Hydro Mobile: Leading the industry by example

Hydro Mobile’s commitment to the mast climber industry, in the words of President Vincent DeQuoy, is simple yet comprehensive: “If you want to be an industry leader, you have to lead the industry.”

This is easy to say but far from easy to implement. “Create improvements in safety and training standards in the mast climber and transport markets by committing Hydro Mobile’s time and resources to provide leadership for the industry.”

Hydro Mobile identified key action plans to positively influence the prime movers for safety and training. These were:

Regulations – OSHA Federal and State Plans in the U.S. and TSSA and DOL regulations in Canada.

Work with these regulators to inform and assist them and to develop safer use and compliance advice for equipment owners and users. Additionally, lobby for regulation changes where necessary to ensure realistic industry performance values.

Industry standards – ISO (International Standards Organization), ANSI (American National Standards Institute) in the U.S. and CSA (Canadian Standards Authority) in Canada.

Provide key technical personnel and resources to support the development of industry standards in the U.S. and Canada.

Member organizations – SAIA (Scaffold and Access Industry Association), SAIAC (SAIA Canada), IPAF (International Powered Access Federation), MCAA (Masonry Contractors Association of America)

Find the organizations whose members use mast climbers and transport platforms, support them as members and provide key personnel and resources to assist these organizations in their efforts.

Hydro Mobile Training University

Revise training courses, introduce new courses for the industry, provide systems for the management of equipment and introduce innovative methods for conveying vital safe use information.

Trade press

Regularly contribute quality articles to the trade press to keep the readership fully informed on best practices and compliance issues.

By the end of 2014, Hydro Mobile had created a vital platform for progress in 2015 and beyond, and achieved the major elements in its action plan—and more!

Key Hydro Mobile personnel were/are involved in the following:

Regulations

1- Key member of SAIA/OSHA National Alliance

Kevin O’Shea, Director of Safety & Training for Hydro Mobile, is OSHA’s subject-matter expert in the U.S. He has trained 400+ OSHA inspectors in the last two years and is currently revising the course to include new technology and legislation. He also met with national OSHA personnel and gained important commitments on major rule changes and accident reporting formats this year.

Industry standards

1- Chair of ISO Committee on Mast Climbers

Vincent DeQuoy has been the chair of this committee for many years.

2- ANSI (American National Standards Institute)

Kevin O’Shea is a member and Sony Trudel, R&D Assistant Director, is the alternate member on the main ANSI A92 committee. In addition, they are both members of the A92.9 (mast climbers) and A92.10 (transport platforms) sub-committees.

3- CSA (Canadian Standards)

Sony is chair of CSA Canadian standards B354.5 for Mast Climbers and B354.6 for Transport Platforms, and Kevin is a member of both.

Member organizations

1- International Powered Access Federation (IPAF)

Kevin is a member of IPAF’s main committee, IPAF’s senior mast climber instructor, and has chaired IPAF’s mast climber committee for the past six years.

2- Scaffold and Access Industry Association (SAIA)

Kevin and Sony both contribute extensively to support SAIA: Kevin chairs the mast climber committee and Sony is a member. Kevin is a member of the SAIA’s board of directors.

3- Masonry Contractors Association of America (MCAA)

Kevin is the co-chair of its national safety committee.

Hydro Mobile Training University

1- Kevin and Louis-Philippe Robillard have been working closely over the past few months to revise Hydro Mobile’s training courses to improve their effectiveness. New 3D animations have been designed to provide effective knowledge transfer. The content of courses for operators, installers and instructors has been reviewed and improved.

2- New courses are been designed for sales managers, asset and operations managers, operator instructors, and rigging and signaling (to comply with new OSHA regulations).

3- More than 700 people were trained in 2014, with 170+ active instructors in the field.

Trade press 1- Kevin writes the expert’s page in ALH (American Lifts and Handlers) magazine. He regularly contributes to Masonry Magazine and writes the litigation news page for SA Magazine.

Hydro Mobile is fully committed, from the president down, to facilitating the support, direction and impetus that the mast climber and transport platform industries need for 2015 and beyond.

Hydro Mobile understands its position of influence in the industry and the responsibility to “do things right, and do the right thing.” By raising our own standards and those in the rest of the industry, we create a more level playing field that is constantly improving.

The Hydro Mobile approach is probably best explained by Kevin, who, when he joined Hydro Mobile less than two years ago, immediately knew he was in the company of kindred spirits. “Having been at the forefront of the mast climber industry for more than 20 years can get kind of lonely. You feel you’re the only one who is trying to make a difference. When I joined Hydro Mobile, I realized there were others who cared as much as me. I just didn’t realize they were all employed at Hydro Mobile! The team spirit, the uniformity of direction and the commitment permeate the whole team. It’s pleasure to be part of it.”

Hydro Mobile has developed the best training in the industry. It has taken the leadership role and has the most proactive, educated customers in the industry, who are following the example Hydro Mobile is setting for quality products, world-class training and an unswerving commitment to safety.