IPAF message brought to BAC

Kevin O'Shea, senior instructor with the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), brought the message of mast climbing safety to several members of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers (BAC). The occasion was this year's BAC's Annual Leadership Conference in August at Notre Dame University in South Bend, IN.

O'Shea hosted workshops on mast climber safety, “safe-use” regulation, and the AWPT's role in educating and training workers. The conference introduced regional leaders to new initiatives that will help benefit BAC members. These include the IPAF training program, risk assessment for all mast climbing use, right methods for using the system, and hazard analysis, said O'Shea.

Workshop participants included BAC members and representatives, who did masonry work while on mast climbers, a presentation on legislation status, an overview of recent accidents and their causes, and a Q&A session. Overall, two sessions that consisted of the same material were given to two sets of union representatives and members, O'Shea told ALH.

“This invitation to present the Notre Dame workshop sessions was a 'top-drawer' opportunity to get to a huge volume of users,” said O'Shea, who is also a senior instructor for Aerial Work Platform Training (AWPT), which is IPAF's US affiliate.

→ Read O'Shea's Safety Corner column “The fundamentals of safety” on page 38.