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

Complex Enabling Project

Baker was contracted by a customer to perform enabling work for a project involving critical shutdowns, tie-ins, and repairs on HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and sanitary systems.  R. Baker’s portion of the project was to support a schedule of complex tasks in a production facility that could not afford extended down time. 

Because most of the shutdown work was scheduled to be done during weekends, R. Baker & Son’s preparation work, selective demolition and rigging was performed during the week.  Separate teams were designated for each enabling projects.  One project entailed removing ceilings then enclosing the open area with transparent plastic sheeting to enable visual inspection of the area.  This allowed crews to perform selective demolition and other work during weekday nights while facility production was not running.  The temporary ceiling allowed teams to trace, identify, and remove all unnecessary ductwork, wire, piping, etc., and replace them with new systems in preparation for future roof HVAC units. 

Enabling work was also performed on underground systems where piping locations were identified, video cameras were used for internal pipe inspection, flooring was saw cut, and new prefab piping was prepared to drop in the trench to replace the deteriorating and non-functioning existing systems.  The work was performed area by area, system by system, while working closely with users so as not to affect ongoing production. 

To ensure that the enabling work went smoothly, a detailed schedule was assembled showing which shutdowns had to be performed and when to support the overall electrical/mechanical schedules and startups.  Tight scheduling necessitated the development of a Method of Procedure (MOP), a roadmap detailing the sequence of activities, the crews involved, and allotted time for each task over each weekend three-shift-per-day period.  The entire project management team met twice weekly to ensure that all support work would be completed in time for each scheduled shutdown, and that all material and personnel were set in place in accordance with the schedule. 

Complex projects such as this are very challenging, and obstacles and unknowns are to be expected.  R. Baker & Son’s seasoned demolition and rigging team utilized years of experience, out-of-the-box thinking, and a can-do attitude to tackle the job and get the work done to the client’s satisfaction.

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 nearly a dozen projects achieving OSHA VPP Star status).

R. Baker & Son
1 Globe Court
Redbank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
Web: http://www.rbaker.com

Fluorescent Bulb Recycling

Recycling is an important part of any R. Baker & Son demolition, dismantlement, decommissioning, or plant relocation project.  Among the materials that can be recycled are metal, concrete, brick, cardboard, mineral fiber panel, plastic, clean wood, glass, gypsum wallboard, carpet and insulation.  Waste that that may contain hazardous materials cannot be directly recycled and require proper handling and disposal.  Fluorescent bulbs are often carefully packaged and sent to a recycling facility during demolition projects, but what happens to them once they reach the recycling facility is a mystery to most people.

A fluorescent bulb can contain anywhere from 5 to 50 mg of mercury, which is highly toxic to the nervous system and kidneys.  Each year, an estimated 600 million bulbs go un-recycled and are instead sent to landfills or incinerators, resulting in the release of 30,000 pounds of mercury vapor into the environment. The EPA strongly recommends recycling spent bulbs, and many states have banned them from solid waste landfills. 

Upon arrival at a recycling plant, workers remove fluorescent bulbs from their packaging and feed them into specialized recycling equipment.  The machinery is fully-automated and -contained to prevent the release of hazardous mercury into the air. Mercury-containing phosphor power is separated from glass and metal by-products and collected into containers.  The contaminated powder is then retorted to extract and isolate the mercury.  In the end, all of the remaining materials – glass, metal end caps, powder, and mercury – can be recycled. 

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 nearly a dozen projects achieving OSHA VPP Star status).

R. Baker & Son
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Demolition.Rigging

Qualified Riggers vs. Certified Riggers: What is the Difference?

The terms “qualified” and “certified” are often used interchangeably in the rigging industry, but many construction professionals don’t know the difference. OSHA standards require that qualified riggers must be used during hoisting activities for assembly and disassembly work, or when workers are within the fall zone and hooking, unhooking, or guiding a load, or connecting a load to a component or structure. However, OSHA does not require that riggers be “certified”.  So why is it important that a rigger is certified? What exactly do these terms mean?

Qualified Rigger

OSHA only loosely specifies who meets the criteria of a qualified rigger, leaving the final determination up to the employer. A qualified rigger “possesses a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, OR who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, can successfully demonstrate the ability to solve problems related to rigging loads”. Qualified riggers do not, however have to be certified by accredited organization or third party. Under these criteria, a rigger with extensive hands-on experience, but no formal training or certifications, may be considered a qualified rigger. 

Certified Rigger

A certified rigger is a person who has passed stringent written and practical exams related to rigging.  Accredited organizations such as NCCCO offer rigger certification testing, as well as many crane and rigging training schools. Most programs offer basic, intermediate, and advanced certifications.  Advanced-certified riggers generally have substantial rigging experience and have completed master rigger courses and training.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services has been offering rigging and demolition services since 1936. Our impressive in-house team of rigging professionals, one of the best in the industry, is comprised of highly-experienced, qualified and intermediate-to-advanced-certified riggers, master riggers, and engineers, and our rigging equipment is state-of-the-art.  R. Baker & Son can handle industrial, pharmaceutical, and commercial rigging projects of nearly any size and complexity. 

Contact Information:

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553

Web: http://rbaker.com/news.php

Man Baskets in Rigging, Demolition, and Dismantling

Suspended personnel platforms, commonly known as man baskets, crane baskets, crane cages, or construction baskets, are important equipment in the rigging and demolition industry.  R. Baker & Son frequently uses man baskets suspended from crane load lines to hoist rigging and demolition personnel to access elevated, hard-to-reach areas.  It is often the only means available for steel and concrete structures.  OSHA strictly prohibits use of crane-mounted man baskets when no other safe alternative, such as ladders, scaffolding, aerial lift, etc., is possible. 

Rigging crews and crane operators must observe strict rules and safety regulations when employing a man bucket.  The crane must be placed on firm, stable ground and riggers must perform a proof test each time a basket is installed.  The basket must be hoisted with 125% of the rated load, held for five minutes, and inspected for safety. 

Trial lifts are required at each setup location immediately before workers enter the basket.  Riggers must load the basket with the anticipated working weight and run it through the work path to ensure that all systems are working safely and properly and there are interferences. Man basket occupants must wear a body belt or harness with a lanyard to prevent falls and should stand only on the floor of the basket. Tools, materials, and equipment must be properly distributed and secured before rigging.

Contact Information:

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

Plant Relocation

Plant relocation can be a complex undertaking that requires meticulous planning, communication, and preparation.  A comprehensive schedule must be developed that will seamlessly ramp down the vacating facility while simultaneously phasing in production at the new plant. This should include testing and commissioning. Close coordination and communication among the plant relocation contractor, designers, and facility managers is vital to accurate schedule development. 

Detailed drawings of the equipment layout in the vacating plant will be needed when planning utilities and locating equipment in the new facility. Existing equipment must be assessed to determine which will be relocated reused, and whether it will require refurbishment. Equipment slated for plant relocation must meets local code in the new facility. 

All relocated equipment must be meticulously identified, logged, and tagged, and utility connections and separation points must be accurately noted. Utility systems and structural modifications needed in the new plant must be identified, designed and installed to ensure that equipment installation, testing, and commissioning can smoothly occur without a hitch. 

R. Baker & Son provides comprehensive turnkey service for all phases of industrial and commercial plant relocation.  Services include dismantlement and relocation planning, match marking, heavy machinery moving, rigging, relocation, reassembly, reinstallation, and startup.  Projects are performed with minimal disruption regardless of scale. 

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 nearly a dozen projects achieving OSHA VPP Star status). 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.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Phone: 732-222-3553
Fax: 732-450-0311
Facebook