While shop safety has always been important, in recent years, it seems that it has become a top priority among fabricators and other industry members. In fact, I just returned from one of the educational seminars that Stone World sponsors with the Marble Institute of America (MIA), and not to my surprise, it was part of the morning discussion. Tony Malisani, former MIA President (2014) and owner of Malisani, Inc. in Great Falls, MT, who gave the presentation, pointed out that slab safety not only has to be considered in the shop, but on the jobsite as well.
"Slab handling in the shop; we are set up for that," he said. "The problem comes in when you go to install it." Malisani said that things to consider when working at a jobsite include the amount of workers in the install crew, the transport tools that might be needed and to make sure there is a clear path for moving the slab from the truck to the home or building.