A publication of the Concrete Foundations Association
Concrete Facts Magazine Online
Feature
THE UN-COMFORT ZONE
This month we feature another article by the talented author, Robert Wilson. Writer of The Un-comfort Zone, Mr. Wilson is always able to convey a message of focus, growth and sensibility that can be applied to each of our businesses. What is your company doing to educate key individuals? What steps is your company taking to educate all personnel? World […]
OSHA RULES: A New Normal
by Jim Baty, CFA Technical Director, jbaty@cfawalls.org In an increasing environment of employee protection and conservatism for risk management, OSHA has completed work on two major areas affecting the residential foundation industry. Depending on the scope of your business and the project types you are involved, your company should immediately begin taking the steps necessary to educate and ensure compliance. Your CFA membership can be […]
I Can Hear You Now! (Tech Bit 49)
Cell phones have become an integral part of society… There are over 200 million cell phone users (that’s two out of every three people in the United States). When I sold the family rep agency in 2000, I decided to use my cell phone as my primary business phone number. With as much traveling as I’ve done since, it […]
What’s Keeping You Awake?
by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. The other day on the radio I heard these lyrics from the Shinedown song, If You Only Knew “It’s 4:03 and I can’t sleep… I toss and turn like the sea.” I thought, “Yeah, why is it always 4AM that I wake up when I’m worried about something?” The singer of this top 10 pop rock song […]
Achieving Greatness: The Value of Association
By Don Yaeger “You’ll be amazed by what you can achieve when you surround yourselves with those headed in the same direction.” Association leaders and corporate executives have long recognized that great lessons – lessons in leadership, team building, handling adversity, and managing success – can be learned from their peers in the world of sports. This explains why some of the most sought after […]
HOSE HAZARD!
There are two types of hoses commonly used in concrete pumping: Concrete Delivery Hoses (usually referred to as Double-Ended Hoses), and End Hoses. A concrete delivery hose has a connector on both ends of the hose, while an end hose has a connector on only one end, as shown below. Concrete hoses hanging from a boom can be […]
Magazine Issues
The Power of Following Up
You can get many of the things you want in life simply by following up. Follow up with that prospect that hasn’t returned your call. Follow up with your customer to let them know your men are on the jobsite. Follow up to ensure the concrete is on the way. Follow up with your employee/coworker […]
Around The Association
It’s been a busy start to 2017 in this industry and certainly throughout CFA membership. After a very productive and energy-packed World of Concrete, there have been some great developments and challenging progress made that we are proud to report on. New Members Everyone is encouraged by the growth of the Association. When a new […]
Trick of the Trade: The Step-Down Flow-Stop
This ‘Trick of the Trade’ is shared by Mary Wilson of Michel Concrete Inc. in Springfield, IL. Mary offers this solution in response to the challenge by CFA President, Dennis Purinton. Mary’s company is rewarded with 50 points to her member account to be redeemed for an upcoming registration, event or purchase. The tip comes […]
Concrete Contractors Should Use the New (and Better) I-9 Form
Effective January 22, all US employers must be using the new version of Form I-9. Although in its simplest format, the form is relatively unchanged, contractors can and should download the form from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services webpage and use the new form on a computer. Use this link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9 There are […]
Opiates and Workers’ Compensation Injuries: Dangers and Solutions
In combating the epidemic of addiction, the U.S. Surgeon General has just announced plans to tackle alcohol and drug abuse, nationally—especially opioid addiction—urging doctors, policymakers and the public to ramp up efforts to combat the growing U.S. healthcare crisis. The numbers are real! Since 2000, the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids—Fentanyl, Percocet, Vicodin, […]
Trick of the Trade Corner: Labor Savings & Quality Improvement
This issue’s Trick of the Trade is shared by Andy Stachler of Stachler Concrete Inc. in St. Henry, Ohio. Andy responded to last quarter’s column featuring the inside corner stripping tool offered by Dennis Purinton and answering the challenge by our President. Andy’s tip has rewarded his member account with 50 points he can redeem […]
Marijuana At Work
On November 8, four states approved the use of recreational marijuana bringing the total to eight states and the District of Columbia. Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia had already approved recreational use. California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada joined the recreation use states on November 8. In addition, Arkansas, Florida, and North […]
What’s In Your Wallet?
Another round of Capital One commercials are streaming across every form of my media these days. While I enjoy seeing the newest way to get (or prevent) a point across, it did give me a reason this week to pause and contemplate what it means for our industry. Seriously, what’s in your wallet (if I […]
Association Board Adds New Leader
Beginning a new, three-year term on the CFA Board of Directors is Chris Ward, Vice President for the Americas with Western Forms of Kansas City, Missouri. Each year during the Annual Meeting for the Concrete Foundations Association, held in conjunction with the summer’s big event, transition takes place as Board members end their time in […]
CFA Adds First Certified Contractor in North Carolina
The state of North Carolina is the latest state to lay claim to residential concrete foundations constructed by a concrete professional that has achieved the status of Certified Residential Foundation Company, Doggett Concrete Construction of Charlotte, North Carolina has been approved this fall having met all program requirements and has been elevated to certified status. […]
Passing of CFA Member Lynn Berggren
Obituary: Lynn Roland Berggren Lynn Berggren was born Sept. 4, 1950, in Grand Island, to Myron and Margaret (Williams) Berggren. He grew up with his two sisters and graduated from Grand Island Senior High in 1968. Lynn attended Kearney State College, where he met wife Jeanne. They graduated in May 1973, married in June, […]
The Essentials of a Return to Work Program
Lost time is a term used by OSHA to describe the number days an injured employee is away from work, but lost money is what OSHA should really call it. Each and every day an employee is away from work because of an injury or illness leads to greater losses to the employer and employee. […]
