Ways to prevent liability claims

Fl RESSURE treated wood can be f handled without risk to health or safety if a few simple guidelines are followed. Consumers not following those rules can run into problems, and suppliersfrom the manufacturer right down to the retailer - may be held responsible.

Someone filing a lawsuit for damage due to misuse of treated wood could name everyone in the chain of distribution of the wood, according to Pat Hamilton of the American Wood Preservers Institute. The key is to make sure consumers have ready access to the guidelines, which in the case of treated wood are EPA-approved Consumer Information Sheets.

"The sheets are like a safety label on a hammer, a lamp or a lawnmower," explains George Eliades, AWPI senior vice president. "It's just on a separate sheet ofpaper. But in the event of a lawsuit, it can take the retailer off the hook. It's just good common sense."

In the event of litigation, dealers should be able to show they didn't withhold information but did what they could to get the directions into the hands of the consumer. Most dealers stock or post the sheets near the wood or at the counter or they hand them to buyers at the time of purchase. Others attach them to the invoice, delivery ticket or the product itself.

When advertising treated wood in its newspaper supplements, Hechinger's often adds a little inch-high box reading: "Ask for treated wood information."

Annual audits of the Consumer Awareness Program consistently show manufacturers and treaters with 100% awareness and participation, and retailers at 790/o awareness and 7lo/o participation. Not good enough, says the EPA.

"The EPA is like a parent whose child brings home a report card," says Eliades. "He doesn't mention the two A s and two B s, but says, 'What's with this C?' The EPA has never once said they're pleased with the l00o/o involvement by the treaters and manufacturers, just, 'All we can tell you is you've got to do something about this 700/0.' Even though that's 70% of 28,000 ! "

For the good of consumers and retailers alike, the sheets must be distributed. And if the participation doesn't increase, a new programwhich could affect the price of treated wood for everyone - may be required. "l don't think we have much more time," Eliades sighs. "EPA's about to throw up its hands and try something else. They want us to put people in the stores and ask customers questions. That's impractical. and would cost a fortune."

Story at a Glance

Consumers who misuse treated wood may sue retailers for withholding information... best de fense: provide EPA-approved Consumer Information Sheets.

Gonsumer Information Sheets

CCA and ACZA waterborne preservative pressure treated wood may be used inside residences as long as all sawdust and debris are cleaned up after construction.

r Use only wood that is visibly clean and free ofsurlace residue for patios, decks and walkways.

o Sealers for pressure treated wood may be applied at the installation site.

. After working with pressure treated wood and before eating or using tobacco products, wash hands and face thoroughly. If preservatives or sawdust accumulates on clothes, launder them separately from other household clothing before reuse.

o Penta- and creosote-treated wood should not be used in residential interiors except in areas where wood is subject to decay and insect infestation. Two coats of an effective sealer must be applied.

. In farm buildings, either penta- or creosote-treated wood may be used when in ground contact and subject to decay or insect infestation if two coats of an effective sealer are applied.

o Urethane, shellac and latex epoxy enamel are effective sealers for pentaand creosote-treated wood.

o Do not use wood treated with penta or creosote where it will come in frequent or prolonged contact with bare skin, unless an effective sealer has been applied.

o Do not use treated wood for countertops or for those portions of beehives that may contact the honey.

Copies of the CIS are available from the American Wood Preservers Institute, 1945 Old Gallows Rd., Ste. 550. Vienna. Ya.22182.

Stina lnc. opcned a J0,(XX) sq. li. showroonr ancl warehouse lircility on flve acres in Sulphur, [.a, . Pot.t, ('o. opcned a replaccntent storc with a 1.5,(XX) sq. li. salesfloor in (ireencville. '['n.

Ilontc l)cpot plans 30 ncw warehouse units this year including a 102,0(X) sq. li. storc with a 19.(X)0 sq. li. garden center in Naples, l:1., plus lbur units irt nretro Atlanta, (ia.

I.ov,(,':; relocirtecl a lligh l)oint, N.('.. store arrcl convertcd storcs in Newllort News ancl ('harlottesville, Va., into conLractor yards .Si'ollvls plans a unit in Warncr Robins, (ia., and to expand a Naples, lrl., store.

lhit'kt,s Itrmher ('rr. stores in Amarillo, T'x., anci [;lorence, S.('., were listed among the chain's top 25 perlormers lbr 1989.. . l|'ickes Lunber, l)ouglasville, (ia., is recovering fiont a $ I0.000 damage and ntaterial loss in a l;eb. storm. .

LeonlteKlt Lumbcr Cb., Oklahonra ('it1,. Ok., Plans to invest $ 150,000 to modernize two stores ancl open a new lunrber yard in Edmond, Ok.... Honrc Quarters will open its first Menrphis, Tn.. lrrea store in a shopping center to be built in Bartlett.

D & J Hartlware and Buildins Supply, Lone Crove, Ok.. is conrbining a nrove to new quarters with an expansion . Blakley Lumber & Carpets Inc. is closing its Davenport. Ok., store after 28 years.

Home Depot is publishing announcenlents fbr its home improvement classes in a Spanish language newspaper in Mianti, F1.... Wic'kes Lumber, Golds- boro, N.('.. cl<lttittccl rt storitgc builcling to thc Waync ('outtly liircnrcrt's Associirtion trltittittg, grouncl. lncl ustry cotttpitttics rcc()gnizcd with (iolclcrr lluntnrcr irwards at thc Nittional llonrc ('cntcr Show in ('hicago incluclcrl Wasl lJuildin.s,Mutariul.s, Atlirrrta. ()a., ltttt't' ls ('rr,r., /rrt'., N<rrth Wilkcsboro. N.('., ll'. 7'. Galliln'r & lJnt.s., /rrc., Springlicld, Yit.. l)alican ('o.. ('onway, S.('.; ('ottpcr'l-ools, llalcigh, N.('.: ,,4nu'ricu tt l4'oodttn rk ( irr7r., Winchcstcr. Y tt.,,Sau broolt. Mcnlphis Tn.. Ihtnrcr lhtt ('o., Mcntphis.

Anniversarics: .Sottlltarrt l)inc lnspct'tiotr IJurruu, 50th'. ('uttscwtty !,1,,r,6r,r ( o., ljt. Liruclcrdalc. l;1., .50thl I"lttridu ltrmhcr,.Q lluilling,Materiul I)ault'rs,,ls.sttt itttirtrt, 70th: R tQ Il Ilurdv'urc und ltntbca llillings. Ok.. llth'. Lunbarmcn's In/bt'ntotion .5'r'r'r'lt'c.s. Nittchcz. Ms.. lst.

Jolrn I{ant'ock Timfur R(.sottru' Group bought 70,0(X) acres ol' land and tintber near Pinc llluli. Ar., to grow loblolly pine saw tinrber and pine pulpwoocl. .

Sttulhern Pine Inspct'tiort Burtaa, Pensacola, Fl., received accreditation of its quality assutance progrrim for pressure treated lbrest products from the Antericort National Standards Institute and will now use the ANSI logo with the SPIB certification mark

Jqllerson Snuu'lit Cbrp. closed its sawnrill in Whitehouse. Tn. Tirt,sias, lnt'., Orangeburg, S.C.. filed Chapter I l bankruptcy l-eb. 12..,

Arlantic Truding Co. (lormerly American Luntber I nveslmt'nl Part' na'"s). Atlanta, Ga.. opened a distribution yard in Coluntbia, S.C'. . .lantesto*-n Lumber, a f'l,,rVI Ruildintrl Produtts, Inc., Orlando. Fl.. received a llilson0rt sales and performance award.

Bulldlng Productr Dlgert rfiv. ol' l'.rwc, lrt<'., l)cachtrce ('ity, (ia.. has it ncw Jirnrcslown, N.('.. wholcsulc tradrng ollrce nranncd by Kcvin Sntith. R ick Millikcn. ('lrolc llagins and Scott Sntith.

('rxt.slul Lttmbar ('o. has shut rlown its llavana, ljl., ('hip-NSaw unit lirr at least livc ntonthst thc plywood anct trc:rting opcra- tions on the sitc irrc n<lt ll'l'cctctl.

'l'rinit.l, l:orc.s! Indu,strit,s plans to nrovc to anothcr location and currcntly has its wcll-cquippecl 7 acrc llurst. 'f x., lacility up for sirlc. l)oy I'lv'v'ood, lnc.. Mcnrphis,'l'n., hus movecl to ('Lrthbcrt. (ia....

Ntrrtlr ('urulinu lltrildittx ('ode ('ttttrtcil .9rudurul ('omrnittee extcnclecl thc inrplcnrcntation date lor its ban on plastic cnd tags on trcatcd lunrbcr to Sept.

Oklultomu ('uhinat ('o. is relocating lionr Kcllyville, Ok., to llristow,Ok....

GA l" ('orp.ls bLrilding nraterials profits inrproved 6y l9t'1, in 1989 . Wootl ltnuulatiort lnstinue. Tolcdo, la., will clissolve May 1.. ltrunk ltu.tlol ('rr., St. Louis, Mo.. parcnt co. ol' l:'rank Paxton htntht,r ('o., has nrcrged with Jeldll'ur, lnt'. and l)orrultl M. Rigbu Ijrank Paxton (lo. wilt become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paxtort. Inc. which is jointly owned by Rigby lnd Jcld-Wen.

(it'or,qia-Put'ilic completed its S1.74 billion tender offer for Greot Northcm Nekoosa Corp.

.. Willian M. Bird & Co., lnc., ('harleston, S.C'., and George D. Rridges Co., Tucker. Ga., have merged.

Housirtg starts f-ell 7%r in Feb. (latest figs.) to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.477,000 units. . Single-family home construction was up 5.106; multiianrily down 35.1'1, ...building permits fell 25(1,.