FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
World of Concrete 2026 Registration Is Open ↗

MCWP industry response to recent accidents

Words: Laurie WeberThe Mast Climbing Work Platform Committee/Council of IPAF and SAIA are saddened by the accidents in Raleigh, North Carolina and Toronto, Canada. We would like to extend our sympathies and prayers to the families of those who lost their lives and were injured in these tragic events. This emphasises the importance, especially in light of the current resurgence in construction, of training, continuing education as well as inspection of equipment.

Since their introduction in the 1960s, mast climbing work platforms (MCWPs) have been used extensively without incident throughout many sites worldwide and in the USA and Canada. Mast climbing work platforms are popular with an array of trades including the masonry, stucco, glass and refurbishment industries where they can offer safety, productivity and ergonomic benefits. When installed and used correctly, they are as safe as or safer than other forms of powered access or scaffold.

The key to the safe use of mast climbers is appropriate training. This has led manufacturers and industry bodies to develop robust training programmes for both erectors and operators of mast climbing work platforms.

The mast climbing industry has collectively strived for many years to ensure that all operators and erectors benefit from this level of appropriate training, but since there are no specific national training regulations for mast climbing work platforms in the USA or Canada, employer education and outreach is a continual priority of the industry.

The mast climbing industry will continue to take a proactive approach to employer education and appropriate training and will continue to work with OSHA to find opportunities to reinforce this requirement.

This is a joint statement of IPAF and SAIA.
 0
What’s in your Dumpster?
December 2025

If you want a true read on how a job is running, take a walk to the dumpsters. Most sites have two. One for cement and steel. One for everything that did not make the cut. Those bins are open ledgers. They record the habits, shortcuts, and fixes that shap

Shayne Sanders
MAP Partner
Read More
The Florida Department of Corrections Masonry Competition
December 2025

The intersection of Career & Technical Education (CTE) training and rehabilitation was on full display recently as the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) hosted a statewide masonry competition. Held at the Cross City Correctional Institution, the eve

Justin Stengel
News and Events
Read More
Southwest Scaffolding Renews Silver Partnership in the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program
December 2025

The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is pleased to announce that Southwest Scaffolding will renew its Silver partnership in the 2026 Masonry Alliance Program.

Industry News
Read More
From Raw Material To Art: Bringing Toothless To Life
December 2025

“The next project is already waiting in the wings, but that’s another story.” That was how I ended my article on the T-60 helmet from the world of Fallout in the July 2024 issue of Masonry Magazine. And that is exactly where this new chapter begins.

News and Events
Read More