Shared Interests
Upcoming Workshop serves as gateway for concrete pumpers.
(September 1, 2021) - Within SC&RA’s industry space, concrete pumpers are an integral part of numerous projects that members are involved with. Be it infrastructure or commercial construction, concrete pumping is an enormous industry, and with the advancement of the long-awaited infrastructure bill – which could lead to a companion highway bill before the end of this month – builders, movers, and pumpers nationwide can expect to see hundreds of millions of dollars injected into projects over the next five to ten years.
In recognizing the importance of the role concrete pumpers play in the day-to-day within many of the projects SC&RA members are connected to, the Association began to interface with pumpers a few years ago, and discovered a wealth of commonalities. In addition to sharing many of the same business goals and priorities, the majority of accidents in their industry, and overall losses, are on the transportation side. So they face many of the same regulatory safety issues and concerns.
On the crane and rigging side, many of their issues are similar because they are, effectively, articulating a crane that happens to be pumping concrete as opposed to hoisting a load. That said, whether it’s overhead wires, ground conditions, jobsite communications or safety and risk management, priorities lined up, so it ultimately made both practical and common sense to embrace this group into SC&RA.
“After talking with many of them in recent years, and recognizing their greater interest in expanding advocacy, networking, education and training and getting into a highly professional certification program for concrete pump operators, it became more clear that they were looking for additional opportunities within an association that could bring them these things,” noted SC&RA CEO Joel Dandrea.
“Some of them that have started to become increasingly aware of SC&RA and our history – what we’re about, programs and services – have become even more interested because we’ve got a ton to offer, including an insurance platform with two endorsed markets and four preferred producers that gives them a range of high-quality options that they may not have been exposed to. So, we’ve been able to bring a handful of them into the Association as members so far, and we’re looking to attract quite a few more.”
Part of what SC&RA hopes will serve as a beacon this month for concrete pumpers is the Crane & Rigging Workshop, set for September 14-16 in Chicago, Ill. In addition to the committee meetings, receptions, the Exhibit Center and near-limitless networking opportunities, numerous education sessions comprise topics directly related to issues affecting concrete pumpers.
To put a finer point on it, two breakout sessions land on Wednesday, September 15, which concrete pumpers will want to pay close attention to: “Daily Impacts That Affect Your Insurance Costs,” presented by Jeff Haynes of USI Insurance Services, LLC, and James Jinhong and Bill Smith, both with NBIS, and “When Your Equipment Operator Becomes a Driver,” with speakers Rick Emery of Emery & Karrigan, Inc., and Chris Mikolay and Paul Stock, both with National Interstate Insurance Company.
The following day, additional breakout sessions deliver value to lifters, movers and pumpers alike. “Evolution of Workplace Safety Training” will be presented by Tony Radke of Easybook USA. Panelists Diana Holt, of Crane Rental, Inc.; Kate Lampson, with Lampson International, LLC; and Sandy Steffan, with Steffan Industries Inc. will deliver “Lessons Learned: Building Company Culture.”
Later in the day, speakers Cameron Boots, of Allied Insurance Brokers, Inc., and Mike Knott, with Phoenix Crane Rental will present “Cyber Liability & What You Need to Know to Protect Your Company.” Additionally, panelists Bill Kanasky, of Courtroom Sciences (CSI), and John Pion and Tim Smith, both with Pion, Nerone, Girman, Winslow & Smith, P.C. will present “How to Protect Your Company in the Courtroom.”
Wealth of Benefits
“Like all of our other members and prospects,” stated Dandrea, “once they attend an event, they have a much better feel for what we do and how to get more involved.”
Dandrea also indicated that more concrete pumpers are beginning to understand that, while SC&RA advocates on the regulatory side for its specialized transportation and crane and rigging members, much of that advocacy also applies to pumpers. “With that in mind, we believe it’s important to get a stronger population of them involved as dedicated SC&RA members. And that said, again, it’s important that they attend some of our events and see firsthand our governing structure, our committee structure, our education and networking opportunities and the high level of professionalism in running such events.
“As that population of concrete pumpers grows within the Association, we will increase our capacity to better serve their unique interest. And the Workshop is a great place for them to start getting involved if they haven’t already.”
Mark Young, General Manager–National Operations with Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping, echoed Dandrea. “By joining SC&RA, we are aligning our business with an association that strengthens our ability to do business through its contacts at the local, state and national level, as well as delivering professional events where we can make new business contacts.”
Young and Brundage-Bone joined the Association in August 2020, and one crucial point of focus for him involves SC&RA’s relationship with NCCCO (National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators).
“In addition to the wealth of benefits across the board that being involved with SC&RA brings concrete pumpers, the strength of that relationship is of great interest to us,” he pointed out. “Currently there isn’t an operator certification through NCCCO for concrete pumpers. However, there is a committee building out that program right now, which would allow NCCCO to have one additional product offering – a higher level of certification for concrete pumping.”
Dandrea added, “It’s an additional inroad to potential certification for concrete pump operators and we support what they’re doing, and understand it, and we want to see that certification program ramp up, and be an official, certified, validated program that helps ensure more qualified operators.”
Further Motivation
Alex Gonzalez, Safety Director with Concrete Materials Placement, said that his company was also interested in the NCCCO certification possibility, which served as further motivation to join SC&RA – which they did in December 2020.
“We have high-rise pumping systems, so this certification would certainly be important for our operators, but overall, joining SC&RA broadens the field for us, so we have another resource to utilize for information, and an additional collective to rely upon via membership.”
Gonzalez also sees an Association membership as a two-way street. “It helps me with my job, so we have someone we can trust to get us that information and keep us up to date on the recent issues, as well as the opportunities to network and receive related education. But we can also lend our own perspective and hopefully give as much as we receive.”
Young agreed, “We recognize that we are just a small entrant to this association, somewhat different than what the mass membership does, but we believe we can be a good participant in any of the trucking-side related issues, all the categories.”
Like Young, Gonzalez looks forward to getting involved. “Locally, with other associations, I’m on safety committees – it’s great networking, and you realize that we’re in the same boat and often deal with the same issues. So as soon as I’m given an opportunity to join one of these committees, I’ll look forward to being able to participate.”
At the end of the day, added Dandrea, “We’re interested in embracing the concrete pumpers and getting to know them, and allowing them to see how we operate, what our priorities are and how we can further serve their particular interests. As they join, and get involved, it will only make us all stronger.”