CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL TOOLS FOR PROGRESS OR DESTRUCTION

MANUFACTURERS, WHILE CONTINUING TO DESIGN AND BUILD PRODUCTIVE, LONG-LASTING, HEAVY DUTY MACHINES, CAN EXPAND THEIR CONCERN AND EFFORTS TO MAKE THEM CONTRIBUTE LESS NOISE AND AIR POLLUTION. EFFORT MUST BE DIRECTED TOWARD ACHIEVEMENT TO MACHINE SAFETY. EXAMPLES ARE GIVEN OF THE WIDE VARIATION IN ENVIRONMENTALLY ORIENTED REGULATIONS WRITTEN BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (CIMA) WAS ORGANIZED TO RECOGNIZE AND PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNIFORM PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT WILL SERVE THE OBJECTIVES OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. THE ISSUANCE OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY HEALTH ACT (OSHA) AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF U S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) ARE SIGNIFICANT EVENTS WHICH AFFECTED THE MANUFACTURING SEGMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. THE CIMA IS SPONSERING A PRODUCT REQUIREMENT INDEX FOR OSHA AND A PRODUCT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. THE EFFORTS OF THE CIMA IN THE STANDARDIZATION OF SAFETY DEVICE REQUIREMENTS ARE DESCRIBED. THE PROPOSED STRUCTURES (ROPS) IS DISCUSSED AND THE TYPE OF MACHINES THAT WILL BE AFFECTED ARE MENTIONED. ALTHOUGH MANUFACTURERS SAW NO MAJOR OBSTACLES PROVEDED SUFFICIENT LEAD TIME WAS ALLOWED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS, OBJECTIONS WERE RAISED TO RETROFITTING MACHINES ALREADY IN THE FIELD. TECHNICAL AND SAFETY FACTS POINT TO THE INADVISABILITY OF ARBITRARILY WELDING A STRUCTURE WITHOUT CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN TO THE INTEGRITY OF THE MACHINE TO SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE. THE RESULTS OF AN INVESTIGATION OF THE FREQUENCY OF ROLL-OVER ACCIDENTS IS PRESENTED. SAFETY RULINGS DIRECTED AT THE OPERATOR OF THE CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ARE LACKING. WHILE OPERATOR EDUCATION IS PRIMARILY RESPONCIBILITY OF THE EMPLOYER, THE CIMA OFFERS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THIS AREA. CURRENTLY AVAILABLE SAFETY MANUALS ARE REVIEWED. SAFETY STANDARDS FOR CRANES ARE DISCUSSED. IN A CONSIDERATION OF THE ECONOMICS OF NOISE ABATEMENT, IT IS NOTED THAT CONSULTANTS WARN THAT THE COST IS NOT IN EXACT PROPORTION TO THE NUMBER OF DECIBELS REDUCED. TO COMPLY WITH EPA AIR POLLUTION CONTROL REGULATIONS, DUST-SUPPRESSION DEVICES MUST BE USED ON DRILLING OPERATIONS. STRINGENT PARTICULATE EMISSION STANDARDS WILL REQUIRE EXPENSIVE CONTROL DEVICES. THE THE OBSERVATION IS MADE THAT MANY OF THE REGULATIONS ARE UNECONOMIC AND IMPRACTICAL, AND WILL HAVE TO BE SOLVED THROUGH NEGOTIATION AND COMPROMISE BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY.

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    • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
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    Highway Research Board

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  • Authors:
    • Messinger, R D
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  • Publication Date: 1973

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 132-141
  • Monograph Title: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION
  • Serial:

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Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00219504
  • Record Type: Publication
  • ISBN: 0309021529
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Apr 3 1974 12:00AM