December newsletter Complied By: Amanda Martyka, editorial assistant   Milo Media would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Best wishes and see you in 2007!    SAFETY Safety administrator course offered by the Construction Safety Council The Construction Safety Council is offering a 145-hour construction safety administrator certificate course Dec. 5 through May 24 in Hillside, IL. The course will consist of three modules focusing on physical hazards in construction, health hazards and emergency preparedness and administrative programs and OSHA compliance. Employee enrollment in the course will allow companies to remain current with OSHA standards, gain certified safety specialists, and avoid possible citations and fines due to lack of knowledge of proper safety and record keeping procedures. For more information, visit buildsafe.org.   New OSHA QuickCard available A new OSHA QuickCard focusing on scaffolding safety has been released on the OSHA Web site and through the OSHA publication office. The Supported Scaffold QuickCard, which is available in English and Spanish, features illustrations and tips regarding inspecting scaffolds and its accompanying parts.   Greater job safety provided for immigrant workers in Rhode Island Immigrant workers in Rhode Island will receive greater assistance in protecting themselves from common workplace hazards. With a new alliance among OSHA, the Institute for Labor Studies and Research, and the Rhode Island Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, adult and teenage immigrant workers will be provided with better training and education programs focusing on occupational safety, health rights and common workplace hazards. PEOPLE, PLACES, PROJECTS Leica Geosystems acquires Mikrofyn Leica Geosystems and Hexagon announced its attainment of Mikrofyn A/S. The Denmark-based company is one of Europe’s top dealers of machine automation and laser leveling and alignment equipment for the building construction and civil engineering industries. Mikrofyn A/S produces machine automation and laser leveling, as well as alignment equipment for the building construction and civil engineering industries. The company’s products include automatic and manual machine control systems for excavators, graders, dozers and paving machines, and an expansive line of laser rotators, laser receivers and pipe lasers.   Haulotte Group’s third quarter sales surge Haulotte Group reported consolidated sales of $138.77 million in its third quarter. This is an increase of $107.54 million from its third quarter in 2005. Thus far, Hautlotte Group reported total consolidated sales of $439.54 million for 2006, an increase of 27 percent from last year. Haulotte Group is expecting to continue its sales growth into the fourth quarter.   Terex welcomes new Chicago-area dealer Chicago Machinery Company was named a new dealer of the Terex Construction product line. The Lynwood, IL.-based company offers sales, service, parts, field repairs and rental. As a Terex dealer, the company will have a number of Terex construction products available, including articulated and rigid frame haul trucks, wheel loaders, excavators and scrapers.   Hirschmann Automation and Control (PAT) names new premier dealer Cranes & Equipment Specialists is the new premier dealer for Hirschmann Automation and Control (PAT) for the territories of Illinois and Wisconsin. A 28- year veteran of the construction industry, Cranes & Equipment Specialists, based in Palos Hills, IL., is a full-service premier dealer and carries Hirschmann’s full line of PAT and Krueger crane operator aids. This includes the newly introduced PRS 40 EZ indicator for mobile cranes and the Hirschmann maestro load moment indicator (LMI) upgrade.   JLG opens new ServicePLUS location The third ServicePLUS service and repair center by JLG Industries, Inc. opened in Kennesaw, GA. The new location houses 20 service bays and 15 factory-trained technicians. Services include the 24/7 availability of three on call, certified technicians equipped with mobile service vehicles for on-location help. The center also provides instructors for operator and service training. The previous two ServicePLUS locations include Houston, Texas and McConnellsburg, PA. Additional ServicePLUS centers are planned.       TRENDLINES The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 4.2 million private industry injuries and illnesses occurred in 2005. This is a decline for the third consecutive year, as well as the lowest overall rate recorded. The construction industry accounted for 10.2 percent of all nonfatal workplace injuries in 2005, and 4.2 percent of all nonfatal workplace illnesses. This equated to 6.3 nonfatal injury or illness cases per 100 full-time construction industry workers. -Bureau of Labor Statistics   Due to the decline of the U.S. housing market, overall construction spending in 2007 is also expected to decrease one percent. This puts the cost of new construction at an estimated $668 billion for 2007. It is predicted that job growth and commercial development will be significantly affected. - McGraw-Hill Construction   The demand for heavy construction equipment is expected to increase worldwide by 5.4 percent annually through 2009. This is due in part to the increasing use of these products in locations such as Eastern Europe, India and China. North America is expected to continue to be the largest and fastest growing market of these products.  - Freedonia   The construction industry and labor unions contributed heavily to the campaigns for the Nov. 7, 2006 elections. Combined, construction firms provided candidates with $38.8 million as of Sept. 11, 2006. At just over $2 million, the National Association of Home Builders contributed the most to campaigns, with 28 percent of the donations going to Democrats and 72 percent to Republications. It is predicted the total amount of money donated by construction firms may surpass the $45.7 million donated in 2002. - McGraw-Hill Contruction CALENDAR Jan. 23-26 World of Concrete 2007 (With World of Masonry) Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, Nev. worldofconcrete.com   Feb. 7 Environmental Trading 101 Seminar frallc.com Venue and location to be announced   Feb. 7-10 International Builders’ Show Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Fla buildersshow.com   Feb. 7-10 The Rental Show The Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta, Ga. ararental.org   Feb. 13-15 17th Annual Construction Safety Conference David E. Stephens Convention Center Rosemont, Ill. buildsafe.org   Feb. 28-March 2 Frame Building Expo Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, Ind. nfba.org   March 7-9 Specialized Transportation Symposium Disney's Coronado Springs Resort Orlando, Fla. scranet.org/event   March 19-22 World of Asphalt 2007 Show & Conference Georgia International Convention Center Atlanta, Ga. worldofasphalt.com   April 10-14 SC&RA Annual Conference Westin La Cantera Resort San Antonio, Texas scranet.org/event   April 17-19 The Total Facilities Management Show Festival Hall B, Navy Pier Chicago, Ill. todaysfacilitymanager.com       For more news, trendlines, calendar items, and features, look for the December issue of Lift Applications & Equipment to be hitting your mailbox soon, as well as the November/December issue of CraneWorks right behind. For more information on Milo Media, or any of our publications, visit http://www.milomediapub.com/. And if you, or your company, have news releases you would like to send us for consideration in our magazines, do not hesitate to contact Lindsey K. Anderson, Managing Editor, at lindsey@milomediapub.com or by calling (847) 852-4387 ext. 106.       To unsubscribe send an email message to opt-out@milomediapub.com with unsubscribe in the subject line and you will be removed from the list.