10/29/17

Product Demo: Genie Fall Arrest Bar - ANSI


This Genie Fall Arrest Bar provides a smooth, sliding, horizontal track that allows users to tie off and move freely outside the platform using a 6-ft shock-absorbing lanyard. The enclosed track, made from high strength steel, protects the trolley from weather and debris. The yellow, identifiable bar attaches quickly and easily, within 15 minutes, for fast setup and removal. This feature also allows the bar to be transferred easily among many lifts, providing flexibility for teams who manage multiple lifts in one fleet. For more information visit genielift.com

10/26/17

Parker’s Resilon® Polyurethane 4350 for High Performance Hydraulic Sealing Systems


Parker’s proprietary Resilon® Polyurethane is the industry benchmark in high performance seal materials for hydraulic systems. We control every step of the process from R&D through manufacturing to polymerize superior thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU’s) customized for specific sealing challenges such as the hydraulic systems in forestry equipment and refuse trucks. Specific advantages of Parker-developed Resilon formulations over conventional polyurethanes include excellent flex resistance, superior dynamic properties, and good cut and tear resistance at the temperature limits for polyurethane materials.
Most recently, Parker launched Resilon 4350 -- surpassing the high temperature performance of the current standard bearer, Resilon 4300.  Using the proprietary technology in Parker’s Resilon 4300 as a starting point, our material scientists incorporated reinforcing high temperature nanotechnology to extend sealing performance at elevated temperatures. Resilon 4350 increases the normal operating window from 230°F to 250°F for continuous use in many applications while other critical performance attributes such as wear resistance, extrusion resistance, glass transition temperature, and rebound remain best in class.   All of this adds up to a new solution for seal designers as they push the envelope in temperature extremes.
Watch the video for comparative test results of our newest polyurethane, Resilon 4350, vs. the leading competitor and see for yourself its sealing performance at elevated temperatures and ability to maintain significantly higher sealing force in extreme environments.

10/23/17

EXCLUSIVE MOBILE APP for JLG Machines

AccessReady app

The AccessReady program includes an exclusive app that lets you track all your machine familiarizations and produce your credentials on demand. It’s available on both Apple and Android devices.

Plus, when you register for AccessReady, you can immediately view the user-friendly portal. Select the type of machine you want to be trained on, and the map will populate with instructors. Then, click on a pin to see the instructor’s name and contact information.

Follow to this link: https://www.jlg.com/en/destination/accessready?Cookie=language&utm_source=Godfrey%20Ingage%20eMail%20Marketing%20Manager&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=https://www.jlg.com/en/destination/accessready&utm_campaign=[Tech%20Tip]%20Use%20the%20JLG%20checklist%20to%20inspect%20and%20repair%20water-damaged%20equipment

10/20/17

Attachments in Use on Gradall Excavators


Demonstration of various attachments that enhance the versatility of the Gradall Hydraulic Excavators. Includes demonstrations of the grapple, tree limb shear and mower for roadside maintenance, and the Telestick attachment that extends the reach of the Gradall telescoping boom.

10/17/17

Genie® Because of You ! (Spanish)


As Genie celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2016, a video highlighting the “50 Years of Building the Future”

10/14/17

Interstate 80 Forklift Supports Convoy of Hope.



In 2016, 1,490 volunteers provided more than 5,000 Guests of Honor with a poverty-free day. There were smiles everywhere as the less fortunate received free services, groceries, shoes and much more.

"On behalf of all of us at Convoy of Hope, thank you for giving your time to show compassion to those in need. You played a major part in our work to bring hope to families in Concord. "


The numbers tell it all: more than 3,200 pairs of shoes were distributed, 1,563 family portraits were taken, 591 haircuts given and 15,000 packages of Plum Organics baby food were handed out, among many other services and products.


October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Our partner, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, also provided resources and education to nearly 1,200 women. But what you saw at the event is just a small piece of the many things we do at Convoy of Hope.

We also feed nearly 150,000 children around the world, help survivors of disasters, empower women with opportunities to support their families through job training, and we teach third-world farmers to increase their yields.

Our incredible work only happens because of friends like you. Make a donation.

10/11/17

Parker Serviceman Plus - Pressure Sensors


The Serviceman Plus is a mobile, extremely robust and easy-to-use measuring device for many measurement tasks in mobile hydraulics or stationary hydraulic systems. With the automatic sensor recognition you can simply plug in pressure, temperature, flow or speed sensors and start the measurement immediately. It is easy to use without setting the sensor parameters; the measurement ranges are scaled automatically and the measure is shown on the screen.

Find out more at www.parker.com

10/05/17

How Engaged Workers are Safe Employees

A disengaged workforce could spell trouble for a company’s bottom line and lead to unsafe behavior on the job.
When employees are not committed or fully vested in a safety culture, they’re not overly concerned with their performance and they are not invested in the future success of the company. This negatively can affect day-to-day operations, inhibit a company’s growth and put workers’ safety at risk.
A Commitment to Growth
In studies conducted by Queens School of Business and the Gallup Organization, disengaged workers have 37 percent higher absenteeism, 49 percent more accidents and 60 percent more errors and defects. Organizations with low employee engagement scores experienced lower productivity, profitability, job growth and share price over time.
Engaged workers fully are committed to their work and the success of the company. They put in more effort, have a higher quality work product, go out of their way to assist others, have fewer accidents and are willing to provide feedback and suggestions on ways to increase efficiencies and improve the work environment.
In contrast, companies with highly-engaged employees are sought after by other workers and, as a result, have seen a 100 percent increase in job applications for current and future job openings, according to the studies.
Engagement Does Not Mean Happiness
Someone might be happy at work, but that does not necessarily mean they are working hard or productively on behalf of the organization. It also does not mean employee satisfaction. A satisfied employee might show up for their daily shift without complaint, but that same “satisfied” employee might not give the extra effort on their own.
Worker engagement is an emotional commitment the employee has to the organization and its goals. Emotional commitment means engaged employees actually care about their work and the success of the company. They don’t work just for their paycheck or next promotion, but work on behalf of the company’s goals. 

Employee engagement empowers an organization to create a culture of recognition through all aspects of the business, including safety.  
Key Elements of Worker Engagement
Where do you start? Start at the top with a visible, empowering leadership team that provides a strong narrative about where the company is and where it is going. Managers should focus on their employees and give them scope, treat them as individuals and provide them guidance toward future growth.
From there you need to ensure employees have a voice throughout the organization. Engaged employees are central to instilling change, encouraging innovation, ensuring a safe workplace, assisting with conflict resolution and contributing to the overall success of the company.
Key elements of an employee voice include:
  • Setting clear guidelines – Workers must know their position and that for which the company is striving.
  • Instilling a sense of ownership – Let employees know they are important and you trust them to do the job right every time.
  • Investing in employees’ future growth – Companies who invest in continued growth and development of their employees are more successful and retain staff longer.
  • Involving employees in the safety program – Conduct safety meetings and create safety committees to involve employees in the safety culture. Also include workers in changes before they occur to allow for open discussion.
  • Providing ongoing training for employees – When employees are not properly trained or training has lapsed, they are not being set up for success. It can put their own and others' safety at risk.
  • Facilitating two-way communication – Managers and supervisors need to be approachable and allow employees to voice their opinions, concerns and ideas without fear of retaliation.
  • Recognizing employees – A simple thank you can go a long way when employees go above and beyond what is expected. Recognition helps to positively reinforce safe behavior and fosters engagement.
  • Gaining employee feedback for continuous improvement – There always are ways to change through improved workflow and processes. Engaging employee feedback helps come up with solutions by fostering creativity. Providing employees opportunities to offer feedback will further solidify engagement and safety efforts.
Without active participation by all members of an organization, a safety culture will not evolve and the safety management system will not reach its full potential. 
Engaged workers are invested employees, and they will look out for each other and for the company’s best interests. Employee engagement also shows consideration and care for the staff, which is spread through the company, creating a team atmosphere and providing a positive solution to health and safety concerns.

10/02/17

Five Ways Streamlining Risk Management Can Reduce Workplace Safety Incidents

Health and safety management processes are often separated from other risk management systems, making it difficult for safety teams to provide context to leadership about potential impacts on workers, customers, partners, and key performance metrics. This state of affairs is out of alignment with proven best practices for operational risk management, which call for a holistic, data-driven, and integrated understanding of risk across the enterprise. As the regulatory environment becomes more complex and demanding, manual compliance processes executed separately by each department have become deficient and costly.
Organizations of many sizes and types need to develop more systematic, enterprise-wide methods for assessing, mitigating, monitoring and reporting on health and safety risks. Governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) solutions, which enable integrated risk management programs, are designed to help organizations strengthen business processes and reduce operational risks that impact safety, reputation and the bottom line. Where health and safety is concerned, the more closely organizational governance (such as policies, procedures and processes) and risk management protocols are tied to compliance work, the more improved all three areas will be.
Creating a centralized hub for managing and automating documentation, analysis, workflow, communication, and follow-up is fundamental to integrating risk management activities. Comprehensive GRC solutions that address health and safety risks at the same level as other operational risks (e.g., data and cyber security, fraud, vendors and supply chain, geopolitics, natural disaster) can help safety, compliance, and risk professionals optimize policies, controls, and reporting. When data is collected and organized centrally, it becomes easier to produce accurate, detailed analyses and reports, which helps safety leads communicate more effectively with stakeholders.
Streamlining risk management processes enables better decision-making and strategic planning that encompasses the full spectrum of workplace safety. Following are five ways that creating an integrated risk management program across the enterprise will reduce workplace safety incidents:
Communication and Collaboration
As the saying goes, safety is job number one. Communication is key to building a culture where worker well-being is truly a top priority. Bridging gaps between departments and identifying holes in safety protocols is only possible when collaboration is supported with enterprise-wide tools. GRC platforms enable better health and safety coordination between departments and roles by: centrally storing key forms and documents; automating and providing escalating process reviews; communicating changes, such as new safety procedures, quickly and efficiently to relevant audiences; and documenting activities for partners, clients, and external agencies that conduct assessments and audits. This all contributes to a more efficient, connected health and safety program: less time is wasted on duplicated efforts and sorting out confusion created by manual processes.
Risk Visibility
Without leadership and executive level involvement, health and safety will never be fully integrated into the operational risk portfolio. Risk leaders need to see operational, information security and third-party risks in context of the organization as a whole. Incorporating health and safety risks into this overall risk analysis not only increases visibility and impact of health and safety risks to executives, but also increases awareness and fosters a culture of safety at all levels inside and outside the organization. Higher visibility of workforce safety issues at the executive level yields more accountability and encourages all stakeholders to consider health and safety impacts in all aspects of the business. With a clearer picture of risk, the enterprise can move more quickly on opportunities and cultivate the resilience necessary to sustain growth and innovation.
Centralized Data Yields Predictive Insights
In the era of big data and advanced analytics, there are fewer excuses for being caught unaware. Repeated accidents are particularly unacceptable and are being penalized more harshly by regulators and civil courts. These instances can be largely avoided by consistent use of automated mechanisms for tracking processes and gathering performance data. Analyzing this data in relation to workplace accidents, near misses, remediation efforts, policy adherence, training efficacy, etc., enables health and safety risk leaders to identify trends and patterns and to monitor key performance indicators and key risk indicators.
Improved Accident Resiliency
Liability and risk exposure increase the longer issues go undetected and unresolved. Slow or ineffective response to workplace incidents can lead to repeating or escalating accidents, reputation and brand damage, higher fines, and intensified scrutiny from regulators. An integrated risk management program streamlines incident investigation, notification, and documentation for a better response. With technology support from a GRC platform, incident investigations are more immediate and thorough. With a systematic approach, lessons learned from an incident are more accurately captured and can readily be applied to related policies, procedures and controls to prevent similar accidents.
Workforce Input Enhanced
Integrated risk management programs help ensure that all necessary tasks are completed—and identify bottlenecks when they are not. For example, safety teams should ensure that all workers understand policies and procedures by tracking and documenting participation in required safety trainings, and by administering periodic tests or quizzes. Beyond policies and procedures, workers should have access to anonymous online portals through which they can convey concerns, warnings, or ideas for workplace and safety improvements without fear of retaliation. After all, no one understands the risks inherent to a particular job better than the individual performing it day in and day out. Visible mechanisms like reporting portals and effectively organized communications assure workers that safety is a top priority and management will not let critical issues "slip through the cracks."
It is clear that organizations cannot reach a mature, effective level of risk management without incorporating health and safety into their overall operational risk program. It's important to start with a careful, thorough assessment of health and safety management capabilities, data integration, and internal barriers to collaboration. Integrating health and safety risks into operational risk reports to executives and to the board will help raise the profile of workplace safety so it is more closely aligned with strategic planning, business objectives, and corporate responsibility initiatives. Robust risk management, integrated with governance and compliance activities, can save the bottom line. More importantly, it can save lives.
Sam Abadir is the Director of Product Management at LockPath, a leading provider of governance, risk management and compliance (GRC) solutions that is based in Overland Park, Kansas. He has more than 20 years of experience helping companies realize value through improving processes, identifying performance metrics, and understanding risk. Early in his career, he worked directly with financial institutions and manufacturing companies, helping them understand how risk management could be a competitive advantage. As a senior manager at Deloitte, he broadened his experience focusing on Global 2000 companies. During the past five years, he has worked with software companies such as LockPath to build the tools that help companies harness the value of understanding and assessing risk.