Essential PPE: Hard Hats

Because there are a myriad of potential hazards in the rigging and demolition industry, wearing the proper protective equipment is imperative to protecting worker safety. Head injuries, which can prove fatal or cause permanent impairment, are particularly dangerous, so one of the most important pieces of PPE in an R. Baker & Son crew member’s arsenal is the hard hat.

In general, protective headgear should always be worn in situations in which there is risk of falling or moving objects, fixed objects such as pipes or beams on which one might strike their head, and/or risk of accidental contact with electrical hazards. For construction, rigging, and demolition workers, these hazards are always present and hard hats should be worn at all times. At minimum, hard hats should be resistant to penetration, capable of absorbing the shock of a blow, water and burn resistant, and should display clear instructions for use.

There are three industrial classes for hard hats. Class A headgear provides impact and penetration resistance and electrical protection up to 2,200 volts. Class B is designed to provide maximum protection against electrical shock, up to 20,000 volts, as well as impact and penetration protection. Class C offers lightweight impact protection and does not protect against electric shock. R. Baker & Son workers typically wear Class B hard hats.

Hard hats require regular maintenance and daily inspection to ensure they meet or exceed safety regulations and standards. Headgear that is perforated, cracked, or otherwise deformed should be discarded and replaced, well as those that show loss of surface gloss, chalking, or flaking, which can indicate excessive exposure to heat or chemicals. Suspension systems that appear damaged or worn must be promptly replaced. Always replace a hard hat that sustains an impact, even if damage is not visible.

R.Baker & Son, All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
http://www.rbaker.com
http://rbaker.com/demolition-contractors-new-jersey.php

R. Baker & Son in New Jersey: Utility Safety During Demolition

Demolition in New Jersey requires considerable planning when it comes to utilities. Before R. Baker & Son begins a project, multiple above-ground and below-ground utilities must be considered and identified, and may need to be shut off, disconnected, and/or relocated in order to perform demolition.

Prior to starting demolition, each utility company must be contacted. Local representatives or field engineers will be assigned to the project and may require submission of drawings, applications, and/or permits pertaining to the individual utilities. For example, electrical lines will need to be shut down, relocated, tested, and reenergized under the supervision of the electric company, who may also need to notify nearby customers of power interruptions. Similarly, water lines may require that valves be shut down and verified that they hold, and pressure taken off the line and locked out for worker safety. Gas lines may need to be shut down, pressure relieved and purged of all residual gas, and verified before work can commence.

Fiber optic cables and cable TV also require coordination with the utility companies. Fiber optic cables carry significant amount of data, and a severed line can affect service to thousands of commercial and residential customers. Damage to TV cables can cause outages for numerous customers as well.

Utility representatives will mark where underground utilities are located with paint and flags to prevent accidents and unnecessary interruptions. The most common method for locating utilities is using a tick tracer or sensitive metal detectors to locate piping or electrical lines. Though drawings and as-builts are valuable aids in locating utilities, it should be noted that there may be inaccuracies, and sometimes these drawings have been misplaced and can’t be located. Also, easements that give utilities a right of way to exist are often unmarked, and as NJ is the most densely populated state, there is an increased chance of accidental damage to utilities.

Lastly, when removing utilities during demolition, it is important to preserve all meters and return them to the utility company. For more information on utilities during demolition, please contact R. Baker & Son at 732-222-3553. 

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Web: http://www.rbaker.com

Refinery Selective Demolition Project

R. Baker was recently involved in a large selective demolition project at a petroleum refinery/research center located in northern New Jersey.  The project to make way for a new exhaust system and new lab hoods throughout the facility was a complex one, complicated by the facility’s fortress-like construction, with rebar-reinforced, 12-inch-thick floors, walls, ceiling, and roof. Baker crews performed demolition, coring, cutting, rigging, and assembly.

Removal of the equipment was the first, and easiest - stage of the project.  During this enabling phase R. Baker & Son crew members worked closely with the client to determine which pieces of equipment and fixtures would be removed and when so lab users would have advance knowledge to temporarily work around the missing equipment. 

When the selective demolition was completed, the more difficult tasks began.  Floors were x-rayed to determine to determine where electrical conduit was located. X-rays were performed at night to minimize radiation risks to building occupants. The images required careful study to differentiate between rebar and conduit throughout the floor. 

Once electrical conduits were identified, they were traced to the nearest electrical panel, and circuits were isolated and rerouted so the floors could be cored.  These circular passageways ranged from eight inches to eighteen inches in diameter throughout the facility.  Because the coring machine was water cooled, conduits had to be plugged with clay to prevent water from flowing down into the labs through conduit openings.  Some areas could not be cored and had to be jackhammered to expose the conduits and make way for control wiring risers.  The entire effort was coordinated with a structural engineer and the HVAC designer. 

New ductwork, fire dampers, and controls were installed within the openings throughout the building.  Large new exhaust fans and plenums were rigged onto the roof, and new lab fume hoods were assembled and installed in all labs.  The new lab exhaust system worked in conjunction with the 100% outside air system which provided 105,000 CFM of air throughout the building.  Upon completion of the new ventilation system, new pre-fabricated casework was installed where needed for lab experiments.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com

Container Cranes and Rigging

Port of New York and New Jersey home to some of world’s largest container cranes...

As part of a major expansion of the Port of New York and New Jersey, three massive shipping cranes have been erected at the Port Newark Container Terminal (PNCT) on Newark Bay.  The cranes, classified as super-post-Panamax, among the largest container cranes in the world, will allow the port to accept larger cargo ships that will begin shipping directly from Asia to the East Coast once the Panama Canal expansion is completed in 2015.

The cranes, shipped by manufacturer ZMPC from Shanghai aboard a specially-designed freighter, arrived in New Jersey in May 2014.  They stand 561 feet tall and, with their longer arms, are capable of rigging higher stacks of containers, and can extend farther to unload big ships that are 22 containers wide.  Previous PNCT cranes were capable of rigging a maximum of 18 rows of containers.

The $500 million PNCT expansion is part of a larger effort that includes dredging of channels in New York Harbor as well as a $1.3 billion project to raise the height of the Bayonne Bridge to allow larger ships to reach terminals in Newark and Elizabeth.

Container cranes are generally classified by their lifting capacity and size of the ships they can unload.  “Panamax” refers to cranes rigging ships capable of passing through the Panama Canal prior to its expansion.  Post-Panamax cranes can load and unload ships that are too wide to pass through the Panama Canal up to 18 containers wide.  Super-Post-Panamax cranes can rig containers from ships 22 or more containers wide.  The Panama Canal will be wide enough to accommodate most container ships once the current expansion project is completed.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

Selective Demolition and Preserving History

R. Baker & Son has been involved with a number of high-profile New York City landmark projects, and whenever we work on historic buildings, there are multiple layers of challenges.  Most old structures have undergone numerous renovations, repairs, and other projects over many years, so you never know what you’re in for when a project begins. A recent project had numerous surprises in store. 

When demolition began, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work was exposed that required upgrading, such as knob-and-tube wiring from the early 20th century. Some of the wiring was run in old gas lines piped to gas lighting fixtures.  There were also corroded and leaking galvanized water lines that needed to be replaced with copper or PVC.  Shoddy, patch-up water leak repairs over the many years needed to be removed and repaired properly.  There were also issues with the building settling, so action needed to be taken to bring the structure back to plumb and level.  Asbestos found on old boiler and steam pipe fittings required removal and remediation.

The most interesting part of the project was identifying, preserving, and restoring irreplaceable historic objects wherever possible. Old gas chandeliers, sconces, and light fixtures, some Tiffany, were removed for reconditioning, electrical wiring, and reinstallation.  Stained glass windows were reconditioned, and a dumbwaiter that had not worked in many years was repaired and made operational.  Even copper gutters and leaders were restored where possible, as well as the building’s original brass pipe-and-horn intercom system.  Intricate woodwork in the building required careful preservation.  Original ornamental woodwork and bannisters were reconditioned, most of it in-place, and oak paneling was sealed off and protected.  A humidifier was brought in to keep the wood at the proper humidity during demolition and renovation.  Oak, cherry, and walnut doors and brass hardware was sent out for reconditioning.  Old black-and-white photographs were used to restore interior spaces and the exterior to the original design wherever possible.  The end result was a beautifully-restored NYC building.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Street
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

RSIs: Repetitive Strain Injuries

Repetitive strain injuries are activity-related injuries to the musculoskeletal system, and they are more common in construction than in any other industry. Also known as cumulative trauma disorders, repetitive motion disorders, and overuse syndrome, RSIs are the leading cause of occupational disease in the United States and cost billions of dollars each year in workers’ compensation.

Work-related RSIs result when the body is subjected to stresses caused by repetitive tasks, forceful exertions, vibrations, mechanical compression, or sustained awkward positions. Some common RSIs are carpal tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet syndrome, Raynaud’s syndrome, and trigger finger. Jackhammer operators can suffer hand-arm vibration syndrome, painters frequently suffer from tennis elbow, and plumbers often develop rotator cuff tendonitis from working with their arms above shoulder level.

Preventing RSIs

To prevent RSI, identify hazards in the workplace and take steps to correct them. Be aware of early symptoms such as pain or tingling in neck, shoulders, arms or hands. Break up prolonged repetitive movement with rest periods, or by rotating tasks. Stretch or move around if you experience any task-related discomfort. Use ergonomic tools specifically designed for the task at hand. Arrange layout of tools and equipment to minimize excessive stretching and bending, and practice proper lifting techniques. Because cold can increase RSIs, especially those related to vibration, wear gloves or use hand warmers when possible. Use ergonomic PPEs such as back supports, wrist and arm supports, and elbow and knee pads, vibration dampening gear, and boots with good ankle support.

About R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) in business since 1935, is a premier specialized contractor operating in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, with over one hundred employees and an exemplary safety record (we have been directly involved in four sites that received VPP OSHA Safety Awards). R. Baker & Son is financially strong, with bonding capabilities over $10 million. Capabilities include industrial and commercial demolition, rigging, machinery- and plant-moving, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and equipment relocation, interior demolition, selective demolition, warehousing, wrecking and razing, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, salvage, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, and investment and asset recovery.

Demolition, wrecking and razing, rigging, millwright, plant reconfigurations, heavy rigging, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business / SDVOSB, salvage, dismantling, decommissioning, plant and machinery moving, building demolition, riggers, environmental services, remediation, decontamination, abatement, interior demolition, investment and asset recovery.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

Mold Remediation on Demolition Projects

Oftentimes while performing demolition, selective demolition, dismantling, plant decommissioning or plant relocation projects, R. Baker & Son encounters mold growth.  Mold exposure can cause adverse health issues ranging from mild to very serious, so it is important that mold remediation is performed properly.  R. Baker & Son is expert in various environmental services including mold remediation.

Mold is a fungus that requires excess moisture to grow. This moisture can be come from a variety of sources such as flooding, leaks, poor drainage, standing water, sweating pipes, inadequate dehumidification, etc. If the building is not undergoing total demolition, it is important to identify and eliminate the source of the moisture. 

Merely applying a biocide such as bleach is not enough to eliminate health threats, as mold maintains its allergenic and toxic qualities even when in a non-viable state.  Mold must be physically removed using a specifically a formulated detergent solution, or effected building materials must be completely removed from the environment.  Where mold growth is extensive, remediation must be carefully controlled to minimize health and building contamination risks.

Because mold remediation was developed using asbestos abatement practices, the two abatement methods are similar with the exception of using water to suppress airborne particles. Affected areas must be contained with plastic sheeting to prevent mold from contaminating other building areas.  Remediation workers must be equipped with proper PPE including respirator, gloves, goggles, and, at times, protective suits. Mold-contaminated materials should be removed in large pieces where possible to avoid aerosolizing mold spores, then sealed in heavy polyethylene bags or sheeting.  After a settlement, remediation workers should clean the area with HEPA vacuums and damp-wiping with a bleach solution.  Air ducts, ventilation systems, and air handling units should be evaluated and remediated as well. 

When mold is encountered on any type of project, R. Baker & Son personnel are 100% OSHA safety trained and equipped to handle mold remediation, as well as many other environmental services.  Please contact us at 732-222-3553 to discuss your needs. 

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Web: http://www.rbaker.com
Facebook: http://rbaker.com/rigging-contractors.php