Pumping Safety
I recently received my copy of the June/July edition of Concrete Contractor and immediately noticed the concrete pump's hose in the background on your front cover. This type of hose is commonly referred to as a "double-ended hose" which means that an additional hose may be connected onto the end of the hose through the white, metal band at the bottom. Unfortunately, this metal band can become a dangerous, even deadly weapon should air get trapped in the delivery line and cause the hose to whip. Hose whippings are the number one cause of frequent and deadly accidents associated with concrete pumps and for this reason, the American Concrete Pumping Association does not recommend the use of these types of hoses....
Kind Regards,
Christie Collins
Executive Director, ACPA
The ACPA offers Safety Bulletins that cover topics like "Hose-Whipping Accidents" and "Double S-bend Elbow or 'Rams Horn' Can Be Deadly," available in PDF at ConcretePumpers.com. If your company owns or uses a concrete pump on the job, I recommend you use ConcretePumpers.com as a safety resource. - RW
Concrete and Flooring Come Together
I was prompted by Geoffrey Hichborn's column on moisture problems with resilient flooring in your June/July issue to inform you of a recent occurrence where the flooring and concrete industries have come together with a positive result.
Certainly both moisture issues and tolerance problems continue to plague these two industries. Again and again Division 3 contractors butt heads with their counterparts in Division 9, typically without any progress toward a solution.
Recently, however, the American Society of Concrete Contractors and the National Wood Flooring Association agreed on language in a Position Statement: Division 3 versus Division 9 Floor Flatness Tolerances. The essence is that the ASCC and NWFA suggest that the owner provide a bid allowance for any necessary corrective action. Other national flooring associations are in the process of reviewing the document for possible endorsement.
I take no issue with Mr. Hichborn's analysis of the situation regarding concrete standards and agree that concrete contractors need to be more assertive in making their voices heard. I do think it's worth noting that in this case, representatives of the two industries have come together. Hopefully, speaking with one voice, they will effect positive change.
Sincerely,
Bev Garnant
Executive Director, ASCC
Concrete Contractor readers can find Position Statement: Division 3 versus Division 9 Floor Flatness Tolerances at ASCCOnline.org. The cost is $5 for members, $10 for non-members. - RW
