Stress, low morale, and poor expectations of your employees can contribute to high turnover, more time off work due to illnesses, and accidents on the job. All of which will increase your cost of doing business.

But you can increase productivity, improve your ability to attract and retain good employees, and boost profitability through creating a company culture that embraces safety

According to the 2016 study “Building a Safety Culture SmartMarket Report,” conducted by Dodge Data & Analytics (DD&A), contractors who encouraged a culture of safety reported powerful payback in the form of project quality, staff retention, project ROI, and ability to attract new staff.

DD&A used 33 indicators of a safety culture. The companies surveyed were general contractors, specialty contractors, design-build firms, construction managers and engineering firms. Those who scored highest experienced the most powerful return from their investment into safety.

While not all of indicators are relevant to a smaller contractor (most companies surveyed had over 500 employees), there are some key takeaways that you can apply to your business today.

1. Management’s commitment to safety and health. As a manager, supervisor, and/or owner you set the priorities for safety. More importantly, those priorities must be communicated to your employees through having a formal process for safety-related corrective action, being proactive through making safety/health a key part of your strategic planning, having clearly defined health and safety expectations, and making safety a frequent topic at meetings.
2. Safety and health are company values. Employees who feel valued at work, feel safe to let management know when there is a safety violation on the job. Value and safety directly correlate to higher productivity, employee retention, and increased ROI.
3. Accountability. Your employees will rise to the level of your expectations. Expect them to hold themselves and everyone accountable for safety and they will.

To read the full report, click here.

Need to have your JLG, SkyTrak, Gradall, or Princeton machine serviced? Then call us right away. We’re a full-service factory authorized dealer. Our customer service team is standing by.

Effective July 15^th, OSHA is making 14 revisions to the federal rules that affect the construction industry. These changes, according to OSHA, will save employers approximately $6.1 million by clearing up confusion regarding compliance. Specifically they have removed or revised, “outdated, duplicative, unnecessary, and inconsistent requirements in OSHA’s safety and health standards, which will permit better compliance by employers and reduce costs and paperwork burdens where possible, without reducing employee protections.”

OSHA is updating the method of identifying and calling emergency medical services. This update, according to the report, may increase costs to employers by approximately $32,000.

However, there are two provisions (reduction in the number of necessary employee x-rays and elimination of posting requirements for residential construction employers) which may provide estimated combined cost savings of $6.1 million annually.

According to Equipment World, some of the highlighted changes are:

• Eliminates requirement that employers provide periodic chest X-rays to screen for lung cancer. OSHA says studies have shown X-ray screening does not reduce lung cancer incident or death.
• Updates the requirements for providing emergency services contacts. OSHA adds a requirement that employers must ensure that their communication system can effectively contact 911 services. And if the system is in an area that does not automatically supply the caller’s location to the 911 dispatcher, the employer must post or provide in some way the worksite’s longitude and latitude to employees. OSHA estimates this requirement will cost the construction industry a total of $32,440 a year. This cost will dissipate as enhanced 911 wireless service becomes universal, OSHA says.
• Changes the minimum breaking-strength requirement for lifelines for fall protection to 5,000 pounds instead of 5,400 pounds. This was done for consistency and to end confusion.
• Updates standards for traffic control devices at road construction areas to comply with the 2009 edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, the same as used by the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as state DOTs.
• Eliminates the requirement that employees’ Social Security numbers be provided on exposure monitoring, medical surveillance or other records designed for OSHA to track employees for research purposes. Social Security numbers are no longer required for these OSHA standards: Respirable Crystalline Silica; Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response; Asbestos; Vinyl Chloride; Inorganic Arsenic; Lead; Chromium, Cadmium, Benzene, Coke Oven Emission, Bloodborne Pathogens, Cotton Dust; 1,2 Dibromo-3-Chloropropane; Acrylonitrile; Ethylene Oxide; Formaldehyde; Methylenedianiline; 1,3-Butadiene; and Methylene Chloride.

Prior to these upcoming changes, OSHA increase penalties in January, 2019. Their current maximum penalties are:

• $13,260 per violation — serious, other-than-serious or posting violations
• $13,260 per day — failure to abate
• $132,598 per violation — willful or repeated violations

According to OSHA’s “Business Case for Safety and Health,” an employer can save money by adhering to the rules, doing his/her part to prevent injury, death, and illness. They can also save money by avoiding penalties and costly investigations.

Need help with safety training? Call us today!

JLG announced that they will be expanding their SmartLoad technology across their telehandler line, which is terrific news.

As you know, operator competence and confidence are key to job-site safety, and JLG is leading the way when it comes to operator safety.

Their industry-first SmartLoad technology includes automatic attachment recognition, a load management information system and a load stability indicator.

The automatic attachment recognition allows a telehandler to identify an attachment and display the appropriate load chart to the operator.

The load management information system (LMIS) graphically depicts the location of the load within the load chart and assists the operator in navigating the boundaries of the chart.

Finally, the load stability indicator (LSI) works in conjunction with the LMIS to limit operation when a load becomes non-compliant.

SmartLoad technology can also save you from paying costly repairs if the machine is damaged due to being overloaded.

Currently available for its 1644 and 1732 high capacity telehandlers, SmartLoad Technology will be available as an option on all JLG telehandlers over the next 12 months.

Are you ready to buy a new JLG Telehandler? Call us first. We’ve been a certified JLG dealer since 1984

Microsoft has a new initiative to help get broadband to 3 million people in rural areas in by 2022, it’s called Microsoft Airband Initiative.

This initiative uses TV white spaces technology combined with 4G, and “…traditional fiber-based connectivity, and satellite coverage to dramatically reduce the cost and time of extending broadband access to rural communities across America,” according to Microsoft.

According to a recent study, “96% of contractors and 70% of trade contractors report that site superintendents use mobile devices on work sites.” However, as you know many work sites are in areas with low or no connectivity, so we imagine that as this technology takes hold across the country it will make your job easier, more efficient, and safer.

California is one of the states is one of the states included in the initiative, with two startup companies, Tribal Digital Village and Numbers4Health awarded Airband Grant Fund dollars. Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and West Virginia are also included bringing the total to 25 states served by this time next year.

Increased operational costs due to unexpected repairs and operator error along with machine downtime and poor utilization can greatly increase your total cost of ownership.

Two easy ways you can avoid both these issues and lower the Total Cost of Ownership of your JLG and Skytrak machines is to:

1. Know when to replace a damaged foam or pneumatic tire. It happens but keeping an eye on your tires and replacing them immediately when damaged, will maximize your machine uptime and improve job safety.

2. Avoid ruining sophisticated electronics when pressure washing. This will keep your machine out of the service department for costly repairs.

When To Replace a Damaged Tire

According to JLG, knowing when to replace a damaged tire is one of their most frequently asked questions.

The following guideline will help.

Pneumatic tires: If there are any cuts, rips or tears that expose sidewall or tread area cords in the tire, remove the tire from service immediately. Arrangements must be made for replacement of the tire or tire assembly.

Polyurethane foam filled tires: Remove the tire from service immediately and arrange replacement of the tire or tire assembly when any of the following conditions are discovered:

• A smooth, even cut through the cord plies which exceeds 3 inches (7.5 cm) in total length
• Any tears or rips (ragged edges) in the cord plies which exceed 1 inch (2.5 cm) in any direction
• Any punctures which exceed 1 inch in diameter
• Any damage to the bead area cords of the tire

If a tire is damaged but is within the above noted criteria, the tire must be inspected daily to ensure the damage has not expanded beyond the allowable criteria.

How to Safely Pressure Wash Your Machine

According to JLG it’s important when pressure washing your machine to:

• Use a maximum pressure of 750 psi (52 BAR)
• Maintain a minimum distance of 12 inches away from sensitive and sophisticated electrical components
• Avoid directly spraying components
• Limit any secondary water exposure to brief periods to avoid saturation

At West Coast Equipment we’re always on top of the latest equipment and upgrades. In fact, there’s no better time to buy.

New JLG X1000AJ Compact Crawler (CCB)

Key Specs
SEE ALL SPECS
Machine Width: 3 ft 11 in. / 1.19 m
Platform Capacity: 500 lb / 226.80 kg
Key Features

SEE ALL FEATURES
Enhanced Reach – Class-leading 56-ft up and over work envelope and 54-ft horizontal outreach
Improved Stability – One-touch, self-leveling, multi-position outriggers
More Power Options – 76V advanced technology 2.0 lithium-ion battery for quiet indoor operation or Kubota D902 diesel engine power for outdoor jobs

“The revolutionary X1000AJ demonstrates JLG’s continued commitment to delivering the industry’s broadest range of access equipment,” said Randy Marzicola, director, channel development for JLG Industries, Inc. “This newest addition to our CCB line allows operators to reach greater heights with increased machine flexibility to navigate more spaces safely.”

Non-Marking Tires

These tires are designed specifically for telehandlers and feature excellent wearing characteristics, while protecting sensitive surfaces from unwanted markings.

The new tires are available as air- or foam-filled and come with a center bar for better wear performance on abrasive surfaces. A non-directional tread means fewer assembly combinations and reduces carrying costs.

“Our new non-marking tires were specifically designed to help our customers do their job more effectively in the field, while lowering total cost of ownership,” said John Boehme, JLG senior product manager, telehandlers. “The tires’ performance characteristics provide superior protection against scuffing and marking on delicate surfaces.”

Additional features include a reinforced carcass to help protect from base lug cracking or shadowing, as well as a reinforced sidewall to protect from impact or puncture damage.

3-Foot Platform for all JLG Engine-Powered Boom Lifts

The 30-by-36-inch platform is available as an aftermarket purchase or on new whole goods orders.

“These new smaller platforms help JLG meet the growing market demand for compact platforms to complete work in tight spaces,” said Bill Dovey, senior product manager, booms, JLG Industries, Inc. “Smaller platforms allow workers to access work areas where traditional platforms wouldn’t fit.”

The JLG 3’ platform is ideal for a variety of applications including construction or repair of bridges. It allows for more precise navigation between the steel and concrete support structures. Additionally, the platform enables access to many applications notorious for challenging access such as those found in petrochemical plants or refineries, cogeneration facilities, stadiums, convention centers, or between spires in a chapel.

As with most JLG boom platforms, this product comes standard with JLG’s popular SkyGuard® enhanced control panel protection system.

Earlier this month CBS News reported that “…drone use in construction has skyrocketed by 239 percent year over year, according to a May report on commercial drone trends by DroneDeploy”.

Affordability has made them more accessible and high quality mapping data has made them almost indispensable for some large scale construction companies. In fact, drones are quickly replacing expensive airplanes that have done a similar job in the past, and with drones you get the added benefit of real-time analytic data.

Now drones are moving down market to small and midsized construction companies. So the question is, how can you best utilize this new hypermobile technology on your job site?

According to drone manufacturer, Precision Hawk,  drones along with the right software and analytics can help optimize jobsite reporting,  track jobsite progress and productivity, measure elevation, survey jobsites, and help with security and monitoring. So it’s not just about getting photos, it’s about optimizing your time, safety, and efficiency.

However, if you’re considering investing in a drone you’ll not only need commercial grade equipment, software, training, and licensing, you’ll also need insurance and adhere to compliance regulations.

If you’re a smaller company that could use the benefits of drones, you may want to consider hiring a professional FAA certified drone pilot. We found pilots on Droners.IO with hourly rates that start at $85 per hour.

Here’s to your success!