Reflections, Changes and Goals
By Steve Smith
One must always look forward, seek new opportunities and participate in new experiences.
However, at this time, I cannot help but reflect back to my first SIA Convention in San Diego in 1985. What was this organization? Why was I there? This was a new industry to me, having spent my earlier years in the steel industry. I remember being somewhat overwhelmed, and certainly impressed, by the depth of knowledge and expertise of the other members. But most of all, I remember the friendliness and encouragement given to this scaffold rookie by everyone there, especially by then President Frank Koughan. Who could not be enthralled by his words of wisdom and humor at the industry luncheon?
Over the intervening years, the scaffold and access industry has seen many changes, not least in the type of equipment being used. “Traditional” metal scaffolding has been challenged by new types of system scaffolding, by an expanding range of aerial work platforms capable of working safely at ever greater heights, by transport platforms and by mast-climbing work platforms. Scaffold is but one part of what has become an overall access industry, providing a variety of solutions for working safely at height.
So, after 38 years as the Scaffold Industry Association, I do believe that it is time to recognize the present and seriously consider a change in the name of our association. Other associations similar to ours around the world have made the transition; our time is now.
Changes in the industry also mean that we have to review our 10-year strategic plan. The plan should be dynamic, not static. We will continue to work toward the two big goals for 2015: removing scaffolding/access from OSHA’s top-10 citations list and establishing a licensed, professional trade status for our industry. However, we have much more to do, especially in the areas of training and promoting the safety benefits of working with trained operators of scaffold and access equipment.
Our members are certainly our biggest asset, but not far behind are our training programs and handbooks. We need to review and update our products on a regular basis and create uniformity in our various training programs, as well as translate them into Spanish and other languages. This is a major objective for OSHA. The goal is to be able to communicate the safe way to use scaffold and access equipment to everyone, regardless of their origin.
While on the subject of communication, we need to accomplish this at the local level. We are actively looking at ways to take our message to a wider audience, to the users of our equipment. Work is already underway to examine alternative strategies to reach this audience more effectively and efficiently.
These are just some of the goals for the next two years, but in closing my first article as president of this association, I would be remiss in not thanking the individuals who “retired” from the Executive Committee at the end of our Philadelphia convention: to Randy Moody and Chuck Hutchinson, who have given their expertise and input and a considerable amount of their time over the past several years for the benefit of this organization. To John Miller, what more can be said? Without his dedication and leadership, we would certainly not be the strong association that we are today. And to Bill Breault, who took the reins as we switched to an association-management company just as the economy tanked. He has spent the last two years “raising the bar.”
For myself, I may have a different type of humor from Frank Koughan, but I promise to be friendly and encouraging to newcomers and long-time members alike, to utilize the knowledge and expertise of our membership and to look ahead for new opportunities and experiences for the overall betterment of our industry.
Cheers!
Steve Smith
About the Author
Steve Smith is the president and owner of Edge International. He can be reached at srs@edgeint.com.