The concrete pumping community has for the most part been self regulating. I have always liked that. What, until very recently I had not fully realized is that it is not enough for us to write the rules but that they must also, at all times, be obeyed by the authors. For us, as an industry, to maintain our autonomy we must not feel like the rules only apply when they are convenient. Like a no parking zone, or a speed limit; the rule is always and for all; the choice to comply or not comes with a price. Government, by its nature is intrusive. It does not need a reason to interfere; an excuse will do just as well. In order that we are allowed to continue to write our own rules, to be allowed to self regulate; we must hold ourselves and each other accountable and not let each other down. We are not only better off by having the ACPA set our standards; we are safer. I do not know about you but I feel better having Rob Edwards write a regulation on some aspect of our business than to have some congressional staffer do it.

So when you are out on the job, think. Set back from the ditch and put on the extra hose, throw the other two 4x6 under that pad, put the safety strap on that additional hanging item, clear the area before priming out. There is much more at stake than just you and whether or not you ‘feel like it’. Your safety compliance affects us all.

Wise words indeed. I found new operators trainned and retrained just wonder off to their own world, they have been shown what not to try what to avoid yet human nature gets the best of them. Rules are good and in place for a reason. I agree with what you say with the ACPA and all it stands for, yet it could go a few steps further, but yet it has to be to the point also as a general guide. I attended a few meetings up north and found it superficial but it is a guide line to the 123 aproach.

Do you as Americans have to be members to pump on certain sites? We are members also but with our situations terrain we need more regulations and safety with the one pump owners with no training. Now Concord gives official training to these guys when they buy a pump, and I believe cover alot and safety, hats off to them for being patiant. As I emailed you before Bob do you think it should be law to have a certain amount of training and how much?

And by who, with what credentials,lol lots of questions.

The ACPA is not a know all, do all for our industry. No one thing is. They are however the source for good solid information and help with the problems all pumpers face. Who else do you see out there trying to make us better and safer? How many friends does the average pump owner have in Washington, DC? Any legislation that the association fights for in Washington applies to member and non member alike. The trick here is that this all takes $$$. Why not help out the people that are helping you? (The you being everyone that reads this) OK, I will jump down from my soap box.

As far as training standards go. I like results, not method. Take a guy like Speedy. Does he need the same amount of training as (you pick one) probably not. Do I wish there was some standard? You bet. But I would not base it on training time; but rather competency. My definition is (The real life ability to know and do the right thing at the right time and why, and very little of the wrong thing, ever). Unless and until an operator reaches that point he needs a trainer with him at all times. Learning on the job is great, if supervised. The ACPA Operator Certification Test is also important. Does that mean you are a good operator? No. What it does mean is that you have the safety training to go along with everything else you have learned. It means that an operator that has that card in his pocket (knows better)   

I AGREE BOB NO SHORT CUTS OR YOUR BOUND TO FAIL!