GCA Construction News Bulletin April 2012

Guam Contractors’ Association

CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

Vol.53 Issue 04 APRIL2012

THE ROAD TO EFFICIENCY

JWS

40

A Cool

16

CONTENTSAPRIL2012

18

Feature Story

Feature Story

6

Update C ommittee S.A.M.E.

10 12

C ommittee Update Headline C onstruction Fire

14

Headline C onstruction HR

16

Story F eature GPA

18

Story F eature JWS

22 26 28

P hoto Highlights T he Happenings C rane Critique Corner

The Chamorro word for “Ladder, Stairs” is:

Guå'ot

brought to you by "Learn Chamorro" www.learnchamorro.com

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THEDIRECTORS

THEEDITORIALS

PRESIDENT James A. Martinez, GCA CHAIRMAN William “Bill” Beery, Tutujan Hill Group VICE CHAIRMAN Robert Salas, Landscape Management Systems PAST CHAIRWOMAN Chit Bathan, Ace-Builders SECRETARY/TREASURER Tom Anderson, Black Construction ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS: Edward Untalan, First Hawaiian Bank Paul Calvo, Calvo’s Insurance Vincent Davis, Hawthorne Pacific Corp Ray Yanger, Matson Navigation CONTRACTORS DIRECTORS: Tom Nielsen, Maeda Pacific Corporation Juno Eon, Core Tech International Mike Venezia, Hensel Phelps John Robertson, AmOrient Art Chan, Hawaiian Rock Louis De Maria, dck pacific guam LLC

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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, 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 Chantel Cruz, Guam Contractors’ Association at (671)647-4840/41, or fax (671) 647-4866 or email to gca@teleguam.net.

Postmaster. Send address changes to Guam Contractors’ Association, located at 718 N. Marine Drive Corps Suite 203, East West Business Center, Upper Tumon, Guam.

CONSTRUCTION NEWS BULLETIN

THETEAM PUBLISHER: James Martinez SALES & MARKETING DIRECTOR: Geri Leon Guerrero AD SALES: Marty Leon Guerrero June Maratita PRODUCTION: Geri Leon Guerrero Christopher “Taco” Rowland Christopher Estioca PHOTOGRAPHERS: Marty Leon Guerrero EDITOR: Adztech CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: John Robertson David F. Macaluso Dave Barnhouse Lisa Magtagñob Dean Higuchi R. Todd Thompson CAPT. Gerard Terlaje CAPT. Ron Castro GCA STAFF: Francine Arceo Desiree Lizama COVER: Reducing GovGuam’s Power Bill

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APRIL 2012

S.A.M.E. UPDATE

Society of

WWII Dud rate 10-20% = 5,617 - 11,234 UXO* Does not include Artillery, Close Air Support, Naval Gunfire Support or US/Japanese land engagements post 21 July 1944

American Military Engineers EXPLOSIVE SAFETY SUBMISSION BRIEF Guest speaker at the March meeting of SAME Guam Post was LCDR Grant Watanabe, DAOPS, IPT, NAVFAC Marianas. LCDR Watanabe provided an explosives safety submission brief. Key points from his presentation are outlined below.

NOSSAINST 8020.15C • ESS Definition An ESS is a document that details how explosives safety standards in NAVSEA OP 5, Volume 1 are applied to munitions responses. It also addresses how the project will comply with applicable environmental requirements related to the management of MEC and MPPEH • ESS is Required for: (a) Placement of explosives on a site (b) Intentional physical contact with MEC or MPPEH (c) Conduct of ground-disturbing or other intrusive activities in areas known or suspected to contain MEC or MPPEH

• FY10/11 “Seed” Projects -Currently implemented on Military Working Dog Relocation, North Tipalao Housing, NEX Minimart, AAFB North Ramp parking and utilities, J-001 ACE Gate and P-204C Wharf Utilities -MEC MACC utilized • FY12 Projects -ESS compliance included as a bid option in all MCAF RFPs -ESS spec section to be included in SOW for all SRM projects • ESS impacts to be considered in the planning/design phase of all future projects

EXAMPLE ESS PROBABILITY MAPS

ESS DEFINITION & REQUIREMENT

IMPLEMENTATION

• Areas coded by probability of encountering MEC/MPPEH - Red: high - Yellow: moderate - Green: low • Green areas: On-call support • Yellow/Red areas: On-site support - Limited clearance ahead of construction • Clearance down to 60mm • Requires hardening of equipment during excavation by construction contractor -Full clearance ahead of construction • Clearance down to 20mm, the smallest item with an explosive warhead • No hardening required

Full Clearance at North Tipalao Housing • Initial: Surface clearance and site survey -Visual sweep, vegetation removal to height of 3-6 inches and surface MEC clearance -UXO teams use Time-Domain Electromagnetic instruments to detect, locate and record all subsurface anomalies encountered and create Digital Geophysical Mapping (DGM)

GUAM ESS

Guam is a WWII battlefield with • Phase Ia: Clearance to 60mm UXO scattered throughout the island.

-Establish EZ for N. Tipalao AOC Primary • Pre-bombardment Ordnance (5” Naval Projectile, 343 ft) (11 June – 20 July 1944) -Investigate and remove 1500 subsurface 16 inch – 836 rounds anomalies larger than 60mm 14 inch – 5,422 rounds • Phase Ib: Clearance to 20mm 8 inch – 3,862 rounds -Establish EZ for 60mm mortar (152’) 6 inch – 2,430 rounds -Investigate and remove 2500 subsurface 5 inch – 16,214 rounds anomalies 20-60mm • Invasion Naval Gunfire Support -MEC Clearance Complete (21 July 1944) -Site treated as “Green” 16 inch – 342 rounds • MEC Clearance Complete 14 inch – 1,152 rounds -Site treated as “Green” 8 inch – 1,332 rounds 6 inch – 2,430 rounds 5 inch – 13,130 rounds To join SAME Guam Post, logon to SAME.org and proceed to New Membership.

4.5 inch rockets – 9,000 6 | APRIL2012

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S.A.M.E. UPDATE FINDINGS, IMPACTS & WAY-AHEAD

FINDINGS, IMPACTS & WAY-AHEAD • Anomalies detected at a rate of 615/acre to date – 99.93% of anomalies identified are debris – 0.07% of anomalies identified are MEC less than 60 mm size – 0% of anomalies identified are MEC greater than 60 mm size – 0% of anomalies identified are serious enough to require on-site disposal • Impacts – FY10/11: Est. $5.8M across 6 projects – FY12: Est. $4.5M across 6 projects – Base Operations – Quality of Life • Way-Ahead – Continue refining processes and gathering cost data – Ensure policy makers understand applicable impacts and associated cost.

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• New EM technologies have been developed and tested under SERDP & ESTCP which can discriminate between UXO and non-UXO • Instrumentation allows for estimation of target size, shape and depth • Several demonstrations completed with promising results – Guam demonstration being discussed with DDESB,SERDP/ESTCP

QUESTIONS?

Please contact: • LCDR Grant Watanabe, DAOPS, NAVFAC Marianas E-mail: grant.watanabe@fe.navy.mil or phone (671)333-1280 • Mr. Jay Lewis, MEC Tech Rep, NAVFAC Marianas E-mail: jay.lewis@fe.navy.mil or phone (671)339-4847

Prepared by John M Robertson PE, Treasurer of SAME Guam Post – from LCDR Watanabe’s power point.

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COMMITTEEUPDATE

Military, Government and Labor Relations Committee Update April ‘12)

By John M. Robertson This being an election year provides Guam citizens with the opportunity to elect leaders for the next two years that will set the islands economy on a course toward greater prosperity. I believe, as most people in our industry do, that requires the military buildup to be put back on track.

First and foremost, the island needs individuals with vision and business skills to run for elective office. The brightest and best among us would do so if we had a part time legislature but that is not the case and will not be until some of our brightest and best are members of the legislative body. Thus, a Catch 22. We need to encourage those among us that are willing, to rise to the occasion and run for election. Second, we need to stand solidly behind such individuals and give them our financial support and our votes.

Some of what follows has been reported earlier but bears repeating. We have to remind ourselves of how some of the current island leadership torpedoed the buildup by making exaggerated demands of the military and U.S. Congress. Remember the “Fab 5”.

Earlier this year, the Vice Speaker of the 31st Guam Legislature declared in a very public way that they had nothing to do with derailing the military buildup on Guam. I want to raise two points that refute his arguments.

First: Prior to September 2010, we had to accept that major developments could not commence until after signing of the Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD was signed in September 2010. By that time Design-Build Multiple Award Construction Contracts (DB MACCs) had been awarded and bids for various Task Orders had been received from them by NAVFAC. FY2010 and FY 2011 U.S funding and Japanese Mamizu funding was in place for those projects. Few Task Order awards were made to contractors after

signing of the ROD, however, due primarily to another reason. That is, the Programmatic Agreement which should also have been signed by September of 2010, was not signed until March 2011. Following the lead of a vocal minority group, the Guam Legislature continued to debate the issues they wanted resolved before that document could be signed.

A Programmatic Agreement, or PA, is a document that spells out the terms of a formal, legally binding agreement between state agencies and federal agencies. A PA establishes a process for consultation, review, and compliance with one or more federal laws, most often with those federal laws concerning historic preservation. There are two basic kinds of programmatic agreement and the one of concern is defined as a PA that establishes a process through which the parties will meet their compliance responsibilities for an agency program, a category of projects, or a particular type of resource, called a procedural PA. It was therefore inappropriate for the Legislature to attempt to resolve issues that should have been taken up within the framework of the PA process.

Had the six month delay not occurred, Task Orders would have been awarded for about $1.0 Billion of pending construction projects.

Other pressures to slow the program would have had some impact but with momentum having been established, the extent of impact would not have been as severe as actually occurred.

Second: As is well known, a high level delegation from the U.S. Senate made a visit to Guam in April 2011 and met with officials of the local Government including the Governor and members of our Legislature. Democrat Senator Carl Levin, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee along with Democrat Senator James Webb, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Committee on Foreign Relations were treated to the usual shake down reserved for Washington Officials by the Guam Legislature. The Legislative leadership took the position of being somewhat willing to accept the military buildup on Guam but at a price that included self-determination for Guam, all infrastructure upgrades at no cost to rate payers, new facilities for schools, hospitals and public safety at no cost to GovGuam, and much more. Highly influential Senator Levin later expressed concern that the price demanded by the Guam senators was too high and that the relocation of Marine Corps elements from Okinawa to Guam might be so expensive that it was not affordable. His pessimism was also fueled by the perception that the military was not welcome on Guam, at least in any greater presence than then existed. The Legislature might have asked the community what they

wanted. It was wrong for them to assume that the people of Guam would not want the jobs, better infrastructure and a way out debt for GovGuam, real benefits the buildup would bring.

Senator Levin was informed that Guam Senators did not represent the average person on Guam or the majority of Guam citizens. We like most American communities, have a silent majority. The elected village mayors, who are closest to local citizens, were firmly in support of the military buildup and did not agree with members of the Legislature.

Senator Levin responded by saying that Guam senators are the elected representatives of the people and therefore their views have special merit in his eyes, otherwise, the people of Guam would not have elected them. He was informed that if he spoke to village mayors he would get the opposite impression. Members of the military are very well respected in the Guam community.

Various military commands have a sister village relationship with many villages on island. They carry out village and school improvement projects together. They participate in sports and fiestas together. Senator Levin said that was not the impression he got from Guam senators.

A few days after the Levin-Webb visit, there was more bad news out of Washington. It was learned from a reliable source that the Senate Armed Services Committee was tasked with developing an “exit strategy” in relation to the plan for relocating 8,000 marines with 9,000 dependents to Guam from Okinawa. In essence, the exit strategy would place the blame on the people of Guam for cancelling the military buildup since the people, as exemplified by their Legislature, did not want the military buildup. By this time influential Republican Senator John McCain had joined the fray. There was already a mood in Washington to reduce spending wherever possible and by eliminating the substantial and growing cost of the Guam military buildup, much would have been accomplished in that direction.

The situation has changed since May of last year, including the appointment by the U.S. Congress of a super committee in hopes of resolving the debt crisis. Buildup funding is now delayed until probably FY2014. The Guam Legislature and the people of Guam are not being blamed for the change in direction in written reports coming out of Washington. The story behind the story is however very clear.

Senseramente, John M Robertson, Committee Chairman

The Government and Labor Relations Committee is open to all members of the association. Contact the GCA office for time and place of meetings.

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CONSTRUCTIONHEADLINE

GFD, Fire Prevention Bureau Fire Code 2009 seminar On March 23, 2012 at Nikko Hotel, with an audience of approximately 80, the Guam Fire Department in collaboration with the Guam Contractors Association developed a half day Seminar covering the International Fire Code 2009 its Scope and Administration. This encompassed the submission of construction documents for review and examination that compliance of the code are intended by design. The Design must be approved by a licensed/Registered Professional Engineer or Architect as registered with PEALS Professional Engineer Architect and Land Surveyor.

We covered how an Operational Permit may be required; thereby compliance with the Fire Code is necessary for an approved disposition. The Code can refer to other requirements set forth by other Standards or Codes as relevant and as applicable.

One main objective we emphasized during the seminar was that Work on the Installation or Modification of a System should not be started until such designs have been properly reviewed and approved by the building official and the fire code official.

Our Target Audience were Contractors who either install or modify any Fire Protection System from Fire Alarms, Automatic Suppression, Sprinkler or devices that interconnect with fire alarm system. During the later part of the seminar we covered National Fire Protection Association NFPA 72 Fire Alarm and Signaling, aspects of Personnel Qualifications for Designers, Installers and Maintenance Service.

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Additionally how important Documentation is for the Owner of the System and Service Personnel. Discussions of how Shop Drawings shall be reviewed and approved prior to the installation of Fire Protection / Detection Systems, these are essential for the acceptance testing for clearance of occupancy.

Records also include permanent written manuals, software and sequence of operations so that the owner will be fully apprised.

By: CAPT. Gerard Terlaje & CAPT. Ron Castro

ment, Flammable and combustible liquids, Hazardous materials, Industrial ovens, LP Gas, Private fire hydrants, Spraying or dipping, Standpipe systems, and Temporary membrane structures and tents.

Overall, the seminar was a much needed interaction with professional designers and contractors with positive outcome.

Hand-outs included information on Safety During Construction and Demolition by removal of combustible debris, rubbish or waste. That Temporary wiring shall still comply the National Electrical Code NFPA 70. Flammable and Combustible Liquids safe operations, Means of Egress, Approved Water Supply for fire protection shall be made as soon as combustible materials arrive on the job site. Owners responsibility for a fire protection program carried out through completion of the project, how a pre-fire plan shall be developed, maintained and approved in cooperation with the Fire Chief or the Fire Code Official. Furthermore, a means of fire reporting shall be made available at the construction site and accessible emergency vehicle access routes.

Discussed also in the seminar where required construction permits as noted in the International Fire Code. The International Fire Code requires 14 types of Construction Permits, they are, Automatic fire-extinguishing systems, Battery systems, Compressed gases, Cryogenic fluids, Fire Alarm and detection systems and related equipment, Fire pumps and related equip-

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CONSTRUCTIONHEADLINE

PACIFIC HUMAN RESOURCE SERVICES, INC.

CELEBRATES 15 YEARS 1) What does Pacific Human Resource Services, Inc. do?

Pacific Human Resource Services, Inc (PHRSI) is a full service human resources consulting company that provides a number of different services such as drug screens, job placement, temporary staffing services.

We create employee handbooks, provide training such as Prevention of Discrimination and Sexual Harassment, OSHA related training, Customer Services, and a host of other training. We do what your typically HR department might do for your organization recruit, train, create policies. We even have an arrangement with the US DOL that allows federal contractors and subcontractors to get referrals from PHRSI without charge.

There are so many employment laws that affect all businesses. PHRSI can help employers make sense of those laws and recommend policies or procedures that ensure compliance with the laws. In other words, PHRSI can help employers stay out of the EEO office.

The buzz nowadays is buy local. We buy locally, but more importantly, we help our Guam residents find jobs locally.

2) To what do you think you owe the success of PHRSI? 15 years is a long time to be in the market.

First - the commitment and loyalty of the employees to the company. Second - all decisions are made locally, and therefore, we can be very flexible with our clients and allows us to take immediate action.

4) How do you see Pacific Human Resource Services in the next 15 years?

There are very few companies on Guam that provide human resource consulting services.

PHRSI is a woman, minority owned business. There seems to be a optimism about Guam's economy, and as we continue to see our economy improve, I think our business will also grow with the economy.

I'm optimistic about our future . The large majority of our businesses on Guam are small businesses. And as long as the businesses continue to need people to run their operations, PHRSI will continue to provide human resource services.

5) What are the challenges you foresee in the near future?

New technology requires that employees continuously upgrade their skills to keep up with the job market. With new technology comes new trends. Those who fail to upgrade their skills or who refuse to learn new skills will be left behind. So, if I am preparing for the job market, I have to ask, what jobs are out there for me with my skills set. If I don't have work history, then ask what skills should I be acquiring so that I am more marketable? But also ask what skills do I now have that would be of interest to employers. If already in a job, what do I need to learn in order to remain relevant in my workplace. For us in the field of Human

Resources, we need to be continuously upgrade not only our knowledge of employment laws, but also employment trends. An example of employment trend is more and more employers are allowing employees to work out of home. As new technology makes communication easier and faster, the need to have employees work out of the office becomes less necessary. Unfortunately, for those in the HR field, this means that policies must be continuously reviewed and revised or created to ensure compliance with laws and employment trends.

6) Any advice for those looking for jobs? Employers?

If looking for a job, do not despair. Look within yourself and find the best parts of you , even if you do not have work experience. A positive attitude will help you find that job. A negative attitude will turn off prospective employers.

For employers, I have 2 pieces of advice: Treat employees well, and your employees will help your business succeed. Stay out of trouble by complying with employment laws and other laws that affect your business.

Contact Information: Suite 307 ParaOceana Business Center 674 Harmon Loop Road Dededo, GU 96929 Telephone: 671-637-6906/7/8 Fax #671-637-6909 email: phrsi@ite.net www.pacifichr.net

3) What is your target market?

Our primary markets are mid to small businesses which may not have a human resource staff or whose HR department may be inexperienced. We also provide services to various government of Guam agencies on a per project basis. We assist companies who may need assistance meeting government compliance requirements.

Left to Right: Lyndon Carina, Jeffrey Vitkovitsky, Grace Donaldson, Sammy Felisan, Mary Rose Esmeralda 14 | APRIL2012

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FEATURESTORY

ARRA Funds Help Reduce GovGuam Power Bills Through ENERGY GUAM

ER AUT OW

RITY HO

P

efficiency PO VE WER R E S TO

by: David F. Macaluso

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FEATURESTORY

Twelve GovGuam agencies are expected to save on their utilities bills after the Guam Power Authority upgrades their facilities. This is all made possible by the $8.1 million ARRA Funds given to GPA by the Guam Energy Office thru the United States Department of Energy.

According to Francis Iriarte, P.E., Special Projects Engineer with GPA, this grant will be used on projects to retrofit 44 facilities belonging to 12 GovGuam line agencies. The agencies include Department of Public Health Social Services, Department of Mental Health Substance Abuse, Department of Public Works, Guam Fire Department, Guam Public Library System, Guam Police Department, Department of Agriculture, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Youth Affairs, Department of Administration, Department of Corrections and the Guam Energy Office.

Iriarte said, "One of the energy upgrades consists of retrofitting lighting which involves change out of the light’s ballasts and lamps or completely change out of light fixtures.

This project started in November 2011 and should be completed at the end of this month (April 2012)."

Over a year ago an energy audit was conducted and completed by local architect firm Taniguchi Ruth Makio Architects (TRMA) contracted by GEO. TRMA drafted and put together the specs needed for this project.

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In addition to lighting upgrades, the ARRA funds will also be used to replace air conditioners and refrigerators, fix water closets, urinals, floor restrictors, sinks and showers, upgrade electrical work, repair roofs and tint windows.

GPA is partnered with two local contractors, Johnson Controls (JCI) and Science Application International Corporation (SAIC). And from those contractors, they have partnered with several smaller local contractors.

Iriarte said, "This is a great project and I'm really glad to be a part of it because it is making a difference with the Agencies. I take a lot of pride when I see the happy faces of the end users, especially knowing that the GovGuam agencies will be saving on their power bill.�

According to Iriarte, SAIC partnered with International Bridge Corporation.

IBC is the firm that built the new JFK Campus in Upper Tumon. JCI partnered with several specialty companies including JRN to replace all the air conditioners, Barrett to do the plumbing work, ZOOM to do all the electrical work, and Island Tinting to work on all the windows and doors.

There are strict guide lines on how ARRA funds can be spent. One requirement is all products have to be made in the USA. This helps the country and create or sustain jobs. Another positive about the program is that money circulates within our economy and people (contractors and subcontractors) are working. In addition, there are expected savings on the Agencies power bills after all the improvements and upgrades are made to the aging system. For GPA this means lower revenues, but that's good for the Agencies because they can reinvest those funds for other areas of operation in terms of services.

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APRIL2012 | 17

FEATURESTORY

Still Cool: JWS Turns

40

by: David F. Macaluso

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FEATURESTORY

JWS marks its 40th anniversary in April and owner John Scragg has been through good economic times and bad and ensured his company survived it all. JWS got its humble start in February 1972 when John Warren Scragg (JWS) started JWS Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Ltd. with a 1965 Toyota station wagon, a toolbox, $400.00 dollars and the willingness to provide 24/7 services.

Scragg launched JWS partly after gaining experience as a facilities manager at Continental Airlines and at his work at Fletcher Construction New Zealand.

He had been in management positions and felt the time was right to strike out on his own.

No one understands the significance of the JWS 40th anniversary more than its owner. "Very rarely is a company of this nature owned by the same individuals,” he said. “This 40th anniversary is a milestone in this industry - there have been many difficult times including the Asian crisis, SARS, 9-11, and the financial meltdown." Scragg believes his success over the past four decades can be traced back to his staff. He says he is very fortunate to attract and retain good people who share

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his enthusiasm for customer service and who maintain the JWS standard of selling products of superior quality and on the cutting edge of technology.

Scragg also believes it is important for his company to reinvest its profits.

Scraggs feels it has been JWS's priority to give back to the community in a variety of ways. "JWS will contribute and donate to religious organizations, schools, Salvation Army, University of Guam and private entities," said Scraggs. "We provide training as well, including engineering services for those who wish to participate in energy saving programs." JWS works closely with Guam Energy office. The primary focus is to provide support services for the equipment JWS sells and to provide installation services for air conditioners, refrigeration, and food service equipment. Other JWS departments include mechanical contracting, engineering, wholesale, resale, and fire suppression systems.

to provide highly specialized equipment which is centered on the specific needs of the customer. I cite the example of the most technically advanced chillers made in the U.S. today from MagLev," he said.

Over the long term, Scragg knows the company is about opportunity.

“My legacy would be to open doors for youngsters and give them the opportunity to acquire a career they never envisioned for themselves.”

Now that’s cool; it looks like JWS can look forward to another 40 years.

JWS has experienced 40 years of success and Scragg feels his services and his quality product line set him apart from the rest of the competition. "We represent United States and Australian manufacturers and we have the ability

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APRIL2012 | 19

PHOTOHIGHLIGHTS

GCA Luncheon March. 21st, 2012 Onward Beach Resort

Robert P. Salas, with Pacific Alliance LLC an LMS Guam joint venture, was recently invited to a conference in Japan and was able to share a moment with Masahisa Sato, a member of The House of Councilors. More commonly known as a Congressman by US standards, and is also a retired Lieutenant. Salas is currently the Vice Chairman of The Guam Contractors Association Board of Directors and a Board of Director for the Guam Economic Development Authority. Salas was able to talk to Mr. Sato about how they both can help Guam, Japan, and Okinawa and expressed how meeting with Congressman Sato was meaningful and was a good opportunity to confirm the continued mutual cooperation for the Marine Relocation. February 2012.

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PHOTOHIGHLIGHTS

Red Carpet VIP Mixer

March 29th, 2012 Triple J Ford Showroom

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APRIL2012 | 23

THEHAPPENINGS

Public Radio Guam to Observe Wildlife during Cairns Total Solar Eclipse

by R. Todd Thompson

Guam’s public radio station, KPRG FM 89.3 is launching its adventure travel program with a tour “down under” to Cairns, Australia, to see the November 14 total solar eclipse. And in addition to gazing at the sun, the group will have the opportunity to see how the native wildlife of tropical North Australia react to the eclipse.

The tour, dubbed Eclipse at the Dome, will view the eclipse from the Cairns Wildlife Dome, a private zoo exhibit near the waterfront in central Cairns, atop the Pullman Reef Hotel & Casino. The Wildlife Dome is home to a wide variety of mammals, reptiles and bird species, such as koalas, rainforest wallabies, frogs, turtles, freshwater crocodiles, bettongs, kookaburras, parrots, cockatoos, lorikeets, curlews, frogmouths, doves, and rosellas. The Dome is an enclosed “all weather” facility with a large, elevated terrace, offering a postcard view of where the sun will be on eclipse morning, as well as the Trinity Inlet and Grafton headlands.

station’s travel program. “Many people have ‘bucket lists’; and seeing a total solar eclipse should certainly be on the list.” He added, “We’re proud to be offering something unique to Guam travelers. There are a lot of eclipse tours being sold internationally on the web, but we’re the only tour based on Guam and the only one going to the Wildlife Dome.”

attended by guests from many different countries in addition to Guam and Saipan.

The tour is being organized by KPRG in coordination with Latitude 13 Adventures, LLC. Those interested in the Eclipse at the Dome should visit the KPRG website at kprgfm.com or email inquiries to info@latitude13adventures.com.

The tour has attracted national and international interest and is expected to be

Public Radio Guam (the closest NPR affiliate to Cairns) is offering a five-day eclipse tour, which will depart from Guam on November 11 (over the Veteran’s Day holiday weekend) and return on November 16; including hotel accommodations and an eclipse-eve banquet, as well as included and optional day tips to area attractions.

The tour has also reserved a limited number of non-stop air tickets corresponding to the tour dates for purchase by tour guests only. That’s significant, because the route is otherwise already fully booked out. Thus, the KPRG tour offers Guam residents the only practical way to get to Cairns for the eclipse.

The tour will have exclusive access to the Cairns Wildlife Dome on eclipse morning.

Among other things, the group will set up a battery of video cameras in the Dome facility in an attempt to observe and document wildlife behavior during phases of the eclipse.

KPRG General Manager Chris Hartig said that the tour marks the perfect start to the

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CRANECRITIQUECORNER

NYLON SHEAVES This month’s topic:

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? by: Dave Barnhouse

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 Nylon sheaves are increasingly found on a wide variety of lifting equipment. They often replace sheaves made of cast iron or steel. Today, nylon sheaves can be found on nearly any type of crane including gantry, tower, rough terrain, crawler, truck, and pedestal cranes. They are also used in equipment for the wire drawing and cable stranding industries, on fork-lifts, telehandlers, manlifts, mobile drill rigs and in many other mechanical systems.

EXTEND WIRE ROPE LIFE Manufacturer’s of nylon sheaves claim several advantages of nylon over steel, such as extending wire rope life. Nylon sheaves are very wear resistant and do not stress the outer strands of the rope nearly as much as steel sheaves. Standard wire rope rests in the groove of a steel sheave on point contacts only, resulting in high specific loads between the outer wires of the rope and the groove. Premature wire rope failure due to the breaking of individual wires in the outer strands can occur. This does not happen with sheaves made of cast nylon. The elasticity of nylon sheaves results in a larger contact area between wire rope and sheave groove, providing a cushion in the groove contact area. The load bearing contact area on a nylon sheave is 10 to 11 times larger than on a steel sheave. The specific loading is greatly reduced, and the wire rope is under less stress.

Crown breaks occur when a cable contacts a material of similar or greater hardness than itself. During this contact, tremendous pressure is exerted on the individual wires, in time these wires will break. One solution is to provide a material which is softer than wire rope and able to handle the extreme pressures. Nylon with its inherent resiliency provides an excellent solution.

As the rope bends around the sheave, the sheave material deforms slightly to provide increased contact area for the individual wires. This lowers the pressure on the wires and lessens the likelihood of crown breaks. Wear resistance, reduced specific loading and elasticity make nylon sheaves

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Destroyed nylon sheave after load testing. This was due to previous two-blocking damage resulting in hairline cracks propagating to hub.

extend the life of the wire rope by up to 300% or more.

Because of the longer life of the outer wire strands, rope failure begins with breaking of the internal strands. These breaks cause the rope diameter to shrink. Therefore, periodic rope inspection requires a careful measurement of the rope diameter to determine remaining service life instead of counting visible breaks in the outer strands.

U.S. Steel conducted tests to confirm the structural integrity of nylon sheaves before purchasing for their own equipment. What they found was after loading the wire rope until failure, there was no permanent damage to the sheave. This can be reassuring since the safety factor of the wire rope is 3.5:1, and the wire rope failed before the sheave, there should never be sheave failure if the wire rope is not over loaded. Note sheave failure in photo above. This is an example why structural components must be visually inspected

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periodically. Though this sheave was not over loaded, it failed when loaded to capacity due to existing damage from a two-blocking incident. The softer nylon properties contribute to the individual wire grooving found in cast nylon sheaves during sheave inspection. This should not be a major concern unless there is obvious excessive wire groove depths noted in the sheave groove. Since the sheave groove pressure should not be over 1,000 psi, any deflection in the grooves will be elastic and fully recover once the load is removed.

LIGHTER WEIGHT The low weight of cast nylon sheaves can also increase their operational efficiency.

The weight of cast nylon sheaves is one-seventh the weight of steel sheaves.

In heavy cranes with multiple reeving, the weight savings adds up quickly. The total axle load on a large mobile crane (which may use as many as 18 sheaves) can be reduced by almost 2,200 lbs by using cast nylon sheaves. The effect of the weight savings on the boom tip is magnified at low

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CRANECRITIQUECORNER Answers to last month’s test quiz: Is lifting personnel with a crane still allowed? If so what are the restrictions?

Yes, Lifting personnel with a crane utilizing an approved man platform is allowed, however, with restrictions. As per OSHA 1926.1431: The use of equipment to hoist employees is prohibited except where the employer demonstrates that the erection, use, and dismantling of conventional means of reaching the work area, such as a personnel hoist, ladder, stairway, aerial lift, elevating work platform, or scaffold, would be more hazardous, or is not possible because of the project’s structural design or worksite conditions. In other words, if it is possible to conduct the work with an aerial lift than one must be used.

It does not matter that the contractor may not own an aerial lift, it is his responsibility to obtain the proper equipment. Some of the equipment criteria: • The personnel platform must meet all criteria of 1926.1431(e), first listed is ‘a qualified person familiar with structural design must design the personnel platform’. See paragraph (e) for entire list as it is lengthy. See paragraph (b) for exceptions.

• The lifting equipment’s capacity must be reduced 50%.

• All safety devices such as boom hoist limit switch, boom angle indicator and anti-two-block device must be opera-

boom angles thus improving lifting capacity somewhat.

CORROSION RESISTANCE Nylon sheaves do not rust, and resist chemical and salt water corrosion. They are ideal for outdoor and marine applications as well as in other harsh environments.

LONGER LASTING A combination of mechanical and impact properties, combined with its excellent wear resistance, allow cast nylon sheaves to outlast steel sheaves.

CONCLUSIONS Nylon sheaves are as structurally sound as steel sheaves and do extend the life of wire rope. This would be the main benefit of nylon sheaves, followed by the less weight. Initial costs of nylon versus steel sheaves are comparable but nylon sheave costs may vary greatly depending on the bearing type.

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tional.

• All hooks or other attachment components must be closed and locked, eliminating the throat opening. Shackles must either be safety type with bolt and nut or screw pin type with pin secured. All rigging used for the personnel platform must not be used for any purpose other than lifting personnel.

• A trial lift with the unoccupied personnel platform loaded at least to the anticipated lift weight must be made from ground level, or any other location where employees will enter the platform, to each location at which the platform is to be hoisted and positioned. This must be repeated each time the crane is moved and set up in new location. At each jobsite, prior to hoisting employees on the personnel platform, and after any repair or modification, the platform and rigging must be proof tested to 125 percent of the platform’s rated capacity. The proof test may be done concurrently with the trial lift. The platform must be lowered by controlled load lowering, braked, and held in a suspended position for a minimum of five minutes with the test load evenly distributed on the platform.

• Pre-lift meeting. A pre-lift meeting must be: (1) Held to review the applicable requirements of this section and the procedures that will be followed. (2)

Numerous deficiencies noted: No A-2-B, Improper rigging, fall protection, wire termination, no trial lift, Attended bytraining, the equipment etc. operator,

signal person (if used for the lift), employees to be hoisted, and the person responsible for the task to be performed.

Please refer to 1926.1431 for complete list of requirements for personnel platform use and enlist help of qualified person before attempting any personnel lifts.

This month’s test quiz addresses: Crane hook safety latches: Is it ever allowed to operate without a functional latching hook?

We will discuss the answers to this question in next month’s edition of GCA Construction News Bulletin, please be sure not to miss it.

I will attempt to test your knowledge of crane operations each month in this column with a few questions relating to one of the mentioned topics. These questions will address the weak areas more frequently noted during my classroom operator training and/or the more common discrepancies noted during crane inspections. If your company or subs utilizes cranes whether as owner or renter I invite you to look for this column each month and test your crane knowledge.

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 Yigo 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, Level II Rigger, and NCCCO practical examiner for all types of mobile crane operators, riggers, signal persons, and the only OSHA accredited crane inspector on Guam.

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