18.07.2011

New name for SIA

The US based Scaffold Industry Association - SIA has formally approved a change of its name to SAIA – the Scaffold & Access Industry Association efective from October.
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The current SIA logo is likely to change to SAIA

The organisation already uses the description “The voice of the scaffold & access industry” but it is still known as the SIA reflecting its origins in the scaffold industry.

Steve Smith, president of the SIA for a year now, said: “It may take some time for the new name to become second nature, and the acronym SAIA may not roll off the tongue quite as easily as SIA, but give it time. It took many years for the original name to be recognized countrywide and around the globe,”

The organisation opened its annual convention in Minneapolis this week which aims to provide both an educational and networking opportunity for its membership and includes 18 sessions covering a wide range of topics.

“We are looking to widen the SIA’ audience by covering areas of interest to everyone in the scaffold and access industry. The investment in these few days of education and networking will produce results far greater than the cost of travel” said Smith.
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Steve Smith, president of the SIA

While the SIA has been predominantly a scaffold based association since its establishment in 1972, in recent years it has also become involved in powered access in quite a significant way. It is an ANSI-accredited standards developer and serves as secretariat for the A92 series of ANSI aerial work platform standards.

It has also worked closely with IPAF and other associations on the publication last year of the ‘Statement of Best Practices of General Training and Familiarization for Aerial Work Platform Equipment’. Click here to see Best practice guide to training and the ‘Statement of Best Practices of Personal Fall Protection Systems for Aerial Work Platform Equipment’ published earlier this year – Click here to see original report