Adele Abrams

regulatory agenda, covering the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as well as a number of other agencies governing employment laws.

The long-overdue release was not explained, nor did MSHA or OSHA offer on-line chat sessions this time to discuss the status of proposals and new initiatives with the regulated community – a departure from the approach taken with the past few releases.

The statement of regulatory priorities for the Department as a whole notes that DOL is continuing its “Good Jobs for Everyone” strategy, which includes safe and healthful workplaces. It states that the mechanisms to achieve this goal includes increased enforcement actions, more education and outreach, and additional regulatory actions to foster compliance.

The DOL’s “P3 Initiative” (Plan, Prevent, Protect) will be maintained although, as discussed below, one of the key facets of this P3 approach that was delineated in the 2011-2016 strategic plan is now missing from MSHA’s agenda. The concept behind P3 is to require employers to “take full ownership” over their adherence to DOL requirements and also to promote more openness and transparency that can put workers in a better position to determine whether their workplace “values health and safety.” This has already been advanced, at least in part, by MSHA’s renewed emphasis on miners’ rights through a new brochure and training video.

The P3 regulatory actions already in progress for OSHA and MSHA include rulemaking activities aimed at controlling the spread of infectious diseases, examination of workplaces in underground coal mines, and identifying pattern of violations at all mines. The OSHA “I2P2” initiative (workplace safety and health management programs, known as injury/illness prevention plans) – another key rulemaking under P3 – is also advancing, with a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel set to convene in March 2012.

In the DOL regulatory priorities statement, the agency observes that under P3, employers must create a plan to identify and remediate risks of legal violations and risks to workers, including a plan to inspect workplaces for safety hazards that could injure or kill workers.

Under DOL’s vision of I2P2, workers must be given opportunities to participate in the creation of these plans and the plans would have to be made available to workers so they could help monitor their implementation. The prevention aspect of P3 requires employers to completely implement such plans to ensure that there are no legal violations, not simply a “paper process.” The protection phase requires employers to verify, on a regular basis, that the plan’s objectives are actually being met – that the plan actually protects workers from health and safety risks and other violations of their workplace rights (e.g., under Section 105C of the Mine Act, which covers miners’ rights and whistleblower protections).

MSHA’s regulatory plan key rulemakings (aside from the Pattern of Violations listed above, which applies to all sectors) are focused on the coal sector. These include the aforementioned finalization of a new standard to clarify examination requirements in underground coal work areas (set for completion in March 2012); lowering miners’ exposure to coal dust and requirements for the use of continuous personal dust monitors in coal mines, both of which are set for completion in April 2012.

Both OSHA and MSHA will also be involved in regulatory actions to protect workers from the hazards of equipment that can pin, crush or strike them, through the use of proximity detection devices that could be employed during backing maneuvers.

The DOL indicates that technologies under consideration to prevent backing accidents include cameras, radar, and sonar, to help view or detect the presence of workers on foot in blind areas. New monitoring technology, such as tag-based warning frequencies, which use radio and magnetic field generators to detect tags worn by workers, will also be considered. The MSHA proposal was slated for release in January 2012, but obviously that deadline has not been met. OSHA plans to issue a Request for Information in February 2012.

Another rulemaking item common to both OSHA and MSHA is modification of the crystalline silica standard, but OSHA will take the lead on that rulemaking. The silica rule went through a SBREFA panel years ago and OSHA’s proposed rule has been hung up at the Office of Management and Budget’s OIRA agency now for nearly a year.

Normally, review takes 90 days. It is unclear when – or if – that rule will be proposed although it remains a DOL priority and has been the subject of OSHA national emphasis programs since the 1990s.It is expected that, as proposed, the silica rule would cut the current exposure limit in half (bringing it to 50 ug/m3) and also dictate medical surveillance and exposure monitoring requirements as well as specified best practices for control of occupational silica exposure. MSHA states that it plans to follow the recommendations of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as well as the DOL’s Advisory Committee on elimination of pneumoconiosis among miners in addressing the silica exposure limit. OSHA’s new agenda calls for the proposed rule to be published in May 2012.

The agenda also calls for “retrospective” reviews of existing rules and the safety/health rules targeted for this action under Executive Order 13563 include: OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogens Standard; updating of OSHA standards that incorporate national consensus standards related to acetylene and personal protective equipment; cranes and derricks in construction, a lookback at OSHA’s chemical standards, and review (and likely revision) of MSHA’s criteria and procedures for proposed assessment of civil penalties under 30 CFR Part 100.

OSHA also has a new Hazard Communication rulemaking at the final rule stage, and it too is over at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review. It will change the format of Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), labeling, include the use of pictograms, and will require retraining of all workers.

In late January 2012, OIRA announced that it was extending the review period beyond the standard 90 days for that rule as well, after business interests lobbied against the inclusion of “unclassified hazards” in the HazCom rule. The rulemaking is designed to bring OSHA’s HazCom standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) in sync with the Global Harmonization System (GHS) adopted by many foreign countries as well as by other US agencies (e.g., Department of Transportation, Consumer Products Safety Commission). Interestingly, MSHA has yet to but HazCom/GHS coordination on its regulatory agenda, which raises the specter that separate training, labeling and MSDS formats could be required by MSHA than are required at OSHA regulated worksites.

In addition to the OSHA rulemaking initiatives discussed above, OSHA will also seek to modernize its recordkeeping system (although the appropriations bills funding OSHA and MSHA have riders barring OSHA from spending funds to move forward with that rulemaking). The idea is to require employers to electronically submit injury and illness data to OSHA through modification of 29 CFR Part 1904. Currently, employers simply need to record (not report) injuries at OSHA regulated entities, whereas MSHA-regulated companies must affirmatively report any injuries or illnesses resulting in medical treatment or lost-time or restricted duty.

OSHA whistleblower protection regulations would also be altered under the agenda, through new procedural rules that cover various whistleblower standards that OSHA enforces (e.g., transportation, consumer product safety, Food and Drug Administration, and Sarbanes-Oxley Act among others).

Other rules on OSHA’s agenda include the following:

• Confined Space in Construction (final rule due June 2012);
• Electrical Power Transmission and Distribution, Electrical Protective Equipment (final rule due May 2012);
• Walking Working Surfaces and Fall Protection (final rule due October 2012); and,
• Revision of Underground Construction and Demolition Standards related to cranes and derricks (direct final rule due February 2012).

With respect to MSHA’s ongoing revision of the Pattern of Violations (POV) criteria, the agency says that the current regulations do not “reflect the statutory intent for section 104(e)” of the Mine Act, and that Congress intended this enforcement tool to be used against mine operators with disregard for health and safety or whose chronic history of persistent S&S violations exposes miners to the same hazards again and again. The final rule should, MSHA says, improve consistency in applying POV criteria. The targeted final rule date is April 2012.

Another item on MSHA’s regulatory agenda concerns notification of the agency about legal identity. The existing requirements are not viewed as providing sufficient information for MSHA to identify all “operators” responsible for safety and health obligations under the Act, and so this initiative would expand the universe of information required to be submitted to MSHA. No further details are available about this activity, other than April 2012 due date for a proposed rule.

MSHA also plans to change its civil penalty structure once again, with a proposed rule slated for February 2012, according to the agenda. The last time MSHA changed Part 100 in 2007, it was a contributory factor in creating what – at one point – was a 19,000 case backlog at the Federal Mine Safety & Health Review Commission. MSHA’s goal this time around is to “improve the efficiency” of the agency’s efforts and “to facilitate the resolution of enforcement issues.” Beyond that, details are vague. However, at a recent conference, one MSHA metal/non-metal district manager suggested that the range of options on negligence (now allowing an inspector to select “no, low, moderate, high, and reckless disregard” as the choices) and gravity (which runs from no lost workdays to fatal and from no likelihood of occurrence through unlikely, reasonably likely, highly likely, and occurred) would become more limited. This does create speculation that under a revised scheme, more citations would be characterized as high negligence and significant and substantial.

What is perhaps most interesting about the MSHA agenda is that its “I2P2” rulemaking – which was once part of the DOL’s P3 priorities for MSHA – has disappeared from the agenda. This is curious given that, as recently as November 2011, the agency was still holding public hearings on the issue. In addition, having a safety and health management program in place is one of the “mitigating factors” MSHA would consider in de-selecting a mine from a POV list, according to the POV proposal. Moreover, in January 2012, Assistant Secretary Joe Main urged adoption of these comprehensive safety management programs in a letter he sent to the mining community, claiming: “In order to prevent mine deaths, operators must have in place effective safety and health management programs that are constantly evaluated, find-and-fix programs to identify and eliminate mine hazards, and training for all mining personnel.” Given the prominence of this approach in the agency’s communication, it is odd that the regulatory initiative was dropped from the agenda without explanation.

About the author: Adele L. Abrams is an attorney, Certified Mine Safety Professional and trained mediator who is president of the Law Office of Adele L. Abrams P.C. in Beltsville, Md., a seven-attorney firm focusing on safety, health and employment law nationwide. Abrams also provides consultation, safety audits, and training services to MSHA- and OSHA-regulated companies. She is a member of the Maryland, D.C., and Pennsylvania Bars, the U.S. District Courts of Maryland and D.C., the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit and 4th Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. She is a graduate of the George Washington University’s National Law Center, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park. For more information, contact her at safetylawyer@aol.com or visit the The Law Office of Adele L. Abrams on the Web at www.safety-law.com.

by Kerry Clines, Senior Editor

Specialty buckets for excavators allow operators to crush or screen material on site, on the go.

Rotobec

Rotobec says its FB crushing buckets provide the ideal crush-in-place solution with high-manganese-content wear plates that can be rotated. The plates are flat and feature an oscillating movement. A magnet base is optional. Buckets are available in four sizes and are set up to take a wide variety of lugging types.

Flip Screen Australia Pty Ltd.

Flip Screen says its new EX180 screening bucket attachment, suitable for 40- to 50-ton excavators, works by rotating 360 degrees, continuously, on a single axis. An easily interchangeable screen allows smaller particles to pass through, depending on mesh size, while a baffle retains larger material to be dumped separately. The bucket opening is 96 inches wide by 24 inches high with a screening capacity of approximately 2.3 cubic yards. The interchangeable screens are built from high-tensile steel mesh and range from 1/2 to 4 inches, with additional custom sizes available. Screen change out is said to take one operator less than five minutes to perform, with no tools required.

MB America, Inc.

MB says its crushing and screening buckets are simple to use, handle all types of materials directly on site, reduce the use of additional mechanical equipment, and cut down on transportation and management costs. The crusher bucket (shown) features a load capacity ranging from 0.65 to 1.30 inches; bucket openings range from 24 by 18 inches to 47 by 20 inches; and weight ranges from 3,330 to 10,800 pounds. The screening buckets fit excavators ranging in size from the smaller 10- to 20-ton machine up to 35 tons and larger.

Rotobec

The SR screening bucket from Rotobec uses a number of different screens to sort material down to 1 inch in size. The durable Hardox screen and bucket are said to provide years of use in a wide range of applications. The company says the rotating screen allows for a high throughput of material and is not prone to clogging when material is damp.

Excavator buckets must be able to dig through thick overburden, as well as handle various types of aggregate.

AIM Attachments

AIM HD60 excavator buckets feature AR400 steel cutting edges and side cutters. The buckets’ open design allows for easy clean-out. Standard features include thick horizontal wear straps, full-curve side wear straps, and lifting D-rings. Optional bolt-on side cutters and extra pins are available. The buckets are currently available in heavy-duty and severe-duty configuration for 40,000- to 60,000-pound excavators.

CP, a division of Paladin Construction Group

CP heavy-duty and severe-duty buckets are available in widths from 10 inches up to 84 inches to fit mini-excavators and excavators up to 200,000 pounds. A circular torque tube design enhances each bucket’s overall strength. One-piece, T-1 curved side cutters and side wear pads protect against premature wear of the bucket sides, while an abrasion-resistant double bottom up to 3/4 inches thick provides a hard, yet lightweight, barrier between the bucket and the material. The T-1 cutting edge with triple-pass welding sits at a downward angle for aggressive digging, faster scooping, and less stress on the excavator. Heavy-duty buckets are available in sizes ranging from 0.037 to 5.7 cubic yards; severe-duty buckets range in size from 0.106 to 3.9 cubic yards.

Wheel loaders are the workhorses of the quarry, but they can’t do their jobs without the right buckets.

Doosan Infracore Construction Equipment America

Doosan says its new rock buckets are built to tackle the toughest, most severe digging and loading applications. The buckets are available in three models with 4-, 4.5-, and 6-cubic-yard capacities. The two smaller buckets are 128.9 inches wide and 54 inches high; the large bucket is 136.2 inches wide and 68.5 inches high. All three models are available with pin-on mounting only and feature a spade nose design and standard weld-on teeth.

Volvo Construction Equipment

Volvo says its new rehandling buckets are easy to operate and provide better visibility for operators. The buckets are said to increase productivity with faster fill times, quicker overall machine cycle times, and increased material per load. According to the company, overall operating costs are low as a result of 10-percent fuel reduction, longer machine service life per ton of material moved, and low maintenance costs per ton of material moved.

Caterpillar, Inc.

Cat Performance Series Buckets come standard on Cat midsize wheel loaders. Designed with a systems approach, the buckets are shaped to work efficiently with each machine’s linkage, weight, lift, and tilt capacities. According to the company, the buckets deliver faster fill times and better material retention, reducing cycle time and improving productivity and fuel efficiency.

Even the smallest of machines, the skid-steer loader, works best when it has the proper bucket attachment.

CEAttachments, Inc.

CEAttachments says its Edge buckets feature excellent cutting-edge visibility and high breakout force. Sizes range from 48 to 96 inches with heaped capacities from 11.4 to 23 cubic feet. Toothbars, bolt-on cutting edges, and serrated bolt-on cutting edges are optional.

Teeth are the backbone of the bucket. The proper edge and shape can make a big impact on production.

ESCO Corp.

ESCO says its Ultralok construction tooth system offers a hammerless lock that is integrated into the point. The hammerless design is said to not only provide increased safety, but also eliminate the need to inventory separate pins or locks. The slim profile maximizes penetration and reduces fuel costs, according to the company.

Komatsu America Corp.

Komatsu says its KMAX System Teeth feature the patented G.E.T. system designed for maximum consumption ratios and strength, without unnecessary bulk. The shape of the teeth is said to promote smooth flow of material over the tooth-adapter for even, consistent wear. The teeth are reversible for extended life and feature a simple, functional, reusable fastener that can be unlocked with just a 90-degree turn of a socket for quick change-out.

Leading Edge Attachments, Inc.

Leading Edge Attachments says its patented Multi-Ripper Tooth — designed for excavators and backhoes — allows the operator to easily rip rock, coral shale, caliche, decomposed granite, limestone, sandstone, asphalt, or frozen ground with maximum breakout force. The operator is said to be able to focus the excavator’s full breakout force individually to each point of the special twin tiger tooth, thus greatly improving the ripping effect.

The mass may be smaller and the velocity may be slower than desired, but the rock is rolling in the right direction.

Momentum is sometimes hard to define. In sports, it may be a crucial play that changes the outcome of the game. In business, however, it might be something as simple as a sale that leads to an unexpected customer base. Often, it may seem like a small pebble, but once it starts rolling downhill— gaining mass and velocity along the way — its impact can be significant.

Movement alone, however, is not enough. Just look at the results of our forecast studies during the last eight years, and it’s clear that not all momentum is good momentum. For example, consider the industry’s historical response to business conditions. When answering our first forecast in 2004, 84.5 percent of respondents indicated positive business results (excellent, very good, or good). For a three-year window between 2008 and 2010, however, those numbers plummeted with an all-time low in 2009 when just one in three respondents (34 percent) reported favorable business ratings. Those numbers increased slightly in 2010, but 2011 respondents gave the most favorable business ratings (43.4 percent positive) since 2007.

Another favorable indication is the accuracy demonstrated in yearly predictions and the subsequent results. With the exception of those predicting a fair year, responses from last year’s forecast results versus this year’s actual results are all within 5 percent, and most forecast discrepancies erred toward being overly pessimistic.

• Excellent: 1.6 percent forecast; 5.7 percent actual (+4.1 percent difference);

• Very Good: 12 percent forecast; 13.2 percent actual (+1.2 percent difference);

• Good: 24.8 percent forecast; 24.5 percent actual (-0.3 percent difference);

• Fair: 44.0 percent forecast; 34.9 percent actual (-9.1 percent difference); and

• Poor: 17.6 percent forecast; 21.7 percent actual (+4.1 percent difference).

From a regional perspective, producers in the Northeast were the most likely to report positive results with nearly six in 10 (58.3 percent) indicating positive business results in 2011, while approximately two-thirds (67.5 percent) of those in the South reported fair or poor results.

Small producers (under 500,000 tons per year) were the most likely to indicate positive business results, with the level of optimism diminishing in a direct correlation to increasing tonnage until hitting the large end of the spectrum with producers of more than 5 million tons per year. This group was slightly more inclined to report favorably, with one in three reporting favorable results, compared to three in four reporting fair or poor business results in the next largest production category (3 to 5 million tons per year).

In terms of operators experiencing changes in production quantities throughout 2011, an equal number said they’d increased and decreased production. It’s worth noting that, of those reporting an increase, the average increase was 25 percent higher production. Among those indicating a decrease, the average decrease was 19 percent. The largest gains were had among producers of crushed stone and sand and gravel (30.8 percent reported an increase) and among those in the North Central region (43.5 percent indicated higher production levels).

So what’s next?

While gains appear evident within pockets of the industry, several years of inertia are challenging to reverse. Looking forward in 2012, small improvements are being predicted in most categories. Comparing forecast projections from 2012 to those from 2011, 6.6 percent expect an excellent year (+5 percent), 12.3 percent expect a very good year (+0.3 percent), and 26.4 percent expect a good year (+1.6 percent). In terms of negative expectations, 35.8 percent expect a fair year (-8.2 percent), while 18.9 percent expect a poor year (+1.3 percent) in 2012.

Sand and gravel producers are the most concerned looking forward. Nearly nine in 10 (88.9 percent) expect a fair or poor year in 2012. Those working in the Northeast and North Central regions are the most optimistic with 66.6 and 52.2 percent, respectively, calling for positive business results. In terms of size, small operators are the most hopeful, with 68.4 percent of those producing up to 500,000 tons per year and 53.3 percent of those producing 500,001 to 1 million tons per year calling for positive results.

In terms of production quantities, sand and gravel producers are the most upbeat. Twice as many anticipate an increase in production compared to those who expect tonnage to decline.

Consistency is key from a regional perspective. The majority of operators in all four regions expect production quantities to remain about the same. That said, operators in the North Central region were the most optimistic with 34.8 percent anticipating an increase compared to 13.0 percent calling for a decrease. Producers in the South are still skittish on demand; they were the only region with more respondents anticipating a decline (20.9 percent) than an increase (16.3 percent).

Personnel matters

In 2011, employment levels were slightly more stable throughout much of the aggregate industry. Overall, 27.4 percent (9.6 percent fewer than in 2010) of respondents said the work force decreased throughout the year, while 20.8 percent said their work force grew.

Crushed stone and sand & gravel operators were the most likely to report having a smaller work force (41.0 percent), while sand and gravel operators were most inclined to boost their numbers (33.3 percent). Crushed stone only operators had the most stable work force segment with 58.3 percent indicating the size of their work force was about the same as during the previous year.

From a regional perspective, the South’s declining production levels were reflected in its staffing; 46.5 percent of operators there reported work force declines. The most growth was seen in the North Central region where 26.1 percent of respondents’ operations grew their numbers.

By worker category, other hourly labor was the category to experience both the highest increase (13.2 percent) and the highest decrease (27.4 percent). The number of women in the workplace grew, as it was the only category to report more work force expansion (10.4 percent) than contraction (6.6 percent).

Industry challenges

Competition for sales has dominated operator concerns during the last four years. While the number who ranked it as a major concern diminished this year (25.5 percent), nearly 60 percent more called it a minor problem. Taken as a combined total, almost 85 percent noted it as a challenge — 25 percent more than the next most widespread problem.

When asked how they were dealing with this issue, many respondents indicated that they have lowered prices to seal the deal, including break-even pricing. Some vertically integrated operators noted using package deals to streamline costs. Others say they are analyzing markets, implementing long-term strategic planning, and exploring new and growing markets. Customer service, customer contact, and a focus on quality are among the business strategies being employed to maintain customer loyalty.

Other concerns, such as regulatory compliance and aggregates availability, are increasingly important to this year’s respondents, but the dominance of competitive sales indicates that the aggregate industry — while in a better place than recent years — remains intensely focused on each job and each customer.

Improvements may be modest and regional, but they do, indeed, appear to be real. If these results and those forecast for 2012 bear out, then the aggregate industry needs to ensure that objects in motion stay in motion. From there, it’s a matter of increasing mass and velocity. AM

Methodology, Objectives, and Sources

The objective of the 2012 Aggregates Manager Forecast Survey was to determine business, production volume, spending, and workforce trends. In November 2011, Aggregates Manager e-mailed questionnaires to a random selection of readers in the crushed stone and sand and gravel, crushed stone-only, and sand and gravel-only industries. A total of 106 useable surveys were completed.

MB America’s crushers

The crusher also crushes reinforced concrete, returning both clean rebar and crushed material ready for recycling. This allows contractors to eliminate the amount of waste materials being hauled away. Because the crusher bucket is used in conjunction with an excavator, it is able to be used in tight spaces and is easily transported. Four models are available and may be used on an entire range of excavators, from 9 tons and up.

Regardless of how it adds up, 2plus1 and 2plus2 represent the old math at Liebherr.

The Tier 4 Interim L 566 teams up with a recent international product introduction from Liebherr, the TA 230 articulated dump truck, during the new wheel loader family rollout in Bischofshofen, Austria.

A single drivetrain solution will cover the future range of wheel loaders formerly identified by the “2plus” nomenclature. Used to recognize different hydrostatic transmissions in the crossover large mid-sized and smaller large-size loader range, “2plus” is being phased out as the company introduces new Tier 4 Interim machines.

“Our optimized control technology has permitted the change from 2plus2 to 2plus1 with no loss of performance, and with the benefit of the specific advantages of the 2plus1 driveline with its uninterrupted tractive force,” explains Johann Stickler, managing director of Liebherr’s wheel loader plant in Bischofshofen, Austria. “Since this system is now standard on the all-round loaders and the two smaller machines (L 550 and L 556) in the large category, we can now dispense with the terms.”

Matching demand to output, the Liebherr Power Efficiency (LPE) machine management system reduces fuel usage by up to 8 percent in Liebherr wheel loaders, also available with the LIDAT data transfer and locating system.

The use of two hydraulic motors, first adopted by Liebherr in 1992 to allow heavier loaders to reach higher speeds, was extended to 2plus2 on even larger loaders in 2000. To compensate for the greater discrepancy between tractive force and maximum speed increases, either one or both variable axial piston motors would operate on the tractive force curve, ensuring no break when the speed range changed. The stepless technology of the smaller 2plus1 transmission, with two speed ranges, is no longer a differentiator.

“Why did we adopt the hydrostatic transmission principle for wheel loaders right from the start, and why do we intend to retain it in the future? From the diesel engine’s operating characteristic, we can see that we can reach almost the full tractive force needed to penetrate heaped material during a load handling cycle at a lower engine speed,” says Stickler. “This positions us at a point of specific fuel consumption that is lower than would be possible with a torque converter transmission.”

During an international trade press event at the Bischofshofen plant near Salzburg, Liebherr outlined the new, roughly 4.2- to 7.2-cubic-yard range of loaders covered by models L 550 through L 580. Available for operation were the new 5.2-cubic-yard L 566, impressively robust and responsive, and 4.7-cubic-yard L 556, the latter retaining an older-tier emissions standard for use in non-compliant international markets.

An industrial parallel-lift linkage is offered as an option to the standard Z-pattern on the L 550 and L 556 models, to be followed by the Tier 4 Interim versions of the L 566, L576, and L 580, the latter two to boast increased power output. “This will make Liebherr the only manufacturer to offer both types of lift-arm kinematics on all models from the L 514 with 12,520 pounds tipping load through the L 580 with 39,680 pounds tipping load,” says Martin Gschwend, Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen board member. High-lift versions of certain models are additionally available.

To help get that work completed, Lafarge North America is counting on the performance of its fleet of trucks including PacLease’s 1,000th truck equipped with a PACCAR MX engine, leased through PACCAR Leasing (PacLease). This particular PacLease unit is a 2012 Kenworth T800 tractor operated in the New Orleans, La. area.

“PacLease is pleased to help Lafarge accomplish important projects that will protect New Orleans and its residents from future storms,” Olen Hunter, director of sales for PacLease said in a press release. “And it’s particularly gratifying that Lafarge will be doing some of that work using a Kenworth T800 tractor equipped with a PACCAR MX engine leased from our local PacLease franchise, Kenworth of South Louisiana-PacLease.

“Just 14 months after presenting the keys to a Kenworth T660 with the first PACCAR MX engine to Costco Wholesale, PacLease has leased its 1,000th PACCAR MX powered truck to Lafarge North America,” Hunter said. “The fact that it took a little over a year to lease 1,000 Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks with PACCAR MX engines is a clear demonstration of the popularity of the engine. The fact that so many customers have chosen this engine speaks highly to its reputation for performance and reliability.”

David Marchand, mobile equipment manager for Lafarge North America’s Louisiana operation, agrees. Lafarge leases 12 trucks at this location, including five Kenworth T800 mixers, delivered in November 2011, and three Kenworth T800 tractors, delivered earlier in 2011. The T800 Extended Day Cab mixers are equipped with 10-yard mixers for increased load capacities and enhanced efficiency. The three T800 tractors are spec’d with the Kenworth Extended Day Cab and the 485-horsepower PACCAR MX engine providing 1,650 foot-pounds of torque powered through an Eaton Ultrashift automatic transmission.

“Our drivers really like the quality of Kenworth trucks,” he said. “The cross members are heavier duty, and Kenworth uses huck bolts, not rivets, in the assembling of the cabs. That means our trucks don’t rattle after years of bouncing around in construction zones.”

Drivers also value the comfort that a Kenworth truck offers, particularly with the new trucks that are equipped with the Kenworth Extended Day Cab, Marchand said.

“The Extended Day Cab has become a standard specification for all of our new Kenworth trucks, and it has really made a huge difference,” he said. “The additional length and height allow our drivers to stretch their legs. Plus, the additional storage space for weather gear and other supplies helps provide a more productive work environment.

“The PACCAR MX engine is performing very well,” Marchand said. “It’s quiet, works in tandem with the automatic transmission, and provides our drivers the power and torque they need. We really like the fact that the PACCAR MX engine is 400 pounds lighter than other available engines, which allows us to carry more payload.”

“It’s really the whole equipment package,” he added.

Since 2006, Lafarge North America’s Louisiana operation has been turning to Kenworth trucks and Kenworth of South Louisiana to help complete construction projects in and around New Orleans. Reston, Va.-based Lafarge North America is the largest diversified supplier of construction materials in the United States and Canada with six gypsum production sites, 24 cement production sites, 302 aggregates quarries and 234 ready-mix plants.  It produces and sells cement, ready-mixed concrete, gypsum wallboard, aggregates, asphalt, paving and construction, precast solutions, and pipe products used in residential, commercial, and public works construction projects across North America. Its Louisiana operation includes 22 plants in the New Orleans area and extends north of New Orleans to the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain in Covington and west to Gramercy.

Marchand said the performance, durability, reliability, and comfort that Kenworth trucks have provided his operation has been critical to the success of many of the company’s projects, particularly the most challenging ones.

In addition to the T800 attributes Marchand also appreciates how full-service leasing through PacLease makes it easier for his operation to acquire quality Kenworth equipment.

“The full-service leasing option makes good operational sense. I deal with Kenworth of South Louisiana’s local PacLease operation, so I have a local contact that can help me get any maintenance issues resolved. Dave Russo and the folks at Kenworth of South Louisiana-PacLease take care of us.”

The move to full-service leasing was made easy by Marchand’s experience with Kenworth of South Louisiana-PacLease, which provides contract maintenance for many of the trucks in Lafarge’s Louisiana operation. The operation’s fleet of 120 trucks includes heavy-duty trucks with dump bodies, concrete ready-mix trucks with 10-yard drums, and tractors to pull a variety of support trailers.

Marchand particularly likes the ability and willingness of Kenworth of South Louisiana-PacLease to provide mobile maintenance service when the company is running trucks around the clock.

In 2010, as part of the work on the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lock Replacement Project, Lafarge took part in a 58-hour monolithic placement of 10,242 cubic yards of Agilia concrete. This placement of Agilia concrete still holds the world’s record for the largest monolithic (or continuously placed) underwater concrete pour.

Agilia, which is Lafarge’s proprietary high-performance, self-consolidating, self-leveling concrete mix, gave Lafarge North America an edge when bidding this special product, according to Lafarge product specialist Gerard Vitrano. The Agilia product, which requires superior mixing efficiencies, benefited from the power delivered by the Kenworth trucks, he added.

“With the complexity of our Agilia mix, we must have trucks that can handle the strict mixing demands,” Vitrano said.

Brad Trueting, area manager for Lafarge North America who served as project manager for the underwater pour, believes that the project’s success was enhanced by the reliability of the Kenworth Trucks and the support of full-service leasing from PacLease.

“When faced with the reality of having to place concrete for 58 hours straight, you must have your truck fleet as dependable as your hard-working labor force,” Treuting said. “And by leasing the Kenworth trucks from PacLease, we’re getting maximum return on the asset. Kenworth of South Louisiana-PacLease provides us remote servicing when the trucks need to be serviced. PacLease takes on the risk of residual value at the end of the lease. So, we’re not having to deal with any unforeseen costs through the life of the lease. And with even monthly payments, it’s easier to budget the use of the trucks on these different projects.”

Lafarge’s Louisiana operation recently delivered the remaining yardage of high-performance concrete to pour the final bridge pilings and the eastbound approach ramps for the new U.S. Interstate 10 Twin Span Bridge. This 5.4-mile long bridge over Lake Pontchartrain has 55,000 daily commuters. Hurricane Katrina severely damaged the original twin span in 2005. Temporary fixes immediately following the disaster restored traffic on the old twin span. Meanwhile construction of the new six-lane twin span bridge, which started in 2006, took five years to complete and cost more than $800 million. Lafarge poured all of the concrete used in its construction.

“When we’re involved in those kind of placements, we have a lot of equipment out there, plus dedicated concrete batch plants operating and mixers pouring concrete continuously,” Marchand said. “In order to complete them, we have to have trucks that we can depend on to perform. But just as importantly, we need a local dealer that we can rely on to help us choose the right specs for those trucks and keep them rolling. We get all that with Kenworth trucks, Kenworth of South Louisiana, and PacLease through their contract maintenance and full-service lease products.”

by Kerry Clines, Senior Editor

Kenworth Truck Co.

Set-back front axle

Kenworth says its T800 dump truck is rugged, reliable, and versatile. The truck features a set-back front axle to optimize payload potential and maneuverability; offers front and rear PTO options to handle challenging applications; and is said to be engineered to the application for added dependability, longevity, and lifecycle value. It can be specified with engines rated with a wide horsepower range, offers several radiator sizes up to 1,780 square inches for added cooling, and has a variety of rear axle ratings to meet specific customer requirements.

Volvo Trucks North America

Comfort and safety

The Volvo VHD dump truck features a spacious, comfortable cab with insulation and soundproofing. Doors are double sealed to keep out water, wind, and noise. The company says the truck is dependable, maneuverable, and offers the highest payload capacity. The truck’s high-strength steel cab is designed to protect drivers with three-point seat belts and a driver-side air bag. Heavy-duty safety systems come standard for added peace of mind.

Peterbilt Motors Co.

Maneuverable in tight spaces

Peterbilt says its Model 382 dump truck features a 50-degree wheel cut for maneuverability in tight spaces. Powered by a Cummins ILS9 engine, the truck provides 345 to 380 horsepower, up to 1,300 pound-feet of torque, and is available with rear engine power take-off (REPTO) and the Bendix ESP stability system. It can be configured to meet any need with front-axle offerings rated up to 20,000 pounds and rear axles rated up to 46,000 pounds.

Western Star Trucks

Tackles demanding jobs

Both powerful and versatile, the Western Star 4900 dump truck is said to be ideal for any application, featuring all the options necessary to tackle demanding jobs. Options include several different suspension configurations; rear engine, front engine, and transmission-driven PTO; frame rail clearance to mount wet kits and hydraulic tanks; various exhaust packaging configurations with horizontal outlets, or single or dual stacks; clean back of cab; suspended air and electrical harness; and up to 3.2 million RBM (resistance to bending moment) with a single channel frame.

Caterpillar Inc.

First model in vocational truck line

The Cat CT660 dump truck is the first model in a full line of Class 8 vocational trucks. Engine options include the Cat CT11, CT13, and CT15 with horsepower ratings from 330 to 550 and peak torque ratings from 1,450 to 1,850 pound-feet. The company says the combination of dual, sequential turbochargers and a precise fuel-injection system allows the engines to develop peak torque at lower speeds. The cab’s interior features an air-suspension driver’s seat with adjustable lumbar support that reclines and adjusts to fit any driver.

Mack Trucks, Inc.

Designed for extreme workloads

Mack says its Granite dump truck is designed to shoulder extreme workloads while delivering driver comfort. Available in axle-forward and axle-back configurations, the truck’s Cornerstone chassis uses lightweight advanced materials and application-specific crossmembers to carry heavy payloads. The spacious, ergonomic cab design gives drivers plenty of leg and head room, and air-suspended cab mounting protects drivers from harsh, rough roads. The 325- to 405-horsepower MP7 engine and 415- to 505-horsepower MP8 engine provide plenty of muscle and great low-end torque, according to the company.

Freightliner Trucks

Durable, lightweight cab

The Freightliner 108SD dump truck features a 42-inch, set-back axle configuration, and comes with a variety of standard features and options such as front frame extensions and radiator-mounted grilles. Its durable, yet lightweight, cab is constructed with corrosion-resistant aluminum reinforced with steel. The large windshield and sloping hood provide a clear view of the road and work sites.

Rugby Manufacturing Co.

Sleek, yet strong body

Rugby Manufacturing’s Titan Series dump body line features dirt-shedding top rails, 10-degree sloped tailgates, and radius front corner posts. The 10-gauge steel side construction, 8-gauge steel floor, 7-inch structural channel long sills, and 4-inch I-beam cross sills on 12-inch centers offer durability and reliability. The dump bodies are available in 4- to 5-yard, 5- to 7-yard, and 6- to 8-yard capacities.

Crysteel Manufacturing, Inc.

Custom dump bodies

Crysteel says its Select custom dump bodies allow customers to essentially design their own dump body without incurring the extra cost and time normally associated with custom-designed products. The bodies are available in traditional square body styles or elliptical bodies in sizes ranging from 5- to 20-cubic-yard capacities. Additional options are available for tailgate design, side height, floor material, and understructure design. A wide range of accessories is also available.

DuraClass

Dent resistant, durable

The Bedrock dump body from DuraClass features a contemporary design with high-strength Hardox 450 steel floor, sides, and rear for dent resistance and durability. The elliptical radius provides a smooth dumping action. The I-beam understructure provides maximum floor support. A heated understructure is available for cold-weather applications. Optional aluminum fenders keep body weight low to increase payload capacity. The body is available in lengths from 13 to 21 feet.

Oak Ledge Properties withdrew its application to continue activities on its 77-acre site in East Haven. The New Haven Register reports that the developer had planned a mixed-use development, but withdrew its application on the same day a new application would be due to extend its current operations. The planning and zoning commission chairman told the newspaper that the developer no longer can conduct blasting or crushing. It is now limited to selling stockpiles of crushed stone already on the property.

Maine

The Bangor Planning Board unanimously approved a request from Randy Gardner to expand his 6.98-acre quarry operation by an additional 5.25 acres. According to the Bangor Daily News, the board also extended the operation’s conditional-use and site development permits for three more years. It did, however, limit operating hours to 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Some neighboring residents expressed disappointment over the decision, but several sent letters of support to the city planning officer.

Mississippi

The Mississippi Supreme Court ordered the city of Batesville to take another look at a request from Memphis Stone and Gravel to operate a gravel pit in the southern part of Jackson. The Associated Press reports that its decision reversed earlier decisions by the state Court of Appeals and a Panola County judge. Justice Ann Lamar said the court could not determine from the case record how the city reached its conclusion that the pit would be legal and added that the board of aldermen should allow both the operator and its opponents to present evidence to support their positions. Finally, she said the aldermen should then provide more specifics on whatever conclusion it reaches.

Louisiana

St. John Enterprises said it plans to invest $32 million to upgrade Madison Parish Port Commission facilities in Tallulah, La., and to create approximately 450 jobs over the next five years, Workboat reports. The plant was expected to be online and delivering two new barges by late February. According to St. John CEO Ron Lewis, he has a contract to build six new 195- by 35-foot deck barges for a sand and gravel customer.

Minnesota

At Aggregates Manager’s press time, plans for Tiller Corp.’s proposed Zavoral mine were under review. The company is seeking permission for extraction and hauling, followed by reclamation. It does not plan to wash or process material on the site. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Scandia’s project advisory committee planned to review a preliminary draft of Tiller’s environmental impact statement. The 64-acre pit has not been mined since the 1980s.

Missouri

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering a proposal that would allow five operators to dredge an additional 1 million tons of sand and gravel from the Kansas River each year and increase the number of dredging sites. According to The Kansas City Star, the companies can currently dredge 2.2 million tons of sand and gravel from 10 sites. Those same companies — including Kaw Valley Cos., Holliday Sand & Gravel, Penny’s Aggregates, Master’s Dredging, and Meier’s Ready Mix — want to dredge 3.2 million tons a year from 13 sites. Some environmentalists are speaking out against the proposal. A spokesman for the Corps said it will take a year for its decision process to be complete.

Missouri

Mining engineering students at the Missouri University of Science and Technology have developed an interesting fundraiser: fright nights at S&T’s Experimental Mine. The university reports that The Haunted Mine has been held every year since 1997 and serves as the main fundraiser for mining engineering activities and student organizations. Mining engineering students volunteer to work at the event and earn funds for the organization of their choice, including the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration; Women in Mining; the International Society for Explosives Engineers; and the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association; as well as the university’s mine rescue and mucking teams.

Nevada

Gov. Brian Sandoval named Steve Hill as director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. The Associated Press reports that one of his main tasks will be to develop a state economic development plan and criteria for the designation of regional development authorities. Hill is a former vice president of CalPortland and served as a member of Sandoval’s transition team.

Nevada

Work has begun on the last remaining portions of the Las Vegas Beltway. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Las Vegas Paving began work on the 7-mile, $117 million project after more than a year in delays. Fisher Sand and Gravel filed a federal lawsuit when its $112.2 million bid was rejected and alleged that commissioners were biased toward union companies. Las Vegas Paving is a union company. The dispute was settled when the county agreed to pay Fisher $5 million to walk away from the project. Las Vegas Paving is paying a portion of the settlement, with the remainder coming from interest earned on the project funding that has been held in escrow since 2009.

New York

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has issued a permit for Elam Sand and Gravel Corp.’s mine in West Bloomfield. It is seeking permission to operate a 45-acre parcel. The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports the operator still needs a special-use permit from the town of West Bloomfield. The town has adopted a moratorium on new special-use permits, and the company has filed lawsuits to force the town to void the moratorium and act on its permit application.

North Carolina

Vulcan Materials Co.’s charitable foundation made a $25,000, five-year pledge to Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham on behalf of its Rockingham Quarry employees and families. According to the Richmond County Daily Journal, the donation will help fund the children’s museum, which is designed to stimulate adventure in learning and stimulating play. “Supporting educational programs is one example of Vulcan’s commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen in the communities in which we operate,” Plant Manager Charles Heatherly told the newspaper. “Supporting Discovery Place KIDS is a natural extension of our educational and stewardship initiatives, and we look forward to being a part of their exciting programs in this community.”

Texas

Summit Materials made a series of acquisitions in Texas, including Industrial Asphalt, Inc., Asphalt Paving Co. of Austin, Inc., and Ramming Paving Co., Ltd. The acquisition includes quarries, asphalt plants, and paving services. “We are very pleased to welcome the new companies and their employees to Summit,” Tom Hill, former CEO of Oldcastle, Inc. and current CEO of Summit Materials, said in a press release. “These businesses are a great combination, and together with RK Hall in northeast Texas, they expand Summit’s presence in the state.” Since it was formed in 2009, Summit Materials has completed 20 acquisitions.

Washington

Wm. Dickson Co. has been fined $24,000 by the Washington State Department of Ecology for discharging sediment-laden water in a storm drain that emptied into a salmon-bearing creek. According to the state agency, the operator’s permit limits the amount of turbidity that the gravel operation can discharge and prohibits any discharge that violates the state’s water quality standards for turbidity. It found that the source of the turbid water was a hole in the bottom of the pit where a pump was used to dewater the pit excavation over a bank into a creek. The operator said he plans to update his site management plan to prevent future discharge of turbid water into Swan Creek.

Wisconsin

The Eau Claire County Board adopted a moratorium that freezes frac sand mine development in the county for six months. According to The Leader-Telegram, the board voted 24 to 2 to approve the measure, which lasts until May 31. During that time, county officials say they plan to study the effects of sand mines on public health and the environment. Some supervisors sought quick passage of the moratorium because two sand mines have been proposed in the county during recent months. It impacts any company that had not begun mine construction as of Nov. 16.

Province News

A 31-year-old Northern Alberta quarry worker was killed on Nov. 7 after his arm was caught in a conveyor at Milestone Quarry, south of Fort McMurray. CBC News reports that the man was removing excess gravel when he was pulled into the conveyor’s rollers. A stop work order was issued at Surmont Sand and Gravel while investigators for Occupational Health and Safety investigated the incident.

Take steps to make sure ground conditions are stable before entering the work area.

The accident: On June 20, 2009, a 52-year-old miner with 25 years of experience was fatally injured while washing a face drill. He and a second miner were washing the unit when they heard popping sounds. The second miner said they thought the noise was coming from the elevated boom on the drill as the hydraulics bled off. The second miner reported then hearing two loud noises and feeling a rush of air. When he turned around, the roof had fallen, burying the first miner, the drill, and other equipment. The first miner was pronounced dead when his body was recovered and brought to the surface. His death was attributed to crushing injuries.

The bottom line: The accident occurred because the ground support system for the mine was not adequately designed, installed, and maintained to control the ground where miners worked and traveled. The roof rock broke below the anchorage zone of the roof bolts and pulled several of them out of the roof, leaving the expansion shells in the bolt holes. The fallen roof was about 50 feet long by 20 feet wide and up to 3 feet thick.

The applicable standard

30 CFR § 57.3360

Ground support use.

Scaling and Support — Underground Only

Ground support shall be used where ground conditions, or mining experience in similar ground conditions in the mine, indicate that it is necessary. When ground support is necessary, the support system shall be designed, installed, and maintained to control the ground in places where persons work or travel in performing their assigned tasks. Damaged, loosened, or dislodged timber used for ground support which creates a hazard to persons shall be repaired or replaced prior to any work or travel in the affected area. AM

Best practices

• When ground conditions create a hazard to persons, install effective ground support before other work is permitted in the affected area.

• Design, install, and maintain a support system to control the ground in places where persons work or travel.

• Examine and test ground conditions in areas where work is to be performed prior to work commencing and as ground conditions warrant during the shift.

• Be alert to any change of ground conditions.

• Identify and scale loose ground from a location which will not expose persons to falling material.

Information from this Safety Watch is from an actual accident and is provided by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. It is meant for general information purposes only.

Continuous level sensor

BinMaster Level Controls says its new SmartBob-TS1 continuous level measurement and inventory monitoring sensor is designed to prevent the ingression of dust into the electronics cavity to protect critical components and enhance durability. The sensor can be used to measure powders or granular materials in bins, tanks, and silos up to 60-feet tall. It offers a variety of communication options including an optional built-in 900 MHz wireless modem, ZigBee compatibility, RS-485 communications, and 4-20 mA output to a PLC or human machine interface. Individual bin measurements can be sent to the eBob PC software or a control console where measurements can be displayed as distance to product, height of product, and percent full.

V-belt tracking system

ASGCO’s dual-return Tru-Trainer conveyor belt tracker is now available for v-return conveyor systems, such as high-tension overland conveyor systems, which operate with wide conveyor belts to accommodate heavy loads. An external central pivot mechanism was designed, eliminating the need for a single, large drum, and enabling a concentric and balanced rotation, which extends bearing life.

Sets new standards in reliability

ITT Corp. says its new Goulds XHD extra-heavy-duty, world-class lined slurry pump is a next-generation product that will enable mines to move slurry with improved reliability and at a lower operating cost. The pump is designed to be maintained even while running and to require less downtime for servicing. Features include an adjustable suction seal ring that enables adjustment even while the pump is running; a split stuffing box that improves accessibility for easier and faster packing maintenance; a dual impeller adjustment that provides quick, easy access for impeller corrections; a replaceable wet-end cartridge that allows operators to change parts quickly with a unique, tapered impeller shaft; and an i-Alert condition monitor that measures vibration and temperature, signaling users with a blinking red LED when it detects a potential problem.

Controls dust, stabilizes soil

Pennz Suppress D is an emulsified resin product developed by Pennzoil, Co. to safely control dust, stabilize soil, and control silt run off from unpaved roads, construction yards, haul roads, and more. The formula binds particles together to strengthen the soil and is specially designed to work its way down into the soil to maximize the penetration depth. The unique binding agents form a durable, moisture-permeable surface that won’t wash away with rain and is strong enough to withstand very heavy truck loads. According to the company, the product has been extensively tested to determine that it is safe for the environment, safe for workers handling the product, and non-corrosive to vehicles and equipment applying the product and traveling on it after application. It is distributed through Genesis Soils Products.

Finger-operated joystick controller

J.R. Merritt designed its new FSI finger-operated joystick controller to be compact and lightweight. The single-axis, Hall-effect joystick features a 2.2-inch actuator height and glass-filled Zytel housing. Additional features include moisture-resistant, non-ferrous components and conformal-coated electronics for durability; and an extension-style spring return for smooth, precise operations. The controller is sealed to IP55 and meets or exceeds CE EMC requirements. An optional boot sealed to IP66 is available. Other options include a 2.6-inch actuator height, friction brake, step detent, 7-30V input, redundant output, and low power consumption.

Maintenance-free lubrication

Baldor Electric Co. says its pre-lubricated Grid-Lign coupling’s maintenance-free, lubed-for-life design eliminates the time and expense associated with preventive maintenance. Interchangeable with existing grids, hubs, and covers, this product is easy to install and eliminates unexpected downtime associated with improper coupling lubrication. Its environmentally friendly design features high-performance synthetic oil impregnated into a polymer shell that encapsulates the grid element. The polymer shell allows lubrication throughout the life of the coupling. The polymer acts as a reservoir for the oil, preventing contamination during installation.

Eliminates need for manual lubrication

The SKF hydraulic driven lubricator automatically lubricates attachments using an integrated pump driven by the hydraulic oil itself, eliminating the need for manual lubrication. The pump’s drive is provided by its drive piston, which is pressurized on an alternating basis by the machine’s hydraulic circuit via a hydraulic changeover valve. The piston performs either in a suction or delivery phase as long as the machine and/or attachment is in operation. The result is that the pump feeds the right lubricant in the right amount at the right time, says the company. Delivery rates can be adjusted or reset to meet operating requirements. The lubricator installs directly on the attachment.

Damage-resistant illumination

Two new blasting lights from Larson Electronics combine advanced LED technology with rugged, heavy-duty construction to create a light capable of withstanding damaging blast conditions. The Magnalight BL-70 LED magnetic mount blasting light (shown) produces 6,020 lumens and comes with an inline transformer for operation with standard 120 to 277V AC current. It also runs on 9 to 46V DC power without the transformer. Its magnetic mounting base provides easy placement of the light on any metallic surface. The Magnalight BL40-LED blasting light produces 7,200 lumens of intense light, is waterproof to 3 meters, corrosion resistant, available in spot or flood configuration, and can be operated with voltages ranging from 9 to 46V.

3D navigation system

Sandvik says its new 3D navigation system for surface drilling, uses satellite navigation to guide the starting point and correct course of drilling, in accordance with the drilling plan. The TIM3D consists of three essential operations — rig navigation, feed alignment, and drilling. The system is said to improve hole quality and hole position accuracy, resulting in better fragmentation and decreased boulders and fines. The system also eliminates the need for surveying and any hole marks, reducing the risk for marking errors and speeding up production. The system is based on multi-satellite RTK GNSS navigation and is compatible with GPS and GLONASS satellite systems. During drilling, the operator can follow the penetration rate and hole depth, distance to target, number of required holes, and current alignment. Drilling stops automatically at the target depth. Drilling data — quality report, position and depth of the holes, drilling time, and start and end points — are stored in the system memory, where it can be imported to various programs. The system is available for Sandvik Dpi and DX series surface top hammer drill rigs.