Guam Contractors’ Association
NEWS BULLETIN
Vol.55 Issue 09 SEPTEMBER 2014
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
16
Feature Story
5
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
6
S.A.M.E.
10
INSIDER NEWS
16
FEATURE STORY
20
PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
26
CRANE CRITIQUE
30
REPORTS/INFORMATION
32
AROUND THE BENCH
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CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
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CRANE CRITIQUE
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your vision our reality 2008 Business Laureate
At Hawaiian Rock Products, we are always ready to meet your construction needs. We have a fleet of over 200 construction vehicles and a workforce of over 300 employees. We operate state of the art facilities, strategically located throughout the island with the capacity to fulfill any project size requirements. Our vast fleet of equipment continues to expand along with the growing needs of the industry. We are here to provide you with the quality products and services you need, when you need them.
Building The Marianas Since 1958
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GCA
TRADES ACADEMY B u i l d i n g
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Guam Contractors Association
THEDIRECTORS PRESIDENT James A. Martinez, GCA PAST CHAIRMAN Tom Anderson, Black Construction Corporation CHAIRMAN - ELECT Art Chan, Hawaiian Rock Products VICE CHAIRMAN - ELECT John Sage, WATTS Constructors SECRETARY/TREASURER William Beery, Tutujan Hill Group CONTRACTORS DIRECTORS: Narci Dimaoala, Amazon Construction Carlo Leon Guerrero, M80 Office Systems Conchita Bathan, Core Tech International Tom San Nicolas, dck pacific guam LLC Miguel Rangel, Maeda Pacific Corporation ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: Jeffrey Larson, TakeCare Insurance Ray Yanger, Fastenal Patty Lizama, Pacific Isla Life Michael Kikuta, Matson Navigation
THEEDITORIALS Guam Contractor’s Association (GCA) in conjunction with AdzTech and Public Relations, Inc. publishes the Construction News Bulletin (CNB) monthly. Reproduction of materials appearing in this publication is strictly forbidden without written permission by GCA. While we always strive for accuracy, we will from time to time overlook mistakes. In order to help us improve the quality and accuracy of this publication, we ask that you take the time to look at the information provided and notify GCA of any corrections as needed. Opinions and editorial content of this publication may not necessarily be those of the publisher, staff, GCA members, GCA Board of Directors and advertisers. For more information about advertising in the GCA Construction News Bulletin contact the advertising department at (671) 477-1239/2239 or email at adztech@teleguam.net. Distributed to GCA members or can be obtained by stopping by the Guam Contractors’ Association office located at 718 N. Marine Corps Drive, Suite 203, East West Business Center, Upper Tumon, Guam. To find out more about how you can become a GCA member contact Guam Contractors’ Association at Tel: (671)647-4840/41 Fax: (671) 647-4866 or Email: gca@teleguam.net. www.guamcontractors.org Postmaster. Send address changes to Guam Contractors’ Association, located at 718 N. Marine Drive Corps Suite 203, East West Business Center, Upper Tumon, Guam.
THETEAM PUBLISHER: James Martinez SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR: Geri Leon Guerrero AD SALES: Tom Mendiola Jaceth Duenas PRODUCTION: Geri Leon Guerrero Christopher “Taco” Rowland PHOTOGRAPHERS: Christopher “Taco” Rowland EDITOR: Adztech CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: John Robertson R.D. Gibson Dave Barnhouse Shawn Gumataotao GCA STAFF: Francine Arceo Desiree Lizama COVER: Keeping fit for your health
“Celebrating the Construction and Maintenance Industry this Labor Month” Dear GCA Members: As Guam families celebrate the unofficial end of summer this Labor Day weekend, I'd like to recognize the hard working men and women of the construction and maintenance industry. Guam construction workers build the homes that we live in, hospitals we were born in, schools our kids attend, hotels, shopping centers and entertainment facilities that are enjoyed by our local residents and visitors alike. They build the roads and bridges that we travel on every day. Our maintenance professionals ensure that these facilities are well maintained to last for decades. Few industries touch our daily lives so directly and in so many meaningful ways. What better time to celebrate the sweat, hard work and dedication of our local construction and maintenance workforce than on Labor Day. In addition, the construction and maintenance industry has provided fulfilling careers to Guamanians for generations and, perhaps more than ever, remains a source of excellent career opportunities and prosperity. Looking forward, the need for skilled construction and maintenance workers is projected to grow at twice the rate of all other industries. I encourage educators, families and job seekers, including the hundreds of recent high school graduates who are just entering the workforce, and to those still in school deciding their career paths, to explore the well-paying, long-term career opportunities that exist in the construction and maintenance fields. With the creation of the GCA Trades Academy, we can now train more of our local residents and those in our region in these highly professional craft fields utilizing standardized and nationally recognized curriculum under our accredited training sponsor designation with the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER). On behalf of the GCA Board of Directors, GCA Management and Staff Happy Labor! Senseramente,
James A. Martinez
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
President ’s Message
S.A.M.E. UPDATE
General Membership Luncheon Meeting August 21, 2014
Major James Gingras, Director of Operations, 554th RED HORSE Squadron, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Major Gingras currently manages a $6M dollar operating budget and the execution of the largest garrison RED HORSE troop construction program valued at $20M. This Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers (RHS) is a 194-person Squadron assigned to the 36th Wing supporting the Pacific Command Area of Responsibility. They provide construction capabilities worldwide. Major James M. Gingras with SAME 1st Vice President Noel Enriquez
Sustaining Member Brief was presented by
was given by Capt. Naseem Ghandour, USAF Civil Engineer, 554th RED HORSE
Joe Vinch received the SAME Guam Post Outstanding Support Award for his volunteerism and tremendous support for STEM program at DoDEA schools.
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CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
from GHD
Bob Shambach received the SAME Guam Post Award for his continued service to the Post over the last 6 years.
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S.A.M.E. UPDATE Keep up-to-date on all the latest Guam Post Meetings & Events at http://posts.same.org/guam/
2015 Charlie Corn Scholarship Applications Coming Soon!
To join SAME Guam Post, log on to SAME.org and click on “Membership” at the top of the home page.
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CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
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INSIDER NEWS
Now is the Time to Confront the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq
By John M. Robertson
According to news accounts, there are 42 conflicts globally at this time in which lives are being lost. Prominent among these is the Russian supported conflict in eastern Ukraine, the brutal invasion by “Islamic State” militant terrorists seizing territory in Syria and Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Gaza Strip and the Chinese incursion into the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Conflicts and threatened military action by North Korea, the Syrian Civil War, rebellion in Libya and Somalia, continued conflict in Afghanistan and the unsettled situation in South Sudan have fallen off the radar screen for now. Some analysts are saying that the world is more dangerous today than at any time since the Second World War. In many of these conflicts, Russia is in serious conflict with the United States and Western Europe which sets the world back to something similar to Cold War Status. Conflicts in the Middle-East pose the greatest threat to the U.S. and its allies with promises of a repeat of the never-to-be-forgotten Nine-Eleven attacks which occurred thirteen years ago this month. The U.K. has already raised its threat level and other western countries including the U.S. may soon need to do the same. A direct invasion of the U.S. has been threatened in retaliation for U.S. aerial strikes in Iraq. Russia has been uncooperative and was successful in thwarting U.S. plans for Syria last year. This month we are taking another look 10 | SEPTEMBER2014
at the radical Islamic organizations in the Middle East and their impact on world peace. The current situation will no doubt eventually influence military and economic decisions in Washington DC concerning Asia and the Western Pacific and that forms the connection to Guam. The article in this space a year ago titled “Conflict in the Middle East” provided an introduction to some of the intricacies that religion plays in politics in this part of the world. Since then conflict has continued and intensified in Syria and Iraq. Most notably, an organization calling itself the “Islamic State” has emerged as a fighting force in Syria then Iraq that has to be dealt with. Sometimes referred to as “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria” (ISIS) and sometimes “Islamic State in the Levant” (ISL) it has used the worst forms of terror and fear to gain ground in its effort to supplant existing governments in the region by establishing an Islamic Caliphate based on Sharia Law. This subject was high on the agenda at a NATO conference in Wales during the first week of September, right behind the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Neither the Ukraine nor countries in the Middle East are members of NATO, yet there is no international organization better able to deal with the major issues than a U.S. led coalition under the NATO banner. It is critically important that Sunni Arab countries in the region such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates take a leading role and that is the tricky part. The U.S. and its western allies have not proven successful at nation building in that part of the world and the current situation in Afghanistan and Iraq proves that. Americans are war weary and would not support major ground operations in the Middle East. It must also be remembered that the Arab-Israeli conflict is front and center in the minds CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
of officials of those countries and American ally Israel’s recent action in Gaza and annexation of more territory on the West Bank, contrary to U.S. advice, complicates U.S. relations with Arab nations in the region. The Arab League has supported action but how far they will go is an open question. NATO Summit in Wales Back to the NATO conference in Newport, Wales—American allies including the U.K. and France said they would help form an international military coalition to fight a growing threat from Islamic State militants. While members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting were weighing what role they would play, U.S. officials urged them to commit to a strategy that includes providing more arms to Kurdish forces fighting the Islamist insurgents in northern Iraq. The American plan also entails choking off the financial resources the militants rely on to pay their fighters, curbing the flow of foreign extremists and backing Arab forces capable of battling Islamic State. One of the most impassioned pleas at the NATO summit came from King Abdullah of Jordan, who implored world leaders to create a "coalition of the committed" to fight Islamic State, said participants in the private meetings. President Barack Obama's push represents the most ambitious U.S. effort to create an international coalition to combat an extremist threat since President George W. Bush enlisted dozens of nations to fight al Qaeda and its Taliban allies in Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. U.S. officials said they were expecting key NATO allies—including the U.K., France and Australia—to commit to the broader fight. One European diplomat, however, said NATO itself shouldn't have a direct role in any military operations in www.guamcontractors.org
The U.S. has led the effort so far by launching limited airstrikes against Islamic State forces in Iraq, dropping humanitarian aid to besieged Iraqi communities, and creating a widening effort to arm Kurdish forces. The beheading of two American journalists held by Islamic State fighters in Syria shifted the U.S. calculus, creating the urgency to mount a coalition. Mr. Obama is now calling for allies to defeat Islamic State militants. As in Afghanistan, America's chief ally in the fight is the U.K. The militants who beheaded the two Americans have also threatened to kill a Briton in their custody, and on 4th September Mr. Obama and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron urged NATO to take on the fight against Islamic State. Mr. Cameron said the U.K. was considering joining the U.S. in launching direct military strikes against Islamic State fighters in Iraq. The U.K. is also reviewing whether to provide arms and training directly to Kurdish forces fighting Islamic State. "We are considering actively whether to give them arms ourselves," Mr. Cameron said. While Mr. Obama and Mr. Cameron led the
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appeal to summit participants, they were joined by top U.S. officials, including Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and Susan Rice, the president's national security adviser. Before joining the lobbying effort, Lisa Monaco, the president's top counterterrorism adviser, said the U.S. strategy would also lean on intelligence sharing with allies, countering the group's sophisticated use of media, and law enforcement efforts to disrupt the flow of foreign fighters to and from the region. "If left unchecked," she said, the group "poses a potential threat to the homeland." Mr. Kerry and Mr. Hagel expect to continue the lobbying effort later this week when they seek broader support across the region. Jordan’s King Abdullah told NATO leaders that they had to make immediate decisions to stop Islamic State forces, according to participants in the meetings. Mr. Cameron met with the Jordanian king separately. "It's very important that Western intervention isn't... done against the wishes and against the work of regional neighbors," Mr. Cameron said. "That is the mistake that's been made in the past." The U.S. is looking to create new alliances with Sunni tribes in Iraq to battle Islamic State forces, which have taken control of major cities. It also wants to advance sluggish efforts to arm and train pro-American Syrian rebels so they can retake Islamic State strongholds in that country. Mr. Obama was also planning to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country shelters more than 800,000 Syrian refugees and serves as a conduit for militants heading to fight with Islamic State forces in neighboring Syria and Iraq. A Role for Saudi Arabia Now is the time for Saudi Arabia to man up. There is broad agreement that the black-clad savages of the Islamic State pose a profound threat first to neighboring Arab regimes and only then to Europe and the United States. Yet amid the debate over how a reluctant U.S. or timid Europe should respond, there is no discussion of what
Saudi Arabia should do. This is a remarkable omission that ought to shame the Saudis. Saudi Arabia is the wealthiest country in the region. It has by far the largest Air Force, equipped with hundreds of U.S. and British advanced fighter aircraft. With its oil reserves and stature as the birthplace of Islam, the kingdom is an inevitable target for the rolling brigades of ISIS. Moreover, the Saudis have ample reason not to want to be seen again as wards of the West, a fragile society requiring military protection from America which, under the Obama administration, may well not provide it. So why aren't well trained Saudi pilots flying bombing runs over Mosul or against ISIS command and control centers in Syria? The problem is a failure of will even in pursuit of their own interests. The House of Saud, which has ruled the kingdom off and on for more than 270 years, historically has survived by ducking and weaving, by seeking to avoid confrontations while trying to satisfy everyone. As a result the kingdom has been reliant on othersessentially the U.S. —for its security. An ostrich strategy may no longer be viable. Given President Obama's ducking and weaving on Syria and his cozying up to Iran, Saudi Arabia's Shiite nemesis, the Saudis have ample grounds to conclude that the U.S. cannot be counted on as a reliable protector. The Islamic State also poses a fundamental challenge to the House of Saud's legitimacy as ruler of Saudi Arabia. Since the 18th century, the Al Saud kings have justified their rule by claiming to be the protector and promoter of the one true Islam—the austere version preached by Muhammad ibn Abd al Wahhab, who joined forces with the Al Saud to conquer Arabia and return it to the Islam of the Prophet Muhammad. Another matter that the West must take into consideration – Saudi Arabia's royal family locked in King Abdullah's next two successors in March of this year, making it likely that the oldest generation will rule the conservative oil kingdom for decades more before full power passes to a
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INSIDER NEWS
Iraq. Instead the alliance is likely to be called upon to help coordinate efforts to deliver humanitarian aid and enforce controls along Iraq's porous borders. "NATO's role isn't operational [in Iraq]. It's a role of assistance," the diplomat said. Obama administration officials said they weren't expecting NATO allies to immediately take part in airstrikes the U.S. has been conducting against Islamic State forces in Iraq. The initial coalition effort is expected to focus on Islamic State forces in Iraq, because Syria's civil war has fractured the country. U.S. officials have said that the threat of the group can't be eradicated without targeting its strongholds in Syria. Mr. Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria, but hasn't yet decided on airstrikes as of the time of this writing. It is unclear, however, if the U.S. can persuade many allies to eventually expand the effort into Syria. French officials say they are wary of taking the fight to Syria due to the chaotic nature of the country's civil war.
INSIDER NEWS
rising group of princes. That is, unless there is some form of insurrection in the mean time. The unexpected binding designation, announced on state television, sets what a royal decree called an "unchangeable" line of succession for King Abdullah, who is in his early 90s, when he dies or steps down. The decree establishes Crown Prince Salman, 79 years old, as the next king and the youngest surviving son of King Abdulaziz al Saud, the late founder of modern Saudi Arabia, second to the throne. Saudi Arabia's announcement, which King Abdullah said was an unchangeable decree, was a surprise because succession issues are typically decided only immediately after the death of a king, rather than far in advance. It anticipates a sustained period of transition for the Arab world's most powerful kingdom, which at 82 years is itself younger than its leader, and nods to fears among royal and ordinary Saudis that succession struggles could destabilize the country. The kingdom's founder had dozens of sons from multiple wives and the ruling family now has thousands of descendants, only a handful of whom are considered real contenders for the throne. Succession quarrels helped bring down a kingdom of the House of Saud in the mid-19th century, and the modern kingdom still has no script for how to pass power to the next generation. Saudi Arabia's ruling family acted "to maintain the structure of the state and its future, and to guarantee—with God's help—continuity on the basis on which it was founded," read the decree, which was signed by the king. Now Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the commander of ISIS, declares the creation of an Islamic Caliphate, in essence branding Saudi Arabia and the Al Saud as usurpers and himself as the protector of true Islam. ISIS is thus a clear threat and the need to confront it is inevitable. Yet the royal family fears being seen by Saudis—particularly the Wahhabi religious establishment and young male fundamentalists—to be opposing what many see as the belated coming of an Islamic Caliphate that the Al Saud rulers have failed to deliver. At least 1,600 militant young
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Saudis, according to the Saudi interior ministry, have joined ISIS despite a royal decree imposing up to 20 years in prison for such behavior. Many more young Saudis are taking to social media to support the liberation of Mecca, Islam's holiest site, from the Al Saud. Some wealthy Saudis have provided financial support to ISIS. Some of these funders may be seeking to buy insurance against an ISIS victory, but others apparently share a desire for a Wahhabi resurgence in a kingdom that they see as corrupt and unjust—a kingdom in which royal rulers put their own profligacy ahead of the needs of Allah's flock. A Wahhabi resurgence that originates from outside the kingdom but is supported inside the kingdom is a serious threat—and another reason to confront the terrorist army now. Internal Saudi support for the "caliphate" will only increase if ISIS grows. King Abdullah, like President Obama, has so far been long on talk and short on action. Earlier this month he criticized religious scholars for their "laziness" and "silence" in failing to condemn ISIS terrorists. He called on Muslim leaders and scholars to "carry out their duty toward Allah Almighty and stand in the face of those trying to hijack Islam and [present] it to the world as a religion of extremism, hatred and terrorism." Weeks later the Saudi Grand Mufti, its senior religious scholar, finally declared that "extremism, radicalism and terrorism" have "nothing to do with Islam and are the enemy Number One of Islam." The words are on target but the kingdoms only action so far has been donating $100 million to a United Nations Counterterrorism Center, a move unlikely to slow the Islamic State. Meanwhile, the Saudi Air Force that the U.S. has been helping to modernize since the late 1970s sits grounded. The Saudis by their own estimates have at least 250 combat-ready aircraft, refueling planes, the U.S. Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) and at least 20,000 air-force personnel. While some Saudi airstrikes alone would not be militarily decisive, they would demonstrate that the self-proclaimed guardian of Islam is willing to stand up
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
to Islamic zealots. Such action by the Saudis surely would make it easier for other Muslim countries such as Kuwait, Qatar, the U.A.E. and the West to take more resolute military action against the Islamic State. Now is the time to confront Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, not cower in Riyadh. Maybe if the Saudis man up, Mr. Obama and Congress will too.
Information for this article was obtained in part from articles in the Wall Street Journal authored by Dion Nissenbaum with Stacy Meichtry; Ellen Knickmeyer with Ahmed al Omran; and, Karen Elliott House. Opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Guam Contractors Association.
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Focusing On Your Well-Being And Health
by: R.D. Gibson
TakeCare provides over 32,000 patients with service focused toward patient health and wellness. TakeCare offers health plans designed to meet their needs, including access to over 100 primary and specialty providers on Guam and Saipan, and a network of international, world-class hospitals and physicians. According to the TakeCare website – takecareasia.com – “TakeCare’s reach has exceeded the boundaries of the Mariana Islands and Micronesia, with its growing network of partners in the Asia region,” citing their office in the Philippines, which assists the TakeCare claims and MRO teams in Guam. They also boast excellent medical travel services to help those seeking treatment off-island. Closer to home, their FHP Health Centers on Guam and Saipan are vital toward realizing TakeCare’s mission to provide the best service possible. At FHP you have
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access to Urgent Care, Pediatric and Adult medicine, Radiology, a pharmacy, and dental and vision centers. In addition to access to the FHP Health Centers, they also have wellness programs to help their clients maintain a healthy lifestyle. Their fitness program classes are held at the TakeCare Wellness Center in the Baltej Pavilion on Chalan San Antonio in Tamuning. TakeCare members have access to free fitness classes like Zumba, Zumba Toning, Zumba Sentao, Water Aerobics, and Total Fitness six days a week. This month, they’ve also added new fitness classes, like TC Defense Fitness, TC Cycling, TC Bootcamp, and TC Circuit. The company also promotes healthy living through their health education programs, including Diabetes Management, Cardiac Risk Management, Prenatal Birth and Parenting classes, Smoking Cessation, and even a Children’s Health Improvement Program targeting child obesity. Along with all the programs available for members, soon enough, there will be Workplace Wellness opportunities for Employer groups to address health topics for members. “We feel an educated and healthy workforce is a productive and motivated workforce contributing to the overall success of a com-
pany,” said Lissa Talavera, TakeCare Sales and Marketing Manager. Anyone who is committed toward healthy living knows the fulfillment of losing those extra pounds and inches, but what about gaining? TakeCare is implementing the Wellness and Fitness Incentive Program where members are eligible for reimbursement through certain criteria. For example, if a member works out 10 times a month, TakeCare will reimburse $25 of their monthly gym membership fees or up to $300 a year. Pretty neat, don’t you think? Additionally, TakeCare members also get special membership discounts with various partners. With Affinity Rewards you can get special offers and discounts at countless restaurants, cafés, and businesses throughout the island. For more information regarding the Affinity Rewards program, contact them at 646-6956 ext. 7108. TakeCare – as the insurance provider for the Guam Contractors Association – provides not just their competitive list of benefits, but the confidence in knowing you are being taken care of no matter where you decide to go. They also provide a travel allowance benefit where TakeCare can reimburse you up to $500 for the purchase of an airline ticket and/or payment for lodging while accessing care in
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FEATURE STORY
The insurance world can be a bit of a whirlwind of premiums, benefits, and incentives. Sometimes it takes looking at the plans to actually see what we’re getting from the deductions in our paychecks. But, for over 40 years, TakeCare has invested to ensure, not only, customer satisfaction and the best possible health management services on Guam and the Marianas.
FEATURE STORY the Philippines with referral and meeting qualifying criteria. In addition to their reimbursement opportunities, and exemplary service, they are also easily accessible and transparent, especially with your information. You can contact a live customer service representative all day, every day to assist with any questions you might have. You can contact them at 647-3526, or 1-877-484-2411. Life isn’t simple. Sometimes we don’t have all the necessary paperwork in an emergency. That shouldn’t get in the way of getting help. Through TakeCare’s “MyTakeCare,” members have access to all of their personal medical and health information 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Strictly for TakeCare members,
18 | SEPTEMBER2014
and HIPPA protected, MyTakeCare provides access to valuable health and wellness resources through Healthwise Knowledgebase. MyTakeCare allows members to get an Online Health Risk Assessment. Should you misplace it, you can print your TakeCare Member ID card. You can also access your personal claims history, and even manage your personal health calendar! In addition to helping their members, TakeCare is also committed toward strengthening our community. Through their TakeCare Foundation, the employees have raised voluntarily thousands of dollars to various non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guam, Sanctuary, Inc., the Guam Humanities Council, and Catholic Social Services. What could be better than that? All contributions from employees
CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN
are matched dollar for dollar by their employer – TakeCare. More than anything, TakeCare is a part of our island family. Being a TakeCare member isn’t just about having insurance, it’s about being a part of a community that is focused on your well-being and health. Whether it’s getting that 30 minutes in at the gym, learning more about diet or managing an ailment, or even those emergency visits to their Urgent Care clinic, TakeCare remains focused on providing the best, quality service for their members.
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PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
GCA Luncheon August 20, 2014 Westin Resort Guam
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PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
GCA Staff ALS Ice Bucket Challenge August 29, 2014 GCA Trades Academy
Pacific Islands International Trade Show September 5, 2014 Royal Orchid Guam
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PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
3rd Annual GCA Basketball Tournament
August 30 - September 6, 2014 Playoffs and Finals
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PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS
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For nearly two decades Simpson Strong-Tie has focused on expanding its product offering beyond the residential market. Today, Simpson Strong-Tie offers a full array of Anchor Systems products for commercial, industrial and infrastructure construction. These products are a direct result of listening to the needs and challenges of our customers, then using our research, testing and engineering expertise to deliver innovative solutions. We know you have several choices when it comes to anchors, let us show you why we are your trusted source. Call us at (800) 999-5099 or visit our website at www.strongtie.com/anchors. To speak with a Simpson Strong-Tie representative in Guam, call (671) 689-6201.
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Gas-Actuated Concrete Nailer
8/28/14 7:57 AM
CRANE CRITIQUE
This month’s topic: Tower Crane’s erection and inspection rules. A monthly crane and rigging informative column for all personnel directly or indirectly involved with crane safety. Each month we will attempt to explain a different technical issue pertaining to crane operations here on Guam, addressing the sometimes over-looked or misunderstood topics by management and operators alike. By Dave Barnhouse The latest revision to the ASME B30.3 standard for tower cranes contains significant changes that affect how engineers should take into account wind loading on jobsites, including those prone to typhoons. The standard also calls for more rigorous inspections than in the past, now requiring a major teardown and rebuild every five years. Tower cranes now must be engineered to withstand wind conditions detailed in ASCE 7, the American Society of Civil Engineers' standard on minimum de-sign loads for buildings and other structures; it was previously a recommendation. The volume specifies that ASCE 7 wind speeds must be used for calculating foundations and freestanding heights. Even though the latest version of ASME B30.3 was released in 2012, many people are still not aware of the changes. Operationally, manufacturers and crane suppliers, such as rental companies, typically advise users on how to pre-pare for windy conditions, including typhoons. Operators generally are ad-vised to "weathervane" a tower crane, or unlock the swing brake, so its rotating structure can spin freely in the wind. According to the ASME B30.3-2012 document, the site supervisor and lift director are responsible for ensuring that weather or other adverse conditions are addressed in each lift. Major inspections are, for the first time, also included in the new standard. The new inspection category calls for components such as drive systems, motors and gearboxes to be disassembled and, if necessary, rebuilt at 60-month intervals or as specified by the manufacturer. This practice, experts say, is important because some critical components are not visible during a crane's frequent (daily) or periodic (annual) inspection.
26 | SEPTMEBER2014
Liebherr 22 ton tower crane at Navy Hospital Like the wind standard, the major inspection aims to reduce risk by identifying potential failures. ASME Committee members felt that most of the maintenance issues on tower cranes, especially as they got older, were not keeping pace with the industry and what people in the industry were demanding for quality. Although it is not a requirement, the volume also recommends non-destructive testing of connection mate-rial, such as bolts and pins, during a major inspection. If you are doing a five-year inspection, it is not a bad idea to do a non-destructive test of all the bolts. (f) Inspections. (2) Pre-erection inspection. Before each crane component is erected, it must be inspected by a qualified person for damage or excessive wear.
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attention to components that will be difficult to inspect thor¬oughly during shift inspections. (ii) If the qualified person determines that a component is damaged or worn to the extent that it would create a safety hazard if used on the crane, that compo¬nent must not be erected on the crane unless it is repaired and, upon reinspection by the qualified person, found to no longer create a safety haz-ard. (iii) If the qualified person determines that, though not presently a safety haz-ard, the component needs to be moni-tored, the employer must ensure that the component is checked in the monthly inspections. Any such deter-mination must be documented, and the documentation must be available to any indi¬vidual who conducts a monthly inspection.
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CRANE CRITIQUE
(3) Post-erection inspection. In addition to the requirements in § 1926.1412(c), the following requirements must be met: (i) A load test using certified weights, or scaled weights using a certified scale with a current certificate of calibration, must be conducted after each erection. (ii) The load test must be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions when available. Where these instructions are unavailable, the test must be conducted in accordance with written load test procedures devel-oped by a registered profes¬sional engi-neer familiar with the type of equip-ment involved. (4) Monthly. The following additional items must be included:
View from top of Inland Builders 11 Ton Liebherr Model 280 ECH Tower Crane at Outrigger BayviewTumon, recently dis-assembled.
(i) Tower (mast) bolts and other structural bolts (for loose or dislodged con-dition) from the base of the tower crane up or, if the crane is tied to or braced by the structure, those above the upper-most brace support. (ii) The upper-most tie-in, braces, floor supports and floor wedges where the tower crane is supported components. (5) Annual. In addition to the items that must be inspected under § 1926.1412(f), all turntable and tower bolts must be inspected for proper condition and torque.
Please e-mail any comments, questions, or specific topics you would like to see addressed in this column to certs@ite.net and we will certainly at-tempt to accommodate your requests.
Dave Barnhouse resides in Tamuning and has been involved with operations, maintenance, operator training, and/orinspections, of cranes since 1969. He is a Certified Environmental Trainer, CHST, NCCCO Certified Crane Operator, NCCCO Lift Director, and practical examiner for all types of mobile cranes and the only OSHA ac-credited crane inspector on Guam.
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Inland Builders 11 Ton Liebherr Model 280 ECH Tower Crane at Outrigger BayviewTumon, during partial disassembly.
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SEPTEMBER2014 | 27
William “Bill” Beery, P.E. General Manager, Tutujan Hills Group Ltd. Immediate Past Chairman, GCA
Retirement solutions for your small business. “For some time our group had been asking for a 401(k) benefit. My first impression was that providing this type of program for a group as small as ours might be on the expensive side. Not only did ASC Trust Corporation break this
misconception, they surpassed my expectations. We were able to start a plan that was both fairly priced and made sense with what we were looking for. In the end, the tailored-solution was exactly what our team needed.” - Bill Beery
Finding a tailor-made solution is just the beginning. ASC offers a level of service that sets us apart from other retirement plan providers in the region. Let us help you save for a successful retirement, one paycheck at a time. Schedule to meet with our team today e: info@asctrust.com w: asctrust.com p: (671)-477-2724
30 | SEPTEMBER2014
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1 6 2 2 1 1 1
Maintenance Electrician Elevator Installer Chef Spa Supervisor - Trainer Biomedical Equipment Specialist Automotive Mechanic
1
2
144
19
Mechanic
Total Non-Construction H2-B Workers
0 0
Shipfitter Sous Chef
Scuba Dive Instructor
2 6 6
Restaurant Manager Refrigeration & AC Mechanic
2
Nursery Worker
2
1
Motor Rewinder
Radiologic Technician
9
Massage Therapist
2
2 14 1 1 0 0 10
Japanese Specialty Cook Landscape Gardeners Laundry Supervisor Les Mills Certified Instructor Machinist Marine Maint. Machinist Marine Maint. Mechanic MRI Technician
Quality Inspectors
1
Hvac Technician
0
5
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
9
1
Golf Instructor
Pipefitter
1
Goldsmith
Painter,Transporter Equipment
Electrical Drafter
0
Field Supervisor Baker Master
Welder Welder - Fitter
2
2
1
1
Wedding Service Attendants
20
Ulatrsound Technician
Specialty Cook Training & Dev. Specialist
Concierge
2 5
Other Non-Construction Occupations
Electric Motor Repairer
Baker Mechanic
Auto Repairer Baker
GUAM DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Alien Labor Processing Certification Division
7
Heavy Equipment Mechanic
TOTAL Construction H-2B Workers
Total OTHER Construction
Welder
Tower Crane Operator
Project Supervisor
Plasterer
29 1159
0
2
1
4
3
0
HVAC Mechanic
Landscaper
3
0
Foreman General Maintenance & Repairer
3
0
0
Field Supervisor
Estimator
Electrical Power Lineman
1
1
Architectural Drafter Civil Engineer
4
AC& Refrigeration Mechanic
Other Construction Occupations
1285 8 10 0 0 1303
41.42%
4.51% 0.35%
36.02%
Sheetmetal Worker
Reinforcing Metalworker Structural Steelworker Plumber
Carpenter
Cement Mason
0
1000
1500
Prepared By: Sherine Espinosa Contact information: Greg Massey, ALPCD Administrator P.O. Box 9970 Tamuning, Guam 96931 (671)475-8005/8003
Camp Cook Grand Total H2B Workers
1.68%
Japan
Korea
Philippines
500
11.15%
0.71%
2.57%
1.59%
Common Construction Occupations
Japan 0.77%
Heavy Equip. Operator Electrician
Total U.S. Workers
1303
Philippines 96.62%
Korea 0.61%
H-2B Population by Nationality
MONTH ENDING: June 2014
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
US Workers vs. H-2B
Grand Total H-2B Workers
3885
36 83
Total H-2B Employers
Total U.S. Workers
47
Construction Non-Construction
Employers By Industry
Total by Nationality
Philippines Korea Japan
4
1130
Workers by Nationality
Total Common Const.
Camp Cook
19 51
Heavy Equip. Operator
18
8 29
126
Electrician
Plumber Sheetmetal Worker
Structural Steelworker
Reinforcing Metalworker
Common Construction Occupations 409 468
Cement Mason Carpenter
Employers Workplace Monthly Report Statistics
REPORTS/INFORMATION
AROUND THE BENCH
Demand Grows for Green Homes by: Shawn Gumataotao
Locally, the Guam Housing Corporation (GHC) is pushing an initiative to build affordable homes that will also utilize modern sustainable building materials and methods. Five companies are attempting to "woo" the GHC to not only adopt these models as a way to build capacity on Guam, but also to introduce "green homes" into the Western Pacific and Micronesia housing marketplace. This effort is in line with a growing trend happening all across the United States. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the authority on all that is sustainable in America, estimates that there are as many as 150,000 LEED-certified green housing units worldwide, a number that more than doubled between 2011 and 2012 and continues to grow steadily. In their LEED in Motion: Residential report, the USGBC details the U.S. states with the most LEED-certified homes, with California in the No. 1 spot followed by New York and Texas. With recently warm and dry summer months in Guam and similar conditions across the mainland U.S., most of us are bracing for what we all can expect to be higher energy bills-thus the benefits of creating LEED-certified houses are even more pronounced and more attractive to homeowners from Guam
32 | SEPTEMBER2014
to Rhode Island. "Our homes are more than just spaces that provide shelter," said USGBC President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. "Homes touch practically every aspect of our lives and are a critical element of our overall sense of safety, identity and community. Enhancing our homes' efficiency and resilience offers an extraordinary opportunity to further the revolution in sustainable building and living practices so that it ripples outward to our communities." The USGBC says that LEED-certified homes provide 20 to 30 percent savings in energy and water use compared to code-built homes, and they maximize fresh air indoors while minimizing exposure to airborne toxins and pollutants. The LEED in Motion report also explores the multiple LEED rating systems for different types of homes, including new single-family homes as well as new and existing low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise multifamily buildings. USGBC is also developing a rating system for existing single-family homes.
in cities, recognition of the top 10 countries for LEED, demonstrating the international growth of green housing, the importance of local policy in spurring the uptake of green homes as well as noting the important connections between green homes and occupant health and well-being. Will Guam add to the number of green homes in America? The GHC should be commended for this effort and homebuilders and developers alike in Micronesia should pay close attention to the results of this program as the move to sustainable homebuilding takes hold in the islands and is added to the list by the USGBC in 2015. To find out more about how GET, LLC, through our metal building partners at Ceco Building Systems, can help your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.
The USGBC Residential report also includes the ongoing monitoring of home performance and accommodation for the growing number of people living
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