We can never talk too much about shop safety and the proper procedures that are necessary for handling slabs. Unfortunately, from time to time, we hear about a tragic fatality that most likely could have been prevented if more attention was paid to the handling process. Because safety should be considered with the upmost importance, Stone World makes it a focal point once a year. But for those working with slabs, safety should be a daily reminder.
In addition to taking precaution when handling slabs in the shop or on the jobsite, transportation should also not be overlooked. If proper measures are not carried out to firmly secure slabs that are being transported on the roadway, not only can damage occur, but the safety of other drivers can be impacted. Jonathan Mitnick of Mitnick Stone Inc. and CCS Stone, Inc., who also was recently elected as a director for the Natural Stone Institute and is the association’s Safety Committee post chairman, has written an article in this issue entitled “The Slab Road.” (page 40) “Today, we see common carriers getting loaded with slabs of everything from porcelain to engineered quartz to natural stone,” said Mitnick. “Some distributors have tested crating systems with their designated carriers, but a vast majority haven’t. Wooden frames with slabs are so common that it’s concerning. The methods vary, but most truckers surely lack formal slab handling safety.”