 Back at the Lonnie Poole Golf Club, the annual Dave Schulz Memorial Golf Tournament Fundraiser will be held on October 13, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The fundraiser supports the association's Craft Training Grants and other Safety and Education Projects. More than $40,000 has been awarded in grants and put towards the development of training videos. In addition, World Class winners of the Craft Training Excellence Award each receive $1500 for future craft training programs.
In 2021, the annual tournament was renamed in memory of Dave Schulz, SEAA President (2019-2020), who was instrumental in organizing the event for many years. As Vice President of Schulz Iron Works, Dave was passionate about safety and was a big supporter of the SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Craft Training Program. The tournament is open to members and non-members. Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place teams, longest drive, closest to the pin, and more. Fees include green fee, cart, range balls, lunch, and beverages. The Lonnie Poole Golf Club at NC State University was designed by Arnold Palmer and the design team at Arnold Palmer Design Company. With views of the Raleigh skyline and the Centennial Campus, the course is consistently ranked as one of the best places to play, including making the Top 25 Best Collegiate Golf Courses in the US by Golf Advisor in 2023. Interested in sponsoring the golf tournament? There are more than a dozen sponsorships for the fundraiser including an on-course promotional tent, company logo on the golf balls, beverage carts, team sponsors, unlimited tee/hole sponsors, and SO much more. Prior to the Dave Schulz Memorial Golf Tournament, the association will host a Meet & Greet Reception at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Crabtree on October 12 from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. The reception provides members and non-members an opportunity to get to know other steel professionals in the area. SEAA is seeking three vendors or service providers who will partner with us. Meet & Greet Sponsorships have the opportunity to present a short non-promotional presentation to an exclusive group of erectors, fabricators, and contractors. If you are interested in securing a sponsorship please contact the SEAA office at admin@seaa.net.  Tom McAleese, Account Manager for Mazzella Companies, and formerly of Indusco Wire Rope & Supplies, recently retired from a lifelong career in the rigging supply business. “Tom’s extensive experience in crane ropes, block applications, rigging and fall protection enabled him to offer valuable information to erector members over the years,” said David Deem, President of SEAA. “He has been my go-to guy when it comes to rigging inspection and safety.” He first got involved in SEAA in the late 1980s. During that time, he served as a SEAA Director for more than 20 years. SEAA launched the Trade Show as part of Convention in 1993. “Tom was instrumental in the development and ultimate success of the event, including recruiting other vendors to participate,” said Deem. “Tom skillfully handled coordination of exhibitors and promoted networking among the attendees. In later years, his coordination of the fishing tournament made it a favorite excursion. His contributions to the Events Committee will be immensely missed. On a personal note, Tom offered me guidance and support when I was initially elected to the Board. I appreciate all he has done,” said Carrie Gulajan, SEAA Vice President and Chairperson of the Events Committee.  During its annual convention in April 2023 in St. Augustine, Florida, Geoff Kress, President of Gardner-Watson Decking, Oldsmar, Florida, and Bryan McClure, Partner in Trivent Safety Consulting, Westminster, Colorado, received two of the association’s most prestigious recognitions.
Kress received the William Davis Service award, and McClure was named Person of the Year. The William Davis Service Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated a life-long commitment to service in the steel construction industry. The award is the association’s highest honor, and is not issued annually. Recipients of the Person of the Year award have dedicated many hours supporting the association and providing their expertise.  Torque wrenches deliver the power and accuracy required to tighten nuts and bolts while preventing structural damage. These tools ensure that connections are tightened according to engineering specifications and prevent loosening while a structure or piece of equipment is in use. Torque wrenches also prevent over-tightening, which can damage threads, shorten the lifespan of a connection or cause sudden structural failure.
When choosing industrial torque wrenches and multipliers, you’ll need to consider project specifications, maneuverability and available or preferred power source. It’s important to remember that your initial purchase or rental is not only about procuring the product — it’s about the subsequent service. Every torque tool requires yearly calibration, so make sure the supplier you’re considering can provide annual calibration services, certificates and necessary repairs. Read on for what to consider when selecting a torque wrench for your application and some important safety reminders. Types of Industrial Torque Wrenches High-capacity torque wrenches can either be hydraulic, manual, electric, battery-powered, or pneumatic. Torque wrenches can be categorized further depending on their design and intended application. Manual (Click-Type) Torque Wrench These hand-operated tools can be set to deliver a specific amount of torque and will “click” once the desired torque has been reached. Click-type torque wrenches are best for jobs in tight spaces or with low visibility, since the wrench will give an audible cue once it achieves the preset torque. These tools have long lifespans, few parts or accessories and are fairly simple to use. Torque Multiplier For bolts that require a high amount of torque (or have been over-tightened), torque multipliers can deliver additional torque without requiring extra force on the part of the operator. Torque multipliers are essential for maintaining worker safety while tightening or loosening bolts by hand. Multipliers can also increase torque at small intervals at a very slow pace, reducing the risk of over-torquing or worker injury. Electric Torque Wrench With the ability to deliver more precise accuracy than an analogue tool, corded or battery-powered electric torque wrenches can be preset to a desired torque within ±3% to ±5% repeatable accuracy. If you choose to go untethered with a battery-powered torque wrench, have extra batteries or a charger on hand. If corded electric torque wrenches are your preference, be sure there is adequate clean power that allows you to safely reach your work area. This includes the proper generators (no welding generators or boom lifts) and/or properly installed spider boxes that output the correct power for the tools. If extension cords are necessary, anything longer than 150 ft. is not recommended. Hydraulic Torque Wrench When it comes to larger jobs, hydraulic torque wrenches are able to deliver over 25,000 ft.-lbs. of torque. They come in square-drive or low-profile designs called cassettes, which consist of the cassette and drive unit. Hydraulic wrenches themselves are quite light, but are accompanied by heavy systems that can carry a high price tag. Hydraulic systems include pumps and a stiff hose that can be difficult to move. Hydraulic torque wrenches also carry safety concerns related to pinch hazards and hydraulic fluid leaks, and should only be used by trained operators. Pneumatic Torque Wrench Like hydraulic tools, pneumatic torque wrenches can deliver much higher torque than a manual or electric wrench, but require additional equipment like an air hose and compressor. Torque Wrench Considerations The type and model of torque wrench you choose depends on your specific use case. Some considerations are fairly straightforward — torque range, size, power source — while some are often overlooked during the buying or rental process. Here is a list of questions to consider while making your torque tool selection:
Torque Wrench Safety Tips Be sure that all operators are briefed on safe handling and precautions before using any high-capacity torque tools. Here are some general safety guidelines to keep in mind:
Read the full article from GWY here. This Safety Flash was contributed by Don Laro, Sales and Marketing Manager for GWY, in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety & Education Committee. It’s designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations. Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to admin@seaa.net.
Project of the Year Entries for Project of the Year could be submitted in four classes for Structural Construction based on contract value for that portion of the job. In addition, the association opened a new category last year for Miscellaneous Metals in two classes. This category includes bridges, decking, ornamental steel, reinforcing steel, and steel fabrication projects. In all, five companies were recognized for effectively solving unique jobsite challenges while safely completing projects. Project submissions are reviewed and selected by an independent panel of judges. Connector, the associations official publication, will feature each project in-depth in issues throughout the year. The Summer issue will highlight Structural Steel: Class I winner Hodges Erectors and Miscellaneous Metals: Class I and II winners Basden Steel Corporation and Shelby Erectors. Structural Steel: Class III and IV winners Derr Gruenewald Construction and Williams Steel Erection will be featured in the Fall issue.  Safety Excellence & Craft Training Excellence Awards 2023 Safety Excellence Awards goes to seven member companies in three categories with excellent 2022 safety records. Recipients were selected based on evaluations of their EMR ratings, OSHA 300A statistics, and safety program processes over the last three years. Scoring was based on points assigned to a multi-criteria analysis, conducted in blind review by members of SEAA’s Safety & Education Committee. Safety Excellence and Craft Training Excellence winners will be featured in the Winter issue of Connector.  Two companies were recognized for the 2023 Craft Training Award. Applicants were evaluated on the portability of credentials, availability of apprenticeship programs, training, and recruitment efforts. Evaluations for the Craft Training Excellence award are made in comparison to other companies of similar size, based on the number of ironworkers employed from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022. Note that there were not submissions by employers in all size categories for 2023. The World Class honorees each receive $1,500 to further their training program initiatives.   Photo: Representatives of Crane Risk Logic join panel discussion at the 2023 SEAA Convention discussing crane risk management principles. June 7, 2023 (Winston-Salem, N.C.) The Steel Erectors Association of America (SEAA) announces it has entered into an agreement to collaborate with Crane Risk Logic, a technology and data service provider dedicated to global crane risk improvement.
As such, SEAA supports member company participation in the Crane Risk Logic Federation, which is a joint venture administered by Crane Risk Logic with the Crane Safety Research Lab at Texas A&M University on behalf of crane users, OEMs, trade groups, and related industry stakeholders. “Crane safety is one of the two most important aspects of steel construction—the other being fall protection,” said David Deem, President of SEAA. “The goal of our collaboration is to reduce and mitigate crane risks for our members, through access to research, training materials, and insights from subject matter experts,” he said. Crane Risk Logic and the Crane Safety Research Lab uses an innovative information exchange between crane designers, manufacturers, and owners, and organizations that transport, erect, and dismantle cranes, as well as site supervisors and safety managers of crane operations. “Findings are generated from anonymous accident data, real-time telematics, and equipment and device testing using engineering-based research, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Predictive Analytics models and other tools,” explained Kevin Cunningham, President and CEO of Crane Risk Logic. “As the knowledge base grows, the more accurate and powerful the information becomes for everyone participating in the Federation. When we know better, we do better,” said Jim Wiethorn, P.E., and founder of Crane Risk Logic and ICC Forensics. The impetus for the Crane Safety Research Lab was a catalog of crane accident causes gathered by Wiethorn over a span of 35 years. “SEAA is committed to continual investment in our industry by connecting industry leaders, creating a strong network of support, and increasing member value through collaborations such as this,” said Pete Gum, Executive Director of SEAA. This agreement is the latest in a series of investments SEAA has made in hiring, training, insurance, and risk mitigation tools for its members. About Steel Erectors Association of America Founded in 1972, SEAA is the only national trade association representing the interests of steel erectors, fabricators, contractors, and related service providers. The association promotes safety, education and training programs for steel erector trades, including its Ironworker Craft Training curriculum. The association works in partnership with other steel construction, design, and steel product organizations to protect the interests of those who construct steel structures. Learn more at SEAA.net. |
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