Training of OSHA Field Inspectors

Words: Alan JohnsonAs a part of our MCAA/OSHA Alliance, we have started planning a pilot program of training OSHA compliance officers and officials on the best practices of the masonry industry. This pilot program will be held in November of this year in St. Louis in conjunction with the St. Louis MCA.

What we hope to achieve from this program is an opportunity for selected representatives of our industry to train OSHA Field Inspectors and officials on how we conduct our business, how we provide safety programs for our personnel, and why our industry has certain exemptions (such as overhand bricklaying, not using harnesses on scaffolding, why we can't clear materials off of scaffolding at the end of every shift and why we don't need to erect scaffolding on both sides of a block wall when grouting). OSHA will then have an opportunity to discuss with us what they look for in our industry with regards to safety. If the pilot works effectively, we will expand the program to all regions.

This will be an extremely effective program is minimizing interpretation among OSHA inspectors who cite contractors, causing us to have to expend tremendous resources fighting frivolous situations. Our Director of Engineering, Rashod Johnson, is spearheading this program.

Bonding with Masonry 2026: Q2
June 2026

This issue’s questions come from a Mason Contractor and an Engineer. What questions do you have? Send them to info@masonrymagazine.com, attention Technical Talk.

The Thirty-Year Mason: Ergonomics as a Retention Strategy
June 2026

In most industry circles, the conversation around the labor shortage follows a predictable script: How do we find the next generation of masons? While recruitment is vital, we often overlook the most valuable asset already on the job site: the experienced

Acme Brick Company Releases 2026 Pocket Guide to Brick Construction
June 2026

For more than four decades, all the basics of building with brick have come in a guide small enough to fit into a pocket. Acme Brick has just released a 2026 version of its Pocket Guide to Brick Construction. And yes, it’s still printed on paper just like

Masonry in the Media: Casa Azul, Chapultepec Castle, & More
June 2026

A film’s settings can take viewers to new locations, all from the comfort of their own home. It immerses them in the scenes, whether they take place in an opera house in Brazil or a grand mansion in Mexico City. Explore how these Latin American masonry ma