Where to find answers......defining the question

[Justin T. Wittwer]

I believe that when we are asked a question sometimes we forget to breakdown the question to properly research the answer. We must look at what type of question we are facing. Most of the "OSHA" questions I am frequently asked have nothing to do with OSHA regulations at all. As professional scaffold builders we must be able to find the correct answers to the questions or at the very minimum be able to direct the inquirer to a proper source to answer the question. When asked a question we need to be able to break the question down into a specific type of question to find the answer. I am kind of talking in circle to say the we need to make the determination is the question regulatory, design, manufacturer or other type of question. One of my favorite questions that is kind of driving this blog is: "How long of a horizontal, or ledger, can I use before I need a truss?" To me, to find this answer is a simple matter of checking with the manufacturer, or a professional engineer (who is probably going to check with the manufacturer). I hear a lot of people who should know that the question referenced above is not an OSHA related question send someone off into the abyss that is CFR 1926 to find the answer that they will never be able to find. I also know that a majority of us have a wrong understanding of where to find answers based on good old fashioned male pride in we are afraid to ask because that would require us to admit that we don't know. I propose that we stop this trend right now and educate ourselves by reading the manufacturers brochures, guidelines and safety rules and any other literature that we can find on what we do and use this as a resource to find answers to questions. We must continue to educate ourselves to educate those around us to the proper way in our individual countries ( we have our first foreign member from down under) and not to perpetuate the crimes of the past where if we don't know the answer we just make something up and go with that

[Frank]

Justin, great info and description of OSHA and their rule. Best is, OSHA guides and give minimum boundaries, but does not approve or endorse. ANSI 10.8 is another good source. The SIA (Scaffold Industry Association - www.scaffold.org) and the SSFI (Scaffold, Shoring & Forming Institute - www.ssfi.org) give a lot information on how to interpret guidelines, how to inspect material and eventually how to get the right material.
Last and very important source is your manufacturer (I know that as I am working for one).