New OSHA Compliance System For Dealers

The National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association is introducing a new Internet-based service designed to "make OSHA compliance easier and more affordable for lumber and building material dealers than ever before," according to NLBMDA president Gary Donnelly.

The association has spent two years working with Vcom, "the virtual compliance company," to develop and test the on-line system. About two dozen dealers participated in the development process.

Vcom software includes a database of more than 8,000 OSHA requirements, drawn directly from over 90 OSHA regulations. Through a series of interview questions, the program constructs a profile of the subscribing company, provides a customized OSHA "To Do List" for each workplace, downloads Material Safety Data Sheets and keeps them current, answers OSHA questions, and delivers "plain English" interpretations of complicated regulations.

By heavily participating in the development process, NLBMDA was able to secure a discounted annual sub- scription rate of $300 for its mernbers, plus $200 for each additional site. The program is also open for a higher fee to non-members.

Victim Demands $3 Million

A man who was injured at Home Depot, Naples, Fl., when a 200-lb. storage shed allegedly fell on his head is seeking $3 million to settle his lawsuit.

Theodore Loyer, 69, was in the garden center April 9 when the boxed, unassembled shed fell about 12 feet (see June, p.25). He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, and his head injuries kept him hospitalized for more than two weeks.

Days later, he filed suit, accusing the store of negligently placing heavy items on high shelves without safety devices or warnings.

Home Depot refused comment and had yet to respond to the settlement demand.

New On-Line OSB Resource

OSBGuide. a new Web site, billed as "the most comprehensive on-line OSB resource," has been introduced by the Structural Board Association.

Reached at www.osbguide.com, the interactive site offers detailed product information, including OSB performance capabilities and a list of producers, plus the ability to order free literature, software or an SBA-sponsored video.

"In this competitive industry, it is important for people, such as designers, building material retailers, builders and homeowners, to find complete answers at their fingertips," said SBA president Mark Angelini.

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