GCA Construction News Bulletin June 2015

VOL. 56 ISSUE 6 JUNE 2015 • GUAM CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION

CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

YOUʼRE IN GOOD HANDS Introducing the New American Medical Clinic in Mangilao

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

14

6

S.A.M.E.

10

INSIDER NEWS

12

CONSTRUCTION HEADLINE

14

FEATURE STORY

18

PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

20

AROUND THE BENCH

22

CRANE CRITIQUE

26

REPORTS/INFORMATION

20

Feature Story

Around the Bench

Chamorro Phrase Of The Month Fino Chamorro: English:

Nihi ta hano para y mediku!

Let’s go to the Doctor’s!

brought to you by The Guam Contractors Association.

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GCA

TRADES ACADEMY B u i l d i n g

S k i l l s

F o r

A

L i f e t i m e

Guam Contractors Association

THEDIRECTORS PRESIDENT James A. Martinez Guam Constractors Association PAST CHAIRMAN Art Chan Hawaiian Rock Products CHAIRMAN - ELECT John Sage WATTS Constructors VICE CHAIRMAN - ELECT William Beery Tutujan Hill Group SECRETARY/TREASURER Conchita Bathan Core Tech International CONTRACTORS DIRECTORS: Carlo Leon Guerrero M80s Office Systems Mark Mamczarz Black Construction Corp Miguel Rangel Maeda Pacific Corporation John Robertson AmOrient Contracting Rick Brown dck pacific guam LLC ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: Jeffrey Larson TakeCare Insurance Michael Kikuta Matson Navigation Patty Lizama Pacific Isla Life Mark Cruz Mid Pac Far East

THEEDITORIALS Guam Contractor’s Association (GCA) in conjunction with AdzTech and Public Relations, Inc. publishes the Construction News Bulletin (CNB) monthly. Reproduction of materials appearing in this publication is strictly forbidden without written permission

by GCA. While we always strive for accuracy, we will from time to time overlook mistakes. In order to help us improve the quality and accuracy of this publication, we ask that you take the time to look at the information provided and notify GCA of any corrections as needed. Opinions and editorial content of this publication may not necessarily be those of the publisher, production team, staff, GCA members, GCA Board of Directors and advertisers.

For more information about advertising in the GCA Construction News Bulletin contact the advertising department at (671) 477-1239/2239 or email at adztech@teleguam.net.

Distributed to GCA members or can be obtained by stopping by the Guam Contractors’ Association office located at 718 N. Marine Corps Drive, Suite 203, East West Business Center, Upper Tumon, Guam.

To find out more about how you can become a GCA member contact Guam Contractors’ Association at Tel: (671)647-4840/41 Fax: (671) 647-4866 or Email: gca@teleguam.net. www.guamcontractors.org Postmaster. Send address changes to Guam Contractors’ Association, located at 718 N. Marine Drive Corps Suite 203, East West Business Center, Upper Tumon, Guam.

THETEAM PUBLISHER: James Martinez PRODUCTION TEAM Geri Leon Guerrero AD SALES: Jaceth Duenas PRODUCTION: Geri Leon Guerrero Christopher “Taco” Rowland Jaceth Duenas PHOTOGRAPHERS: Christopher “Taco” Rowland EDITOR: Adztech R.D. Gibson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: John Robertson John Aguon Shawn Gumataotao Dave Barnhouse GCA STAFF: Francine Arceo Desiree Lizama COVER: American Medical Center New Facility in Mangilao

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S.A.M.E. UPDATE

SAME Guam Post Recognizes Engineering Scholarship Recipients his plans for a four-year school of engineering.

(SAME) Guam Post held its monthly general He listed the school’s recent achievements in membership luncheon meeting at the Outrigger engineering; from growing enrollment in the engineering program to maintaining Guam’s Guam Beach Resort in Tumon, May 21.

Water and Environmental Research InstiDuring the meeting, they recognized four Pre-Engineering students from the University according to Underwood, is ranked 8th out of of Guam (UOG) who recieved the Charlie Corn 56 in the nation.

Scholarship.

“Engineers are really needed on this island,” Dr. Robert Underwood, UOG President, served he said, and continued to discuss future plans as the guest speaker during the luncheon. for the school’s program, to include additional During his speech, he discussed the importance faculty members. of an engineering program at the university and

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“(An) engineering school remains at the top of my personal priorities as President of UOG.”

“(An) engineering school remains at the top of my personal priorities as President of UOG,” he said. year 2015-2016 included: Michael Anthony R. Perez - Pre-Engineering Major, UOG Kariella Alexcy Delos Reyes - Pre-Engineering Major, UOG Josh T. Bravo - Pre-Engineering Major, UOG Rebecca R. Rupley - Pre-Engineering Major, UOG seniors planning to pursue a full-time undergraduate technical degree, and to current engineering and architecture students enrolled at at a university with an accredited engineering or architecture program.

To date, the scholarship program has awarded more than and the Federated States of Micronesia.

SAME was formed in 1920. Today, SAME has more than 20,000 members representing engineering or related professionals in the military services, government agencies and private sector who help guide the future of the engineering profession and its contribution to National Defense.

To join SAME Guam Post, log on to SAME.org and click on “Membership” at the top of the home page. www.guamcontractors.org

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JUNE2015 | 7

Guam Kicks Off FIRST Lego League

The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Guam Post and non-profit organization FIRST (For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Techology) held the FIRST Lego League (FLL) at the Micronesia Mall in Dededo May 30.

SAME Guam in it’s partnership with FIRST established relationships with schools from the Department of Education, Department of Defense Education Activity Guam, and local private schools to deliver FLL to 80 students across 10 schools. This event marked the first of it’s kind to be held on the island.

“It feels awesome to start this program in Guam,” said LCDR Sean McConnon, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Facility Guam officer-in-charge and SAME Guam board member, who led the event. “FIRST has clearly demonstrated its effectiveness in creating the next generation’s STEM professionals. Kids who participate will have fun playing with robots while learning concepts in computer science, mechanical engineering, not to mention teamwork and public speaking! The best part of FLL is that the kids want to participate because it’s fun. The learning is just an awesome side effect!”

For two months, students grades 4-8 met with coaches to design, build and program Lego robots to execute tasks on a field with Lego models. Many teachers and students began the journey with no robotics or computer science experience.

“Attendees all agreed that the event was a great success,” McConnon said. “Each team had great fun and demonstrated their ability to build and program robots.

The excitement and confidence they displayed was moving.”

Naval Faciliites Engineering Command Marianas Construction Management Engineer ENS Cassandra Fach said she hopes FIRST can inspire students on Guam to advance their education and pursue a college degree in the science, technology engineering, or mathematics field.

“The three most important lessons I hope the students gain from their experience with FIRST are: First, engineering is never a sole effort - learning to work on a team with students of different backgrounds is critical,” she said. “Secondly, don’t be discouraged if math or science class is hard right now.

If you work hard, you can be in engineering. Finally, engineering is fun!”

The exhibition on May 30 was a precursor for a full FLL tournament this fall. McConnon expects the league to grow by 5-10 more teams by then.

“Thanks to SAME Guam, FLL has landed in Guam,” McConnon said. “The local Guam community now has a new powerful tool to develop their future’s technical leaders.”

FIRST currently exists in over 80 countries and has more than 400,000 student participants in grades K-12.

For more information about the FLL, visit www.facebook.com/GuamFIRSTLegoLeague or www.facebook.com/jrmguam

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INSIDER NEWS

Focus on the South China Sea

By John M. Robertson

In recent weeks, new U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has taken a bolder stance in relation to China’s expansionism in the South China Sea. The U.S. military is considering using aircraft and Navy ships to directly contest Chinese territorial claims to a chain of rapidly expanding artificial islands, U.S. officials said, in a move that would raise the stakes in a regional showdown over who controls disputed waters in the South China Sea. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has asked his staff to look at options that include flying Navy surveillance aircraft over the islands and sending U.S. naval ships to within 12 nautical miles of reefs that have been built up and claimed by the Chinese in an area known as the Spratly Islands. Such moves, if approved by the White House, would be designed to send a message to Beijing that the U.S. won’t accede to Chinese territorial claims to the man-made islands in what the U.S. considers to be international waters and airspace.

The U.S. has for many years urged the Association of South East Asean Nations, or ASEAN, to take the lead in formulating a solution. China has resisted this idea saying the matter can be dealt with bilaterally. At a meeting of ASEAN that ended on 20 April, Southeast Asian leaders stopped short of taking a harder line agaisnt Chinese territorial claims, despite warnings by the Philippines that a “worsening situation” in the disputed region will have global reverberations.

China says it has sovereignty over virtually all South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters. It hasn’t defined those waters, but it issued a map that has what is called a nine-dash line that swoops down past Vietnam and the Philippines, and toward Indonesia, encompassing virtually all of the South China Sea. It has also never clearly explained whether the nine-dash line

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Adm. Sun Jianguo, left, from the Chinese People's Liberation Army’s General Staff, chats with U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in Singapore on the 30th of May.

represents a historical or a legal claim – an important distinction under international law.

China says its claim won’t hinder commercial vessels from passing through what is one of the world’s most important shipping routes, but it says foreign military ships shouldn’t conduct operations in the waters it claims. Meanwhile, the Philippines is challenging China at a U.N. tribunal, arguing that the nine-dash line has no basis in law.

China is a signatory to the U.N. convention, but has rejected U.N. arbitration. The U.S., alone among major nations, hasn’t ratified the U.N. convention, which to some extent weakens its position in taking Beijing to task.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter on Saturday, 30 May, called for “an immediate and lasting halt” to China’s territorial expansion in the South China Sea. In Singapore for the annual Shangri-La Dialogue with Asian nations, Mr. Carter voiced U.S. concerns about the “prospect of further militarization as well as the potential for these activities to increase the risk of miscalculation or conflict among claimant states.”

China’s Island-Building Poses Dilemma for U.S. China’s refusal to curtail island-building in the South China Sea has sparked a debate in Washington between those who believe

CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

such muscle-flexing shouldn’t go unchecked, and others who fear the wrong response could trigger a military confrontation or a new Cold War. The delicacy of the Obama administration’s position was on display throughout the weekend of 30 -31 May at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a major security conference where Defense Secretary Ash Carter tried to convince Beijing to stop its building of islets in the disputed Spratly Islands. U.S. officials say China’s program, which has expanded dramatically in recent months, includes transforming semi-submerged reefs into forward bases with airfields fit for military use—sparking anxiety among China’s neighbors and threatening America’s decades long military primacy in East Asia.

Obama administration officials are struggling to find “that right balance” to exert pressure without inflaming the situation “more than it needs to be as we try to pursue our goals and objectives,” a U.S. official said. “There aren’t any silver bullets to resolving this,” said David Shear, a former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam who is now the assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific security affairs.

In Singapore, Mr. Carter insisted the U.S. “will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows,” despite Beijing’s claims that coming too close to the islands would

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be provocative. He also listed new weapons systems the U.S. plans to move to Asia as part of its longer-term rebalance of military assets to the region, including the newest stealth destroyer, the Zumwalt. Yet Mr. Carter couched his remarks in language that stressed a common vision of Asian prosperity in which “everyone rises.” By portraying China as disrupting this status quo and defying international norms, he appeared to be carefully laying the groundwork for any future show of force.

China appeared unfazed by Mr. Carter’s remarks and showed little indication of backing down. Zhao Xiaozhou, a Chinese colonel, said Mr. Carter “wasn’t as tough as I expected.” Adm. Sun Jianguo repeated Beijing’s line that the islands are China’s sovereign territory and would benefit Asia, providing maritime search and rescue, disaster relief, and scientific research bases. “There is no reason for people to play up the issue in the South China Sea,” said Adm. Sun, the deputy chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army’s General Staff. The new islands “do not target any other countries, or affect freedom of navigation.”

That leaves President Barack Obama facing a dilemma. His signature pivot to Asia early in his first term was meant to reassure allies worried about China’s rise. But an overly aggressive approach now risks antagonizing China and could polarize the world’s most vibrant economic region—a recurring dread of Asian countries that don’t want to have to choose sides.

On the other side, Chinese President Xi Jinping is a strong nationalist who views the expanding islands as symbols of China’s rise and its determination to recover territory lost during a “century of humiliation” at the hands of imperialist powers. Even within the U.S. military, there isn’t a consensus on how to approach the situation, the U.S. official said. Some officials inside U.S. Pacific Command see a need to respond to China’s aggression, for example, while others in the Pentagon wonder if responding too muscularly is an overreaction. “There’s not a monolithic view in the Defense Department,” the official said. “Everyone agrees that what they’re doing is wrong, but it’s a question of what actions do you take to influence that behavior.” Some analysts have argued for a grand bargain in which the U.S. would concede greater influence to China in its own backyard, possibly involving U.S. troop withdrawals to create neutral buffer zones. That would effectively mean the end of the post-World War II status quo in which America has served as the predominant power in Asia, ensuring the

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right of unfettered access to shipping lanes.

Others, including some in Congress, believe the U.S. ultimately will have to demonstrate military resolve, despite the danger of miscalculation on both sides.

Sen. John McCain, (R., Ariz.), who was at the Shangri-La Dialogue with a bipartisan delegation of senators, also urged tougher action. “We need to recognize this reality that China will likely continue with its destabilizing activities unless and until it perceives that the costs of doing so outweigh the benefits,” he said after Mr. Carter’s speech. “Clearly, it has not yet concluded that.”

In weighing how forcefully to press its case, though, the U.S. is constrained by the fact that China’s island-building doesn’t violate maritime law, and other claimants to the Spratlys, including Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines, have all expanded the geographical features they control, albeit not nearly as dramatically. Nor has China threatened shipping in the South China Sea, which carries more than half the world’s trade. And although the U.S. accuses China of militarizing the islands, so far it has identified only two light motorized artillery pieces on one of them. Even after their expansion—in the past 18 months China has added 2,000 or so acres of land—the islands remain mere specks in the ocean and have limited military value.

Situated some 660 miles from the Chinese mainland, they are virtually indefensible.

“It’s not a Cuban missile crisis,” said Euan Graham, the program director for International Security at the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank. Still, the islands could be tokens in a much wider struggle likely to play out over decades, as China seeks to break free from a chain of U.S. alliances stretching from Korea to Australia that it believes is throttling its rise.

make the South China Sea safe for its navy, including submarines carrying nuclear ballistic missiles now bottled up in the shallower East China Sea. Ahead of the Shangri-La Dialogue China produced a defense White Paper that outlined its plans to project naval power farther afield.

Pressure for a short-term fix could rise as more Asian nations, alarmed by China’s expansionism, line up behind the U.S. Zhu Feng, a professor at Nanjing University, said he heard “growing flexibility” in China’s language at the Shangri-La Dialogue this year. “They want to de-escalate,” said Mr. Zhu, the director of the China Center for Collaborative Studies of the South China Sea. There was also an indication the U.S. might show flexibility in at least one area.

Ahead of the meeting, there was speculation that the U.S. might withdraw an invitation for China to attend the biannual Rim of the Pacific naval exercises off Hawaii next year. But Adm. Harry Harris, the new commander of U.S. Pacific Command, who created a stir several weeks ago by labeling China’s new islands a “Great Wall of sand,” said the Chinese were still welcome. “We’ll see how it goes, but a lot can happen between now and then,” he said.

A portion of the foregoing was adapted from a 31 May 2015 article in the Wall Street Journal authored by Andrew Browne, Gordon Lubold and Trefor Moss.

Washington fears that China plans to set up an air-defense zone over the South China Sea as it has done over the East China Sea, including islands disputed with Japan. The expanded islets in the Spratly Islands could help enforce that regime. Mr. Graham says China’s long-term goal is to

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FEATURE STORY

American Medical Center Constructs A Vision

by John Aguon

Sometimes it isn’t as easy as having a dream and putting it to work. Sometimes you have to have vision, planning, purpose, a little luck along the way, and people to believe in your vision.

The folks at American Medical Center have had a dream to provide care to their patients and a growing population since they opened their doors 10 years in the Harmon-Upper Tumon area.

As Guam heads into an era with undoubted population growth, business and public development, and technological advancements, it only made sense for the partners at AMC to expand and open a second location. Like most businesses, they wasted no time in looking for a general contractor to organize the beauty of this vision to provide better - and definitely closer – general patient care to residents.

It has taken the brilliant minds of AMC some time to build, conceptualize, and construct one of the newest health care facilities in the Western Pacific. Notwithstanding several obstacles, Drs. Hoa Nguyen, Vincent Akimoto, and Hieu Campus opened the doors to their second location on Vietnam Veteran’s Highway (Route 10, Mangilao) just a few weeks ago.

“We put out the RFP. We got nine bidders. We whittled it down to four, then we chose D.C. Gozum.” For sure, that was simpler than any clinical diagnosis for professional physicians and doctors. Surely there had to be more to the equation. Dr. Hoa Nguyen explains, “as we discovered, asking various other sources about Gozum; usually they are the subcontractor doing the finish work for some of these larger general contractors and their projects; So we decided let’s just give them a chance.”

The building stands just a few hundred feet away from a mural painting honoring servicemen and women. A coincidence? Maybe. The staff, management, doctors, and nurses who are a part of the AMC Family all understand one thing: they are helping patients and saving lives every day – a service to nearly 40,000 patients and counting. The Mangilao location is the southernmost private medical clinic on Guam, making it the most likely place to receive a continual flow of traffic and provide greater access to health care for Guamanians.

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Nguyen stated, “We like giving a chance to the new kid on the block.” And a generous chance it was, one that D.C. Gozum did not definitely take by the horns and demonstrate their professionalism, contracting savvy, and get the job done. So, with that decision, like heading into surgery, the D.C. Gozum and AMC Family went to work.

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and management systems, laboratory, X-ray machines, pharmacy, telemedicine, IV rooms, exam rooms, and occupational health services.

With all the makings of a new facility, you would think they might be moving entirely. No. They still have their operations on their Marine Corps Drive location with staff who remain dedicated and at-the-ready to serve the patients of Guam. No business is successful without the hardworking staff of any organization. With ten physicians, and nearly 90 staff, AMC provides a full complement of health and preventive care services to deliver on the AMC vision: Our mission is to heal, our promise is to care.

It really was all about teamwork when they were organizing, planning, and constructing the new facility. From their laboratory colleagues at Labtech to the financial gurus at Bank of Guam, it was a matter of organizing an all-star team for an all-star purpose.

On Guam, we have a cultural concept of interdependence – inafa’maolek. It deals with a community working together for the common good; something that we see in most aspects of how we interact with each other. In essence, the growth, expansion, and construction of this medical facility brought numerous island stakeholders together to develop this facility to serve.

What makes people want to go through the stress of accomplishing such an undertaking?

As if augmenting the health care options available to the community wasn’t enough, what about taking on more patients? The AMC Family is, after all, a part of our interconnected Guam Family. And that’s what it comes down to: understanding that we are all a part of a greater community, we are all a part of something bigger than we really are. It’s about practicing and sharing empathy and compassion for everyone.

In addition to politicians, and community stakeholders, the compassionate spirits of the AMC Family were at the ribbon cutting of their new facility, and so were their families. Most notably, Dr. Nguyen's mother, Ms. Mimi, a Vietnam refugee was present to witness the fruits of her labor in raising a son who cared.

It wasn’t any coincidence that many of Guam’s public and private sector folks had a hand in making this vision a reality. AMC and D.C. Gozum worked with the Guam Legislature to keep construction work on track for the fourand-a-half acre plot of land in Mangilao. They also worked with President, CEO, Chair of the Board of Bank of Guam, and former Senator Lou Leon Guerrero on financing. Dr. Nguyen gushed, “They are an excellent partner; they understand the island and its needs.” Nguyen continues, “They truly believed in our vision and saw what we were wanting to accomplish.”

The new facility is supped-up. It has an Integrated Photo-voltaic solar panel bank - funded by the USDA, an ambulance dock, optic fiberbased, fully-encrypted medical patient billing

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PHOTO HIGHLIGHTS

May 20, 2015 HYATT Resort Guam Guest Speakers MR. PHILIP MARLOWE & RAY LLANETA

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BUILD YOUR CLIENT BASE.

PLACE YOUR AD HERE! FOR DETAILS PLEASE Call Adztech.

142 Seaton Boulevard, Suite 102 - Hagåtña, Guam 96910 telephone (671) 477-1239 or (671) 477-2239 facsimile (671) 477-3339 email adztech@teleguam.net www.adztechguam.com

AROUND THE BENCH

Training vs. Compliance

What is best for work at height?

by Shawn Gumataotao

A great article was posted recently by the on-line version of the Lift and Access Magazine. The Fort Dodge, Iowa based publication continues their support of the aerial lift industry with a intriguing look at training in the construction industry-specifically the safe use of lift equipment while ensuring local and federal compliance for jobsite safety and competency. Got us thinking here at GET,LLC that training that does both should be the goal for any employer of lifting equipment operators. Safety experts agree that the best training combines elements of classroom, online, and hands-on training. It must cover general topics, practical instruction, assessment of knowledge, and familiarization.

“There is a difference between familiarization and training, and that’s one of the most misunderstood concepts in our industry,” says Scott Owyen, Global Training Manager for Genie Industries.

Owyen notes that classroom or online instruction followed by hands-on demonstration and practice should take 5-9 hours. Familiarization simply reviews the operational manual, controls and decals 20 | JUNE2015

specific to the make and model not previously operated by a qualified operator.

Blended learning, which combines self-guided online instruction training with hands-on training, is viewed as more effective according to a 2010 U.S. Department of Education study called “Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning. According to the report: “Instruction combining online and face-to-face elements had a larger advantage relative to purely face-to-face instruction than did purely online instruction.”

The U.S. Department of Education’s study also reports that “online learning can be enhanced by giving learners control of their interactions with media and prompting learner reflection.”

Online program delivery ensures consistent and standard delivery of topics.

With online training, employees can complete general material on their own time and at their own pace, which means less productivity downtime for employers and convenience for employees.

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Additionally, the related assessment process is designed to verify the operator’s competency. Course results and proof of completion certificates are stored in databases-that allows employers or operators easy access to their records.

While OSHA prescribes specific expectations for forklift operator training, the industry has lacked any cohesive guidance when it comes to training operator of aerial work platforms. But that may be changing in the near future.

We hope so and look forward in it being an iterative process.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-797-0789-your authorized Terex/Genie Representative for Guam and Micronesia.

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CRANE CRITIQUE

TERMINATING WIRE ROPE WITH A BECKET AND WEDGE

A monthly crane and rigging informative column for all personnel directly or indirectly involved with crane safety. Each month we will attempt to explain a different technical issue pertaining to crane operations here on Guam, addressing the sometimes overlooked or misunderstood topics by management and operators alike. By Dave Barnhouse

I have discussed the topic of correct becket and wedge use previously in this column and have received some positive feedback on the subject. However, sitting at a stop light and observing a boom truck in the next lane with what looks like an accident waiting to happen because of the crimped wire at the termination, I cringe and ask myself if maybe some operators are not getting the message. I feel partly responsible for an ill conceived termination on any crane or boom truck, mostly because chances are the operator is in possession of an operator qualification card issued by me and I probably inspected the crane he is operating.

I have approached operators in the past about an improper termination on their crane and the answer is always the same: ‘Oh, the mechanics, or helpers did that’. My response to them is: ‘Hand over your operator’s card’.

Since when do you operate in an unsafe condition because of someone else’s incompetence? Isn’t that why we do a daily inspection?

Doesn’t the operator have authority to stop operations if any hazards or unsafe conditions are found? And as a competent person doesn’t he have the responsibility to confirm a qualified person corrects this condition?

If you are unfamiliar with becket and wedge use and why they are considered a critical area, know this: at the point where the wire rope enters the becket is the weakest link on the entire wire rope. This is true even when first terminated and there are no kinks or corrosion to consider. The reason for this is the nature of wire rope, it just does not like to be bent tightly around a wedge nor to be constantly wearing against the sharp edge of the becket. Add to this some corrosion or the fact that the operator crimped the cable with two cable clamps and tightened the nuts as if the clamps are holding the load and you end

22 | JUNE2015

up with a wire rope capacity with a fraction of the original safe working load.

So, what is the right and wrong way to terminate a wire rope in a becket? There are a few correct methods and as much or more incorrect methods. If you are not sure what you are looking at when you look at wire rope termination using a becket and wedge than you are no doubt not the person to be inspecting this assembly.

Briefly, the following is an explanation how a properly terminated wire rope works and what it should look like. First, realize that the loaded end of the wire rope is referred to as the ‘live’ end, the unloaded end of course is referred to as the ‘dead’ end. The goal is for the live end to load the becket pin in as much as possible a direct and perfect line. This is accomplished by assuring the live end is exiting on the straight

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side of the becket as opposed to the tapered side. There should also be no wire rope clips on the live end, an issue that is difficult for many operators and mechanics to comprehend, see photo 1. The common misconception is that somehow this cable clamp supports part of the load, whereas in reality in supports exactly zero portion of the load and lifts could be made perfectly fine without any clamps of any kind. Just look at a dragline bucket with two inch or bigger cable terminations at the drag chains pulling the bucket, there are no clamps and it holds without slipping just fine. Why the clamps than? A clamp is required on lift cranes on the deadend only to prevent the wedge from becoming dislodged from the becket in the event there is a sudden unloading of the live end such as the wire rope or the block striking the ground, etc.

If the wedge is free in the becket there is no reason why the wire will slip under normal www.guamcontractors.org

methods secure the dead end without clamping or crimping the live end.

conditions. One point the installer should confirm is that the wedge has not been hammered on when removing and caused mushrooming of the wedge end, possibly created a tight fit between the wedge and the becket sides, preventing the wedge from free movement and tightening as required.

Since OSHA and ASME do require a clamp, let’s look at the correct way a clamp should be installed and the many incorrect ways. Again, the reason for the clamp is to prevent the dead end from pulling back through the becket in the event of a sudden unloading, not likely, but possible. For this reason, one and only one clamp is required.

Now, how to install that clamp? First rule is to keep it off the live end, install it on the dead end only. The reason for this is a cable clamp grips just the way the name implies, it clamps.

Or in other words it kinks, meaning permanent deformation of the wire, a rejectable criteria when inspecting wire rope. The U-bolt side of the clamp crimps much more than the saddle side so the proper way if using a cable clamp is the saddle goes on the live end. But this only applies to other than crane wire rope terminations as there are other reasons not to clamp the live end and dead end together on a crane.

When the two are clamped together and the load is applied what happens is the live end tightens in the becket, transferring part of the load to the dead end, causing more strain on the wire where it shouldn’t be. The most common way to secure the termination is to clamp a separate piece of short wire to the dead end, or use what is called the ‘Terminator’ a special type wedge with a hole enabling a clamp to secure the dead end through the hole in the wedge, see photo 2. Both these

There may be readers who by now are thinking of the old phrase ‘Never saddle a dead horse’.

This cute little saying may have had its place in the past but I do not refer to it in my crane operator classes for two reasons: Number one, it is not permissible to saddle even the live end. Number two, since there are a limited number of crane operators on Guam who ever had the chance to really saddle a horse, few operators make the connection. The purpose of this cute little saying is to remind you the correct method of clamping wire rope terminations. I once had an OSHA inspector shut a crane down because I had the cable clamp on a separate short piece of wire clamped with the U-bolt on the dead end. He asked me ‘Don’t you know you never saddle a dead horse?’ An example of not knowing what this saying is implying. I find it much more practical to explain to the cable clamp user that whenever using these clamps the U-bolt will damage the wire and should never be placed on the live end.

Another incorrect method of terminating that I have found during inspections is the practice of placing the wire in the becket backwards, see photo 3. What occurs is a bend at the sharp edge of the becket causing an extreme wear point and most likely a premature failure.

Occasionally I see this with the combination of wire rope clips on the live end. This is cause for crane to be shut down and the operators card to be revoked until further training.

Also, even though the wire may be placed and clamped correctly there are still reasons to closely inspect and re-socket occasionally. If

wire corrosion is noticed close to the becket or even one broken wire is found it is time to resocket the wire. Cut off a couple of feet of wire and re-socket. This will ensure undamaged wire at the critical area. When re-socketing, please double check it is inserted and clamped properly.

As improper wire rope terminations is probably the number one reoccurring deficiency when inspecting cranes, mostly boom trucks, I take this very serious and will be revoking all operator cards in the future when finding an improper termination. Please have your crane maintenance personnel specifically check these when performing daily or monthly inspections.

I’ve had the misfortune of witnessing the results of neglecting a wire rope termination years ago when a loaded cement bucket dropped forty feet and landed on a laborer. I do not wish to see this again.

Please e-mail any comments, questions, or specific topics you would like to see addressed in this column to certs@ite.net and we will certainly attempt to accommodate your requests.

Dave Barnhouse resides in Tamuning and has been involved with operations, maintenance, operator training, and/or inspections, of cranes since 1969. He is a Certified Environmental Trainer, CHST, NCCCO certified crane operator, Lift Director, Level II Rigger, NCCCO practical examiner for all types of mobile crane operators, riggers, signal persons, and the only OSHA accredited crane inspector on Guam.

Comprehensive inspections offered for heavy equipment, cargo containers, above-ground storage tanks, and structural welds Relevant heavy-equipment operator training: Rigging, cranes, excavators, forklifts, aerial lifts, bucket trucks, etc.

OSHA safety training and onsite consultations Welder qualification testing www.guamcontractors.org

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Accredited Maritime Crane Inspector per OSHA 29CFR1919

General Contractor contactus@islandcerts.org Tel: (671) 653-5501 JUNE2015 | 23

26 | JUNE2015

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0 2 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 3 6

Elevator Installer Chef Spa Supervisor - Trainer Biomedical Equipment Specialist Automotive Mechanic Inventory Control Manager Auto Body Repairer Tech.

OSH Instructor Buyer HVAC Mechanic AC Maintenance Tech

1 2 1

ICU Registered Nurse Birthing Registered Nurse Cardiac Cath Registered Nurse Pediatrics Registered Nurse Executive Chef

1

2

1 2 4

0 0

Quality Inspectors

Radiologic Technician

Restaurant Manager Refrigeration & AC Mechanic

Shipfitter Sous Chef

Total Non-Construction H2-B Workers

4

Med-Surg OR Registered Nurse

10

Pipefitter

1

5

ER Registered Nurse

Scuba Dive Instructor

4

NICU Registered Nurse

0

0

Painter,Transporter Equipment

2

1

5

Maintenance Electrician

Elec./ Electronic Service Tech

0

1

Mechanic

Baker Master

0

Nursery Worker

0

1

Heavy Equipment Mechanic

Hvac Technician

8

5

Golf Instructor

Motor Rewinder

1

Goldsmith

Massage Therapist

1

Field Supervisor

2 24 0 1 1 0 8 1

0

Japanese Specialty Cook Landscape Gardeners Laundry Supervisor Les Mills Certified Instructor Machinist Marine Maint. Machinist Marine Maint. Mechanic MRI Technician

Electrical Drafter

1

Electric Motor Repairer

190

3 4 29

Wedding Service Attendants Welder Welder - Fitter

1

Concierge

1

18

11

Heavy Equipment Mechanic

TOTAL Construction H-2B Workers

Total OTHER Construction

1164

0

1 1 1

Project Manager Quality Control Inspector Tower Crane Operator

Welder

0

4

Project Supervisor

Plasterer

42

0

HVAC Mechanic

5

6

General Maintenance & Repairer

Landscaper

0

0

0

0

0

1

3 9

Foreman

Field Supervisor

Estimator

Electrical Power Lineman

Civil Engineer

AC& Refrigeration Mechanic AC& Refrigeration Technician Architectural Drafter

Other Construction Occupations

Employers Workplace Monthly Report Statistics

Ultrasound Technician

Baker Mechanic

Specialty Cook Training & Dev. Specialist

Other Non-Construction Occupations

4 12 1

Auto Repairer Baker

GUAM DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Alien Labor Processing Certification Division

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

4500

Total U.S. Workers

Grand Total H2B Workers

US Workers vs. H-2B

Grand Total H-2B Workers

Total U.S. Workers

1354

4361

40 86

Non-Construction Total H-2B Employers

Construction

46

1339 7 4 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1352

Employers By Industry

Philippines Korea Japan Kiribati United Kingdom Australia Italy Peru Thailand Other Total by Nationality

Workers by Nationality

Total Common Const.

1122

67 3

Electrician Camp Cook

20

3

8 17

453 113

Heavy Equip. Operator

Plumber Sheetmetal Worker

Structural Steelworker

Reinforcing Metalworker

Common Construction Occupations 438

Cement Mason Carpenter

MONTH ENDING: April 2015

Korea Thailand 0.52% 0.00%

10.07%

0.71%

1.52%

0.27%

40.37%

1.78%

5.97% 0.27%

Other 0.00%

Peru 0.00%

Prepared By: Sherine Espinosa Contact information: Greg Massey, ALPCD Administrator P.O. Box 9970 Tamuning, Guam 96931 (671)475-8005/8003

Camp Cook

Heavy Equip.

Operator Electrician

Sheetmetal Worker

Reinforcing Metalworker Structural Steelworker Plumber

Carpenter

Cement Mason

Other

Thailand

Peru

Italy

Australia

United Kingdom

Kiribati

Japan

Korea

Philippines

United Kingdom 0.00%

Kiribati 0.15%

39.04%

Common Construction Occupations

Philippines 98.97%

Japan 0.30%

Australia 0.00%

Italy 0.07%

H-2B Population by Nationality

REPORTS/ INFORMATION

*Authorized Guam Dealer

REPORTS/ INFORMATION

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