Power sweeping group honors ASCA

The North American Power Sweeping Association honored the ASCA for its assistance in helping the power sweeping group develop its own set of industry standards.

The collaboration began roughly two years ago when a group of NAPSA board members, which included a couple of ASCA members, approached Executive Director Kevin Gilbride for more knowledge on the association’s various programs, including the Industry Standards.

“They were experiencing many of the same issues the snow and ice management industry was facing, most notably, the frequent occurrence of slip-and-fall claims filed against them, unfair contract language, and an overall lack of respect from the outside world,” Gilbride says. “I explained to the NAPSA’s board members how the Industry Standards for the professional snow and ice industry is the foundation for everything the ASCA does, and without the Industry Standards, nothing else we’ve done could be accomplished.”

The NAPSA board, with assistance from the ASCA, proceeded to develop its own standards for the power sweeping industry.

The NAPSA board formed a standards committee that met weekly and consulted with Gilbride regularly as power sweeping members managed through the accreditation process. Gilbride adds it was a great experience for both parties.

“It is great to have another organization, challenged with the same issues, adopt a standard,” Gilbride says. “While there are thousands of standards out there through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), not many have been developed in the service sectors. In the end, NAPSA’s adoption of an ANSI standard will make both of our standards more powerful.”

NAPSA unveiled its industry standards to its members at its national show in Nashville, as well as recognized the ASCA with a plaque for helping develop and achieve accreditation.

“I was thrilled to accept the accolade on behalf of all ASCA members and the role the professional snow and ice management industry played in inspiring another segment of the service industry to take control of their professional development,” he says.