When you are getting ready to work on an excavation project, you will want to make sure you choose the best equipment for that specific project. Buildings, overpasses, bridges, and roads all require a strong foundation. The start of a strong foundation is excavation.

Excavation experts must handle the earthmoving, digging, and grading to prepare the site. Excavating encompasses a variety of tasks, including excavating gravel pits to help build roads, smoothing parcels of land for building homes or businesses or working on an overpass or a bridge.

The Tools Used For Excavation

There are several different kinds of tools for excavating. Skid steers, track loaders, mini excavators, backhoes, graders, and dozers are among those that are more commonly used for excavation work. Here is a rundown of some of the most popular excavation equipment:

• Backhoes – Backhoes are the standard for making trenches, backfilling areas, digging, and moving materials across the work site.
• Skid steers – Skid steers are small machines that have to lift arms able to dig, carry materials, and scoop. The scoop will grab anything on the ground quickly, such as rock or gravel, and then reach high enough to load it into a truck.
• Mini excavators – These machines feature a base scoop for digging and a bucket for hauling, help move materials, and grade the land parcels easily.
• Multi-terrain loaders – These are stronger machines that can get to those challenging remote worksites where compact track loaders aren’t able to go. These machines are designed to climb steeper grades and move across bumpier terrain and then do moving, scooping, digging, and pushing for your project.
• Compact track loaders – These are great for pushing around materials, grading a surface, and leveling out the land. You can use these for home landscaping projects and work great in the smaller areas for roadwork.

At ATS, we offer training for those wanting to operate heavy equipment. We help those who are interested in a career in excavating. Call us today at (800) 383-7364 to learn more about our training programs.

If you work construction, you know that the cold temperatures can wreak havoc on your body. You need to make sure you have the right winter gear to keep you warm during those colder months. If you work in construction, here are some of the basic items you need to have in your closet:

• Insulated boots
• Sweatshirts
• Hoodies
• Thermal underwear
• Work jackets
• Base layer clothing
• Work pants
• Insulate gloves
• Work shirts
• Hard hat liners
• Beanies
• Insulated socks
• Hand warmers
• Footwarmers
• Coat

You should also have waterproof boots and a rain jacket. During the winter months, you may work in snow and ice, so you want to make sure you are prepared for whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Always take along a change of clothing in case you get wet while on the job because you don’t want to get wet and stay out in the cold temperatures.

You should know how to properly layer clothing, so you can make sure you are warm in the extremely cold temperatures, but also have the flexibility of taking off layers as you warm up during the workday. It is important for anyone who operates heavy machinery, or who does any kind of construction work or works in an agricultural role, to have the proper clothing and gear for all seasons.

Winter Gear Gift Ideas

If you have someone on your holiday gift-buying list who has a job that sends them outdoors frequently, you may want to consider buying them some winter gear because that is a gift that will serve them well for a long time to come and it can help them stay warm and healthy.

There are many high-quality manufacturers of winter gear for those who work outdoors, and they are available at many different stores and online. Some of the leading brands include North Face, Duluth Trading Company, Carhartt, Lincoln Outfitters,  Rocky, C.E. Schmidt, Berne, and Scully.

If you are interested in getting the training you need for a new career, but you have reservations about taking that next step because you don’t know where you will live, there is good news. Associated Training Services (ATS) offers housing assistance for its students.

ATS has established housing assistance for its students who stay at the dormitory while pursuing classes. ATS will take care of reserving a room at our dormitory facility for the entire time that you are attending school and undergoing training at ATS.

ATS is only five miles from the dormitory, which adds to the convenience. You can easily walk to grocery stores, restaurants, and other community assets from the dormitory. The dorm has 62 rooms that are equipped with WiFi, laundry facilities, air conditioning, cable TV, and air conditioning.

These are comfortable rooms that are in a convenient location, so you can easily access everything that you need to while you are getting your training. The rooms are designed to provide you with the comfort of home. The Inn is located so that you can easily find activities to enjoy when you aren’t at school.

When you contact ATS and inquire about financial aid, ask about making housing arrangements. The ATS admissions representative will help ensure that you have access to everything you need so you can make the most of your time here in Wisconsin.

Call ATS at (800) 383-7364 today to learn more about how we can provide housing assistance and to learn about the financial assistance opportunities available to you so you can join one of our training programs.

If you have a construction worker on your Christmas list, you may be left wondering would be a gift they will appreciate and, also get plenty of use out of. Here are a few of the top gift ideas for someone who works in construction.

• Dual-port car chargers – Spending a lot of time traveling from one job site to another, and working outdoors, they need to keep their smartphones and tablets charged. A dual-port car charger helps keep two devices ready to go.
• Portable rechargeable work lights – Cordless rechargeable work lights can provide up to 5 hours of light and will easily attach to different surfaces.
• All-weather pens or pencils – Construction workers often must write down details and in bad weather, that can be challenging. All-weather mechanical pencils and pens perform in extreme temperatures and provide waterproof writing.
• Bluetooth speakers – While these are common in homes, they are great gifts for job sites and in heavy machinery. Bluetooth speakers let you play your music without taking along CDs. Just plug in your phone or other device and listen.
• Tool totes – Tool bags with shoulder straps are available with a variety of pockets, so a variety of tools can easily be stored.
• Rugged electronic cases – Help them protect their laptops, tablets, or phones with a rugged case that helps protect them from being dropped, scratched, and exposed to dirt and dust.
• Lunch box – Get a heavy-duty construction site lunch box and not the old standard. As an example, the Stanley Heritage Cooler Thermos combo is leak-proof and comes with a locking handle to hold the thermos in its spot. It has a limited lifetime warranty.
• Heated gear – Nowadays there are many heated items besides just foot warmers and hand warmers. There are gloves, socks, hoodies, boots, and jackets available that are heated.

These are just a few gift ideas for the construction worker on your shopping list this holiday season.

While you may think of remote-controlled equipment as being toys, there are actual pieces of working heavy equipment that is available for purchase. These pieces of machinery were designed with employee safety in mind and can perform jobs in areas where there is a greater risk of a rollover or an accident.

RC Crawler Remote-Controlled

As an example, the Komatsu D155AXi-8 RC crawler is a remote-controlled machine that features Intelligent Machine Control (IMC) technology. This machine is designed for applications in which the operator shouldn’t be in the cab because of safety concerns.

The machine description indicates that the “line of sight remote” allows for operation for up to 100 meters. Companies are offering remote-controlled excavating equipment. This helps with employee safety because the equipment can be used in areas where it isn’t safe to send an employee to operate the machine.

The crawler features the ability to sense and control the blade load, optimize the cut, and minimize the slipping track. It has an automated gearshift transmission and lock-up torque converter that selects the optimal gear range, which is dependent on the load and the conditions of the job site.

The electronically controlled transmission is capable of locking up the torque converter to transfer engine power directly to the transmission and eliminating the loss of horsepower and reducing fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent.

The D61EXi/PXi-24 Intelligent Machine Control Dozer

This second-generation Intelligent Machine Control dozer features a 6.8-liter engine with 168 horsepower. The system allows automated operation from fine grading to heavy dozing, which achieves as much as 8 percent greater efficiency in the moving of materials.

It lacks sensors mounted on the blades, so an operator will not have to climb onto the blade to remove or install antennas. There aren’t electrical connections or coiled cables.

OSHA Fines

OSHA can fine employers, and those fines can add up quickly. If employees aren’t properly trained, or if there are PPE violations, OSHA can issue a citation for each employee violation. While not every case will warrant a per-employee citation, those fines and citations can be issued as the agency sees fit.

If your company doesn’t always have all its employees wearing their PPE, it can mean serious financial problems. As an example, the rule was enacted because a company hired 11 undocumented workers from Mexico. These employees were put to work handling asbestos, but they weren’t provided respirators.

At that time, before the regulation was enacted, OSHA wanted to enact 11 different citations, but the court consolidated it into one single citation. With the new rule, 11 citations would be 11 times the cost of one citation.

Ensuring Employees Are Properly Trained

As an employer, you are responsible for making sure your employees have undergone popular training and have access to the required PPE. The violation could be financially devastating to your business, and it could cost you significantly in the long run because you could lose employees who have already been trained to do the job.

The cost of paying the OSHA fines and then hiring and retraining new employees can set your operation back significantly, so it isn’t worth the risk. You should make sure your employees have all the proper certifications and training so they will know how to handle their job duties and the proper safety protocol and procedures required for the job.

Proper Training

At Associated Training Services, we offer all the necessary certifications and training programs to ensure your employees understand the processes and know the requirements. Call us today to learn about the different training programs.

The days are getting colder. Winter is quickly approaching. You will want to be preparing your heavy equipment and machinery for the colder weather, so you can prevent damage that can be expensive and time-consuming. Now is the time to plan and get things in order. Here are a few tips for getting your heavy equipment ready for the cold weather that lies ahead.

• Be sure to condition any and all hydraulic hoses and use the correct lubricants. Make sure your equipment has the right engine, transmission, hydraulic, and final drive lubricants for that specific piece of equipment.
• Use enclosed storage facilities for your equipment, and be sure fluids are at room temperature. That will make for an easier start for your machine and you will spend less time brushing off all the snow and ice.
• In most situations, block heaters are best for getting your engine started in cold weather. A block heater will increase the temperature of the hydraulic fluid and the engine. You can block the radiator to speed up the warming-up process.
• Be sure that all batteries are fully charged and that they are warm. When it is cold, it takes twice as many cranking amps for your battery to turn over, so making sure it is charged and warm will make it start much easier and more quickly.
• Keep starting fluid on hand, be sure it stays at room temperature, and only inject it as the engine is cranking. Be sure to store starting fluids properly and safely as they are highly flammable.
• You should always run the engine until it reaches the temperature for operation. This can help you avoid sticking of the exhaust and intake.
• Make sure you keep your tires properly inflated because they lose cold air faster in cold weather. Also, when they are inflated, do so in a heated area for the best results.

If you are ready to head out into the construction industry because you have the proper training for operating heavy equipment and machinery, or you have the proper certifications for a specific job you may need to brush up on your soft skills. Without the proper soft skills training, you will not be able to land that job that you trained for. Soft skills involve content in three critical areas – interpersonal skills, logical skills, and communication skills.

Interpersonal skills involve collaboration and successful teamwork while logic skills involve your decision-making and critical thinking and communication skills pertaining to listing and speaking. You will need all these skills to have a successful job interview, and you will also need these skills to be able to handle daily tasks out in the field and to work well with others. After all, construction is a team effort.

When you go to a training school to learn how to be a professional driver, to become a crane operator or a signalperson or how to operate that heavy equipment, you will most likely have some soft skills training as well. Most schools take their role seriously and will work to ensure that you are prepared to enter the workforce and succeed in your career choice. Soft skills are needed to succeed on all levels.

How To Find Work

With soft skills training, you will learn the best approaches to finding work. This can include job hunt techniques, resume building, application completion, and basic communication skills that are necessary for a successful job interview. Soft skills training should include going over possible interview questions and knowing the best way to answer them. You want to be honest and straightforward when responding to interview questions, so this kind of training can help you prepare for those situations.

When you attend Associated Training Services, you will learn all the different aspects of your chosen field. Plus, you will sharpen up your soft skills. To learn more about ATS, call (800) 383-7364 today.

A certified rigger is a worker who has undergone the proper training to become certified to move loads. The specific certification level depends on the individual’s training, knowledge, experience, skill base, and ability to handle functions that pertain to the proper selection, use, and inspection of rigging equipment.

A rigger is a skilled worker who specializes in the lifting, landing, and assembly of heavy or large objects. The task often requires the help of a block and tackle and pulley, crane, derrick, chain hoists, or capstan winch. Riggers are needed for a variety of building and construction projects, so it is a role that is in high demand.

Riggers work in various roles, including construction and shipbuilding. Vacancies in the construction field for riggers have increased by 9.46 percent across the U.S., and there is an average growth of 1.58 percent in the field per year, which means that there is a need for trained rigging professionals. According to recruiter.com, the average salary of a rigger is $43,500 per year. Those who work in professional, scientific, and technical services are paid somewhat more, averaging $62,680 per year for their services.

Rigger Certificate Training

To become certified so you can seek employment as a rigger, you will need to go to an established school where you can receive professional training. Associated Training Services (ATS) includes heavy equipment operation, trucking, mobile crane operation, and rigger/signalperson certification. ATS has an OSHA-compliant rigger training program that provides students with the optimal level of expert instruction, and practical and written testing.

With the ATS rigger training program, you will become qualified to be certified with the new OSHA crane mandate while having the skills that you need to perform rigging tasks. You will have the knowledge, the skills, and the capabilities to handle the job safely and help protect other workers from being injured while you are performing your job duties. To learn more about ATS Training programs, please call (800) 383-7364 today.

While there are many festivals and events across the country, there is one that stands out – Dozer Day! Dozer Day will be held May 16-17, 2020, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Clark County Event Center at the Fairgrounds in Vancouver, Washington.

The Nutter Family Foundation is a non-profit organization that focuses on addressing the needs of children. The foundation believes that when children are provided with opportunities to develop their talents, society will thrive.

The primary annual event of the Nutter Foundation is Dozer Day. At Dozer Day children are put in the driver’s seat of heavy equipment used in the construction business as well as an ambulance, fire trucks, and other vehicles. During the activities, children learn about public safety, the construction of sustainable communities, and industry opportunities.

More About Dozer Day

Dozer Day is held annually, and it is a fundraising charitable event that strives to educate children about the opportunities that exist. It teaches attendees about real-world, important situations while ensuring they get experiences relating to construction by asking them to take the driver’s seat in heavy equipment, recycling trucks, ambulances, and fire trucks.

Besides putting the children in driver’s seats, they can participate in a variety of fun, educational activities.  Families are given the chance to interact with professionals from multiple industries and there will be redefining of stereotypes. It is a fun-filled family event.

Dozer Event Locations

Locations are spread out including Vancouver, Washington; Yakima, Washington; Seattle, Washington; Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho; Kansas City; and it is planned for Willamette Valley. The Nutter Family Foundation hopes to add some more locations across the country. To learn more about Dozer Day or to learn how to schedule an event in your community, visit www.dozerday.org.