A publication of the Concrete Foundations Association
Concrete Facts Magazine Online
Feature
Are You Ready for the URS?
Businesses big and small have vastly different goals and needs – that’s no revelation. However, nearly every company, no matter how big, where they are, or what they sell, agrees on this point: Simplifying and streamlining business practices helps everyone. Such is the intent of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Unified Registration System […]
Controlling Your Risks in the Ever-Changing Insurance Marketplace
Over the last few decades, the considerations involved in managing a company’s risks have drastically changed. Business risks that used to be inherent are much different today and, as a result, mitigation techniques are vastly different than those used in the ‘80s, ‘90s or even the ‘00s. As many business owners know, when it comes […]
Plan of Action for Implementing OSHA’s Final Rule on Crystalline Silica Exposure
On March 25, 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, issued its final rule on exposure to crystalline silica in the workplace. The final rule is decades in the making, and has seen many stumbling blocks along the way, but Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of OSHA, saw the new standards as one of […]
CFA Member Benefit: The Employee Manual
One of the most important parts of any business is establishing the boundaries between management and employees that protect both in times of discipline. The policy manual is the tool used to provide prospective employees with the picture of expectations by the employer, as well as maintaining an ongoing and effectively positive relationship. Employee manuals […]
This National Association Has Your Back…
I just returned from a week in Chicago where just about every concrete and masonry industry group was represented at combined meetings for the Alliance for Concrete Codes and Standards (ACCS), the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS) and the Concrete And Masonry Related Associations (CAMRA) executive council. These are bodies that I interact […]
SCHWING SUPPORTS “BUILD WITH STRENGTH” CONCRETE INDUSTRY CAMPAIGN
ST. PAUL, MINN. (June 1, 2016) – Schwing America (http://schwing.com), an industry-leading manufacturer of ready-mix concrete pumps and truck mixers today announced support of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) “Build with Strength” campaign. The campaign champions the strength, safety and value of using concrete construction. “When it comes to building structures that must […]
Magazine Issues
Member Exchange Networks
The CFA will set up its # rst Member Exchange Networks (M.E.N.) this summer. If you are not familiar with the concept, it is a practice where non-competing CFA contractors get together twice a year (or more often if the group wants) to exchange information about their businesses. The concept is based on the NAHB “Groups of 20” and the […]
Wintergreen, Virginia — Summer 2011
I’m looking out my window at over a foot of snow thinking I’ve already had enough of winter and its only December 28th. What better way to beat the winter doldrums than to make your reservation for the CFA Summer Convention, 2011. The 2011 Event will be held from August 3rd through August 11th at the Wintergreen Resort […]
MEMBERSHIP IS ABOUT CONNECTION In this day and age of recessed (or depressed) economies, reduced margins and management stress, a new era of connectedness and networking has blossomed in the CFA. When the going was really good, members shared openly and frequently about the great new technologies they had acquired or the new process that they were successfully implementing. These were discussions that offered a lot of promise […]
Bilco Company Celebrates 85 Years
The Bilco Company is pleased to announce that it has marked 85 years of service to the building industry. A third-generation family-owned company, Bilco is widely known for designing and manufacturing high-quality specialty access products for residential and commercial construction markets. What began as a neighborhood iron shop in 1926, when George W. Lyons, Sr. started The Builders Iron Company […]
CFA Loses Member Dana Pelletier
Dana Gerard Pelletier, 62, of 5 Rollingreen Rd. Greenville, SC., died unexpectedly Sunday, February 6, 2011 of natural causes. He was the owner and founder of Action Concrete Contractors Inc. Mr. Pelletier is survived by his loving wife, Libby Childers; his mother-in-law, Lib Childers of Rock Hill, SC; two sons, William Dana and wife Mollie, Dustin Thomas and wife Tabatha; […]
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 […]
Voice Over Internet Protocol (Tech Bit 50)
You would think everyone has heard about VoIP, Voice Over Internet Protocol. It is advertised on TV by a number of companies, especially Vonage. But apparently not. If your long distance bill is more than $30, it might be worthwhile to investigate VoIP as a cost saving opportunity. One option in VoIP is a service like Vonage, Broadvoice, etc. Most cable companies also offer […]
CFA Is At Work to Change The Foundation Industry
Spring is finally here, the snow is melting, flowers are blooming and the CFA is growing!! That’s right, thanks to the dedicated efforts of members like Dennis Purinton and Jim Bartley, the CFA already has 10 new members this year. Ten more companies about to discover how the CFA is at work to change the foundation industry. From “raising the bar” with our Certified Contractor […]
Wintergreen, Virginia — Summer 2011
Our goal is to make certain you come away with at least one tip, idea, or contact that will pay for the entire trip – hopefully several times over. In the last “From the Director” I expounded on the beauty of the area and the very reasonable rate for rooms this year ($119 for a single room). We are still working on the budget […]
OSHA Rescinds Fall Protection Exception for Residential Construction OSHA RESCINDS FALL
This past December, the rules for safety have changed significantly for all residential construction. The statement below summarizes the movement made to rescind a significant rule exception that exempted residential foundation contractors from fall protection requirements. We at CFA have just been alerted to this information and are researching it further to identify any further opportunities that may limit the exposure of our industry to this change […]
CFA Member Gene Gore
Daniel “Gene” Gore age 51 of Bellevue, Ohio, passed away Tuesday, December 07, 2010. He was born September 3, 1959 in Bellevue the son of Billy & Darlene (Ridings) Gore. Gene was the owner of Solid Foundations in Bellevue. He was a member of Providence Baptist Church where he was a Sunday school teacher and headed up the buildings and grounds committee, a member of the […]
