OSHA sends out notifications
The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has notified nearly 14,000 employers that injury and illness rates at their worksites are higher than average. In a letter sent this month to those employers, OSHA explained the notification was a proactive step to motivate employers to take steps now to reduce those rates and improve the safety and health environment in their workplaces. "This identification process is meant to raise awareness that injuries and illnesses are high at these facilities," said Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. The workplaces identified had 5.3 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfer (DART) for every 100 full-time workers. The national average during 2005 was 2.4 DART instances for every 100 workers.

AGC announces partnership to protect roadway workers
As part of the Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners, the Associated General Contractors of America signed an alliance recently OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to establish a collaborative relationship to protect workers in highway work zones. OSHA, NIOSH, and The Roadway Work Zone Safety and Health Partners will work to provide the alliance program participants and other government and non-government organizations with information, guidance and access to training resources that will help protect employees from general health and safety hazards.

School planned for contaminated land
The San Bernardino County superintendent of schools wants to build a new preschool on land contaminated with arsenic and lead. The 24,000-square-foot Chino Early Education Center would be built on 4.4 acres where two empty houses now sit at 4562 and 4578 Philadelphia St. But first, the state Department of Toxic Substances Control must approve the removal of approximately 450 tons of arsenic-contaminated soil and nearly 45 tons of lead-contaminated soil that were found during an environmental investigation of the site. Arsenic levels in the soil are more than four times higher than acceptable levels, according to the DTSC. The lead concentration is almost six times above the limit. Officials from the superintendent of schools said they believe the site will be safe for children once the contaminated dirt is cleared away.

ACG launches soft tissue prevention program
Back injuries, sprains, strains, pinched nerves and soft-tissue injuries account for a third of total claims and two-thirds of the total cost for workers' compensation losses, according to recent estimates from the insurance industry. The Soft Tissue Injury Prevention Program, co-developed by AGC of America and Zurich, focuses on the cause, reduction, and the prevention of soft-tissue injuries. The program includes a trainer's manual with instructional PowerPoint CD, participant guides and videotape.

John Deere lends its voice to “Call Before You Dig”
John Deere has added its voice to the national "Call Before You Dig" effort. The safety initiative provides professionals and homeowners with a nationwide, FCC-designated 811 number to mark utility lines prior to construction. John Deere is working in conjunction with the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), an industry group committed to saving lives and preventing damage to underground facilities. The new 811 number, which will be launched May 1, 2007 in Washington, D.C., has been created to eliminate confusion of multiple “Call Before You Dig” numbers currently used across the country. A lack of knowledge by the public about the importance of having utility lines marked before digging can result in injury or death, costly damages to underground infrastructure, and utility service disruptions to thousands of people at a time. With the new line in place, homeowners and contractors will be able to call one easy-to-remember number to have crews mark a requested site for underground lines prior to any excavation.

OSHA joins state to promote work safety and health
OSHA will work together with state organizations in New Hampshire to develop and deliver seminars on construction safety and health and other topics for state businesses, share best practices and effective approaches, conduct outreach, and develop and disseminate case studies illustrating the value of safety and health. The goal of the alliance is to encourage businesses to build relationships with OSHA's area and regional offices and promote their participation in OSHA's cooperative programs. The New Hampshire safety and health alliance is part of U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao's ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of employees through cooperative partnerships with trade associations, labor organizations, employers and government agencies. OSHA currently has more than 450 alliances throughout the nation with organizations committed to fostering safety and health in the workplace.

JLG expands footprint in the midwest
In an effort to add to its service area, and meet customer demand throughout the country, JLG has appointed two new telehandlers dealers. Wisconsin-based Dawes Rigging & Crane Rental, and Oklahoma City’s Boyd Company will each represent six JLG telehandler models with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 pounds and maximum lift heights from 19 feet to 55 feet. The new outlets will develop a larger footprint for the company throughout the Midwest and North Central Texas regions.

Pettibone announces new dealer
Pettibone, a manufacturer in the material handling industry for over 125 years, has announced is KMH Systems, Inc. as the newest Authorized Pettibone Dealer. Based in Dayton, OH, KMH Systems, Inc. will be responsible for sales and service of the Cary-Lift, Extendo and Traverse product lines in Indiana and Southern Michigan.

Haulotte appoints new head of Chinese subsidiary
Emmanuel Kuranty has been appointed head of the Chinese subsidiary of Haulotte Group. Working previously as the electronic branch buisness manager in Europe, Kuranty will now take on responsibility for implementing head the Hauoltte range in China and continue growth in the region. Haulotte Group is established in the Asian-Pacific market with three strategic subsidiaries in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. In 2007 the Group has plans to open a new subsidiary in Asia.

All Aerials acquires more than 200 lifts
ALL Aerials, part of the All Erection & Crane Rental Corp., has acquired nearly 250 new JLG brand aerial lifts. The new equipment offers boom heights from 30 to 150 feet, and includes several specialty models, including a number of JLG’s 150-foot articulating boom. The new acquisition makes ALL Aerials one of the few U.S. companies to offer 150-foot lifts in their rental fleet. The JLG models also include crawler-type lifts, 60-foot boom lifts and models with on-board welders, the first time ALL Aerials has stocked such specialty lifts. Since 1964, the ALL family of companies has become one of the largest crane and lift equipment rental outlets in North America, and currently provides rental, sales, service and jobsite analysis a locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

So far so good…
Eighteen months after signing a 20-year strategic alliance agreement, representatives for both Caterpillar Inc. and JLG Industries, Inc., are pleased with the success of the partnership, both companies said. Since teaming in January 2006, significant milestones have included the development of a completely new Cat telehandler product designed specifically for the Americas’ market. In July and October 2006, Cat telehandlers began shipping to Caterpillar dealers across Europe, Africa, Middle East from Belgium and to North and South America. “We’re very pleased with the progress of our strategic alliance with JLG,” said Ed Rapp, vice president of Caterpillar’s building construction products division. “The Alliance is committed to providing our Caterpillar dealers throughout the world with premium, quality telehandlers to support their channels to market.”

Manitowoc appoints new Crane CARE vice president
Manitowoc, provider of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, has promoted David Hardin to vice president of its Crane CARE for the Americas customer support program. In his new role, Hardin will provide planning, direction and management for all Manitowoc Crane CARE teams in North and South America. He will further develop the parts and service operations, rapid response teams, and contact centers. He also oversees the training and technical support efforts for the Americas. For the last year, Hardin has worked from the Manitowoc Crane CARE remanufacturing facility where he oversaw operations including lattice and mobile hydraulic crane rebuilds, component repair, reconditioning programs and exchange activities.

Gary Crook re-joins UpRight
In an effort to strengthen its design and engineering capabilities, UpRight has re-hired Gary Crook as senior design engineer. He and his team will be responsible for development initiatives including developing a full line of UpRight booms and scissors and launching new products and re-introducing UpRight machines in the market. “Appointing Gary Crook is a significant step forward,” said Darren Kell, CEO of UpRight, in a written statement. “Not only is Gary one of the best design engineers in the industry, but he also has a huge tacit knowledge base and level of expertise in the entire UpRight product portfolio.” Crook worked previously under Kell before moving to JLG in April 2004. During his time at UpRight he played a key role in the birth of the SB80 boom lift and the X26 ultra-narrow scissor, among others. "UpRight has always had a reputation of innovation for productivity-enhancing designs. I was fortunate enough to be a part of that culture and I intend to revive it,” Crook said.

U.S. construction spending beat expectations and rose 0.3 percent in February as increases in nonresidential construction overcame drops in residential and federal construction.
- AEDNews

Construction spending declined 0.8 percent in January, offsetting a 0.6 percent rise in December. These relatively large month-to-month swings are due to unseasonable weather. The construction spending trend remains flat to slightly down.
- Reed Construction Data

Based on jobsite activity levels for all of 2006 and the first month of 2007, Reed Construction Data expects total U.S. construction spending to increase +1.1 percent in 2007 versus +4.8 percent last year. Total residential investment (new and improvements) is expected to decline 7.8 percent in 2007 (versus -1.8% in 2006) as housing starts will fall -9.2% this year (versus 12.9% last year). Non-residential building put-in-place investment is now expected to increase +12.7% in 2007 (versus +13.5% in 2006). Non-building (heavy engineering) work will grow +8.5% in 2007 (versus +13.1% in 2006.)
- Reed Construction Data

New-home sales in the U.S. unexpectedly fell in February to the lowest since June 2000, dimming prospects for a quick revival in housing while the number of new homes on the market grew. Purchases declined 3.9 percent to an annual pace of 848,000 in February from a revised 882,000 rate in January that was lower than previously reported, according to the Commerce Department.
- Bloomberg.com

After Iran took British sailors captive and the UN imposed sanctions on the country, crude oil for May delivery in New York rose 90 cents, or 1.5 percent, to $63.18 a barrel. Futures touched $63.30, the highest for a front-month contract since Dec. 21. The May futures contract reached $63.75 on March 8. Prices are down 1.6 percent from a year ago.
- Bloomberg.com