February 2011, Vol. 66 No. 2
Features
"Great Year" Keeps APCA Growing
The American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) experienced a “great” year in 2010 with several new pipeline construction projects and expansions of existing pipelines keeping most members busy, reports APCA President Wayne Stringer.
“The association began the year with record attendance at our 39th annual convention,” said Stringer. “Attendance at our mid-year meeting was strong and workloads enabled most member companies to keep employees busy.”
Stringer said that throughout the year, APCA continued to represent the interest of merit shop pipeline and station contractors by providing key industry information and continuing education on ever-changing labor and employment laws. Also, the APCA continued with its safety education and training to ensure that contractors are in compliance with the latest laws and regulations, and have the best available safety training tools and information to keep association member employees as safe as possible.
APCA’s alliance with the federal Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) continues to provide important benefits to association members and the industry as a whole, says Stringer.
Best practice sheets have been completed for: Sideboom Operation, Backhoe Operation, Dozer Operation, Excavation and Trenching Activities Operators, Excavation and Trenching Activities Supervisors, Excavator Operation, Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) for Operators, HDD for Supervisors, Pressure Test for Personnel, and Pressure Test for Supervisors.
Tool Box talks
Completed Tool Box Talks include: Personal Protective Equipment, Abrasive Blasting, Respiratory Protection, Confined Space, Hazard Communications, Excavations and Trenching, Electrical Safety, Blood Borne Pathogens, Spotter Training with Universal Hand Signals, Crane Hand Signals, Working in Close Proximity to Overhead Power Lines and Working Around Heavy Equipment.
Best Practice Sheets and Tool Box Talks are posted in English and Spanish on the association’s web site, www.americanpipeline.org, for use by its members and the general public.
The original APCA/OSHA agreement was signed in 2007 and was renewed in 2009. During 2010, association representatives worked with OSHA to renew the agreement in 2011.
Also in 2010, APCA members participated in industry meetings, including NAOSH (North American Occupational Safety and Health), Veriforce Contractors Advisory Group, Caterpillar Safety Group, OSHA Alliance Program Construction Round Table, OSHA Latino Summit and the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) Foundation Safety Intervention.
Established in 1971 by seven contractors from the Rocky Mountain region, the organization has grown to a large association of contractors from throughout the United States.
Stringer is vice president of Troy Construction, Houston. His term as APCA president ends at the 2011 annual meeting in March 2-6, when Kevin Cater, president, Ledcor Pipeline, Houston, begins a one-year term as association president.
The association’s executive director is J.D. Lormand. For more information, call (337) 78-0056 or go to the APCA web site, www.americanpipeline.org.
Comments