Masonry Magazine December 2006 Page. 18
MAST CLIMBERS
Climbers, training, and the chain of responsibility on a job site. Impressed by the importance of the information provided, the safety group asked O'Shea to repeat his presentation to the entire membership. More than 140 contractors and subcontractors attended the July 21 meeting.
People think mast climbers have simply replaced tubular scaffolding, but there's more to it than that. There are not the [same] inherent safety issues in the erection and dismantling of tubular scaffolding," Powell said. "This is a new machine. It's not necessarily new to the industry, but it's new to the safety people. We have to bring them up to speed on how to set up, operate and dismantle them."
O'Shea is now working with AWPT to create authorized training centers that will provide standardized mast climbing work platform (MCWP) training and issue powered access licensed registration cards (PALS) to those who complete the program.
"My job is to raise awareness about safety for mast climbers. Right now, MCWP use, and the legislation which governs it, is only in its infancy," O'Shea said. "Our goal is to raise safety and awareness to the highest levels by policing of unauthorized use, independent verification of skills and training, and tightening up legislation."
The training sessions are geared for small groups, and a written test is given at the completion of the session. "The idea behind the training is "let's get it down and get it right now. There's not a lot of expertise in this country regarding mast dimbers, and those who have it are being swamped by requests for assistance," O'Shea explained. "We need to step up and try to raise awareness for training courses and skills verification."
"There's not a lot of expertise in this country regarding mast climbers, and those who have it are being swamped by requests for assistance."
- Kevin O'Shea, Mastclimbers LLC
O'Shea offers specialized training for four types of groups, The first is the "user's appointed/responsible person" who is charged with monitoring the mast climbers, O'Shea said. They don't set up or take down the equipment, but make sure it is safe for everyone using it.
"He or she is responsible for making sure there's no unauthorized use of the equipment and making sure the users... have been given formal training by him or her," he said. The person completes a seven-point inspection checklist every day, and another seven-point inspection every week.
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The second group is the "installers" who set up and take down the equipment. The third is "advanced installers" who erect and dismantle the scaffolding, and also assess any risks that may be involved in the set up and take down. "The advanced installer has the overview of the installation, making decisions on ground suitability, tie and anchor selection, method of erection and dismantle, and generally managing the on-site risk factors," O'Shea said.
The fourth group is the "advanced user" who is charged with the safe operation and transference of free-standing MCWPs.
More Use with Fewer Accidents
ACCORDING TO O'SHEA, although mast climber training is relatively new in North America, it's been offered in Europe since 1983 and mandated by European legislation in 1997. He credits this type of intense training for dropping MCWP accidents in Europe to almost zero.
"It's been amazing to see the difference that training has made. We need to have that training here. There's no legislation specifically gov