SEAA has partnered with member company Flawless Steel Welding to form a new peer group in Denver, Colorado. This Denver Peer Group aims to bring together individuals that are passionate about the steel industry to foster collaboration, networking, and knowledge sharing. Whether you have years of experience or are just starting out in the field, this group provides a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, exchange ideas, and stay updated on the latest industry trends.
If you're interested in kick-starting this peer group, we encourage you to join us on August 23rd at the Raices Brewing Company from 5-8 PM. We welcome Union or Non-Union Erectors, Fabricators, Project Managers, Safety Coordinators, Engineers, Architects, Vendors, and all steel professionals to join us on this exciting journey. To get involved or learn more about the SEAA Peer Group in Denver, please reach out to Victor Garcia at Victor@fsw-denver.com. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with industry peers, expand your professional network, and contribute to the growth of the steel erection community in Denver.
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.
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