Flashings

MIOSHA allows six-month phase-in for residential fall-protection

In April, the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and the Michigan Home Builders Association launched a Residential Fall Protection Initiative with the purpose of working together to provide training and help residential builders comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) fall-protection rule, 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), which requires roofing contractors to use conventional fall-protection methods for workers exposed to fall hazards of 6 feet or more.

OSHA's three-month phase-in period allowing residential construction employers more time to comply with the new standard ends this month. However, MIOSHA adopted guidelines for an additional six months from June 16 to Dec. 16. Following are the guidelines:

• For inspections where employers are fully in compliance with the former CSHD-COM-04, "Residential Fall Protection Compliance Criteria," MIOSHA will issue a potential hazard alert (PHA) addressing the requirements of the revised CSHD-COM-04-1R1 and training. This will apply only to the first inspection during the additional six-month period.
• For inspections where employers are attempting to comply with the revised CSHD-COM-04-1R1 by using conventional fall-protection systems, MIOSHA will issue a PHA addressing the requirements of the revised CSHD-COM-04-1R1 and training. This will apply only to the first inspection during the additional six-month period.
• For inspections where employers are using a site-specific fall-protection plan when conventional fall protection is feasible and does not create a greater hazard, MIOSHA will assist the employer in feasible methods of fall protection that could be used in lieu of the site-specific fall-protection plan and issue a PHA addressing the requirements of the revised CSHD-COM-04-1R1 and training. This will apply only to the first inspection during the additional six-month period.
• For inspections where conventional fall protection is not in place or employees are not in compliance with the former CSHD-COM-04 or another fall-protection plan, MIOSHA will issue appropriate citations.
• No citations will be issued for inspections where employers are using site-specific fall-protection plans that appropriately evaluate infeasibility or a greater hazard to use conventional fall-protection systems.

ASTM International presents Cullen award

Stan Graveline, vice president of technical services for Sika Sarnafil, Canton, Mass., has received ASTM International's William C. Cullen Award in recognition of his longtime outstanding contributions to the field of roofing and waterproofing.

The award recognizes Graveline's 25 years of work in the roofing industry in various technical sales and management capacities in Canada, Switzerland and the U.S. He also helped build the sustainability platform for Sika Sarnafil and has led and participated in the establishment of roofing sustainability guides and standards. More recently, Graveline has become an industry expert in solar and how it interfaces with roofing.

"I consider the William C. Cullen Award to be one of the highest honors in the North American roofing industry," Graveline says. "To be recognized by this distinguished organization and be placed among such a prestigious group of past winners is a great privilege."

NanoMarkets releases BIPV market report

Industry analyst firm NanoMarkets has published a report, "Building Integrated Photovoltaics Markets, 2011," that tracks and quantifies the latest developments in the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) sector.

According to the report, the BIPV product market will experience a revenue increase from $2 billion in 2011 to more than $11 billion in 2016. BIPV capacity installed will increase tenfold during the same period, growing from 343 megawatts in 2011 to more than 3.6 gigawatts in 2016. The report also says the BIPV product market is maturing with second-generation BIPV offerings designed for easy integration with buildings.

According to the report, in 2016, BIPV glass will generate more than $6.4 billion in revenue, tiles and floating panels will generate almost $3 billion, and flexible BIPV products will generate more than $1.9 billion compared with $1.17 billion, $691 million and $153 million, respectively, in 2011.

The report also says Midland, Mich.-based The Dow Chemical Co.'s growing involvement in the BIPV sector has helped add to the market's credibility.

More information about the report is available at www.nanomarkets.net.

Petzl America recalls safety lanyards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Petzl America Inc., Clearfield, Utah, have recalled Petzl America's Scorpio and Absorbica shock-absorbing safety lanyards manufactured before May 2011. Some lanyards are missing a safety stitch on the attachment loop, which can cause the lanyard to disconnect from a climbing harness.

Affected Scorpio lanyards manufactured between 2002 and 2005are model numbers L60 and L60 CK. Affected Absorbica lanyards are model numbers L70150 I, L70150 IM, L70150 YM, L57, L58 MGO, L59 and L59 MGO.

Consumers should stop using the lanyards and contact Petzl America for a free inspection and replacement of any nonconforming products. For more information, contact Petzl America at (877) 740-3826 or go to www.petzl.com.