AEM, OSHA team up to promote safety
A two-year alliance between the Association of Equipment Manufacturers and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will focus on safer forklift operation, association officials announced in October.
Concentrating on rough terrain forklifts, including straight-mast forklifts and telehandlers, the alliance plans to provide equipment owners and operators with information and access to training on subjects such as hazardous ground conditions, machine mobility and overloading, as well as potential risks when lifting personnel. Falls are a particular concern. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 1,226 construction-related fatalities in 2006, 428 resulted from falls – more than any other event or exposure.
To supplement the training and educational goals of the alliance, AEM and OSHA plan to use an outreach and communication strategy to deliver the information to industry personnel. The two organizations will share data on best practices and effective approaches, and then disseminate the information through pictorial materials, training programs, workshops and seminars. For example, AEM is updating the association’s free online database of universal pictorial illustrations available for safety sign, manual and training material design. Additionally, the alliance plans to support a national dialog on jobsite safety and health through forums and roundtable discussions.
Implementation teams made up of representatives from AEM and OSHA will develop strategies and put programs in place. All materials will also be available in Spanish and other languages. Following the two-year alliance agreement, the alliance may be expanded to include other types of equipment.
To access AEM’s online pictorial database, visit http://pictorials.aem.org.
~ Amy Materson
Bayer introduces new formulation of Dylox
Bayer Environmental Science announced that Dylox insecticide recently received federal registration for a new liquid soluble formulation. The active ingredient in Dylox, trichlorfon, disrupts the proper functioning of the insect nervous system.
“Dylox 420 SL insecticide is the only product offering curative control of third instar early spring and late season grubs,” says Nate Royalty, technical development manager, insecticides, Bayer Environmental Science.
The new formulation controls the following surface pests: masked chafers, European chafers, Japanese beetles, Oriental beetles, sugarcane grubs, chinch bugs, annual bluegrass weevil, sod webworms, cutworms and armyworms.
~ Chris Hawk
Clippings
John Deere awarded $125 million contract with Marines
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded John Deere Construction & Forestry Company an estimated $125 million contract to build up to 540 medium crawler tractors. The MCTs are being built for the Marine Corps Systems Command for delivery to military bases throughout the United States and overseas. An initial delivery of seven MCTs will occur in mid-2008, while full production is starting in late 2008.
OSHA accredited safety classes available online
Arxcis, a full service OSHA-accredited safety training firm is offering classes online. The online training program can be completed at work or at home and at the pace needed by each employee. Courses covering the following equipment are available: forklifts, telescopic handler forklifts, boom trucks, bucket trucks, articulated boom trucks, RT and AT cranes, utility truck cranes, self-propelled aerial/scissor lifts, pedestal mounted crane and overhead cranes.
VectorWorks Landmark ’08 version released
Nemetschek North America has announced the release of the latest upgrade to VectorWorks Landmark, a cross-platform CAD program for landscape architects, designers and land planners. VectorWorks Landmark 2008 contains pre-configured color palettes from manufacturers like Pantone, the ability to accurately scale scanned images and digital photos, an expanded xFrog plant image library and new a new paving pattern library from Unilock.
Cat Rental Stores implement new network technology
Caterpillar will use SmartEquip’s SmartPortal technology at Cat Rental Stores to streamline aftermarket product support and electronic procurement for equipment supplied by companies participating in the Caterpillar Allied Vendor Program. The network enables Allied Vendors to provide Cat Rental Stores with part identification and ordering capabilities, including the ability to order equipment electronically; intelligent, self-updating, interactive service support and a standardized warranty submission process.
