Connector - Summer 2019

SUMMER EDITION 2019

PLAIN&

14 Product Focus: Trade Show Demos 20 Rent the Right Equipment for your Job 26 Redefining Welding Training THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

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c ntents

SUMMER EDITION June 2019

FEATURES Management

20

Boom Selection Renting the right crane or aerial lift starts with your equipment provider.

By Lucy Perry

Special Focus

24

Convention: By the Numbers Photographic review of SEAA's 47th Annual Convention & Trade Show

26

In the Field Redefining Welding Training Modern tools for upskilling welder abilities.

By Jason Scales, Ph.D.

seaa.net ONLINE HIGHLIGHTS

32 Cover Story Plain and Fancy There’s beauty in a job well done, regardless of a structure’s design or purpose.

By Tina Cauller On the Cover: An office building in Denver, erected by Derr & Gruenewald Construction, is the SEAA Class II Project of the Year. Photo credit: DenverInfill

DEPARTMENTS

QQParking Garage, Office Building, and Two Airports Fly Away with Project Awards

10 Perspective

QQConference Speakers Stress Importance of Workforce Development

14 Product Focus

QQWorkers in Construction at Higher Risk for Suicide

40 Business Operations

QQGuidelines for Exiting a Boom Lift onto an Adjacent Structure

Check out our latest social media feeds.

See more photos of 2019 Convention in Concord, N.C.

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12 Association News

42 Topping Out Connector received Superstar Award from Construction Marketing Association.

The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) is dedicated to advancing the common interests and needs of all engaged in building with steel. The Association’s objectives in achieving this goal include the promotion of safety, education and training programs for steel erector trades, development and promotion of standards and cooperation with others in activities which impact the commercial construction business.

NEW CONSTRUCTION 100% FLAWLESS RENOVATIONS SATISFACTION

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THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Membership in Steel Erectors Association of America provides Safety, Education, and Productivity benefits for its members. As a trade association representing Steel Erectors, Fabricators, General Contractors, and Vendors, businesses with complementary interests gain invaluable opportunities to learn from each other.

SEAA is the only national trade association representing the interests of steel erectors, fabricators, and related service providers. Connector reaches both small and large contractors working in union and open labor markets.

Your Industry No other national association represents the unique interests of all steel erectors and fabricators. Members are experts in construction of commercial buildings, arenas, bridges, and highway structures. Members enhoy opportunities to network with other industry professionals at the Anuual Covention, golf tournaments, member events and training classes.

Improve Safety and Productivity Members have access to custom Ironworker Craft Training Curriculum. Studies show 24% of businesses experience lower productivity due to the lack of skilled ironworkers and welders.

A better trained workforce delivers lower accidents rates, higher productivity, and increased profits.

Accredited Credentials at Reduced Cost SEAA’s NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) sponsorship means that member companies can provide industry-recognized credentials to your employees with the benefit of SEAA adminstrative support and at a lower cost to members than going direct through NCCER.

Competitive Advantage SEAA’s U.S. Department of Labor-approved Ironworker Apprenticeship Program allows members to create formal training that meets standards recognized by Federal and State governments. Pariticipation allows merit shop contractors to utilize government approved apprenticeship rates on Davis Bacon Wage Projects.

Influence Industry Standards SEAA strategic partnerships with industry groups provide member companies with industry representation with American Institute of Steel Construction, Steel Joist Institute, Steel Deck Institute, National Institute of Steel Detailing, and others.

Steel Erectors Association of America Piedmont Leaf Lofts 401 E. 4th Street, #204 Winston-Salem, NC 27101-4171 336-294-8880 www.seaa.net OFFICERS & EXECUTIVE STAFF David Schulz, President Josh Cilley, Immediate Past President Carrie Sopuch-Gulajan, VP, Associate Representative Geoff Kress, VP, Industry Representative Greg Phillips, Treasurer Chris Legnon, Secretary and Media Committee Chairman Tom Underhill, Executive Director PUBLISHING PARTNER Chris Harrison, Publisher connectorsales@seaa.net Phone 660-287-7660 Tracy Bennett, Managing Editor editor@seaa.net Phone 816-536-7903 Eileen Kwiatkowski, Art Director eileen@ekaygraphics.com MEDIA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Chris Legnon, Fabricators, Cooper Steel Jim Simonson, Fabricators, Steel Service David Deem, Erectors, Deem Structural Services Glen Pisani, Erectors, MAS Building & Bridge Ben Wein, Erectors, SSW Erectors Bryan McClure, Safety, Trivent Safety Consulting Connector™ is published quarterly by the Steel Erectors Association of America, 401 E. 4th Street, #204, Winston-Salem, NC 27101-4171

Join by calling the SEAA office 336-294-8880 or visit www.seaa.net Discover why a SEAA Membership is a good investment for your business.

8 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Copyright 2019 by the Steel Erectors Association of America. No material may be reprinted without permission from the Executive Director. While the information and recommendations contained in this publication have been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, the Steel Erectors Association of America, its affiliates, employees, contributors, writers, editors, designers, photographers, and media advisory committee, makes no guarantee as to, and assumes no responsibility for, the correctness, sufficiency or completeness of such information or recommendations and cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any action or decision based on the information contained in this publication or claims made by advertisers. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission of the Publisher. Permission is only deemed valid if approval is in writing.

Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 9

PERSPECTIVE

By Dave Schulz

Tips for Avoiding Bidding Traps

T

wo common scenarios that can quickly increase your costs on a job and are difficult to plan for when bidding a project are special inspections and Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) jobs.

When either situation is requested in the bid, this should be a red flag. In the case of special inspections, chances are, you’re going to be responsible for more than you expected. In the case of CMAR jobs, your liability may be greater than you anticipated.

Trap #1 Special Inspections In addition to any drawing sheets labeled “special inspections,” look out for specs calling on the International Building Code (IBC) IBC 1705.2.1, IBC 1705.12.1 and IBC 1705.13.1 as they relate (or not) to steel erection in the field. IBC 1705.2.5 does actually relate to steel erection in the field since it calls for visual inspection of field welds, which happens on every job, as do IBC 1705.2.4.1 and/or IBC 1705.2.4.2 since they call for ultrasonic testing (UT) of complete joint penetration (CJP) welds, aka “moment welds,” which may or may not be present on every job.

We have this job with "moment welds." The inspector is required to be there while the welds are made. When the inspector arrives, turns out, he's new. He says he has been sent to watch us make the welds. We are expecting him to UT the welds, which is what's called for.

But the inspector says he can only watch because he's not qualified for UT. Next, this inspector tells us we can't erect because there are bad shop welds on the steel we've been provided. He requires all of the shop welds for the entire job to be re-inspected. This decision by the inspector costs months and thousands of dollars.

Despite these delays, we complete the job and leave, with no word about whether our field welds have been accepted or rejected.

A week goes by and we receive an email informing us that the inspector will show up in two days. We are expected to have someone on site. Uhm, okay…what time will he be there so we can make arrangements to have guys on the job? The GC has no idea what time to expect the inspector, but he'll make sure there is a ladder, and

Chances are you’re either going to be responsible for more than expected or your liability may be greater than anticipated.

Dave Schulz is President of the Steel Erectors Association of America, and Vice President of Schulz Iron Works Inc., Raleigh, N.C. Contact him at dave@schulzironworks.com.

10 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

he'll let us know if we pass inspection or not.

Well, the good news is, we passed inspection, despite the odds! Here’s what we learned.

• IBC special inspection rules can put holds on shop welds. Check the Welding Procedure Specification (WPS), which can affect steel erection in the field.

• Like all aspects of our industry, qualified workers are at a premium. You may want to research if there are enough qualified inspectors to meet the demand for the area before bidding the job.

• Inspection firms often have a contract for “x” number of trips to a jobsite, regardless of the stage of construction.

To avoid this trap, you may want to build in the cost of having your own Engineer or Certified Weld Inspector (CWI) onsite throughout your portion of the job. Yes, this increases your costs, but if you don’t, you take a chance on losing a ton of money due to unanticipated problems or down time. Remember, your clue is right there in the bid notes, under “special inspections.”

Trap #2 CMAR Jobs There seems to be a trend for Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) jobs to be less planned out by the CMAR and more reliant on the subcontractor(s) to plan the scope of work. There could be hints of this in the specifications for the job. For example, here are a few "surprises" we found in the scope for an education facility. The subcontractor: • to provide all engineering for each crane set up; • to provide third party acceptance of such engineering; • responsible for all dewatering (none by CMAR); • responsible for anchor bolt survey; • to complete work to be complete in 8 weeks.

This particular job had a very aggressive construction schedule, and ultimately, we decided not to bid the job.

Here’s why. The CMAR called for two cranes on site during erection of steel, each with its own steel erection crew.

The new building is to replace existing building built in 1954, with original building to be demolished completely before construction could begin. The crane access would be limited due to the design of the new building and the hilly terrain. And the jobsite was located within 100 yards of homes. Considering all of these factors, it didn’t seem that much time was allowed in the schedule for a subcontractor to get engineering for the crane set-up, third party acceptance, etc.

It is not my intent to make you afraid of these kinds of jobs—just to make you aware of the issues we see. Special inspections and CMAR jobs could present traps if you don’t identify them at the start. Once identified you can choose to account for the unexpected in your bidding, or walk away from the bid altogether.

•

Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 11

ASSOCIATION NEWS

■■2019 Projects of Year

EVENTS & ACTIVITIES SEAA 3rd Quarter Board Meeting

Three steel erection companies were presented with Project of the Year awards by SEAA. Chosen by an independent panel of judges, the companies received their honors at SEAA’s 2019 Annual Convention, held in April in Concord, NC. Submissions were accepted for projects that were topped out in 2017 or 2018.

All four winning projects showcased a diverse array of knowledge and difficulty of steel erection in the United States. One job included taking over the fabrication process, another involved the precision needed to get steel to follow a crinkle wall design, and two had to deal with the pressures of sizable jobs at functioning international airports. Read more about Class I and Class II winners in this issue, and watch the Fall 2019 issue for coverage of Class III and Class IV winners.

July 18, 2019 Embassy Suites, Ontario Airport Ontario, Calif.

Meet & Greet Reception 6 pm seaa.net/quarterlymeetings.html

SEAA 4th Quarter Board Meeting Oct. 17, 2019 Embassy Suites, Raleigh Crabtree Raleigh, N.C. seaa.net/quarterlymeetings.html

Flawless Steel Welding Class I for erection contracts up to $500,000

Derr & Gruenewald Construction Class II for $500,000 to $1 million and Class IV for $7.5 million and up

Williams Steel Erection Co., Inc. Class III for $1 million to $7.5 million

■■SEAA approves 2019-2021 Board of Directors

Annual Education Fundraiser Golf Tournament Oct. 18, 2019 Lonnie Poole Golf Course Raleigh, N.C. Registration Now Open seaa.net/events.html

Geoff Kress, Gardner-Watson Decking

12 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

The 2019-2021 slate of directors includes Geoff Kress, Gardner-Watson Decking, as President-Elect. Pending approval in 2020, Kress will be installed as President at the conclusion of Dave Schulz’s term.

Joining the board of directors is Tom Schlickbernd, Sales Manager for Vulcraft of New York, Inc., a division of Nucor Corp.

Schlickbernd fills a spot vacated by the retiring Alan Sears, formerly of Nucor-Vulcraft.

Schlickbernd began his career with Nucor in 1987 and has been in his current role for 13 years. He is a Professional Engineer with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The remaining directors are either continuing or renewing their terms. See the full list of directors at seaa.net/get-connected.html.

Tom Schlickbernd, Sales Manager for Vulcraft of New York, Inc.

■■Person of the Year Honored at Convention Jack Vernon Nix, Jr., Vice President of Operations for Shelby Erectors, Inc., was named the 2018 Person of the Year by SEAA. A veteran of the steel erection industry for nearly 25 years, Nix is currently serving his fifth term on the SEAA Board of Directors.

“Jack is a valued member of the Steel Erectors Association of America. He is both an inspiration and business mentor to so many people in our organization, and is breathing new life into SEAA membership recruitment efforts,” said Alan Sears, Master of Ceremonies for SEAA’s 47th Annual Convention in Concord, NC. “SEAA has helped me as a business owner by keeping me aware of the industry trends. And it is personally rewarding to be surrounded by people in the same industry to share experiences.

We discuss safety, labor quality and shortages and try to offer solutions that can be used by every business member. I will value this honor as a highlight in my career as an ironworker,” said Nix.

■■East Coast and West Coast Companies Join Training Network In the first quarter of 2019, three companies have joined SEAA’s network of Ironworker Craft Training providers, offering SEAA/NCCER training and assessments.

Participation in the program provides SEAA member companies with access to nationally recognized credentials for ironworkers. Because of SEAA’s affiliation with NCCER, members also have access to the dozens of other construction craft training materials, assessments, and certifications.

These three companies join a network of 21 training units, located all over the United States.

Guy M. Turner, a crane, rigging and heavy haul provider based in Greensboro, N.C., will provide accredited NCCER practical exams for Mobile Crane, Rigging, and Signal Person certifications, in addition to SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Training.

Commercial Steel Erection (CSE) Inc., of Madison Heights, Va., is an AISC Advanced Certified Steel Erector, and provides crane, rigging, and industrial contracting services.

Monterey Structural Steel Inc., is a family owned and operated steel fabricator and erector located in Watsonville, Calif. They are SEAA’s second Training and Assessment Sixty years ago Hougen invented the site in the state of California. In addition, the annular cutter and not long after that company was the 2019 recipient of the SEAA the small lightweight magnetic drill.

Training Grant, which provides funding to From day one we worked hard to ensure cover startup costs associated with establishing every cutter and mag drill we produced a new SEAA/NCCER training unit and assesswas worthy of our customers time and money. While technology has changed, ment site. some things stay tried and true, and our Funding for Craft Training Grants is commitment to our customers is number provided by the SEAA Safety & Education one. We still build our mag drills one at a time Committee, which raises funds through rafand quality check every cutter that we make. fle tickets for the Boom Lift Ball Drop, and the We have stood behind our products for sixty years and always will.

Education Fundraiser Golf Tournament, held each October. The most recent Ball Drop, sponsored by United Rentals and JLG, raised $2000.

The pot is split with the raffle winner.

Tim Eldridge, Education Services Unlimited, and Ed Valencia, MEMCO LLC, won half the Boom Lift Ball Drop pot at SEAA's 2019 Convention. Funds raised support Craft Training Grants.

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Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 13

PRODUCT FOCUS: TRADE SHOW DEMOS

E

quipment and product demonstrations during SEAA’s 47th Convention & Trade Show offered attendees a chance to see equipment and products in action, and in some cases to try out the equipment themselves.

“For our trade, we get very few trade show opportunities to see live demonstrations of products. The interactive experience will definitely help me make buying and renting decisions in the future,” said Glen Pisani, Steel Erection Division Manager for MAS Building & Bridge, Inc., Norfolk, Mass.

In all, 48 exhibitors participated in the trade show. Highlighted here are six live demonstrations, plus several new product announcements. See a full list of exhibitors at seaa. net/seaa-convention—trade-show.

Applied Machinery Sales (AMS), the official U.S. importer for Merlo Telehandlers, operated the Merlo Roto 40.30 MCSS. It features 360° rotation; a maximum load capacity of 8,820 lbs.; maximum lift height of 96' 8"; maximum reach to 83'3". The Roto 40.30 MCSS has a load capacity of 3,300 lbs. at maximum lift, and 880 lbs. at maximum reach.

Also new from the company is the Roto R50.35 S-Plus, rated for 11,000 lbs. and 115-ft. of lift. Its Advanced Safety System (ASCS) collects and analyzes, in real time, different machine parameters -- load position, stabilizer position, boom extension angles, turret, carriage rotation, and load weight -- to create the load diagram. The ASCS automatically recognizes and incorporates attachment information into the data. Turret rotation is now controlled by a miniature mouse located on the joystick. The armrest has two sensors automatically detecting the presence of the operator’s hand, preventing erroneous or accidental joystick movements.

Speak Easy Communication Solutions, LLC, with assistance from W.O. Grubb Crane Rental showed Vertix, its basic communication twin pack, for communicating with crane operators in the field. Vertix, which supports communication among multiple users simultaneously, is compatible with Bluetooth technology. It is designed to be hands-free, and allows for continuous listening by other team members.

Noise-filtering technology uses an algorithm based on a unique sound-sample that Speak Easy teamed with Vertix™ Global to create to block out low frequency noise. It gets out the low grumbles, engines, and other interference that often makes communication impossible on many work sites.

During the demonstration, Alex Kundrat of Speak Easy Communication Solutions, directed W.O. Grubb’s crane operator in the cab of a 75-ton capacity Link-Belt HTC-8675 II to hook up to a manbasket using voice commands.

The crane has a 127 ft. telescopic boom with maximum tip height of 230 ft. Two fly jib options feature four offset positions of 2°, 15°, 30° and 45°. It can be configured to meet various transportation laws and “stow ‘n go” outrigger pontoons that are easily secured for transport.

14 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Red-D-Arc Welderentals, an Airgas company, and Lincoln Electric collaborated to provide a welding demonstration. Red-D-Arc rents and leases welders, welding positioners, welding-related equipment, and electric power generators through 70 service centers across the United States.

The live welding exercised utilized several Lincoln Electric products, all featuring the company’s CrossLinc Technology designed to offer the contractor safety, efficiency, and productivity. The Dual Maverick 200/200x, two independent 200A (400A in single mode) welders in one machine, features variable rpm, and auto stop-start functions to save the user on fuel and maintenance. The Ranger 330 welder/ generator is a low-decibel machine that has easyto-use Digital User Interface, smart features, and a 300-amp gas drive. The FlexTec 350X is equipped with 350-amp inverter, and offers procedure control 700 ft. away from the machine.

Magni Model RTH 8.25SH rotating telescopic handler, demonstrated by ML Cranes & Equipment, features a maximum lifting capacity of 17,500 lbs. and a maximum lifting height of 81.8 ft. The telehandler can lift 5.8 tons at a height of 82 ft., and 1.10 ton at 69 ft. of reach. The RTH 8.25SH is powered by a Mercedes diesel direct-injection turbocharged engine with a two-speed gear box and hydrostatic transmission.

ML Cranes & Equipment also displayed a Maeda mini-crane Model MC 405 with a maximum capacity of 8,480 lbs. The electric dual power model has a maximum working radius of 52.4 ft.; 55.1 ft.; 67.9 ft. with fly jib; and a hook speed of 33 ft./min. The crane has a single line speed of 132 ft./min.

Elrod Stud Welding displayed its new Tru-Weld TW6902 dual gun stud welder with four wire to three wire control cable conversion; a rapid ferrule tool; and embed production demonstrating the difference between hand welded studs and studs welded with a stud welder, and the applicable AWS Specs.

Steel industry software developer SDS/2 displayed its SDS/2 Erector program, featuring tools that allow the user to leverage the information in 3D fabrication models. With the program, users can extract bolt and member data, eliminate communication breakdown, and plan crane layouts. Features include detailing; engineering; fabricating; erector; BIM; approval; Viewer; Edge; Estimodeling, and plugins.

16 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

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Miller Electric Mfg. LLC introduced the XMT 350 FieldPro system with Polarity Reversing, which eliminates the need to manually swap leads between welding processes.

With the push of a button on the interface, Quick-Select technology automatically selects the correct polarity, lead outputs and weld parameters. This prevents operators from inadvertently welding in the wrong polarity, reducing the risk of weld rework that results from incorrect cable connection. Quick process changeover also eliminates the setup time spent switching cables and gas hoses.

The system also includes Miller ArcReach ® welding technology, which gives welders complete control at the wire feeder or remote.

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CREATED FOR AN ERECTOR BY AN ERECTOR 18 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Simpson Strong-Tie announces YieldLink connection, which requires no field welding and allows beams to be designed without supplemental lateral bracing. The result is fewer fabricated steel elements and field connections. Software plugins are available to assist designers, fabricators and erectors in incorporating Yield-Link connections into their designs.

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Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 19

MANAGEMENT

By Lucy Perry

Boom Selection Renting the right crane or aerial lift starts with your equipment provider

S

electing the right cranes and personnel access equipment for a steel construction project can be a complicated process, even for a veteran equipment manager. When renting equipment, it’s critical to work with a provider who knows your business and understands the jobsite on which you’ll be using the equipment.

Many structural steel erection companies maintain their own fleets of cranes and aerial lift equipment, reports Kyle Belkoski, director of sales for Superior Cranes Inc., Rockingham, N.C. But often these fleets must be supplemented with rentals. “Everything is getting bigger, fancier, taller, wider, heavier.

When they call on us it’s a project above and beyond the norm,” he says. “It’s more cost-effective to have a fleet in-house and operate and maintain it as opposed to renting every time you need one. But our rental customers don’t typically carry high-capacity cranes in Lucy Perry operates WordSkills Editorial Services in Kansas City, Missouri. She has spent 25 years following the North American construction industry.

She can be reached at wordskillseditor@gmail.com.

Often capacity and boom length is determined by how far back from the construction the crane must be set. At this project at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, S.C., 4,000pound steel beams were placed at a 225-foot lift radius. To do so required a 350-ton Grove GMK6300L all-terrain crane, supplied by Superior Cranes.

their fleets. So, we handle crane rentals for big steel projects, like a football stadium, or a downtown skyscraper.”

The same is true for mobile elevating work platforms, such as boom lifts or scissor lifts.

The type and scope of the job dictates the type of lifts that might be most productive and the quantity needed.

“If you buy 300, 120-foot booms because you’re building a Boeing plant they may sit in your yard for a year when the job’s done.

It’s better to rent the equipment,” says Dave Brown, Regional Sales Manager of the Southeast Region for Stamford, Connecticut-based United Rentals. Some 90 percent of the construction industry in America rents aerial access equipment, because of the variety of applications that call for this type of equipment, he continues.

When you call up your rental equipment provider, you should have some idea of the scope of the work and your equipment needs.

20 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

But don’t discount the equipment provider’s expertise. Have a representative perform a walkaround of the jobsite to align your scope of work with the right material handling and access equipment.

Specifying the right crane The assessment should take into account the size of the site and the ability to house particular cranes; ground conditions; an analysis of load charts to determine capabilities, strengths, and exact dimensions of the required crane, including boom length; the rated capacity of the crane to assess the size and weight of the material being lifted, distance and radius to be covered with the crane, the anticipated scale of the project, and the time required to complete it.

SEAA member company Superior Cranes Inc., has eight branch locations in North and South Carolina. When the call comes in from an equipment manager, a member of the

Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 21

rental company’s sales force will go out and measure the jobsite to determine potential building height, jobsite reach, and equipment lift. Belkoski’s team also gathers information on how much steel will be set; how heavy the steel will be; and how tall the building will be.

“Then they come back to the office and get into the load charts for the cranes to decide the capacity that’s needed,” explains Belkoski.

The type of crane selected also depends on the duration of the project. A rough-terrain crane or crawler crane, as opposed to a hydraulic crane, is ideal for longer-duration projects, he says. “Especially on projects coming out of the ground for the first time, RTs and crawlers provide ease of access around jobsites.” These two types of cranes can move with the boom and counterweights in place.

If the building contractor is adding to an existing structure, and the crane is needed for a few days or weeks, crews will usually perform the work with a hydraulic crane, such as a truck crane or all-terrain crane, working from one or two locations on the jobsite. “On longer-term projects, such as hanging steel for a 500,000 sq. ft. building, we’ll advise the customer to choose a crawler crane,” says Belkoski.

Crane rental company Stevenson Crane,

Bolingbrook, Ill., advises customers to consider not only the type of project, but also the height and reach needed for the work to be performed. A word of caution: you’ll need to be aware of how wind conditions at the height will affect the crane. In addition, you want to be certain that the ground will be stable enough to support the ground bearing pressure being exerted by the crane under load. This might require planning for a crawler crane rather than one with outriggers, as well as setting up on crane mats or outrigger pads.

Using a lift planning software, such as A1A Software’s 3D Lift Plan, is one way to evaluate which crane would be most cost-effective for the task. A new web tool feature, available for 3D Lift Plan subscribers, allows users to compare up to 10 crane load charts at a time. “Information displays graphically, for an easy visual reference of the capacities at various working ranges,” explains Tawnia Weiss, President.

Another feature of the program, now available as a stand-alone web application tool, is a crane mat calculator. By plugging in basic information about the crane, load, and lifting parameters, you can determine the forces that will be exerted on the ground, and select

appropriate crane mats or outrigger pads for the conditions, explains Weiss.

Finally, an added benefit of renting cranes is that many rental companies can provide qualified and certified operators along with the equipment. OSHA now requires crane operators to be certified by type of crane, and employers must evaluate operators to ensure they are qualified, taking into account size, configuration, environment, and hoisting activities. If your own crew doesn’t have the right qualifications, renting a crane with an operator might the solution.

Scissor or boom?

For erecting steel, both scissor lifts and boom lifts have a place. But which type makes the most sense? According to a blog post by Coast to Coast Equipment, Cleveland, Ohio, there are pros and cons of both.

Scissor lifts provide strictly vertical access.

Their biggest advantage is large platforms able to fit several people along with materials.

Boom lifts provide greater flexibility for maneuvering around obstacles and reaching higher elevations. Articulating boom lifts are good for restricted work areas, while telescopic booms offer longer reach and greater platform capacity. Lift heights can top 130 Scissor lifts provide strictly vertical access, but larger platform space for materials and people.

Ironworkers from Flawless Steel Welding LLC used a JLG 450AJ articulating boom lift on a parking garage project, which comprised 327 beams and 34 columns, each of which was set different elevations.

22 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

feet, as opposed to a maximum of about 50 feet for a scissor lift.

When it comes to renting mobile elevating work platforms, Brown of United Rentals, a SEAA member company, says many of its steel construction customers have an idea about what they need when they call. However, United Rentals staff will assess the jobsite to determine the best equipment for the application. The company equips its sales staff with handheld devices that can determine heights and what the angle of the project will be to zero in on the best piece of equipment.

Brown explains: If the jobsite includes a parking lot, sidewalk, and landscape area, you might have to be 20 feet off the building with the machine. It’s necessary to account for this in addition to the work height needed to determine boom size.

Most steel erectors prefer a boom lift with a jib because it makes the machine more flexible, he continues. The platform attaches to the jib, which is often about 13 ft. long, “The problem,” says Brown, “is everything with a jib drops capacity in the platform in half.”

Aerial lift accessories and attachments can considerably increase the functionality of a scissor lift or boom lift. A few accessories popular for steel erection applications include welding and cutting packages, and deck extensions. When renting equipment, be sure to ask the provider about available accessory packages.

Brown of United Rentals believes the most impressive feature lift manufacturers have developed in the last 15 years to help the steel trade as a whole was wiring booms with leads and welding kits.

“The welder is built into the machine, and that’s innovative because it’s more efficient for the steel erectors. If you’re in an 80-foot boom welding joists going down a line, the alternative is to have a pull-behind welder on the ground.” He explains this poses a hazard to vehicle traffic on the ground, and adds a lot of extra weight to the platform.

“If the ground and lead are up in the boom, you can plug in with a welding stinger and have a 250 amp welder right there.”

Using the old method, you’d have to move the boom, take the pickup truck to the welder, and move it every 45 minutes, he says.

“Now you just take boom, drive down and weld. It’s more efficient, safer, and much cheaper because now the steel erector pays $2.50 a foot for ground and lead. Today, 80 percent of booms are order by steel erectors with the welding ground and lead. The generator is made in the shell of the machine.”

A few other accessories are also useful to ironworkers, such as a cutting package. Hoses and water lines are located along the power track to supply power and clean up capability. Panel carriers or pipe racks offer a way to carry material without taking up space inside the platform, although the extra weight must be accounted for. Likewise, deck extensions on scissor lifts increase workspace and an up and over reach capability. There are even dual deck extensions available for some models.

A new feature from JLG is designed to reduce the chance of the person in the platform getting caught between the controls and an obstruction. Called SkyGuard, the technology is standard on new JLG boom lifts. A horn sounds when an operator contacts the sensor and auto reverse activates. According to the company, the reverse functionality is the only feature of its kind in the market.

One final benefit of renting, adds Brown, is that many national firms will manage the maintenance for the equipment, which is especially important on long-term rentals. “United Rentals maintains its equipment and keeps complete service records. We run daily reports and every 90 days [we come to you] to service it,” he says.

•

Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 23

SPECIAL FOCUS: CONVENTION BY THE NUMBERS

1 Lincoln Electric employee “Devil” in disguise as an Angel 2 Musicians for After-Hours Networking

7 Live equipment demonstrations

18 Inches, longest fish caught in fishing tournament. First Place Tie to Scott Lawrence, Snow Design Group, and Glen Pettinelli, Peak Steel

47 Years SEAA has held its Convention & Trade Show 59 Golf Score of first place team, represented by Phillip Wright, Tyler Metz, Sumner Tate, and Clint Riach of United Rentals

100 Pace Car rides around Charlotte Motor Speedway 200 Balls in the bucket for the Boom Lift Ball Drop 240 Longest Drive in Yards, hit by Amy McElrath of M&P Specialty Insurance

300 Attendees 30,000 Tons of steel erected for Derr & Gruenewald’s Class IV winning Project of the Year

24 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

See more convention photos: seaa.net/photos/seaa_nc/albums

Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 25

IN THE FIELD

Lincoln Electric's custom training programs are designed to help welders develop more specialized skills that are aligned with your organization's needs and can be held on-site at your workplace or job-site.

Y

ou can spend a lot of time (and a lot of money) searching for skilled welders. The truth is, it’s becoming harder and harder for contractors to find welders with an in-depth understanding of AWS D1.1 or D1.5 code provisions plus the ability to apply those skills, without significant supplementary training or oversight.

According to a USG Corporation and U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey, 80 percent of contractors say skilled labor shortages are impacting jobsite safety. The number one contributing factor? A lack of workers with sufficient skills.

As our more experienced welders retire in larger numbers, the knowledge gap continues to expand at a staggering rate. Welding education programs at trade schools and community colleges do a good job of preparing new welders to weld on the core welding processes. The problem is, these new welders Jason Scales, Ph.D., is the Business Manager for Lincoln Electric’s Education products and services.

His background includes teaching as a former welding instructor, high school agriculture teacher and college professor. In his current role, Scales oversees Lincoln Electric’s Welding Technology & Training Center in Euclid, Ohio, and the development of advanced training products, curriculum books, technical documents and specialized training programs for customers and welding education groups.

Jason Scales, Ph.D.

Redefining Welding Training Modern tools for upskilling welder abilities

won’t check off all the boxes for employers in the steel erecting industry. Many new welders bring the necessary welding skills but lack industry specific skills. And employers may have few options to prepare them, as supplementary on-the-job training can be infeasible and cost-prohibitive for some operations. It can also take years for entry-level welders to fully develop the types of skills that many employers in the construction industry say they need now.

Supporting employers with custom training In many cases, contractors simply do not have the time, space or resources to deliver their own training programs. Here at Lincoln Electric’s Education division, we’ve developed a robust custom-training program to help employers quickly and affordably get workers up to speed on the specific welding skills they need to know. Our dedicated team of expert instructors have an extensive background in manufacturing, materials science and other welding-related disciplines. They can provide training remotely on-site at your workplace or job-site, or at our world-class Welding Technology & Training Center in Cleveland.

The goal is to provide contractors with a solution that addresses welding deficiencies without negatively impacting productivity

26 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

through missed job opportunities or requiring more experienced workers to lead trainings.

We can design specialized courses built around an organization’s specific production needs and processes with training on welds unique to an organization’s objectives and specifications. Examples include: • Welding certification exams (AWS, ASME, API, ABS and more) • Mastering a new welding process • Industry or plant-specific materials and applications • Enhancing the knowledge of the skill and science of welding • Advanced equipment, application waveforms or production monitoring

Using simulators for efficient practical experience Another way Lincoln Electric is helping employers improve the welding skills of their workforce is by blending traditional welding training programs with the use of simulators.

The VRTEX 360+ is both cost-efficient and effective for advancing critical welding skills.

With the VRTEX 360+, two welders can practice welding on all the core welding processes simultaneously, including GTAW. This machine includes a GTAW TIG torch, filler metal and adaptive foot pedal devices that realistically simulate the look, feel and action of actual guns and torches.

The virtual experience includes actual welding sounds and graphics that can reveal welding errors or discontinuities, such as porosity, when a weld has been poorly executed. Each weld is scored and graphed providing the welder with a visual of what they did on each parameter while welding. The welder can review the feedback instantly and make adjustments to improve their next weld.

This scoring system also encourages healthy competition between welders. This was exactly what happened at a recent training session Lincoln Electric held for instructors at a California-based company. During the training, the group of instructors took turns utilizing the SMAW and GMAW processes to see who could get the highest score. Moving forward, they will be implementing the VRTEX to help build and refine the skills of their apprentices.

For those who are skeptical that a virtual welding simulator can produce transferable welding skills, one independent study conducted by Iowa State University confirmed some of the aforementioned benefits of virtual trainers. When comparing welders in a blended program (virtual + traditional training) with traditional training alone, researchers found that the blended program led welders to complete hands-on training and certification requirements 23 percent faster than the traditional format.

The VRTEX’s WeldometerŽ tracking system makes it easy to quantify savings. At the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters Apprentice and Training Center in Elk Grove, Ill., they have reportedly saved tens of thousands of pounds of material and consumable 28 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Welding simulators provide a virtual experience that includes welding sounds and graphics that can reveal welding errors or discontinuities, such as porosity.

material since purchasing their VRTEX machine four years ago.

For an additional cost, Lincoln Electric can also customize VRTEX software to align training to a specific industry or job specification.

Industry specific standards, certifications Lincoln Electric has partnered with the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3) to advance industry-specific certifications and welding standards. Our goal is to bridge the gap between education and industry workforce needs by offering new certifications that can produce more welders with the requisite training needed for their specific industry.

As part of this plan, NC3 will ensure strong national standards for welding instructor training, classroom curriculum, competency labs, qualification exams and digital certification issuance. A future phase of the plan calls for establishing a series of Lincoln Electric Education Partner Schools across the country as extensions of Lincoln Electric’s Welding Technology & Training Center.

With more than 100 years of knowledge in welding training, research and instruction, Lincoln Electric is looking forward to developing more of these kinds of innovative solutions to address our workforce shortages. By closely working with our industry partners, we can redefine what a modern welding training program should look like and provide a roadmap to tackle one of our industry’s greatest challenges.

•

30 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

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COVER STORY

By Tina Cauller

PLAIN&

There’s beauty in a job well done, regardless of a structure’s design or purpose

Corbin Park Parking Garage, Overland Park, Kan. Class I (up to $500,000) Erector, Fabricator, and Detailer: Flawless Steel Welding LLC Architect and Structural Engineer: Bob D. Campbell and Company According to one judge of the Prism building, "Planning was the key to safely navigating the urban setting, with limited laydown area, and proximity to occupied residential units, and rooftop pool visitors." Photo credit: DenverInfill

GC: Carson Development Inc. Contract Value: $498,000 Tons of Steel: 637

F Prism Building, Denver, Colo.

Class II (Over $500,000 to $1 million) Erector: Derr & Gruenewald Construction Fabricator and Detailer: Midwest Steel Structural Engineer: S.A. Miro Architect: Davis Partnership

our structural steel erection projects by three SEAA member companies were recently presented with Project of the Year awards. One job in each of four steel contract value classes was chosen by an independent panel of judges.

The projects showcased an array of knowledge and difficulty, while maintaining safe work sites. One job included taking over the fabrication process, another involved the precision needed to follow a crinkle wall design, and two had to deal with the pressures of sizable jobs at functioning international airports. Awards were presented at SEAA's 2019 Annual Convention, held in April in Concord, N.C. Featured here are the Class I (erection contracts up to $500,000) and Class II ($500,000 to $1 million) winners. One project is plain—a pragmatic parking garage. The other is fancy—a one-of-a-kind boutique office building.

Yet quality workmanship and expert project

GC: GE Johnson Contract Value: $817,000 Tons of Steel: 650 Prism Building Photo Credit: DenverInfill

Tina Cauller is a graphic designer and freelance writer with 30 years of experience reporting for trade and technical publications in building construction and real estate markets. She can be reached at tinacauller@ gmail.com

32 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

management are evident in the successful completion of both projects.

Watch the Fall Issue for information on Class III and IV winning projects by Williams Steel Erection Co., Inc., and Derr & Gruenewald Construction.

■■Delivering Valet Service on a Stalled Project Flawless Steel Welding (FSW) was awarded Project of the Year for Class I (under $500,000) for taking a parking garage project that had been “parked” in more ways than one to

Streamline structural steel fabrication.

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Yield-Link® technology tools from Simpson Strong-Tie — a smarter way to tackle complex connections.

Our Yield-Link software plugins and design support services provide the functionality and technical expertise to help you quickly detail, fabricate and erect complete designs matched to your project’s unique specifications — all while keeping you on time and within budget.

Download the right tools for your structural steel project by visiting go.strongtie.com/ylpluginfab or call us at (800) 999-5099 to learn more.

Available plugins: Tekla®

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The Corbin Park garage project The project comprised a total of 327 60-foot beams, each weighing 6,039 lbs., and 64 columns ranging from 3,000 to 6,800 lbs. each.

successful completion in a matter of months. The Denver, Colo.-based company mobilized its cranes and two trucks to take on the erection project in Overland Park, Kan., only to discover upon arrival that 678 tons of raw steel had been abandoned on site by the fabricator. The 93,000 sq. ft., three-story parking garage at the Corbin Park Shopping Center was derailed and well behind schedule. The owner, who was beyond distressed by the delay, wanted FSW to grab the architectural and structural drawings and start fabricating.

“That just isn’t how we do things,” explained Senior Project Manager Roque Acosta. Fortunately, Flawless Steel Welding provides turnkey fabrication and erection services, with in-house Tekla detailing capability, AISC-certified fabricators, and NCCER-trained erectors. After meeting with the engineer of record and the owner, the FSW team pushed for changes on connections to speed up the erection process. The design went from double welded angles to shear plate bolted connections, which enabled FSW to begin work more quickly. They phased the work

Altering the design from double welded angles to shear plate bolted connections, enabled Flawless Steel Welding to begin work more quickly.

34 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

out on four areas with a total of eight sequences with 3D models and detailed shop and erection drawings. It took five days to get the detail process for the first two sequences (Area 1) completed; this was the most complex location which included the parking garage ramp, and another five days to complete the remainder of the detailing. After the information gathered was put into Tekla EPM project management software, a fabrication package was created and released so production of connection plates could begin.

Since every column in the parking structure had a different elevation, it was a challenge to do the fabrication and erection onsite. For maximum efficiency, the FSW team sent in a gridline to detail each

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column individually. Fabrication and erection took place at the same time that the next gridline was detailed back at the office. “The shop guys worked over the weekends to get 600+ connections fabricated and shipped to the jobsite, where 10 team members practically lived in an empty 18,000 sq. ft. warehouse to execute the project,” recalled Victor García, CEO. In all, the project comprised a total of 327 60-foot beams, each weighing 6,039 lbs., and 64 columns ranging from 3,000 to 6,800 lbs. each.

Embracing technology, rewarding workmanship “We decided from the very start [of the company] to be a paperless operation and maximize the efficiency of all our activities,” said García. “Top-of-the-line software such as Tekla PowerFab and Tekla Structures allows us to generate 3D pre-construction models to cover every aspect of the project and obtain accurate takeoffs from the beginning. This makes it feasible to offer competitive pricing.”

He adds: “Our digital system enables clear communication between our field crew management team and shop, which is essential to the smooth execution of large, complex projects and achievement of a Flawless product. Our technology gives us an advantage against our competitors as we are already at least two weeks ahead on the detailing process once a project is awarded.”

Using this software played a significant role in the company’s ability to meet the challenges of this project. “We owe a huge debt of respect to Tekla, which made it possible to generate highly accurate models and bring the whole system together to get this project back on track. It was amazing how well everything flowed. Ultimately, we got the fabrication done in under six weeks and erection completed in three months,” said García.

The expertise and dedication of the team were the other key factors contributing to the successful completion of the job. “Roque Acosta, project manager, and Mack Segell, the foreman on site, and Dwayne Guynn, the in-shop foreman all made it possible to execute this project in a safe and timely manner. Our safety consultant, Bryan McClure from Trivent Safety Consulting, helped our team work safely with 100 percent tie-off and other solid safety policies,” credits García.

García began Flawless Steel Welding during the recession, when steady employment as an ironworker was hard to find. He took on small welding jobs to establish a solid reputation and build name recognition. His team’s consistently exceptional performance has created opportunities to work for larger contractors. FSW has grown from employing a couple of welders to more than 30 employees. In the near future, the company will be moving into a 35,000 sq. ft shop roughly twice the size of their current location, enabling FSW to add heavy fabrication equipment and improve efficiency.

Flawless Steel Welding operates with a ‘mission mindset,’ encouraging employees to strive for excellence both personally and as a team.

FSW invests in every new employee (affectionately called “Agoges” after the Spartan tradition of educating and training young warriors) with job-specific, state-of-the-art training, including attending NCCER’s three-year apprenticeship program. The training program helps shape new recruits into skilled, knowledgeable, and competent workers able to meet the rigorous standards set by OSHA and NCCER. “Our people are the backbone of our success. As a company, we are known for the highest possible standard of quality, and as individuals, we take pride in our work. We believe our employees perform 36 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

"We were impressed with the erector's willingness to field fabricate the beam ends to accommodate the revised connection design, in order to expedite the project."

— Judge’s Comment regarding Flawless Steel Welding LLC on Corbin Park Garage

better because they are happy at work,” said García.

“In our company name, we are reminded continually of the standard we’ve set, both for our company and our team to be flawless. Our employees are not just collecting Friday’s paycheck, they are committed to individual and professional success. We serve our community by creating jobs, teaching integrity, and giving our team members an opportunity to learn a respected, rewarding trade. In return, they demonstrate the professional attitude, impeccable craftsmanship, quality products, and on-time schedules that our clients seek and expect.”

■■Gem of a Building Reflects Careful Coordination Derr & Gruenewald, Brighton, Colo., was awarded Class II (over $500K to $1 million) Project of the Year for their work on the Prism building, a low-rise office tower infill project in downtown Denver.

The nine-story, 101,118 sq. ft. structure features a jewel-like glass curtain with five diagonal folds. The angled planes of the “crinkle” wall provide expansive views from inside the building and give the exterior the appearance of a multi-faceted, light-reflecting prism. The successful completion of the building also reflects the erector’s coordination with designers, fabricators, other trades, and nearby tenants.

After some earlier projects were scrapped during the economic downturn of the 2000s, Shea Properties was looking to create an iconic, one-of-a-kind boutique office building that would stand out against a backdrop of high-rise towers. The building also complements a newly opened 28-story luxury apartment building, The Quincy, which Shea built on the block.

A thorough constructability analysis by Derr & Gruenewald (DGC) revealed that the project required nearly 300 moment welds. Described as a remarkable amount of welding, DGC estimated it would take a team of 20 ironworkers nearly two months to complete all of the welding. DGC worked with the fabricator and design team to determine what could be done in the shop, and what would have to be done in the field, and ultimately came up with combination of shop welds and bolted connections that reduced the number of welds from 300 to 100. The solution significantly cut down the duration of the project, which was completed in just three months.

“Getting involved early allowed us to come together and collaborate, to influence the design and make it more erector-friendly. It’s something we try to do on every job,” said Mike Waters, Safety Director.

The Prism’s south-facing “crinkle” wall included geometries that

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defied traditional plumbing techniques.

Complex surveying using lasers were used to ensure that the envelope came together correctly and to minimize issues with erectability. The information enabled the team to cut, bevel, and re-splice the straight columns that comprised the faceted wall. As the erector, DGC provided engineering expertise to carefully reinforce the concrete with massive rebar embeds and strengthen the core and steel construction. The DGC team also welded the clips that hold the panes of glass in place, working hand-in-hand with the glass installer.

Making nice with the neighbors

The angled planes of the “crinkle”wall begin to take shape. The design originally called for nearly 300 moment welds. Derr & Gruenewald worked with the fabricator to significanlty reduce that with a combination of shop welds and bolted connections. Photo credit: DenverInfill

38 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

The luxury residences next door, standing just feet from the Prism footprint, meant there was only a 20 x 80' strip of laydown space for the entire project. DGC made sure loads were fully erectable and closely coordinated each load with the fabricator to get the material onsite. “It helps that we speak fabricator and erector fluently,” said Jay Karst, Senior Project Manager.

To meet the aggressive timetable, DGC sequenced the job and worked with the general contractor to establish mutually agreeable delivery scheduling and keep the project progressing smoothly.

The proximity to the luxury apartments posed another interesting challenge. “The Quincy’s glass-walled pool on the building’s rooftop was open and in use throughout the project, so DGC welders had to be on task and precisely on point at all times,” said Karst.

Waters adds: “The fact that this project was completed with zero injuries is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication by our crews and our management teams. A company is only as good as its employees and we take the safety and well-being of our most important asset, the employees, very seriously here at Derr & Gruenewald.”

“The project required a little technology and a lot of old school expertise,” Karst emphasizes, crediting the leadership of general foreman, Patrick Lowrance and the work of Ironworkers Local 24.

•

Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 39

BUSINESS OPERATIONS

By Matthew DeVries

Is it time to upgrade your cell phone policy?

S

mart phones and tablets are now commonplace on the construction job site. Are your cell phone policies as outdated as the original flip phones that you issued to your employees? Do you even have a cell phone policy?

Given the legal risks involved with your superintendents, project managers and other employees, you should be adequately prepared. If you haven’t revisited your cell phone and computer use policies recently—or don’t have any—below are some major issues to consider.

1. Claims, claims, claims. No longer are construction disputes limited to the written documents between the parties. More and more litigation (or arbitration) involves discovery of texts, emails and photographs for proving or disproving your claims. Any written policy should address use of cell phones and tablets with an eye for document preservation. Are change orders being discussed by text?

What about photos of an accident? And did you think about use of personal email accounts by your project members? All of these issues need to be addressed.

2. Let’s Talk about Sex(ting). Cell phones cameras, video and audio recorder capabilities, and text functions can be an employer’s worst nightmare when it comes to harassment and discrimination claims. They can be used discretely, anywhere, anytime, and leave an undisputable record.Thus, revise your harassment policies if they do not address electronic devices and activities outside of work, including those on social media.

3. Keep Your Secrets Secret. Cell phones are often used by departing or disgruntled employees to transfer your company’s confidential information. Moreover, lost cell phones can expose your company’s business, customer and employee information to third parties. Make sure you have protocols identifying and protecting confidential information, require the return of an employee’s equipment at the end of his or her employment, and implement internal procedures for locking the employee out of your computer network.

4. The Always Connected Employees. Time spent responding to emails, texting, and handling phone calls outside of normal work hours can be compensable for non-exempt employees. Review your practices Mathew DeVries, partner with Burr & Forman LLP, Nashville, Tenn., publishes construction law blog posts at bestpracticesconstructionlaw.com. Burr & Forman has nearly 300 attorneys and offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

40 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

and policies to address these issues and, just as importantly, train your employees and supervisors on the best practices.

5. Don’t Text and Drive. Employers can be liable for employee accidents that occur while they are distracted by texting or on the phone. Employees must be prohibited—and disciplined as appropriate—from texting while operating vehicles or using heavy machinery, or engaging in other behavior that would distract their attention.

Thus, evaluate your employees’ job responsibilities and address risk areas.

6. Don’t Forget about the NLRB. Did you think the National Labor Relations Board would not have an opinion on cell phones at work? The NLRB seemingly contends that, under many circumstances, non-supervisor employees have a right to use their cell phones at work to record video and take pictures.The NLRB has not drawn clear lines on what is and is not permitted, but review your policies and consult with legal counsel for the best practices.

Ignoring the realities of cell phones in the workplace is no longer an option. All employers must draft policies addressing the varied legal risks and monitor this ever-changing legal environment. While this post addresses key issues with cell phones on the project site, employers should consult with legal counsel to determine what practices best fit your workplace and where legal lines can be drawn.

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Connector | SUMMER EDITION June 2019 | 41

TOPPING OUT

Overheard at SEAA’s 47th National Convention & Trade Show

“With great technology comes great responsibility.”

S

­— Peggy Smedley, Editorial Director of Constructech Magazine, and a leading proponent for technology in construction.

medley who closed out the association convention in Concord, N.C., with her session on reskilling the workforce of the future, said that we push technology out so fast that we often don’t understand its consequences. Among her predictions for 2030 and beyond: 1. Exponential change 2. More recycled materials 3. Digital cities 4. Robots and Cobots 5. 5G and faster connectivity

6. IoT in infrastructure.

7. Augmented/Virtual Reality 8. Electrification of transportation 9. Off-site manufacturing 10. Disrupting ideas for mass transit

TALENT RETENTION

Meet New Members

Source: FMI

This word cloud graphically represents the level of importance employees place on different kinds of benefits depending on their stage of employment. For example, many organizations use base pay as a strong attractor for new employees, and assume it also provides long-term motivation. In reality, bonuses, recognition, career pathways, and performance management are critical for employee retention and long-term individual and corporate performance.

From Gregg Schoppman’s presentation, Building the Talent Pipeline, presented at SEAA’s 47th Annual Convention, April 2019

UP NEXT

Applied Machinery Sales, Rock Hill, S.C., is the official importer of Merlo Telehandlers for U.S. construction, agriculture, and rental markets.

Guy M. Turner, Inc., Greensboro, N.C., provides crane, rigging, and heavy haul services from 15 locations across the United States.

Crystal Steel Fabricators, Inc., Arlington, Tenn., provides fabrication services for structural steel, miscellaneous and ornamental metals, as well as being one of the largest steel detailing firms with 125 in-house detailers.

Hodges Erectors, Inc., Miami, Fla., provides structural steel erection, miscellaneous metals installation, architectural precast panel erection, and concrete tilt panel installation.

Encore Steel, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., provides BIM modeling, design assistance, detailing, engineering, erection, fabrication, and plan analysis in the west and west-central United States.

GOP Ironworks, Wyckoff, N.J., specializes in structural steel fabrication, miscellaneous and ornamental ironwork, and metal stairs and railing, serving all of New Jersey.

Project of the Year Winners Accidents in the Digital Age Harness Fitting

42 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Smith Architectural Metals, LLC, Greensboro, N.C., specializes in fabrication and installation of all types of metal stairs, rails, ladders and gates, as well as miscellaneous metal fabrication, serving the southeast United States.

Check out the Member Directory at SEAA.net

Fall Edition August 2019 Ad Deadline: Aug. 16, 2019 ConnectorSales@seaa.net

Check out SEAA’s new website!

ON THE RUN FROM NON-CONFORMANCES? Use AISC’s certification resources to stand your ground against this costly menace. Help is just a click away at www.aisc.org/cert/SEAA.

Construction...

our common interest

“We are large enough to meet all of your insurance needs, yet small enough to appreciate your business and provide personal service.”

Supporting the Steel Erectors Association of America and Promoting a Safe Work Culture!

We offer the following coverages: General Liability, Property, Auto, Umbrella, Inland Marine (Equipment), Workers’ Compensation, Professional Liability, D&O, Health and Life Insurance.

7896 Donegan Drive, Manassas, VA 20109 • (703) 257-7540 • (800) 553-8359