SAFE Stand Down largest in Texas history
The AGC organized the SAFE Stand Down in Texas, an event that gives workers safety and procedural training. The theme "Take Five to Stay Alive" promoted pre-task planning to reduce accidents and increase work safety.

This was the fifth event in Texas, and the first to go state-wide. The first stand down took place in 2005 when the region experience 32 jobsite deaths in 2004, and nine occurred in the first four months of 2005.

"Every Stand Down gets bigger and bigger," said Dino Sideris, safety director for Bob Moore Construction. "We saw how successful the training sessions were in the Metroplex and rolled the concept out to the rest of the state. It's very gratifying to know that the efforts we put in motion two years ago are now improving the welfare of more than 5,000 workers around the state. Ultimately, I'd like to see other states pick up this program as well."

According to the AGC, about 306 general contractors participated in the event, training 5,200 workers, which stopped more than $2.1 billion in commercial construction projects.

8th Annual National Work Zone Awareness Week held
The National Work Zone Awareness week was hosted by the Virginia Department of Transportation in April 2007. It was created in 1997 and was designed to improve work zone safety through engineering, education, enforcement and coordination with public safety agencies. Some of the participating groups include the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Federal Highway Administration, American Road and Transportation Builders Association and the American Traffic Safety Services Association.

Work zone fatalities have increased by 40 percent from 1997 to 2005, according the Federal Highway Administration. In 2005, there were 1,074 work zone fatalities. However, the rise in work zone has fallen in highway fatalities. In 1996, there were roughly 5.5 deaths per 100 million miles of travel and in 2005, there were 1.46 deaths per 100 million miles of travel, according to highway officials.

Some of the things people had done in the past during National Work Zone Awareness week were tying orange ribbons to their vehicle's antennae and driving around with their headlights on. Now about 46 states participate in the event.

Georgia Tech creates program to improve workplace safety
Because there are so many unknown and unusual hazards surrounding different occupations, Georgia Tech developed a consultation program that provides technical expertise and training to help Georgia companies create safe environments for their workers. The program is funded by the OSHA and is free to companies with less than 250 workers.

In 2005, 3,838 serious hazards were identified in over 350 companies. By the program's consultants finding these hazards, employers saved $3.8 million in potential penalties from the OSHA.

Georgia Tech's consultation program serves a variety of different companies including food processors, construction companies and nursing homes. Consultants evaluate safety programs already in place and help strengthen them as well as focus on three areas: safety issues, like fire protection, emergency response, electrical safety and machine guarding, fall protection and machine hazards; health hazards, including exposure to chemicals, noise and blood-borne pathogens; and ergonomic problems that can cause musculoskeletal disorders.

New safety standards implemented in oil industry
The American Petroleum Institute (API) has developed new safety standards to meet the demands of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.

The new standards came as a result of an explosion at a Texas refinery that killed 15 people and injured 170 in 2005, the worst in U.S. industrial accident in 16 years. The safety board found nine trailers were 121 feet away from the unit that exploded, and workers in trailers 480 feet away from the explosion were injured.

It was recommend to the API that they require refineries to limit how close workers' portable trailers can be placed near hazardous operations. New standards for oil refiners, like Exxon Mobile Corp., suggest three "blast zones" where portable buildings can be placed, depending on construction material in a trailer and the size of a close by refinery unit.

Since 1992, 36 refinery accidents involving hazardous chemicals have caused 52 deaths and 250 injuries, according to the OSHA. The industry is considered the most dangerous in the country.

Leica Geosystems announces vice president of construction
Valerie Richardson has been appointed vice president of construction for Leica Geosystems North America.

Effective immediately, Richardson will be responsible for sales, channel management, service, support and product marketing for all products and systems designed for the construction and industry segments.

The new role will also bring Richardson in close collaboration with the newly formed Hexagon Machine Control and the Precision Tools Divisions worldwide, as well as the Geosystems Division where she will support sales of mid-range instruments to the construction segment.

A two-year veteran of Leica Geosystems, Richardson was previously vice president of strategic marketing and customer support, a position she had held since February 2005. Prior to joining Leica Geosystems, Richardson served in various marketing, sales and channel development roles at Invensys plc and Siemens Energy & Automation. She has lived and worked abroad, and holds an MBA in finance from North Central College, an M.A. in industrial/organizational psychology and a B.A. in journalism from Drake University.

" Valerie is an effective leader and delivers quality results," said Bob Williams, president of Leica Geosystems, Inc. "With her diverse business experience and skills in many areas related to increasing customer-focus, I am confident that she will unify her team to achieve our business goals for the construction and industry markets while continuing to improve customer satisfaction levels."

MEC appoints new general manager
MEC Aerials has announced the appointment of Frank Shanahan to general manager of its California Manufacturing and Engineering Company (CMEC) division. CMEC manufactures electric and rough terrain scissor lifts and telehandlers that are marketed by MEC Aerials.

Shanahan joined CMEC in October 2004 as chief financial officer and later assumed operations responsibilities. He previously served as CFO and operations manager for Actagro, LLC. Actagro is a manufacturer and distributor of chemical fertilizers based in Biola, CA.

Prior to Actagro, Shanahan spent nine years in the insurance industry with Western States Administrators, National American Lift Insurance Company and the Department of Insurance at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He also worked five years in banking as CFO and then president of Western Commercial, a bank holding company for Fresno Bank of Commerce and Merced Bank of Commerce.

Shanahan began his career with Ernst & Young, where he worked in various positions including senior audit manager specializing in the financial services industry. Shanahan is a certified public accountant and earned his B.S. degree in business administration at California State University at Fullerton.

Haulotte opens factory in Spain
On March 30, Pierre Saubot, chairman of Haulotte Group, and Alexandre Saubot, CEO of Haulotte Group, welcomed Miguel Angel Revilla, president of Cantabria, and Dolores Gorostiaga, vice president and institutional relations counselor and European matters, to the inauguration of the Group's new Spain facility. The factor will employ 300 people in the manufacturing unit and 1,000 employees through its suppliers.

Hitachi introduces new micro AC drives
Hitachi America, Ltd., Industrial Systems Division has developed a new series of inverters called the X200 Series. It compact design consists of power and flexibility in a contractor-style package, which means the power input is at the top and the motor output is at the bottom. It is easy to use, install and maintain and is suitable for applications such as a fan, pump and conveyor. It a features a new hardware-based emergency stop system called the Safe Stop, an improved trip avoidance function, an automatic energy saving function, built-in timing logic, analog input math (PLC) functions and an RS485 Modbus/RTU communication interface. Another function of the X200 Series is that when the AC supply power is lost, the inverter decelerates and stops the motor from using regenerative energy from the load. Hitachi America, Ltd. is a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. and markets and manufacture electronics, computer systems and products, consumer electronics, and provides industrial equipment and services throughout North America.

MaxiForce opens warehouse on west coast
MaxiForce, Inc., nationally recognized as a leader in diesel engine parts, is expanding its operations to the west coast with the opening of a new warehouse that will enable the company to service the entire United States in three days or less.

"The most common themes we hear from customers is that quickness and reliability are crucial traits for any company they work with," said Paul F. Kelly, Sales & Marketing Director for Maxiforce. "For this reason, we're continuing our tradition of addressing the needs of our valued customers and ensuring we remain a trusted partner."

Specializing in engine parts for John Deere, Cummins B & C and Perkins® engines for 15 years Maxiforce has been servicing a multitude of clients. With an extensive inventory, immediate shipping and personal technical support, it has established itself as a major player in the industry.

Maxiforce Inc. supplies the most complete out frame and in frame engine rebuild kits in the industry. Our company offers a wide array of individual parts and components as: Crankshafts (9 models for John Deere applications), oil pumps, balancer and shafts units, fuel transfer pumps, water pump kits, valve train kits and components, oil coolers, thermostats and much more.

MEC appoints Titan Equipment as new aerial dealer
MEC Aerials has appointed Titan Equipment as a full service authorized dealer for MEC scissor lifts and telescopic handlers in Western and Central Michigan, according to an announcement by MEC president Jim Tolle.

"MEC Lifts have always had a tremendous amount of loyal following in this state," said Titan Equipment co-owner Paul Roussey in a written statement. "MEC scissors have an impeccable record for being very reliable machines that are overbuilt with quality and performance. We are extremely excited to add MEC machines to our rental fleet, but we also provide owners of vintage MEC units on-site service, preventative maintenance, annual inspections and OSHA compliance performed by knowledgeable and experienced mechanics working out of Titan offices in both Byron Center and Lansing."

Booming commercial construction, an aging work force and more certification requirements are all factors contributing to increasing demand for cranes and their operators across the nation. Spending on nonresidential construction was up nearly 14 percent during the first three months of 2007 from last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Association of Equipment Manufacturers estimates the construction industry will need to add a total of 1 million jobs by 2012.
www.cincinnati.com

A big drop in the price of the typical new home sold in April spurred much better-than-expected sales, according to the latest government reading on the battered real estate and home building market. New homes sold at an annual pace of 981,000 in April, up 16.2 percent from the revised 844,000 pace in March. It was the sharpest year-over-year drop in median new home prices since December 1970 and the biggest month-to-month drop on record.
www.cnnmoney.com

With good results posted in the first quarter of 2007, the DEUTZ Group has been able to maintain the outstanding rate of growth achieved in 2006. At about $693 million, new orders were up significantly on the corresponding period in 2006. Unit sales climbed to 63,770 engines, a rise of 22.6 percent. Consolidated revenue reached about $525 million, which equates to a gain of 26.3 percent on the equivalent period in 2006. Operating profit (EBIT before one-off items) reached about $26 million and the net income after tax amounted to about $8 million, 487.7 percent up on the first three months of 2006.
www.deutz.com

House prices in the U.S. dropped last quarter for the first time in almost 16 years, as 13 out of 20 cities recorded declines in March. A report from S&P/Case-Shiller showed house prices fell 1.4 percent in the first three months of 2007 from a year before. Sales of existing homes fell 2.6 percent in April to a four-year low, an industry report showed last week.
www.bloomberg.com

The commercial structure types strengthened in March. Hotel construction increased 24 percent, aided by the start of a $130 million hotel and entertainment center in Michigan City, IN. Office construction grew 15 percent, with support coming from large office projects in Chicago, IL ($132 million), Mooresville, NC ($109 million) and Miami, FL ($103 million).
www.construction.com

While Fed officials said the downturn in housing was turning out to be more severe than expected, worries about inflation continued to dominate the May 9 discussions among Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues, according to minutes of the closed-door discussions released. The Fed on May 9 left the federal funds rate unchanged at 5.25 percent. Many analysts believe that continued worries about inflation will keep the central bank from changing rates for possibly the entire year.
www.chicagotribune.com

The price of paving asphalt has changed drastically during the first half of the year. Prices collapsed during the first two months of the year before posting a spring rebound. But in May and June, the rebound in asphalt prices began to falter, with prices declining nearly 1 percent during the past two months. This compares to a 15 percent increase during the same two months of 2006. The net result was a dramatic decline in the year-to-year price increase, which fell from 22 percent last April to 5 percent in June.
www.construction.com

The first quarter of 2007 was characterized by further strong growth in sales of handling equipment in the building sector and a sharp acceleration in sales in the agricultural and industrial sectors. Given the excellent level of business in the first quarter, with order intake up 16 percent in volume terms and an order book that increased by more than one third compared with March 2006, the Group has raised its net sales forecast for 2007 from 10 percent to a range of 12 and 13 percent.
Manitou

Approximately 4,150 high-hazard worksites will be inspected under OSHA's 2007 Site-Specific Targeting Program, starting May 14. This year's program will initially target sites that reported 11 or more injuries or illnesses, resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer for every 100 full-time employees. The list will also include sites that have a days away from work injury and illness (DAFWII) rate of 9 or higher. The program stems from the agency's Data Initiative for 2006, which surveyed approximately 80,000 employers to attain their injury and illness numbers for 2005.
www.osha.gov

With demand for office space soaring and government spending more on infrastructure improvements, construction spending in New York City should exceed $25 billion this year, according to a new report. Last year's spending of $24.6 billion was up 18 percent from 2005, and spending on non-residential construction surged 93 percent from the year before to $7.9 billion.
www.newyorkbusiness.com