Masonry Magazine August 2001 Page. 6
president's
message
EXPANDING THE CONTRACTOR'S INFLUENCE
As an association, we have been saying for years that the mason contractor is the "ultimate responsible person". In fact, I believe former MCAA president Donald Grant had coined that term during his tenure as association president. To this day, we still strongly believe that indeed, as the ultimate responsible person on a masonry project, we are in a unique position to work with all factions of a masonry project. We work with the architect, owner and engineer in offering assistance in designing the monuments that we build. We work with the general contractors who coordinate the other trades. We partner with our suppliers and manufacturers who supply us the materials to build the monuments we construct. We provide and train the manpower. And if something goes wrong, it's the mason contractor that is looked to for the solution. Since we are the ultimate responsible person, it makes sense that the role of the mason contractor be expanded to have a greater influence in how things are done in the masonry industry. We can prescribe our future if we work at it.
Although active for a long time, in the arena of codes and standards, we have not done enough. If we do not protect our own turf, somebody else will be taking it from us. Never has this been more true than in the codes and standards arena where the involvement of the mason contractor was significantly lacking. A few short months ago the Mason Contractors Association of America made a significant investment in exhibiting greater influence in how codes and standards are developed by hiring a full-time Director of Engineering to represent our interests in this critical area. Some early successes of this program means that efforts from the ASCE to place a huge burden and increased cost on mason contractors by requiring masonry walls under construction to be built to withstand seventy mile per hour winds were defeated through our efforts. In fact, the ASCE will now reference the Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls Under Construction, a document that we were instrumental in developing, which not only protects life, but also is masonry friendly. Having an expanding influence in codes and standards means that efforts by the International Codes Council and its International Building Code to limit construction of masonry veneer on residential over one story have been prevented. It also means that the development of a reasonable workmanship standard that will be referenced by the ASTM can actually be passed and used by mason contractors all across the country when dealing with customers that claim our quality is unacceptable.
What was little more than a dream over a year ago of having a full-time association staff person responsible for expanding the influence of the mason contractor in the codes and standards area has resulted in significant victories for the masonry industry. But expanding the influence of the mason contractor in the area of codes and standards is not enough. The MCAA and its Board of Directors has developed goals to expand the contractors influence in other areas. More specifically, our influence must be felt in the legislative and regulatory areas as well.
Nothing can devastate an industry faster than a new Federal law or OSHA regulation. MCAA's influence and the influence of all mason contractors must be felt in this area. We cannot sit idly by and let laws and regulations be passed that can make masonry cost-prohibitive to construct. Most recently, OSHA passed a new ergonomics regulation during the waning days of the Clinton Administration that would require mason contractors to give one hour breaks for every two hours worked for all of your bricklayers. Some states enacted even more restrictive regulations. Our industry cannot survive such requirements. Fortunately, the new Bush Administration rescinded that regulation and had the common sense to see the devastating effect of an ergonomics regulation. We do, however, need to be sympathetic to the issue of ergonomics and devise our own policies that could be acceptable because those types of regulatory efforts will not go away.
Therefore, you will find in the coming months that the MCAA will begin to exhibit our industry's influence in this area as well. But obviously, this costs money. The majority of you reading this article are not members of the Mason Contractors Association of America, yet our efforts help you. You need to help us by becoming a member of the MCAA. The cost to you to join is small, but the impact your membership will have to the future of our industry is very great. I urge you to call us today at 800-536-2225 to ask about joining. Our expanding influence begins with you. Don't wait to see what is going to happen, help to make it happen by joining with us today!
Richard M. Johnston,
President MCAA