In December, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced it was replacing traditional hardhats for its employees with ANSI-Z89.1-certified Type II safety helmets when they work on sites. But some contractors had been requiring the more protective helmets for at least some of their workers since 2015.

The cranes industry, integral to construction, infrastructure, and logistics, is not immune to the effects of economic downturns. These periods of economic decline can significantly impact the demand for construction projects, influence investment decisions, and alter market dynamics. This article explores the challenges posed by economic downturns on the cranes industry and provides strategies to mitigate their impacts. By understanding these factors and implementing adaptive measures, industry players can better navigate economic uncertainties and emerge resilient.

Canadian battery manufacturer Discover Battery has launched a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculator allowing users to fully understand and determine the operational costs of a battery over its lifetime.

The calculator allows users to input data such as battery specifications, costs, labour expenses and service frequency to calculate total operational costs. The company says it can help users save up to 40% when selecting a battery.

Being home-schooled for much of her secondary school career gives Priya McSweeney some measure of choice over how she spends her time.

Still, that alone doesn’t fully account for the 16-year-old’s expertise in the field of arboriculture, which she showed last month by passing the Massachusetts Certified Arborist examination, becoming the youngest certified arborist in the state.

Wire rope multi-part slings

I have always been told that every job is easy if you have the right tools. The same philosophy is true for lifting slings and rigging. Choosing the proper sling before making a lift will ensure the task is performed correctly and most importantly, safely. Understanding the basics of selecting a sling for your lifting operations is vital for your efficiency and productivity. The rated capacity of a sling varies depending upon the sling material, the size of the sling, and the type of hitch. Wire rope, alloy steel chain, synthetic web, synthetic round and natural and synthetic fiber slings all have unique properties that need to be evaluated before the material selection can be made. Each type of sling has its advantages and disadvantages.

Before the year 2000, the term “telemetry” was only associated with NASA and the space program. Today telematics is a mainstream term in the construction equipment industry; telematics technology is constantly evolving through new benefits and new technologies that are being added to those benefits.

Heavy equipment operation requires a clear mind and sharp vision. Distractions from electronic devices, fatigue or ground activity can put the operator, the employer and the project at risk. Marking Distracted Driving Month in April, OSHA urged contractors to have a play to prevent operator distraction while driving machinery on the job.

On a job site, it’s tempting to immediately start a task or resolve an issue with a “get ‘er done” attitude. However, in doing so, you lose the opportunity to identify safety risks.

When working as a team, you also need to discuss the risks of that job site. By discussing safety risks, you decrease the chances of someone getting injured.

Building contractor talking to male worker. Mid adult engineer is sitting in pick-up truck. They are in reflective clothing at construction site.The utilities sector is a higher-risk sector. Some of the most frequent worksite causes of injury and death are present in the utilities industry. These include slips and falls, collision with a moving object, and contact with dangerous substances.