Fall Protection

May 2-6, 2016 is National Stand Down for Fall Prevention, OSHA’s outreach campaign to raise awareness about fall hazards in construction. Falls from elevation is a leading cause of death in the construction industry, with 337 fatalities reported in 2014, but these deaths were preventable. Employers are encouraged to conduct toolbox talks, safety equipment inspections, develop rescue plans, and discuss job-specific hazards. Stand-Down reached more than 2.5 million workers in 2015, and this year OSHA hopes to reach 5 million, more than half of the construction workers in the U.S.

Fall hazards are inherent in rigging, demolition, and dismantling. Workers are regularly exposed to dangerous heights while working on roofs, aerial lifts, and floors where no walls exist. Conditions constantly change as projects proceed, so jobsites must be continually assessed and safeguarded against fall hazards. In addition to administrative and engineering controls such as signs, barricades, and guard rails, all riggers and demolition team members working at elevations over 6 feet must be equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times, and a fall protection plan should be in place.

Fall Protection PPE Requirements

It is important to inspect fall protection PPE for before each use. Belts, harnesses and lanyards that have frayed edges, broken fibers, pulled stitches, cuts or chemical damage should be replaced according to guidelines. Check buckles, grommets, rivets, and other hardware for looseness, distortion, cracks, dents, bends, rust, and sharp edges, and repair or replace immediately as required.

Harnesses should be properly fitted to each individual following manufacturer instructions, and should be readjusted as needed. Choose the appropriate lanyard for the application, and make sure they comply with ANSI standards. Shock-absorbing lanyards, which elongate to slow a falling worker to a stop to minimize impact force, and retractable lanyards, which lock up during acceleration to arrest a fall, are the most common types. Retractable lanyards should never be attached to an additional lanyard, and overhead anchors should always be used. Lanyards should never be wrapped around a structure or over railings.

It is imperative to ensure good anchorage. Snaphook gate strengths are stamped on the gate, and snaphooks and carabiners should be attached to compatible connection points, with no part of the gate in contact with any metal. OSHA and ANSI require fall-arrest anchor points to support a 5,000 lb. force load, and fall restraint anchorages should support 1,000 lbs., or twice the expected load.

Clearance and capacity should be calculated to ensure that freefall is limited to 6 ft. or less, taking into account deceleration distance, harness movement, and anchor-point stretch. Capacity calculation should include the weight of the worker’s clothing and tools. Swing risks should be minimized with overhead anchors and limit offset to 30 degrees or less.

Finally, fall protection plans should incorporate a rescue plan in the event a worker wearing a harness falls. Even when PPE works as expected, suspension trauma, also known as harness hang syndrome can set in quickly if a fallen worker is suspended for an extended length of time.

R. Baker & Son places the health, safety, and welfare of our employees and clients as our top priority. All rigging and demolition team members, are continually trained in all aspects of jobsite safety, including working at elevation and fall protection. We are a frequent OSHA VPP Star participant and maintain an ISNetworld A-rating.

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

Rigging a Piece of American History

April 27, 2016 R. Baker & Son performed the offloading, rigging and hoisting of a Northrop T-38n Talon Supersonic Jet onto the flight deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

The striking white jet was a significant tool in training astronauts to react quickly and precisely in varying situations; these meticulous mental experiences were critical practice for the rigors of spaceflight. This particular jet was used as a flight-test chase plane during the crucial approach and landing tests carried out in 1977 by the space shuttle Enterprise, currently on display in the Space Shuttle Pavilion.

Baker performed the task with OSHA (trade specific) trained and certified employees, while making sure all equipment and materials received a thorough inspection before use for safety.  

The project required the use of a 45 Ton Tadano that was fitted with a 14ft. long Modulift Spreader Beam (MOD24) which was basketed with 2 approved slings that were geometrically engineered around and under the fuselage for a safe and level lift of the jet.

The jet was then safely placed on the aircraft carrier elevator, and then raised to the flight deck. Once on the flight deck level the T-38 was towed to its final destination.

R. Baker & Son was honored to be a part of preserving this unique piece of American history.

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

Demo Project Bid Leveling Sheets: What’s Included and Excluded Can Make All the Difference

One of the keys to a successful demolition or selective demolition project outcome is the development and use of a checklist during the bidding process known as the leveling sheet. The leveling sheet defines the scope of the project in minute detail, spelling out exactly what is included or excluded in each demolition contractor’s proposal and effectively leveling the bids for a fair comparison. Without a leveling sheet, items can go unidentified, leading to an array of problems, change orders, delays, finger-pointing, and all-around hard feelings between client and contractor.

Leveling sheet specifications on a demolition project might include:

Will demolition equipment used be battery operated or diesel?

Environmental hazards such as asbestos, lead paint, or old tanks – will they be remediated, and how?

Is the project union or non-union, and what are the working hours? Will there be second and third shifts?

Will dust and vibration be limited to specific hours?

Asset recovery – are there items of value such as copper wire or salvageable equipment that can offset project costs?

Will the demolition contractor use subcontractors to perform electrical, plumbing or mechanical aspects of their project?

Does the demolition project include specific safety items such as ISNetworld, VPPP, HAZWOPER, etc.?

Using a leveling sheet to identify what is included or excluded on any demolition or select demolition project can ensure that equipment and services are purchased wholesale from the outset, not at retail prices after the fact. Doing your homework can save a lot of money and streamline your demolition project.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Service
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
http://www.rbaker.com

NYC Demolition a Wellspring of Architectural Salvage

A New York City demolition project can yield a trove of architectural features, artifacts, fixtures, and ornaments that can be reclaimed for reuse. With architects, designers, and homeowners increasingly on the hunt for treasures from bygone eras, many demolition contractors, including R. Baker & Son, are salvaging items ranging from doors, hardware, mantels, and vintage bathtubs to large stained glass windows, complete staircases, and entire paneled rooms. Items considered junk in years past are now recognized for their beauty and superior quality and given new life as art, restored and reused in new construction or remodeling projects, and integrated into design elements, such as converting window frames into mirrors or a column into a table base. Architectural salvage keeps these materials of value out of landfills, as well.

There are numerous architectural salvage outlets in New York City and surrounding suburbs in New Jersey and Connecticut, and most offer a variety of related services including restoration, retrofit, installation, and reproduction. Some are small storefronts, while others occupy large, multi-story buildings with thousands of objects on display, drawing serious buyers and window shoppers alike.

R. Baker & Son All Industrial Services has long been the New York area’s preferred demolition contractor when it comes to landmarks, historic sites and treasured artifacts, and we have recovered salvageable assets from countless complete demolition, selective demolition, interior demolition, and relocation projects over the years.

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.

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

Total Demolition, Stadium-Style

Stadiums for professional sports teams are hubs of entertainment for millions of people around the country, and many of us feel a deep nostalgia for our favorite teams’ stadiums. But, like most things, stadiums that were once shiny and new become old and antiquated, and it becomes necessary to replace them with new. Older stadiums lack the seating capacity, private party boxes, restaurants, concession stands, and restroom facilities to meet modern standards, not to mention Jumbotrons, large monitors, and lighting and sound systems. This means total demolition of the old stadium to make way for the new.

In many stadium construction projects, the new stadium is erected, oftentimes directly adjacent to the old stadium, before the old stadium is demolished so there is no interruption to the sports teams’ seasons. Then, everything of any sentimental value – seats, signs, pieces of the scoreboard, grass from the outfield – is recovered from the condemned stadium for sale to the highest bidders. Seats from Yankee Stadium can still be found on eBay for $450.

For some stadiums, such as Yankee Stadium and Giants Stadium, total demolition is performed by cutting, chopping and removal by multiple hydraulic excavators and other high-reach equipment. Other stadiums, including Texas Stadium and Seattle’s Kingdome, are reduced to rubble by controlled blast. Due to nostalgic value, stadium demolition is usually well-documented through time-lapse photography, news coverage, and of online videos. The implosion of Texas Stadium was a festive-yet-bittersweet public event preceded by fireworks and attended by 25,000 spectators. Once demolished stadiums have been replaced with parking lots for new stadiums, retail properties, open space, and theme parks.

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.

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

Calculating Interior Demolition Costs

Interior demolition: the nonstructural demolishing of spaces within a structure, usually in preparation for reuse or upgrading the space or area. This includes interior walls, ceilings, flooring, staircases, mezzanines, overhangs, etc., as well as the utilities contained within, such as electrical, plumbing, ductwork, gas lines, flues, etc.

There is no shortage of online calculators that provide estimated per-square-foot interior demolition costs. In theory, it seems practical, but results can be wildly inaccurate. Without the input of an expert interior demolition contractor like R. Baker & Son, unknown variables can put a project’s budget in jeopardy before the renovation work begins.

**Is there asbestos, lead paint or other environmental factors that need to be identified and addressed? The cost of remediation for these hazards can often exceed the cost of the interior demolition itself.
**Are there utilities that must be preserved or rerouted? Interior demolition often uncovers problems or code issues concealed by walls, floors and ceilings. Sometimes an area marked for interior demolition contains utilities that feed through to other tenants that cannot be disturbed such as fiber-optic lines, electrical controls etc.  Demolition of these utilities can shut down another tenant’s business for a period of time until the problem is found and repaired.
**What is the degree of difficulty to perform the demo, and what special equipment is needed to perform the work safely? Interior demolition project budgets should include the cost of a properly-insured, licensed contractor who has the experience, equipment, and safety training necessary for the project.

Demolition calculators, even those from a reputable source, can only provide a budgetary starting-point for an interior demolition project. With over eighty years in the demolition industry, R. Baker & Son has the knowledge and experience to properly estimate a project and leave contingency for the real unknowns.

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

Industrial Rigging Of A Wind Turbine

For those of us who work at R. Baker & Son, industrial rigging and demolition is a way of life. Imagine the surprise when, on a trip a few years ago to visit family, an R. Baker staff member found himself watching the assembly of a giant wind turbine just a stone’s throw from his uncle’s home in upstate New York. Family members had seen several large tractor trailers transporting enormous conical steel tower sections and fiberglass blades through town, so they decided to visit the nearby wind farm under construction at the top of a mountain. There they watched crews rig and place a tower section and spoke with the industrial rigging contractors charged with erecting the wind turbines. 

A 500-ton high-lift crawler crane and a 100-ton hydraulic crane were strategically positioned at the steel-reinforced concrete tower base. Riggers connected each end of tower section to each crane, and the section was lifted from the oversize tractor trailer, which had somehow negotiated its way over winding roads to the mountaintop. The smaller crane steadied the section as the high-lift crane rigged it into a vertical position.  The section was then carefully rigged onto numerous steel bolts the top of the two sections of tower already in place. The industrial rigging company foreman explained that the rigging of the 40-ton nacelle, the housing for the generator and other main components, would follow once the top tower section had been properly secured. The rotor, assembled onsite with its three 120-ft. blades, would then be rigged in one piece and connected to the nacelle.  Once completed, the wind farm would have a generating capacity of over one hundred megawatts.

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