Masonry Magazine August 1997 Page. 12
available scientific evidence on ergonomics to the National Academy of Sciences for peer review. Upon completion, the NAS would report their findings to Congress.
Another factor in the direction that OSHA will move with regard to Ergonomics is who the new director of OSHA will be. Former Director Joe Deere left OSHA to return to his home state of Washington to serve as chief of staff to Governor Gary Locke. Many in Congress feel that no matter how reasonable Joe Deere wanted to be, the AFL-CIO made his job and any successor extremely stressful. The new director would have to appease the AFL-CIO which has its own agenda.
If significant OSHA Reform is going to happen, then this will be the year. If legislation falls to next year, a campaign year, then action will be impossible with labor unions gearing up for another try to recapture the congress.
MAY/JUNE
CORRECTIONS
Please note the following corrections in the May/June issue of this magazine.
In the article "Profit is Not a Dirty Word", the second paragraph on page 16 that states the percentage of non-residential construction in the U.S. has increased a total of 33%, Should be changed to 13%, not 33%.
Also in the "Kudos" department article on page 45 stated that Gregg Borchelt was presented the 1996 Alan H. Yorkdale Award. It should have been noted that this award was shared with James A. Tann of the Mid-East Region of the Brick Institute of America. Their paper "Bond Strength and Water Penetration of Low IRA Brick and Mortar" was based on research work conducted with funding by both organizations.
Masonry Magazine apologizes for these errors.
12 MASONRY-JULY/AUGUST, 1997
MCAA Members Impact the Legislative Process
Continued from page 10
MCAA members paused from their busy schedule of meeting with members of Congress to take a group shot on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court.
During one important visit with Congressman Cass Ballenger, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protection, which oversees OSHA, MCAA members and Congressman Ballenger discussed ways to alleviate excessive fines to contractors from OSHA that are occurring when workers take down guard rails when scaffolding is being stocked with material. Additionally, MCAA discussed what could be done to alleviate strick compliance by mason contractors on the new silicosis standard to the masonry industry when few cases of silicosis have ever been reported by masons.
MCAA members found out personally how important meeting with members of congress on a regular basis to discuss the issues important to mason contractors can be. "I've worked to help elect many elected officials, but I didn't realize how important going to Washington, D.C. was until I went." said Shirley Scheisser "I encourage everyone to go next year."
Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), met with MCAA members to discuss his tax reform bill and the chance forestate and capital gains tax reform in this Congress