• MSHA, NSSGA holding spring safety workshops: MSHA, in cooperation with NSSGA, is conducting a series of free mine safety workshops nationwide to address special hazards associated with the onset of warmer weather at certain mining operations. “Spring Thaw” workshops will be held during March and April in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington state. During the workshops, MSHA personnel, along with safety and health professionals from various mining companies, will focus on hazard assessments and safe work procedures regarding mobile equipment, safe maintenance and workplace examinations. The workshops also will spotlight safety hazards specific to this region. For a list of the scheduled workshops, visit MSHA’s web site at www.msha.gov.
• Transportation committee restores SAFETEA-LU funding: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee endorsed spending $41.2 billion on the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for FY 2009 and $10.3 billion for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The committee’s views and estimates report was unanimously approved at a committee markup on Feb. 28 and will be forwarded to the House Budget Committee for its review as the overall FY 2009 budget is developed. Specifically, the obligation-limitation for the FHWA, which is how much the agency can spend in one year, of $41.2 billion stays with the authorized levels of SAFETEA-LU for highways and is $1.8 billion above the administration’s request. The committee rejected the administration proposed cut of $202 million for the FTA and returned it to the authorized level.
• Staker & Parson to operate four Arizona plants: Ogden, Utah-based Staker & Parson Companies announced it has formally taken over operations of four Arizona concrete and aggregate plants, culminating a deal announced in December, NSSGA reported. Staker & Parson bought the local properties as part of a $250 million purchase of 39 ready-mix concrete and aggregate facilities in Arizona and Florida. The Arizona operations involved are a former Cemex ready-mix and aggregate operation in Marana and three former Rinker operations on the southeast side and in Sahuarita. Staker & Parson said it has integrated the local plants into its overall operations and added upgrades, including improved dispatch systems, quality assurance programs and more accurate truck-tracking systems.
• Caterpillar builds testing facility: Caterpillar Inc. is constructing a $14.75 million, 159,000-sq.-ft. indoor testing facility to address the company’s newest technology, the Peoria (Ill.) Journal Star reported. The Machine Development Center has been under construction at the company’s proving grounds since an August 2007 groundbreaking, Caterpillar spokesman Jim Dugan said in the article. It will serve as a place to bring equipment in line with ever-changing industry regulations by developing new technology, he said. The building is expected to be completed toward the end of the year.
