In a few weeks it will be National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 26th-30th). ACAF's top priority is the safety of our workers, and we will do all we can to bring attention to the importance of safe driving in work zones. But in all likelihood we will have to do much more to make a real difference.
Before I came to the Association, I worked in the mining industry for eight years. The culture of safety in the mining industry is omnipresent--as it should be due to the history of tragedy in that industry. But the fact is today mining is much safer than working in a work zone. Six times as many work zone employees suffered fatal injuries versus miners in 2019. The main culprit is incursion by vehicles which is exceptionally difficult to mitigate by the industry alone.
One common phrase I heard when working in the mines was to never sacrifice safety for productivity. This is, of course, good sense, but it's also a false choice. Operations that act safer are more productive, almost without fail. This is true the to point where it is taught in business schools. There are two reasons for this: one, an accident will completely shut down an operation; and two, safety requires better planning and organization habits.
It's probable that the same is true for work zones. General traffic may not like slowing down or staying in one lane, but its still much fast than being completely stopped while a crash is cleaned off the road. The Association will continue to raise awareness for this issue and advocate for changes as to how our work zones are controlled, but in the meantime if you find yourself in a situation having to weigh safety versus another important concern, ask yourself if the premise of your decision is correct.
Mark Musselman
President
Asphalt Contractors Association of Florida, Inc.
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Registration is still open for the 2021 Florida Asphalt Convention being held June 11th-13th. The spots are filling up faster than we had anticipated, so if you are planning on attending please register ASAP. We will be announcing the speakers and a more detailed agenda soon. If you have trouble registering or securing a hotel room, please contact the Association. |
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The Association is happy to announce we have partnered with the Women of Asphalt to form a Florida Branch. This group will hold their first meeting on June 10th in Naples, FL. Anyone who meets the criteria to join can register for the meeting here. If you would like to consider joining the Women of Asphalt-Florida Branch, please feel free to reach out to Association for more information. |
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This April, the FDOT is letting just over 300,000 tons of asphalt. The State Legislature is still finalizing the budget for the next year, but it appears that the Department's resurfacing program will receive sufficient funding to keep Florida's well-maintained. |
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The pavements nominated for awards this year have just completed the first round of scoring. The first round is scored by the FDOT on a district-by-district level. The projects that score at the top of their categories go on for a statewide evaluation by an independent third-party judge. Overall the quality of the applications has been outstanding. We will announce the winners during the Florida Asphalt Convention. |
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Conferences
& Conventions
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Webinars &
Virtual Training
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President Joe Biden, who made clean energy a core tenet of his campaign, plans to set off one more oil-sector boom before shadows descend on fossil fuels.
In the infrastructure blueprint, the biggest benefit for oil explorers and refiners would come from the expected jump in demand for asphalt to repair crumbling highways and pave new ones.
Source: Bloomberg
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President Biden this week unveiled a massive infrastructure proposal that he says would deliver a "once-in-a-generation investment" in the United States. Click above to see six key numbers from the wide-ranging measure:
Source: NPR
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After years of ignoring or denying climate change, Florida has begun assessing the threat that sea rise poses to a sprawling transportation network essential to the state’s economy. But the risks, like the water, are rising fast.
Source: South Florida Sun Sentinel
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Economic activity in services sector, including construction, utilities, mining, rental, and leasing and warehousing, grew in March 2021 for 10th month in a row. Construction was the fifth-highest growing sector in the report.
Source: ForConstructionPros
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April is Stress Awareness Month, so it’s a natural time for leaders to reflect on the stress that they themselves are under and the stress they’re putting on their teams – or not, as the case may be. In particular, this is an opportunity to bust four big myths about stress.
Source: Forbes
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Florida lawmakers walked back the controversial toll road project after getting feedback in the fall from rural and environmental communities.
Source: Fox 13 Tampa Bay
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Want a "prime" application of a trackless tack? We've got one. Weather conditions, along with traffic and other elements, acutely affect our ability to prepare a base for asphalt pavement. One way to “weather the storm” is to apply a quality trackless prime coat, which will help prevent erosion and water penetration and save time and money. Learn more.
By Matt Renick, P.E., Chief Innovation Officer, Blacklidge
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It's time for a new video from Anderson Columbia! Here’s an in-depth look at what it means to be a part of Anderson Columbia.
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Thompson Tractor is hiring! The company have job openings in a variety of departments, including in heavy equipment, dispatching, and more.
Photo credit: Thompson Tractor
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