Not every electrical contracting firm can deliver on a short-schedule lighting installation project. However, those who can leverage time-saving strategies, advanced equipment, and robust prefabrication facilities to meet tight deadlines are often the most successful companies in the industry. It is not easy to improve productivity without sacrificing quality. With the rise of fast-track construction and aspirational project timelines in… Continue Reading
Monthly Archives: October 2018
BHS, Inc. Turns Attention to the Dock with Versatile Ramps
October 29, 2018 — St. Louis, MO — BHS, Inc., a leading provider of material handling solutions, is bringing its experience with forklifts from the battery room to the dock. The Midwestern manufacturer has recently begun offering two ready-to-use ramps, designed for extra dock-to-ground and ground-to-trailer access for lift trucks and personnel alike. “Back in 1979, we started manufacturing battery handling equipment for forklift fleets,” said Melissa Bowen, of BHS Marketing. “We’re using that expertise to make a safer, more adaptable set of ramps designed for warehouse docks.” The BHS collection of dock equipment currently includes a Dock Ramp (DR) and a Yard Ramp (YR), each designed to integrate seamlessly into existing infrastructure. The DR-model ramp creates a shallow slope… Continue Reading
TT-976: Battery Room Safety – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Affected: All Forklift Battery Rooms and Charging Areas According to several safety agencies, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required in any battery room. BHS offers complete PPE kits as well as individual items for spares / replacements to ensure compliance. Description: The Occupational Health and Safety Administration states: “Face shields, aprons, and rubber gloves shall be provided for workers handling acids or batteries.” (OSHA standard 1926.441(a)(5)) “The employer shall ensure that each affected employee uses appropriate eye or face protection when exposed to eye or face hazards from flying particles, molten metal, liquid chemicals, acids or caustic liquids, chemical gases or vapors, or potentially injurious light radiation.” (OSHA standard 1910.133(a)(1)) “Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, head… Continue Reading
The Accelerate! Conference by the Women in Trucking Association: Why All Logistics Providers Should Attend
The fourth annual Accelerate! Conference & Expo will take place November 12-14, 2018, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel Convention Center & Spa, in Dallas, Texas. The event is sponsored by the Women in Trucking Association, a non-profit group dedicated to bringing more women into the trucking industry, and to supporting those already working within the field…. Continue Reading
Government Contractors: Strategies for First Quarter Spending
The Fiscal Year 2018 ended on September 30. The traditional wisdom in the industry holds that the fourth quarter is by far the busiest for government contractors, and for the most part, that’s true. However, according to GSA Schedule sales figures, Q1 is nearly as active as Q4. In fact, the first quarter is a remarkable time to go for… Continue Reading
Spool Winding Trolley from BHS, Inc. Fills Reels, Measures Cable Simultaneously
October 15, 2018 — St. Louis, MO — BHS, Inc., a leading provider of cable and wire-management equipment for the electrical industry, has added a motorized spool-winding machine to its existing line of electrical material-handling products. The Spool Winding Trolley (SWT) is a free-rolling unit that fits over BHS Parallel Reel Payouts or other uptake-reel systems. Once in place, the Trolley’s DC-powered motor smoothly transports cable from feed reels to any number of take-up reels. The result is a spool-winder that improves productivity while removing ergonomic hazards as workers load cable. Meanwhile, a triple-wide encoder reel accurately counts each linear foot of cable for exact measurements. “There can be a lot of waste when you fill a cable order,” said… Continue Reading
Construction Ergonomics: Safety Solutions for Overhead Work
The right construction ergonomics program can prevent costly injuries, improve staff morale, and boost productivity. But different tasks create different ergonomic risks. Workers who spend most of the shift with arms raised and necks tilted back — while installing conduit, ducting, or overhead lighting, for instance — may develop any number of musculoskeletal disorders. Here are a few tips for… Continue Reading
BHS, Inc. Technical Support Coordinator Ken Schwyhart Celebrates 30 Years
Oct. 5, 2018 — St. Louis, MO — BHS Inc., a leading provider of material handling equipment for a variety of industries, recently celebrated the 30-year employment anniversary of the company’s Technical Support Coordinator, Ken Schwyhart. Schwyhart has worked in virtually every position at the company since 1988, stretching back to his first stint as an office assistant. Schwyhart was a senior in high school when he picked up a part-time job with the manufacturer, which, in those days, largely focused on providing the heavy-duty equipment required to handle forklift batteries. “I started as a part-time office boy, basically,” Schwyhart said. “They eventually ran out of jobs for me to do in the office.” So Schwyhart crossed the yard, from… Continue Reading
The Electrician’s Guide to Careers in Construction Month
October is Careers in Construction Month, a yearly promotion led by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The event is meant to spread awareness about construction trades, including electricians — a worthwhile effort, given this age of labor shortages in the construction trades. So how can construction electricians participate in this industry event? Here are just a few ideas… Continue Reading
