By Ellen Smith In a decision rejecting the way MSHA determines penalties, ALJ Michael Zielinski essentially threw out MSHA’s use of “violations per inspection day” for small operations, stating that the federal agency’s formula skews the violation history of small mines, and can lead to higher penalties.
Read MoreMonth: August 2013
MSHA Touts Record-Low Fatality, Injury Rates
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced the release of final data for 2012 that indicate the lowest fatality and injury rates in the history of U.S. mining, along with the lowest rate of contractor fatalities since the agency began calculating those rates in 1983.
Read MoreKobelco’s Back
By Mark S. Kuhar Kobelco Construction Machinery USA held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new Houston-based North American Headquarters following the relaunch of the brand as an independent product line earlier this year. The event was attended by nearly all of Kobelco’s recently signed dealers, a host of local and national media and several local officials, as well as Kobelco…
Read MoreFlexco Receives Award
August 15, 2013 – The University of Illinois, Business Innovation Services (BIS) recently presented the 2013 “Manufacturing Excellence Award” to Flexco. Several local representatives were on hand to present Flexco with the award, including Director of State Relations Dianna Barrows; U.S. Representative Bill Foster; Deputy Director of The Employment and Training Program for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity…
Read MoreDisel Fuel as of August 15, 2013
The national estimated average price-per-gallon for off-highway diesel fuel as of August 15 is $3.621. That is higher than the previous comparison price-per-gallon of $3.585.
Read MoreLife or Death
August 15, 2013 – Aggregate Industries (AIUS), a member of the Holcim Group, and the International Rescue Dog Organization, based in Salzburg, Austria, are hosting an International Search and Rescue Testing at the AIUS K-9 Testing Facility in Littleton, Mass., on Aug. 16. Rescue dogs and their handlers will undergo rigorous testing, including a search for volunteer human “survivors” under…
Read MoreVulcan, Martin Marietta Execs Look to Future
The top executives at Vulcan Materials Co. and Martin Marietta Materials are looking ahead to the rest of 2013, and they like what they see.
Read MoreConstruction Spending Cools in June
Total construction spending cooled in June as residential building hit the pause button, while private nonresidential and public construction also declined, according to an analysis of new Census Bureau data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged lawmakers in Washington to make infrastructure investment a top federal priority for the fiscal year beginning in October.
Read MoreConstruction Employment Inches Forward
The unemployment rate for construction workers fell to the lowest July level in five years last month, even though employment has stagnated in the past four months, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials urged Washington leaders to act on stalled infrastructure funding measures to help jump start construction hiring.
Read MoreDodge Momentum Index Steadies in July
The Dodge Momentum Index held steady in July compared to the previous month, according to McGraw Hill Construction, a division of McGraw Hill Financial.
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