Heavy Equipment and Texting is a bad combo

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We always like to be in touch with our friends and family members but there are times when the medium that you use to stay in touch with them can prove to be fatal. You may say that you are just trying to communicate a simple thing to someone but if you are communicating you should not do anything else other than talking to the person on your cell phone. You can’t be working as well as talking both at the same time. It just does not go well with each other and has every potential possibility to inflict serious injury to you or to someone else.

Most of the accidents happen while the person driving the car is talking to someone and driving at the same time. Now as far as the talk is normal, he has his sight on the road but if he gets to hear something exciting, his attention gets automatically diverted. So you may have your eyes on the road but definitely not your attention. The chances of you bumping someone on the road increase manifolds.

While you are operating heavy equipment in a construction site, you got to be extremely cautious about what you are doing. It has been seen that many experienced operators use their cell phones and keep on texting people while operating the machine. This is a very bad combination.

The operator may be quite experienced and has superb control over the machine but he is still playing with fire by diverting his attention on the cell phone. It has been observed that texting is more dangerous than speaking over the phone. While you are texting, you continuously have to look at the cell phone and therefore you lose your sight on the site. You will not even get to know if something gets on your way and by the time you realize it may be too late for you to control.

According to a research, it has been noticed that while you are texting, your eyes off the road/jobsite increases by 400% and the chances of moving into a different lane is increased by 28%. So one can simply figure out how dangerous it is to text while you are operating the construction equipment. Now the most horrifying detail is that while you are texting, it increases the chance of an accident by 2000%. These statistics unanimously speak one thing. The construction business owners should put a ban on using cell phones while working on the jobsite. The operators may expect some emergency calls but that can be easily dealt by providing the number of the supervisor on duty. So if there is an emergency in the family, they need to call the supervisor and he will inform the operator.

The contractors should also develop a cell phone free policy for all the operators and also construction workers on the jobsite. This will ensure the safety and well-being of all the employees working on the jobsite.

Renting heavy equipment is far better than leaving it idle

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A person belonging to the construction industry has to go through different phases. Some are good, some bad and some even ugly. It is very evident that all construction companies make good money during the good times but the problem arises when the tide turns for bad and they do not have work in hand. This is when most of the companies take difficult decisions like sacking employees or disposing their resources, which heavy equipment are also a part of. It is certainly not wise to give away those expensive pieces of metal at a dirt cheap price and therefore if one has an option that can avoid them to sell the machines, they should pick that up.

Renting heavy equipment is considered to be the most viable option one can consider if they do not want to really get rid of their machines. If they pick this option, they will be able to make money on a monthly basis and can also retain the stuff once the tenure ends. This means that they never lose their title from the construction equipment and has every right to claim the machine once the period mentioned in the agreement is over.

Few things one must consider before they think of renting their heavy equipment.

Finding a taker who will take good care of the machine:-

It is very important that you get someone who will treat your machine with the same care that they would have taken for their own machine. It has been witnessed that people who rent heavy equipment use them very roughly and not care much of its maintenance. Thus, it deteriorates the quality of the machine and you may find it giving a lot of issues. In order to avoid this kind of problems, you should mention in the agreement that you can make visits to check how they are treating the machine and the visits can be in an interval of 3 months. In this way, you can ensure that your machine is in order and when you get it back, it will be working fine.

Rental contract should be in order and should protect your rights:-

When you make the rental contract with the taker, you should make sure that you pen down all the important points that will protect your rights as the giver. Please remember that you are not selling the machine that you will have no liability on it later on. You are just renting it and it should not happen that once the period is over, you get back a completely worn out machine. Also state the date by when you should get the rental money in your bank account. In case you want, you can give them some breathing space just in case they need some extension to pay the money, but that should not happen regularly. If they ask for an extension once in a blue moon, you can consider it, but if they take you for granted, it is definitely not a good sign.

 

Dependability on training videos has increased over the years

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When it comes to heavy equipment, it is mostly about how well you know about the different kinds of machines that are used in the construction site. If you aspire to become a technician, it means that you got to know almost everything about the machine so that if you ever happen to work on one you should know how to open the stuff, fix it and put it back in place. It certainly requires good deal of training and loads of practice but apart from that it also require you to learn about machines right from the initial phase of your student life (from the day you join the technical institution). If you have your basics strong, it will certainly lead you to a good career. There are few things that you can do to strengthen your basics. First would be to read as many books as you can on machines and apart from that you can view lot of training videos that is available to you on the internet.

It has been witnessed that people find training videos to be far more helpful and informative. Some though find books to have answers for all the questions. As a matter of fact, it is perhaps the mixture of both that can help you achieve the knowledge on machines more than that relying on just one particular thing. Having said that, the dependability on training videos has increased manifolds over the last few years. This is the age of internet and therefore the reading books have taken a beating. People prefer to watch the training videos more than reading books. All they have to do is download the videos in a drive and play it on their computer. It actually allows them to see how to operate a machine. The visuals then remain ingrained in their minds and this is what helps them to learn.

Also for people who have poor memory and could not recollect things so easily, they can keep playing the video as many times as they want and memorize the stuff. Other than that, men who need some sort of help in one particular aspect can search for that video on the internet and check how that is dealt with. So you do not have to go through the entire book to find just one piece of information. Entering the keyword will do the rest for you.

Most of the training videos are absolutely free. This means that you do not have to pay a dime to watch them and learn. Knowing the complexities involved with heavy equipment, getting training videos for free is not less than a bounty. Ideally, people who write books also share their videos on internet and at the end of the video they try to promote their book so that others can know about his book and if they find the video fruitful they might even go for the book. Overall, online training videos has been a huge success making life simpler for millions of users all over the globe.

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Clearing debris using heavy equipment

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The entire construction industry is largely dependent on the use of different kinds of heavy equipment. It can be used for many purposes like road construction, digging deep inside the ground, rolling down an existing structure or simply removing debris out of the site. Well, removing the debris can be a painful task for the workers if they exclude the involvement of heavy machineries. It may take weeks if not months for the workers to just remove the debris out of the site if they had to do this manually and without the participation of heavy equipment. In a nutshell, it is just not possible. You can’t take a hit on your finance and delay your project just because your employees are busy clearing the debris. That sounds completely insane from the perspective of a construction business owner.

So in a situation where you got to take care of the debris, it is advisable that you have your heavy equipment in place that are especially used for such work and get the work done in few days. The entire purpose of using heavy equipment to get the work done is to save your time as well as the time and energy of your workers and also to speed up the work a bit. The heavy equipment that are ideally used to clear debris are excavators, backhoe loaders, front loaders and any machine that can have an attachment either in the front or at the rear and can attach a bucket out there are fit to do this work.

Many construction companies or for that matter demolition companies use a dozer to demolish structures and then use the same machine with a different attachment and clear the debris. All they do is fit in a bucket in the front and the operator makes sure he gets the job done in a day’s time. So a bulldozer is a favorite for many demolition companies. Though there are some who prefer a backhoe loader for the same job but many find dozers to be more compatible than any other form of heavy equipment.

Excavators can also be used to remove debris. The claws of the excavator can be used to draw the debris in it and then it moves at the back of the machine and dumps the stuff inside the bucket which is then moved and eventually dumped in the truck. Excavators are the ideal heavy machines for the ones who got to dig deep inside the ground and then carry the dirt and dump it in the truck. So the construction and mining companies who are into building huge apartments or who goes deep inside the ground in search of minerals find an excavator as a perfect machine for their job.

Backhoe loader is such heavy equipment which is primarily used to remove debris. It has a bucket at the rear of the machine and the dirt is filled inside the bucket with the help of the boom that’s attached on its front. It is also used for excavating work; therefore has similar features of an excavator.

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Construction Heavy Equipment

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Construction in this era is a booming sector and so are the sectors that are closely associated with it. For instance, the cement industry, steel industry and more importantly the heavy equipment industry also see themselves growing. Due to their close association with the construction industry, they have all been able to set their foot tight on the ground and are now making good money. The heavy equipment manufacturing industry is perhaps one of the most profitable industries as it is much believed that the entire construction sector depends largely on the heavy equipment industry and vice versa.

We will be talking about some crucial heavy equipment without which it is almost unimaginable for the construction sector to sustain.

Crawler Dozers:-

When we talk about moving loads of dirt, we can’t think of any machine other than a Crawler Dozer. They are big powerful machines that are meant for the purpose of carrying huge loads of dirt in the bucket that is positioned on the front of the equipment. The operator drags the bucket on the ground and the dirt gets absorbed in the bucket. It thus carries all the dirt and dumps it on a dump truck. These machines are used predominantly in a mining site or in a road construction site.

We can also see these machines in a jobsite that is working on a very big project where it has to cover a lot of ground and get the dirt out. The smaller version of this machine is also used as grading tractors. Al most every heavy equipment manufacturing company produced crawler dozers. So one has to check the specification and match it with his requirements to come to a decision on the brand he should be going for.

 Excavators:-

This is very common heavy equipment that one will come across on any construction of mining jobsite. Every construction project needs to dig the earth and for this they need machines no less than an excavator to do the job for them. There are various types of excavators available and each one with some superior features in it comes at a high cost. The new construction companies or small contractors often do not go for expensive excavators. They limit themselves with lower genre of machines or basically buy small version. It may not be as effective as the larger ones but is still doable.

Road rollers:-

No road work can be done without the use of road rollers. They are quite instrumental in giving a shape to the surface of the road. It easily presses the asphalt and other ingredients sprayed on the surface and give a good outcome. Road rollers have a huge drum located at the front of the machine and the operator simply rolls it on the surface thus making it smooth. Some rollers have a drum in the front and 2 heavy rollers at that rear of the machine thus giving good impact on the road. Overall, when it comes to road construction rollers are a must.

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Invest your money in construction projects globally

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When we think about investments, we come across all sorts of investment avenues that are liquid as well as non-liquid. However, not many consider investing in construction projects globally as a good investment option. There are strong reasons attached to it which is why people are usually deterred to invest in investment projects in a foreign land. One of the strongest reasons is that you do not have a direct control on the project and it may become difficult to monitor the progress of the work by being away from the jobsite.

Other than having a direct control, other reasons also include political turbulence, company getting dissolved. However, these reasons can’t be considered to be too big for one to deter investing globally and can always be worked out before you end up investing in one such project. There are of course few Do’s and Don’ts that needs to checked first before taking a decision of any major investment in foreign land.

Check the viability of the project:-

You can definitely invest in projects that sound to be viable. Alternatively, if the project has all proper sanctions from the different authorities of that country, there is probably no other reason why it may get blocked. Investing in such projects being in a distant place can still be a good option. However, you also have to check your benefit in it. You need to first measure your risk and the returns that you can expect from the work at its completion. It will be worthy to take such risks where you know that it will fetch good returns. There are many American investors that have invested chunks of money into various foreign projects. In this case they do not have to deploy their men for the work and if there is any hurdle that shows up during the tenure of the project that will be managed by the construction company who has undertaken the work.

Reputation of the builder matters a lot:-

When an investor has to invest his money in construction projects, he definitely checks the credentials of the construction company who has taken up the work. In the same way, while investing in a construction project outside US, you have to check the credentials first. Meet the representatives of their company, do some research on their previous projects. By that you will get to know how big the construction company is and if it is prudent to invest in projects constructed by them. The reputation of the construction company should speak louder than anything else and that should be the signal for you to go ahead with them.

Stay away from countries that are politically unstable:-

You investments in a foreign land will bear fruit only if you put your money in a country that is politically stable and there is no fear of the government getting overthrown by rival political powers or the army of that land. Investment of any kind in a politically unstable country is too risky and not even worthy to take the risk.

Case Backhoe

Not having sufficient heavy equipment can create numerous problems for a construction company and probably that is the reason why many construction companies tend to buy the important machines that is a must in case of every project. There are some heavy equipment that is always required at some stage or the other of a project and Backhoe loader beings one amongst them. You need a loader for sure to gather all the dirt, lift it and dump it in a dumping truck. So the question arise what brand should a person go for when he has plenty of options available and it becomes difficult for him to take a rational decision.

Well, we will be speaking about the specification of CASE Backhoe loader as we find that one can definitely go for CASE as it economical and well within the budget of a small construction company and apart from that it is termed to be one of the best backhoe producers in the country. As a matter of fact, most of its produces are exported all over the globe thus making it the best choice amongst the users. Moreover, it is also capable of excavating earth. May not be as viable as an excavator but can be a very good alternative in case if you do not have an excavator working on the site.

CASE has recently come up with 580 Super M Loader Backhoe. The total gross and net power of the machine is 95 hp and 90 hp respectively with a displacement of 272 cu in. The power is measured at 2200 rpm, the torque is measured at 1500 rpm and the total number of cylinders available is 4. The operating weight of the machine is 6480 kg. Talking about the fuel capacity, it can accommodate 119 liters of fuel and has the same capacity of hydraulic system fluid. The oil system fluid capacity is 13.6 liters and cooling system fluid capacity is 18 liters. It can turn at a radius of 11 ft in. The operating voltage is 12V with alternator supplied amperage of 90 amps. The total number of forward and reverse gears is 4 and has a maximum forward speed of 25.5 mph and maximum reverse speed of 30.8 mph.

Talking about the significant part of the machine which is the loader, the maximum capacity of the loader is 0.87 yd3 with a bucket width of 82in and bucket breakout force of 9164lb. The lift capacity at full height is 6182 lb and the maximum clearance at dump height is 8.8 ft in. it is fitted with hydraulic pump which is gear-type and has a flow capacity of 28.5 gallon per minute. The relief valve pressure is 3050 psi.

Talking a bit about the dimension of the machine, the transport length and width of the machine is around 22.8 ft in and 7.2 ft in respectively whereas the height to the top of the cab is 8.8 ft in. The features given in this CASE backhoe is something that one can find in any other backhoe. However, the price is something that actually matters a lot here. It is much lower that the machines manufactures by its competitors and therefore becomes the most preferred machine.

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Reasons you should wear construction safety long sleeve shirts

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Constructions works are very strenuous and one has to work for long hours at a construction job site. Sometimes the works go day and night. In case of road constructions, the night works are quite common and obvious as the traffic is less during the night. Hence, when roads are being repaired, new roads are being constructed or roads are being expanded, or even during the construction of other public constructions such as flyovers and bridges, the workers are often found to be working day and night on the roads.

Since working at night and that too on the roads can be quite dangerous as the workers can be hit by the drivers, if they are not clearly visible, it is a must that proper safety measures are followed. Though road safety signs and directions are always given and safety cones are also used to protect an area that is under construction, it is a must that the individuals also follow proper safety measures. This is why, the construction safety long sleeve shirts are worn by them.

Why should the workers wear these?

The construction safety long sleeve shirts are, as the name suggests, full sleeve T-shirts or shirts. Like the construction safety vests, these shirts are also made up of the bright, fluorescent orange, green or yellow colour. Hence, one can identify the workers from a distance and understand that work is under progress. However, there are many other benefits of these shirts, apart from the factor of visibility. These include –

  • Protection from sun:

 

As they have long sleeves, the workers do not have to encounter problem due to the exposure in sun. During long working hours in the hot summers, one can stay protected from the sun.

  • Protection from wind:

 

Chilly winds can also prohibit the smooth performance or operation of the workers. These construction safety long sleeve shirts can prevent the strong and chilly winds. Workers can work for long even in winters. These shirts are very comfortable to wear.

  • Reflective stripes:

 

As these shirts and t-shirts also come with the reflective tapes striped on them, it is very likely that even during the night, when darkness prevails, the shirts will glow as lights from the vehicles fall and reflect on these shirts. Thus, one can easily be identified from a distance and the drivers will be able to avoid the zone, understanding that work is in progress.

Buying these construction safety long sleeve shirts:

The construction safety long sleeve shirts are quite affordable and you can easily find the size that suits you. These are complete in themselves and you do not have to wear the safety vests for extra protection. They can easily be found online and you will be able to choose the colour that you need. Whether you need a shirt or a t-shirt, is entirely your choice or pick the one that your employer demands you to wear. No doubt, this will keep you safe from accidents, hazards and also the environmental conditions.

How to recruit competent operators

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Day in and day out we are witnessing a lot of changes in the way heavy equipment are being operated. It is primarily because of the ever increasing want of the consumer to make operating heavy equipment simpler and also because they want their work to be completed in comparatively lesser time so that they can concentrate on new projects. This has certainly given rise to the want of advanced heavy equipment and also simultaneously has given rise to the requirement of competent operators. Good operators have become a very rare commodity and are not easily found.

If you own a big construction house, you will not more than 6-7 operators who are highly experienced and know their job well. The other lot will always be a factor of worry for you. It has therefore become a skill to recruit competent operators for your company and we will discuss what exactly should be done to recognize their talent and make them a part of your organization.

Check how much they know about their work:-

It is important to check how knowledgeable the operator is as far as his work is concerned and how much he knows about heavy equipment. Check which all machines has he operated in the last 2 years and if there are any cases of accidents reported against him. Competencies do come with experience but that is certainly not the only criteria to become a competent operator. Therefore, you can also look for guys who do not have much experience but are still good with machines. You can ask them several questions pertaining to the equipment they have operated and check how correct they are while answering them. This will give you a hint on what kind of operator you are hiring.

Trial check is necessary to check their competency:-

In order to know how good they are in operating the heavy equipment, you can ask them to operate a machine and tell them what they need to do. Your instructions should be crystal clear so that they can perform the task without any confusion. Now if they complete the task without any error, you have the right guy for the job. This method of checking the competency of the operator is performed by many construction companies who are able to recruit ace operators.

 

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Make customized heavy equipment straight from the workshop

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We all have some specific requirements and in order to fulfill those requirements we need special tools. Similarly, when we talk about the construction segment we would like to have heavy equipment that suit our needs. Heavy equipment makers take lot of care to produce machines that matches our needs but that may sound pretty expensive and the heavy equipment produced by them are bought by big construction and mining companies. Small contractors and sub-contractors form a major part of the construction business and frankly they can’t afford to buy machines that are tailor made. They ideally made some amendments to the heavy equipment they are using like adding some attachments and try to do their job. However it is not an impossible task to use customized heavy equipment. All they have to do is give the existing equipment to the mechanic who has a workshop and who not only fixes construction machines but also modifies them. They only have to be a bit specific about their requirements and consider the job as done.

Not all mechanics modify heavy equipment:-

You got to do a fair deal of research before you land up to one such workshop and also remember that not all mechanics modify heavy equipment. They may have a workshop where they repair your machines but they do not participate in modification works. Either they do not have the expertise or they want to keep their business simple. Some mechanics know to modify machines but still stick to the repairing business. It is definitely not an easy job. When you modify a machine you got to take care of many other things that are connected with it. If you want something to be changed, you may have to forcibly change some other component as it may not be compatible with the changed item. This is why there are special workshops which have trained men/women for the job and you need to take the equipment to them for any kind of modification.

Can also buy customized heavy equipment:-

If you are looking to buy heavy equipment that will serve some special needs for your business you can again look up to mechanics that makes heavy equipment considering your needs. These heavy equipment will be way too inexpensive as compared to the one manufactured by heavy equipment companies. It will not hurt your budget and you have a machine that serves your purpose. However, it is important that you prepare the specifications of the heavy equipment along with the operator. He will be the guy who will eventually work on it and therefore he can mention well about what all he needs in it.

Compare the price before you give an order:-

Before you go with ordering customized heavy equipment, it is imperative that you check the quotation from different mechanics. You got to be wise enough to choose the best. Try to get reviews from people who have got similar work done from them. If at all you get recommendations from someone in your business circle, you can give that special consideration but try to analyze the situation well and then place yo

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