The Steel Joist Institute (SJI) has released Version 2.0 of its Joist Girder Moment Connections. The new downloadable version includes updates to the AISC’s 2016 specifications for most spreadsheets. In the new version, SJI also revised reference manuals to make them easier to follow.

Other updates include spreadsheets that are corrected and matched to each reference manual example, and figures that have been reviewed and modified for consistency, along with new notes and clarifying dimensions.

SJI’s Design Tools include Joist Girder Moment Connections to the Strong Axis of Wide Flange Columns; Strong Axis of Wide Flange Columns-Intermediate Levels; Weak Axis of Wide Flange Columns; HSS Columns – Top Plate; HSS Columns – Knife Plates; and Wide Flange Columns – Knife Plates.
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“The tools were developed to assist the Structural Engineer of Record, the connection designer, and the steel fabricator with the complex task of designing appropriate connections between joist girders and columns,” according to SJI’s website. The tool can be downloaded at steeljoist.org, and once in your cart, allows you access to the Joist Girder Moment Connection Design Tools.

OSHA has postponed the 7th annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, originally scheduled for May, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will be rescheduled this summer, but OSHA urges vigilance on the jobsite.
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Because falls remain the leading cause of fatal injuries to construction workers, while the National
Stand-Down is postponed OSHA encourages employers to use all available resources for worker safety. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees.

OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance.

​Five steel industry groups are pushing Congress to include significant infrastructure investment in the next phase of COVID-19 stimulus legislation. The goal is to provide a clear path toward our nation’s recovery.

The letter was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer, according to a steel.org report. The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), The Committee on Pipe and Tube Imports (CPTI), and Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA) reiterated that 38% of America’s 616,000 bridges are in need of replacement or rehabilitation.
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“Making a long-term and robust infrastructure investment now will not only respond to the urgent
transportation system needs, but it also will create high-paying jobs allowing businesses and families to recover from this extremely difficult economic shock,” they wrote. “With such a staggering backlog of substandard bridges, there is significant opportunity to put Americans back to work and back on the road to economic recovery.

“We can…improve quality of life in our cities, towns, and rural areas and drive commerce and supplies across our nation by making infrastructure investment a critical component of the next stimulus package by including Buy America provisions and using domestically produced and fabricated steel.”

The groups concluded that the infrastructure supply chain for steel products used in highway and bridge construction “starts with American steel producers, who have revolutionized the industry by developing clean and efficient steelmaking processes at mills located strategically throughout the country,” noting that steel is sold directly or through national distributors to construction companies and steel fabricators who have built plants, and created jobs, in virtually every congressional district in America.

Four new Craft Training Videos are now available through the Members Only Portal on the SEAA
website. These short videos support the SEAA/NCCER Ironworker Level 1 curriculum and have
been designed to complement your existing training materials.

Core Module One, 00101 Basic Safety

• Objective 2 - Properly don, fit, and remove a Fall Arrest Harness

Ironworking Module Four, 0030104 Fastening

• Objective 2 - Demonstrate the turn-of-nut method.
• Objective 4 - Demonstrate the proper use of a tension control gun.

Ironworking Module Nine, 00109 Structural Ironworking

• Objective 4 - Make bolted connections on structural steel.

"SEAA is working toward developing about 20 additional Level 1 videos that can be used to
accompany the Craft Training Program. These training videos are only available to members of
SEAA and are a great tool to help engage your employees in training," said Tim Eldridge, President
of Education Services Unlimited and SEAA’s Craft Training and Assessment Administrator.
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For log in assistance, please contact the SEAA office admin@seaa.net