclear Power Plant inOconee County, South Carolina fordoing refurbishment of the linerplate. The work platform is being usedinside the power plant’s containmentbuilding to support its ongoing fall

2007 outage painting upgrade workactivities. The power plant is operatedby Duke Power.

The scaffold, provided by Bartlett’sServices and Team One MechanicalServices LLC, was manufactured at thecompany’s Deltak fabrication facility inWalker, Louisiana. The design of theExcel containment dome specialty stag-

ing package was completed by Duke,Bartlett and Deltak in late 2006through early 2007. Ken Hensley,Rocky Hayman and Johnny Curtis, ofDeltak, worked with Duke civil engi-neer Allen Hart to design the platform.

When fully installed, the Excel workplatform was almost 37 ft tall and 114 ftwide and covered 50% of the contain-

The total number of scaffold pieces used was 5,178.



When fully installed, the Excel work platform was almost 37 ft tall and114 ft wide.

The scaffold was provided by Bartlett’s Services and Team OneMechanical Services LLC.

The Excel specialty scaffold was installed above a spray ring suspended overhead grid network for doing refurbishment of the liner plate.


ment dome. It is currently installed 100ft above the refuel floor, above thepolar crane, above the grid network inthe overhead of the containmentbuilding. The structure enables work-ers to refurbish the paint flaking prob-lem issues on the liner to eliminate thepossibility of any sump blockage issuesby removing the old coating and ap-plying the new one.

The total number of scaffold piecesused was 5,178 with the total weight ofthe staging materials installed in thecontainment overhead being 80,856lbs. The total cubic ft of scaffold mate-rial used to complete the requiredwork decks was 34,375. The number ofExcel specialty components was 1,260.Twenty-five percent of the compo-nents were comprised of the followingparts: 6- to 8-in. adjustable beamclamps with 18-in. screw jack assemblymounted on top, elevated short bridge(6-in. long) and 4-ft long bridgemounted on adjustable beam clamps,movable and telescoping offset 1- to 3-ft outrigger that were mounted onadjustable beam clamps, horizontalbars built with 2-in offset clearancefrom vertical leg assemblies and extralong four- and five-top supported sidebrackets/knee out cantilevers.


The work platform is being used inside the power plant’s containment build-ing to support its ongoing fall 2007 outage painting upgrade work activities.

The total cubic ft of scaffold material used to com-plete the required work decks was 34,375

Industrial Scaffold


Bartlett site manager Jim Petty wasable to provide Duke with eight quali-fied BNI scaffold builders that helpedto install the structure. n


The sixth APEX aerial platform exhibi-tion promises to be the largest in theevent’s history, with over 100 exhibitorsalready confirmed and the site almostcompletely booked. Many of theworld’s access equipment manufactur-ers will launch new machines at theshow, including first-time exhibitorsfrom Japan and China.

APEX – which takes place inMaastricht, the Netherlands on Sept. 17-19 – is supported by the InternationalPowered Access Federation (IPAF) andby Access International magazine.

All the world’s big name manufac-turers will be present at the show – seewww.apexshow.com for a full exhibitorslist – but one of the attractions of APEXhas always been the presence of thedozens of smaller manufacturers whoshow an enormous range of specialistaccess equipment as well as rental com-panies and component suppliers.

This year, for example, sees anincreased presence of telehandlermanufacturers – Faresin, Dieci andJCB will attend, in addition to JLG,Manitou, Haulotte and Genie – andalso access manufacturers from Chinaand Japan. Aichi is attending as in thepast, but it will be joined by fellowJapanese company Hanix, whoseEuropean subsidiary, Hanix Europe,will use APEX to launch Japanese-builtaerials in Europe.

Chinese manufacturer BeijingJingcheng, meanwhile, will use APEXto spearhead its entry into Europe withits range of electric scissor lifts and self-propelled telescopic booms. Several of

Jingcheng’s machines have alreadybeen CE-marked for the Europeanmarket, and APEX will be the firstexhibition in Europe or NorthAmerica where self-propelled aerialsplatforms have been shown.

Rental companies buy as much as80% of all aerial platforms and therental sector is expanding quickly inEurope, with growth last year of 8%and the prospect of continued growthfor the next few years. Access rental isalready well-established in WesternEurope but is now spreading eastwardsand south-eastwards in the region, aswell as in other developing areas suchas Asia Pacific and Latin America.

Aerial platforms on show at APEXwill comprise a wide spectrum of pow-

ered and non-powered access equip-ment, including self-propelled booms,scissor lifts, truck and van-mountedaerials, trailer mounted units, accesstowers and specialist underbridgeinspection platforms.

Tony Kenter, managing director ofIndustrial Promotions International(IPI), which is organizing the show,said, “This is the sixth APEX show andit has been the fastest selling ever. Theglobal access market is on a high – par-ticularly in Europe – and the eventpromises to be the busiest and mostsuccessful we have had.”

The 2008 show will share many of thefeatures of previous events, including afree conference program and keynotespeech on the first morning of the show.

ColumnShow Preview

APEX 2008The sixth APEX show expected to be the biggest ever heldBy Natalie Keith


One change from previous eventswill be the days on which APEX is held– Wednesday to Friday rather thanThursday to Saturday. This change hasbeen made in response to requestsfrom exhibitors to focus the show onthe working week.

James King, publisher of AccessInternational, said the prospects weregreat for a successful event. “Theaccess sector is enjoying a fantasticspell at the moment, and indicationsare that this healthy business environ-ment will be sustained beyond APEX

2008,” he says. “There is also enormousinterest in access from new markets ineastern Europe, the Middle East,China and other areas – APEX will bethe ideal venue for these potential andcurrent buyers to meet and see the lat-est equipment.” n


ColumnFall Protection

Fall RestraintA review of standards, equipment and best practices

Fall restraint is a familiar but oftenmisapplied practice in fall protection.This article reviews current regula-tions, standards and best practices infall restraint. We will also cover the useof fall protection equipment used infall restraint, with particular attentionto proper selection and the limitationsof use for personal protective equip-ment in fall restraint applications.

Fall restraint is also referred to in stan-dards and literature as “travel restraint”or “travel restriction.” In this article, wewill use these terms synonymously.

U.S. Federal OSHA Rules Fall restraint is not explicitly refer-

enced in U.S. federal OSHA rules reg-ulating fall protection. There are nomandatory requirements or definedlimits for this practice in currentOSHA regulations for constructionand general industry, but there areseveral references to fall restraint inOSHA Letters of Interpretation.These letters are issued by the OSHADirectorate of Compliance Programsin response to questions posed by thepublic regarding the interpretation ofOSHA rules to specific applications.

OSHA Letters of Interpretation arenot intended to serve as a substitutefor rulemaking, however, they areoften cited in OSHA complianceactions. They serve here as guidanceto employers who encounter similarsituations involving fall hazards notaddressed in regulation. One exampleof such an OSHA letter is the docu-ment written on Nov. 2, 1995 in re-sponse to a company that askedwhether they could use a fall restraintsystem to protect its employees. In thisOSHA Letter of Interpretation, quot-

ed below, OSHA director Roy Gurn-ham, P.E., J.D., replies as follows:

“Although the standard (20 CFR1926.502) does not mention them, wedo accept properly utilized fall restraintsystems in lieu of fall arrest systems whenthe restraint system is rigged in such away that the employee cannot get to thefall hazard. We suggest that, as a mini-mum, fall restraint systems have thecapacity to withstand at least 3,000 lbs offorce or twice the maximum expectedforce that is needed to restrain the per-son from exposure to the fall hazard.”

U.S. federal OSHA regulations forvehicle-mounted elevated and rotatingwork platforms, under 29 CFR Part1910.67, state that, “A body belt shallbe worn and a lanyard attached to theboom or basket when working from anaerial lift.” The intent of this special-ized application of fall restraint is to

ensure that, “Employees shall alwaysstand firmly on the floor of the basket,and shall not sit or climb on the edgeof the basket.”

U.S. National Consensus StandardsANSI/ASSE Z359-2007, Fall Protection Code

The American National StandardsInstitute has recently published a newstandard for fall protection, ANSI/ASSEZ359-2007 Fall Protection Code. Thismulti-part standard addresses fall restraintas a recognized part of a fall protectionprogram within general industry. Thenew standard defines travel restraintusage, anchor requirements as well asequipment design and test requirements.

In Z359.0, “Definitions and Nomen-clature Used for Fall Protection,” the

Fall restraint is a useful, but often misapplied practice in fall protection.



standard defines a travel restraint sys-tem as, “A combination of anchorage,anchorage connector, lanyard (orother means of connection), and bodysupport that limits travel in such amanner that the user is not exposed toa fall hazard.”

Eliminating and ControllingFall Hazards

In Z359.2, “Minimum Requirementsfor a Comprehensive Managed FallProtection Program,” the standardplaces fall restraint within the context ofthe fall protection hierarchy, or pre-ferred order of control used to selectmethods for eliminating or controllingfall hazards. Fall restraint is listed in thefollowing order, from the most preferredto least preferred method of control:

• Elimination or substitution• Passive fall protection• Fall restraint• Fall arrest• Administrative controlsFall restraint, as described in Sec-

tion 5.1.3 of the new standard, in-volves, “securing the authorized per-son to an anchorage, using a lanyardshort enough to prevent the person’scenter of gravity from reaching the fallhazard.” Note that fall restraint isplaced above fall arrest in the hierar-chy of controls.

Anchorage Systems forTravel Restraint Systems

ANSI Z359.2-2007 gives guidanceon the minimum static strength ofanchor structures for travel restraintsystems. The anchors must be capableof sustaining static loads applied in thedirections permitted by the system ofat least:

• 1,000 lbs for non-certified an-chors, or

• Two times the foreseeable forcefor certified anchorages

Certified anchorages are those evalu-ated and certified by a qualified engi-neer. When more than one restraint sys-tem is attached to an anchorage, thestrengths must be multiplied by the

number of systems attached to theanchorage. If the anchorage is also usedas an anchorage for fall arrest, it mustcomply with the higher strengthrequirements for a fall arrest anchorage.

Travel Restraint SystemRequirements

ANSI Z359.3-2007, “Safety Require-ments for Positioning and Travel Re-straint Systems,” makes reference todesign requirements and test criteriafor travel restraint systems. The re-quirements include the following:

• The travel restraint system mustbe connected to a suitable anchorageas defined in Z359.2-2007,

• The travel restraint system is onlypermitted on a walking/working sur-face that has a slope between zero and18.4 degrees, and

• The travel restraint system must passstatic and dynamic tests as described inthe standard.

Static testing includes a tensile loadof 1,000 lbs applied for one minute.Dynamic strength tests involve drop-ping a 300-lb test mass with a 4-ft freefall distance. To pass the tensile testand the dynamic strength test, the fallrestraint system may deform but mustnot release the test weight.

Body Belts and Harnessesfor Travel Restraint

The new ANSI Z359 Fall ProtectionCode excludes body belts from consid-eration in fall protection systems,including fall restraint. ANSI Z359.3-2007 specifies that only full body har-nesses are to be used as the body sup-port component in a fall restraint sys-tem. According to the standard, har-nesses may incorporate a waist beltwith a restraint attachment element onthe belt at the center of the back or,alternatively, the back D-ring designedfor fall arrest may also be used inrestraint applications.

ANSI Z359.3-2007 requirements forfull body harnesses in fall restraintinclude the following criteria:

• The full body harness must meet

the requirements for a fall arrest har-ness according to ANSI Z359.1-2007 inaddition to the requirements of ANSIZ359.3-2007, and

• The manufacturer’s designated fallrestraint attachment element on theharness must pass a dynamic strengthtest with a 220 test mass and a free falldistance of 3.3 ft without breaking.

Lanyards for Travel Restraint

ANSI Z359.3-2007 establishes re-quirements for lanyards used in travelrestraint. Requirements for travel re-straint lanyards include the following:

• Materials of construction, includingrope, webbing and wire rope, mustmeet certain minimum strength andperformance requirements accordingto nationally recognized materials stan-dards. Polypropylene is not permitted inload-bearing elements of the lanyard.

• Methods of construction are speci-fied and are similar to those required infall arrest lanyards. Knots are not permit-ted to form lanyard end terminations.

• Hardware must also meet similarconstruction and strength requirementsas in hardware for fall arrest lanyards.

• Fall restraint lanyards must have aminimum breaking strength of 5,000 lbs.

• Lanyards with adjustable lengthmust resist a static load of 1,000 lbs with-out change in their adjusted length.

• Lanyards for fall restraint mustalso pass a dynamic strength test with a300-lb test mass and a 4-ft free fall with-out breaking.

ANSI/ASSE A10.32-2004, FallProtection Systems for Constructionand Demolition Operations

The U.S. national consensus stan-dard for the construction industry isANSI/ASSE A10.32-2004. The require-ments for fall restraint in this standardare very similar to those in the laterstandard for general industry, ANSIZ359-2007, but not as detailed. Theconstruction standard does not definemany of the specific requirementsspelled out in the general industry fallprotection standard. Generally speak-

Fall Protection



Fall Protection

ing, the equipment requirements forANSI Z359-2007 meet and exceedthose in ANSI A10.32-2004 and equip-ment designed for the new Z359 stan-dard offers an equivalent or higherlevel of protection.

Components designed to meet differ-ent standards may not always functioncorrectly together as a fall protection sys-tem. When combining components tocreate a complete system for fall restraint,consult the manufacturer(s) to deter-mine whether components are compati-ble for their intended use.

Energy Absorbing Lanyardsand Self-Retracting Lanyardsin Travel Restraint

ANSI A10.32-2004 and the newZ359-2007 Fall Protection Code do notaddress the use of energy absorbers onfall restraint lanyards and are also silenton the use of self-retracting lanyarddevices in fall restraint. Nevertheless,users of this protective equipment con-tinue to incorporate energy absorbinglanyards and self-retracing lanyardsinto fall restraint systems. Here are sev-eral points for consideration beforeattempting to put these fall arrest com-ponents into service for fall restraint:

Energy Absorbing Lanyardsin Travel Restraint

Some manufacturers permit lanyardswith a fall-arrest energy absorber to beused as part of a fall restraint system.MSA takes the position that this practiceintroduces uncertainty and potential riskand therefore is generally not recom-mended, for the following reasons:

• Energy absorbers are designed byfall arrest standards to resist at least a450-lb static load before deploying theenergy absorbing element. It is possi-ble to exert enough force during nor-mal use in travel restraint to deploy theenergy absorber element.

• Once deployed, the energy ab-sorber will elongate and could poten-tially permit the worker to enter a fallhazard zone. The restraint system isthereby defeated and worker could

suddenly and unexpectedly be ex-posed to a fall hazard.

• If the worker should accidentallyfall as a result of the deployment of theenergy absorber, the forces generatedby the fall could exceed the strengthof the anchor structure. The energyabsorber, having already partiallydeployed, may also lack sufficientreserve capacity to stop the fall withinthe maximum fall arrest force limit,with consequent adverse effects on theanchor structure and the person.

Self-Retracting Lanyards in Travel Restraint

Self-retracting lanyards are de-signed primarily to arrest a fall whenmounted directly above the worker’spath of movement. Some manufactur-ers, however, permit the use of self-retracting lanyards for use in travelrestraint applications. Here are someconsiderations for the proper use ofself-retracting lanyards in this function:

• To be used in travel restraint, theself-retracting lanyard is usually mount-ed horizontally to the work surface. Besure that the self-retracting lanyard willoperate properly when mounted on itsside and will retract line as intended inorder to reduce the hazard of a slackline condition.

• When mounted on its side, thelifeline of the device may be exposedto abrasion and sharp edges or pinchpoints that can weaken the line. Takeprecautions to prevent wear or dam-age to the lifeline.

• When mounted on its side, theself-retracting lanyard may lock-up atnormal walking speeds. Users must betrained to prevent sudden loss of bal-ance by locking up the device whileworking in travel restraint mode.

• Depending on the manner inwhich the device is installed, the life-line may exit the nozzle of the self-retracting lanyard at a sharp angle,causing wear to the orifice and to thelifeline, potentially impeding smoothretraction and reducing the strengthof the line over time. The self-retract-

ing lanyard must be mounted to per-mit the line to extract from the nozzlewithout abrading the line during nor-mal use in travel restraint mode.

• When the self-retracting lanyard isused in travel restraint applications, thedevice acts merely as a retractable tetherthat limits the user from movingbeyond the maximum length of the life-line. The lifeline of the device must beshort enough to prevent the user fromentering a fall hazard zone. Care mustbe taken to ensure that the geometry ofthe work place is such that the workercannot encounter a fall hazard regard-less of the direction of travel. If the userwere to accidentally fall over an exposededge or through an unguarded open-ing while the device is used in travelrestraint mode, the energy absorber ofthe self-retracting lanyard will be ren-dered inoperable and a catastrophicseparation of the lifeline may occur,resulting in serious injury or death.

From this discussion, it should beapparent that the use of either an ener-gy absorbing lanyard or self-retractinglanyard in a travel restraint system mustonly be considered after evaluation andapproval by a Qualified Person, asdefined in OSHA regulations and theZ359 Fall Protection Code.

Rope Grab Systems in Travel Restraint

Rope grab systems consist of a com-bination of components, including arope lifeline with a fall arrester thattravels along the length of the line.The fall arrester connects to the fallarrest attachment element (usually theback D-ring) of a full body harness bymeans of a short connecting lanyard.Rope grabs are offered in many stylesand configurations, some of which aresuitable for use in fall restraint. Toensure that the rope grab system isproperly designed and rigged for usein fall restraint, users must take intoaccount the following restrictions:

• The fall arrester component mayoperate either by manual control or



platform is discouraged, as this presentsa fall hazard. Fall restraint systems in aer-ial lifts protect the worker from beingejected from the work platform. In addi-tion, a properly designed fall restraintsystem will prevent the operator fromstanding on the guard rails or movingoutside the confines of the lift.

The objective of a fall restraint sys-tem in elevated work platforms is torestrain the operator inside the plat-form with both feet on the floor.However, in some aerial lift devices,the anchor point(s) are not located topermit operator movement necessaryto perform work while connected tothe restraint anchor. Whenever theoperator is exposed to a fall outsidethe work platform, suitable fall arrestequipment should be employed.

Fall Protection

automatically travel hands-free alongthe lifeline. Automatic devices must becapable of operating in a “park” mode,which locks the fall arrester on the life-line to prevent further travel.

• The lifeline must be equippedwith a stopper that prevents the fallarrester from inadvertently being pull-ed through the end of the lifeline andbecoming detached.

• Workers must be trained to operatethe rope grab system only within a safe dis-tance from an exposed edge or unguard-ed opening. In some applications, a stop-per can be rigged on the lifeline to restricttravel beyond a certain point.

• Some rope grab systems include apersonal fall arrest energy absorberwith the short connecting lanyard. Ob-serve the cautions related to use ofenergy absorbers as noted in the pre-ceding section of this paper.

• The rope lifeline must be protect-ed from exposure to abrasion and sharpcorners. Frequent inspection is re-quired to ensure that the lifeline is notdamaged or excessively worn by use intravel restraint.

While rope grab systems offer a highdegree of flexibility and ease of use,they also are subject to misuse in travelrestraint. The most common misuseoccurs when operators fail to rig therope grab to prevent exposure to a fallhazard. Whenever the worker has con-trol of the length of the restraint life-line there exists the possibility that theworker may intentionally or uninten-tionally pay-out more line than is neces-sary to prevent him/her from enteringthe fall hazard zone.

Travel Restraint in Elevated Work Platforms

When working in aerial lift devices,the primary means of fall protection arethe guard rails installed on the workplatform. U.S. federal OSHA rules andindustry best practices require that oper-ators of aerial lift devices must alwaysremain inside the work platform withboth feet on the platform floor whenworking at elevation. Standing on theguard rail or moving outside the work


SummaryAs we stated in the introduction to

this article, fall restraint is a very usefulbut often misapplied practice in fallprotection. In the preceding discussion,we have presented current best prac-tices for the safe use of fall restraint as ameans to prevent workers from expo-sure to fall hazards. A number of cau-tions against misuse have also been pre-sented, because the greatest dangerinherent in the use of fall restraint isthe sudden and unexpected change incircumstances that can alter the fallrestraint application to one involvingfall arrest. The best protections againstthis danger are thorough job planningin addition to worker training andunderstanding of the hazards associat-ed with working at height. n


FeatureTechnology Trends

Controlling Re-RentInventory management tool can help improve the bottom line

If you’re a typical scaffold or accesscompany, you likely rent equipmentfrom multiple vendors. Since this rent-ed equipment is the same as what youown, it’s often combined with yourown equipment. You return the rentalwhen you can and it comes at a price.By not returning them promptly, yourrentals can become an unmanagedcost that erodes your profit margin.But, you can only return equipment ifyou know where it is and, more impor-tantly, that it is no longer needed.

Avontus Quantify is an inventorymanagement tool that allows you totrack equipment you rent to customersas well as what you rent from vendors,or “re-rent.” To manage re-rent inAvontus Quantify you create a re-renttransaction for a vendor. That’s it.

Avontus Quantify is an inventory

management tool that allows you

to track equipment you rent to customers as well as what you rent from vendors,

or “re-rent.”


Re-rent is displayed in line withyour own rental inventory, both at jobsites and branch offices. In just a fewclicks you can see this equipment. It’salso displayed in Quantify Mobile Web,which is viewable on your iPhone,Blackberry, or other mobile device.

You can also ship re-rented equip-ment with your own equipment. Ship-ments and email notifications includethe vendor’s name if you are re-rentingthe equipment.

Returning re-rent equipment is justas easy as renting it; simply create a“Return from Re-Rent” transaction andselect the location you want to ship fromand the vendor whom you rented from.

Various reports display the equipmentyou are re-renting – both total quantitiesas well as quantities by location (job siteand/or branch office). Re-rent is alsoincluded in utilization reports.

Timely return of re-rented equip-ment delivers bottom line improve-ment. Get control of this cost and seeyour margins improve significantly.

For more information visit AvontusSoftware at www.avontus.com or call800.848.1860. n

To manage re-rent in Avontus Quantify you create a re-rent transaction for a vendor. That’s it.

Technology Trends


ColumnTechnology Trends

Working Towards a Paperless Rental CenterRental operations require a lot of paper,and it cannot be eliminated easily espe-cially for some documents that requireobtaining a signature and filing a print-ed and signed copy.

The rental contract is the best ex-ample, for it binds the customer to theterms and conditions of the rental. Italso confirms the pick-up of the equip-ment by a specific and identifiable per-son. Changes to reservations or returnslips are other examples of documentsthat benefit from a signature.

Current systems render access tothese documents more difficult, for itcan only be achieved at the centraloffice, in physical filing systems.Sending a signed copy of a contract tothe customer’s accounting departmentis a long and inefficient process. Somerental centers, who deal heavily withcontractors, will even send a copy of allsigned invoices to their customers withtheir monthly statement. A very longand expensive process…

Now, thanks to electronic signature,one can eliminate paper contracts,archive the signed documents elec-tronically, and send signed copies ofcontracts by fax or email with a simpleclick of the mouse. This access is notlimited to anymore in the centraloffice. Sales persons on the road ormanagers at remote locations can ob-tain instantaneous access to thesesigned documents wherever they arephysically located. Sending a copy ofsigned invoices with the statement ofaccount can now be achieved automat-ically by the computer system, elimi-

nating long, expensive, and inefficientprocesses. One can also eliminate thefiling cabinets and their office space.

The way this process works is thatwhen effectuating a transaction, arental contract for example, the cus-tomer signs his or her signature on asmall electronic pad. The signature isthen attached on an electronic copy ofthe document, which is automaticallyarchived in the system, in a non modifi-able Acrobat (PDF) format. A copy isprinted and remitted to the customer.Orion’s Sirius Pro Rental Software sys-tem maintains and archives all copiesof signed documents. A user couldthen access a transaction, all copies ofmodified and signed reservations, therental contract, and the multiple par-tial return invoices, all in one screen!

This system also allows the input ofthe signature on the road, for OrionSoftware also offers a real-time link toone’s rental software and system on theroad. The signature could then be cap-tured at the construction site, whiledelivering the equipment.

Bring Your Corporation onthe Road

Currently, most rental operationsare achieved at the corporation’s loca-tion. Sales representatives or deliverypeople will visit customers, but theirrelationships are performed on papersystems, and finalization then takesplace at the office’s site. For example, asales person would propose equipmentto a contractor and confirm its avail-ability or delivery when at the office,

later that day or the next one. Or adelivery would take place, a paperdelivery slip signed at the constructionsite, and that paper copy brought backat the office for filing.

Now, thanks to new cellular high-speed Internet access capabilities, it isnow possible for sales persons to closea deal at the customer’s site, confirmavailability, and emit the delivery slip inreal time at the warehouse. All thisthrough their own computer system,without having to call the office orobtain a backup support person as-signed to complete the transaction. Inthe same vein, a delivery could beachieved, an electronic signature cap-tured in the truck, a signed copy print-ed for the customer’s representative,and archived directly on the office’scentral system, all at the same time.

The technology that allows for suchoperations is a cellular system called 3GNetwork and it operates on 1xEV-DO orHSDPA technology. The speed of theselinks currently range from 1 to 3 Mbps,compared to regular DSL at 5 Mbps.Using the Windows platform andTerminal Server technology, you cannow have your employees directly link,in real-time, to your office’s system wher-ever they are on the road. The speed isfast enough to perform transactions as ifyou were physically at the office. Thecoverage is available in most metropoli-tan areas throughout North America. Itis also very affordable. As an example,AT&T’s Cingular solution is offered at$60 to $100 per month, including theportable computer modem. n


ColumnInsurance Issues

Calm Seas of Workers’Compensation Threatened

While declining workers’ compensa-tion rates have benefited employers inrecent years, several challenges couldcloud the future. The outlook for 2008is one of caution and concern.

1Rising costs and utilization of med-ical treatments. In workers’ com-pensation, alarming increases in

the utilization of medical services com-pounds the ever-present impact ofescalating medical costs. A NationalCouncil on Compensation Insurancestudy concluded the key driver is notprice, but rather growth in the numberof medical treatments. In addition,care givers are moving toward morecomplex and expensive treatments.

The seismic shifts in medical inno-vation and the corresponding increasein treatment options, coupled withconsumer demand for the latest andgreatest treatments, will continue topropel the spiral of increased utiliza-tion in 2008. Unchecked, the combina-tion of these factors means soaringmedical costs.

2A sundry of health care standards.California’s sweeping legislativereform has successfully reduced

employers’ workers’ compensationfrom an average of $6.47 per $100 forcoverage in 2003 to $2.93 in the firstquarter of 2007. A cornerstone of Calif-ornia’s success is the mandated use of

the American College of Occupationaland Environmental Medicine’s scientif-ic evidence-based treatment guidelines.These enable employers to measure theactual versus expected duration ofabsence based on the injury and deter-mine whether treatment matches theprescribed protocols.

While the efforts in California havebeen watched closely, only a handfulof states have adopted similar exten-sive reforms. Workers’ compensation isa multiplicity of systems governed bythe states, and no mantra to adopt anational model exists. In a climate ofdeclining rates that fosters lethargyand with unique political obstacles ineach state, it is unlikely state policieswill ever converge.

The adoption of evidence-basedguidelines will be agonizingly slow.In 2008, health care professionalswithout appropriate training and ex-pertise in occupational injuries willcontinue to influence many job-related health decisions.

3Declining rate cycle to bottomout. The expectation that rateswill remain low belies logic.

Historically, the workers’ compensa-tion price cycle has proven that whatgoes down must go up. All eyes areturned again to California, often aprecursor for the nation, where a key

insurance industry group is urgingthe insurance commissioner to rec-ommend a 4.2% rate hike in 2008, cit-ing the cost of legal work, fraud inves-tigation and other claims manage-ment tasks.

While dramatic rate increases areunlikely, the tide is turning and thedays of double-digit percentage ratereductions may be over.

4Unnecessary loss of skilled work-ers. The longer employees are outof work, the less likely they are to

return. Workers’ compensation is besetby unnecessary time lags along the con-tinuum of care–lag time to get doctor’sreports, see a specialist, get test results,etc. This prolonged process produces a

By Frank Pennachio

Historically, the workers’ compensation price cycle has proven that what

goes down must go up.


disability mentality (i.e., the employeebelieves something is seriously wrong).

While studies show that 90% to 95% ofinjured employees should be back towork by the fourth day following an injury,nationally 24% of workplace injuriesresult in lost time greater than three days(according to a ManagedComp survey).In effect, the system creates unnecessarydisabilities, and no evidence exists thatthis will change in the coming year.

5Injuries to older workers. By theyear 2012, approximately 20% ofthe workforce will be 55 years or

older. While older workers have fewerinjuries, their injuries are more costlyand require a longer recovery time.

Contractors must become attunedto the implications of the maturingworkforce and implement programsthat foster retention and prevent in-juries. Without proper planning, theunprecedented growth in the num-ber of aging workers will lead tomore serious injuries and increasesin workers’ compensation costs inthe years ahead.

6Drug use–legal and illegal. Whileemployers have become more vig-ilant drug testers, substance abuse

remains a daunting problem in theworkplace, with alcohol topping the list.Add to this the aggressive advertising bydrug manufacturers that has fueled thepublic’s demand for new prescriptions,and the risk of drug-related workplaceinjuries is considerable.

This is a thorny issue fraught withresistance. Success depends on a highlevel of employee education as well asincreased drug testing, which willtake time.

7Wellness programs requiringcontinued commitment. Thereis little doubt that the lifestyles

of American workers are a threat toproductivity. As a result, many em-ployers are implementing wellnessprograms aimed at encouraging em-ployees to adopt more healthful life-styles, reduce medical care costs,lower absenteeism and injuries, andboost productivity.

Employers are still grappling tounderstand what particular interven-tions, programs and incentives yieldthe greatest return on investment.Privacy and legal issues also continueto be significant concerns. This note-

worthy and beneficial trend will con-tinue this year, but the effort must beconstant–much like the anti-smokingcampaigns–to be effective.

8Raising the bar on return-to-work programs. While early andsafe return to work is a recogniz-

ed best practice in workers’ compensa-tion, some employers still resist transi-tional work assignments, offer de-meaning or make-work jobs, or run in-effective programs.

Simply getting an employee back towork is not enough. Employers mustunderstand and enforce medical restric-tions, establish realistic and evidence-based guidelines for the resumption ofduties, monitor progress, integratehuman resources with risk manage-ment, and train employees and supervi-sors on the value of such programs.

Health care providers play a role,too. They must be an accountable andactive partner in the return-to-workprocess, and case managers must work

Insurance Issues

to minimize lag time in treatments andcommunications. Only employers thatrecognize the value of return-to-workprograms in retaining employees,improving productivity and reducingcosts will commit the time and re-sources required. Progress will bemade in 2008, but changing attitudestakes time.

9Limited use of technology as astrategic tool for cost contain-ment. Sophisticated Internet

tools, software and online access toinformation are available to help em-ployers quickly respond to injuries,predict expensive claims, monitorbenchmarks, detect fraud, and im-prove communication and collabora-tion among all parties involved in theworkers’ compensation process.

This requires a change in attitude byagents and employers. Agents can nolonger “sell” workers’ compensation in-surance; they must become experts andconsultants who deliver a full range ofinjury management services. Employersneed to recognize that workers’ com-pensation is not an expense, but rathera controllable business cost that, whenmanaged properly, will have a measur-able and positive return on investment.

Clearly, managing workers’ com-pensation costs is not an on-off inter-vention to be used when injuries occuror rates rise. It’s a never-ending processthat encompasses all aspects of theworkplace. The few who take chargewill change the risk management para-digm this year. n

Frank Pennachio is a co-founder and director ofcurriculum at the Institute of WorkCompProfessionals, Asheville, N.C. For more informa-tion, email info@workcomp professionals.com.This article was reprinted with permission from Con-struction Executive, April 2008, a publication ofAssociated Builders and Contractors ServicesCorps. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

By the year 2012, approximately 20% of theworkforce will be 55 years or older.


Bil-Jax, Inc. has formed a Go GreenCommittee. The committee will inves-tigate and implement a variety of initia-tives designed to reduce the environ-mental impact of the company’s man-ufacturing practices and day-to-dayoperations.

“By adopting ‘green’ policies andencouraging our employees and cus-tomers to do the same, we hope tobecome a model company not onlythroughout our industry but alsothroughout the U.S. and the world,”said Jeff Ott, Bil-Jax president and CEO.

Bil-Jax has already partnered withDefiance, Ohio-based Werlor Recyclingto expand its recycling program.According to Ott, recycled materials willbe carefully measured. “It’s possible tocalculate the cost and energy savings ofany green policy,” says Ott. “One of ourstated goals is to show that environmen-tally friendly manufacturing can be costneutral, even profitable.”

Members of the committee havebeen recruited from all departmentsand shifts. The committee will beresponsible for developing compre-hensive initiatives for conservation thatextend beyond recycling. Ott notesthat energy costs are an ongoing con-cern. “An action as simple as leavingthe lights on when an employee leavesa room has a tangible environmentalimpact. Another goal of the Go GreenCommittee is to educate our employ-ees and our community about makingresponsible, environmentally con-scious decisions.”

Interested parties can follow the pro-gress of the Bil-Jax Go Green Committeeby visiting www.biljaxgogreen.com or www.biljax.com/gogreen.

NYC Adopts New Fall ArrestSystem Protocols

The New York City Department ofBuildings has mandated additionalsafety protocols for concrete-embed-ded fall arresting systems. The man-dates are in addition to all existing re-quirements from the manufacturer,the NYC Building Code and all otherapplicable laws and regulations.

For new concrete-embedded sys-tems, contractors must obtain shopdrawings, approved by a licensed engi-neer, for all concrete-embedded fallarresting systems prior to installation.The drawings must be available at thesite at all times and must include manu-facturer type and name, instructions onproper installation and use, adequacy ofthe concrete structure to sustain staticand equivalent dynamic loads, list ofoccupational classifications allowed touse the system and instructions on test-ing and inspection procedures.

In addition, the site’s constructionsuperintendent is now responsible forthe proper installation of each piece ofthe system. The construction superin-tendent, or a Competent Person work-ing directly under his or her supervi-sion, must inspect the system prior toand during its installation.

For existing concrete-embeddedsystems, contractors must obtain a

DepartmentIndustry Briefs

Bil-Jax Goes Green

licensed engineer’s approval prior tofurther use of the system. This ap-proval must certify that existing sys-tems were field-tested by a qualifiedtesting entity according to a protocolacceptable to the engineer and thatthe system meets the manufacturer’sexpectations. The engineer’s certifica-tion must be available at the site at alltimes and must include manufacturertype and name, instructions of properinstallation and use, adequacy of theconcrete structure to sustain static andequivalent dynamics loads and a list ofoccupational classifications allowed touse the system.

NAHB Releases ScaffoldSafety Video

In an effort to increase job-site safetyand reduce the chance of job-relatedaccidents, the National Association ofHome Builders (NAHB) recently re-leased its new Scaffold Safety Video.The video, which is available throughNAHB’s publishing arm, BuilderBooks,is an important resource that provideseasy-to-follow instructions on how toprevent construction-related falls.

According to the OccupationalSafety and Health Administration(OSHA), the vast majority of falls arenot from skyscrapers, but are frombuildings as low as one to three storiesand from less than 30 ft. OSHA inci-dent reports clearly indicate that scaf-fold safety training, procedures, super-vision and equipment is critical to pre-venting accidents.


“We take job site safety very serious-ly, and education must be part of theequation for success,” said NAHB presi-dent Sandy Dunn, a home builderfrom Point Pleasant, W.Va. “This newvideo provides great demonstrationsand tips for protecting against falls andother job site injuries and will enhanceany builder’s scaffold safety efforts.”

The video, which is made up of two30-minute segments – one in English, theother in Spanish – clearly demonstrateshow to safely build, use and dismantlethe most common types of scaffoldingfound in residential construction. Theseinclude fabricated frame, pump jack, lad-der jack, mobile and aerial.

Both video segments highlightOSHA’s general requirements for scaf-folding and identify safe work practicesthat address the most common scaffoldhazards on the job site. The ScaffoldSafety Video is an excellent companionto the NAHB-OSHA Scaffold SafetyHandbook, English-Spanish.

Scaffold Safety Video, English-Spanishis available for purchase ($49.95retail/$29.95 member, ISBN 978-86718-639-0) at www.BuilderBooks.com or bycalling (800) 223-2665.

JLG Produces 1000th MMV Telehandler

JLG Industries, Inc. has producedand shipped the 1000th MillenniaMilitary Vehicle (MMV) telescopicmaterial handler. The 1000th MMVtelehandler was built for the U.S.Navy as part of JLG’s contract to pro-vide 197 MMVs to the Naval Con-struction Battalion.

The 1000th MMV was built over atwo-shift operation, across two militarymanufacturing and support facilities.The first MMV machine was producedin July 2001 and was initially developedfor the U.S. Marine Corps to meet theneeds of Combat Service SupportDetachment groups. Since 2001, theMMVs have been fielded with the U.S.Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy acrossthe United States and in other countriessuch as Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

The MMV telehandler features a

variable load capacity through theuse of two different fork attachments.It is capable of moving all palletizedclasses of material up to its ratedcapacity, with an optimum liftingrange of 4,000 to 11,000 lbs. TheMMV has a maximum lift height justover 42 ft and a maximum horizontalreach of 29 ft. The MMV can operatein rough terrain and is self-deploy-able with a maximum off-road speedof 35 miles per hour and a cruisingrange of 425 miles. The MMV is alsoair-transportable in CH-53 andKC/C-130 aircraft.

IPAF Seeks to Attract Youngto Access Industry

The International Powered AccessFederation (IPAF) is launching a majorcampaign to attract young people tothe access industry, starting at theAPEX show from Sept. 17-19 inMaastricht, the Netherlands. IPAF is atstand 1145 in the Maastricht Exhibi-tion and Congress Centre (MECC).

A series of initiatives aim to drawyoung talent into the access industryand alleviate an acute shortage ofexpertise in the coming years. A sub-group led by Roger Bowden of Niftyliftis developing an IPAF engineeringapprenticeship designed to lead to a“technician” level qualification.

“The powered access industry isitself young and represents a greatcareer path for young people – alltoo often they are unaware of the jobopportunities in this growth busi-ness,” said IPAF managing directorTim Whiteman.

IPAF is also launching the JobAccess challenge among colleges inEurope. The not-for-profit trade feder-ation is looking for manufacturers andrental companies to sponsor 18-year-olds from technical high schools whowill be trained to operate access plat-forms safely and through that process,to obtain a PAL Card (Powered AccessLicense) as proof of training. JobAccess will culminate with a competi-tion on the IPAF stand at the INTER-MAT 2009 show, where teams of youngpeople will have to complete varioustasks using access platforms safely.

“Young people represent the futureand the access industry can only bene-fit and continue to flourish if there is aready pool of fresh talent in disciplineslike engineering and maintenance,”said Isabelle Laplume of IPAF-France,who is organizing Job Access. “We lookforward to working with exhibitors andsponsors on this exciting project.”

IPAF will give a 30-minute presenta-tion on Job Access at the APEX Con-ference on the morning of Sept. 17. n

Industry Briefs


Custom Equipment, Inc. has begunshipping a newly updated version oftheir highly popular HB-1030, a 10-ftaerial platform lift. Included in the Hy-Brid series of lifts, is the HB-1430, a 14-ft machine. The HB-1030 machineupdate includes the addition of anactive pothole protection system, simi-lar to the HB-1430, and includes frontwheels that are manufactured with anew wheel material that provides anextended life cycle.

The Hy-Brid Series of aerial liftsincorporate a light weight designapproach, while maintaining high lift-ing capacity, allowing easy access fortwo workers plus tools on the workplatform. The HB-1030 features a low-ered platform height of only 20 in.,providing workers with an exceptionallow step height.

Because of their lighter weight,both machines solve the floor loadingissues typically experienced by heaviermachines, enabling greater access toplaces traditionally off limits such ascomputer access floors, mezzanines,and delicate flooring systems. Both Hy-Brid lifts fit in most elevators and passthrough doorways with ease. Thesemachines also offer a large work plat-form, with a 30-in. slide out extensionfor access to those hard-to-reach spots.The Hy-Brid scissor lifts maneuver easi-ly with their unique steering systemand proportional joystick controls.Non-marking wheels glide across mostfloor surfaces without damage. Thesemachines are virtually maintenancefree and offer unique features to bothdistributors and end users. n

DepartmentNew Product

Custom Equipment, Inc.Offers Updated HB-1030 Aerial Lift


Deckerville, MI-based D & E Logistics is an independentagent of Landstar Carrier Group. There are 9,000 owneroperators, 14,000 trailers, as well as 25,000 carriers approvedto haul freight for the company.

D & E is a world leader in the industry for safety, and hasthe lowest cargo claims ratio nationwide. The company spe-cializes in: truckload van, flatbed, stepdeck, specialized,heavy haul, expedite, time definite, temperature controlled,power only, transportation management, supply chain serv-ices, air and ocean freight, integrated ground, air and oceanservices, dedicated fleet services, emergency services, andgovernment services (FEMA).

Equipment includes double-drops, extendables, multi-axles (8-10 and 13-axle configurations), steerables, schn-abel trailers, lowboys with 40- to 80-ton capability, remov-able goosenecks, more than 500 RGN units from 5 to 13axles, stretch flatbed and stepdecks/straight trucks, as wellas logistic trailers for conventions and tradeshows.

Services include storage, cross-docking, shrink wrapping,order fulfillment, pick-n-pack, kitting, sub-assembly, cus-tomization, local distribution, importing and exporting any-where in the world, return-reverse logistics, inventory post-ponement, Internet visibility and event-alert management.The company’s office phone number is (810) 376-4103. n

DepartmentSIA New Member Profile

D& E Logistics


ScheduleOf Events

Industry Events

Sept. 17-19APEXMaastricht, Netherlandswww.apexshow.com

SIA Events

Oct. 26-28Annual ANSI A92 MeetingMonte Carlo Resort & CasinoLas Vegas, Nevada

Feb. 14-17, 20092009 SIA Committee WeekHyatt Regency Grand CypressOrlando, Florida

July 19-25, 20092009 SIA Convention & Exposition Westin San Francisco Market StreetSan Francisco, California

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

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

now available2006 Manuals of Responsibilities

ANSI/SIA A92.3 Manually Propelled Elevating Aerial PlatformsANSI/SIA A92.5 Boom Supported Elevating Work Platforms

ANSI/SIA A92.6 Self Propelled Elevating Work Platforms

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

Section 5.2.2 of the standard (A92.3 2006 & A92.5 2006 & A92.6 2006)The current Manual of Responsibilities for dealers, owners, users, operators, lessors,

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


AdvertisersIndex

4 Action Scaffold Mfg.actionscaffold.com

10 Allied Tube and Conduitalliedflo-form.com

28 ATIAccredited Training Institute

30 Beta Max Inc,betamaxhoist.com

7 Chutes Internationalchutes.com

1 Cornet Scaffoldingcoronet-scaffold.com

46 Direct Scaffold Supplydirectscaffoldsupply.com

24 Eagle Industrieseagleenclosure.com

44 Falcon Ladderfalconladder.com

8 Haion Caster Industrial Co.haioncaster.com

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

OBC Klimer Mfg.klimer.com

48 Layher, Inc.layherscaf.com

35 Marr Scaffolding Co.marrscaffolding.com

34 Scaffold Industry Association Insurance

38 Scaffolding Today, Inc.scaffoldingtoday.com

6 SIAEF (Educational Foundation)scaffold.org

47 SIA (Manuals of Responsibility)scaffold.org

2 Strong Man Building Prod.strongman.com

44 Texans Ins. (NCIS)ncisltd.com

IFC Universal Manufacturinguniversalscaffold.com

38 Universal Scaffolding & Equipmentscaffoldsales.com

27 Winsafe Corporationwinsafe.com

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

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

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

Please call the SIA office at (602) 257-1144 or e-mail RJ Marshall at [email protected] to report any suspected violations. Copyright ® 2008 Scaffold Industry Association

august - scaffold and access industry association

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