Rock & Dirt Blog Construction Equipment News & Information

The Charles Machine Works (CMW®), Inc., manufacturer of Ditch Witch underground construction equipment, has launched a series of informative articles designed to improve jobsite safety and productivity of anyone who operates underground construction equipment. This initial article covers the basics of operating trenchers safely. The Basics of Safe Trencher Operation Thanks to advances in technology, [...]

Thanks to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) asbestos regulations, today’s construction industry is much safer than it was in previous decades. Overall rates of occupational illnesses have decreased by 67 percent since the organization started addressing worksite hazards in the 1970s. Mandatory asbestos surveillance, permissible exposure limits and optional engineering controls for class [...]

Keeping a crew safe on a jobsite presents unique challenges when the mercury creeps above 90 degrees. Heat stress is increasingly being recognized for contributing to the rapid onset of fatigue, distraction, inattention to details and other deficiencies. Rule No. 1 is to maintain proper hydration. This sounds logical, but there are practical challenges. Here [...]

It is common knowledge that texting while driving a car increases your risk of an accident; even talking with a hands-free device requires the brain to multitask and can be risky behavior. The same goes for driving a tractor or using other heavy equipment. Today's tech tools – like cell phones, music devices, or tablets [...]