THE SCUTHTANE

By WAYNE GARDNER executive vice president

f O promote wood and wood pro-

I ducts is one of the aims of Lumber Association of Southern California; doing this successfully, many different approaches have to be taken.

Over the years many programs on wood (covering how trees grow, how logging is done, sawmilling, transporting of lumber, framing of buildings, etc.) have been done by the association.

Work has also been done with building officials and contractors discussing questions on lumber,

An advertising program was started to promote lumber and wood products to the arOhitects, engineers and speci ficers, and it has been most successful.

But nothing is quite like personal contact, a face-to-face discussion about the merits of the product distributed by the members of Lumber Association of Southern California is the most effective way to promote lumber and wood products.

Four months ago, the association was most fortunate in being able to have made available to it the talents of Joe Bricher, a lumberman of long standing with great credentials, integrity and ability.

Joe is acting as a consultant for LASC, and spends 15-20 hours per week, as the need requires, calling on building officials, architects, engineers, and others to promote lumber and wood products.

At present, he has contacted virtu- so-called violations it would constitute a 'prostitution of justice,' to which the investigator had no comment to make.

Approximately l0 days later we received copies of 'Notification of Proposed Penalty'-the fine proposed was $500 for the saw and $25 for the rail.

You will also note that all of the so-called violations were corrected within a very short time-some as early as the next day. The guard for the saw took longer as a unit had to be ordered. I then called the Assistant Area Director and informed him that the corrections had been made. however we wanted time to consider whether or not we wished to contest the fine. Upon checking with other firms which had been inspected by OSHA, it was their belief that it would be better to pay the fine than to contest the matter. However, before paying the fine another call was made to the Director asking him if he would consider reducing the fine and he said no, that this could not be done. He also mentioned that if it was contested the judge had the right to double the fine which should be $1,000, but the two 2O% reductions and one 10% reduction was made reducing the amount to $500on the basis of information gathered that we would pay the fine.

On June 25.....reinspected our facilities but made no more citations.

(Please turn to page +a ) ally every building official in Southern California. He is now beginning to call on those persons who have responded to the LASC ads in Pacific Coast Builder and 14estern Building Design. Gradually, all major architectual firms will be contacted, but emphasis will be placed on those known to be designing large projects of wood frame construction.

Joe is impressive by virtue of his size, his ability to deal with people, (the father of I I kids) and his extremely broad knowledge of that great building material, wood.

This man's talents as a consultant will serve as a great impetus to the wood promotion program LASC has been conducting for its members.

Look forward to meeting him and hearing more about what he is doing for the industry in Southern California.