FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sharon Couts
Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties
425.499.1723

Bellevue, Wash.—November 14, 2016—Seattle was recently named the “crane capital of America” by a Seattle Times article, with 58 cranes currently in operation, an increase of 38 percent in the past year. And these numbers don’t even include cranes located in Bellevue and elsewhere in the Puget Sound area. With more cranes, more possibilities exist for accidents. That is why, beginning in February 2017, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) and Buildsafe Solutions will be offering free two-day Qualified Signal Person Certification for Mobile Cranes classes. The classes are made available in thanks to a $127,688 grant from State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries’ Safe and Health Investment Projects (SHIP) program.

“We are excited about receiving this grant,” said Shannon Affholter, executive director of the MBA. “Construction site accidents have a huge impact on the construction industry, families, and for anyone affected. We want to prevent accidents. These safety classes teach us how to run equipment properly and keep everyone safe.”

The trainings are free to employers and employees in the construction industry and provide 16 clock hours as well as crane certification. Topics will include crane management, high risks, crane foundations, load charts, range diagrams, crane dynamics, rigging oversight, and signaling, and will provide for a mobile crane signaling protocol and certifications required by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

About the MBA

Founded in 1909, the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA) has grown to become the largest residential home builders association in the United States. With 2,800 member companies, the MBA is dedicated to membership value, government advocacy, financial stewardship, and promoting the residential building industry in the Puget Sound Region. The Association and its members address many of the concerns and issues affecting the residential housing industry. If you are looking to buy, build, remodel, or maintain your home, trust the MBA for industry professional referrals and practical information to get the job done. mbaks.com

ABOUT THE SHIP PROGRAM

The goal of the SHIP program is to identify, fund, and assist with the implementation of safety and health projects designed to eliminate workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities, because one injury, one illness, one fatality, is one too many.

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USEPA photo by Eric Vance

LDC Inc. went to Washington, D.C. October 24 to advocate for sensible stormwater management regulations that lead to clean water for communities instead of mountains of paperwork.

Representing builders and developers who do business in Environmental Protection Agency Region 10, Clay White, principal planner, joined nine other NAHB members from across the country to meet EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his top local enforcement officials.

NAHB members suggested several ways EPA could improve the process, including:

• A simplified permit process for small lots. EPA's compliance template for single-family homes in large subdivisions that could also serve as a streamlined permit: it's concise and written in "builder language" because NAHB helped develop it.
• A "find it, fix it" approach. Rather than penalize first-time violators, EPA inspectors should provide compliance assistance during site visits and allow builders to correct minor infractions so they can do it right the next time.
• Better coordination among regulators. Multiple visits from local, state and federal inspectors to the same site can result in very different observations and citations. The EPA needs to allow the states, and not themselves, to play the lead role in stormwater enforcement.
• Continued participation in EPA's "Smart Sectors" Program. Homebuilders were invited to participate this business community partnership to develop sensible regulations while protecting the environment and public health.

White was pleased at EPA's response. "It was tremendous to meet with Administrator Pruitt and the EPA team on issues that are impacting our building community. I believe that this meeting will result in positive outcomes for the builders in our region."

For stormwater management resources, visit the NAHB Stormwater Toolkit.

By Cameron Poague, Bothell Kenmore Reporter

There's an expression that says you should enjoy the small things in life.

Going outside and enjoying a walk on a sunny day, for example. Or getting to work or school and back without assistance or inconvenience. For too many, these tasks are burdensome and dangerous. For a few, getting safely to and from their homes has become downright impossible.