Safe use of bounce house inflatables

August 1, 2011  |  Safety & Codes

By Frank M. Scurlock Q: How can I ensure safe use of my bounce house rentals? A: Several recent incidents in the U.S. have demonstrated the hazards of improper use of bounce house inflatables. Most of these events were caused by the operator failing to follow the rules and common sense. While inflat…
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Keeping workers cool

August 1, 2011  |  Safety & Codes

Protect workers from heat-related illnesses. Each year, thousands of outdoor workers experience heat illness, which often manifests as heat exhaustion. If not quickly addressed, heat exhaustion can become heat stroke, which killed more than 30 workers in 2010. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Oc…
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Write a solid rental agreement

June 1, 2011  |  Management, Safety & Codes

By Matthew Davis When getting an insurance quote for your rental business, the insurer will usually ask for a copy of your current rental agreement. (If it doesn’t, find a new insurance company.) Why is this document an important part of the underwriting process? What is the insurance company …
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Educating clients about severe weather

June 1, 2011  |  Safety & Codes

By John Fuchs Q: How can I educate clients about the potential hazards that can result from severe weather? A: The first step in educating clients about severe weather is to make it clear that a tent is not a shelter from severe weather and shouldn’t be used as such. In the event of severe &he…
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Fall protection

June 1, 2011  |  Safety & Codes

Safe use of aerial work platform equipment. By Matthew Davis A new educational document on personal fall protection for users of aerial work platform (AWP) equipment is now available as a free download from participating organizations’ websites. The document—Statement of Best Practices o…
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Tent fabric cleaning options

April 1, 2011  |  On the Job

By Chuck Shipp Q: My tent fabric has a stain that regular cleaning won’t remove. What are my options? A:Tent cleaning usually does a good job of washing away dirt and grime, but the solutions do not always remove the variety of stubborn stains tents can pick up when in use or in storage. Howev…
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Let the tenting season begin

April 1, 2011  |  Project Briefs, Safety & Codes

Glawe kicks off the year with training and networking at IFAI Tent Expo. By Kathy Schaefer This past winter was a challenge for those of us in a weather-related business. Recent sales calls with clients surveying an ice- and snow-covered site have me anxious for spring and the coming season. The Mid…
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Prevent hearing loss

April 1, 2011  |  Safety & Codes

Manage exposure to noise in the workplace. Damage to the ear due to noise exposure is cumulative and irreversible, and it is possibly one of the most ignored safety issues in the workplace. There are three things to consider about noise in relation to hearing loss: how loud, how long, and how close?…
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Tent cleaning essentials

December 1, 2010  |  Features, On the Job

When it comes to tent cleaning, a job worth doing is worth doing well. By Jamie Swedberg If you have a delicate constitution, brace yourself. Paul Krugman, general manager of Clean Awn, a tent and awning cleaning company based in Lakewood, Calif., can tell horror stories of tent cleaning attempts go…
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Aerial lifts and safety on the jobsite

December 1, 2010  |  Safety & Codes

The major causes of injuries and fatalities involving aerial lifts are falls, electrocutions and collapses or tip-overs. Aerial devices include boom-supported aerial platforms, such as cherry pickers or bucket trucks, aerial ladders and vertical towers (OSHA regulates scissor lifts as mobile scaffol…
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