On August 13th, the industry lost one of its most passionate advocates, and many of us lost a dear friend. Kevin O’Shea, the proud Scotsman who helped build the business from the ground up, has passed away at the age of 64, following a courageous fight against cancer. He was just a few weeks shy of his 65th birthday. He leaves behind his wife Alison, his stepson Andrew, at least one grandchild, and an entire industry that is safer and stronger because of him.

Kevin was a Glasgow boy through and through, but his roots in the access industry ran just as deep. He started at JLG in the 1980s under the mentorship of Andrew Reid, a partnership that would define his professional life. When Reid launched Mastclimbers Ltd, Kevin was right there with him, becoming a tireless evangelist for the technology. That passion eventually brought him to the United States in 2004, where he and his colleague Mike Pitt established Mastclimbers LLC in Atlanta. Over the next decade, they built a thriving business, one client and one conversation at a time.

He later became the Safety Director at Hydro Mobile and stayed on with the company following its acquisition by BrandSafway. But Kevin’s influence extended far beyond any single job title. He was a force of nature, a crusader for safety who worked tirelessly with organizations like IPAF, SAIA, and OSHA to shape the rules and culture that protect workers every day. He chaired committees, trained hundreds of OSHA inspectors, and helped introduce global safety standards to North America.

Yet, for all his professional grit, it was his heart that truly set him apart. Kevin was a born storyteller who could make a room erupt in laughter, even when you knew the punchline by heart. He was a gifted musician who could turn any conference into a party, and any stranger into a friend. Colleagues recall how he made newcomers feel instantly welcome and how his endless optimism could lift a team. “Kevin had a rare gift for bringing people together—with humour, honesty, and heart,” said SAIA Executive Director DeAnna Martin. “If you spent time with Kevin, you laughed. That’s just who he was.”

Another friend, IPAF Chief Executive Peter Douglas, put it simply: “The powered access industry is stronger because Kevin was part of it. His commitment, his friendship, and his vision will be missed beyond measure.”

To those who were lucky enough to know him, Kevin was more than a leader—he was a mentor, a confidant, and the life of the party. His laughter, his stories, and his impact on our industry will live on for years to come. Rest in peace, Kevin.