West Coast Equipment is excited to announce the availability of JLG’s new product: MaxTrax Rubber Tracks. 

These high quality replacement tracks are made with Compact Loaders and Mini Excavators in mind. Durable & affordable, these rubber tracks offer better handling and excellent ride quality. Perfect for your fleet, they are made to fit a wide variety of machines with a sturdy fit using high-quality materials resulting in better cost per hour than other tracks in their class. 

MaxTrax rubber tracks eliminate weak spots in joints by using continuous wound brass coated cables providing extra strength and flexibility. Forged metal pieces provide more strength and longer life than competing cast metal alternatives. 100% short pitch guide lugs mean that each hole fits the sprocket reliably, helping to prevent unnecessary vibration.

• Better cost per hour than other tracks
• Precision fit on a wide range of OEM machines
• Increased durability from forged metal pieces
• Superior design using continuously would cables to reduce vibration
• Reduced Vibration using a 100% short pitch design

Call West Coast to order today!

MaxTrax_brochure

MaxTrax_flyer

This year has been filled with uncertainty and has significantly damaged many industries, but so far the construction industry seems to be doing well.  As we enter the fall of course, there is a lot of concern over whether these “decent” times will continue. 

By late March most of the country had instituted some kind of Shelter in Place order. In the weeks after that construction activity as tracked by worker hours had declined most in early April – down approximately 17% nationwide. The dip was relatively short-lived though and by the end of May worker hours had rebounded. As of August total worker hours were 2% higher than the first week of March. It’s as if there was no pandemic.

There has been a disparity between the types of construction companies that have been affected most. Smaller companies (<$20M) were hit with the largest declines while larger companies saw more modest dips. As time passed by those differences were still there but parity has nearly been reached among different sized companies so that now all of them appear to be about on par for where they were in early March before any lockdowns.

Of course as we approach winter there is concern about whether the industry will continue its resilience. August saw 16,000 jobs added to payrolls which is a good sign however non-residential jobs saw declines. Nonresidential and infrastructure jobs decreased by 11,000 according to the Associated General Contractors of America.

A majority of firms have reported delays or cancelations of projects even though surveys show that 52% of firms struggle to find craft workers.* So challenges to planning and uncertainty about the course of the pandemic has left much of the industry scratching their heads about what to do next.

Projections of future activity by PSMJ Resources’ forecast of proposed projects for architecture, engineering and construction companies saw a nearly 30% decline in backlogs indicating future slowdowns. 

The Architectural Billings Index, long a bellwether resource for construction, stood at 40 for the month of June. Any score below 50 indicates that architects see declining billings, but the 40 also held signs of hope since it was a definite improvement over May’s 32 index number.**

Fortunately, a variety of new forecasting tools have become available for the industry. The Associated General Contractors of America offers analysis and surveys and can be a go to resource but recently more private sector companies have offered high tech methods of tracking construction data in detailed ways that have never before been available. Companies like Procore, Multivista, OxBlue, Smarvid provide the industry with nearly real-time data. 

Hopefully the industry will continue the pattern set so far during the pandemic even as we enter a challenging fall when Covid cases have already started to rise again. With new tools and insights contractors have greater ability to anticipate necessary changes as conditions continue to be so unpredictable.

* https://www.agc.org/news/2020/09/02/coronavirus-has-caused-significant-construction-project-delays-and-cancellations-yet

** https://www.equipmentworld.com/construction-seems-ok-despite-economic-uncertainty-but-will-the-work-hold/

Scissor lifts have become an indispensable tool for use on job sites as well as public and private venues where a reliable elevated platform is needed. Their efficiency over ladders and scaffolding make scissor lifts a superior choice for many contractors. However, when used improperly or recklessly they can cause serious accidents and injuries.

Over a one-year period, OSHA investigated ten preventable fatalities and more than 20 preventable injuries resulting from a variety of incidents involving scissor lifts. OSHA’s investigations found that most injuries and fatalities involving scissor lifts were the result of employers not addressing: Fall Protection; Stabilization; Positioning *

Fall Protection

Scissor lifts are required to have guard rails to prevent workers from falls. Those operators or occupants should check the guardrail before working on it. They should only stand on the platform, not the rails and keep work within a manageable reach. 

One untrained operator of a scissor lift was killed in 2020 when attempting to film a football game. He had extended the lift over 39 feet while wind was gusting up to 50 mph. The winds blew the lift over and killed him.*

Stabilization

Stability is of the utmost importance to the safe use of a scissor lift. Manufacturer’s recommendations for safe movement are vital. This most often excludes moving the lift while it’s elevated. Level surfaces are essential, and avoiding use in poor weather is advised. Be sure that vehicles are prevented from coming close to the scissor lift. Tip-overs can happen in the blink of an eye.

Collapse of a scissor lift is rare but it is still very important to heed load limits. Also never bypass safety mechanisms or raise the platform with another machine – like a forklift. 

Positioning

Operators must be careful to position the scissor lift in a way that avoids risk of electrocution, 

thermal, burns or arc flashes. Avoid positioning near power lines, electrocution can happen without direct physical contact. 

Scissor lifts also present similar hazards to other kinds of vehicles including crushing hazards or impact hazards. Care needs to be taken when moving underneath a fixed object.

Training

Of course the best way to ensure safe scissor lift usage is to make sure operators are trained to the current standards on the particular equipment they are using. 

Operators should do a pre-start Inspection before each use. That includes inspection of:

Vehicle components

• Proper fluid levels (oil, hydraulic, fuel and coolant);
• Leaks of fluids;
• Wheels and tires;
• Battery and charger;
• Lower-level controls;
• Horn, gauges, lights and backup alarms;
• Steering and brakes.

Lift components

• Operating and emergency controls;
• Personal protective devices;
• Hydraulic, air, pneumatic, fuel and electrical systems;
• Fiberglass and other insulating components;
• Missing or unreadable placards, warnings, or operational, instructional and control markings;
• Mechanical fasteners and locking pins;
• Cable and wiring harnesses;
• Outriggers, stabilizers and other structures;
• Loose or missing parts;
• Guardrail systems. **

Sadly many workers are killed and injured every year while using aerial lifts like scissor lifts. With proper training and reinforcement of safety protocols by management there should be fewer and fewer such incidents. 

Scissor lifts are powerfully effective and efficient tools and are now indispensable in a multitude of settings. Familiarity with safety protocols is a small price for the advantages gained.

* https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3842.pdf

** https://www.osha.gov/Publications/aerial-lifts-factsheet.html

The hours of service (HOS) rules govern the amount of time drivers of commercial vehicles can spend on the road and is regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These rules are intended to prevent accidents by minimizing fatigue primarily targeting long-haul drivers.

The new rules will take effect September 29th. They intend to give greater flexibility while still addressing safety. 

There are four critical changes:

• expanding the short-haul exemption
• expanding the driving window during adverse driving conditions
• modifying the 30-minute break time requirement
• modifying the sleeper berth exception

Two of these rules directly benefit construction contractors, expanding the short-haul exemption from 100 to 150 air miles, and counting non-driving activities toward the 30-minute rest requirement. 

These changes will particularly help for deploying drivers who end up waiting in long lines to load and unload equipment.

Modification of the 30 minute break

FMCSA now requires a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving time (instead of on-duty time) and allows an on-duty/not driving period to qualify as the required break. For short-haul work the 30-minute break therefore would very rarely apply since “in attendance” time may be included in the break if no other duties are performed.

Driving time in Adverse Conditions Extended

Up to two additional hours have been added to the driving window in adverse conditions. The HOS rules currently define adverse conditions as: snow, sleet, fog, other adverse weather conditions, a highway covered with snow or ice, or unusual road and traffic conditions. These factors may not be known to the dispatcher at the time the run is begun. 

FMCSA says that in the event of unanticipated conditions, adding time to the duty day in adverse conditions allows drives to reduce speed or delay operations makes drivers and roads safer.

“This is one of the biggest changes to the rules that we have seen in some time,” says Nick Goldstein, vice president, regulatory and legal issues, American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). “FMCSA reached out. This has been a multi-year project on their part. They have conducted listening sessions, public comment sessions.” The rules were created with input from the regulated community.*

ARTBA has advocated for these changes in order to address situations where rules intended for long-haul drivers were also applied to short-haul drivers. Because the working realities were so different, some of the restrictions created an unnecessary burden and limited flexibility for the industry. 

“The revisions will help transportation construction contractors deploy project personnel more efficiently, saving time and costs while maintaining high standards for safety,” says Dave Bauer, ARTBA president and CEO. “These updates are especially needed for transportation construction to play a crucial role in our nation’s economic recovery.*

Finding the right balance between safety and efficiency is always a challenge and the new rule revisions move the industry further along the right path toward finding that balance.

* Quotes reference

FMCSA Website HOS Rules

West Coast Equipment is looking forward offering this powerful new machine from JLG. The JLG 1075 is a 10,000-pound class Telehandler with a 75 foot boom that can lift up to eight stories and reach up to 60 feet.

This increased flexibility allows loads to be placed further into the building so that it doesn’t have to be unloaded, then reloaded to place materials near the work area.

This will be a powerful tool for installing HVAC systems and performing tasks that would otherwise need a crane. (see our new sheet material attachment)

The 1075 comes standard with JLG’s Longitudinal Stability Indication and a right side, two-way camera for better visibility and safety.

The JLG 1075 can optionally include “SmartLoad” and a remote controlled boom. This allows for one operator to place the material precisely while outside of the cab without a second operator. The 1075 can accept a wide range of attachments for added versatility.

1075 Telehandler

Key Specs

Maximum Lift Capacity: 10000 lb / 4535.92 kg
Outriggers Up Max Lift Height: 75 ft / 22.86 m

Key Features

Lower Project Costs: Eight-story lift height reduces or eliminates the need for costly cranes
Increase Productivity: 60 ft of forward reach minimizes material rehandling
Experience Precision Placement: 30 ft of up-and-over reach allows for more precise load placement
Use Enhanced Technology: Right side electronic mirror with dual cameras allows you to see more

Download Spec Sheet Here: 1075-JLG-Telehandler-Spec-Sheet

We’re happy to see this great new tool for tight spaces. The new 1030P is manually propelled, offering a 10” 2’ platform height and weighs only 755 pounds. It is compact and perfect for setting up scaffolding up to a height of 16 feet. It has a 550 lb. platform capacity offering plenty of options for tools and materials and as well as many practical and safety benefits over ladders. Optional equipment includes a pipe rack, narrow basket, tool tray and foam buffer kit.

1030P

Key Specs

• Platform Height: 10 ft 2 in. / 3.1 m
• Machine Width: 2 ft 6 in. / 0.76 m

Key Features

• Access More Work: Large 30 x 60 in. platform provides access to more workspace without needing to reposition the unit
• Improve Operator Comfort: Platform position creates more ergonomic working conditions compared to ladders and scaffolding
• Carry More Tools and Materials: 550-lb platform capacity increases productivity and reduces operator fatigue
• Operate on Sensitive Flooring: Lightweight design combined with low ground-bearing pressure makes this machine ideal for sensitive floors and elevators with load requirements

Download Spec Sheet Here: JLG-Low-Level-Access-Lifts