 |
|
|
|
|
11/01/2002
From the NATE Office
November will be another fast-paced month in the NATE office. With the 8th Annual NATE Conference & Exposition only a few months away, preparations are now ongoing around the clock. We are looking forward to another remarkable show and hope to see you there.
Members of the NATE Legislative and Regulatory Committee will soon meet with Rob Medlock and other OSHA officials to discuss specific provisions of the NATE/OSHA Partnership. In particular, there are some procedural matters regarding the requisite safety audits that need further discussion. As Tower Times articles are written a month before the magazine is published and mailed, the meeting will have taken place by the time you read this. Participating companies will be notified of any developments. I’m sure OSHA Relations Committee Chairman Don Doty will bring readers up to speed on the meeting in his column next month.
This month will also mark the release of the third edition of the NATE Accident Prevention, Safety and Health Program Guide. This revision of the NATE Safety Program has been the most thorough and complete ever.
The involvement of the NATE Safety & Education Committee, Board of Directors and legal counsel has been extensive and I offer my thanks on behalf of the Association for their hard work. The NATE staff has also demonstrated phenomenal attention to detail in reviewing and developing this publication. Current NATE members who have previously purchased the publication will receive replacement copies of the revised publication free of charge. The document will take the previous NATE Safety Program to a new level of professionalism and safety education, and will raise the bar for expectations of industry safety.
Increasing safety in the industry is exactly what NATE was established to do. From time-to-time I hear someone ask why they should remain in NATE once they have purchased the videos, safety program and other resources. Those companies who have remained the backbone of this Association over the last eight years already know the answer.
While NATE takes pride in the benefits the Association offers individual companies, you should never lose track of the the fact that they are part of a larger picture – NATE has an impact on safety practices and regulatory decisions on the national level. That is undeniable. Changing the way the government views an industry is a slow process. But anyone who is paying attention at all knows that OSHA views tower erectors with greater re-spect as a direct result of NATE. They have made changes favoring tower erectors and are willing to continue coming to the table to discuss how to improve safety and their relationships. I know the work is far from complete, but these accomplishments are the result of NATE members staying involved.
NATE – the unified voice of the industry – is making positive changes that affect everyone; even those companies unwilling or unable to participate in the process. Those who feel the need to enhance safety across the industry, and who understand how such changes come about, realize that the value of a NATE membership goes far beyond the outstanding safety resources, networking opportunities and educational seminars. They get the big picture.
During my younger days, I complained loudly and profusely about all the problems I saw in the world. My dad, God rest his soul, continually and patiently reminded me that you can sit on the outside and complain about how nothing is getting better, or you can get involved and put your back into the struggle and watch your efforts turn into results. The industry is safer and smarter because of NATE. Period. I hope everyone reading this article will join us in supporting a unified voice that has saved lives and enhanced an industry’s practices and image.
By: Patrick Howey, NATE Administrator
Patrick Howey
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
