Posted May 13, 2022
Construction Saw Modest Wins, Some Losses in April
According to a May 2022 report from Dodge, total construction starts in April were 3% higher than in March, rising to a seasonally adjusted annual...
May 13, 2022
Five-Alarm Call: Making the decision to keep working or shut down amid wildfires
In August 2020, lightning sparked unprecedented wildfires in parts of western Oregon. Fanned by dry winds from the east, the fires skipped over roads and natural fire breaks, spreading hundreds...
May 13, 2022
From Optional to Required: Surge protection helps ensure public safety and power supply resilience
Not long ago, when a manufacturer decided to upgrade an assembly line, the power supply to a steel-bending machine needed an essential feature. Surge protection was required to prevent electrical...
May 13, 2022
Data Centers of the Future: Spectra Electrical Services takes new approach at flagship Comarch facility
A new data center in the foothills of the Superstition Mountains in Mesa, Ariz., will display cutting-edge features and provide IT services to existing customers. Comarch Inc.’s North American Data...
May 13, 2022
Put to the (COVID) Test: ECs share pandemic-era experiences and continuing challenges
According to the ELECTRI International report, “Pandemics and Construction Productivity: Quantifying the Impact,” the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to have reduced productivity in the construction sector by some 20%, based...
May 13, 2022
In the Weeds of Energy Use: Home marijuana growers in Michigan must follow proper guidelines
Residents in Michigan wishing to grow marijuana in their homes—like those living in other states with legalized use—need to learn ahead of time how much energy it demands. They also...
May 13, 2022
Building Brains: The advance of grid interactivity
Cleaner, better managed and flexible energy may have found its vehicle. Called Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs), this approach offers two-way power management between a utility and its customer. Stakeholders are...
May 13, 2022
Don’t Take Anything for Granted: How a fatal incident led to an increased focus on safety
They were truck partners. Mike Starner, now NECA director of outside line safety, and another troubleman in his 30s shared equipment and a truck to drive to work sites. “He...
May 13, 2022
Electric Current Through Tissue and Air: Protecting against shock and arc flash hazards
Basic electrical theory is that the greater the load is, the greater the current. Normally, the current flows through conductors and various electrical components, but what if the current takes...
May 13, 2022
The Benefits of Employee Buy-in: Identifying and developing a strong safety culture
Implementing a comprehensive safety program is crucial to protecting workers from occupational hazards. Simply having the framework doesn’t mean that employees are completely committed to creating and maintaining the safest...
May 13, 2022
Bringing Mental Health to the Forefront: ISO safety standards apply to mental health in the workplace
When it comes to mental well-being, sobering statistics abound. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimated that in 2020, one in five—52.9 million—U.S. adults lived with a mental illness...
