Concrete Executive Leadership Forum The Breakers, Palm Beach, FLJuly 25 – 28, 2013

Annual Conference, Columbus, OHSeptember 12 – 15, 2013

Industry CalendarA-Tech Concrete Co., Inc, Edison, NJMidwest Concrete LLC, Lee’s Summit, MONorthland Contracting Inc., Fredonia, NYSomero, LLC, Greer, SC

Sustaining members in red.

New Members

2025 S. Brentwood Blvd., Suite 105, St. Louis, MO 63144 Tel: 314-962-0210Website: www.ascconline.org E-mail: ascc@ascconline.org Fax: 314-968-4367

President’s Message

This message is for all ASCC contractor members that have never attended a CEO Forum. In the mid-90’s I saw an ad in a trade magazine for an event called the CEO Forum. It was to be held in Lake Tahoe and it was to be a group of con-crete contractors from around the nation meeting to talk about the business of concrete contracting. I thought it would be a pretty neat event but couldn’t find the time (or the money) to attend. This was at a time when I did everything in our business—ran jobs, payroll, receivables, payables, scheduled crews, etc.

Gay and I took the plunge and attended our first one in 1996 at the Silverado in Napa, CA. What a shock that first one was! We did not know a soul that first night and

Mike Poppoff

ACI Fall Convention, Phoenix, AZOctober 20 – 24, 2013

World of Concrete, Las Vegas, NVJanuary 21 – 24, 2014

JUNE 2013

President’s Message

Executive Director’s Message

Decorative Concrete Council

DCC Community Project Photos

Establishing a Company Safety Committee – a Team Approach

Near Miss

Powder Release – Is the End Near?

Strategy for a Hotline Call

Webinar Schedule

Contents AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONCRETE CONTRACTORS

were pretty lost. But during the next three days we met many new friends and I came away knowing more about how to run my business than I knew when we arrived. The seminars were excellent but I also learned from side conversations with other concrete contractors. We have since attended all but three of the Forums. We have learned some-thing new at each of these events and we are a better concrete contracting company because of this.

I know there are ASCC con-tractor members out there who could learn more about this industry that can help their company. It has been renamed the Concrete Executive Leadership Forum (CELF) but the purpose is the same—to make us better concrete con-

tractors. Give it a try this year! We’ll be at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida, July 25 to July 28. You will feel welcomed and will find that the other contractor attendees have the same bruises you do. This is the PERFECT event to start getting rid of those bruises!

Bev GarnantIf you haven’t already added the word “resilience” to your marketing lexicon, you might want to consider it. I think the best definition of resilience in terms of concrete structures is “capable of withstanding shock without permanent deformation or rupture”. This characterization rings true with planners, owners and designers as they work to create safe and secure environments. Because every part of North America is exposed to some type of natural hazard, all con-crete contractors have the opportunity to promote the practical and meaningful use of concrete construction for the purpose of withstanding these occurrences.

Aside from the fact that concrete is a safer, more durable building material, another reason to become familiar with the term is that it has taken hold with government officials, developers, owners, architects, engineers, urban plan-

Executive Director’s Message

ASCC technical director Bruce Suprenant and ASCC president Mike Poppoff spoke to a delegation of 13 men and women involved in the concrete construction industry in China, at a flooring summit held at Somero Enterprises, Fort Myers, FL on June 10. The topic of discussion was concrete construction methods for flat floors in China.

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Decorative Concrete CouncilChris Klemaske, DCC Council Director

In March of last year I started this journey as the Council Director of the DCC. In my first newsletter article I spoke about who we are and what we accomplish every day as decorative concrete contractors. In May of this year, in the small town of Hanson, Kentucky, at the Western Kentucky Veteran’s Center, we had the opportunity to put those talents into action for others.

One year ago the ASCC was contacted by the daughter of a man who had lived at the Veteran’s Center, but had since passed away. Sandy Henderson had decided to take on a project that would create a therapeutic garden at the center. The existing courtyard space was uninviting and rarely used by the residents. One of the largest challenges was the concrete flatwork; it was a very light gray, blinding and uncomfortable. Sandy was looking for information about concrete staining and the possibility of finding someone to donate the stain and apply it. Bev brought the project to the DCC as a possible community project and we jumped on board.

Fast forward, the week of May 13th. DCC volunteers went to Hanson, and exceeded the expectations and dreams that Sandy and the staff had for that space. I am in awe of the generosity of our members. The treasures, talent and time that were given to make this idea a reality is amazing. Thank you to Jim Mullins and Paul Schneider for heading this up. Todd Scharich did a great job as project manager. Thank you to our volunteers Andy Espinoza, T. B. Penick; Russ Mackenzie, Belarde Co.; Neil Roach, Creative Construction by Design; and Wyatt Brandy, Ryan Jessie and Mary Michael Jett, all of the CIM program at Middle Tennessee State University, for their hard work and dedication.

We are also so grateful to the companies that supplied materials and tools: Butterfield Color, Euclid Chemical Co., Decorative Concrete Resources, Patterned Concrete of Cincinnati and Surface Gel Tek. If you have an opportunity to speak to these volunteers you will learn that the gratitude of the staff and veterans was overwhelming and in the end they felt like they received more than they gave. Sandy shared this quote from a veteran who has no legs and watched from his wheelchair: “it makes me proud that I served for people like this, who serve other people.” The DCC is looking for its next community project. Please contact me with any opportunities in your area.

ners, and average citizens alike. Communities like those in New Orleans, New York and New Jersey, Joplin, Moore and many others are striving to rebuild stronger, greener and better.

Cities are investing in resilience with building standards, land-use plans and urban development projects. The construction sector can reap the benefits of this trend by teaming with local governments through public-pri-vate partnerships (PPPs). The 80 Green Building Councils around the world are working with their members from across the building industry to deliver design solutions for more resilient neighborhoods and buildings. Everyone involved in the building process, from manufacturers to specialty contractors, can help lay the foundation for a more resilient building environment. Being a knowledgeable part of the process translates into more opportunities for jobs.

To learn more go to sustainableconcrete.org, website of the Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative.

I would like to try and deter-mine how large a role sus-tainability plays in the business development/marketing efforts of our members. If you have someone on your staff who is LEED accredited please let me know. Also, what is that person’s job title? Thank you. Bev

DCC Community Project

Thank you volunteers

and suppliers

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Establishing a Company Safety Committee – A Team ApproachIn 2011, after a strategic review of our company safety program, we decided to develop a new approach to ensure continuous improvement. We are a mid-sized, employee-owned concrete com-pany that provides commercial and industrial services in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Our workforce averages approximately 125 carpenters, laborers, operators and cement finishers. Our employees are highly skilled in their trades and have significant exposure to all sorts of comprehensive safety training throughout their careers. Our 20 year average EMR is 0.67 and our safety performance is excellent by every construction industry metric. Many of our projects have been awarded based on our commitment to safety, and our safety performance has paid great dividends over the years.

Although we enjoyed great success, senior management’s decision to allocate resources to further improve our safety program was based on several critical factors. First, the economic downturn in 2008 resulted in fierce competition and fewer business opportunities. We recognized that our safety record and reputation provided a significant advantage against other very good contractors, especially when bid-day prices were essentially the same. Second, our safety performance became stagnant and the metrics that measure our performance flat-lined; trends continued level with little improvement. Third and most important was that management recognized the need to develop a program that empowered and motivated the people “in the line of fire”.

We established our first committee in late 2011. Eight employees were selected based on their demonstrated leadership with safety. The committee consisted of carpenters, a laborer, a cement finisher, a project engineer, our corporate safety manager, our general superintendent, and the company safety director. The committee met monthly and set the course for a sustained approach to improvement. A new committee is now formed every January, with four new members appoint-ed to the committee. Four members are retained to ensure continuity. This process allows for new ideas and enables other employees to participate in safety program improvement.

The committee started by identifying the highest risk activities performed on a regular basis such as hoisting, fall protection, cell phone usage, ladder usage, and formwork installation. At the end of the brainstorming process 45 high risk activities were identified. This process took three months of hard work and discussion but it set the course for the development of customized Job Hazard Analysis checklists, a new simplified company safety policy, an incentive program, an annual training program, and a project safety audit program. During the development of the safety initiatives the committee invited experts to provide advice in psychology and behavioral science. Crane safety experts provided input to ensure new rigging and signaling standards were addressed. The committee provides an efficient format for us to talk to experts from many different sources.

After over two years of work the committee developed a comprehensive safety program that con-tinues to be refined and improved. Our safety program measures its success by results that show continuous improvement; the ultimate goal being zero incidents and injuries. Our recordable injuries began trending down in 2012 and we anticipate data to show measurable benefit by year- end 2013 . The committee also provides significant value by creating a monthly forum for management and our field employees--exposed directly to the hazards of construction--to discuss and resolve challenges in the field before they become an issue. If ASCC members need further information or would like to discuss establishing a safety committee please contact me at dpeters@christmanconstructors.com.

Doug Peters, SRMC Board MemberSafety & Risk Management Council Near Miss

While conducting an audit on a local construction project I noted two significant “Near Miss” events that could have had serious consequences. Three workers were climbing on and jumping off of a flat bed trailer loaded with pipe. They were climbing on the trailer to inspect the pipe and connect rigging to off load the pipe with a crane. None used a ladder to access the trailer. They climbed up the ICC bar on the back of the trailer and jumped off each time a lift was made: Near Miss Number 1. In each case there could have been a fall resulting in serious injury.

In another instance the rigger stayed on the trailer as the pipe was being lifted. He could have been crushed by the swinging pipe: Near Miss Number 2. To make matters worse the driver was in the cab of the con-nected tractor with the engine running. There were no wheel chocks in place.

To put this in perspective, several weeks prior a worker was killed on a nearby project while loading shipping containers onto a flatbed trailer. The shipping containers were being lifted by a crane using a special spreader bar. Riggers were using stepladders positioned near the trailer to access the rigging. Once again, the driver was in the cab of the connected tractor with the engine running. The driver erroneously thought he had been signaled to pull forward. As he did, a rigger with his hand on the rigging was pulled off the ladder and fell to the ground. He died.

Do you have procedures in place for load-ing and unloading trucks and trailers? Do you provide a safe means of access? Do you mandate that the driver shut off the engine, set the brakes and exit the cab while loading and unloading is in progress? Do you require the wheels of the vehicle to be chocked and the rigger to stand clear of suspended loads? If you answered “no” to any of these questions you could be exposing your personnel to serious injury.Recent calls and emails to the Decorative Hotline have questioned the environmental damage

caused by the powdered release agent used in stamping concrete. Concerned inspectors watching contractors clean a stamp project quickly notice the colored powder floating into the local water supply. The hydrophobic (water repelling) nature of the product makes it stand out as it sits on top of the rinse water as a dry material riding the wave to the drain. The question remains, is it harmful to the environment, or are people over reacting?

To answer the question, three different release manufacturers were consulted. Each shared that the primary products used to create powdered release are calcium stearate and iron oxide pig-ment. Calcium stearate is a powder found in everything from lubricants, plastics and nutritional supplements to candy, and is generally not considered harmful to the environment. Although it’s understood that iron oxides are safe in the ground, they are harmful to aquatic environments and

Powdered Release – Is The End Near?Todd Scharich, Decorative Concrete Specialist

“Near Miss” is a new feature the Safety & Risk Management Council board hopes to incorporate into The Voice. If you have a near miss story that could help your fellow contractors avoid an accident, please send Bev a brief write-up. We will not identify your company unless asked to do so.

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Ward Malisch and I receive many calls on the ASCC Hotline. While most supply the needed technical information, we may need more information about the project history and players to incorporate a valid technical argument into a winning strategy. This is where interaction with, and information from each Hotline caller, is important. An example is shown below.

A concrete contactor (CC) called for help in assisting his general contractor (GC). Concrete contractors do call on occasion when helping the GC, in hopes of receiving the same benefit when they have a problem. For this 300,000 sf slab project, the drawings required a vapor retarder followed by a granular base followed by another layer of vapor retarder directly beneath the slab. The GC was responsible for, but forgot to place, the first vapor retarder. To fix the issue, the GC would need to remove the top vapor retarder and the granular base, then place the bottom vapor retarder and replace the granular base. This fix would greatly impact the schedule.

Ward and I thought this would be easy: Cite ACI 302R-04, “Guide to Concrete Floor and Slab Construction,” and tell the Engineer of Record (EOR) that the bottom vapor retarder provides no benefit. Therefore, there is no problem with it not being in place. However, the Hotline Caller also indicated that the EOR believed the bottom vapor retarder would minimize curling. Thus we had three considerations (1) how to tell the EOR that his belief did not match the information in ACI 302, (2) how to tell the Owner that he paid for something that provides no benefit, and (3) how to leave out the bottom vapor retarder without making the GC or CC responsible for curling.

We kicked around ideas and decided to suggest this one: Place two layers of vapor retarder on the base directly below the concrete slab. There is technical information showing that two layers of vapor retarder reduce friction between the base and the slab, thus allowing the slab to slip more at the bottom. With shortening of the concrete slab at the top due to drying shrinkage and more than normal shortening at the bottom due to the two layers of vapor retarder, the difference in shortening between the top and bottom of the slab is reduced. The result should be less curling deflection. This strategy didn’t include telling the EOR that his placement of the vapor retarder was not consistent with the information in ACI 302. Nor did it involve telling the Owner that he would have paid for a useless vapor retarder beneath the base. And the strategy could reduce curling but would not require a fix that delayed the schedule.

We relayed that message to the ASCC concrete contractor, which was followed by a decision that the bottom vapor retarder wasn’t needed. But was it because of our carefully thought out strategy? Nope. The EOR decided that the impact on the schedule for the Owner outweighed his belief that the bottom vapor retarder would reduce curling. That too was a strategic decision.

Bruce Suprenant, Technical DirectorStrategy for a Hotline Call

Webinars (webinars begin at 3:00 p.m. CST)July 10, 2013 Benefits of Chemical Admixtures in Concrete From the Contractor’s

PerspectiveCharles Nmai, BASF Construction Chemicals

Aug. 14, 2013 Of Course The Slab is Still Wet! Here Are Your Options Scott Tarr, North STarr Concrete Consulting, P.C.Members no charge. Non-members $35; MC, Visa, Amex only. Call 866-788-2722 to register.

the very small amount of iron oxide used in powder release agents is ultimately where the environmental decision will be made. Currently there are no national rules or laws that will end the use of powdered release, but we are aware of many localities that have barred contractors from using it. At this time the best answer is to educate officials about the products and practice safe methods on the job site. Use masks or respirators when using powdered release, and place storm water filters in the curbs to catch the powder before it enters the drain.

Contractors looking for alternatives to powdered release have had relatively few options, most of which were not very long lasting. In the last couple of years manufacturers have introduced polymer-based antiquing agents that offer a great option. The antiquing agents, when mixed with water, can be moved around the surface with a sprayer or broom while wet, but create a strong bond to the surface when dry. Using integral color, clear liquid release, and finishing with the new antiqu-ing agent allows a project to be dust free from start to finish. As users get more experienced with the product, expect to see liquid release / antiqued jobs that resemble the traditional multi-color look of powdered release.

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A S C C m e m b e r s h a ve a c c e s s t o t h e s e t o l l - f r e e n u m b e r s f o r a s s i s t a n c e .

H O T L I N E Q U E S T I O N S

Ward Malisch–wmalisch@ascconline.org ascc@ascconline.org Todd Scharich– tscharich@ascconline.org

DECORATIVE CONCRETE

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