Fall protection, hazard communication top OSHA violations tally for FY2013

Fall Protection once again leads the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s top 10 most-cited workplace safety violations, which the National Safety Council announced last month in Chicago during its 2013 Congress & Expo.

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Sustainable Practices All Concrete Producers Should Start With

Within the concrete world, we hear a lot these days about sustainability. Maybe at times a bit too much, as it can become confusing to concrete producers who may not be sure how it applies to them or where to start. And, the many buzzwords associated with sustainability can further mystify a movement that isn’t going to go away or die out as the next fad, but one instead which is going to form the foundation for how all successful businesses are going to operate tomorrow and into the future. In other words, sustainability and sustainable practices are the future for concrete producers.

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NLRB’s delivery-labor standard sinks Operating Engineers’ serial grievances

This year is winding down with signs of recovery throughout construction. Certain union locals might find 2013 wanting, however, as National Labor Relations Board authorities have determined that their attempts to come between concrete suppliers and contractors violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

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Regulatory uncertainty drives coal ash recycling rates to fourth straight year of decline

Sources: American Coal Ash Association (ACAA), Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff

The total volume of coal ash recycled in the U.S. was off 4.7 million tons in 2012 against the prior year, while fly ash used in concrete remained at the nearly flat level of 11.8 million tons, a 44,000-ton boost over 2011 consumption-far off the pace of a 7 percent year-over-year increase in portland cement shipments.

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Remote controlled dowel drilling

Wireless remote control increases efficiency and safety for concrete dowel-pin drilling applications, company officials note, citing patent-pending technology to improve jobsite conditions by affording operator better vantage point for more accurate placement. By removing the operator from the drilling unit, the wireless remote control allows workers to avoid harmful dust and debris. Furthermore, the operator also has a broader viewpoint…

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Bulletin emphasizes static electricity with ULSD risks during refueling

“ULSD … Not Your Same Old Diesel Fuel Anymore” is a new best practices guidance bulletin from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers that warns of the greater static electricity ignition hazards associated with use of Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD).

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Hydraulic cylinder actuators

The self-contained Electronic Advanced Sub-system—Integrated (EAS-i) Actuator—is available on a wide range of cylinder types, and has been designed to locally control the motion of the cylinder or a group of cylinders to perform a programmed function and respond to an input.

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Automatic bearing lubrication

System 24 LAGD Series single-point automatic lubricators are “hands-off” solutions that deliver the proper pre-set amount of lubricant needed for bearings in machinery across industries. The gas-driven feed versions are engineered to perform reliably on a 24-hour basis without manual intervention and can resolve issues typically associated with hard-to-access or potentially hazardous lubrication points. Ultimately, they optimize the accuracy, reliability, and cleanliness of lubricant delivery, product engineers contend, contributing to increased uptime of assets, reduced maintenance, and favorable environmental impact.

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