b'GOVERNMENT RELATIONSGOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATEBY JIM WILKINSONA s you know, the reality of the COVID-19 pandemicmay be erected in such a way that it would not be capable of has meant that regulations and public health advicesupporting the required loads. has been very fluid and is changing every day. WeThe Ministry does not wish to impose unnecessary costs or encourage you to look up your local public health authorities fordelays to employers; however, we want to ensure that the information on rules and advice.potential hazard to workers safety is reasonably addressed. To receive the most up-to-date information on whats happeningGoing forward, if no design drawing and/or manufacturers in the scaffold and access industry and the latest COVID-19installation instructions exist for the customized application of developments, visit www.siac-ontario.com, email info@siac- a system scaffold, an inspector may issue a requirement under ontario.com or sign up for our email newsletter. section 54(1)(m) of OHSA to have the employer engage a professional engineer to verify the scaffold is capable to support IHSA SCAFFOLD AND ACCESS COMMITTEE UPDATEall applied loads. Alternatively, the employer can provide a SIAC is pleased to report on the most recent developments ofletter from the manufacturer of the specific scaffold to verify theScaffoldand AccessEquipment Sector Labour Managementthat the setup is suitable for its intended use. Committee,apartnership between SIAC and IHSAwhoseSincerely, mandate is to raise matters of importance, develop best practicesBrian Barronand resolve safetyissues facing ourindustry. (A) Senior ManagerAs many of you know, SIAC has long advocated for our membersConstruction Health and Safety Program with regards to regulation interpretations in the field. ThroughOccupational Health & Safety Branch the Scaffold and Access Equipment Sector Labour ManagementOntarios Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development Committee, SIAC has worked collaboratively with the Ministry of(MOLTSD)Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) in resolvingAnother potential field issue facing SIAC members concerns one of those potential field interpretation issues. For some time,suspended access equipment use. Regulation s.139 references a there had been confusion as to when engineering requirementsrequirement from CSA Standard Z271-10 that calls for an annual would apply to systems scaffolding. inspection of the suspended platform to be carried out by an Under the regulations (s.130(1)), engineering is requiredengineer or engineers delegate, including written verification. As for scaffolds exceeding 15 m in height unless the scaffold iswritten, such inspection is certainly suitable for a permanently constructed of a tube and clamp system, whereby a 10-m heightinstalled platform, but far less practical when attempting to threshold would apply. After a number of productive discussions,apply the same to portable suspended platforms, which are a letter was issued by the MLTSD to provide additionalgenerally assembled from modular components drawn from large clarity as to when engineering would be required for systemsinventoryfleets.scaffoldinginstallations: After a number of discussions between SIAC, MLTSD and the The Ministry recognizes that subsection130(1)(b) applies toScaffoldand AccessEquipment Sector Labour Management tube and clamp scaffolding and does not reference systemCommittee, a Needs Analysis document has been drafted with scaffold specifically. However, system scaffold is similarinput from several stakeholders. This document outlines ongoing to tube and clamp in that it is designed to be flexible inchallenges and makes recommendations for alternative regulation order to accommodate unique building configurations. Thelanguage that would more closely reflect industry best practices, Ministrys concern is when systems scaffold is customizedwhile also ensuring the same or increased benefit towards the by using components from other types of scaffold. If nosustained safety of our provinces workers and the public. The engineered design drawing and/or manufacturers installationNeeds Analysis document has been finalized, and the documents instructions for the customized application of the systemhave been forwarded to the Section 21 Committee for Construction scaffold is available for the workers to follow, the scaffoldLegislative Review Committee (CLRC) approval review.8THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SCAFFOLD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF CANADA'