BMSA is once again offering our popular two-day Blueprint Reading and Material Take-Off class. We had  a full house for this class last month in Hickory, NC. Next month we will be offering it in the Columbus,  OH area. This class provides your sales staff with hands-on experience figuring an actual set of working  drawings. Attendees will learn basic blueprint reading by identifying lines, symbols and details while  developing an understanding of elevations, floor plans, framing and sectional views. They will be  exposed to various residential construction methods and estimating formulas while working on a basic

single level home with a trussed roof. Among the topics covered in the dynamic 2-day workshop are:

This class is taught by industry veteran Casey Voorhees. Casey has over 35 years' experience in the  building materials industry, including 25 years teaching contractor sales and material take-off  workshops. He is currently President of Western Building Material Association. 

"Casey did a phenomenal job and laid a very solid foundation down for me when it comes to take-offs.  Yesterday, I received my first set of plans and I feel much more confident after this class," commented  an attendee of this workshop.

One member who sent employees to a previous Blueprint Reading & Material Take-off class said, "Our

four employees had a very positive learning experience. I hope to see this class continue regularly." He  asked, and we are delivering!

The class will be held on April 15-16 at Palmer-Donavin Manufacturing in Grove City, OH. For more

information and to register for this class, CLICK HERE.

In addition to this two-day class, BMSA is also offering its Advanced Estimating Class on April 17, also at  Palmer-Donavin Manufacturing Co. This advanced class is for those people who have had some prior  experience working with blueprints, but who want to gain a deeper understanding of residential  framing, as well as achieve greater efficiency in completing material estimates. This workshop will go  beyond basic house design and focus on the difficult areas of completing take-offs. 

For more  information and to register for this advanced class, CLICK HERE.

OSHA Requests Information on the Powered Industrial Trucks Standard

 The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is requesting information as the Agency considers rule-making to update the powered industrial trucks standards for general, maritime, and construction industries. The standards became effective in 1971, and were based on industry consensus standards from 1969. Since then, national consensus standards have been updated several times.

OSHA is requesting information on: the types, age, and usage of powered industrial trucks; maintenance and retrofitting; how to regulate older powered industrial trucks; types of accidents and injuries associated with operating these machines; costs and benefits of retrofitting the machines with safety features; and other components of a safety program.  OSHA will use the information received in response to this request to determine what action, if any, it may take to reduce regulatory burdens and create jobs while improving worker safety.

Comments must be submitted on or before June 9, 2019. Comments and materials may be submitted electronically at  http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal, or by facsimile or mail. See the  Federal Register notice for submission details. 

See full release here.

(Source:  U.S Dept. of Labor news release, March 2019)

FMCSA Removes

Diabetes Exemption 

for CMV Drivers

Published 2018 rule reduced the need for past exemptions

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially rescinded the exemption process affecting more than 4,700 medically certified commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus (ITDM).

The exemptions, set up in 2003 and 2005, were declared no longer necessary following the establishment of a new rule published in the Federal Register on September 19, 2018. The revised standard allows certified medical examiners, in consultation with the driver's treating clinician, to evaluate and determine whether to grant an ITDM driver a medical examiner's certificate (MEC) to drive a CMV in interstate commerce.

The exemption was removed starting February 21, 2019. Drivers could begin the process of obtaining MECs on November 19, 2018.

Read more  here.

(Source:  J. J. Keller's Transportation SafetyClick  newsletter, March 2019)