Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/196134
38 • NOVEMBER 2013 • WORLD FENCE NEWS Custom Vertical Lift Gate Systems from RISING STAR, INC. Beautiful! Efficient! Unique! Full system capability • Standard electric or solar power Easy to install! We can ship anywhere in the U.S. (incl. AL & HI) as well as Canada! Call or e-mail us for your free quote today. 800-704-2837 nelsbloom@msn.com • www.rsigate.com Check out World Fence News Online! www.worldfencenews.com At Western Tube & Conduit customer satisfaction and quality are the first order of business. Our Fencepost and Fencerail production is ISO-9001:2008 certified - and our products are manufactured to meet all the applicable state, federal, industrial and regulatory specifications and requirements. While we regularly stock standardized products and sizes, we are happy to provide custom dimensions as well. All our Fence products are galvanized with high purity zinc. We use high frequency welding (ERW) to turn the highest quality strip steel into tubing, and then a continuous hot-galvanizing process to zinc-coat the products smoothly and evenly. A zinc-rich interior organic coating, a chromate conversion coating, and a clear exterior organic coating provide the complete finish package that gives them superior protection against the elements and long life as a result. Gal-Z serves customers looking for shaped Fence tubing as well as corrosion-protected mechanical tubing. It can be purchased in squares and in rectangles, and it provides excellent environmental durability while also fulfilling the need for strength and weldability. The Dodge Report Construction starts rise in August as residential building continues upward trend NEW YORK, N.Y. — At a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $490.2 billion, new construction starts in August advanced 2% relative to July, reported McGraw Hill Construction, a division of McGraw Hill Financial. Residential building stayed on the upward track, and nonbuilding construction (public works and electric utilities) rebounded after its loss of momentum in July. At the same time, nonresidential building retreated from its improved July amount, continuing the up-and-down pattern that's been present during 2013. For the first eight months of 2013, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis came in at $329.4 billion, up 1% from the same period a year ago. If electric utilities are excluded from the year-to-date statistics, total construction starts in the first eight months of 2013 would be up 10%. The August data lifted the Dodge Index to 104 (2000 = 100), compared to a revised 102 for July. So far during 2013, the Dodge Index has hovered within the range of 98 to 106, after averaging 103 for the full year 2012. "On balance, the construction industry is showing modest growth in 2013, although by major sector there's been divergent behavior," stated Robert A. Murray, vice-president of economic affairs for McGraw Hill Construction. "Housing continues to lead the way, with consistent gains reported for both single and multifamily housing. Public works has edged up slightly from last year, helped by the start of several very large projects and withstanding for now the negative impact of the sequester. "New electric utility starts have fallen substantially from last year's record volume," Murray said. "However, it's been more problematic to discern this year's trend for nonresidential building – the commercial categories are hesitantly picking up the pace, but the institutional categories are still languishing. A more solid expansion for total construction requires a greater contribution from nonresidential building, which has yet to occur." Residential building in August continued on page 42 Be prepared when facing an OSHA inspection continued from page 36 Some tips for inspection: • Immediately involve the employer's safety officer. • An employer representative should accompany the CSHO except where the CSHO is interviewing employees confidentially. • Ask questions of the CSHO concerning perceived hazards and abatement. • Be ready to identify employees for CSHO interviews. • Use the closing conference to clarify issues and exculpatory acts regarding perceived hazards. For more information, visit www.texcon.org.