OSHA fines increase

August 1, 2016  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

New law directs U.S. Department of Labor to “catch up” penalties to inflation. Fines assessed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) increased by 78 percent as of Aug. 1. OSHA’s top penalty for serious violations rises from $7,000 to $12,471, and its top penalty for willfu…
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Collaboration yields successful code revisions

August 1, 2016  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

F-CAC work group is a key factor in the code revision process for tents, membrane structures and outdoor assembly events. The International Code Council (ICC) Committee Action Hearings were held in Louisville, Ky., in April. During the International Fire Code (IFC) hearings, stakeholders representin…
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Ballasting for safety and safety when ballasting

June 1, 2016  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

Learning to ballast with concrete? Follow these steps to ensure safe and efficient jobsite practices. My crew has forgotten how to use a sledgehammer. Well, not really, but it could happen. In my local tent rental market, ballasting is common. So common that the top priority for my management team h…
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Code revisions underway

June 1, 2016  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

Triggers for site-specific engineering top the tent-related proposals taken up at the ICC’s Committee Action Hearing. With debate and voting at the April Committee Action Hearing (CAH), the International Code Council (ICC) took its first step in revising codes as part of the Group B I-Code Develop…
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Tent codes under scrutiny at upcoming hearing

April 19, 2016  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

Proposed changes to codes governing tent installations will be discussed at the International Code Council (ICC) Group B Committee Action Hearing in Louisville, Ky. The hearing is set for April 17–27, with proposals related to tent codes most likely to be heard on April 19 and 20. Any individual c…
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OSHA: Circus tent in fatal New Hampshire collapse not erected correctly

April 1, 2016  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

A Sarasota, Fla.-based circus operator is contesting more than $33,000 in fines proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following the collapse of a circus tent in August 2015. OSHA cited Walker International Events with 14 serious violations. The collapse killed a father…
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Evacuation planning

April 1, 2016  |  Features, On the Job, Safety & Codes

It’s human nature to seek cover in an emergency. A solid evacuation plan helps to ensure attendees of tented events find shelter in a safe location. (Hint: Not the tent!) The collapse of the roof structure of a stage at the Indiana State Fair nearly five years ago served as a catalyst for discussi…
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TRD submits code changes

March 29, 2016  |  Industry News, News, On the Job, Safety & Codes

Proposed changes to codes governing tent installations to be discussed at the April ICC Committee Action Hearing. IFAI’s Tent Rental Division (TRD) submitted four proposals for changes in codes that relate to tent installation, plus an appendix proposal, as part of the Group B I-Code Development C…
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Safe driving in winter weather

December 1, 2015  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

Lives can be saved by following safe winter driving practices. Employers cannot control roadway conditions, but they can promote safe driving by ensuring that their commercial drivers recognize the hazards of winter weather and are properly trained for driving in those conditions. Here are some tips…
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Tent codes face scrutiny

November 23, 2015  |  On the Job, Safety & Codes

Group A building code proposal passes Public Comment Hearing with modifications. A proposal to the International Code Council’s International Building Code (IBC) that affects the tent industry passed in the Public Comment Hearing (PCH) in October, with final results in December. The original propo…
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