U.S. Construction is getting safer

According to a recent study the general safety of workers in the construction industry may be improving.

Construction jobs, particularly in roofing and general labor, are among the most dangerous occupations in the United States. But that situation may be slowly improving, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Danger

Many jobs fall under the construction umbrella, and each has its own potential hazards. Roofers have a high incidence of fatal falls, while general laborers perform physically demanding work and operate heavy construction machinery.

Ironworkers have one of the highest rates of injury of any U.S. occupation, and are in the top 10 deadliest jobs at 30.3 fatalities per 100,000 workers (as of 2011, the most recent year for which the BLS has numbers).

An Improving Record

While many construction trades consistently land among the most dangerous jobs, the numbers do seem to be improving. The BLS reported a drop in on-the-job fatalities from 802 in 2010 to 781 in 2011. Looking at a wider range, the numbers are even more promising; in 2008 the number of fatalities was 1,016.

It’s not just fatality numbers that are improving, either. Over the same four-year period, the total number of recordable injuries dropped from 4.7 per 100 workers in 2008 to 3.9 per 100 in 2011. (Kelchner’s TRIR is 1.66!)

Read the story in its entirety at Digital Construction.

Safety First!

Kelchner is proud to announce the hiring of Justin Hensley as Regional Safety Manager in our St. Clairsville, OH office.  Justin is a graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor Degree in Athletic Coaching Education and Master’s Degree in Safety Management. 

Justin was a member of the WVU Football Team 2003-2006 and a part of three consecutive Big East Conference Championships.  During his 5 summers as an under-graduate , Justin  worked for a local contractor as an Iron Worker and Laborer.  Justin’s professional background consists of 5 years in safety, of which four were spent in his home state of West Virginia with a large diverse general contractor with projects in excess of $100 million. 

Justin’s most recent assignment was on the largest Light Rail Project in the United States.  Built in the center of Houston, TX, the Joint-Venture project consisted of a $1.2 billion contract with four worldwide companies.  

Justin brings to Kelchner his dedication, high energy, and a mission to encourage strong involvement in the implementation of the Kelchner safety program as we strive for high participation from every level to result in ZERO incidents. 

“One thing I would like to share with everyone is to be open minded, accept suggestions, and understand we are all here to make each other better.  Safety is not just a word to be used to get by, it’s NOT a rule or procedure; don’t make it political, make it personal.  Hold each other accountable, and understand that today, could be the last day you will ever see your loved ones.

Welcome to the team Justin!

Summer in Near – Be Prepared For Heat Related Issues!

Acclimating yourself to the weather is a key to avoiding a heat related injury.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion:

• Dizziness

• Nausea

• Headache

• Fast heartbeat

• Heavy sweating

Symptoms of Heat Stroke

• High Fever

• Vomiting

• Fast breathing

• Lack of sweating

• Confusion, anxiousness, or disorientation

Action items to Prevent Heat Stress

• If possible, reschedule hotter jobs during the cooler hours of the day.

• Drink water and/or electrolyte drinks (recommended 12 oz. every 20 minutes), and avoid carbonated or caffeinated drinks.

• Encourage workers to eat light, low fat meals

• Refrain from drinking alcohol as it causes dehydration

• Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing.

• Wear a full brimmed hardhat to protect your head and face from the sun, and protect exposed skin by using sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.

• Provide rest and recovery areas such as cooling trailers or tents on jobsites

Heat Stress Prevention Products

• Coolers

• Electrolyte drinks and popsicles

• Tents and chairs

• Sunshades for hardhats

• Bandanas and cooling towels

• Camelback hydration packs

• Sunscreen and other skin protection

Heat related illnesses can be prevented. Ensure that you and those around you remain hydrated and take breaks as necessary to stay SAFE.

Project Update

Construction season is in full swing and Kelchner is pleased to be a associated with many great companies and projects.

Kelchner recently completed site preparation and heavy excavation at the Markwest fractionation facility in Jewett, Ohio.

We are particularly proud of  our team’s safety and performance on this time critical project.

• 750,000 yards of dirt moved – Quickly and Safely.
• Kelchner cement stabilized 150,000 sy providing a higher quality site with significant cost savings.
• Kelchner was recognized for our HSE excellence and commitment on the project.
• Zero missed time – Zero recordable incidents.
• Utilized lime drying of soil to minimize weather delays.
• Kelchner worked 24/7 to ensure project delivery.
• The project was delivered ahead of schedule.

Want to find how Kelchner can assist your firm?

Contact Rob Beecham at 724-579-0984 or robb@kelchner.com

Kelchner Commences with MarkWest Railyard Site Construction

Kelchner is proud to announce the commencement of site construction for the MarkWest Energy Partners natural gas liquids (NGL) rail loading facility in Harrison County, Ohio. The project includes construction of a new facility lead track off the Wheeling and Lake Erie (W&LE) Railroad, a switching lead track, seven (7) support tracks, and four (4) loading tracks.

The proposed facility will include an administration building for operations and loading racks at the four (4) loading tracks. There will be approximately 1.5 million cubic yards of earth moving on site, 90,000 square yards of stabilization, 2 large retaining walls, a 20 ft wide 10 ft tall arch span, 2.5 mile above ground water transfer system and 3 miles of underground storm pipe.

Kelchner’s work includes minor clearing, grubbing, erosion & sediment controls installation and maintenance, mass excavation and grading, retaining wall and culvert design-build, and road construction.

Kelchner is proud to be a part of this project and partner with Markwest for their continued success.

Kelchner Adds New Senior Team Member

We have a new member on the Kelchner team!  Mark Carlson, our new Vice President of Engineering, came to us from PSI where he headed up their energy group.  He’s a registered Professional Engineer in several states and a registered Professional Geologist in Kentucky and he’s highly educated:

 BS Mining/Civil Engineering (Geomechanics)

MS Civil Engineering (Geomechanics)

MS Civil Engineering (Geotechnical)

Plus he’s completed all the coursework for a PH.D. in Civil Engineering.  His business card will look like alphabet soup: Mark J Carlson, M.S.C.E., M.S. Mng. E., R.P.G., P.E.

But there’s more to him than book knowledge.  His expertise in soils, rocks, and geology has been sought for projects all across the United States, as well as in Canada, Egypt, and Colombia, South America.  He’s worked on everything: mines, highways, bridges, dams, and even supercollider tunnels.

In other words, the guy knows dirt.  And rocks.  And a few other things.  (Can you tell I was impressed?)  He’ll be a resource to our estimators, project managers, and superintendents.  He’ll also work closely with Rob Beecham in his business development efforts.

Congressman Mike Turner Mentions Kelchner in Recent EID Ohio Article on Energy

Today, Ohioans are faced with ever increasing energy prices.  In the Dayton area, we witnessed spikes in gas prices that hovered over $4 per gallon during the summer months, up nearly 40 cents from last year.  Higher gas costs are just another burden on Ohio families as our economy struggles to recover.

We can jumpstart our economy and lower energy costs by promoting American energy production, removing government barriers like growth-inhibiting EPA red tape, and putting our country’s abundant natural resources to use. These common ground solutions will create jobs, achieve energy security, and spur economic growth without wasting billions of taxpayer dollars.

With Ohio’s development of its oil and natural gas resources in the Utica Shale, along with shale development across the country, we are already beginning to see immediate benefits to reducing our energy costs. In 2010 alone, Ohio consumers saved over $1.5 billion in energy costs due to lower wellhead natural gas prices. This is a trend expected to continue, providing continued, unimpeded development across the country,

Again, these lower energy costs are paramount to attracting manufacturers and, in turn, creating new jobs. Last year, Klienhenz and Associates, in conjunction with Marietta College, The Ohio State University, Central Ohio Technical College and Zane State College, released it’s economic impact study with projections of over 200,000 jobs created and supported by the energy industry through 2015 with the development of the Utica Shale.

Those are astounding numbers, and the job opportunities have proven to spread far from the northeast region of the state where this development is taking place. Here in the Miami Valley, we have already seen local companies, local employees benefit from this opportunity in Kelchner and CESO Engineering.

Read the story in its entirety at EID Ohio.

CATERPILLAR HONORED AT 2012 FREEDOM AWARD CEREMONY

On September 20, 2012, Caterpillar employees, former employees and dealer representatives joined Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., recognizing this year’s Freedom Award recipients. Caterpillar was one of only 15 companies to receive the Department of Defense’s highest honor for ongoing support of Guard and Reserve employees.

“This award is a testament to the entire Caterpillar team,” said Oberhelman. “The support we give our Guardsmen and Reservists is a reflection of our culture. I see teammates gladly taking on extra responsibilities when a co-worker is called to active military duty. Congratulations on this award, and keep up the great work!”

Caterpillar was nominated for the Freedom Award by a member of the Marine Corps Reserve who received outstanding organizational support when he was called to serve. According to Ryan Hubbard, president of the Armed Forces Support Network (AFSN), the Freedom Award represents a larger commitment to military and veteran employees.

Read the story in its entirety at CAT News.

Cheap Natural Gas Gives New Hope to the Rust Belt

BEAVER COUNTY, Pa.—Three decades after being devastated by the closing of steel mills, this gritty river valley is hoping its revival will come from cheap natural gas.

The hope doesn’t rest on drilling rigs, but on a multibillion-dollar chemical plant thatRoyal Dutch Shell RDSB.LN -1.12% PLC is considering building here because of a flood of domestically produced natural gas. Community leaders are touting the plant as the first step toward reviving a manufacturing industry many thought was gone for good.

“I never would have expected that as a region we’d have a second chance to be a real leader in American manufacturing,” Bill Flanagan of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, a regional business group, told a crowd of locals who came to hear about the chemical plant. “Suddenly we’re back in the game.”

It isn’t just Beaver County reaping the benefits of cheap gas. Plunging prices have turned the U.S. into one of the most profitable places in the world to make chemicals and fertilizer, industries that use gas as both a feedstock and an energy source. And they have slashed costs for makers of energy-intensive products such as aluminum, steel and glass.

Read the story in its entirety at the WSJ.

Caterpillar goes ‘all-in’ on natural gas-fueled equipment

Caterpillar Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives, announced at the inaugural Natural Gas for High Horsepower Applications (HHP) Summit on Sept. 27 its intentions to go ‘all-in’ on natural gas and produce even more natural gas-fueled equipment and engines for a variety of applications.

Joel Feucht, Caterpillar’s director of gas engine strategy for the energy and power systems businesses, made the announcement during his keynote address at HHP Summit 2012, a first-of-its-kind event that examined the economic and environmental benefits of using the clean-burning, domestically abundant natural gas in fuel-hungry high horsepower applications.

“We have decided to go all-in on gas,” declared Feucht during his keynote address at HHP Summit on Sept. 27.  ”We are going to invest because we see a global market long term. Large engines are going gas. It’s not debatable; it’s our conclusion.”

Read the story in its entirety at AEI.