Consumer lnformation

(Continued from page 9) tive coating. even if frequent skin contact is expected, such as with picnic tables, lawn furniture and swimming pool walkways.

The CIS is concerned mostly with what Kempinska believes are "good building and hygiene practices."

"Because of its acidic nature. wood cellulose itself is a known skin irritant." he said. "Wearing a mask to prevent breathing sawdust, wearing goggles during sawing to protect eyes. washing after working with treated wood. and laundering sawdust-dirtied clothes are the main precautions for handling CCA-treated wood cited on the CIS. These are just common-sense safety and hygiene practices.

"The CCA preservative remains fixed in treated wood for decades. We've substantiated this. and the EPA acknowledges this. too. Still, we believe the users of our products should use good building practices." concluded Kempinska.

What should producers of wood preservatives and producers of treated wood be doing as part of the new EPA-industry agreement? What are the dealer's responsibilities?

The primary responsibility of the CAP is charged to wood treaters. who must make sure their dealer-customers have established the proper retail set-up for distributing the CIS.

Additional responsibility lies with producers of CCA or other wood preservatives. and industry trade associations. These chemical formulators and their associations are charged with producing the CIS. the placards or signs announcing its availability. and any other pointof-purchase items that will ultimately help dealers get the CIS in the hands and minds of their customers.

"Our salespeople are placing CIS si_ens right in the store. and they'll be keeping stores well-stocked with CIS sheets." said Don Hayes, sales manager for Dantzler Lumber and Export Co., Inc.. Jacksonville. Danuler produces Wolmanized pressure treated wood.

"We try to help our dealers understand the EPA safety information. so their salespeople can answer consumer questions." Hayes said. 'And we encourage their customers to contact me personally for any unanswered inquiries."

"Our salespeople are loading up their trunks with CIS sheets. and they're getting distribution up into Gnnessee. Virginia. and the Carolinas." said Ben Dale. sales manager for Cox Wood Preserving Company. Inc.. Orangeburg. S.C.. producers of both Dricon fire retardant treated wood and Wolmanized wood.

"We're getting the CIS out to our retailers' customers with racks at the sales counter and at the literature display." he said. 'A few of our dealers are stapling the CIS to the invoice. I think that's an excellent wav to make sure the consumer receires it.

"We're stressing the importance of the CAP at our dealer meetings: we'le had three such meetings so far this year." said Dale. "l think our dealers understand what's on the sheet and undentand the importance that their customers understand the CIS safery information."

What is the dealer's responsibiliry?

The CAP onlv specified that dealers are to cooperate with their treated wood supplien. But the proper sale of pressure{reated wood includes education. The do-it-yourselfer is becoming increasingly curious about "that green wood." accordin-e to Bob Martin. vice president for Walker-Wlliams Lumber Companl'. Inc.. Hatchechubbee. Al.

"Our dealers have responded falorably to the CAP. because the EPA's program has created more inquiries and curiosity about treated wood and the wood preservatives," he said.

"Dealers can encourage this interest. to lead customers to the literature rack." said Martin. "This. in turn. spurs interest in our literarure. When homeowners understand the product and how it can create and enhance the backyard. this leads to sales."

"We see three ways to make sure the consumer has a chance to receive the CIS-at the cash register. in the yard where he picks up the lumber, and at the literature tree." said Martin. "We want to make sure the consumer has every chance to get th€ sheets. Oursalespeople elen take notes on how their dealer-customers are handling distribution of the CIS. Their reports are kept on file here to show our work. and our dealer's participation. in distributing the CIS and to cooperate completely with the CAP

"We think we have a moral responsibilit-v to make sure e!€ry consumer at least has a chance of reading the EPA approred information." continued Martin. 'This is how we can aroid the need for a mandatory TSCA labeling program. We are grateful for the EPAs decision to allow the irdustry to implement the CAP on our own.

"We think that-with our dealer's trelp-tlre EPAs audit of the CAP's effectileness will demonstrate the pru gram's success."

Producers of pressure treatd wd have gone beyond the CIS sheets required by the CAP program in instituting information programs of their own. Many of these were in place prior to the EPAs requess.

Osmose Wood Presen'ing Co.. for example. uses is Osmose Handyman television personaliry to demonstrate proper pressure treated wood handling techniques. In addition. they maintain a a toll-free information hotline. (l-800522-WOOD) for consumen to call to receive handling guidelines. On-going dealer seminars, a "Builders Tips" pamphlet published since 1980 for distribution to licensees, consumer information sheets and placards are other segments of their program.

"If retailers receive a shipment of wood that is not clean of surface residue or of an inferior quality, they should refuse shipment," suggests an Osmose spokesperson. "The retailer need not assume liability for poorly treated wood."

Koppers Co. Inc. also has a library of consumer information material including "Tips on the Safe Use and Handling of Outdoor Wood" and a pamphlet explaining what the EPA review of wood preservative chemicals means to users of pressure treated wood. They have prepared a fact sheet on the effect of the rulings on pressure treated wood products and stress safe use of the products in their advertising.

Treated Plywood Information

Information on fire retardant treated plywood and pressure preserved plywood is available to dealers from the American Plywood Association.

Single copies of 1APA Product Guide: FRT Plywood," "APA Design/Construc- tion Guide: Permanent Wood Foundation" and an eight page booklet wriften in layman's language for the consumer are available free from the APA, PO. Box 11700. Thcoma. Wa. 98411.

MLA Buying Show Profitabte

Contingents from both Oklahoma and Arkansas were on hand in Kansas City, Mo., for the Mid-America Lumbermens Association's annual building products exposition and buying show.

More than 3,000 attended the Feb. 13-15 show which was "profitable" for both exhibitors and retail lumber dealers with record sales of over $5 million, according to Ti.r-rman Hall, Lyman Lamb Co., Little Rock, Ar., second vice president of MLA.

Grady Ollie Jr., George Ollie's Lumber Co., Pocola, Ok., third v.p., was enthusiastic about the 150 exhibitine firms and the excellent programs pro-vided by three economists.

Marshall Loeb, managing editor of Money magazine, spoke on "The Outlook For Your Money."

Gene Stanaland, president of Gene Stanaland EnterpriEes, Inc., with his topic "Managing in an Environment of Negative Attitudes" and Morton Marcus, director of the Indiana Business Research Center, speaking on "How To Make Money In a No Growth Community" were equally informative.

Wlill{ER of grand prize at the Ml,A buvino show, Chuck Grimwood, Mark ll Corp., hnd Ryan J. Sculley posed with the pickub truck awarded, Bob John (left), executive v0., and Laurn Champ (right), tulLA regionat mgi in ArKansas.

Attending from Arkansas were Tommy Bryant, North Arkansas Cash Lumber Co., Batesville; Bill Mayfield, Reynolds Builders Supply, Smackover; David Randle, Ranco Building Supply, Fayetteville; and Doyle Roach, E. C. Barton & Co., Jonesboro. Oklahoma dealers included Bob Henkle, Grand County Homeworks, Grove, and John Kennedy, T. H. Rogers Lumber Co., Oklahoma City.