Masonry Magazine November 2008 Page. 24
EDUCATION & TRAINING
supervision of masonry construction. The IMI's Supervisor Cer-
tification Program (SCP) offers education and certification for
current and potential supervisory personnel of signatory BAC
masonry contractors,
The two levels of education and certification-foreman and
superintendent-require 16 hours of instruction per level for
certification. The SCP was endorsed by the American Subcon-
tractors Association (ASA) in March 2003. The ASA believes
that participation in this program contributes to the profes-
sional development of specialty contractors and their employ
ees, and the IMI takes seriously the instructors they hire for
their courses, requiring them to spend 200 hours in instructor
certification before leading students in coursework.
"It's quite an accomplishment for them," says Hazel Brad-
ford, IMI's director of communications, noting that many are
learning to work with computers for the first time, along with
other classroom-oriented tasks, such as how to draft a lesson
plan. "It really molds them; they were bricklayers or whatever
their craft was before they decided to become instructors. We
teach them how to teach and give them that background, so
they're not just winging it."
David Sovinski worked for years with large mason contrac-
tors before joining the IMI in 1992. In his current role as
national director, he says the main thing the IMI and similar
programs are doing is "raising the bar" for the industry by pro-
viding the courses that give mason contractors the upper hand
SIA ENSURES SAFETY VIA
EDUCATIONAL
FOUNDATION
The Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) has provided training, educa
tion, lobbying and networking for professionals in the scaffold and
access industry for more than 36 years. Since 1992, the funding groups
behind many of these activities has been the SIA Educational Founda
tion (SIAEF). The SIAEF is a separate, non-profit corporation that raises
money to help the SIA provide comprehensive programs for the indus
try. These programs properly educate industry professionals on how to
safely use and install scaffold to reduce falls, violations, fines and insur
ance premiums.
The Educational Foundation has helped fund training videos, CD
ROMs and manuals; research; educational seminars; codes of safe
practices; awareness programs: and other training and safety aids. The
SIA works closely with governmental, legislative and administrative
groups - such as OSHA - on both state and federal levels to develop
reasonable standards. The SIAEF has funds available so the SIA car
remain active in these groups and help pass rules and regulations
based on industry knowledge.
The SIA has 10 councils working to protect and promote specific areas
of the industry. When funding is needed, a council makes a presentation
to the Educational Foundation regarding what they want to accomplish
and the materials needed to do so. If the SIAEF finds it is a worthy cause
it will match the existing funds so the project can be completed.
The SIAEF raises money from fundraisers and benefactors. This year
the Educational Foundation held an auction at its Annual Conventio
and Exposition in Denver in July. Members donated their vacation prop
erties, trips, resort vacation packages and hunting trips, which were bie
on by other members. The money raised will go to the Educationa
Foundation for future training and education purposes. Benefactors also
provided much of revenue for the SIAEF. To be a benefactor, members
can donate money, donate fundraiser items or purchase fundraise
items. Benefactors receive recognition in the industry, increase the safes
ty and awareness of the industry for themselves and their peers, ane
may get tax breaks for donations. For more information, contact Bi
McBrayer, 513-702-9630. IMAS
through knowledge. That know-how
puts them at a higher level than many
competitors and gives them the status
they need to demand the skills they
want on their jobsites.
"For us, that's a big deal," says Sovin-
ski, adding that the IMI has certified
10,000 people. "It gives us a sense of qual-
ity on a job, and that's huge. It's not a cer
tification versus non-certification issue;
it's a quality issue, a life safety issue. We
spend two-thirds of our budget every
year training contractors and craftworkers."
Also offered through the IMI is a weeklong Masonry Camp,
which joins BAC apprentices and young architects to experi
ence the masonry crafts firsthand - bricks and blocks, tile, ter-