Cranes are a necessity in the construction industry. By using their hooks and booms, cranes help transport large and heavy materials at the work site. Cranes are created to help lessen the load of the workers and make their jobs easier, transporting things that are too heavy or dense for the workers to transport otherwise.

Essential to work site safety procedures

Without proper safety protocols in place, and without proper safety procedures, cranes can be dangerous to workers and passersby.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 44 people die in crane-related accidents in the U.S. each year. Crane accidents occur equally at construction sites (24%) and factories or plants (24%), with nearly 70% of crane accident fatalities occurring in the specialty trade, heavy and civil engineering, and construction industries.

More than half of the reported fatal crane injuries involved the worker being struck by an object or equipment. Also, cranes can pose a risk to pedestrians, cyclists, and passing motorists.

Reports indicate that 90% of crane accidents are the result of human error, so they could have been prevented. It is imperative for those working on or around cranes to undergo the proper safety training, so accidents can be avoided and injuries can be prevented.

ATS offers training for crane operators and also offers safety courses as well. Call today to learn about the available programs.

It appears to be full steam ahead for the Hudson Tunnel Project. There will be a new Hudson River rail tunnel constructed to serve the New York Penn Station and will involve rehabilitating the North River Tunnel.

The Hudson Tunnel Project is a total $16 billion investment to improve New Jersey Transit and Amtrak service between the two neighboring states. The project is funded by the $1.2 trillion infrastructure law, which President Joe Biden signed in 2021.

A $292 million federal grant will get work underway on the Manhattan side of the new Hudson River rail tunnels linking Penn Station to New Jersey, according to Sen. Chuck Schumer.

The grant is almost half of the $600 million cost of building the concrete casing of a box tunnel that will carry trains beneath Hudson Yards in and out of Penn Station as part of the Gateway Program.

This is just one element of the project and will help the multi-year project get off the ground. The tunnels are part of the overall Gateway project, which is estimated to cost $30 billion.

The project also includes new bridges and tracks west of Secaucus. Construction is expected to be done in the 2030s. At the project’s end, there will be four tracks available for trains between Newark and New York.

This project alone will create 72,000 jobs, according to experts. These totals will add to the already existing shortage of qualified construction workers that are needed in the field.

Truck drivers transport almost three-fourths of the country’s freight, and 80 percent of communities depend on trucks to deliver their essentials, including medicine, food, and building supplies.

The trucking industry has faced a driver shortage for more than a decade. That shortage of drivers has a major impact on the economy. According to the American Trucking Association (ATA), the trucking industry needs to add 1.1 million truckers within the next 10 years.

Because there will always be a need for services and products, there will always be a need for truck drivers. While there are many positions for over-the-road drivers, which can be gone for several days or even weeks at a time, however, there are driving opportunities that ensure weekends at home, or for the driver to be home every night.

The ATA estimates that the U.S. is currently short about 100,000 truck drivers. The average salary for a trucker falls between $45,900 and $59,190, which is a comfortable income. Usually, trucking companies offer full benefits packages, which include health insurance and other optional coverage, such as life insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, and so forth.

Diesel Truck Driver Training School was founded in 1959 near Madison, Wisconsin. Diesel Truck Driver Training School is associated with ATS since 1996, the values remained the same, and additional training programs were added.

If you would like to learn more about a truck driving career, call ATS. Financial aid is available for the school.

A naturally occurring radioactive gas, radon can affect all kinds of properties. It is colorless and odorless. It is also a serious health hazard. Prolonged exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer and other illnesses. It is actually the second leading cause of lung cancer.

As a construction worker, you should be aware that radon is created by the natural breakdown of elements in the soil. It can be found in water and igneous rock. Radon is a product that is created from radium to uranium. Radium then breaks down into radon.

A lot of new construction is being built using a radon-resistant approach. If a building tests positive for radon, a radon mitigation system can be installed.

Those who work in the construction industry can come into contact with radon in the workplace, so it is important to be attentive. Radon testing can help ensure the safety of the work crew. If there is radon in the area, you should take the proper action to ensure that it is safe to continue working at the job site.

OSHA has radon exposure limits for individuals in the workplace. Those limits are based on a 40-hour workweek and should be monitored and tracked and then properly reported.

While radon is something that you cannot see, it is a serious workplace hazard that requires the attentiveness of the whole team.

If you have concerns about radon, speak with an expert on the matter and make sure you have the proper testing protocols in place. Worker safety is essential in all aspects of the job.

The number of construction starts for 2022 stayed strong at the end of the year, and the new year kicked off strong as well. December rebounded from November to show a 27 percent gain, which is the first monthly to year-end jump shown since 2017. The seasonally adjusted annual rate ended at $1.185 trillion.

Throughout 2022, the construction totals held 15 percent higher than they did during the previous year. While residential starts dropped by 3 percent for the year, non-residential projects saw a 38 percent increase over the previous year.

Manufacturing and infrastructure remain the strengths of the new starts in the construction industry, and as the economy softens and as interest rates continue to rise, manufacturing and infrastructure will remain the strengths and help keep construction booming. The demand for construction workers is expected to continue as well.

Heavy equipment operators, crane operators, and truck drivers are a necessity for these kinds of projects. If you are looking for a career opportunity, now is the ideal time to get the proper training so you can meet the criteria to join a construction crew. Offering job stability, good pay, and good benefits, construction jobs are a great opportunity for those who want a career that will help them attain their personal and career goals.

Slips, trips, and falls are among the most threatening hazards that construction workers can face. According to the statistics, about 15 percent of all work-related deaths are from these kinds of incidents. Slips, trips, and falls are expensive to employers as well, costing about $11 billion annually. You need to make sure you know how to prevent a workplace slip, trip, or fall as a construction worker. Here is a closer look.

The 2013 Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index reported that falls resulting from slips or trips were the second leading reason for workplace fatalities and injuries. These incidents are just right behind motor vehicle accidents. Slips, trips, and falls are a leading cause of emergency room visits.

Here are some things to keep watch for:

• Loose rugs or mats
• Walking surfaces that are not level
• Poor lighting
• Obstructed views
• Wires and cables that are not covered
• Clutter
• Preventing falls and slips

There are several things that you can do to prevent workplace slips, trips, and falls.

• Clean up as you go, and don’t leave things lying around
• Wear slip-resistant shoes
• Use extra care on uneven surfaces
• Use caution on wet surfaces
• Clean up spills
• Mop or sweep up debris
• Clear walkways
• Cover cables and wires
• Make sure the area is well lit
• Check for fall hazards
• Salt highly traveled areas during winter months
• Clean your work area at the end of the shift
• Be attentive to where you are walking

Not all infrastructure construction projects are the same. Here is a look at how there are many kinds of infrastructure projects and as the federal money becomes available for these projects, what you can expect to see in demand and what kind of jobs will become available.

• Bridges
• Roads
• Airports
• Mass Transit
• Water Supply Projects
• Power Plants and Power Generation
• Waste Management Facilities
• Hazardous Waste Facilities and Removal
• Telecommunications

Construction companies will need knowledgeable, trained workers who can operate heavy equipment, cranes, and hand tools. There will be a need for carpenters, steelworkers, roofers, electricians, painters, and plumbers.

We offer an extensive variety of training programs for those interested in a career in the construction industry. We offer CDL training, heavy equipment operator training, training for being a signalperson or rigger, crane operator training, and more. To learn more about the different educational programs we offer for construction workers, call us today. Financial assistance is available.

Associated Training Services Selected for New CCO Training Provider Award

Sun Prairie, WI, 04/05/2023 — Associated Training Services was recently commended by CCO as having demonstrated its commitment to safety by providing training for CCO certification during 2022. The award is granted to training organizations that promote CCO certification as demonstrating the highest level of rigor achievement for those in and around load-handling equipment.

The Training Provider Awards are granted based on testing volume. In 2022, over 46,000 candidates identified nearly 500 unique Training Providers. These awards are presented to those Training Providers that were identified most often.

As such, this Training Company Award demonstrates that Associated Training Services strives for excellence in its training efforts and works hard to earn, maintain, and protect its safety reputation in the industry. “Associated Training Services takes the time and energy to help their clients get their personnel CCO certified, thereby raising the safety awareness of the client’s entire company,” said CCO CEO Thom Sicklesteel.

“CCO’s Training Provider Awards provide a means for training providers such as Associated Training Services to show their clients, potential clients, and employees that they are not only serious about load handling equipment safety but that they promote the highest levels of safety for the in the industry,” said CCO Marketing Director Tara Whittington. “CCO is delighted to welcome Associated Training Services into this pre-eminent group of companies who have distinguished themselves in their dedication to safety through their commitment to professional training for CCO certification,” she said.

About Associated Training Services

ATS strives to be the leader in the vocational training industry by offering a variety of skills-oriented training programs in heavy equipment operation, crane operation, horizontal directional drilling, rigging/signalperson, truck driving, safety, and the construction trades while maintaining the highest standards of quality and integrity. For more information about Associated Training Services visit our website www.ats-specialized-training.com or follow us on LinkedIn (ATS/LinkedIn) and Facebook (facebook.com/ATSheavyequipmentschool).

About CCO

CCO was formed in 1995 as an independent, non-profit organization by industry to develop and administer a nationwide program for the certification of load-handling equipment operators and related personnel. Since then, CCO has administered over 1.5 million written and practical examinations and issued more than 726,000 ANSI-accredited and OSHA-compliant certifications. CCO certification prevents innumerable incidents and accidents and, according to OSHA, saves more than 30 lives a year. For all the latest CCO news, follow them on LinkedIn (nccco.org/linkedin), Facebook (facebook.com/CCOcert.org), or on Twitter (@NCCCOorg).

According to experts, infrastructure construction and engineering are booming. The Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) is providing $1 trillion-plus in revenue opportunities for engineering and contractors to take on infrastructure projects.

Experts anticipate infrastructure construction to surpass residential construction as the mainstream of revenue for construction companies with large public investments being made readily available. In the past, there has been an underfunding of infrastructure projects, so there is much catching up to do and this provides states, counties, and towns with the opportunity to develop their infrastructure in a way to benefit their communities and businesses.

The American Society of Civil Engineers has released statistics showing that there is a $2.59 trillion gap in investing in infrastructure during the last decade. That means the current state of infrastructure is lacking and the current funding gives government bodies the opportunity to correct problems and improve infrastructure systems.

Where to get training?

With the increase in infrastructure construction and the IIJA funds, there will be an increased need for qualified construction workers. That means that well-trained construction workers are definitely in demand. Workers who can operate different kinds of heavy equipment as well as those who can handle hand tools are a necessity.

If you have not undergone the proper training, you should consider enrolling in a school that offers extensive training in the construction trade. You need to be trained in all aspects of the trade, including safe operation and OSHA guidelines. Contact us for details about our different construction training programs.

There have been major changes in the hotel construction process. These changes are because of changing demands of both hotel owners and operators as well as hotel guests. Regardless of whether the construction project is a new construction, a gut renovation, or an expansion, these changes are here to stay. Here are a few of the current popular trends in hotel construction.

• The 2030 challenge – Which is the American Institute of Architects 2030 Challenge has the aim of limiting or minimizing damage caused when there is a construction project.
• Sustainability – Build sustainability, so it will last longer and minimize waste and use.
• Seco-Friendly – Share your sustainability story by constructing around eco-friendly experiences and environmental initiatives while using eco-friendly products when possible.
• Modular Developments – Modular developments are not as limited anymore, and now, they help push the boundaries further and are used in top-end developments.
• Planning For Longer Construction Times – Delays are happening. There are supply chain shortages and it is taking longer to get what you need to do the job, so figure in that extra time when giving an estimate for project completion.
• Use Local Sourcing – Try to get as many materials and things as you can locally, so you limit the travel time and limit the carbon footprint as well.
• Know Where Materials Come From – Know where the materials are coming from, so you can figure out how long it will take to get them. Also, know if they are in stock or on backorder.

These trends have become part of the norm in the construction industry. What was once predictable is no longer as predictable, and you never know what challenges may be thrown your way, so plan ahead.