Komatsu Company Stores - Connections - July 2022

Connections Site Services Group LLC

Ken Aston, owner/director

Jim Gaidula, PE, owner/director

A publication for and about Komatsu Company Stores customers • komatsustores.com • July 2022

A Message from Komatsu

Technology is changing the construction industry Dear Valued Customer:

As technology in the construction industry continues to expand, the benefits are becoming increasingly obvious — improved efficiency and production, cost savings, and increased safety. Want to train new operators on how to move dirt before they ever actually sit in a machine? There are now advanced training tools such as simulators that allow new employees to gain experience in a safe environment. Want to track your projects digitally, and reduce paper consumption? With technology, you can.

Komatsu has a suite of Smart Construction customer support solutions designed to help companies digitally transform their Grant Adams operations throughout every phase of a project. You can read about Komatsu's new intelligent Machine Control (iMC) 2.0 technology, which introduces additional features such as auto tilt bucket control and bucket angle hold control on several mid- to large-sized construction excavators, including the PC290LCi-11, the PC360LCi-11 and the PC390LCi-11.

After enduring the hottest summer on record last year, protecting workers from the heat should be a top priority. We offer some tips to help you get prepared for the hot summer days ahead.

Plus, check out the story about our featured customer, Pennsylvania-based Site Services Group LLC, and see how Komatsu equipment has helped them be more efficient.

As always, if there is anything we can do for you, please call one of our branch locations.

Sincerely,

Grant Adams, Vice President & GM of Company Owned Distribution

Published for Komatsu Company Stores. © 2022 Construction Publications Inc. Printed in the USA.

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Connections

Creating value together Elko, Nevada 4450 P&H Dr, Elko, NV 89801

In this issue Site Services Group LLC pg. 4

Discover how this design-build firm serves private and public clients throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

Safety Spotlight pg. 8

Read about how technology makes training safer for new employees.

Fuel Facts pg. 10

Check out these tips to help lower your fuel costs.

Tech Talk pg. 12

Learn how to integrate technology to overcome job site challenges.

Summer Safety pg. 17

Prepare for the hot summer days ahead with these tips.

(775) 753-7557 Las Vegas, Nevada 3825 Losee Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89030

Baltimore, Maryland 1400 Joh Ave, Baltimore, MD 21227 (410) 247-2100 South Plainfield, New Jersey 2820 Hamilton Blvd, South Plainfield, NJ 07080 (908) 561-9000

(702) 399-1004 Reno, Nevada 900 Marietta Way, Reno, NV 89431 (775) 356-1334 Salt Lake City, Utah 1486 S Distribution Dr,

Winslow, New Jersey 201 NJ-73, Cedar Brook, NJ 08018 (856) 767-5900 Holbrook, New York 601 Coates Ave, Holbrook, NY 11741 (631) 563-7600

Salt Lake City, UT 84104 (801) 972-3660 St. George, Utah 1409 East 3850 South, St. George, UT 84790 (435) 986-1000 Casper, Wyoming

Yonkers, New York 4 Executive Plaza, Yonkers, NY 10701 (914) 738-5100 Frackville, Pennsylvania 6 S. Eleanor Avenue Frackville, PA 17931 (570) 874-6140

1180 Iron St, Casper, WY 82636 (307) 223-4660 Gillette, Wyoming 10790 South Hwy 59, Gillette, WY 82718 (307) 682-1445

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 6375 Allentown Blvd, Harrisburg, PA 17112 (717) 652-3190 Hatfield, Pennsylvania 2240 Bethlehem Pike, Hatfield, PA 19440 (215) 822-0145

Rock Springs, Wyoming 405 Jonah Dr, Rock Springs, WY 82901 (307) 686-1300 Laurel, Delaware 28587 Sussex Hwy, Laurel, DE 19956 (302) 715-5382

State College, Pennsylvania 689 East College Ave, Bellefonte, PA 16823 (814) 308-5660 Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania 1261 PA-315, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702 (570) 824-9891

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A Salute to a Komatsu Customer

Site Services Group LLC delivers a decade of experience in design-build services

A Ken Aston, owner/director

Jim Gaidula, PE, owner/director

As a kid, Ken Aston learned from his father’s construction company that the industry required hard work and passion to be successful. When his father retired, he ran the company with his brother, Robert. A few years later, Robert tragically passed away after being struck by lightning, and Aston reevaluated his life.

“He was my partner, and it changed everything.

After I fulfilled our contracts, I had a long talk with my wife, and we decided to sell everything off. Then, I went to work for a major developer, which is where I met my current business partner.”

About 10 years ago, Aston founded Site Services Group LLC with his partner, Jim Gaidula, PE. By combining Aston’s experience in the field and his business partner’s background in civil engineering, the firm took a unique approach to the industry.

“We’re a design-build firm that can do everything in-house,” explained Aston. “From civil engineering, through permitting and taking a job site to final grade, we’re involved in every aspect. Not only does that make us more efficient, but it strengthens our relationships with our customers because they only have to make one call instead of dealing with multiple subcontractors.”

With an office in Moosic, Pa., the company serves private and public clients throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Aston notes that Site Services Group’s approximately 40 employees are pivotal to their success.

“We’re a team,” stated Aston. “It’s important for me to be hands-on and keep projects moving in the right direction, but I trust our guys to be focused and busy. We operate in a fast-paced environment and rely on each other to reach deadlines. Our customers have been satisfied and continue to turn to us for repeat work.”

Smart machines to build a smart greenhouse Recently, Site Services Group began building a greenhouse for a sustainable agriculture company. When completed, the greenhouse will use completely automated processes, allowing a seed to grow into a head of lettuce in 28 days.

The firm broke ground on the project in the spring of 2021 and are nearly finished.

“We cleared roughly 44 acres and 250,000 yards of material,” said Aston. “Approximately 80% of that was rock. Luckily, I have a background in blasting, and we were able to move the material to start foundation work by June of last year.

“The greenhouse company contracted us for the foundation work because the workers building the physical greenhouse structures

At its sustainable greenhouse job site, Site Services Group utilized its Komatsu PC650LC excavator to load large quantities of material into its fleet of Komatsu HM350 and HM400 articulated trucks.

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An operator moves material with a D61PXi-24 intelligent Machine Control (iMC) dozer. “I’ve been running equipment for most of my life, and I personally feel the Komatsu D61 iMC dozer is the best grading dozer I’ve ever operated,” stated Ken Aston, owner of Site Services Group. “The slanted nose, central cab and slightly larger C frame provide excellent blade visibility.”

were from the Netherlands and were used to working in softer material, while we had more experience in the rock,” continued Aston. “We decided to precast the foundations. We were able to set 40 to 50 precast foundations 8 feet deep and 36 inches in diameter per day. In total, we set 1,124 foundations well ahead of schedule. The people that had been building the greenhouses for 20 years were flabbergasted.”

To complete the work, Site Services Group utilized its fleet of Komatsu equipment, including a PC390LC excavator with aftermarket GPS technology.

“The GPS technology on the 390 allowed us to load files into the excavator’s system to help maximize our operator’s efficiency,” explained Aston. “Without any stakes on the ground, the operator could dig a precise hole horizontally and vertically. Then they would put down subbase material, place the precast foundation and move on to the next hole. All of that was possible because of the GPS technology.”

Aston emphasized that utilizing GPS technology, even on its older model dozers, greatly reduced the cost of labor and improved operator efficiency.

“You can’t be competitive without GPS equipment,” stated Aston. “A job site this size would have required three people on the ground constantly checking grade. Giving our operators screens and controls to know where they are on a job site and what the project is supposed to look like allowed us to remove the grade stakes and let our operators make every move count.”

Site Services Group’s fleet of Komatsu equipment helps it attack multiple aspects of the project’s scope.

“We’re using our two D61PXi dozers to push material to max efficiency,” noted Aston. “We have two PC390 excavators, a PC490 excavator and a PC650 excavator on-site to load material.

At the peak of site prep, we were loading our HM400 and HM350 articulated trucks with 12,000 yards of material a day.”

For Aston, the Komatsu D61PXi-24 intelligent Machine Control (iMC) dozers outperform the competition.

Continued . . .

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‘The team at Komatsu is reliable’ . . . continued

“I’ve been running equipment for most of my life, and I personally feel that the Komatsu D61 iMC dozer is the best grading dozer I’ve ever operated,” stated Aston. “The slanted nose, central cab and slightly larger C frame provide excellent blade visibility. When combined with the machine’s GPS capabilities, our operators can meet tolerances within a quarter inch.”

Reliability and support

For Site Services Group, machine reliability and dealership support are crucial. That’s why the company partners with Komatsu and sales representative Tim Reilly.

“I’ve found the Komatsu equipment to be very dependable,” stated Aston. “Even more importantly, the team at Komatsu is reliable.

We’ve worked with both the Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and South Plainfield, N.J., shops. The people at both shops are very knowledgeable and will go out of their way to answer any of our questions.

“We’ve had so few problems with our Komatsu machines that it seems like the only time I have to talk to Tim is when I need to rent a machine or purchase a new one,” continued Aston. “When my partners and I started this company, we didn’t have a lot of money. Tim was instrumental in getting us up and running. I would consider Tim a partner because we wouldn’t be able to take on a project the size of the greenhouse job without the support from him and Komatsu.”

Looking ahead

The future appears to be busy for Site Services Group.

“We have a full calendar through 2022 and are filling up 2023 quickly,” said Aston. “We’re still looking to grow because all of our work comes from word of mouth and repeat business, and we want to be able to deliver when a customer calls.”

Aston says that he’s ready for a power shift.

Site Services Group owner Ken Aston (left) works closely with Komatsu sales representative Tim Reilly to find the right machines. “We’ve had so few problems with our Komatsu machines that it seems like the only time I have to talk to Tim is when I need to rent a machine or purchase a new one,” said Aston. “When my partner and I started this company, we didn’t have a lot of money. Tim was instrumental in getting us up and running. I would consider Tim (and Komatsu) a partner.”

“I’m getting older and have worked crazy hours my entire life,” noted Aston. “I’m looking to slow down a little and let the younger guys have more responsibility. I’m comfortable doing that because the company is in a good place, and we’re positioned to stay that way for the foreseeable future.” ■

An operator uses a Komatsu PC390LC excavator with aftermarket GPS technology to dig a trench along the foundation for a sustainable greenhouse. “Without any stakes on the ground, the operator could dig a precise hole horizontally and vertically,” said owner Ken Aston.

“Then they would put down subbase material, place the precast foundation and move on to the next hole.”

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Safety Spotlight

Technology tools make training safer and can potentially have profitability benefits

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Hands-on training can be a great way to learn a new skill. However, it can also pose a safety risk for workers learning new tasks when they have little or no experience.

To limit these risks — and still allow trainees to gain experience — more people are turning to technology. Online training, simulators, mixed and virtual reality, and other innovative methods allow new employees to get the training they need in a safe environment.

“Komatsu — and our partners — focus on zero-harm initiatives. Workplace injuries are costly, and putting unskilled people in situations they are unfamiliar with increases risk,” said Bill Chimley, Komatsu’s senior director of training and publications for North America and the company’s global mining solutions. “Using today’s technology to build a knowledge base and skills through e-learning and simulated job site environments makes a great deal of sense.”

Online, computer learning

Universities began developing online learning courses and degrees several years ago, allowing students to take classes at their own pace, from any geographical location or without the need for a professor to directly share the content.

Simulators provide workers with real-world scenarios and let them build skills in a safe environment that doesn’t involve the risk of injury.

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This decreased the costs associated with travel and being on campus, while reducing the overhead of the university. Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased the number of people turning to technology-based education. From colleges to technical schools to businesses to high schools, millions of learners accepted this as part of their blended curriculum.

“A real advantage of online and computer-based modules is that they can be done practically anytime, from anywhere,” said Chimley. “The value of ‘in-the-flow-of-work’ has grown tremendously as manufacturers struggle to attract, upskill and retain employees.

Candidates for many job roles in our industry are building and advancing their skills before they ever see a machine or job site. This can be beneficial for work areas that have inherent safety concerns such as working on electrical systems. Understanding how they work can help reduce or eliminate the risk of shock.”

Chimley added, “Our contractors want their workers to get similar training when it comes to their operations, whether it’s a mechanic, an operator, a fleet manager or anyone else in their organization who has a desire to learn.”

Wearable devices play an important role in training

Two-way headsets have been around for many years, and Komatsu trainers have used them in conjunction with on-the-job and in-the-cab training. The ability to connect a technician on the job site with an expert back at the main office — while sharing relevant information and first-person point of view — has grown in functionality and usage during the pandemic.

Tools like these provide another way to upskill while on the job and can help bridge the gap to the next generation of workers.

“I’m not sure we will ever see the same amount of on-site training as before the pandemic, but there are certain situations where it’s necessary to have someone physically there,” said Chimley. “Fortunately, our trainers are very skilled at the systems, function and operation of our products. They know the capabilities of the machines and have years of experience in many applications.

Online learning has been available in the construction industry for many years, but the global pandemic increased its usage.

It’s a way for workers to safely build their knowledge while working at their own pace or within a certain timeframe.

“In real time, by using wearable devices, they can tell trainees what they need to do to be more effective, like spotting a truck differently for an operator, or troubleshooting a hydraulic system,” Chimley added. “Wearable devices will no doubt grow in functionality, but today they still have a great deal of value in situations where expert advice is needed in real time.”

Simulators with AR, VR

If wearable devices like headsets are at the beginning of the training technology spectrum, then augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) are at the end. AR uses a real-world setting, while VR is completely virtual. MR works by creating experiences that fuse the virtual world with the real one through enhanced holographic visuals. All three can be used to help employees learn skills within a safe environment.

“With relatively few components, today’s simulators are very portable and can be set up practically anywhere,” said Chimley. “Time on

actual production machines is very difficult to obtain, so simulators offer a real advantage.

When training is done on a machine, you can only have one person in the cab at a time, and the rest of the operators are likely standing around watching.”

The payoff is worth it

Safety is always the number one priority for workers and trainees, and there can be significant costs associated with workplace injuries. With direct and indirect costs, a single incident could cost thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“Incidents have financial impacts both in the short term with fines, and in the long term with higher EMRs (Experience Modification Rates) that lead to increased insurance premiums,” said Chimley. “Reducing the likelihood of injury is essential, and today’s training tools are a good way of doing that. While there is a cost to online training with simulators and other methods, the payoff is well worth it.” ■

Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from a longer piece that includes information about Komatsu Academy. To read it in its entirety and learn more about Komatsu’s goal of building a learning community, please visit https://www.komatsu.com/ en/blog/2022/technologytools-make-training-safer/.

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Fuel Facts

Here are some tips on how to lower fuel costs even when prices are high

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Watch the video

The bad news: The cost of fuel has reached record highs across the country, and the construction industry is feeling the impact. The average price of diesel is nearly $6 per gallon in many states, almost double what it was last year, and could continue to rise. Fuel is a major expense for most construction companies — and when its cost goes up, so does the threat to companies’ bottom lines.

Idling is necessary in certain situations such as warming up and cooling down a machine. It could also be justified when you are in high-production activities that involve near-constant movement, such as loading trucks with an excavator and charging crushers with a loader, where restarting would negatively affect productivity.

Negotiate

Using Auto Idle Shutdown, a feature available on most Tier 4 Final machines, is an easy way to decrease idle time during unproductive periods.

Your machines’ operations and maintenance manuals can show you how to set it — the minimum is five minutes before shutdown begins in most cases — and your local dealer can help too.

While we cannot control the cost at the pump, the good news is there are still ways for construction companies to reduce their fuel usage and lower costs.

In some cases, you can help defray costs through contracts and agreements. Negotiating a surcharge clause that gives you the ability to raise prices if fuel costs reach a certain level is a possibility. You may also have a simple deal with a customer that gives you the ability to do the same. If you signed a contract before prices soared and don’t have fuel surcharges in place, you can try to add them, but it’s more likely you will have to seek ways to reduce your owning and operating costs and offset the higher price.

Reduce your idle time

If you are idling for extended, unproductive periods of time, you are wasting fuel.

Telematics let fleet managers easily track idle time by machine for their entire equipment lineup. If they see excessive idling, they can address it with operators and other on-site personnel.

Heed ECO Guidance suggestions

ECO Guidance, which provides information to operators on energy-saving operations that reduce fuel consumption, is a feature on most machines introduced during the past 10 years.

It displays messages on the monitor in certain situations, such as an idling stop guidance if

Excessive idle time wastes fuel and reducing it can be one of your biggest cost savers. Using Auto Idle Shutdown, a feature available on most Komatsu Tier 4 Final machines, is an easy way to decrease idle time during unproductive periods. Another available feature is ECO Guidance, which provides information to operators on energy-saving operations that reduce fuel consumption.

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Fuel is a major expense for construction companies, but no matter the price, there are easy ways to reduce usage, such as using technology, choosing properly sized machines, and running them in the right mode.

no operation is performed for more than five minutes, and the engine is idling.

Choose the most effective mode

ECO Guidance might also suggest operating in Economy (E) mode instead of Power (P) mode.

E mode provides better fuel efficiency, so it’s often the best choice. Excavators and dozers are used for both digging and moving naturally compacted soils, and in most instances, E mode will get the job done without unnecessary fuel burn. However, if the material is hard such as heavy clay and requires greater power to move, then P mode should be used.

Properly size and match equipment for the task

Bigger is not always better and using a large machine for a job that a smaller one can efficiently do increases fuel usage and overall operating costs. Fleet managers need to consider several factors when utilizing equipment, including choosing the right size for the job.

It is also important to consider sizing attachments correctly. Excavator buckets are

a prime example. Many contractors believe bigger is always better with buckets. However, at the end of the day, the pile of dirt excavated or loaded is often the same with a properly sized smaller bucket. Larger buckets extend cycle times, work a machine harder, spend more time over hydraulic relief, and end up burning more fuel.

Use technology

GPS-based grading helps increase productivity and lower per-yard costs to move material. In the last 20 years, GPS technology has improved significantly with integrated machine control that lowered costs associated with replacing cables, masts and additional satellites that increased accuracy.

Many of today’s machines with integrated GPS grade control also feature additional technologies, such as Komatsu’s Proactive Dozing Control logic, that help operators get to grade even faster and at lower costs, including reduced fuel usage. An added benefit is that technology is helping new operators become proficient at moving dirt faster than ever before. ■

Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from a longer blog. To read it in its entirety and find out more about fuel savings, visit https://www.komatsu. com/en/blog/2022/ tips-for-lowering-yourfuel-costs-even-whenprices-are-high/.

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Tech Talk

How to integrate tech to overcome job site challenges

J Jason Anetsberger, director of customer solutions, Komatsu

Job site challenges are nothing new, but today’s technology lets you overcome them more quickly. Whether by providing real-time data, tracking productivity, or helping you remotely visualize a job site, implementing some of the latest equipment and management technology can help you advance solutions like never before.

Start Smart

Construction has increasingly become more digital. Building information modeling (BIM) allows various stakeholders to collaborate throughout the course of a project using a 3D model of a site or structure. All parties involved — engineers, architects, contractors and their personnel, and project owners — have access to the digital plans. Everyone can see and track progress, and make updates much more quickly than in the old days with paper plans, job site visits and phone calls.

That’s a definite advantage for project managers who may be overseeing multiple jobs and can’t always get to those sites but still need reliable, accurate data and the ability to communicate design changes quickly.

Komatsu already has a suite of Smart Construction customer support solutions designed to help companies digitally

A lack of skilled operators is a huge challenge for earthmoving companies right now, but with automation, new operators can become productive faster. Komatsu intelligent Machine Control (iMC) dozers with automated features enable operators to cut/strip from existing terrain, regardless of skill level. The ability to use automatics from first pass to last, instead of just during finish grading, significantly reduces the time it takes to reach target elevation.

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transform their operations throughout every phase of a project. Among them is Smart Construction Drone, which provides survey technology that builds an accurate topography of a site safely, quickly and easily.

“High-precision drone mapping is faster than traditional surveys, so you save time and costs,” said Jason Anetsberger, director of customer solutions, Komatsu.

“Preconstruction flyovers let you see things you can’t with paper plans. Consistent drone flights throughout a project give you information about progress across the entire site and assist with progress tracking.”

Anetsberger added that Komatsu’s Smart Construction experts can work with you to get a 3D model built and help with drone flight.

“Using Smart Construction Dashboard, you can calculate takeoff quantities for bids, move from 2D to 3D for optimized machine data, and eliminate the need for paper plans,” said Anetsberger. “The 3D design plans can be uploaded directly into Komatsu’s Smart Construction intelligent Machine Control (iMC) excavators and dozers with the use of Smart Construction Remote, including new iMC 2.0 models that have technology upgrades to further automate earthmoving operations.”

Accurate slope digs and changes in elevation present challenges for excavators. Komatsu iMC 2.0 excavators let you dig straight to grade using one machine with integrated GPS and uploaded 3D data models. The latest generation (PC210LCi-11, PC290LCi-11, PC360LCi-11 and PC390LCi-11) can help improve production by up to 33% and efficiency as much as 63% compared to conventional excavation and grading methods.

Automate dozing

A lack of skilled operators is a huge challenge for earthmoving companies right now, but with automation, new operators can become productive faster. The ability to use automatics from first pass to last, instead of just during finish grading, significantly reduces the time it takes to reach target elevation.

Komatsu’s iMC 2.0 dozers with integrated GPS feature proactive dozing control that enables operators to cut/strip from existing terrain, regardless of their experience level. This is because the machine’s GPS technology decides on the action of the blade, such as whether to cut and carry, spread, fill or finish grade. The dozer measures the terrain as operators track over it and then uses the data to plan the next pass — which can improve productivity by up to 60% compared to the previous generation.

The iMC 2.0 dozers have additional technology features: •

Lift layer control helps eliminate excess fill as the automatic blade control follows the finished surface once lifts have reached target elevation. A simple press of a button optimizes earthwork productivity.

•

•

Tilt steering control automatically tilts the blade to maintain straight travel during rough dozing and reduces operator steering input by up to 80%.

Quick surface creation lets operators create a temporary design surface with the press of a button. Combined with iMC 2.0 functions, crews can begin stripping or spreading using automated input while waiting for the finish grade model.

Virtually eliminate over-excavation

For construction companies, over-excavation on trench, footing and basement digs have long been an issue. This leads to extra work and more costly materials to replace what didn’t need to be removed in the first place.

For more information about Smart Construction solutions, My Komatsu, Komtrax and iMC 2.0 dozers and excavators, contact your local Komatsu representative and visit www.komatsu.com.

Accurate slope digs and changes in elevation also present challenges. Those are costly in terms of time, surveying, staking, grade checking, and the need for multiple machines such as an excavator to get close to grade and a dozer to finish.

Contractors can significantly reduce such costs using Komatsu iMC 2.0 excavators, because they can dig straight to grade using one machine with integrated GPS and uploaded

Continued . . .

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Reduce costs with Komatsu iMC 2.0 excavators . . . continued

3D data models. The latest generation (PC210LCi-11, PC290LCi-11, PC360LCi-11 and PC390LCi-11) can help improve production by up to 33% and efficiency as much as 63% compared to conventional excavation and grading methods.

Editor’s Note: This article is excerpted from a longer piece that appears on Komatsu’s blog. To read the full article, visit https://www.komatsu. com/blog/2022/ how-to-integrate-techto-overcome-job-sitechallenges/.

Komatsu iMC 2.0 excavators have unique features such as auto tilt bucket control that automatically aligns the bucket parallel with a slope, so finish grading can be accomplished without needing to align the machine with the target surface.

Another feature is bucket angle hold control, which helps operators reach finish grade quickly and accurately because it automatically holds the bucket angle to the design surface during arm operation, enabling operators to perform finish grading using only arm input.

Remotely exchange information

Because job sites often evolve and rarely end up finishing exactly as planned, smart businesses are increasingly performing the task of updating plans digitally and remotely with technology such as Smart Construction Remote.

Now, you no longer have to travel to the job site with a USB drive. You can send updates directly to connected iMC machines and field personnel from practically anywhere.

“You can also remotely support operators,” said Anetsberger. “If they have Job sites evolve, and plans change. Instead of driving to the site to deliver updates, you can send design changes directly to connected iMC machines with Smart Construction Remote. Fleet managers can also remotely support operators and see exactly what they see on the monitor in their machine.

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an issue with their machine or a question on the digital plans, Smart Construction Remote lets GPS managers and project managers connect with the machine and see exactly what the operator does on their monitor. That eliminates a trip, saving time and money.”

Getting updates from the job site is also more convenient with Smart Construction Field, which can eliminate the wait for phone calls or field personnel to drop off information. It allows you to digitally track job site activities as well as aggregate personnel, machine and material costs to compare progress status in terms of schedule and costs.

See your fleet data anytime, anywhere

Fleet managers know the challenges of getting the information they need to maintain machinery and make important decisions related to service. What if all the utilization data, parts ordering capabilities, service manuals and more were available in one platform?

“My Komatsu enables users to access and evaluate their assets,” said Komatsu’s Gabe Saenz, digital experience manager.

“It can save countless hours of trying to track down machine information and help you be more proactive about service and repairs, when to order parts, and other critical factors related to fleet management.” ■

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Summer Safety

The heat is on. Here are some tips to prepare for the hot summer days ahead

H

Hot weather is particularly challenging to the construction industry because workers are often exposed to the elements, including high temperatures and humidity. After enduring the hottest summer on record last year, protecting workers from the heat should be a top priority.

Ounces of prevention

Hydration plays a significant role in reducing heat illnesses and keeping your body properly conditioned for the job. Fluid intake is essential before, during and after work.

Recommendations call for drinking water or electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade every 15 minutes, even if you are not thirsty — at least 6 to 8 ounces every hour. In extreme heat, it’s even more important to replenish fluids lost to perspiration.

Choose the right clothes

Appropriate clothing makes a big difference in hot environments. Choose lightweight clothing made of synthetic fabrics that wick sweat from the skin. For outdoor work, light-colored clothing is often recommended because it reflects the sun’s rays. Looser-fitting clothes will also allow air to circulate and cool the body. However, job sites present hazards with

equipment and machinery that can catch baggy clothing, so be mindful.

Sunscreen is very important

Clothing is a great help in warding off the sun’s rays, but it’s essential to put sunscreen on any exposed skin. Pay attention to the sun protection factor (SPF) in your sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends using a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day. An important fact to remember: UV rays pass through glass, so even if you are operating a machine or sitting in a pickup, use sunscreen.

Working times

All job sites get hot during the summer months, especially those in urban areas where concrete and asphalt trap heat, and can send temperatures soaring. Since the sun is directly overhead at noon, the hottest part of the day is typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Working with Komatsu means being part of a culture of zero harm where everyone is responsible for each other’s safety.

Learn more about Komatsu’s drive to zero harm by visiting https:// www.komatsu.com/en/ our-commitment/drivingto-zero-harm/

Try to avoid scheduling work during those times if you can. If that’s not possible, plan for more frequent breaks, and seek shade where the temperatures are cooler, such as under an awning, an umbrella or a tree. ■

Keeping workers safe in the summer heat is essential, so try to avoid scheduling work during the hottest hours of the day. Employees should have access to water, sunscreen and frequent breaks.

17

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