Monthly Archives: October 2017

Safety Equipment at Construction Sites

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The construction sector has been growing proportionally with the increase in the rate of commercial construction. New opportunities seem to presenting themselves every day in this sector. Hence, one cannot question the fact that being associated in this field is a profitable venture. However, this can present a number of hazardous situations as well and this is perhaps the reason why the use of safety gadgets in the construction sites has been increasing steadily.

Possible Hazards at Construction Sites

Working at construction sites can be seen as being one of the most hazardous occupations on the block. Construction workers frequently suffer from a variety of injuries that might leave an impact of varying degrees on their lives. Potential hazards at construction sites include-

  • Collapse in the scaffolding and trenches
  • Injury caused by electric shocks and arc blasts
  • Injury can also be caused by suffering falls from great heights.
  • Injury caused by repeatedly straining already injured areas or injuries caused by repetitive motion.
  • Injury caused due to the failure in using proper protection equipments at construction sites.

All the above have been known to cause injuries at construction sites globally. Often, these hazards occur due to failure in proper training of the construction workers and poor supervision at construction sites. Hence, it is important to educate workers on the correct ways and means of accomplishing their job as well as on the safety measures that they could adopt while being on field.

Safety Equipment at Construction Sites

Among the many ways in which the safety of the construction workers can be enhanced, the use of protective equipments is perhaps the best known way.

  • For eye and face protection- Activities such as cutting, welding, nailing and the like are common at construction sites and can lead to foreign objects getting in the eye. Hence, it is important wear protective eye glasses and face shields when dealing with such hazardous situations.
  • For Head protection- There always remains the possibility of objects toppling over form great height and injuring the heads of the construction workers. It is, therefore, important to wear protective equipments such a s a hard hat in order to safeguard oneself against injury by falling objects or accidental collision with electrical objects.
  • For Foot protection- Needless to say, a construction site is always full of objects that is not exactly safe for the feet. It is, therefore, important to protect the feet from being injured by wearing slip and puncture resistant shoes and boots.
  • For Hand protection- It is also important to protect the hands from getting injured by wearing the appropriate protective gloves during work. For instance, workers need to wear welding gloves while welding, insulated gloves while handling electrical equipments. Rubber gloves for concrete work and the like.
  • For Hearing protection- Construction sites are always accompanied by a varying degree of noise, some of which can be hazardous for the auditory faculty of the worker. It is, therefore, important to make use of protective equipments such as, ear plugs or earmuffs when dealing with work that involves a lot of noise.

Occupational fatalities have been increasing at an alarming rate with the increase in the rate of construction work all over the globe. Construction workers are known to suffer from fatal injuries and even death during their course of work. Hence, the use of protective equipments while working at construction sites is of utmost importance.

 

Make the best choice by buying Volvo trucks

Volvo Truck Corporation is the huge performer in trucking industry ranking as the second largest heavy duty truck brand name in the world. Since they started operating in 1927, Volvo trucks have always been the favourite choice with the buyers. Due to their vast experience and knowledge in manufacturing mid-sized and heavy duty trucks, Volvo has been considered very reliable by the commercial users. Globally, Volvo trucks are sold and serviced in more than 140 countries.

 

The reason for such a great demand is that Volvo has been the best in terms of innovation and commitment to quality, safety and environmental care. Volvo manufactures trucks using top quality material since these trucks are designed to handle the harsh road conditions. They provide safe cabins for drivers and are forefront users of alternate fuel options.

 

The main features that make Volvo trucks the best for the buyers are as follows:

1.Safety:

Safety is main motto and has been Volvo’s guiding principle while manufacturing products. It is offered in two main ways as; Passive safety means safety engineered inside and outside the truck and Active Safety technology which has ability to avoid accidents or decrease their severity.

 

2.Variety:

They have different truck models to serve different purposes such as

Volvo VNM Series: The specialist on short routes

Volvo VNL Series: Premium with a purpose

Volvo VNX Series: Built from the strongest components

Volvo VHD Series: Serious off-highway capability

Volvo VAH Series: Premium features, purpose built

 

3.Fuel efficiency:

Volvo makes use of engines with appropriate torques for fuel efficiency. This helps to save money and protect the environment. According to one’s purpose different models of engines are offered to customers in form of

Volvo D11:Maximum Efficiency, Minimum Weight

Volvo D13:Balanced Efficiency & Performance

Cummins ISX 15:Efficient Power—Big Block Architecture

 

4.Space, features, comfort:

Since a comfortable driver is a productive driver hence the cabin is designed with driver in mind. It generally has solid chassis, smooth riding air suspension and precise automotive like handling. A well insulted cab provided with good visibility, adjustable and supportive seats and a dashboard to keep all controls within easy reach.

Besides most truck models are equipped with most advanced automated transmission with digital intelligence called the I-Shift. This consists of latest hardware and software to control brakes and enable smooth shifting on any kind of road. Overall I-shift leads to efficient use of fuel, reduces fuel expenses and maintenance costs.

 

5.Use of Latest technology to guide the road ahead:

To avoid delays, it is necessary to keep trucks on road. Hence, innovative transport solutions in form of Volvo Truck Uptime Services is offered. It is unique suite of products and services to give control over operations in form of Remote diagnostics, ASSIST and Volvo Action which guide driver and reduce the truck’s downtime.

 

Till date, Volvo trucks have been consistently awarded as the best trucks. Volvo designs and manufactures trucks of highest quality with safety features, hence buying Volvo trucks is highly recommended to the potential buyers.

 

Construction Telehandlers work seamlessly in rugged construction sites

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Telehandlers are frequently used lifting machines, typically mounted on mobile chassis and equipped with a telescopic boom that provides different lifting heights depending on the requirement. Telehandlers are generally applied where normal forklifts cannot work. The opening end of a telehandler is mostly fitted with a with a pallet fork for lifting and transferring materials from ground to a height or from one place to another on a construction site. Some customized models of telehandlers may be designed to lift buckets or other similar attachments to carry liquid or semi-liquid materials.

Types of telehandlers

In the construction industry, “Rough Terrain Forklifts” are commonly called telehandlers. In fact, telehandlers are just one type of rough terrain forklifts. There are total three types of telehandlers are found:

  • General telehandlers – These are the telehandlers that are commonly used in any construction site that can comfortably move from one place to another and have a vast utility in lifting weights to a height. A high-reach telehandler can lift a weight up to a height of 50-56 ft. They can carry 5500-12000 lb. to that height. These days, many other attributes are added with a high-reach telehandler to increase its utility, like steering wheels that can tilt, roomy cab design for increasing operator’s efficiency, single joystick for multiple functions, all-wheel steering, etc. These telehandlers are used in adverse environments where construction works are going on.
  • Rotating telehandlers –These telehandlers are as efficient as general telehandlers but with an additional benefit that these telehandlers can rotate 360 degrees with lifted weight. That means a rotating telehandler can cover a wide area from a single position. This particular feature of rotating telehandler helps to work seamlessly where space is short or where too much movement is not possible. Some rotating telehandlers contain two joysticks instead of one. The second one controls the rotation only. Most models are available with stabilizers that ensure safe movement of the rotator from one side to another when the telehandler is fully loaded.
  • Straight mast forklifts – Apparently, they look like lift trucks but they are actually a different kind of telehandler with having features of a rotating telehandler and forklift. These machineries are mostly used in construction sites for loading and unloading building materials. Their standard lifting capacity varies from 5000 lb. to 35000lb and lifting capacity just like a general telehandler. Straight mast forklifts are available in two-wheel and four-wheel carriage.

Telehandler attachments

Telehandler attachments are also important and selected as per the work specifications. The standard carriages pallet forks, rotating carriages, etc. are available with the range of 48-72 inch length. Besides, heavy duty multipurpose buckets, grapple buckets, and truss boom are also used depending on the requirements.

Telehandler tires

Tires are one of the most vital parts in telehandlers. As the machine need to work in a rugged construction environment and used to lift and shift heavyweights, rim sizes, thread depths, widths, and diameters of the tires vary according to the average weight lifting capacities of the machines. Both pneumatic tires and polyurethane tires are used in telehandlers.

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Things to keep in mind before renting heavy equipment

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Small construction companies often find it difficult to function due to non-availability of required heavy equipment. Heavy equipment being an expensive piece of metal, they often themselves to be incapable of buying it and therefore they try to use some alternative which falls within their means. For such companies, the advice that one can give is that they should start looking at heaving equipment which is available on rent. Buying heavy equipment can definitely be an expensive affair and no small construction company can afford to go with that as an option. So the next best option is to catch hold of a person who is willing to give the machine on lease. This means that you can own the heavy equipment for a temporary period and can make full use of it till the end of the project or till the time you require the machine. You certainly end up paying a small amount as rent but it is worth the stuff. You do not lose much from the deal. On the contrary you gain more than what you spend.

There are few things that one must consider before they start looking for heavy equipment on rent.

Check if the machine is in order:-

To check if the machine is in order is one of the most important criteria that the taker should consider before he signs on the dotted line. Many owners of heavy equipment lease out their age old machines thinking that they will get some takers for it. All that they do is they paint the machine and make it look new. Some are not even bothered to repair the machine as they feel that there is no much use of it as the machine will come to the same state as what it is now. If these things are not checked then the ultimate sufferer is the guy who takes the machine on rent. He has to call up a mechanic and get the machine checked and also spend money to replace vital parts which was in fact the responsibility of the owner.

Insist on an inspection:-

It is you who have to insist on an inspection of the heavy equipment. If you have been operating heavy equipment since years and you know the in and out of the machine, you can do the inspection yourself or it is recommended that you take along an expert or a mechanic who can inspect the machine for you and can advise your accordingly. This is quite important to be done as you know the actual state of the machine and if you have to make any further spending once you have taken it on rent.

Insist for a lease agreement:-

A lease agreement is a mandatory requirement for every rental contract. The contract speaks in volumes about the rights of both the owner and the taker. You should know your rights and also realize the steps that you can take in case you see yourself being cheated.

How to drive/operate an excavator

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Driving your car is completely different from driving heavy equipment. You do not have many things in heavy equipment that you have in a car and therefore it does not make any sense to equate both the stuffs into one. we go to driving schools to learn driving and only when we become good at it and the driving officer confirms that we are learnt it well and will not cause any disaster on roads that we are given a license. There are many who do not get a license at the first stance. They give multiple tests and of course fail many times as well. Same is the case for a heavy equipment operator. It should never be construed that driving heavy equipment is a cake walk as you do not have to deal with multiple functions at the same time. On the contrary when you actually try to learn to drive/operate heavy equipment it is then you realize the exact difference and may have a different opinion.

We definitely require driving skills when it comes to driving heavy equipment but that is pertinent to probably everything that we can drive and is not just limited to heavy equipment. Now when we talk about heavy equipment there are few machines that operators find them easy to operate and for some they just can’t handle them. As we know that not all heavy equipment are same and therefore for some heavy equipment we need operators with extra ordinary driving skills to drive/operate the machine. An excavator is one such heavy equipment. The operators do not have to attend any special driving schools to drive/operate an excavator. They all go to the same institution. It is just that some have that in-built talent which if shaped in the right way can deliver excellent results.

User manual can’t teach you to drive/operate excavators:-

Excavating earth is a difficult job and in many instances dangerous too. If not done in the right way, it can lead to severe damage. There have been numerous examples where people have lost their lives while excavating. Moreover, the terrain where the excavation is taking place plays an important role. If the terrain is difficult it indeed tests the skills of the operator. A person who does not have much experience in operating excavators should not get into it or else he will jeopardize the lives of himself and many others along with him. One can’t even check the user manual at that time to know how to get come out safely from a given situation. User manuals do not teach you how to drive. They provide some very basic instructions which one can adopt while driving but there are schools for that matter where one should take their basic training and then let the mentors decide if they are ready for heavy equipment like excavators.

Learn the various functions and have better control over them:-

The operator who can efficiently work on an excavator certainly knows all the functions in the machine and has better control over them. This is quite important because as long as you do not know everything of a machine you will not be able to operate it at 100%.

Know all about heavy construction equipment – types available and how you should choose the right one!

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Heavy construction equipment is one of the most important elements in today’s world, where there is a continuous growth of the construction industry and new constructions are taking place every day. That is the reason, why the heavy construction equipment supplying job has become such a popular one in the industry. If you too are thinking of starting such a business, it is important that you know all about this.

Types of heavy construction equipment:

Many people do not know much about the different types of heavy construction equipment that are available in the market. These are used for various purposes. Some are used to assist in the construction and some are used indirectly in carrying, loading and unloading raw materials.

Some of the common heavy construction equipment that you will often get to see at a construction site, on the roads etc. includes –

  • Cranes
  • Backhoe
  • Loaders
  • Excavators
  • Forklifts
  • Bulldozers
  • Concrete mixers.

These are just a few of the many that you will frequently get to watch. However, there are many others that are not used as widely, but are meant for job-specific tasks. These are usually used during earthquake damage, storm damage and such other damage cleaning.

How can you access one?

The heavy construction equipment is not very cheap. There is no denying the fact that you will have to spend a lump sum amount of money, if you want to own one. Hence, it is always a better idea that you hire them, instead of owning them. This way, you will be able to access the ones that you would require for a particular task and you will not even have to spend a huge amount of money to own them and take care of them.

But of course, the heavy construction equipment is something that not everyone and anyone would require. It is mostly required by the construction industry companies and services. So, if you own such a company, it is always advised that you choose one that you can own, rather than hire it. This is because, hiring it every time will only cause you to pay more.

Choosing the right heavy equipment:

Once you have decided, whether you want to buy one or hire one, you need to check out a number of factors. These would include –

  • Brand: The right brand is very important. With a branded company, you will be able to have the peace of mind regarding its function and life.
  • Condition: In case you are buying used heavy equipment, make sure it is in a good condition.
  • Papers: The papers of the used heavy equipment must be proper, otherwise you will not get a permit and insurance, if you wish to have one.

If you take these factors into consideration, it will be easier for you to make a choice. In case you are still confused, always consult a skilled professional, who has years of experience in this field or a dealer of heavy equipment. They will be able to guide you properly.

Can’t think of landscaping business without a grader

Landscapes have become quite an important part of the construction business. It is seen as a different genre altogether and also a thriving one. This means that guys who are connected to this part of the business has more to gain if they know to do their work well. One of the most important heavy equipment that is needed to form a landscape is a grader. A grader is heavy equipment which has big long blades in the front and two other blades beneath the cabin and the third is beneath the engine of the machine and it is run on uneven land surface so that the soil can be eroded with the help of the blades which eventually gets accumulated inside the blade and then it is deposited in a dump truck. It is not mandatory for all grader to have all the 3 blades. For landscape work, only a couple of blades are sufficient. However, it depends on what kind of land the operator has to work and it is absolutely on the knowledge and experience of the operator that he suggests the utility of the blades.

Estimate the right price for the work:-

For a contractor it is important to know if he needs to bring his grader for the landscape work or will he be provided with one. Construction companies at times offer their construction equipment for the job but that needs to be known before a price is quoted for the job. Once that is known, the contractor also needs to check with the operator the kind of land they have to work on, how big it is and how many days it will take for them to complete the work. Now this is a difficult task. You are dealing with deadlines when you do not know how the soil will react. This is one risk which every contractor has to take. This is where the contractor also needs to keep his grader handy. While working on tough land there is a wider chance for the machine to exhaust sooner and may also break down. This is when he needs to chip in his machine to complete the work.

Maintain good health of the grader:-

Contractors firmly believe that the health of all heavy equipment that they possess should be cared of and well maintained. Therefore when you are part of the landscape business you have to ensure that your grader gets the right treatment every time. Your overall work depends on that one machine and you will not want that to go wrong in any way. It is for this reason that it is a mandate for every contractor or for that matter everyone who possesses a grader to check if the machine is throwing any signals that indicate towards an internal problem within it. An operator should be in a position to comprehend those signals and act swiftly. It should never be delayed for another day. Try to get it resolved if the problem is not a big one.

 

How profitable is constructing residential apartment

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Having your own property is something that every person desires of. Those, who live in rented apartments, will certainly understand the desire to have their own house or apartment. That is the reason; the real estate industry is constantly flourishing and will never be out of business.

Builders and small scale real estate businessmen, therefore, are continuously coming up with new projects and ideas for the potential buyers. These construction choices are many in number. The most common construction projects include –

  • Residential apartments
  • Bungalows and condos
  • Commercial buildings
  • Malls and shops.

Amongst these, the most popular constructions are the residential apartments. Everyone desires to have a personal property, but few can own a big house. However, apartments are way more affordable. That is the reason, why there is always a demand for residential apartments.

Builders construct residential apartments more:

Due to this increased demand of the residential apartments, the builders make these residential apartments more than any other type of construction. Besides, home loans are easily approved for the residential apartments. Hence, the buyers are keener to buy these over the other types of real estate options.

Profit associated with constructing residential apartments:

If you too are thinking of trying your luck in the real estate business and want to construct a residential building, this is an ideal time for that. However, before you do so, you must understand the factors that you should be taking care of.

Construction business is a very profitable one, provided you know how to proceed in it. If you take the right steps, you will be able to gain huge profits in a single go. If you take the wrong steps, you might not be able to sell your apartments easily to potential buyers.

  • Hire the best construction equipment:

 

Construction equipment is one of the most important factors that you need to consider before starting your business. Without the construction equipment, you will not be able to complete the project fast and this will hinder your profit. To make sure that the profit is high, it is always a good idea to own the construction equipment. You can choose the second hand equipment for reducing the cost. There are many construction equipment dealers that deal in new or old construction equipment. If you have a limited budget, you can always start by hiring the equipment. The more you save on the construction equipment, the higher will be your profit margin for the residential apartments.

  • Promotion:

 

Once you have started your residential apartment building project, proper promotion or advertisement is a must. The more you advertise, the higher are your chances of getting potential buyers easily and fast. Always make sure that you make use of the free online advertisement platforms and forums for this purpose. This will reduce the price of advertisement and increase your profit.

Along with these two important and basic factors, it is also important that you start the project in a well-developed or developing place, so that it is easier for you to sell the residential apartments for a profitable price.

Tips For Starting an Excavators rental business

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The construction activities have increased due to increase in population. Many big and start up construction companies cannot afford to a buy and maintain all new equipment for their work, especially in case of short term projects. Hence, they prefer to buy equipment and machines on rental basis at an affordable price and return it after use. Thus, rental business is profitable and is booming. It is observed that many equipment rentals only rent specific equipments and do not keep all types of equipment. It is because they have studied market and functional aspects of the equipment. Since most of the heavy equipments are multifunctional, being in rental business of specific equipment can be a good idea as it saves the cost of buying and maintaining different equipments.

Excavators are called the giants of the construction industry. They are powerful machines which can dig through concrete, install electrical service, transfer loads of bricks, lift objects high, and break down huge rocks and entire structures. Due to their wide applications, they are very much required in any construction project, however they are expensive. Excavators are in demand, hence starting the business of renting these machines can be profitable. Being a costly investment, it is expected that person should do some research before starting this business.

The following guidelines will be helpful for the person who wants to start the business of renting an excavator:

  1. Excavators are cost and rental service provider (RSP) should be able to afford to buy them. He should be aware of his personal expenses while owing a big place or showroom, advertising, labour and maintenance costs, and so forth. He should make a business plan for selling excavators.
  2. If RSP provides excavators at high rental price then many buyers will find it expensive and difficult to purchase. Hence they will negotiate with the price. RSP should provide excavators at appropriate price.
  3. RSP should make his excavator rental service popular by advertisements in newspapers and websites.
  4. Buying entire fleet of brand new excavators is indeed very costly. To avoid, RSP should study the demands of the market to know which the most preferred model by the construction industry is. Keeping excavator from small to mid-size of different brands is a good option.
  5. Due to technological advancements, the new equipment have become compact and easy to operate, using such equipment has increased the speed at work place and increased productivity. The new compact excavators are more in demand and are preferred to old versions. RSP should provide such technologically advanced excavators on rent, which increases the customer interest and sales.
  6. Buying used equipment on rental basis is common for the short duration projects, hence they are in demand. Thus, RSP can also look for option of renting ‘used’ or ‘second hand’ excavators, since purchasing such equipment is cost affordable. However, they should be careful while choosing such equipment that they are not damaged. Only when these used machines have less wear and tear and their parts are available that they should be purchased from the seller.
  7. RSP should be careful while renting the expensive heavy machines to the buyer. They should understand the nature of work requirements of the customer and should guide them properly. They should make sure that the buyer has the capability to pay the rental amount and would take care of the equipment and will return the equipment in good condition. After all the terms and conditions are acceptable to both parties, a rental agreement has to made between RSP and prospective buyer

Related articles across the web

Rent your used heavy equipment

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It is pointless to acquire an asset and make no use of it. As long as the asset is of some use to you or generates some sort of income it can be called as an asset but the moment you keep the stuff without gaining any monetary benefits in return or do not use it at all it no longer remains an asset and has every chance to turn into a liability. Heavy equipment is a much needed requirement in the entire construction sector. However, you do not need one machine to do all types of work. This means that once your need is done with the heavy equipment it will remain idle for months. The best way to generate income of the idle machine is rent it out to people who will make good use of it and will also pay you money for using the machine. You will come across lot many people who will be ready to pay you handsomely for using the heavy equipment. It is because no one wants to spend a fortune in buying a machine and then keep it idle once they see the use of it is over.

The market to rent used heavy equipment is big. You have multiple avenues through which you rent your heavy equipment. You can catch hold of a broker or a company that deals with renting heavy equipment, list it online on heavy equipment portal or simply check out on your own and see if you get hold of someone who is interested to use heavy equipment on rental basis.

Heavy equipment broking companies:-

These companies deal with buying dilapidated heavy equipment and then refurnish it by changing its vital parts and once that is done they either sell it off to new customers or let-it out. They buy those old heavy equipment at a comparatively lower price and give it a new life by changing the entire look of the machine and adding few additional features thus also increase the price of a completely junk item. Once that is done they do not see hassle in letting it out to small construction companies. These guys can be approached if you want to let out your heavy equipment. The machine need not be with them but you can hand over the pictures of the stuff to them and they in turn will find the guy who wants it on rental basis.

List the heavy equipment online:-

There are plenty of online portals available that deal with letting out heavy construction machineries. They charge a nominal fee to provide the online service. All you have to do is list the machine after putting some pictures of it on the portal. Provide your contact details so that interested prospects can reach you and come to inspect the machine at a time convenient to you. If they like to go with it, you should prepare an agreement that would state all the necessary clauses and should be signed by all the parties.