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WSTDA 2008 Fall Meeting

My original thoughts for this message centered on our wonderful thirty-fifth anniversary Spring Meeting in Newport, Rhode Island. Newport was charming, even if the weather was a bit unpredictable. Certainly, it was a memorable occasion; yes, we celebrated! We celebrated the life of our association and its accomplishments, and we honored Bob Jasany for his more than twenty-three years of service to the WSTDA. Even with our happy mood, a dark cloud hovered over us.

March 14, 2008 was not a good day for our industry! We knew a horrific accident at a construction site in New York involving a crane collapse had taken the lives of seven and injured an additional twenty-four. As your president, I prepared a news release stating that first and foremost the WSTDA and its members’ concerns and thoughts were for the families of those killed and offered our best wishes for full recovery of the injured and that until proper investigations were complete, speculative comment was inappropriate. There have been other, similar accidents, but this one is of particular importance to the WSTDA.

The facts, as known at the time, were that a crew was “jumping” (raising) the 205 foot tall crane when a six ton steel collar they were installing dropped, stripping other supports and the now unsupported Crane toppled. Newspaper photos showed the mass of tangled steel and the collar itself. Regretfully they also showed broken web slings used for this procedure. Newspaper reports cited the “Nylon Sling failures.”

Some eager so-called experts, with exaggerated egos, weighed in with their lack of faith in web slings and how they were prone to failure. I think these unwarranted, unfounded comments, without benefit of full and sober examination of the evidence, caused real harm to our industry. Yes, web slings were involved, but so were other pieces of rigging equipment. Today, the sequence of events causing this tragedy is still a question. At time of writing, the proper inspecting authorities have not released their findings. Until then, any speculation is premature and irrelevant.

The words “inspecting authorities” bring up a chilling fact! Apparently, a New York City Inspector had the day before issued an inspection report on the crane and the planned procedures, approving both. The true story; he had not visited the site or conducted any inspection, yet still issued his approval. I will not publicly speculate on his motives.

Now this macabre scenario gets even more grotesque. The City of New York pushes forward legislation, announced by the Mayor himself that among other steps will restrict the use of Web Slings in the City of New York. This, a knee jerk political reaction from the Mayor, who in fact is the employer of that negligent inspector. Is this a poorly concealed attempt to park blame elsewhere than City Hall? Will someone accept responsibility; the buck stops here, Mr. Mayor.

In June the publication, Cranes Today contacted our Headquarters asking for a response to this proposed legislation. After consultation with your Executive, our legal counsel and receiving valued input from Bob Jasany the WSTDA issued the following text.

The Web Sling & Tie Down Association, Headquartered in Bel Air Maryland serves the Synthetic Sling Industry through the preparation and publication of Voluntary Standards. These standards highlight among others the proper care, use and inspection of Synthetic Slings.

WSTDA President John Walsh today said, “The WSTDA fully supports any and all proposals recommending higher safety standards regarding qualified training in inspection and proper use of rigging equipment.” These prerequisites have long been advocated by the WSTDA and supported by its members.

Nylon slings have a long history of safe and successful use in the United States and throughout the world. Not a new or unproven commodity, nylon slings and straps have been extensively used by the military as far back as World War II and continue in military use today. Construction trades and general industry over the years have found practical, safe applications for nylon slings. In fact, nylon slings are commonly recommended and used throughout the rigging industry.

The WSTDA has not seen the official investigation report of the March New York City crane collapse. Until this report is published it is premature to speculate as to what factors may have been involved in this accident. The proper authorities will carry out thorough investigations and report in due time.

Restricting the use of nylon slings is not, in the opinion of the WSTDA, the answer to increasing workplace safety. The answer lies in full and on-going training of workers in the proper care, use and inspection of nylon slings as well as all other rigging gear. If legislated, this would lead to industries using other types of slings less suited to the job with inherent hazard and safety issues that would affect workers and their jobsites.

Why have I made this my message? I have done so because it is important! How this will play out, we do not know. What is known is that these circumstances highlight the relevance and importance of the WSTDA and its activities. Our standards writing and their publication provide front line defense for our industry. Now, even more justified, is the work of our Legal Resource Committee on warnings and labels. Historically, the proactive work done by the WSTDA speaks volumes to the insight, determination and forward thinking of our membership.

Our efforts to collaborate with other organizations are an important part of the process. We were pleased to have Don Pellow, AWRF Technical Committee Chair attend and participate in our 2008 Spring Meeting. I have received and have accepted an invitation to represent the WSTDA at the AWRF Technical Committee Meeting August 21 & 22 in Novi, Michigan. I look forward to this and to reporting to you at our upcoming St. Louis meeting.

Speaking of St. Louis, October 5th will soon be upon us. Please come, contribute and enjoy. To continue their work, as at previous meetings, almost all our committees are holding extra work sessions on the preceding Saturday. Safe travels to all; see you in St. Louis.

© 2008 Web Sling & Tie Down Association

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Web Sling & Tie Down Association

2105 Laurel Bush Rd. • Suite 200 • Bel Air, MD 21015 • phone: 443-640-1070 • fax: 443-640-1031 • wstda@ksgroup.org • www.wstda.com