September 09 - Concrete Openings

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EntErtainmEnt VEnuE Wall SaWEd in dEnVEr

Bulgarian nuclEar PoWEr Plant diSmantling WorkS

WirE SaWing italian arch-graVity dam




A U G U S T. 0 7

w w w. C s D A . O R g

S e p T e m b e r . 0 9

Not Just A Pipe Dream DiamonD Wire SaW CutS With SpeeD anD preCiSion

CIRCLE READER sERvICE CARD NO. 1 CIRCLE READER sERvICE CARD NO. 1 CIRCLE READER sERvICE CARD NO. 1

concrete openings | 1www.csDA.org

President’s Page

As time goes by, those of us in the construction industry are

finding that new stimulus work may not be arriving as fast as

we had hoped. in addition, we are discovering that the cost

of doing stimulus work has dropped considerably. A national average

shows that stimulus work is coming in 20% under the engineer’s

estimate, where traditionally these jobs would come in 10 to 15% over

the engineer’s estimate. so what is a concrete cutting contractor to

do? My feeling is that we must focus on what separates our companies

from the rest. csDA offers many resources to help achieve important

goals in these trying times.

one main way we can separate ourselves from the competition is by

having trained operators. A well-trained employee will complete a job

more efficiently and with higher standards than an untrained employee.

this means less time on the job site and therefore less chance of an injury

to the employee or others on site. the csDA offers a range of classes

during spring and fall at the clearwater, Florida, campus of st. petersburg

college. i know there are costs involved in sending operators to classes, but

the association also offers classes that can be brought to a site or office.

whether the decision is made to go to the csDA classes or provide in-house

training, it is all money well spent.

Better risk management will lower claims to an insurance company

and therefore lower total costs for your company’s insurance premium.

the csDA offers its own insurance captive that is focused on all aspects of

risk management. Many of us are good cutting contractors, but sometimes

are found lacking in management skills including risk management. the

captive helps contractors focus on what problems may be present or what

forms of risk management are missing. the overall outcome of this is a

lower eMr, fewer claims and lower insurance costs.

douglAs H. WAlkerCSDA President

the best resource that the csDA has to offer, yet often the least used or

understood, is membership. the amount of information offered and shared

by members is invaluable. Members who make the most of this resource

already know what can be learned from other members. My feeling is that

the best way to tap this resource is to go to the quarterly meetings and the

annual convention. All meetings are open to anyone who would like to

attend. it would be great to see more local contractors attend, especially

since we move the meetings all around the U.s., just for this reason.

even if attendees do not want to actively take part in the meetings,

they provide a great place to listen, observe and learn. these meetings

provide the opportunity to meet contractors from all around the country-

usually not local competitors. Manufacturer members are in attendance as

well. And there is a great deal of knowledge that can be gained by talking

and asking questions in an informal environment. A contractor may learn

how to do a certain job differently or hear about a new saw application

that may help on a future job. the amount of information shared is really

unbelievable.

the amount of materials that csDA offers to help all of us to have

trained operators, to become better businessmen and to market our

businesses is quite substantial. one way to learn about these resources

is to attend a meeting and i invite every reader of this magazine to the

Fall meeting that will be held in portland, oregon, in september. the

exact dates can be found in the calendar section of this issue of Concrete

Openings magazine. trust me when i tell you that attending these meetings

might be the best decision you have ever made in terms of learning how

to survive in this tough economy.

2 | septeMBer.09

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Conversion kits also available. Contact your ICS® representative or call 800.321.1240 for more information. Visit icsbestway.com to learn more about Diamond Chain Technology™, view training videos, and see the full line of ICS products.

© 2009 ICS, Blount Inc. All rights reserved.

Strength That’s Been TestedIn the Lab and in the Field

CirCle reAder serviCe CArd no. 5


CsdA oFFiCers

president, Doug walker Atlantic concrete cutting, inc.

[email protected]

Vice president, Jim Dvoratchek Hard rock concrete cutters, inc.

[email protected]

secretary/treasurer, Judith o’Day terra Diamond industrial

[email protected]

past president, tom stowell norton pro Diamond

[email protected]

executive Director, patrick o’Brien concrete sawing & Drilling Association

[email protected]

CsdA BoArd oF direCtors (terms expiring 2010)

skip Aston ohio concrete sawing & Drilling, inc.

[email protected]

ron culgin pro cut, inc.

[email protected]

patrick Harris concrete renovation, inc.

[email protected]

Mike nelson K2 Diamond

[email protected]

chris priest sanders saws

[email protected]

Jack sondergard central concrete cutting, inc. [email protected]

CsdA BoArd oF direCtors (terms expiring 2011)

roger Allen protech Diamond UsA, inc.

[email protected]

Larry Liddle Diamond products Limited

[email protected]

Aaron Louisell Diamond concrete sawing

[email protected]

Mike orzechowski DiteQ corporation [email protected]

Kellie Vazquez Holes incorporated

[email protected]

Kevin warnecke ics, Blount inc.

[email protected]

t h e o f f i c i a l m a g a z i n e o f t h e c o n c r e t e s a w i n g a n d d r i l l i n g a s s o c i a t i o n

c o n c r e t e c a s e s

Not Just a Pipe DreamDiamond Wire Saw Cuts with Speed and Precision6

10

22

32

Opening Up the VaultCutting Contractor Makes a Concrete Withdrawal

Power Cut CSDA Member Dismantles Nuclear Power Plant Site

Dam Good JobCutter Uses Diamond Wire to Prevent Concrete Decay Destroying Dam

4 | septeMBer.09

ConCrete oPenings MAgAzine

official Magazine of the concrete sawing and Drilling Association

Volume 18, number 3 issn: 1093-6483

Concrete Openings magazine is published by o’Brien international, inc. four times each calendar year in March, June, september and December. editorial contributions are welcomed

and advertisements are encouraged. please contact the concrete sawing and Drilling Association

11001 Danka way north, suite 1 saint petersburg, Florida 33716

tel: 727-577-5004 Fax: 727-577-5012

www.csDA.org

Magazines, newspapers and private individuals are welcome to reproduce, in whole or part, articles published herein provided

that acknowledgements are made in the following manner: “reprinted courtesy of the concrete sawing and Drilling

Association, Concrete Openings magazine, issue Date.” no alterations should be made in the text of any article.

PuBlisHer

patrick o’Brien

editor

cherryl o’Brien

AssistAnt editor

russell Hitchen

ConCrete CAses ContriButors

rob ross

rich gneiser

tiffany Freeman

Boyko tomov

stefano Bernieri

Francesca D’Andrea

editoriAl revieW CoMMittee

Les Kuzmick

pat stepanski

ron Van Zee

the information and recommendations in this magazine are provided for use by fully qualified, professional personnel.

the concrete sawing and Drilling Association and the publisher disclaim any responsibility as to their use by

readers and shall not be liable for damages arising out of the use of the foregoing information.

All bylined articles published in this magazine represent solely the individual opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of the

concrete sawing and Drilling Association.

c o n t e n t s

1 President’s Page

14 Gather Round Roundtable Discussions Get People Talking

18 2009 IACDS Annual MeetingDiamond Cutters Gather for the International Association’s 14th Anniversary

26 The Business of Business Safety: The Universal Language?

Literacy and Language Challenges in the Workplace

36 Safety Counts Air Pressure—It’s More Powerful Than You Think

38 Tech Talk Concrete Chainsaw Safety: Don’t Forget the Obvious

40 Insurance Corner Serious Incident Investigation: A General Guide

44 Industry Bits

54 Certified Operator Companies

56 New Members

57 Calendar

60 Director’s Dialogue

cover Photo: Fort Martin Power Station, Maidsville, West Virginia.

40


40

6 | septeMBer.09

U Pon discovering that a giant section of piping was

too long to connect to a new stack at a West virginia power

station in april 2009, the general contractor at Fort Martin

Power station needed someone to modify the pipe, and quickly. When

csda cutting contractor accurate Pro-cut, of Parkersburg, West virginia,

was approached to cut the pipe to the required specifications, they

knew of an ideal way to make this cut, with great precision and in

only a few days.

Fort Martin power station is owned and operated by Allegheny

energy supply company, a subsidiary of electricity utility Allegheny

energy. the power station has a generating capacity of 1,107 megawatts

of electricity and is located in Maidsville, west Virginia. the generating

facility operates 24 hours a day, using coal to generate electricity and

deliver low-cost, reliable electric service to over 1.5 million customers

in pennsylvania, west Virginia, Maryland and Virginia.

in order to turn coal into kilowatts, the coal must be placed into

a grinder to produce a fine powder. this powder is then blown into

a furnace area inside a large boiler, where the coal burns much like a

gas. purified water is circulated through steel tubing inside the boiler,

which can be as tall as a 23-story building, and the intense heat of the

furnace—approximately 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit—boils the water and

turns it to steam. the steam is then piped at high pressures, around 3,600

psi, to a turbine, where it spins giant, fan-like blades connected to a

pipe dream

Not JUst a

DiamoND Wire saW CUts With sPeeD aND PreCisioN

Fort Martin power station, Maidsville, west Virginia.

www.csDA.org concrete openings | 7

C o n C r e t e C A s e s

shaft. the revolving shaft turns a generator, where magnets spinning

inside a coil of wire produce the electricity.

the new stack at the power station needed to be connected to an

existing 3-inch-thick fiberglass resin pipe, with an outside diameter of

25 feet. However, the pipe was found to be too long to make the nec-

essary connection to the stack. general contractor washington group

international was contracted to shorten the pipe by 4 feet to accommo-

date an existing custom-fit resin flange that would connect the pipe to

the new stack. “Because we had been on this work site the week before,

core drilling 1,440 holes through the flanges of the pipe readying it for

the connection,” said nick Ledford, site supervisor for Accurate pro-cut,

“we were in the right place at the right time to help washington over

their next hurdle. our good working relationship with them probably

did not hurt either,” he added.

Hand sawing the pipe was considered, but with time and precision

being extremely important factors, it was much more feasible to employ

wire sawing. the general contractor had also considered the construction

of a replacement pipe, but the time and associated costs involved with

this alternative were far more expensive than having the existing pipe

shortened. Accurate’s plan was to perform two cuts to shorten the pipe

to the desired length so that it would fit into the stack.

Accurate had to set up its wire saw equipment on and around the

pipe, working at approximately 165 feet in the air. Any breaks in the

wire or any adjustments that would have to be made would require

the team to navigate across a 10-foot-wide i-beam to gain access to the

work area. only one wire saw setup was required, so the cutting team

did not have to worry about moving the saw during the course of the

project. special care was taken to make sure the operators were tied

off at all times to prevent falls.

getting the equipment to the work area was achieved by crane and

this proved to be a job in itself, taking a 10-hour day to accomplish. in

addition, on the first day of this project, the 4-foot section of the pipe

that would be cut and removed, was rigged by crane before cutting

commenced, to alleviate pressure during the cutting process.

operators had to ensure that enough wire was on hand, given the

wear that was anticipated when cutting dry. the wire would have to

be carefully monitored for wear and correct tensioning. Any breaks in

the wire or any adjustments would need to be made quickly and safely.

the 25-foot-diameter resin pipe had to be shortened by 4 feet.

A new stack was being installed to continue production of coal-powered electricity at the plant.

8 | septeMBer.098 | septeMBer.09

THE PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICEDITEQ AND SHIBUYA

1250 NW Main • Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 • Phone 866-688-1032 • www.DITEQ.com

Discover the DITEQ

When I’m up against a tough job I can depend on the DITEQ team for their quality products and their expertise. Our job was to cut a doorway through the wall of this turn of the century bank vault. The wall was 24” thick concrete reinforced with 3/4” square double mat rebar.

After coming out to the job, the DITEQ folks recommended the combination of the Auto Feed, SHIBUYA TS-403 Stitch Drill and ARIX C-52 double pointed core bit. That combo worked like a dream. We got thru the concrete and rebar in no time and were finished well before our scheduled deadline. Mike Iiams, Precision Cutting & Coring Leawood, KS

Call for your copy of DITEQ’s 2009 Catalog

DIAMOND TOOLS & EQUIPMENT866-688-1032

DIAMOND TOOLS & EQUIPMENT

the wire sawing setup consisted of a Diamond products ws25 wire

saw, cBn65 hydraulic power unit and 10-millimeter-diameter electro-

plated wire. it was believed that 100 feet of wire would be sufficient

to perform the cuts. roller wheels were removed and mounted to a

12-inch i-beam with 0.5-inch bolts, c-clamps and ratchet straps for added

security. the operators wrapped the wire around the pipe at the cut

line using no additional wheels or brackets, and ran the wire counter

clockwise, pulling the wire in their direction.

it took a 10-hour day to complete the first cut. on completion of

the first cut, operators discovered that the lack of water had caused

excessive wear to the wire and the diamonds, so an additional 100 feet

was shipped to site to be ready for the next day of cutting.

equipped with additional diamond wire, the cutting team returned

on the second day of the project to complete the second cut and demo-

bilize. this time, the cutting and dismantling of the equipment took

just eight hours. the remaining section of the pipe was secured in place

with an existing frame and bolts.

Accurate did not go completely without water on the job site. the

team had to deal with rain and high winds on their work platform at

165 feet, so took extra care to be properly tied off to prevent falls. the

elements and the predetermined water restrictions were not the only

challenges encountered by the Accurate operators.

the material being cut was fiberglass, not concrete. the dust and

debris created when cutting fiberglass, although minimal in comparison

to other materials, was a major concern and many steps were taken to Diamond wire sawing was the ideal application for this project, requiring two days of cutting.





CoMPAny ProFile

accurate Pro-cut has been a csda member since 2004.

Based in Parkersburg, West virginia, the company has

seven trucks and nine employees. accurate Pro-cut offers

services such as wall sawing, slab sawing, core drilling, wire

sawing and ground penetrating radar.

resourCes

general Contractor:

Washington group international

sawing and drilling Contractor:

accurate Pro-cut

Parkersburg, West virginia

Phone: 304-428-1937

email: [email protected]

Methods used: Wire sawingreView AnD coMMent on tHis ArticLe At: WWW.ConCreteoPenings.CoM/ForuM.CFM

ensure operator safety. the basis of textile-grade glass fibers is silica, a

quartz crystalline material that can cause serious illness if it is inhaled

and penetrates deep into the lungs. exposure to silica dust can increase

when dry cutting. All required personal protective equipment (ppe) was

provided, including harnesses and eye protection and masks.

in total, Accurate pro-cut wired sawed the entire 78.5-foot

circumference of the fiberglass resin pipe over just two days of cutting.

the job was completed on time and under budget. in fact, the whole

process was so fast that the job was priced and awarded on a wednesday

and completed on saturday. the sheer speed of wire sawing was a

great advantage for this cutting contractor and proved that jobs can

be completed not only with speed, but with great precision.

After the cuts were complete, the 4-foot section of pipe was craned from the work area.

Cutting Contractor Makes a Concrete Withdrawal

PeoPle oFten associate vaults with banks.

they imagine vaults filled with piles of bank

notes or stacks of gold bullion. in this instance,

however, “the vault” is the name given to a

28,000 square-foot luxury warehouse and exclu-

sive entertainment center in denver, colorado that has been

converted from an existing, heavily-armored building.

some of the more interesting features of the Vault include an

exotic/antique car showroom and storage area, wine vault, cigar

humidor, shooting range and gun vault, simulated golf driving

range, game hall with pool and poker tables, video arcade and

archery range. Also planned is a workout room and shower, bar

and lounge, a DJ booth and dance floor, dining area and full service

catering kitchen.

the warehouse is located within two miles of downtown Denver

and close to invesco Field and the pepsi center and it is hoped that

the Vault might become a destination, high-energy night club, in

its own right, when completed.

in order to accommodate the proposed bar and lounge areas,

two concrete slabs of 6-inch-thick suspended ceiling had to be

removed to raise the ceiling. one slab measured 12 feet by 12 feet

and the second measured 14 feet by 15 feet. the combined weight

of the slabs was 11,000 pounds. the general contractor, Vintage

Builders of Boulder, colorado, enlisted the help of csDA member

DeAndrea coring & sawing, inc., to perform the necessary cutting

work. “we have acquired a reputation for being able to handle

specialized cutting and coring projects and were excited to be a

part of this one.” said rich gneiser, field supervisor for DeAndrea.

DeAndrea faced several constraints on this project. the ceiling

An artist’s impression of the finished décor around the vault door.1 0 | septeMBer.09

concrete openings | 1 1www.csDA.org

slab was part of a mezzanine that had an existing wooden sub-floor

above it which the general contractor did not want to remove, as it

had been earmarked for later use in the renovation. in addition, on

the sides of the ceiling slab were block walls which allowed for only 6

inches of access for both operators and equipment upon completion

of the cuts. this proved to be very limited access. Last, workers had to

perform their tasks while making sure not to scratch the $100,000 vault

door that was in the room.

one of the most challenging aspects of this project was the posi-

tioning of the wall saw as it had to be mounted upside-down from the

slab ceiling. As always, the correct and safe mounting of the sawing

equipment was critical, but the angle and force of gravity, coupled

with the tight cutting area made this process all the more difficult.

DeAndrea used 0.5-inch drop-in anchors, 4 inches deep into the slabs,

to secure the saw.

DeAndrea’s other main challenge was the picking of the 11,000-

pound sections of concrete without pinches between the slab or the

chains, and the secure lowering of these sections. the restriction of

space and maneuverability in the work area was also a hindrance to

the team, and the length of time taken to lower and remove the cut

concrete slabs was prolonged as the entire room had to be cleared of

all equipment and personnel before proceeding. However, a detailed

plan for the cutting and removal of the ceiling slabs was developed

and reviewed by all workers to insure the safe cutting and removal of

these massive slabs.

the first task on this project was to measure and remove sections

of the wooden sub-floor in order to core drill the required picking

holes from above the suspended slab ceiling. this was the only area of

wood floor that was cut. next, the two concrete slabs were shored up

in preparation for the cuts. operators then wall sawed the perimeter

of the sections, 6 inches in from the walls. the cutting of each slab took

two, 8-hour shifts to complete and consisted of four cuts.

the next stage of the project involved a 90-ton crane, which was

employed for the picking and removing of the concrete sections. the

crane was positioned on the exterior of the building, requiring a lane of

traffic to be closed. everyone involved in the lifting and lowering process

attended a one-hour safety meeting to clarify all aspects of this part of

Access through the wooden flooring above the slabs was severely restricted for removal by crane.

the slabs were lifted and lowered by a 90-ton crane outside the building via cabling and picking holes.

1 2 | septeMBer.09

CoMPAny ProFile

deandrea coring & sawing, inc. has been a long-standing

member of csda, joining the association in 1973. Based in

henderson, colorado, the company has 14 trucks and 20

employees. the contractor offers services that include slab

sawing, wall sawing, wire sawing, hand sawing, core drilling,

grinding and selective demolition. in addition, the company

offers the specialist service of ground penetrating radar.

resourCes

general Contractor:

vintage Builders


deandrea coring & sawing, inc.

henderson, colorado

Phone: 303-422-3885


Website: www.deandreacoring.com

Methods used: slab sawing, core drilling,

selective demolition

reView AnD coMMent on tHis ArticLe At: WWW.ConCreteoPenings.CoM/ForuM.CFM

the operation before commencement. Holes were made in the roof for

the lifting cables, then the crane operator lowered the two lines down

through the holes made in the roof, where another operator attached

the looping cables to the crane. the first cut section of the suspended

concrete slab ceiling was then attached and lifted approximately 8 to 12

inches, so that the shoring could be removed from underneath. once all

operators and equipment were clear, the slab was carefully lowered to

the floor over two hours, after which the whole process was repeated

for the other, larger slab.

the cutting team used a Diamond products 1,600 radial arm wall

saw with a 24-inch-diameter, 3-part sandwich segment saw blade.

A Diamond tech 110-volt, 4-speed core drill was used with a 4-inch

Diamond products core bit to create the picking holes, while a 90-ton

link belt mobile crane was employed to lower the cut sections to the

vault floor.

A skidsteer was used to transfer the slabs outside of the vault build-

ing, where the concrete was broken up and removed from the site. the

cutting team then returned to break off and remove the remaining

6-inch-thick concrete ledge around the perimeter of the room using

large chipping hammers. the breaking and hauling of the cut sections

and remaining perimeter took seven hours to complete.

in total, the contractor slab sawed 106 feet of 6-inch-thick concrete,

core drilled eight 4-inch-diameter holes in the 6-inch slabs and broke

and hauled approximately 350 square feet of concrete. the job was

completed in five days, as per the general contractor’s specifications

and DeAndrea’s estimate, and within budget.

Following this complex withdrawal from DeAndrea, the Vault is

now open for someone to make a deposit and own this unique 2-story

property to store their valuables and provide high-end entertainment

to guests.

the track saw was mounted upside down with a 6-inch perimeter for the cuts. the slabs were cut into smaller pieces that could be easily removed from the room.

11,000 pounds of concrete slab ceiling was carefully lowered to the vault floor before breaking and hauling.


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1 4 | septeMBer.091 4 | septeMBer.09

roundtable discussions get People talking

One format that has proven to be

successful for members of the Concrete

Sawing & Drilling Association (CSDA) in

this quest is the roundtable. This type of

setup allows all participants the opportunity

to express their ideas and opinions in

a structured, yet informal manner. A

roundtable discussion format is ideal for

those who may not usually speak up during

meetings but who may feel as though

they have worthwhile points to make. The

layout of a traditional board room meeting

can often be quite intimidating, whereas

a roundtable layout can provide a much

more informal atmosphere for participants.

The chance to sit with peers and discuss a

series of topics informally can provide those

who often remain silent with a newfound

confidence. Meanwhile, roundtables are

overseen and moderated in order to keep

discussions on topic and moderators can help

provide guidance if needed.

For those who are unfamiliar with the

idea of a roundtable discussion, the format

is relatively simple. Participants sit at a

table and discuss a series of predetermined

topics for a set amount of time. At the end

of each time period, a spokesperson from

the table gives a summary of the pertinent

points raised, to the rest of the room. If

attendance is large and multiple tables are

filled, moderators can be assigned to ensure

discussions remain on topic and that each

table has an opportunity to share the results

of their discussions.

CSDA has found that roundtables are

a great way of gleaning information from

members and non-members alike. The

sharing of knowledge and ideas has proven

to be invaluable for all involved. One CSDA

member who has experienced the benefits of

roundtable discussions is Morgan Steiner of

Viking Concrete Cutting, Inc. of Klamath

Falls, Oregon. In 1994, Steiner moved his

concrete sawing business from Southern

California to Southern Oregon, an area

east of the Cascade mountain range, with

an elevation of over 4,000 feet. One of the

biggest changes he encountered was the

change in climate and the effects this change

had on his operators, equipment and cutting

operations. Operating concrete cutting and

coring equipment in a geographic area that

experiences below-freezing temperatures,

several months of the year, has many

challenges. Relocating any company is a

challenge, but relocating one to a different

climate is another matter.

Steiner attended a CSDA roundtable,

and during the discussions learned a

great deal from other contractors. More

importantly, he found an opportunity to

meet people in the industry who have first-

hand knowledge about the challenges faced

while cutting concrete in cold climates. In

talking to fellow contractors from areas like

New Jersey, Chicago and Canada, Steiner

was able to get a lot of ideas about sawing in

a cold environment. Tips included parking

trucks inside in warmer garages, draining

water from equipment, rolling and storing

hoses in cabs of vehicles and bypassing water

systems in saws. Steiner was also given useful

information on employee comfort and safety,

and how to deal with the changeable weather

conditions while traveling to and from the

job site. “To be able to talk to people who

are in this industry and to exchange ideas

with them was incredibly beneficial to me,

and helped me greatly when I moved the

company,” said Steiner.

CSDA has held three roundtables

during 2009. Discussions on the topics

of slurry recycling, risk management and

different methods of billing cutting services

attracted many CSDA members and other

industry professionals keen to learn more

about those subjects and the discussions

were quite in-depth. The proceedings from

all three roundtables have been transcribed

and are available for review, another benefit

of being part of the association and actively

taking part in these events. “Roundtables

provide attendees with a great format

to share information and learn from the

knowledge and experiences of others,”

said CSDA executive director Pat O’Brien.

“The association is extremely pleased with

both the attendance and outcomes of these

discussions,” he added.

2009 CsdA roundtABles

Sustainable green building construction

is a very hot subject. The purpose of the

Slurry Recycling roundtable was to share

collective experiences on the topics of

concrete slurry containment and recycling,

including individual state regulations;

knowledge of acceptable pH levels for

waste materials; the understanding of what

constitutes a Spill Prevention Control

he Business World is constantly looking for new ways for people to meet, interact and discuss pertinent topics. From the traditional business meeting to telephone conference calls, brainstorming

sessions and more recently, web-based meetings via webcam, there is a continuing need to have people discuss views and ideas.

concrete openings | 1 5www.csDA.org concrete openings | 1 5www.csDA.org

and Countermeasure (SPCC) and the

implementation of a Storm Water Pollution

Prevention Plan (SWPPP).

The general response from participants

suggests that the control and safe disposal

of slurry and other waste materials can

be handled in differing ways depending

on the individual regulations enforced by

each state in the U.S. or governing body.

Several states have imposed tight regulations

with expensive fines for those contractors

who do not adhere to them. However, the

environmentally-safe disposal of slurry and

other waste materials is not as strict in other

states, but contractors in more loosely-

regulated states are bracing themselves for

similar levels of control in the near future.

For those who are already under tight state

regulations, the containment, transportation

and disposal of slurry is an expensive, but

necessary, part of the work routine. Many

feel that before too long there will be

nationwide regulations in place, requiring

compliance from all companies in the sawing

and drilling industry.

Several contractors within CSDA have

been working with companies to separate

and reuse water mixed with slurry, saving

on water consumption and reducing the

amount of waste material produced. Other

companies provide the means to return

alkaline-rich slurry water to a neutral pH 7

so that it can be disposed of safely, another

important factor that governing agencies

like the Environmental Protection Agency

are keen to enforce. The requirements for

documentation such as SPCC or SWPPP

were also discussed, and some attendees

told of their experiences of being fined for

not having such a plan in place on the job

site. The sharing of this kind of information

with fellow industry professionals, about the

positive or negative aspects of various kinds

of regulations, greatly enhances the value of

participation in roundtables.

Discussions during the Risk Management

roundtable focused on issues like hiring

requirements, training of employees and

attitudes toward insurance claims, with

emphasis on the promotion of positive

attitudes towards all aspects of safety.

Embracing risk management strategies will

result in long-term claim cost reductions of

companies by incorporating industry-specific

loss-reduction techniques in conjunction with

aggressive claims management procedures.

Contractors discussed how their approach

to risk begins during the hiring process with

procedures that require physical exams,

drug screenings, driver’s license reviews and

employment history checks. Some employers

use third-party contractors to carry out a

series of background checks on a potential

employee. All agreed that ensuring the right

person is chosen to fill a position is paramount

to instilling a good sense of safety in the

workplace.

In addition, in order to maintain a safe

working environment, some contractors

have put incentives in place so that operators

adhere to safety guidelines and avoid

accidents and injuries. Others take advantage

of the Toolbox Safety Tips, provided by

CSDA, to educate operators and to keep them

ever vigilant of potential hazards.

The issue of insurance claims brought

about some lively debate, and elicited many

1 6 | septeMBer.09

anecdotes about how certain situations

can quickly escalate and greatly affect

a company’s bottom line. Contractors

felt that stressing the importance of an

operator’s health and well-being is an

excellent way of showing employees how

valued they are. Hopefully, this leads

to a mutual respect between employer

and employee, a relationship that can be

critical if an employee files a medical claim.

Another recurring theme was training and

the importance of having a structured

training program to ensure a high level of

operator safety. Contractors explained how

participation in the CSDA training program

has proven to be an excellent way of

achieving a high level of safety throughout

a company. “If you have the CSDA

certification process in place, where your

employees go through 101 and 201 levels of

training and then achieve certification, that

really makes an impression,” said Susan

Hollingsworth of Holes Incorporated. “It’s

not you saying your operators are qualified.

It’s a professional body saying that they

have addressed operational issues, they’ve

addressed safety, they’ve addressed proper

equipment usage. And your operator

has participated in training and has the

knowledge to go forward.”

A roundtable entitled Different Methods

of Billing Cutting Services was held to discuss

how cutting contractors handle billing.

Participants offered ideas and opinions on

issues such as the pros and cons of various

billing methods, how quotes are broken

down to show job-specific requirements and

how the introduction of online billing has

affected business.

This roundtable provided an insight

into how estimators approach their jobs

and what methods work best for developing

estimates depending on the size and

complexity of the cutting work. Moderators

asked participants to look at how they

are currently billing work and determine

whether that method is the best suited for

producing an accurate cost breakdown for

the work being bid. Contractors agreed that

a strong focus on accuracy, serious attention

to detail, foresight of potential additional

costs and a high degree of openness and

honesty with the client are traits of good

DiD YoU KNoW?

CsdA roundtABles

in recent years, csda has held 17

roundtable discussions. they are:

2004

• TheValueofTraining

• TheFutureofInformationTechnology in concrete cutting companies

• SafetyAddstotheBottomLine

2005

• SafeWorkPracticesforContractors

• BuildingSolidWorkingRelationships with specifiers

• CSDAMembershipBenefits

2006

• WireSawing:TipsandTechniques

• HighwaySafetyforConcreteCutters

2007

• AddingSelectiveDemolitionand removal services

• ContractLanguage,Exclusions, Legal protection and coverages

• HowtoAvoidBuriedHazards

• HowtoGetPoliticallyActive

2008

• SecuringYourBusinessFuturewith Business succession

• HydraulicorHi-Cycle:WhichBestFits YourCompany’sNeeds?

2009

• DifferentMethodsofBilling cutting services

• RiskManagement

• SlurryRecycling

transcripts for all of these discussions are

available to view and/or download via the

Members section of the csda website.

www.csda.org

estimators. Whether basing an estimate on a

fixed, lump sum, unit, cost-plus or hourly price,

an estimator should consider all of these factors

to ensure the bid is developed correctly.

Online billing was a topic that received

mixed reviews. While some contractors have

embraced the idea of online invoicing and

billing, others still feel that the tangibility or

reliability associated with physically having

the paperwork in-hand is not ready to be

replaced yet. However, all were in agreement

that the speed and increased ease of dealing

with electronic payments could not be ignored.

“Anything that gets paid faster, quicker, we’ll

take it. If somebody wants to pay with a credit

card, great, but anything that speeds up the

invoicing, billing and collection process is a

good thing, because sometimes time spent on

those activities are just a waste,” said Jeremy

Martin of Hilti.

Roundtable discussions provide

something that other types of meetings

or formal documents cannot—real life

accounts. Participants can choose to enter

into the discussions or sit still and listen but

either way, they get the opportunity to hear

what their peers think about given subjects.

Communication, particularly between people

of similar circumstances, is key. The thoughts

and ideas shared during these discussions do

not just help CSDA or its members, but the

sawing and drilling industry as a whole. A lot

can be learned when you get people talking.

CSDA members have the benefit of

viewing or downloading all three of the 2009

roundtable transcripts via the Members section

of the CSDA website; however the Slurry

Recycling roundtable is available to all via the

CSDA homepage. For more information on

CSDA roundtables, contact the CSDA office at

727-577-5004 or email [email protected].

“To be able to talk to people

who are in this industry and

to exchange ideas with them

was incredibly beneficial to

me and helped me greatly

when I moved the company”


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t he 2009 annual Meeting

for the international

association of concrete drillers

and sawers (iacds) was held June 4–6

in dublin, ireland. the international

association is now in its fifteenth year,

and continues to be a fantastic way

for national associations to meet and

share their combined knowledge of the

industry, while learning new ways to

continue their growth and prosperity.

the 2009 meeting was no different.

2009 iaCDs Annual Meeting

In attendance were 31 representatives

from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany,

Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Liechtenstein,

Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the

United Kingdom and the United States.

Included in this number was Boyko Tomov

of Enemona SA, a new representative

from Bulgaria. The goal is to eventually

have a Bulgarian association in place to

represent concrete cutting contractors from

the country. Encouragement can be taken

from the progress made by other national

associations like AEDT of Spain, which was

in the same position just a few years ago.

Two technical presentations were made

by CSDA lead trainer, Rick Norland. The

first presentation Ground Penetrating Radar

(GPR): Real Time Non-Destructive Testing

was of particular interest to the Europeans,

as this technology has not been available for

them to use and expand their businesses.

The second presentation Advanced Wire

Sawing Methods was also very well received

and provided great insight. A portion of

the meeting was held at the Diamond

Innovations saw diamond manufacturing

diamond Cutters gather for the international Association’s 14th Anniversary

Front row, left to right: Donat Fritsch, Hans georg wagener, Daniel trachsel, Alain Dupont, peter white, patrick o’Brien, norikazu shibuya, william Lee, Antonio Zerolo, carl-Johan Bendefors, Andrei Bushmarin Middle row, left to right: Alfred Landl, John stallman, Jose Blanco, Martin Braun, Boyko tomov, Anders Andersson, rick norland Back row, left to right: Martin godickemeier, Dietmar wirthgen, Martin Jennings, Mario Bierfreund

1 8 | septeMBer.09


plant in Clonshaugh, Dublin. IACDS

members received a plant tour and market

presentation as part of their visit.

The Diamond Award competition

continues to be popular with cutting

contractors, and the 2009 award ceremony—

held in Las Vegas during World of

Concrete—was attended by healthy

numbers of press and the general

public. The next competition will

open in 2010 so contractors from

all corners of the globe should be

ready to document and photograph

their most unique and challenging

jobs over the next year to have a

chance of winning.

During the meeting, IACDS

continued discussions as to how it

can allow representatives without

a formal national association to

play a more active leadership role

in the international association. In

connection with this development,

representatives are formalizing

the election process to have

delegates prepare their suggestions

for future leaders of IACDS in

advance of the meeting. Marketing

of IACDS around the globe also

continues to be a focal point for

members. Advancements have been

made with the website while the

campaign to keep trade publications

advised of IACDS events and

accomplishments remains strong.

The chosen venue of Dublin, Ireland,

was quite fitting, as it marked the end of

the second term for the current IACDS

president, Patrick O’Brien. “It has been

my pleasure to serve as president. The

association can be proud of the achievements

that have been recorded, as they have helped

move the international representation of

concrete cutting contractors to the next

level,” he said. O’Brien will now make way

for the incoming president, Peter White of

the U.K. Drilling and Sawing Association.

Elected as vice presidents were Jose Blanco

of Spain and Norikazu Shibuya of Japan.

Representatives from each country

presented a series of financial reports and

summaries for their respective associations,

with many associations presently suffering as

a result of the difficult economic conditions.

It was noted that Germany currently has the

most contractor members with 532. Those

contractors who join the German association

can reduce the social tariff levied by the

government and this fact has contributed

to strong membership growth. It was also

reported that diamond tool production

in Japan is down 51%, a trend that will

hopefully reverse as signs of economic

recovery emerge.

Since its inception in 1995, IACDS has

taken great strides to advance the industry

throughout the world. Technical documents

have been produced providing extremely

useful information on Basic Parameters for

Concrete Drilling and Sawing Equipment and

Tolerances and Limits for Construction Sawing

and Drilling that can assist concrete cutters

in their day-to-day work. Both of these

documents can be found on the IACDS

website (www.iacds.org), in the CSDA

Resource Guide, mailed with the June issue of

Concrete Openings, or via the Members section

of the CSDA website (www.csda.org). These

documents are also available to members of

other national associations in electronic and/

or paper copies.

Other programs that IACDS has

launched are now becoming more

recognized in the international community.

The project to collect worldwide

market data for sawing and

drilling contractors continues

to improve each year with data

coming from more countries

and more credible market data

being submitted. Plus, the results

showing over 10,000 worldwide

contracting firms is being

requested and utilized by trade

publications and manufacturers.

An emerging project for IACDS

is a formal program to educate

specifiers at university level about

the benefits and capabilities of

sawing and drilling. In addition,

the association is investigating

the establishment of insurance

coverage for sawing and drilling

contractors.

The next IACDS meeting

will be held in Austria in

conjunction with the April 19-

25, 2010 Bauma exhibition in

Munich, Germany. Discussion

was held about a follow-up to

this year’s GPR presentation at

the meeting, with demonstrations

from manufacturers, followed by a full day

meeting on Monday, April 26 in Salzburg.

For more information, visit www.iacds.org.

The International Association of Concrete

Drillers & Sawers is an international trade

association of sawing and drilling associations

from the concrete construction and renovation

industry. Its mission is to provide an

international union and cooperation of

trade associations to support and promote

professional development of professional

sawing and drilling contractors and their

methods. This umbrella organization of

sawing and drilling associations formed in

1995 is composed of the associations from

Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, Spain,

Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom

and the United States.

2 0 | septeMBer.09

2010 Convention AgendaTuesday, March 2 Committee Meetings and Estimating Training Course

Wednesday, March 3 Board Meeting, Golf Tournament and Estimating Training Course

Thursday, March 4 Opening Session, Presentations and President’s Reception

Friday, March 5 Roundtables and Tech Fair

Saturday, March 6 Presentations, Annual Business Meeting and Gala

CsdA Conventionand tech Fair March 4-6, 2010

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Room Rate: $229.00

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Note: These rates are also available for the three days prior and three days after the convention

on a space-available basis.

Room reservation cut-off date: Friday, January 29, 2010.

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o n aPril 8, 2005, the Bulgarian council of Ministers

approved the construction of two 1,000-mega-

watt nuclear power units with pressurized water

reactors at a site located near the town of Belene,

Bulgaria. Following this decision the national electric company

(neK) began a selection procedure for contractors to participate in

the engineering, construction and commissioning of Belene nuclear

Power Plant units 1 and 2, in compliance with the Public Procure-

ment act. on november 29, 2006, neK signed an agreement with

the russian company atomstroyexport to take up the role of gen-

eral contractor.

the proposed site for the two new units contained structures

and components of an earlier nuclear power plant project, including

circulation pipelines, ballast mats for two power units, a 13.2-meter-tall

reactor building, diesel generator cubicles and the support structure of

the turbine hall.

the preliminary activities at the Belene nuclear power plant included

the removal of all the existing structures that could not be integrated

into the new project. All structures relating to the nuclear safety of the

new power plant will be built anew. some existing structures will be

renovated and integrated into the new construction. over the course

of a few months, however, 8,780 tons of metal structures and 150,298

cubic meters of concrete and reinforced concrete structures required

dismantling and removal. in addition, 150,923 cubic meters of soil

needed to be excavated.

CsdA MeMBer disMAntles nuCleAr PoWer PlAnt site

csDA member enemona sA of Kozloduy, Bulgaria, was approached

by the general contractor to carry out 10% of the cutting and demolition

work. Boyko tomov, vice director of marketing and development says,

“we were selected by Atomstroyexport as a subcontractor for this

project because of our equipment base and our experienced and skilled

operators.” tomov continued, “the company has done many projects

for the general contractor at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant, and

has a reputation for being both efficient and reliable.”

enemona signed a contract with Atomstroyexport in 2008 to perform

some of the dismantling work. so far, the completed activities have

included the dismantling of heavy reinforced concrete; dismantling of

machines, equipment, tanks and containers; dismantling of reinforced

concrete and metal structures; crushing and disposing of waste materials

and rehabilitation of the environment.

the areas of the site being dismantled by the cutting team include

the reactor building, diesel generator stations, sprinkler pools, an

auxiliary building, turbine hall, trestles and cable tunnels, administration

area buildings and the water treatment plant. in addition to the

dismantling work, excavation work and erection of temporary pathways

and work areas have been completed.

enemona chose diamond wire sawing for the dismantling of the

reinforced concrete structures at the plant for many reasons. wire

sawing provides reduced levels of noise, dust and debris. in addition,

the structural integrity of the ballast mats under the foundation could

be maintained. wire sawing units are also relatively easy to set up,

PoWer CUtCsdA Member dismantles nuclear Power Plant site



use, dismantle and move, so the risk of accidents to the operators as

well as to the equipment could be minimized. All of these factors were

welcomed by the general contractor who wanted to keep the ecological

impact of the work to a minimum while preserving the surrounding

environment.

Alternative methods had been considered, but none of these

alternatives were attractive. the area of concrete that needed to

be cut and the height of much of it, as well as the fact that it was

heavily reinforced, made wall sawing an expensive and difficult, if not

impossible, option. Detonation was not feasible, as the ballast mats

under the foundations needed to be preserved.

prior to the job commencing, much planning and preparation went

into the project. All operators were made familiar with the work and

the project at large. operators were trained in the possible hazards of

wire sawing, in working with and removing inordinately heavy pieces

of concrete and in working on the Belene nuclear power plant site.

engineering documents and as-built drawings relating to the site (and

archives) were provided and reviewed. Quality plans, installation and

dismantling logs and other documents were compiled in compliance

with iso 9001/2000 standards.

All required equipment for contract implementation was specified

and delivered to the site, including heavy duty equipment like 350- and

500-ton cranes to remove the cut sections. cabling and piping structures

were put into place for the temporary supply of water, air pressure and

lighting. other protective measures included the building of safety

features like fencing, railings and temporary pathways to keep other

site workers a safe distance from the cutting and demolition areas.

A major part of the planning of this project included the planning

for the rigging and removal of the cut sections of concrete. the weight

of the cut sections varied from 10 to 100 tons. At the start of the cutting,

several teams core drilled the vertical and horizontal openings using

Hilti and tyrolit bits for the placement of the wire. extension heads for

the bits were connected once the core drilling progressed to allow for

larger sections of concrete to be removed.

the rigging material for the concrete blocks was specially designed,

depending on the block weight while the location of the cranes on site

was determined in accordance with the design and load specifications

set by the general contractor. cut blocks were transported to a storage

area via loading platforms with a loading capacity up to 150 tons. once

at the storage area, the blocks were then crushed into smaller pieces to

be processed into a by-product.

Another element of the concrete cutting work that had to be

addressed from the start was the quantity of water used and slurry

created during cutting. cores were removed and placed in containers

especially provided for this purpose and the slurry was cleaned up on

a daily basis. the proper disposal of waste water was an important

issue and an appropriate water drain system was assembled for each

area. waste water was filtered and treated, then disposed of into the

sewage system. the water quality was monitored by the regional Health

protection and Monitoring Agency.

the operators also had to contend with the cold Bulgarian winters,

but they were well prepared. workers developed an hourly cleaning

schedule of equipment with a steam jet machine and they erected a

temporary structure to cover and insulate the water tanks. internal

temperature of this “house” was maintained by a sensor and air heater.

At the end of the working day, all equipment was removed, all water

from collectors and hoses was drained and everything was stored in the

structure. in addition, the work site was sprinkled with sand to guard

against the workers slipping in icy conditions.

Another issue on this job, as on any wire sawing job, was the

possibility of the wire breaking during the cutting process. enemona was

vigilant in training and monitoring operators in how to be aware and

PoWer CUt

Left: Belene nuclear power plant site, Bulgaria, December 2008.

csDA member enemona has core drilled nearly 1,500 holes at the site. Diamond wire has been used to cut and dismantle several areas of the plant.

2 4 | septeMBer.09

CoMPAny ProFile

enemona sa has been a member of csda since 2007.

the company head office is based in Kozloduy, Bulgaria,

with several branches in sofia and other parts of the

country, employing over 3,000 people. the company offers

engineering and construction services including slab sawing,

wall sawing, wire sawing, hand sawing, core drilling,

grinding and selective demolition.

resourCes

general Contractor:

atomstroyexport


enemona sa

Kozloduy, Bulgaria

Phone: 359-9 738 5465


Website: www.enemona.com

Methods used: Wire sawing, slab sawing, core drilling,

selective demolition

prepare for possible breaks in the wire. As an extra safety precaution,

screens were placed around each machine to protect operators in case

any wire would break. wooden troughs were also placed over the cuts,

to limit water loss and help the cooling of the wire. the provision and

use of required personal protective equipment like hard hats, belts,

shoes and eye and ear protection was closely monitored.

A range of equipment was used at the Belene site, including

tyrolit-sB and Hilti Ds-ws 15 saws and Hilti-DD 200, 250, 350 and 500

core drills. other hammers, wedges and crabs for breaking and cutting

of the concrete and reinforcement were also used.

the statistics for this project to date are as follows:

the cutting team has consisted of 87 operators and workers divided

into three shifts per day, while 13 staff members have been responsible

for the engineering and administrative elements of the work. As work

on the project is ongoing, additional statistics from the job will be

developed.

“this is a challenging project for enemona, working on an open site

in difficult weather conditions,” says tomov. “the team has completed

a significant amount of concrete coring and cutting and transporting of

blocks and materials in a short amount of time with a restricted number

of personnel. it has provided valuable experience that will be helpful

when approaching similar projects in the future,” tomov concluded.

the Bulgarian cutting contractor has used the distinct advantage of

knowing how to use diamond wire sawing to complete a project with

a high degree of accuracy in a relatively small amount of time and to

the satisfaction of the general contractor.


Description Meters / (Feet)

Cut-off surface 3,442 m² (37,049 ft²)

Holes Cored (with core diameters of 52- 62- 162-mm) 1,484

Linear meters drilled (52-mm / 2-inch diameter bit) 1,629 m (5,344 feet)

Linear meters drilled (62-mm / 2.5-inch diameter bit) 216 m (709 feet)

Linear meters drilled (162-mm / 6.5-inch diameter bit) 558 m (1,831 feet)

Blocks cut and removed 4,636 m3 (163,719 ft3)

Length of Wire Used 2,850 m (9,350 feet)

Concrete Crushed for Recycling 6,300 m3 (222,482 ft3)

cut sections were secured with cable clamp lifting devices for removal.

Large concrete blocks were removed from the work area by 350- and 500-ton cranes.


2 6 | septeMBer.09

By Mark A. Lies II and Elizabeth Leifel Ash

Safety: The Universal Language?Literacy and Language Challenges in the Workplace

tHe Business of BUsiNess

As the American “melting pot” becomes increasingly diversified,

employers face inevitable issues related to language in the

workplace. employers can no longer assume that qualified

workers speak or write english. employers who hire workers that do

not speak english are obligated to ensure that all employees, regardless

of their linguistic background, receive and comprehend safety-related

training. For employers whose supervisors only speak english, the

requirements set by the occupational safety and Health Administration

(osHA) can present unique challenges. this article outlines osHA’s

policies with respect to training non-english-speaking employees, and

offers recommendations for employers in assuring that all employees

are adequately trained to work safely.

osha’s training requireMentsnumerous osHA standards, from lockout/tagout to forklift opera-

tion and bloodborne pathogens to hazard communication, require

employers to train or instruct employees in some way. osHA generally

treats its training requirements as performance-based, meaning that

osHA defers to each individual employer to fashion the most effec-

tive manner to accomplish the goal of the standard. For that reason,

none of osHA’s training standards require employers to use particular

documents, teaching methods or language to train employees. instead,

osHA requires employers to present information in a manner that

employees are capable of understanding. For example, if an employee

is not literate, the employer does not satisfy osHA training require-

ments merely by telling the employee to read training materials or

review safety programs. Likewise, if an employee does not speak, read

or understand english, training must be provided in a language the

employee understands.

osHA has tasked each of its inspectors with the duty to determine

whether the training provided by an employer satisfies the intent of

the standard—whether employees receiving the training have actually

understood the content. obviously, this is a highly subjective exercise.

one way that an osHA inspector will make this evaluation is to interview

employees. these interviews may or may not take place in the presence

of a management representative. Many osHA inspectors are bilingual,

speaking both in english and spanish, and those who are not may

request another employee to act as an interpreter to translate during

an employee interview. translation issues can present potential bias

problems during employee interviews, whether the interpreter is

another employee, a management representative or an osHA official.

For this reason, employers must ensure that employees understand

their right to have a management representative present during the

interview. employers may also consider requesting that a neutral third-

party act as interpreter during the employee interview, particularly if

the interview is critical and accuracy is an important consideration.

Another way osHA inspectors will evaluate the employer’s

compliance with safety training standards is by determining how the


employer communicates other workplace rules and policies to employees,

particularly job instructions and other non-safety policies or procedures.

if these other job instructions are given in spanish, for example, osHA

will likely view english-only safety training as insufficient. Ultimately

the osHA inspector will determine, based on a review of all of the

gathered facts, whether a reasonable person would conclude that the

employer has not conveyed training to employees in a manner they

are capable of understanding. in one case involving deficient safety

training, a supervisor described the company’s training program as

follows: “Basically, in the yard with the men making sure they got their

vests, their shoring, their boards before they leave for the job. they are

directed to not get in holes over four feet deep, when it’s unsafe to

use the proper shoring.” sec. of Labor v. J. Mess plumbing co., inc., 21

o.s.H. cas. (BnA) 1100 (A.L.J. oct. 18, 2004).

in this case, most of the company’s employees

had immigrated from Bosnia and Albania and

could not speak english. where an employee

could not speak english, another co-worker

would translate the materials for him. in

addition, the employer did not maintain any

documentary evidence of a training program.

An administrative law judge upheld osHA’s

citation under a construction industry training

standard, finding that the employer hired

workers that were not fluent in english, and

then failed to ensure that they understood

the minimal training they received.

recent case law precedent from the

occupational safety and Health review

commission validated osHA’s ability to issue

citations under its training standards on a

per-employee basis. this means that osHA

can issue a separate citation and penalty

for each and every employee who did

not understand his or her required safety

training. in sec. of Labor v. e. smalis painting co., slip op., o.s.H.r.c.

Docket no. 94-1979 (Apr. 10, 2009), osHA issued a total of 71 willful

citations to smalis for failure to train 71 employees as required in osHA’s

“Lead in construction” standard, 29 c.F.r. § 1926.62(l)(1)(ii). the review

commission upheld 27 of those willful citations, one for each of the 27

employees who had been exposed to lead at or above the action level

and who had not received the training, and imposed a penalty of over

$1,000,000 in total.

the review commission’s decision was based on its finding that

training requirements under osHA’s asbestos standard impose a duty

that runs to each employee. while the smalis decision is based on

the employer’s failure to train altogether, the review commission’s

reasoning may well be applied to situations involving the adequacy of

an employer’s training program as it relates to non-english-speaking

employees.

english-only eMPloyMent Policies For saFety-sensitive areas

employers may be tempted to avoid osHA’s onerous and subjective

training policies by employing only english-speaking workers. employers

must proceed with extreme caution in fashioning these types of policies

so as not to run afoul of federal and state anti-discrimination laws.

employers who fashion english-only policies, prohibiting employees from

speaking languages other than english at all times in the workplace, are

presumed to be discriminating on the basis of an employee’s national

origin. the federal regulations implementing title Vii of the civil

rights Act call such policies “a burdensome term and condition of an

employment,” and provide that prohibiting non-english languages in

the workplace at all times “disadvantages an individual’s employment

opportunities on the basis of national origin”

and creates “an atmosphere of inferiority,

isolation and intimidation based on national

origin.” 29 c.F.r. § 1606.7(a).

these same regulations do recognize,

however, that when applied only at certain

times an english-only policy in the work-

place may be appropriate and non-discrim-

inatory. to avoid liability for discrimination,

the employer must establish that the rule is

justified by a “business necessity.” 29 c.F.r.

§ 1606.7(b). in its compliance manual, the

equal employment opportunity commission

(eeoc) has recognized that the need for the

safe operation of an employer’s business is

considered a business necessity, that can jus-

tify an english-only rule that is tailored to

specific circumstances. the eeoc also recog-

nizes that the need for supervisors who only

speak english to communicate with employ-

ees is also a business necessity, that can justify

an appropriately narrow english-only policy.

the eeoc cites the following scenario as an appropriate use of an

english-only rule to address safety concerns:

XYZPetroleumCorp.operatesanoilrefineryandhasarulerequiring

all employees to speak only english during an emergency. the rule also

requires that employees speak in english while performing job duties

in laboratories and processing areas where there is the danger of fire

or explosion. the rule does not apply to casual conversations between

employees in the laboratory or processing areas when they are not

performing a job duty. the english-only rule does not violate title Vii

because it is narrowly tailored to safety requirements. eeoc compliance

Manual, section 13: national origin Discrimination (Dec. 2, 2002).

According to this example, an employer would not run afoul of

federal non-discrimination laws by requiring employees to speak only

in english while performing specific job functions, during emergency

situations, or while working in particular areas of a facility that implicate

workplace safety issues.

2 8 | septeMBer.09

other than english, consider providing safety training in those

languages as well.

• Incorporatepracticaltestsintorequiredsafetytraining,allowing

employees to demonstrate their understanding (or lack thereof) of

core concepts.

• Maintainmeticulousdocumentationofemployeetraining,

including any practical tests included in training. include a signed

statement from each employee that he/she has received and

understood specific safety training provided.

• IntheeventofanOSHAinspection,adviseallemployeesoftheir

right to have a management representative present during any

interviews. Designate a qualified and reliable person (whether

management or non-management) to act as the “go to” interpreter

to facilitate interviews with non-english-speaking employees.

• Evaluateemployeedutiesonajob-by-jobbasistodetermine

whether critical job- or safety-related functions require fluency

in english.

Mark A. Lies, II is a labor and employment law attorney and partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago, Illinois. He specializes in occupational safety and health law and related employment law and personal injury litigation. Lies has worked with CSDA members in their businesses. He can be reached at 312-460-5877 or at [email protected].

Elizabeth Leifel Ash is an associate with Seyfarth Shaw, whose practice focuses on regulatory compliance and litigation, including occupational safety and health and environmental matters.

employers must also take care in making hiring decisions based

on a candidate’s ability to speak english. A narrowly-tailored and

appropriately used english-only policy is relevant to hiring decisions.

if, for example, an employer has an english-only policy like the one used

in the above example, it would need to consider that policy in hiring

employees to work in the laboratories and processing areas. candidates

who do not speak english would not be able to adhere to the policy and

would therefore not be qualified for hire into a position that includes

work in those areas. similarly, even in the absence of an english-only

policy, an employer does not violate federal anti-discrimination laws by

rejecting a non-english-speaking candidate whose inability to speak or

understand english would materially affect his or her ability to perform

job duties. if, for example, a candidate’s job duties would require forklift

operation, and the candidate could not read or understand warning

signs, operating manuals, or safety placards required for the safe

operation of a forklift, then the employer would have a good faith,

non-discriminatory reason for rejecting that candidate.

conclusion and recoMMendationsit is recommended that all employers who employ workers with

limited or no ability to speak or understand english, carefully evaluate

their safety training programs to ensure those employees have received

and understood required safety training, including the following:

• Reviewthemeansbywhichworkinstructionsarecommunicated

to employees. if work instructions are communicated in languages

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During its first 20 years of service, the behavior of the dam was

consistent with expectations, but from the 1970s a slow process

of drift towards the mountain till commenced and exceeded 45

millimeters (1 inch). the movement of the dam shelves produced by

this drift induced an opening in the joint perimeter of the dosserets

(impost blocks) on the side of the valley, and this resulted in a high

concentration of vertical tension to the foot of the mountain and

the joint itself.

the cause of the drifting was due to an alkali aggregate reaction as

confirmed by a series of experiments performed by a local laboratory.

this reaction is caused by the presence of reagents aggregates

(amorphous quartzes) in the concrete that, when in contact with

water, produce a gel of ettringite. the ettringite forms in concrete

and reacts with alluminato tricalcium phosphate and plaster. this

compound is characterized by the formation of minute crystals in the

shape of sticks or needles.

the formation of ettringite is always associated with an increase in

volume, and its effect on cement conglomerate can be either positive

or negative. there are primary and secondary forms of ettringite. A dam

is classified as being affected by AAr if the coefficient expansion by these

formations is greater than 0.001% per year. in this case, the pian telessio

dam had a rate of coefficient expansion of 0.06%.

the decision was made to perform a series of vertical cuts to remove

the tension being applied to the structure. By using diamond wire sawing,

a great amount of precision could be obtained in the cutting. in addition,

there would be very little noise pollution or dust and debris and the

structural integrity of the dam could be maintained. Last, this method

had a considerable economic advantage in that it was fast and required

a reduced number of employees. wire sawing methodology also provides

high levels of safety, since saws can be operated by remote, and the dam

could continue to be in operation while the cutting work took place.

Following the requests by the register of italian Dams to closely

monitor the cutting work at pian telessio, and the evaluations conducted

by Lombardi sA–engineers and consultants, an innovative project was

drawn up to perform a series of vertical cuts between 21 to 39 meters (69

to 128 feet) deep. the goal of this project was to download the pressure of

i n the gran Paradiso national ParK, situated in PiedMont, italy, stands the Pian telessio daM. the daM Was Built

BetWeen 1951 and 1956 as Part oF the hydroelectric develoPMent oF the orco valley. the concrete structure, oF

a gravity arch design, is oWned By the energy coMPany oF turin, and is located 1,919 Meters (6,296 Feet) aBove

sea level. the daM stands at a height oF 80 Meters (262 Feet) With a croWn oF 515 Meters (1,690 Feet), and creates a

seasonal reservoir oF aPProxiMately 22 Million cuBic Meters (29 Million cuBic yards) oF Water.

the pian telessio Dam, piedmont, italy. Cutter uses diamond Wire to Prevent Concrete decay destroying dam



the dam and restore the correct functionality

of elastic joints, while ensuring the continuity

of the dam arcs for at least the next 15 to 20

years.

sixteen vertical cuts in all would be made

along the crowning of the dam and then

the joints would be injected with a cement

mixture.

the table below indicates the details of each of the 16 cuts.

no of cuts Wire diameter height of cut surface of cut

10 10 mm (0.4 inches) 21 to 30 m (69 to 98 feet) 148 m² (1,593 ft2)

4 16 mm (0.6 inches) 39 m (128 feet) 385 m² (4,144 ft2)

2 16 mm (0.6 inches) 31 m (102 feet) 263 m² (2,831 ft2)

the project was awarded to Marietta spA,

who in turn awarded the cutting contract to

technic technologie of Monticello d’Alba.

Marietta was responsible for the supply and

positioning of the crane and platforms from

which the cuts would be performed, while the

cutting contractor would make the horizontal

logs, core the holes for the restoration of the

new flexible joints and make the vertical cuts.

Alberto pavesio, managing director of

technic technologie found a wide array of

diamond wire on the market, but found it

more difficult to find a wire with a 75-milli-

meter-thick (3-inch) diamond bead suitable for

the cut. He turned to csDA member, Diamond

pauber srl, of Massa, italy, to provide a solu-

tion. initially stefano Bernieri, managing direc-

tor of Diamond pauber, approached pavesio

with two options to consider. Both options

were from a series of electro-deposited wires

offered by Diamond pauber, with patented

“crystal oriented” technology and the family

of conical beads. one had a diameter of 16

millimeters (0.6 inches); the other had a larger

diameter of 20 millimeters (0.8 inches). After

a careful review and analysis of the deflection

of the dam, they decided to use the 16-milli-

meter (0.6-inch) wire.

in order to start this job, the water level of

the dam had to be lowered. once the volume

of water had been reduced, the general

contractor installed work platforms and

diamond wire was used to cut into the 263-foot-tall dam wall.

16-millimeter wire was used to perform cuts up to 39 meters (128 feet) in depth.

Cutter uses diamond Wire to Prevent Concrete decay destroying dam

DiD YoU KNoW?

dAM ConstruCtion

since the first large-scale dam was built in egypt more

than 5,000 years ago, engineers have devised various

types of dams to withstand the forces of a raging river.

the are five main types of bridges around the world and

all have their strengths—literally speaking.

ArCH dAMs

An arch dam is a thin, curved dam made of concrete

or masonry that arches upstream so that the force

of the water against the canyon wall where the dam

is constructed squeezes the arch, compressing and

strengthening the structure and pushing it into the

ground. Arch dams, like the el Atazam Dam in spain, are

good for narrow, rocky locations.

Buttress dAMs

Buttress dams may be flat or curved, but

one thing is certain: a series of supports or

buttresses brace the dam on the downstream

side. Most buttress dams, like the Bartlett Dam

in Arizona, are made of reinforced concrete.

eMBAnkMent dAMs

embankment dams are commonly built in the

United states especially in mining locations.

they are massive dams made of earth and rock.

Like gravity dams, embankment dams rely on

their heavy weight to resist the force of the

water. embankment dams also have a dense,

waterproof core that prevents water from

seeping through the structure. tailings dams,

large structures that hold back mining waste,

are types of embankment dams.

grAvity dAMs

A gravity dam is a massive dam consisting of

thick, vertical walls of concrete built across relatively narrow river valleys. gravity dams

resist the thrust of the water entirely by their own weight. Most gravity dams like the

grand coulee Dam in washington are expensive to build because they require so much

concrete, earth and rock fill.

ArCH-grAvity dAMs

the Hoover Dam in the United states is an example of an arch-gravity dam. Arch-gravity

dams incorporate the arch dam’s curved design that is so effective in deflecting the

water in narrow, rocky locations where the canyon’s side of hard rock forces that water

down into a narrow channel. the curved design also effectively holds back the water

in a reservoir requiring a lesser amount of construction material. the arch-gravity dam

also incorporates enough size and thickness to provide superior strength. the arch-

gravity dam, combining the load-resisting qualities of both arch and gravity type dams,

inspires the most confidence in the public at large because of its appearance of massive

permanence.

embankment dam

Arch dam

anchored them to the perimeter of the dam by

plates and steel cables. the wire saws provided

by Bicoma srl of carrara, italy, were placed

on the platforms and cutting commenced.

Maintaining the cutting effectiveness of

the diamond wire throughout the cutting

process was a major concern of the contractor

as it would be costly in terms of labor and

efficiency to have to replace the wire, so

Diamond pauber increased the number of

beads per meter (3.3 feet) to 38. this proved

to be a good move.

During this project, measurements were

taken to report the opening and closing

movements of all the cuts, before, during

and after the cutting process and before the

injection of the new material into the joints.

Measurements showed a total closure of 70

millimeters (2.8 inches) during the course of

Buttress dam

cutting lasted approximately 160 days.

the cutting work has helped to stabilize the dam structure.

3 4 | septeMBer.09


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Founded in 1979 by Paolo Bernieri,

diamond Pauber srl joined csda in

2005, and is based in Massa, italy.

the company was one of the earliest

italian companies to manufacture

diamond wire.

resourCes

general Contractor:

Marietta spa

CsdA Affiliate Member:

diamond Pauber

Massa, italy

Phone: 39-5 8583 0425


Website: www.diamondpauber.it

Methods used: Wire sawing


the cuts, with a further 30 millimeters (1.2

inches) of closure during the phase between

the cut and the injections, reaching a total of

100 millimeters (3.9 inches). However, during

the implementation of the injections, an open-

ing of 40 millimeters (1.6 inches) occurred. the

shortening of the dam arc to the crowning

reached a total of 60 millimeters (2.4 inches)

throughout the entire project. From the outset

of the project, the specification for the range

of movement was to be between 65 and 70

millimeters (2.6 and 2.8 inches). therefore the

results achieved by the cutting work was to a

high level of accuracy, and both the client and

general contractor were more than satisfied

with the outcome.

in total, the total cut surface measured

3,546 m² (38,169 ft2). the cutting contractor

performed the cuts over a period of

approximately 160 days with two teams of two

operators, experiencing some prolongation

of the work due to snow and icy conditions

throughout the italian winter. the average

cutting speed was between 10 m2 (108 ft2)

per hour with the 10-millimeter (0.4-inch)

diamond wire, and 5 m2 (54 ft2) per hour

with the 16-millimeter (0.6-inch) wire. it is

estimated that the life of the dam has been

extended another 15 to 20 years at which time

another assessment will have to be made as

to the performance of the concrete. “the pian

telessio Dam now has greater stability and

an increased life span thanks to the speed

and accuracy of diamond wire sawing,” said

Bernieri. “Diamond pauber is very proud

to have been a part of this most important

project,” he concluded.

Diagram showing the position of the 16 cuts made to the dam.

the cold italian winter delayed some of the work.


3 6 | septeMBer.09

sAFety CoUNts

By Rick Norland

Air Pressure—It’s More Powerful Than You Think

C reating openings in concrete walls presents a very real danger—

and it is probably not a danger that comes to the mind of most

operators. Most often, operators are thinking about making

precise openings. the danger is with air pressure and the weight of the

concrete piece that is going to be removed to make the opening. this

article looks into the reasons why air pressure is often not considered

when making openings, why is should be; and why the proper approach

to cutting openings is so important.

one reason why many operators are unsure of the proper and safe

approach to cutting openings is outdated or just plain improper training

on how to secure the piece being cut. in the past, most operators were

trained to use wedges, often custom-

designed, long and thin tapered

wedges to hold the piece being cut.

operators were taught to use the

tapered side of the wedges to face the

opening so that the spalled concrete

would not show in the finished side of

the opening.

the fact was never questioned

that the spall occurs because the

maximum compressive strength of the

concrete had been exceeded, and this

occurs before the full weight of the

opening is on the wedge. nor was it

questioned that when the spall occurs,

the concrete being cut to make the

opening can shift, pushing the wedge

out. when a spall occurs, the massive

concrete piece being cut to make an

opening can shift.

Another reason why operators may not consider the danger of air

pressure when cutting openings is that they have always been taught

that there is no way a 10-inch-thick, or greater, wall will tip because it

will jam in the wall before it can fall.

the final reason for an unsafe approach to cutting openings is the

“hurry up and get the job done” mentality. Most wall saw operators

have made the decision, at least once, to use one wedge or two at the

most, to secure a cut piece instead of affixing a strap to temporarily

hold an opening in place, to save time. And in most cases, it is pure

luck that prevented this piece of concrete being cut from falling out

of the opening.

unistrut or angle iron

Properly-strapped wall opening.

Having successfully gotten away with this short cut once, the

operator thinks that he or she can get away with it again and again.

An operator is lucky to be around to have firsthand experience of a piece

of concrete walking out of a hole. some are not so lucky.

Using wedges to secure a wall opening gives operators a false sense

of security, for two reasons. First, they will only secure the opening if

the opening does not move. second, they will only secure the opening

when the very small area of concrete that is in contact with the wedge

does not fail.

operators might question the ability for the cut piece to move,

so here is an example based on a 3- by 7-foot-wide door opening in

a standard 8-inch-thick, 3,500-psi

concrete wall in a food processing

plant. By design, the interior of the

building will be kept under posi-

tive pressure to keep dirt, dust and

contaminates from migrating into

the building. the amount of posi-

tive pressure can vary, so the low-

est practical value of 1 psi has been

used in this example. the weight

of the opening is 2,100 pounds,

assuming a concrete density of

150 pounds/ft3. the force pushing out

on the door opening due to the 1 psi

positive pressure is 3,024 pounds.

if the operator installs wedges

from the inside of the building, the

combination of the slope of the

wedge and the air pressure on the

door opening being cut can work in concert with each other to move

the piece. this movement can easily occur if something changes the

amount of positive pressure in the room, such as a door being slammed

closed. when this happens, a pressure wave is established and the

operator may experience a sensation in the inner ear or a small shake

to the entire body.

what effect does this have on the door opening? the pressure wave

momentarily increases the air pressure in the room or building. For a

person to feel the pressure wave, it has to be several times greater

than the normal building pressure. if the pressure wave increases the

building air pressure by 1 psi, the force on the opening becomes 6,048

pounds, resulting in the concrete door opening jumping out of the wall.

10” wall opening shifted 3/8” towards the outside and tipped. the area in red is all that is holding the opening in place and exceeds the max tensile load for 3500 psi concrete by 1.9 times.


while the author was writing this article, a thunderstorm passed

through his hometown, about 30 miles to the east, and the claps of

thunder were shaking the walls. imagine the impact of this thunderstorm

on the door opening in this example being described. changes in

weather, like a storm moving into the area, can have a dramatic impact

on the forces being applied to the surface of a wall opening. one of

these forces is wind. standard design load for winds up to 15 mph on

walls less than 60 feet tall is 15 pounds/ft2. For the example provided,

that calculates to 315 pounds pushing on the opening. when a wall

saw operator actually “walks” or pushes an opening out of a wall, he

or she uses less than 315 pounds.

when using wedges to secure an opening, the operator also needs

to understand the effect of the spalling of the concrete. the fact that

the concrete spalls or chips is due to the fact that the forces imparted

by the wedge are greater than the maximum compressive strength of

the concrete. For the purpose of this example, lets examine the effect

of using two, 2-inch-wide wedges (even though operators may normally

use 1- or 1.5-inch-wide wedges). it is assumed that wedge to concrete

edge contact is 0.125 inches instead of line contact as it actually occurs.

given these values, the load on the concrete in contact with the wedges

is 4,200 psi, which exceeds the maximum compressive strength of 3,500

psi concrete by 700 pounds. the result is that the concrete will fail

and spall away. in addition, this example does not include the force

generated by the operator driving the wedge into the opening, which

increases the load.

when the loads imparted by the wedge become less than the

maximum compressive strength of the concrete (spalling the opening

edge until the contact area becomes large enough that the maximum

compressive load of the concrete is not exceeded) spalling stops,

provided the load on the concrete does not change. this load will

change when the top cut is completed and the weight of the opening

is placed on the wedge.

Ultimately, all operators should be aware that a concrete piece held

in place by wedges is never secure and can move at any time. the only

way to secure an opening is to strap it in place.

Another common misconception is that a 10-inch-thick, or greater,

wall opening cannot tip out. this idea has been around for a long time

and is based on sound geometric conditions. geometry shows that there

is not enough room between the concrete surrounding an opening

as a result of saw kerf, and the concrete of the opening to pivot on a

bottom edge and tip out. this is true, as long as the pivot edge of the

opening does not spall; the outside top edge of the opening does not

spall; the top inside edge of the opening does not spall; or that the

opening does not shift in or out and stays perfectly parallel and in line

with the remainder of the wall.

Assuming that the aforementioned conditions do not occur, the

opening, when pivoting about a bottom edge, will jam at the top of

the opening cut after pivoting approximately 3 degrees, causing the

top edge of the opening to be about 4 inches out of the cut. However,

the weight of the opening is now being supported by the bottom edge

of the opening, and the top edge of the opening opposite from the

bottom pivot edge. For the wall opening to completely tip out, the

bottom edge or opposite top edge must either spall or move either

inside or outside of the space relative to the remaining wall section.

the amount of the spall would have to be 0.194 inches in total, or by

the bottom or top portion of the opening shifting towards the inside

or outside by 0.375 inches. As discussed, changes in air pressure, wind

or other induced vibration can easily overcome the static weight of a

wall opening and cause it to move or shift, allowing the opening to

fall. shifting the opening 0.375 inches towards the outside of the wall

will allow a 10-inch-thick concrete opening to pivot out approximately

8 inches at the top of the opening. this will load the top edge of the

opening that remains within the wall to 532 psi tension, which is 1.9

times greater than the maximum tension load for 3,500-psi concrete.

the only positive method for securing a wall opening is by strapping.

strapping is a method in which a metal plate or angle iron (or unistrut)

is attached to both the opening and the remaining wall section by

drop-in or wedge-type anchors. this may take extra time, but it is time

well spent to guarantee the safety of the operator.

it is important to remember and implement safe practices when

cutting openings, while being vigilant towards changes in environmental

conditions. Air pressure or, more importantly, a change in air pressure

encountered while cutting an opening can present a danger not always

appreciated. Understanding the issues discussed in this article and

applying these practices on the job site will reduce the risk of injury to

everyone on a job site.

With almost 30 years in the concrete sawing and drilling industry, Norland is the lead trainer for the CSDA training classes and a past president of the association. His company, Construction Solutions, is headquartered in Paola, Kansas. Norland can be contacted on 913-710-9923 or by email at [email protected].


3 8 | septeMBer.09

teCH talK

Tech Talk is a regular feature of Concrete Openings magazine, focusing on equipment, maintenance and operational issues of interest to concrete cutting contractors. Readers wishing to have a particular subject addressed can call or email CSDA with their suggestions at 727-577-5004 or [email protected].

By Joe Taccogna

Concrete Chainsaw Safety: Don’t Forget the Obvious

i t has been almost two decades since diamond chain and the

hand-held chainsaw cutting of concrete became a reality in the

commercial market. A great deal of advances have taken place

within the industry during this time in terms of diamonds, chains, saws,

equipment and even best use practices. However, the importance of

operator safety remains as prominent today as ever.

examinations of working units in the field, and those in contractor’s

shops, continually reveal examples that show a lack of attention when

dealing with relatively simple issues that relate to operator safety.

Figure 1 side cover with damaged baffle-drain.

Figure 2 side cover with missing baffle-drain.

Figure 3 proper operation with flap guard in place and in good condition.

Figure 4 improper operation with flap guard missing.

ensure chain side cover integritycutting contractors and individual operators alike should check the

integrity of chain side covers on a regular basis to ensure there are no

cracks, holes from slurry blasting, missing sections or warping in fit-up

to the main saw body frame. in addition, the slurry baffle and drain

sections of hydraulic saws must not be removed, have missing fasteners

or have missing or damaged fins. Any conditions that form a hole, or

result in a weaker guard, may result in operator injury in the event of

a malfunction. A piece of debris could be ejected due to chain speeds


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or, as a worst case scenario, a whole component part can be ejected

and cause serious injury or death without the implementation of these

safety measures.

ensure BottoM guard FlaP attachMentof equal importance to the side cover, yet often overlooked, is the

bottom, rubber guard flap. this is also known as the “mud flap.” this

flap is essential to operator safety, particularly in any application of floor

cutting. in a floor cutting scenario, the operator’s shins and lower torso

are more exposed, and are at greater risk of being struck by debris or a

broken chain. the guard flap is designed to minimize this hazard, and

must not be removed. too many saws have been discovered in the field

in which missing guard flaps have not been replaced and this condition

has been overlooked. worse still, in some cases, the removal of this part

has been carried out intentionally.

hydraulic inPutsMost professional concrete cutting contractors utilize high flow

power supply units as their source of hydraulic power. whether the

power source is a tow-behind or truck-mounted unit, these hydraulic

power supplies typically output in excess of 20 gallons per minute (gpm),

with some reaching as much as 30 gpm. when switching from a high

flow tool, such as a 25-gpm wall saw, it is extremely important that

the operator adjust the source flow rate to match the recommended

tool input. providing too much hydraulic flow will cause motor shaft

over-speeding.

Hydraulic pressure is also an important factor in the settings. over-

pressurization will stress all connections, hoses, seals and o-rings for the

entire hydraulic circuit. exceeding pressure inputs will typically blow out

seals and o-rings at an accelerated rate, and will result in spills, leaks,

downtime and costly rebuilds. random field inspections of proper flow

and pressure output settings are a good safety practice. in addition, it

is a good idea to have your hydraulic power supply equipment tested

and calibrated on a maintenance schedule.

today’s new generation of larger-pitch diamond chains is much

stronger than previous versions of chain. this can lead to operators

becoming more confident in concrete chainsaws and even, in some cases,

exceeding hydraulic flow supply specification. Despite the increased

strength benefit of the newer, large-pitch chains, it is not recommended

to discard manufacturer’s instructions and specifications. the documen-

tation provided by the manufacturer should always be read, understood

and adhered to. the two prominent safety measures of the chain side

cover and guard flap should never be compromised, and operators

should make sure these parts are present and securely in place before

commencing any cutting work.

Joe Taccogna is the manager for product line and technical service with ICS, Blount Inc., based in Portland, Oregon. Taccogna can be contacted at 503-653-4644 or by email at [email protected].

4 0 | septeMBer.09

insurAnCe CorNer

Serious Incident Investigation: A General Guide

By Michael Logan

receiving news that an employee has been seriously injured or

killed at a job site or on the road is something every contractor

dreads. Unfortunately, many contractors have had to deal with

this situation. investigating serious incidents on behalf of companies

is part of an attorney’s responsibility. the purpose of this article is to

provide employers with a general outline or protocol for suggestions

on how to properly investigate the catastrophic incident that occurs on

the road, on jobsites or at a facility.

when handling litigation cases, conducting a well-planned

investigation at the outset has saved clients valuable time and money.

often, when companies do not put sufficient effort into gathering

as much information as possible early on, it is more likely that crucial

information can be lost. For example, an eyewitness to an accident

was ready and willing to assist by providing a statement to a company

representative, but company representatives thought it was a

straightforward accident so they let the witness leave the scene. two

years later, the company was served with a lawsuit. the witness had

since moved to another state and their name had slipped from people’s

memories.

even more devastating for an employer is when an employee knows

the detailed facts about an accident because he was driving behind his

coworker when a third party driver ran a red light at an intersection,

causing an accident. Again, a statement isn’t taken immediately

afterward to preserve the employee’s most accurate memory. three

months after the accident, that eyewitness is terminated due to budget

cuts. when the time comes for that eyewitness to assist the defense of

the company in their deposition, he or she may not be as forthcoming,

and cannot be rehabilitated with a sworn statement.



notiFication oF accident/incidentAs soon as an employee is aware that an

incident involving significant property damage

or serious bodily injury has occurred, he or she

must immediately notify the proper personnel.

proper personnel may be a designated

risk management department or a safety

coordinator. Following this, the appropriate

insurance representative should also be

notified, dependent on the circumstances.

this step is critical to insure the investigation

process is managed correctly following the

incident. personnel required to conduct the

actual investigation should be dispatched to

the scene of the accident as soon as possible.

the accident scene is actually the best

time for some companies to get their attorney

involved. this is particularly true if the com-

pany has an affiliation with an attorney who

is familiar with litigation involving liability

issues. there are numerous reasons to involve

an attorney from the beginning. the objective

of this notice procedure is to ensure that the

attorney is included in all communications to

preserve the company’s privileges (attorney-

client/work product) of nondisclosure should

civil litigation arise. For instance, the investi-

gative materials, including internal accident/

incident reports, photographs and statements

created with an attorney’s input and advice,

may not be disclosed to the opponent in the

future unless for strategy.

scene investigationthe next phase should be conducted by

the minimum number of required company

personnel to adequately oversee the process.

this way, if a lawsuit materializes there will be

fewer people available to sit for a deposition

as witnesses. A few years ago, an unfortunate

incident occurred near the home of a cFo of

a corporation. He decided to assist with the

investigation because it occurred on a highway

near his home, which turned him into a critical

witness in the case, even though he didn’t see

the accident occur. obviously, his deposition

lasted longer than anyone in the case, includ-

ing the driver involved in the accident, simply

because he knew so much about the intricacies

of the company—a plaintiff lawyer’s dream.

rather than being protected by the “work

product” or “corporate veil” objection typi-

cally cocooning any executive, the cFo became

a wealth of knowledge for the opposition.

when an employer arrives at the scene

of an incident following the request of a

designated company investigator, it is of the

utmost importance that he or she determine

the health of those involved and make cer-

tain the appropriate medical personnel is sum-

moned. contact should then be made with law

enforcement to inform them of the employer’s

involvement and intentions. when an incident

occurs involving serious bodily injury or signifi-

cant property damage, the company represen-

tative investigating the incident is stepping

into the medical personnel and/or officer’s

field of expertise. it cannot be stressed enough

how politeness and professionalism will assist

the employer during this process.

the investigation should include meticu-

lous photographing and videotaping every

aspect of the location to preserve the evi-

dence. Likewise, if law enforcement is not

4 2 | septeMBer.09

involved at a site or location of the incident, the area should be taped

off to prevent interruptions from traffic. in roadway accidents, photo-

graphs should include the vehicles at final rest, interiors of the vehicles,

approaches from distances leading to the point of impact, roadway con-

figurations, roadway construction, skid marks, gouge marks, debris, law

enforcement paint markings, visual obstructions, foliage, traffic control

devices, witnesses and other vehicles at the scene. on-site incidents may

include photographing the mechanism of injury, machines involved,

debris, safety equipment/devices, paths of walkways and signage. these

photographs can be used not only if a lawsuit comes about, but also in

future safety training sessions to educate company personnel.

while at the scene, the company representative should talk with the

employee involved, if practicable, to obtain his or her version of events.

if at all possible, the employee should be interviewed immediately

before providing any statements to law enforcement or governmental

entities such as osHA. if counsel can be present for the interviews, it is

strongly urged to protect the company’s interests. Following release from

the scene by officials, drug and alcohol testing may be necessary. this

testing must take place within the time allotted by federal and state law.

if the incident calls for the assistance of more than one person

to conduct the investigation, a private investigator can be utilized.

the investigator can comb the area for surveillance video cameras (at

corner gas stations or on traffic control devices overhead) that may have

captured footage of the incident, or search for additional witnesses.

the names of all law enforcement officers, medical personnel, tow

truck operators and any other persons should be obtained. An attempt

should also be made to determine the status of the injured person(s)

and the facility to which they were transported for treatment. As a good

faith gesture, the company should offer assistance to the injured party

and their family members from the outset.

if the vehicle involved is owned by the company, the location to

which the vehicle is being transported to should be obtained while on

the scene. instruction should be given to the towing company to avoid

altering the brake system of the vehicle, due to the need for testing by

state and Federal investigators and company personnel. Many informed

plaintiff attorneys also want to inspect the vehicle prior to any changes

being made. if the vehicle is altered or repaired prior to inspection by

the opponent, then legal ramifications can result such as spoliation of

evidence. A letter can be sent, offering the other party involved in the

accident, the opportunity to view the vehicle, together with a ten-day

deadline for non-response. Likewise, a contractor can make a request

to inspect the vehicles owned by other persons involved in the accident.

in addition, computer data from the vehicles should be obtained prior

to any changes or repairs taking place.

in order to preserve the condition of the roadway, and potentially

the final rest of the vehicles involved, an aerial photograph can be

ordered. over time, weather and traffic will remove skid marks from

the surface, and shrubbery can change rapidly. the cost associated with

an aerial photograph is typically well worth the investment for scene

preservation.

Witness stateMentsthe third stage in the process involves obtaining written statements

from witnesses in the hours or days following an incident. naturally,

people forget details over time, lose interest or simply do not want to

be involved after the cool-off period. During the investigation of a work

site incident a couple years ago that resulted in a lawsuit, a witness

was shown their statement immediately before their deposition. in the

statement, the witness had provided a critical fact that they had since

forgotten. the witness testified consistently with the sworn statement,

aiding the defense of the case.

prior to the statement being written or recorded, a short discussion

should be held with the person to learn their knowledge of the incident

and to ask questions relating to the investigation. the statement

should contain the facts in chronological order, told from the witness’

perspective, and signed by the witness at the conclusion.

the statement of the employee involved should be taken by an

attorney with a court reporter present, and should be under oath. the

reason is to preserve the statement in the possession of the company as

“work product” should the employee leave or be dismissed.

docuMent gatheringthe original documents related to an incident must be obtained

for future reference. these documents can include police reports,

government agency reports, maintenance records, daily logs, delivery

tickets, bills of lading, personnel files, drug/alcohol results, dispatch

logs, driver history, training and testing materials, safety meeting sign-in

sheets, vehicle registration or on board computer reports (black box). the

purpose is to avoid the destruction of material that may be requested

by governmental entities (osHA), and be used in potential litigation.

incident rePortif an attorney is assisting with the incident report process, it should

be titled “work product - internal incident investigation” which will help

guard against the information being distributed outside the company

or its representatives. this should include a detailed analysis of how

the incident occurred in chronological order, diagram of the scene, a

summary of witness statements, preventative measures, future action or

safety training and an index identifying all documents and photographs

generated or gathered during the investigation. Upon completion of

the investigation, the appropriate personnel can discuss the results

and build this experience into a company-wide safety awareness and

accident prevention campaign.

Although there are many other facets of investigating incidents that

could be covered, following this outline of tasks will be highly beneficial

for any contractor should they receive unfortunate news.

Michael D. Logan joined the legal firm of Adams, Coogler, Watson, Merkel, Barry & Kellner, P.A. in 2003, becoming a Partner in 2008. Logan concentrates his practice on personal injury, trucking, auto, products liability, premises liability, construction, criminal law, traffic and medical malpractice. Logan made a presentation to the CSDA Board in 2008. For more information, contact 561-478-4500 or email [email protected].



4 4 | septeMBer.09

industry Bits

Hilti Purchase Diamond B, Inc.The Hilti Corporation entered the North American professional

diamond service contractor market with the purchase of U.S.-based

Diamond B, Inc. on June 30. This move allows Hilti to enhance its global

position as a provider of equipment and consumables for the professional

diamond service contractor. A 25-year-old company, Diamond B, Inc. is

based near Los Angeles, California. The strategic acquisition combines

the consumable products of Diamond B with Hilti’s equipment.

Diamond B posted annual sales of $10.8 million in 2008.

The former owner and president of Diamond B, Webb Burnett, will

retire from the business once the transition is complete. Long-time Hilti

employee Andrew Hunt, previously the head of Hilti’s Singapore market

organization, will manage the new subsidiary. Floor and wall saw blades

for the North American market will be manufactured at the U.S.-based

production facility. Drilling and sawing equipment will be manufactured

in Liechtenstein. “With this acquisition, Hilti is strengthening the long-

term growth of the entire company,” said Marco Meyrat of Hilti. “With

Diamond B, we are gaining one of the best and most professional U.S.-

based diamond consumables manufacturers and direct sales force. The

many years of experience of both companies in this area will contribute

to successfully developing the potential market in North America.” For

more information, visit www.us.hilti.com.

Western Saw Announce New Chief EngineerWestern Saw is pleased to announce the appointment of Anthony

Baratta to the position of chief engineer. Baratta will be responsible for

the development of new products in the construction, stone, wood and

knife industries. He brings extensive knowledge of computer analytical

simulations, computational dynamics and field verification to help

develop new processes and innovative products. Baratta has previously

held the positions of pre-research and development manager and

design engineer for ten years at Husqvarna North America. For more

information, contact 800-388-7297 or visit www.westernsaw.com.

Dixie Diamond Releases New Beaver Bit

Dixie Diamond Manufacturing,

Inc. is pleased to announce the

arrival of the Beaver Bit. The

V-shaped design of the segment

allows the bit to grab the concrete

instead of walking across the

surface, greatly reducing vibration.

The bit works well in reinforced

concrete and hard aggregate.

The segment height is 0.500 inch

with a 0.400-inch diamond depth,

designed to save on wear compared

to typical segment designs.

For more information, contact

800-654-7224 or visit

www.dixiediamond.com.

New Flush Cut Kit From Expert EquipmentExpert Equipment Company of Houston, Texas,

introduces its flush cut kit for the TP400 16-inch electric hand

saw from Cardi. The kit includes Expert Equipment’s own

flush cut hole pattern. The flush cut kit has been designed to

avoid compromising the 6-inch cutting depth of the Cardi

TP400. For more information, contact 713-797-9886 or visit

www.expertequipment.com.


Industrial Diamond Tools

GRINDING WHEELS M A C H I N E SDIAMOND TOOLS

SHARKNew Generation Diamond Chains

chain in the world

The andfastestlong lasting

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In a market that is always changing with new safety restrictions the Brokk always comes out on top.

The fl exibility to having other attachments such as crushing jaws, scarifi er, grapple and shears makes the Brokks even more valuable in our fl eet of equipment.

The fl exability of the machine’s 360° movement and close to six meter reach allows the Brokk 260 to work on walls or staircases with ease. The electric power makes it ideal for inside or confi ned locations.

As times get tough, it is diffi cult to spend money on equipment but Brokk has always been a wise choice for my company.

Don Moroz

www.brokkinc.com

Since 1976 Derrick Concrete Cutting & Construction has maintained a reputation for high integrity, dependability, and quality. By combining highly trained and qualifi ed personnel along with purchasing top of the line precision equipment Derrick has managed to stay ahead of the competition.

The Brokk line of equipment has been a valuable piece of equipment to our company since the fi rst purchase of a Brokk 150 and 250. We have since upgraded to the Brokk 180 and the new Brokk 260.

Brokks performance on service, parts and training has been second to none.

I can confi dently say that the Brokk line of equipment has gotten us work combined with our cutting operations that we would have never got if we did not have the Brokks.

First Brokk 260 in Canada Derrick Concrete Cutting & Construction LTD.

Brokk 260

Weight: 6,724lbsHeight: 60.2inWidth: 47.2inReach: 19ftBreaker: 1000ft.lbsPower:22kW

Offi ce: 780-436-7934www.derrickconcrete.com


www.csDA.org

i n d u s t r y B i t s

DITEQ Introduce New ARIX Diamond Blade SeriesA brand new look has been introduced by DITEQ to its ARIX

diamond blade series. The blades now come with a new distinctive

paint application. ARIX products typically deliver 50% faster

cutting speed with 30% longer

blade life. The technology

behind the ARIX range of

products allows the precise

arrangement of each

diamond throughout

all dimensions of

a segment. Each

diamond is given

an uncompromising

support structure to

ensure it will emerge in the

correct place at the right time

to provide maximum cutting

speed and performance. And because

the support structure is not compromised by random-placed

particles, it holds each diamond in place more securely to deliver

improved life. For more information, contact 866-688-1032 or

visit www.diteq.com.

GSSI Debuts StructureScan MiniGSSI is pleased to announce its new all-in-one GPR system for concrete

inspection. StructureScan Mini locates rebar, conduits, post-tension

cables and voids and can determine concrete slab thickness. Features of

the StructureScan Mini include the ability to reach depths of up to 12

inches (30 centimeters) in concrete, an easy user interface, a laser-

positioning system and a 4-wheel survey encoder to help mark

targets. It is also designed to be water-resistant and

dust proof (IP-64 rated). The unit has a 1,600

MHz center frequency, offering a great balance

between data resolution and depth penetration.

The StructureScan Mini incorporates a high-

resolution, 5.7-inch LED backlit color display,

allowing operators to simply scan and mark. The

unit incorporates auto-target capabilities and is

also able to automatically calculate the dielectric

of concrete to accurately determine the depth of

targets. For more information, contact 800-524-3011

or visit www.geophysical.com.

Husqvarna Promotes District Sales Managers

Husqvarna Construction Products is

pleased to announce that Kevin Schmitt, Clay

Morphis and Tim Terrell have been promoted

from district sales managers to regional sales

managers effective July 2009. Schmitt has

accepted the appointment of regional sales

manager, Midwest division. Schmitt has been

with the group for 19 years, most recently as

the district manager for Michigan and Ohio.

Prior to that, he served as sales manager for

Southeast Asia. Morphis will manage the

Eastern division of the sales force, and has

been with the company since 1992. Prior

to joining the group, Morphis managed a

concrete cutting company in Atlanta. Terrell

will oversee the Western division. Terrell

joined Husqvarna in 2003 as the district sales

manager for Texas (Houston) and Oklahoma,

and has most recently served the Southern

California and Arizona areas. For more

information, contact 913-928-1442 or email

[email protected].

Kevin schmitt

clay Morphis

tim terrell

concrete openings | 4 7

4 8 | septeMBer.09


Wolverine Equipment Announces New Diesel Power Pack

Wolverine Equipment has introduced the WP-25D, a

25-horsepower diesel hydraulic power pack. The unit, built on a

compact frame, produces 13 gallons of hydraulic oil flow per minute

at 2,500 psi, which makes it capable of powering a wide variety of

construction tools. The 25-horsepower, 3-cylinder Kubota diesel

engine is extremely quiet, reliable and fuel efficient. The WP-25D is

portable and lightweight at 450 pounds wet. The automatic low-level

shut-off on the hydraulic tank prevents pump failure due to low fluid

levels, and the high temperature shut-off protects the engine from

overheating. For more information, contact 561-994-2750 or email

[email protected].


New Diamond and Abrasives Catalog from Diamond Products

Diamond Products announces the

introduction of its new diamond blade, bit

and abrasive catalog. The illustrated, full-

color catalog contains detailed information

about the company’s complete line of wet and

dry diamond blades, core bits abrasives and

accessories. New items included in the catalog

feature the shock wave turbo and xlerator high

speed turbo blades, together with new core bit

types like the plated hole saw and premium tile bits. The Tyrolit abrasives

section has been streamlined, providing enhanced application color

coding for ease of use when choosing products. For more information,

call 800-321-5336 or visit www.diamondproducts.com.

W h a t e v e r I t T a k e s



CirCle reAder serviCe CArd no. 1 CirCle reAder serviCe CArd no. 1

Diamond Products Offer Safety Flange Bolt Lock Kit

Diamond Products is pleased to introduce

the new saw flange bolt lock kit. For use on

walk behind saws, this new flange bolt lock

kit provides an additional level of security by

preventing the blade bolt from unintentionally

backing off the saw flange. This safety feature

includes the flange lock and required hardware

to attach to standard saw flanges. For more

information, call 800-321-5336 or visit

www.diamondproducts.com.

Two New Core Drill Models From Atlas Copco

Improved operator comfort and safe handling

for higher performance are key improvements on

the LCD 500 and LCD 1500 core drills from Atlas Copco. The

new drills will fit into standard drill stands and operate on the same

hydraulic flow and pressure. The models can be used to cut into

reinforced concrete, basement floors and walls, or to create service

junction holes or other holes through bricks and blocks. Improved

features include a hand-shaped handle grip with extended rubber

cover for enhanced grip and control of rotation torque. Hydraulic

inlets and hoses are connected through the handle to support and

reduce the torque transferred directly to operator. The extended

handle enables operators to better control the core drill when using

large diameter bits or performing deep drilling. Trigger locking, with

quick lever release, makes for convenient deep hole drilling and drill

stand operation. Tail hoses measuring 5 feet (1.6 meters) are thin and

flexible with standard flat-face, quick-release couplings.

For more information, contact 800-760-4049 or email

[email protected].

5 0 | septeMBer.09


Treumann Receives Stone 2009 President’s Award

Livingstone Treumann, Latin America district sales

manager for Stone Construction Equipment, Inc.,

has received the company’s highest sales honor —The

President’s Award. Lynne Woodworth, President and

CEO of Stone, presented the award to Mr. Treumann

at the company’s recent national sales meeting. “The

award is given to the

district sales manager

who best exemplifies

Stone’s philosophy

and values — respect,

trust, communication,

and development —

and furthers Stone’s

commitment and

partnership approach when

dealing with customers,”

Woodworth said when

presenting the award.

For more information, contact 800-888-9926 or email

[email protected].

New Fast-Cure Adhesive Anchor System From HiltiContractors using Hilti’s new HIT-HY 150 MAX fast-cure adhesive anchor

system gain improved productivity and assurance of meeting the latest building

codes. Able to fully cure in as little as 30 minutes at 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the

system is designed for anchor and rebar applications in uncracked concrete.

The HIT-HY 150 MAX provides reliable fastening in in-service base materials

up to 248 degrees Fahrenheit (with appropriate reduction factors),

so anchoring is assured in even the most rugged conditions.

The system meets ICC-ES acceptance criteria AC308

(ESR-2262). The system is easy to install and

backed by considerable support. Hilti’s

PROFIS Anchor v2.0 design software

is available for free download at

www.us.hilti.com, and operators

can increase efficiency and

adhesive anchor knowledge

through the Hilti basic installer

training program. For more

information, call 800-879-8000

in the U.S. or 800-363-4458 in

Canada, or visit www.us.hilti.com in

the U.S. or www.ca.hilti.com in Canada.

Grabber Power Rolls Out New Pro Cutter™ Line Grabber Power Products has expanded production of its professional trucks

and tool boxes specially manufactured for the concrete cutting industry. Grabber’s

new Pro Cutter ™ line of trucks and tool boxes can either be custom ordered or

built to customer specifications. The trucks include flat saw, wall saw and core

drill combo models. They all come fully equipped with a 480-volt generator and

pressurized water system, power or manual rewind reels and specialized storage

areas for wet vacuums,

flat saws, core drills,

blades and core bits.

Along with Grabber’s

Pro Cutter ™ line of saw

trucks, the company also

manufactures professional

concrete cutting tool

boxes. Pro Cutter ™ tool

boxes can be designed to

customer specifications or

can be ordered work-ready

with all necessary tools.

For more information,

call 480-967-2545 or visit

www.grabberpower.com.

Hilti Tool Fleet Management Loaner ServiceWhen a tool is in for service, the work no longer

needs to stop. Hilti tool fleet management customers can

receive loaner tools at no cost when their corresponding

tool fleet management tool is being repaired. The loaner

service is an exclusive Hilti feature for qualifying

premium tool fleet management customers. Most

hammer drills, demolition hammers, diamond

core rigs and drills, rotating and pipe

lasers, and select powder- and

gas-actuated tools are eligible for

the loaner service. Whenever a

covered tool goes in for calibration

or repair, the tool fleet management

customer can request a free loaner tool via

express. When the repaired tool is sent back to the

customer, a pre-addressed and pre-paid shipping label

will be included for return of the loaner tool. The Hilti

tool fleet management service includes a comprehensive

tool analysis, upgrades that don’t require an up-front

investment, tool replacement and theft coverage.

For more information, call 800-879-8000 in the U.S.

or 800-363-4458 in Canada, or visit www.us.hilti.com

in the U.S. or www.ca.hilti.com in Canada.

• USA Manufacturer of Professional Diamond Blades and Core Bits

• Family Owned by Garrett & Greg Wolters• Quality Products Manufactured Since 1969• American Recovery Reinvestment Act Qualifi ed

WHERE SERVICE IS A CERTAINTY

Toll-Free Phone: 800-654-7224 • Local Phone: 770-921-2464dixiediamond.com

USA Manufacturer of Professional Diamond Blades

Toll-Free Phone: 800-654-7224 • Local Phone: 770-921-2464


5 2 | septeMBer.09

$525 $1,090 $810

$1,375 $1,030

$2,040 $1,525

$2,465

$355 $630

$3,295

$4,420

$5,495

$855

$1,285

$1,730

$2,175

$2,750

CSDA MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

$130

PRINCIPAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY

*AFFILIATE: A person, firm, corporation, society, government agency or other organization providing services to the concrete sawing and drilling industry.


t o B e c o M e a c s d a M e M B e r17reasonsNETWORKING AT ANNUAL CONvENTION AND QUARTERLY MEETINGS the number one benefit for members has always been the opportunity to network with cutting professionals at the annual convention and quarterly meetings.

TRAINING PROGRAMS AND MATERIALS over 1,500 members have graduated from nine classroom and hands-on training programs: cutting edge, slab sawing and Drilling 101, wall sawing 101, wire sawing 101, operator certification courses, osHA construction safety and estimating. Five training and safety videos/DVDs are available to members at a discount. csDA also offers online training at www.csdatraining.com for those members who are not able to afford the time off or the money required to send operators to remote classes. the site provides owners/managers with testing, scoring and documentation for employees.

CONCRETE OPENINGS MAGAzINE Concrete Openings is the voice of the cutting industry with a circulation of 16,000 per quarterly issue. Members can advertise at significant discounts and have the opportunity to have their job stories reach 7,000 architects, engineers, general contractors and government officials in the only professional magazine dedicated to concrete cutting. complimentary copies are available for company promotion.

INSURANCE PROGRAM the csDA insurance program offers members coverage that includes workers’ compensation, auto, comprehensive general liability, environ-mental pollution, professional liability, equipment, employment practices Liability (epL) and other lines specifically geared for the concrete cutting industry.

CSDA WEBSITE the csDA website at www.csda.org contains a wealth of information available 24/7 in the members only section. the online discussion boards also provide members a forum to discuss technical issues, sell equipment, hire employees or any other relevant topics.

CSDA SAFETY RESOURCES AND TOOLBOX SAFETY TIPS (TSTS) the 230-page csDA safety Manual and csDA 57-page safety Handbook are designed specifically for concrete cutters and are available to members at a significant discount. tsts are a positive way of communicating to your employees that your company is serious about their health and safety. they can be used in employee safety meetings and can be an important part of your company’s safety program.

REPRESENTATION WITH GOvERNMENTAL ORGANIzATIONS csDA have formed an Alliance with osHA to advance the safety of cutting contractors. this partnership includes issuing Best practice documents, joint exhibitions at trade shows, review of safety materials and the osHA Joint Design for safety construction roundtable. csDA also actively participates with niosH on field testing and the norA construction workgroup.

MENTOR PROGRAM new members can receive personalized assistance from a current csDA Board or committee member during their first year of membership.

ROUNDTABLES the roundtable sessions at the annual convention and selected regional meetings give members a chance to share their wisdom and acquire additional knowledge. information gleaned at the roundtables often saves members money.

MANUALS AND PROMOTIONAL LITERATURE Members have access to manuals developed specifically for them. Members can make presentations with the Diamond Advantage seminar planning & presentation Manual and find out how to market their companywiththeHowtoMarketYourConcreteCuttingBusinessManual. Four-color brochures, flyers and a video/DVD are ready for member use to promote their business to customers. Materials are designed so members can easily personalize them and avoid the cost of developing their own.

SPECIFICATIONS, STANDARDS, TOLERANCES AND BEST PRACTICES specifications, standards, tolerances and Best practices are available for the whole spectrum of cutting disciplines including core drilling, flat sawing, wall sawing, hand sawing and wire sawing. twenty documents have been developed and new ones are in production.

RESOURCE GUIDE AND MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY the csDA membership directory is available in print form and on the website at www.csda.org. the searchable web directory is especially valuable as the csDA website averages 150,000 pages viewed per month. the specifications, standards, tolerances and Best practices are included in the print version.

MEMBERSHIP PROFILE ANALYSIS periodic survey of members to collect statistical information on operating and financial information such as wages, profit and loss, safety, equipment and diamond tool costs.

SLURRY ANALYSIS REPORT this is an association-sponsored, 60-page report for members. the slurry analysis was performed by an environmental engineering firm with data compared to federal standards and recommended guidelines for slurry management.

FREE WORLD OF CONCRETE REGISTRATION Members receive free registration and reduced seminar fees for the industry’s annual exhibition of concrete-related equipment and supplies.

DISCOUNT PROGRAMS csDA offers its members exclusive programs for insurance, equipment leasing and online training, plus discounts on credit collection services, drug testing and safety services.

COOPERATION WITH INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS csDA is a founding member of the international Association of concrete Drillers and sawers and works with other associations around the globe to promote concrete cutting and the use of professional cutting operators.

5 4 | septeMBer.09

Companies listed here have invested time and money to send their operators to CSDA’s Operator Certification. If you are committed to professionalism in the concrete cutting industry, consider sending your operators through the training programs offered by CSDA.

CertiFied oPerAtor ComPaNies

A.E. BRICE & ASSOCIATES, INC.1510 Aspen Street Baltimore, MD 21226 Tel: 410-354-8890 Fax: 410-354-8894 www.sawconcrete.com

ABC CUTTING CONTRACTORS— BIRMINGHAM3060 Dublin CircleBessemer, AL 35022Tel: 205-425-7711Fax: 205-425-7769www.abccuttingala.com

ADvANCED CORING & CUTTING CORP.919 Highway 33, Building 26Freehold, NJ 07728Tel: 732-409-7733Fax: 732-409-0032www.advancedcoringandcutting.com

AMBERCROFT LABOURERS’ 506 TRAINING CENTRE1600 Major Mackenzie Drive EastRichmond Hill, Ontario L4S 1P4CANADATel: 905-883-4268Fax: 905-883-4894www.506tc.org

ATLANTIC CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.396 North Pemberton RoadMt. Holly, NJ 08060Tel: 609-261-7200Fax: 609-261-7246www.atlanticconcretecutting.com

CAL WEST CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.3000 Tara CourtUnion City, CA 94587Tel: 510-656-0253Fax: 510-656-8563www.calwestconcretecutting.com

CAL WEST CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.1153 Vanderbilt CircleManteca, CA 95337Tel: 209-823-2236Fax: 209-823-0740www.calwestconcretecutting.com

CENTRAL CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.W719 Leroy StreetEdgar, WI 54426Tel: 715-352-2552Fax: 715-849-2028www.centralconcretecutting.com

CONCRETE CUTTING SPECIALISTS, INC.6455 Pierce RoadFreeland, MI 48623Tel: 989-791-2032Fax: 989-791-3915

CONCRETE PENETRATING CO.P.O. Box 35766Dallas, TX 75235Tel: 214-634-2990Fax: 214-634-0953

CONCRETE RENOvATION, INC.6600 Randolph BoulevardSan Antonio, TX 78233Tel: 210-653-6120Fax: 210-590-2316www.concreterenovation.com

CORE SOLUTIONS LTD.P.O. Box 3349MaravalTRINIDAD & TOBAGOTel: 868-622-8334Fax: 868-622-3074www.coresolutionsltd.com

CORING & CUTTING SERvICES, INC.1107 North Redmond RoadJacksonville, AR 72076Tel: 501-779-4072Fax: 501-985-9781www.sawconcrete.com

CORING & CUTTING SERvICES OF BENTONvILLE2711 SE Otis Corley DriveBentonville, AR 72712Tel: 479-271-9672Fax: 479-271-9674www.sawconcrete.com

CUT-RITE CONCRETE CUTTING CORP.22 Lockbridge StreetPawtucket, RI 02860Tel: 401-728-8200Fax: 401-727-2953www.cutriteccc.com

DEANDREA CORING & SAWING, INC.6385 Grandview AvenueArvada, CO 80002Tel: 303-422-3885Fax: 303-431-9661www.deandreacoring.com

DELTA CONTRACTORS & ASSOCIATES, LLC605 South Caton AvenueBaltimore, MD 21229Tel: 410-624-0990Fax: 410-624-0991www.deltacontractorsllc.com

DERRICK CONCRETE CUTTING & CONSTRUCTION LTD.7039 - Gateway BoulevardEdmonton, Alberta T6H 2J1CANADATel: 780-436-7934Fax: 780-435-4389www.derrickconcrete.com

DIXIE CONCRETE CUTTING CO.5297 Port Boulevard SouthCollege Park, GA 30349Tel: 404-761-1100Fax: 404-669-2550

DIXIE CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.16 Maple Creek CircleGreenville, SC 29607Tel: 864-627-8744Fax: 864-299-5009

E. LUKE GREENE COMPANY, INC.619 East Maple StreetJohnson City, TN 37601Tel: 423-926-1151Fax: 423-926-5558www.elukegreene.com

EAST COAST CONCRETE CUTTING CO., INC.7229 Montevideo Road Jessup, MD 20794 Tel: 410-799-4540 Fax: 410-799-1978

GRONEMEIER CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.22 White Place Bloomington, IL 61701Tel: 309-829-7991Fax: 309-829-2685 www.gronemeier.com

HAFNER AND SON, INC.90 Atlas RoadNorthampton, PA 18067Tel: 610-262-4805Fax: 610-262-4809www.hafnerandson.com

HARD ROCK CONCRETE CUTTERS, INC.601 Chaddick DriveWheeling, IL 60090Tel: 847-699-0010Fax: 847-699-0292www.hardrockconcretecutters.com

HARD ROCK SAWING & DRILLING SPECIALIST CO.P.O. Box 718Keshena, WI 54135Tel: 715-799-3823Fax: 262-723-5060

HOLES INCORPORATED9911 Franklin RoadHouston, TX 77070Tel: 281-469-7070Fax: 281-469-6207www.holesinc.com

HOLES OF SAN ANTONIO, INC.118 Braniff DrSan Antonio, TX 78216 Tel: 210-349-5256 Fax: 210-349-0727 www.holesofsa.com

INTERNATIONAL DRILLING & SAWING, INC.P.O. Box 250013Montgomery, AL 36125Tel: 334-288-2355Fax: 334-288-7299www.idscuts.com

K.C. CORING & CUTTING CONSTRUCTION, INC.7240 Central StreetKansas City, MO 64114Tel: 816-523-2015Fax: 816-523-8493www.sawconcrete.com

LOMBARDO DIAMOND CORE DRILLING CO.2225 De Le Cruz Blvd. Santa Clara, CA 95050 Tel: 408-727-7922 Fax: 408-988-5326 www.lombardodrilling.com


M6 CONCRETE CUTTING & CORING1030 South McComas StreetWichita, KS 67213Tel: 316-833-3640Fax: 316-264-3517www.conacc.com

PACIFIC CONCRETE CUTTING & CORING, INC.P.O. Box 662261Lihue, HI 96766Tel: 808-245-7171Fax: 808-245-9393

PENHALL CO./ CONCRETE CORING COMPANY OF HAWAII, INC.99-1026 Iwaena StreetAiea, HI 96701Tel: 808-488-8222Fax: 808-487-6679www.penhall.com

PROFESSIONAL CONCRETE SAWING8539 Oliver RoadErie, PA 16509Tel: 814-566-5555Fax: 814-866-5555

ROUGHNECK CONCRETE DRILLING & SAWING8400 Lehigh AvenueMorton Grove, IL 60053Tel: 847-966-6666Fax: 847-966-6577www.roughneck1.com

TRUE-LINE CORING & CUTTING OF KNOXvILLE1902 Middlebrook PikeKnoxville, TN 37921Tel: 865-637-2131Fax: 865-637-1973www.sawconcrete.com

TRUE-LINE CORING & CUTTING OF NASHvILLE280 Hermitage AvenueNashville, TN 37210Tel: 615-255-2673Fax: 615-255-9685www.sawconcrete.com


CsdA noveMBer 2009 trAining dAtes

CSDA Slab Sawing and Drilling 201

November 9–10, 2009

CSDA Estimating


CSDA Wall Sawing 201


CSDA Wire Sawing 201


All classes take place at St. Petersburg College, Clearwater, Florida. For more information, call 727-577-5004, visit www.csda.org or email [email protected].

neW memBers

The Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association is a nonprofit trade association of contractors, manufacturers, distributors and affiliates from the construction and renovation industry. Membership in CSDA is open to concrete cutting contractors, manufacturers and distributors

csda membership (1993–2008)

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

523

540

555

of concrete cutting equipment and affiliated companies who provide products and services to the concrete sawing and drilling industry. Founded in 1972, CSDA reached the milestone of 500 member companies in 2006.

North American ContractorDIAMOND CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.Adam Helmerichs1900 SW 40th StLincoln, NE 68522Tel: 402-239-7087Fax: 402-261-4660Email: [email protected]

INTERSTATE SAWING & DRILLING, LLCDavid Desserault2455 Beaudry RdMoxee, WA 98936Tel: 509-834-2044Fax: 509-452-7334Email: [email protected]

ROBINSON COMPANY Travis Robinson PO Box 690 Daly City, CA 94017 Tel: 650-994-7000 Fax: 650-994-7001 Email: [email protected]

YELLOW JACKET DRILLING SERvICES, LLCRichard LeBlancPO Box 801Gilbert, AZ 85299Tel: 602-453-3252Fax: 602-453-3258Email: [email protected]

Overseas ContractorANUWRITA SERvICES PvT LTD

Rahul A. Chawan 1, Sharda Kutir, Dr Ambedker Road Muland (W), Mumbai-400080 INDIA Tel: 91-22 2569 3708 Fax: 91-22 2593 9108 Email: [email protected] www.cutsncores.com

5 6 | JUne.09

CONCRETE CUTTING & SERvICESBrett MurrayPO Box 382Maitland, Cape Town 7404 SOUTH AFRICATel: 27-2 1510 6725Fax: 27-2 1510 6725Email: [email protected]

SAI RETROFABS Anand Gopalakrishan Ramakrishnan 393, 28th Main, 1st Sector HSR Layout Bangalore 560102 INDIA Tel: 91-98 4543 3300 Fax: 91-80 2572 7923 Email: [email protected]

Concrete openings Website launched!The Official Magazine of CSDA Has a New Home

The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association (CSDA) is pleased to announce the launch of a new website for Concrete Openings magazine. The website is filled with all the latest job stories, featured articles, industry press materials and other associated news that makes the magazine such a popular choice with industry professionals. The website also contains:

• Current and Past Issues • Job Story Archives • Discussion Forums • Website and Magazine Advertising Info

Contact the CSDA office at 727-577-5004 or email [email protected] for more information.

www.concreteopenings.com

for sale9-Inch-dIameTer conTInuous TubIng

0.250-inch wall thickness / Bgn 4-threadwe have used 9-inch-diameter continuous tubing, back ends and diamond bit crowns for sale. Used on one job and all items in very good shape. call us!• 6eaDiamondbitcrowns9by0.375inches• 2eaBackends• 2ea12-inchlongtubes• 6ea48-inchlongtubes

For more information, call K2 diamond at 800-539-6116 or visit www.k2diamond.com.

Cutter’s CorNerThis classified section is for use by anyone who wants to sell or buy used equipment, post help wanted ads or advertise business opportunities. Anyone interested in placing ads should send copy to Concrete Openings Classifieds, 11001 Danka Way North, Suite 1, St. Petersburg, FL 33716. Copy can also be faxed to 727-577-5012 or emailed to [email protected]. Cost: $100 for 10 lines for members; $200 for non-members. Additional lines $10 each. Copy must be in the CSDA office no later than the first day of the month preceding publication.

Manufacturer3J INTERNATIONAL GROUP, LLCBill Xia1040 S Milwaukee Ave Ste 230Wheeling, IL 60090Tel: 847-890-1588Fax: 847-510-0608Email: [email protected]

5 6 | septeMBer.09


Why i joined CsdA

CAlendAr

2009CSDA FALL MEETINGSeptember 16-17, 2009Portland Marriott City CenterPortland, ORTel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.orgEmail: [email protected]

CONCRETE 09September 17-19, 2009Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaWebsite: www.concreteinstitute.com.au

INTERNATIONAL CONCRETE POLISHING AND STAINING CONFERENCEOctober 1-4, 2009Gwinnett CenterAtlanta, GATel: 716-706-1229Website: www.icpsc2009.comEmail: [email protected]

CSDA SLAB SAWING AND DRILLING 201November 9-10, 2009 St. Petersburg CollegeClearwater, FLTel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.orgEmail: [email protected]

CSDA WALL SAWING 201November 11-12, 2009 St. Petersburg CollegeClearwater, FLTel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.orgEmail: [email protected]

ty Connor and Patti Austin

Like most people in business, we have asked ourselves ‘why should

we join an association?’ before we actually became members. Over

the years we have joined several different organizations looking for

a good fit. With one in particular, it seemed like all we were doing

was sending money for the privilege of saying we belonged to that

association. During that period we had always taken time to stop by

the CSDA booth at World of Concrete. We were impressed with all

the information they had, and there always seemed to be something

new that they were providing to their members.

In 2005, we decided that we would become CSDA members. This

time around, we wanted to do more than just send money. We have

made a conscience effort to participate in the seasonal meetings and

have been able to share these learning experiences with our staff.

We have utilized the many items that CSDA has to offer—from the

safety manuals to the toolbox safety tips, as well as the videos and

online training. What we value the most is the camaraderie that we

CSDA WIRE SAWING 201November 13-14, 2009St. Petersburg CollegeClearwater, FLTel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.orgEmail: [email protected]

CSDA ESTIMATINGNovember 10-11, 2009St. Petersburg CollegeClearwater, FLTel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.orgEmail: [email protected]

CSDA WINTER MEETINGDecember 3-4, 2009Hyatt Regency Coconut PointBonita Springs, FLTel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.orgEmail: [email protected]

CONEXPO ASIA 2009November 16-19, 2009Guangzhou, ChinaWebsite: www.conexpoasia.com

2010WORLD OF CONCRETE 2010 FEBRUARY 1-5, 2010Las Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, NVTel: 866-962-7469Website: www.worldofconcrete.com

CSDA WALL SAWING 101February 2-4, 2010Las Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, NVTel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.org Email: [email protected]

CSDA BOARD MEETINGFebruary 3, 2010Las Vegas Convention CenterLas Vegas, NVTel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.orgEmail: [email protected]

CSDA SPRING MEETINGMarch 2-3, 2010Loews Coronado Bay ResortCoronado, CATel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.org Email: [email protected]

CSDA ESTIMATINGMarch 2-3, 2010Loews Coronado Bay ResortCoronado, CATel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.org Email: [email protected]

CSDA 2010 CONvENTIONMarch 4-6, 2010Loews Coronado Bay ResortCoronado, CATel: 727-577-5004Website: www.csda.org Email: [email protected]

NATIONAL DEMOLITION ASSOCIATION 2010 CONvENTIONMarch 21-24, 2010 The Mirage Las Vegas, NV Tel: 800-541-2412 Website: www.demolitionassociation.com

BAUMA 2010April 19-25, 2010New Munich Trade Fair Centre Munich, GermanyWebsite: www.bauma.de

experience with the other members. This organization allows us the opportunity

to pick up the phone and call other members to discuss particular job issues.

These phone calls have not only helped our business, but our employees as well.

Our experience with CSDA has been money well spent!

ty connor and Patti austin austin enterprise Bakersfield, california email: [email protected]


5 8 | septeMBer.09

Advertisers

55 advanced cutting technologies, inc. 204-777-6588 [email protected] 90

46 Brokk, inc. 425-890-5534 [email protected] 9

inside Back cover diamond B, inc. 562-926-8595 [email protected] 7

5 diamond Pauber srl 39-05 85 830425 [email protected] 99

48, 49, inside Front cover diamond Products 440-323-4616 [email protected] 1

17 diamond vantage, inc. 816-268-8310 [email protected] 80

8, 28 diteq corporation 816-246-5515 [email protected] 76

51 dixie diamond Manufacturing 770-921-2464 [email protected] 44

41 expert equipment company 713-797-9886 [email protected] 33

43 geophysical survey systems, inc. (gssi) 603-893-1109 [email protected] 4

39 hicycle Motor Manufacturing, inc. 503-824-6119 [email protected] 100

30, 31, outside Back cover husqvarna construction Products 913-928-1442 [email protected] 11

2 ics, Blount inc. 503-653-4497 [email protected] 5

37 iowa Wall sawing 319-934-3280 [email protected] 70

39 James instruments, inc. 773-463-6565 [email protected] 8

21 norton Pro diamond 800-854-3281 [email protected] 64

35 Procontractor supply, inc. 770-287-8555 [email protected] 19

25 sanders saws, inc. 800-421-1244 [email protected] —

45 toolgal usa corp 706-283-9556 [email protected] 17

29 tractive aB 562-445-6429 [email protected] 50

13 Western saw 805-981-0999 [email protected] 65

59 World of concrete 727-577-5004 [email protected] —

PAge Advertiser PHone eMAil rs no.

to receive additional information about products advertised in this issue, return the reader service card enclosed or contact vendors below.



When the going gets tough, the TOUGH turn to World of Concrete.

Exhibits | Leading Suppliers & New Products | World-Class Education Program | Outdoor Events & Demonstrations

The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association invites

you to attend World of Concrete 2010. Support

your association—register online with

source code A26 and get FREE Exhibits-Only

Admission to WOC 2010!

“ If you’re not here, you’re going to be a step behind. This industry constantly changes and you’ve got to stay up to date if you’re going to compete.

- Brad Kleman, Anderson Contractors Inc.Fort Pierre, South Dakota

“

source code: A26 Certifi ed by the U.S. Department of Commerce International Buyer Program

February 2-5, 2010 | Seminars: February 1-5Las Vegas Convention Center | Las Vegas, Nevada

www.worldofconcrete.com

Admission to WOC 2010!Admission to WOC 2010!

Attendee Registration opens September 2009.

CSDA_Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association.indd 1 7/8/2009 9:54:24 AM

6 0 | septeMBer.09

direCtor’s DialogUe

PAtriCk o’Brien

Executive Director

The Right Amount of Communication

t heInternet,email,Twitter,Facebook,YouTubeandotherforms

of communication, while offering so many useful benefits, have

to be managed properly if they are going to be of benefit to you.

recently i was called by a survey company on behalf of a large

association to answer questions pertaining to how much communication

i received from the association. At one point, i just said that i received

far too much information from this association and the interviewer

just laughed. My assumption to his reaction was that many others had

expressed a similar notion. the association in question can easily send

three to six emails per week, plus regular mail, magazines and event

registration notices. it just simply is overload and i often delete most

of the emails before ever reading them. important information may be

going unread because of this information overload.

if you were to survey the thousands of associations that exist, i

believe you would find that communications with members range from

minimal communication to excess communication. csDA has always

been conscious about this fact, and tries to keep communications to a

minimum while still keeping members informed. our member surveys

show that we generally do a good job in this regard, but some members

may feel that we communicate too much.

A number of years ago a member was considering not rejoining. in

a phone conversation with the contractor, i realized that this member

was not reading any of the materials sent from csDA. the materials

provided to members, especially small members, are invaluable in helping

cutting contractors succeed. the contractor said he would review the

material we sent and i don’t really know if he did or not. But a couple

of years later, he went out of business. My guess is that he did not read

our communications.

recently in welcoming a new member to csDA, i asked about the

welcome package of information that we send to new members. the

cutting contractor was complimentary about the substantial amount

of information we had sent and said that he was busy getting his new

business up and running. setting up a safety program for the company

was a major priority. i asked if he had taken a look at the csDA safety

Manual and his answer was no. csDA hired a consultant to develop

this manual specifically for cutting contractors. this 230-page manual

is available on cD and can be customized. it covers every major safety

issue one could imagine and includes questions and answers at the end

of each section for review. the cutting contractor ordered the manual

and i have since learned that he is well on his way to developing his

own company safety program.

the materials that csDA provides to members are available on the

website 24/7. we trust that this kind of availability makes it easier for

members to get the information that they want when they want it. the

challenge for csDA will continue to be the optimization of the delivery

of information to members, and specifiers, through various forms of

communication. the goal, as always, is to provide just the right amount

of information at the right time to the right people.

CIRCLE READER sERvICE CARD NO. 1 CIRCLE READER sERvICE CARD NO. 1 CIRCLE READER sERvICE CARD NO. 1

CIRCLE READER sERvICE CARD NO. 11

The DM 330 electric drill motor has a 3-speed gearbox and is available inlow speed and high speed models. The high speed model is capable of350/780/1340 rpm under full load and 240/540/930 rpm for the low speed model. The models canaccommodate a wide range of drill bits, from 1" - 14" in diameter. The LED indicator shows the load of the machine and makes it possible for the operator to drill at maximum pressure for best performance. The drill motor is equipped with ElgardTM overload protection, SoftstartTM which limits the current for a smoother start and SmartstartTM that reduces speed and simplifies the initial stages of drilling.

Drilling has never been easier.









A U G U S T. 0 7

w w w. C s D A . O R g

S e p T e m b e r . 0 9

Not Just A Pipe Dream DiamonD Wire SaW CutS With SpeeD anD preCiSion

Documents

September 09 - Concrete Openings