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New Directors from the West Join SEAA Board SEAA announces that Victor Garcia and Lee Shaw have been named to the association’s board of directors for three-years terms that began in July 2023. “As our membership extends west, we value the input these directors have about the interests and needs of fabricators and erectors based in western states,” said R. Pete Gum, Executive Director. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
Optimize Lifting Operations with 3D Lift Plan Steven Beemsterboer, a Project Manager for Metropolitan Steel, was the First-Place winner for his lift plans of an ongoing project for the Chicago Department of Transportation. The company is erecting the steel for Damen Greenline Station, a rapid transit station, expected to open in 2024. Eight New Grinders from Makita Makita U.S.A. has released eight new grinders for a wide range of applications. The release includes five 5-inch grinders and three 4 1-/2-inch grinders. Magni Announces High Capacity Fixed Boom Telehandler Magni America introduces TH 5,5.24 fixed boom telehandler with maximum lifting height of 78’5” and lifting capacity of 12,100 pounds. The telehandler is equipped with standard 4-wheel drive and three types of steering (front, 4-wheel, and crab) to provide maneuverability on rough terrain. Cordless Stud Fusion from Hilti Hilti North America recently released the FX 3-A Cordless stud fusion system to help revolutionize fastening on steel. The cordless stud fusion is up to 75 percent faster than traditional welding methods and is a fully mobile and autonomous system with no power cables needed. Change the Way You Hire Technical skills are important when hiring, but so are soft skills. When it comes to communication, engagement, and critical thinking, do you know what to look for when interviewing to make sure you get someone with the soft skills your team needs? New Virtual Reality Headset Spark Interest in Welding Lincoln Electric has added a cutting-edge new product to its education lineup. The Voyage™ Arc Virtual Reality Welding Headset is an interactive, immersive classroom platform that introduces students to welding fundamentals. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
By: Todd Alwood Quality control is not just about plans and processes. It’s also about where the rubber meets the road, or in the case of steel fabrication and erection, where the arc meets the metal. If there’s one thing we know about training, it’s that actually doing something is more effective than talking about it. We can talk about how helping your staff develop their skills–investing in their success as an individual–cuts down on attrition. We can talk about how important it is that everyone on a team knows what their quality management system does and how it works. But doing is more effective than talking–and people who do it know more than people who talk about it. The seven people you’ll meet here do steel construction quality training on a regular basis. Every shop or jobsite is different, but these lessons have broad applicability. Read on for their tips, tricks, and lessons learned. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
By: Michael Brady and Jeremy DeGrande Construction in manufacturing and infrastructure remains strong, while the commercial sector is lagging, according to Engineering News-Record’s 2023 2Q survey of its Top 400 Contractors. And despite the Federal Reserve’s efforts, respondents reported concern regarding the general economic outlook. However, contractors remain busy — many report a higher-than-normal backlog of projects and demand for their services. These conditions add up to a competitive construction market with some unprecedented stressors. Current market conditions ENR surveyed construction executives between May 15 and June 26 and published its report in July 2023. Using the results, the publication rated the current market outlook a 40 on its 100-point Construction Industry Confidence Index, which quantifies how confident these executives feel about the state of the market now, in three to six months, and in 12 to 18 months. This rating is down four points from the previous quarter. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
By Tracy Bennett In the last three years, SEAA has tripled its benefits programs and doubled in-person networking events. “By offering more opportunities for our members to connect and the chance to tap new hiring, training, and business resources, we are giving contractors the tools they are seeking to better run their businesses,” said R. Pete Gum, Executive Director. The average membership fee is $1,640, while the value of services available to members is greater than $30,000 annually. “Whether you are already a member, but not taking full advantage of the resources available to you, or you are not yet a member, this information is for you,” said Jack Nix, Chief Operations Officers for Shelby Erectors and Chairman of the Membership Committee. Shared connections Every association says the primary benefit of participation is the networking, but members of SEAA say it best themselves. SEAA holds an annual Convention & Trade Show that rotates between east and west locations. The 2024 event is April 2-5 in Glendale, Arizona. Other opportunities to meet include regional Meet & Greet receptions and Peer Group discussions that take place in conjunction with summer, fall, and winter Board of Directors meetings held at various locations around the country. The Dave Schulz Memorial Golf Tournament is a fundraiser event held every fall. It also alternates between east and west. “Our company is where it is today because of the networking through SEAA. For 25 years, SEAA has contributed to my personal growth as a business owner and the overall improvement of our company. Other members willingly answer questions pertaining to industry standards, OSHA regulations, subcontract language, and more,” said David Deem, President of Deem Structural Services and President of SEAA (2022-2024). Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
Gardner-Watson Decking’s President Geoff Kress and Vice President Jason Kulvinskas (center) surrounded by the rest of their team receive the World Class recognition for the Safety Excellence Award. By Macie Murie Worker safety is consistently one of the top priorities on any construction project, and with good reason. Since 2008, construction has experienced more total deaths than any other industry, and that figure doesn’t include fatalities from suicide. Our industry also has higher injury rates than most other professions, and unfortunately, safety costs. The industry loses $5 billion annually due to construction-related deaths. The number is measured by lost productivity, loss of family income, and pain and suffering, according to the Midwest Economic Policy Institute. However, today’s safety and training leaders recognize the impact of investing in creating a culture of safety. During a panel discussion at the 2023 Convention & Trade Show in St. Augustine, Florida, attendees were able to hear from the 2023 World Class Safety Excellence and Craft Training Excellence Winners. The Safety Excellence Award went to seven SEAA member companies in three categories. Recipients were selected based on evaluations of their EMR ratings, OSHA 300 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. Applicants were evaluated on the portability of credentials, availability of apprenticeship programs, training, and recruitment efforts, in comparison to other companies of similar size. “Good safety records, comprehensive training aligned with long-term career paths, and awards recognitions, are among the criteria that prospective employees consider when deciding where to apply. Beyond the inherent value of being a safe company, it’s also a great marketing tool in a highly competitive market,” said outgoing Safety & Education Committee Chairman Bryan McClure, during the panel. The following are excerpts from the panel discussion. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
By Tim Neubauer, MS, CSP | JoAnn Dankert, CSP, CHMM, CIT | Kimberly Kemp, PhD In the contemporary workplace, the era of one-sizefits-all instructional paradigms is effectively over. This is particularly the case in complex, high-stakes industries like steel erection. In such fields, training isn’t a mere formality but a crucial process that ensures not only competency but also safety. A misstep or misunderstanding can result in serious injury or even loss of life, making the stakes exceedingly high. In-house trainers can be more effective when they take a comprehensive approach and understand their audience. In the 21st century, steel erection training requires more than rote learning. Workers require a deep understanding and practical application of complex principles, ranging from physics to safety regulations. The risks of getting it wrong are not just financial but can be human as well. With increasing technological complexity and a more diverse workforce, the one-size-fits-all model has become obsolete. Adapting content and delivery Today’s workforce is incredibly diverse, not only in terms of demographic factors like age, ethnicity, and educational background but also in terms of learning styles. According to the Cone of Learning developed by Edgar Dale, the retention rate for different types of educational activities varies widely. For instance, people generally remember only 10% of what they read but as much as 90% of what they do or teach others. Emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality offer unprecedented opportunities to adapt training to individual needs and to integrate more hands-on learning. For example, virtual reality scenarios can simulate the high-risk, high-stakes environment of a steel erection project, providing workers with a safe space to practice skills and procedures. A 2020 study by Price Waterhouse highlighted that trainees retained over 80% of the material through virtual reality training, compared to much lower retention rates for traditional methods. Moreover, this kind of training can be completed in a fraction of the time, leading to cost savings and quicker deployment of skilled workers. Be sure to click the red subscribe button above to receive your digital copy.
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