Last month, the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the renewal of
an alliance with the unified voice of the scaffold and access industry-the
Scaffold and Access Industry Association (SAIA). American and foreign small businesses, like
GET, LLC, scaffold builders, erectors, and equipment CEO’s will again benefit
from the two groups advocacy efforts to reduce and prevent fall hazards and
issues related to frame, mast climbing and suspended scaffolds and aerial lift
equipment.
The re-birth is in line with the SAIA's mission to providing
resources and programs that promote safety, training and education while advancing
the interests of its 1000 member companies and 200,000 workers worldwide. In a release from the U.S. Department of Labor, Assistant Secretary of Occupational Safety
and Health Dr. David Michaels said that worker injuries and deaths from
scaffolding hazards can be prevented when employers provide training on safe
set up and use of equipment.
“By renewing our
alliance with SAIA we will expand our outreach to employers and workers and
provide important training to protect workers in the scaffold and access
industry,” said Dr. Michaels.
As part of the alliance,
OSHA and SAIA will also use injury and
illness data in selected industries to help identify areas of emphasis for
alliance awareness and outreach activities.
We stand with all
advocates to work with local agencies to develop more effective safety
standards while using scaffolding and or aerial lift equipment. By taking an
active role in policing the industry, we can do much to reduce accidents which
has a corresponding reduction in overall insurance costs. In the long run it means a more efficient and
profitable business.