ARIZONA SGENE

President

I EGISLATIVE UPDATE: Arizona. hOne thousand and thirteen bills have been introduced in the current legislative session.

To date, the material suppliers' industry has not been significantly affected with proposed legislation. There are, however, various bills relating to workmen's compensation and other business administrative matters which have an impact upon all businesses.

Legislative sources in the past have estimated for each bill introduced, approximately $500 cost is incurred by taxpayers. Since the current concern of the leeisla- tive session is securing funds for the state's budget, one would think that they could readily see how to substantially reduce some costs of government, road cils that are being loaded or unloaded to make sure their width and strength can take the forklift.

I am also pleased to report that the proposed changes for lower contractor and subcontractor bonding limits by the State's Registrar of Contractors, has been declared invalid by the State Attorney General.

The Arizona Lumber and Builders Supply Association was instrumental in getting legislative attention focused upon the detrimental aspects of the proposed rules changes which ultimately led to the Attorney General's action.

The home construction market in Arizona is continuing strong!

Avoid sudden stops.

Don't haul passengers.

Watch overhead clearance and rearend swing.

CHUCK LINK executive director

IT{E

NATIONAL Lumber & BuildI ing Material Dealers Association has written to the three major manufacturers of gypsum wallboard for an explanation of both the extreme shortages of the past several months and the rapid escalation of prices brought on by those shortages.

Needless to say, the supply and demand factors and their effect on prices are well understood. Some dealers have questioned the validity of increases of the magnitude which have occurred. They particularly question why at least one concern has found it necessary to announce another $20 per thousand raise almost two months before it will become effective. This increase will push prices almost 5090 above the 1983 starting price.

The concern is not really the price, but the worrythat a continuation of the shortages could very well help kill the momentum in the housing industry.

Forklifts, the workhorse of the lumberyard, are fast becoming dangerous beasts. Annually thousands of lost-time work injuries can be traced to the operation of forklifts. Since 1951, work accidents involving forklifts have soared more than 4000/0.

The alarming increase in unsafe operation of forklifts was reported in a recent study. Here are some of the conclusions from that study: o Nearly half (4590) of the injuries were suffered by employees working or walking in areas where forklifts were being operated. r Crushing was the most common injury associated with raising or lowering the truck's forks. o Injuries to the extremities, legs, arms, hands, and head accounted for 7090 of all lost-time injuries associated with forklifts. Some of these injuries were caused by the forklift running over dunnage, 2x4s and strapping bands which in turn kicked up and struck the driver.

. More than half (5290) of the injuries in the period studied involved moving forklifts; l99o involved forks being operated on stationary vehicles; and in 29o/o of the cases, neither truck nor forklift was in motion.

About 25Vo of the injuries were to workers regularly assigned to duties around forklifts, and about 2090 were to those who happened to be working or walking in an area where forklifts were operating.

Most typical injuries (22s/o of the total) were bruises and contusions involving legs, feet, or toes, especially when the forklift was in motion.

Fatal accidents involving forklifts were mainly caused by falling loads, overturned forklifts, workers run over or struck by a moving forklifu and workers thrown off, falling off or stepping off a moving forklift. Most of these accidents could be prevented by following the safety rules for operation of forklifts: o Drive cautiously and slowly at corners, and signal with the horn at blind corners. o Drive in reverse when traveling down an incline or ramp. r Check bridge plates into trucks or rail- o Don't carry unstable loads or piles; make sure loads are positioned evenly on fork for proper balance. o Make sure forklift path is clear of dunnage, 2x4s and metal strapping bands.

. Dont lift a load while traveling.

. Don't travel with a load lifted high.

For best vision, drive backward with bulky loads, but face in the direction of travel.

Carry only loads well within the rated capacity of the forklifts.

Lift loads with the mast vertical or tilted slightly back.

Safe operation of forklifts can make them a dependable workhorse rather than a dangerous beast in the workplace.

Believe it or not, one of the best sources of tax-saving advice and information is the I.R.S. Professional tax consultants charge up to $100 per hour, but the I.R.S. offers several free booklets that can be very helpful to small businesses. Order by calling your local I.R.S. office: #334-"Tax Guide for Small Business," #463"Travel, Entertainment and Gift Expenses," #538- "Accounting Periods and Methods." #548-Deductions for Bad Debts."