November 1, 2012 - When I teach OSHA 10-hour or 30-hour classes for construction and general industry, we inevitably talk about head protection; and that means we discuss hard hats. Over the years I’ve noticed there are five questions about hard hats that are repeatedly asked by trainees during that section of the OSHA training class. However, the Federal OSHA standards on head protection do not directly address these five questions (although some of the state OSHA programs might). And if you’ve ever researched the Federal OSHA letters of interpretation about hard hat use in construction (see list) or general industry (see list), you’ve found they generally defer to the hard hat manufacturers on issues about proper use and care, recommending employers follow their guidance. So I thought I’d list these five questions that often come up about hard hats, and provide the answers that are provided by three of the major manufacturers of hard hats on their web sites. And you may be surprised (or maybe not) to find that the manufacturers are not always in agreement on the answers! Please note these recommendations are based on these manufacturers’ web sites as of the date this blog was created; always check the manufacturer’s web site as well as the printed materials that come with your hard hat for their latest recommendations. And be aware that in some cases, the manufacturers’ guidance listed here are restricted to a particular model or type of hard hat; in those cases, information about a different model of hard hat will have to be obtained from that manufacturer. QUESTION #1 – Can I wear a ball cap beneath my hard hat? MSA V-Gard: “The use of a baseball cap may interfere with the capability of the suspension of our helmets to work properly during an impact. Therefore, it is MSA’s recommendation that you should not place a baseball cap between your head and the suspension.” BULLARD: “Bullard hard hats/caps meet or exceed ANSI Z89.1-2003 standards for industrial worker protective headwear. Currently, there are no requirements or tests to examine the effect that a cap or any other object worn inside a hard hat may have on hard hat performance. Therefore, Bullard recommends that hard hat users should never carry or wear anything inside a hard hat. Bullard makes this recommendation for the following reasons: 1. A clearance must be maintained between the hard hat shell and the wearer’s head for the protection system to work properly. An additional cap or other object may limit this clearance. 2. Wearers may be unaware that the cap or object contains metal parts, such as a metal button at the top of a baseball cap, which may diminish the dielectric protection provided by the hard hat. 3. Under no circumstances should any item be placed above or below the crown straps. This will affect the performance of the hard hat. Users should note that some products, such as fabric winterliners and cotton sunshades, are designed to work in conjunction with hard hats.” NORTH/FIBRE-METAL: “Wearing a baseball hat under a hard hat will interfere with the suspension and shell which work together to reduce the force of an impact. The bill of the baseball cap worn under a hard hat will not allow the head protection to sit level on the head, in the work position. North/Fibre Metal recommends NOT wearing a baseball hat under a hard hat. A hooded sweatshirt, winter liners and cooling headwear should not affect the performance of a hard hat if these products are worn properly and are fitted smoothly on the head. Winter liners are designed to attach to the hard hat suspension and seat down onto the head. Cooling bandanas and kerchiefs should also be worn completely down on the head so it does not interfere with the suspension bands.” QUESTION #2 – Can I wear my hard hat backwards? MSA V-Gard: “Since the suspension attachment points on an MSA V-Gard helmet (except those with a UniPro® suspension) are the same from front to back, the suspension can be reversed and the cap worn with the brim facing the rear and still meet the requirements of the applicable protective headwear standard (ANSI Z89.1-1997). Be sure that the suspension has been reversed so that the nape strap is in the rear.” BULLARD: “Bullard ANSI Z89 Type 1 hard hats have been tested and found to be compliant to the requirements of the standard when worn with the shell turned backwards. To perform properly in this manner, the suspension must be reversed in the helmet, so that the headband is oriented normally to the wearer’s head (i.e., with the brow pad against the forehead and the extended nape strap at the base of the skull). In this manner, only the shell of the helmet is backwards on the head. This applies to Z89.1-2003 Type 1 helmets only (Bullard models C30, 3000, C33, 303, 302RT, 4100, 502, S51, S61, S62, S71, 911C & 911H). ANSI Z89.1-2003 Type 2 helmets (Advent® and Vector), because of the lower rear edge of the shell and the asymmetrical pattern of protection offered by their more complex design, should not be worn backwards.”

Performing regular maintenance according to the factory-recommended Maintenance Schedule is the best way to keep your Acura running in optimal condition. Each vehicle has its own maintenance needs, so Acura develops specific maintenance schedules based on model equipment, such as transmission choice or the addition of a towing package. The Maintenance Schedule calculates service needs based on your car's mileage. It checks engine-operating conditions and helps coordinate oil service dates and other maintenance check-ups. Prevent problems before they occur Q: How does the Acura Maintenance Minder work? A: The maintenance minder system shows engine oil life in the information display to let the owner know when it is time to have the engine oil replaced and regular engine maintenance done. There is no longer a maintenance schedule in the owner's manual. The system shows engine oil life as a percentage, which drops over time as the vehicle racks up miles. It starts out at 100% with fresh engine oil, and winds down to 0%, signaling the oil life is over. Q: How does the Acura Maintenance Minder know when the 0% trigger occurs? A: The system counts down oil life based on engine operating conditions (both normal and severe). The on-board computer continuously monitors engine operating conditions such as speed, engine temperature, ambient temperature, time, and vehicle use to determine when an oil change and regular maintenance is necessary. Q: How do I operate the system? A: The Acura Maintenance Minder is very easy to use. As the on-board computer continuously monitors your vehicle, it provides continuous information on the remaining engine oil life left - simply depress the Select/Reset knob on the information display and you will see use progression. When the on-board computer determines that your vehicle has reached 15% of remaining life, it will turn on the Maintenance Minder light for you. In addition, each time the vehicle is started; the information center will default and automatically display the percentage of remaining life. To return to the odometer/tripometer, simply depress the Select/Reset knob. The following chart will explain exactly when service is due: Oil Life % Message What to do 15% Service Due Soon Plan to take your vehicle in for service. 5% Service Due Now Take your vehicle in now for maintenance. 0% Service Past Due Service is overdue. Take your vehicle in now. Q: What happens to the Maintenance Minder if I do not perform maintenance when the remaining life gets to 0%? A: If you do not perform the recommended maintenance the display will start to show negative mileage. This indicates how many miles that the vehicle is past due for service. Q: Along with the and the percentage of remaining life, there is a letter and sometimes, a number displayed - what do they mean? A: All maintenance items in the display are in code. There are two codes: Main-codes and Sub-codes. Your vehicle will always be due for a main code, and at times for a sub-code. Please refer to your owner's manual, Acura Service History booklet, and the following chart to interpret the code: Main Code What it means: Replace just the engine oil Replace the engine oil, oil filter, rotate the tires, inspect the front and rear brakes, check the parking brake adjustment, and inspect other items specific to your vehicle Sub Code Rotate the Tires Replace the air cleaner element, check the drive belt, and replace the dust and pollen filter Replace the transmission fluid and transfer fluid (if equipped) Replace the spark plugs, replace the timing belt (if equipped), inspect the water pump, and inspect valve clearance Replace the engine coolant Replace the rear differential fluid (if equipped) Q: Why will there always be a Main-code? A: The sub-codes are turned on when the main-codes are triggered. Main-codes are USER SPECIFIC and are triggered based on the vehicle's operating conditions. The system is designed to maximize customer convenience. Q: Why is there only sometimes a Sub-code? A: These items require maintenance on a time/mileage based schedule, similar to the maintenance schedules of the past. The Maintenance Minder also calculates time as it factors vehicle use and automatically moves up or delays the sub-codes so they get done with the main-codes. For example, if tire rotation is normally done at 7, 500 miles, but the oil life ends around 6, 000 miles, the system will move up the tire rotation. Or, if the life appears to be ending around 9, 000 miles, the system will delay the rotation. In either case, you would see the maintenance item code A1 in the information display. Q: How many miles can I expect to go between oil changes when using the system? A: It will vary. The beauty of the Acura Maintenance Minder system is that it automatically adjusts the maintenance intervals based on engine operating characteristics, your driving habits, and the climate that you have operated your vehicle in. For instance, mild highway driving in a warm climate will maximize the interval between required maintenance. Depending on the vehicle, this could be as high as 12, 000 miles. On the other hand, short-trip driving in a cold climate may limit the maintenance interval to 3, 000 miles or less. In general, most people who combine city and highway driving find that the Acura Maintenance Minder will indicate maintenance needs about every 6, 000 miles. Most people maintain constant driving habits; this means that mileage between maintenance will be consistent. Q:

This is a description of a staff position at the University of Wyoming, not a job opening announcement. Current job openings can be found at the Prospective Employees page. The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities required. Reports to: Designated Supervisor UW Job Code: 7252 UW Job Family: 72 SOC Code: 49-9043 Pay Grade: 20 Job Purpose: Inspects and maintains University mechanical systems and equipment, heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems and machinery; and services water purification systems. Assist with supervision, Project Scheduling and training. Education: High School Diploma/GED, plus completion of related technical or vocational education/training or an Associate's Degree Experience: 6 years of related machine maintenance and mechanical experience Knowledge of: Basic, routine, and advanced principles of preventive maintenance to include: water lines, steam lines and pneumatic lines, fluid levels, belts, tensioners, and shaft alignment. Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment. Boilers, steam and hot water systems, and de-ionized water systems. Basic, routine, and advanced mechanical, plumbing, and/or electrical principles. Pool operation and maintenance of pool filtering and chemical feed systems; pool safety; and water quality testing. Water quality regulations, policies and standards. Applicable University, federal, state and city regulations and procedures. Basic construction drawings, sketches, blueprints, diagrams, and specifications. The occupational hazards and safety precautions of the trades. Buildings and maintenance recordkeeping using designated computer systems. Customer service standards and procedures. Training methods and procedures. Scheduling and supervisory techniques. Skills and Abilities to: Select appropriate materials based on application and amounts required. Read, understand, and follow safety procedures. Monitor and maintain quality control standards. Perform basic maintenance and repairs to mechanical systems and equipment. Calibrate and maintain pneumatic controls. Perform water tests, make analysis, and add appropriate chemicals as required. Solve technical problems within area of specialty. Make effective decisions impacting projects. Maintain maintenance records. Listen to and check machinery and equipment to identify problems and perform corrective adjustments or repairs. Understand and carry out oral and written instructions. Communicate clearly and concisely. Read and interpret basic and routine construction drawings, schematics, sketches, diagrams, blueprints, and specifications. Develop cost estimates for repairs. Move objects weighing up to 50 pounds regularly. Test and evaluate new materials, tools, and techniques of the trade. Use basic computer programs for technical and communication applications. Work as a team member and foster a cooperative work environment. Ability to lead and prioritize projects Supervise water treatment programs Schedule and manage in Manager's absence Essential Functions: Inspect water lines, steam lines, and/or pneumatic lines for correct fluid levels. Check wear on equipment parts such as v-belts, shaft alignment, oil and water levels on equipment; identify conditions that could lead to equipment failure. Perform repairs on machines and equipment to maintain proper working condition; report major breakdowns to supervisor. Operate, maintain, and perform repairs to individual building boilers. Monitor and adjust air and water temperatures, chemical properties, and water purification. Check heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems for malfunctions; replace filters; grease and oil equipment parts to maintain proper working condition and prevent failures. Service and monitor the reverse osmosis and de-ionized water systems; sample and test heating and chilled water systems. Mix and add chemicals to drains, sewers, and hot/cold water systems, as directed. As assigned, document service dates, problems, repairs, or replacements of equipment and equipment parts and use designated computer software to analyze data on equipment condition. Assist with supervision, project prioritization and training. Complete complex technical work and troubleshooting. Inspect and oversee the work of others. Train and mentor new staff. Act as team leader on job site. Supplemental Functions: May recommend budget expenditures for equipment repair or replacement. Keep abreast of current technology advances on equipment maintenance, repair and operation. Recognize and report hazardous materials including asbestos, lead and mercury. Working Conditions: Shop and in/out door environments; regularly exposed to hazards from power/manual tools, dust, fumes, refrigeration or other chemicals, high and low temperatures, moving mechanical parts, and confined spaces

(Ethylene acrylic acid copolymer) This additive provides corrosion resistance and metal adhesion when used in can and coil, die lubes and industrial maintenance applications. The resulting coating may be removed by alkaline cleaners. Emulsion 19.0 - 21.0 Anionic (Anionic scale wax emulsion) Imparts excellent early water resistance and release properties when used as an additive in wood coatings, furniture coatings and other water based coatings when additional water resistant properties are needed. 48.0 - 52.0 (Anionic polyethylene wax emulsion) Provides mar, rub, block and scratch resistance as well as improved water resistance in coatings and graphic arts formulations. 34.5 - 35.5 (Polyolefin-Acrylic hybrid dispersion) Designed for formulating anti-corrosion primers and pre-treatment sealers for metallic substrates to provide excellent adhesion to various metallic substrates like steel, electroplated steel and aluminum. In addition, it provides excellent water resistance and chemical resistance to acids and many solvents. Specialty Dispersion 20.0 - 22.0 Ammoniated / alkali dispersion (Anionic paraffin/polyethylene emulsion) Imparts lubricity and contributes to water resistance to metal coatings without affecting gloss. 29.5 - 30.5 (Nonionic polyethylene emulsion) A phenol and formaldehyde free emulsion for metal coatings which imparts abrasion resistance, scratch resistance, enhanced lubricity, and torque/tension control. Nonionic (Anionic carnauba wax emulsion) Imparts lubricity to metal coatings and presents food contact compliance. 24.5 - 25.5

As a career and occupational choice, residential maintenance persons should keep the much higher paying Industrial Maintenance career options open. For some, there could be a lot of additional training required to cross over from Residential Maintenance to Industrial Maintenance. Maintenance training certificates can beef up your maintenance resume to give you an edge. But on the bright side, the industry is starving for . The more automated our industry becomes, the quicker the demand rate will grow. Demand will increase even more so, coupled with the fact that baby boomers are retiring. Nobody is sure exactly how the recession will affect the Industrial Maintenance job field yet, but the job market for Industrial Maintenance positions will always be a great choice. The topics you will need to study to cross over to an Industrial Maintenance career will also open up other non-industrial related career opportunities. For example, PLCs control most remote pump stations and water works equipment in every town and city in the USA. And they say working for the state with all its benefits, is looking pretty good during these current unstable economic times. Next step, make a plan: So you have made the choice to prepare for an Industrial Maintenance career. What training should you get first that can open the door the quickest for an Industrial Maintenance career? Career Direction: Your job interviewer may not give much experience credit for mechanical work on industrial equipment with a Residential Maintenance work history, but electrical experience is a much more transferable job skill for Industrial Maintenance. If your previous Residential Maintenance job required you to maintain a state electrical license, the interviewer could see it as Industrial Maintenance Electrician experience. (Because unlike the variables involved in mechanical tasks, electrical tasks are standardized. For example, to install a breaker is the same skill and method in both the Residential Maintenance electrician job and the Industrial Maintenance electrician job. There are many topics an Industrial Maintenance person is and/or need to be trained on. As technology increases, so do the training needs for an Industrial Maintenance person. What you need to know is which of those skills are most sought after by those hiring. We’ve established somewhat that Industrial Maintenance Electrician is a good choice, but what area within that broad field and various industries is the most demanded skill set? I would say that would be the PLC troubleshooting skill. Career Training: Quick career training can make a maintenance person’s resume better. A prerequisite to being an Industrial Maintenance PLC Technician is often considered being a Basic Electrician. (We don't call it a rule at BIN because we have trained many Maintenance Mechanics with a little electrical knowledge to troubleshoot using a PLC. :>) So, at a minimum, the non-state licensed Residential Maintenance person should seek Industrial Electrician Training before PLC training. It would be smart for the Licensed Electrician to take some Industrial Electrician courses too, but if time is of the essence, the electrician may want to get PLC Troubleshooting training first. For example, if currently looking for a job, the licensed electrician with a certificate of PLC training in hand can be looking while taking Industrial Electrician courses to improve hiring possibilities and skill level. There are many various skill levels for a maintenance person’s resume out there. If you are a residential maintenance person who is not sure if you have a required skill or need a refresher; Take the free online assessments found at For the Employer, if PLC knowledge is a requirement for new hires, then pre-qualifying them is essential for the future growth of your business. Check out the above "on line" PLC assessments for a FREE pre-employment test. See also Online Infrared Training Center to expand your career. About the Author: Don Fitchett founded the activity based costing system called "True Downtime Cost" (TDC), authored books and speaks at conventions on the topic and is president of BIN. Don has been in the industrial training sector for over two decades, set up training programs around the world, and still conducts training seminars to this day. Business Industrial Network delivers instructor led industrial training as well as software and on-line industrial training. ( You may copy and distribute this article as long as all credits, including this paragraph are included and all links are active and distribution is not for profit. You may reference portions of this article as long as active link back to this webpage is present. Otherwise this material is copyright protected. )

Known regionally as "The Triangle" the Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill metropolitan area is one of the jewels of America. Home to many great schools like Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State, it is frequently named one of the smartest urban areas in America. This reputation sure holds true, and is especially strengthened by the Triangle Research Park, home to many large biomedical and high tech research institutes and companies like the SAS Institute, IBM, and Merck & Co. These industries have kept the local economy strong; the strongest in the nation through the recession of the late 2000 according to the Brookings Institute. People realize this and have been flocking to the area. Its recent population boom means there is tons of new construction, and a focus on making sure public parks, services, and schools are all particularly excellent. Of course, The Triangle is more than just a great place to work. Between the major cities of the greater Raleigh area, there are tons of cultural events, outdoor adventures, and delicious dining to be enjoyed. The annual American Dance Festival is held right in the area each year, bringing spectacular shows and an all-around fun time for people of all ages. Museum buffs will love the North Carolina Museums of History, Art, and Natural Science. Of course, there is something for the kids too at the Marbles Kids Museum where kids can make art, learn about money at the old time market, and see real x-rays in an old ambulance. If films are more your speed, Durham seems to always have film festivals happening like the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. If you want to get outside, head over to Cary's Booth Ampitheater to see fabulous concerts year round! Head to one of the area's many parks like the Fred G. Bond Metro Park and Boathouse where you can play on athletic fields, picnic under huge tress, or go fishing out on the water.

Grow a beautiful flower garden with minimal care by investing a bit of time at the start of the season to reduce on-going care. Always match flowers to the growing conditions and the care you are willing to provide. Low maintenance plants need minimal or no deadheading and staking. This means you’ll be growing good-looking plants with little effort on your part. And if the plants are suited to the growing conditions and resistant to common pests you’ll be doing less work managing insect and disease problems. Further reduce your workload by selecting self cleaning or free flowering annuals and perennials and those bred for long bloom and compact growth. You’ll enjoy more colorful flowers with less pruning and grooming. Ageratum, angelonia, calibrochoa and many of the newer petunia cultivars are just a few of the annuals that do not need regular deadheading for continual bloom. Include perennials like willow amsonia, bugbane, Solomon seal, turtlehead and sedum autumn joy for lower maintenance and big results. Prepare the soil and provide proper fertilization before planting. Work several inches of compost or other organic matter into the top 8 to 12 inches of soil to improve drainage and water holding ability. Incorporate a low nitrogen organic fertilizer like Milorganite at the same time. The slow release formulation provides needed nutrients throughout most if not all of the season. Plus, it promotes slow steady growth that won’t interfere with flowering, is less susceptible to pests and is more drought tolerant. Properly space the plants, making sure they have sufficient room to reach their full size. Overcrowding means you will be thinning or dividing plants more often or battling disease problems instead of enjoying the full beauty the plants provide. Consider removing flowers on annuals at planting. This allows plants to focus energy on establishing roots instead of flowers. Can’t bear to do this? Then remove the flowers on every other plant or every other row. Then a week or two later remove the flowers on the remaining plants. You will soon be rewarded with full compact plants that will produce more flowers throughout the season. Pinch back long and leggy transplants. Use a hard pinch to remove the tip and several inches of stem. Use your pruners or fingers to remove stems just above a set of leaves. The remaining plant will still look good while you wait for new leaves and stems to grow and produce new blooms. Encourage branching on single stemmed plants with a soft pinch. Remove just the uppermost portion of the stem where the leaves and tip are starting to develop. Soon you will have a well branched plant and more blossoms. Improve plant posture and reduce the need for staking with early season pruning. Keep mums and asters compact by pinching them back to six inches throughout June to encourage compact growth. Eliminate floppy growth and the need for staking on late bloomers like Boltonia, Autumn Joy sedum, Russian sage and Heliopsis Revive catmint and perennial salvia that flop open in the center with pruning. Cut flopping plants back halfway once or twice a season as needed. And don’t forget to mulch. Covering the soil surface with an inch or two of shredded leaves, evergreen needles/pine straw or other organic material will conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil as they decompose. Always water new plantings often enough to keep the top few inches of soil moist. Once established water thoroughly and only as needed. This encourages drought tolerant roots, so you’ll need to do less watering in the future. With proper planning, plant selection and soil preparation you can keep your ongoing care to a minimum. That means more time to relax and enjoy your beautiful garden.

Purdue Polytechnic Institute (one of 10 colleges at Purdue University) Building construction management (BCM) prepares students for a challenging and rewarding career in management or project management within the construction industry. Through interactive classes and hands-on projects, BCM students experience all aspects of a construction project. Classes focus on leadership and organization as well as materials and processes. They also include the latest industry technologies, including building information modeling. The Purdue Polytechnic Institute is one of 10 academic colleges at Purdue University. The Polytechnic specializes in team-based labs where you’ll test ideas, take things apart and put them back together — only better. You’ll learn side-by-side with professors who have worked in the industry and thrive on combining theory, imagination and real-world application. In this innovative environment, you'll learn by doing - gaining deep technical knowledge and applied skills in your chosen discipline coupled with problem-solving, critical-thinking, communication and leadership skills employers desire.

Amtrak said the train was heading from New York to Savannah, Ga., on Sunday when it struck a backhoe outside Philadelphia. Glenn R. Hills Jr./AP hide caption toggle caption Glenn R. Hills Jr./AP Amtrak said the train was heading from New York to Savannah, Ga., on Sunday when it struck a backhoe outside Philadelphia. Glenn R. Hills Jr./AP The investigation into the crash of an Amtrak train just south of Philadelphia on Sunday, in which two people were killed, is ongoing. A forward-facing video from the train that recorded footage "up to the collision" showed that there was "construction equipment on the track and work train equipment on the track immediately adjacent to the Amtrak train's track, " said Ryan Frigo, the National Transportation Safety Board investigator in charge. Frigo said the "engineer placed the train into emergency" about five seconds from the end of the recording and added that the train's speed at that time was 106 mph. The track speed at that location is 110 mph, he said. Frigo said the cars and their maintenance records were inspected and "no anomalies" were found. He said the train's braking system would be examined Tuesday. As The Two-Way reported yesterday, "Amtrak says the accident was caused when train 89 hit a backhoe on the tracks, derailing the lead engine. The railroad service says approximately 341 passengers and seven crew members were on board at the time."

Whether you are getting ready to sell your home or just want to show a little more pride in ownership, updating your yard can make a difference. Not everyone has a green thumb, but having a beautifully landscaped yard may help give your home a little extra curb appeal. If you don’t have the gardening knowledge — or luck — that it takes to maintain your dream front yard, there are still easy curb appeal projects you can undertake to boost its appearance. Low-Maintenance Plants and Flowers Just because you’re not an avid gardener doesn’t mean you can’t have an attractive garden, but it may mean you’re better suited for low-maintenance plants that require minimal watering, pruning and weeding. The National Gardening Association says planting flowering shrubs or perennials can minimize maintenance over time, as they grow back each year on their own. Better Homes and Gardens says low-maintenance plants include: Chamomile Thyme Violets Daylilies Yarrow Lavender Roses Rosemary Get A Quote Get A Quick, Personalized Insurance Quote Today. A great rate is just a few clicks away. Other low-maintenance plant options, says The Old Farmer’s Almanac, include dwarf varieties of shrubs and trees and native plants to your area. If you use flora that naturally survives in your climate, it will adapt to surroundings and require less outside assistance, adds the Almanac. Select plants that will thrive in your yard’s conditions, says Better Homes and Gardens, and they will basically take care of themselves. Simple Gardening Techniques