Bayshore Family of Cos. receives 2019 Distinguished Leadership Award

The Bayshore Family of Cos., Woodbridge Township, New Jersey, has been named the Environmental Sustainability and Energy Conservation Award Winner in the Distinguished Leadership Award category at the 2019 Jersey Shore Partnership Summer Celebration.

Valerie and Frank Montecalvo, owners of the Bayshore Family of Cos., accepted the award during the celebration, which took place June 10 at Fort Hancock in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, with more than 500 people in attendance.

The Jersey Shore Partnership Summer Celebration honors individuals and organizations that have made extraordinary contributions to the organization’s mission of shore protection and beach replenishment.

“The 127 miles of sandy beaches which make up our Jersey Shore represent a priceless state and national treasure, which drives New Jersey’s $43 billion annual tourism economy,” Valerie Montecalvo said when receiving the award. “Frank and I are deeply honored, along with our entire Bayshore team, for being recognized for our life’s work to advance sustainable materials management through recycling while seeking to operate 100 percent green businesses powered 100 percent by renewable energy.”

Bayshore has previously received several notable honors from the state. Valerie and Frank Monteclavo were also inducted into the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA) Hall of Fame in 2017.

Washington state issues hazard warning over demolition robots

Demolition robots are quickly gaining popularity among contractors as a way to work in tight spaces, get tough jobs done quickly and protect workers in the process. Although the technology can be safer for laborers in some respects, the robots don’t come without their risks.

The state of Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (WA FACE) program recently released a construction hazard alert to warn contractors of the risks associated with demolition robots after two construction workers were severely injured in separate incidents involving the remote-controlled machines.

WA FACE says the workers operated similar machines with three-part articulating arms powered by electric-controlled hydraulics. Both used remote controllers intended to keep them outside the machine’s risk zone, which varies by specific machine, attachment and task.

In the first incident, an operator working for a specialty trade contractor bumped his remote control against the machine. He had not put the machine into emergency stop mode, so it moved and pinned him between the outrigger and the wall.

His chest was severely crushed, causing him to be out of work for several months. He had been with his employer six months and was reported to be an experienced operator of these machines. He usually worked with a partner but was alone at the time of the incident.

The second incident occurred when an operator was using a machine with a breaker attachment to chip concrete as part of a generator installation project on the road.

He was standing in a tight spot between the excavation wall and the machine. As he tried to apply more pressure on the tip of the breaker, the front outrigger raised off the ground. The machine suddenly shifted forward, and the outrigger came down, crushing his foot.

He was able to use the remote control to raise the outrigger but suffered broken bones and nerve damage, WA FACE says.

He had worked in construction for 23 years but had only operated the machine for five days. His training consisted of a hands-on demonstration and a brief review of the operator’s manual.

The employer conducted a job hazard analysis that identified the swing radius of the arm as a hazard but did not recognize the potential of being crushed under an outrigger.

Following the incidents, WA FACE put together a list of safety recommendations when using demolition robots:

• Prepare a job hazard analysis with operators for each new job to identify and control hazards. Use the manufacturer’s safety instructions to establish the risk zone for the specific machine, attachment and task.
• Always stay outside the risk zone when the machine is in operation, and do not enter until the demolition robot is put into emergency stop mode or deenergized.
• Consider using a proximity warning system, such as those based on radio frequency identification (RFID), to maintain a safe worker-to-machine distance.
• Train operators to manage power cables and to continually monitor the process for hazards and redefine the risk zone.
• Ensure operators always read and follow manufacturer’s provided safety instructions.

Chinese government to start issuing scrap import licenses

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of the People’s Republic of China will issue the first round of import licenses for eight types of scrap materials, including aluminum and copper scrap, by the end of June, the agency says.

The import licenses will be issued earlier than expected. According to the Brussels-based Bureau of International Recycling’s (BIR) April policy update, the MEE was going to start accepting and approving import applicants beginning in July.

China will begin restricting scrap imports of copper, aluminum and steel scrap by quantity in July, according to an online report by Reuters. The nation began restricting the imports of lower scrap grades earlier this year and is working to tighten regulation around solid waste imports.

In recent months, the MEE has shifted focus from exporting firms to scrap importers in China. Importing companies in the nation will have to prove they have the site, facilities and equipment to process the imported scrap, as well as meet the agency’s environmental protection standards to receive import licenses from China’s MEE.

“The MEE has been carrying out inspections on scrap metals importers and processing companies,” said the agency’s spokesman, Liu Youbin, in the Reuters report.

Importing companies seeking licenses can apply electronically to the MEE through the National Solid Waste Management Information System, according to the agency.

OSHA to consider updates to lockout/tagout standard

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting information on a possible update to the Control of Hazardous Energy standard, commonly referred to as lockout/tagout (LOTO). The agency is seeking feedback on the use of control circuit-type devices to isolate energy, as well as the evolving technology for robotics.

OSHA is requesting information about how employers have been using control circuit devices, including information about the types of circuitry and safety procedures being used; limitations of their use to determine under what other conditions control circuit-type devices could be used safely; new risks of worker exposure to hazardous energy as a result of increased interaction with robots; and whether the agency should consider changes to the LOTO standard that would address these new risks.

The current LOTO standard, published in 1989, requires that all sources of energy be controlled during servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment using an energy-isolating device. The standard specifies that control circuit devices cannot be used as energy-isolating devices, but the agency recognizes recent technological advances may have improved the safety of control circuit-type devices.

Comments must be submitted on or before Aug. 18. Comments and materials may be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, or by fax or mail. See the Federal Register notice for submission details.

BossTek OdorBoss Fusion

BossTek, based in Peoria, Illinois, has developed a mobile system that uses an odor control chemical instead of water to reduce site odors. Features of the OdorBoss Fusion include:

• a fully customizable chemical flow and dispersion method
• a continuous run time of up to 10 days without the need for refueling and as much as two months of operation from a standard 275-gallon tote
• biodegradable chemicals effective on a wide range of odor sources, including volatile organic compounds, sulfides, mercaptans, amines and ammonia
• a heated enclosure and nozzle with heat tracing for operation in almost any weather condition

Visit www.bosstek.com for more information.

Wastequip RockBox roll-off container

Wastequip, Charlotte, North Carolina, launched a new ultra-heavy-duty roll-off container during WasteExpo. Features of the container include:

• a body made from wear-resistant Hardox steel
a lighter weight so haulers can carry more than traditional steel roll-offs
• durability four times stronger than mild steel
• availability in 15-, 20-, 25- and 30-yard sizes

Visit www.wastequip.com for more information.

Husqvarna LP 9505 trnch compactor

Husqvarna Construction Products, headquartered in Olathe, Kansas, has introduced its new LP 9505 trench compactor. Features of the compactor include:

• a fuel-efficient Kubota diesel engine that is Tier 4 Final compliant
• a high operating weight for efficient compaction without vibration
• articulated steering to allow the compactor to turn corners without digging up soil
• extra high and wide drum pads so operators have adequate traction in wet or dry soils

Visit www.husqvarnacp.com/us/ for more information.

Kinshofer DXS hydraulic mobile excavator shears

Kinshofer USA, Sanborn, New York, has introduced the DXS Series of hydraulic mobile excavator shears available in DXS-40 and DXS-50 models. Features of the shear series include:

• suitability for scrap processing, tire recycling and demolition
• an optional integrated Fuchs Quick Connect system
• high power-to-weight ratios, with the 9,920-pound DXS-50 featuring a closing force of 1,203 tons
• double-acting speed valves coupled with cylinder technology for faster cycle times

Visit www.kinshofer.com for more information.