ASCCSAFE Spring 2025 Ground-Level Rigging for Safer Column Form Handling Swing-lock column forms (such as those from Gates or Atlas) present two primary hazards during setting and stripping: the risk of falls when workers climb to attach or detach rigging, and the risk of tipping when forms aren’t properly secured. Recognizing these hazards, one crew implemented a smart solution: pre-a...

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One of the most critical calculations that must be performed on a job site is the amount of Fall Clearance a specific job application requires.  Fall Clearance is a highly variable combination of five primary factors: Free Fall; Maximum Arrest Distance; Harness Stretch, Safety Margin; and Swing Fall. Given the differing performance of fall protection connectors, be they fixed length or adjust...

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ST. LOUIS, MO – April 14, 2025 – ST. LOUIS, MO – The Decorative Concrete Council and the Concrete Polishing Council of the American Society of Concrete Contractors are excited to welcome Chris Sullivan back as the DCC and CPC Programs Director! Chris is widely recognized as a leading expert in the decorative concrete industry, with a career spanning over two decades focused on...

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Jim Klinger, Concrete Construction Specialist The Slab Newsletter April 2025 Question: We are building a 4-story, post-tensioned (PT) concrete parking structure that has a footprint area of 75,000 gross square feet (GSF). The structure has a long, rectangular aspect ratio (in plan), featuring entrance/exit ramps at each end. The plan dimensions are 600 linear feet (LF) in length and 125 LF i...

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JT Mesite, P.E., CRMCA & CTAC Program Manager Edited by Mike Hernandez, ASCC Technical Director Concrete construction is an intricte process where quality control is paramount. Field testing must continuously meet specific ASTM requirements, and project concrete depends on maintaining precise temperature controls, effective initial curing processes, and a clear understanding of role...

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Greg Hryniewicz, Vice President Observant Leadership In the demanding world of concrete, our workforce is diverse in skill and personality. For many of us leaders, our primary role is optimizing our team’s productivity. One strategy I have been working on is observing and understanding my employees. Observation is a deceptively simple yet powerful tool. By watching how individuals p...

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Mike Hernandez, Technical Director The Voice Newsletter March 2025 Have you ever been frustrated by what was included or not mentioned in an ACI document? If so, you are not alone which is why numerous contractors, material suppliers, ready mixed producers, engineers and university professors have engaged in the ACI document creation and editing process. As of January of 2025, ASCC Contracto...

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Jim Klinger, Concrete Construction Specialist The Voice Newsletter March 2025 Question: Two weeks ago, we kicked off the structural excavation, formwork erection, reinforcing steel placement, and concrete placement activities for the foundation supporting a 6-story post-tensioned (PT) parking garage located south of San Francisco airport (SFO). The garage is intended to provide 1540 parking ...

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Zach Knoop, General Manager, Caterpillar Safety Services Kris Nagy, Senior Account Manager, Caterpillar Safety Services As Caterpillar enters our 100th year in business, we are constantly evolving with technology, equipment and people. Caterpillar Safety Services is no exception. Zach Knoop, one of the leaders within Caterpillar Safety Services, offers tips on how to assess the health o...

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Phil Diekemper, Executive Director - PRO: An ACI Center of Excellence for Advancing Productivity Late in 2024 the McKinsey & Company released another sobering construction productivity article, “Delivering on construction productivity is no longer optional”, explaining why the construction industry must climb out of its productivity rut, but has yet to do so. McKinsey forec...

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