California’s plan to require construction contractors to install large and expensive emissions reduction kits on their off-road diesel equipment will put workers’ lives at risk and force job cuts, a prominent union official and a member of the Associated General Contractors of America told federal officials today. As a result, both asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration to deny or delay a decision to allow the state to proceed with its off-road rule. “Denying this rule is the only way to protect the men and women working in California’s construction industry from a new and grave risk of injury and death,” said Guy Prescott, a representative of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local Union Three. “This rule will lead to additional fatalities.” Mr. Prescott noted that the large filters and new exhaust pipes that are part of many emissions reduction kits can impair visibility and greatly increase the risk of burns. Noting that obstructed lines of site are already a leading cause of fatal collisions with construction workers, he said the rule would increase the chance more workers would be hurt and killed. more L
More nutty rules from the brain challenged individuals in CARB, like the one that had to lie to get a job.
Agreed! But not only is it dangerous it is also a foolish misuse of tax dollars in a bankrupt state. Instead of helping the ailing construction industry (so they can pay taxes) by doing things like repairing our decaying infrastructure our state spends it’s money putting further regulation on contractor’s and subsidizing the repowering of PARKED machines. Why you ask…well because we are trying to stop GLOBAL WARMING!!
I am no greenie but I feel that this type of stick approach is driven by financial gain for seriously vested interests,Carb extract huge fines for non compliance to their idiot rules, the state and federal government and banks get their slice of the pie from contractors and end users purchasing new equipment that has cost more in environmental terms to produce and does more damage ecology that the stuff we use daily. Now if every second person had a smoke belching, carcinogen producing diesel sitting around yes these draconian measures need to be applied but alasthis is not the case and is as I have said is all to extract our dollars on a on going basis. Just some other way they have found to beat us this is the piece of an article from the UK:- Users of older plant could be subjected to increased scrutiny from HSE inspectors following the government's acceptance of Rita Donaghy's report into construction deaths. One of her recommendations concerned the 'legacy challenge of second-hand equipment still in circulation.' It recommends that 'individuals or companies hiring this equipment should also ensure that they are fully aware of the capabilities of such machinery and their possible dangers and that they are sufficiently trained to identify any faults in the equipment'. Colin Wood of the Construction Plant-hire Association and chairman of the Strategic Forum's Plant Safety Group said the exact practical ramifications were still unclear. However, he said the emphasis was likely to be on carrying out proactive preventative maintenance to the manufacturers' requirements rather than just responding to breakdowns and damage. He said in terms of safety the age of the kit wasn't as important as its maintenance and that plant owners must carry out proper inspections and repairs and also have the records to show this has been done. The government's response comes at a time when many plant owners have reined back on fleet renewals and are seeing the age of their equipment increase. "Older equipment isn't inherently unsafe but it requires a different approach to maintenance," Wood concluded.
Stock, That sounds like your government might want to put the same kind of maintenance regulation on a D8K as might be done on a 757. What's next,licensed operators and mechanics? Thanks for the post.
,licensed operators these we have since 2001
CARB number way off. Here are a couple more things that have come out about CARBS study on Diesel emissions. 1st is they over estimated the number of machines. They also way over estimated hours used and way over shot on fuel usage. A few years ago NY without any study passed the same laws in the middle of the night. These are coming into effect in 2011. Thank you Mexiforina. Of course it has to be a coincidence that the same day NY signed into law these standards. Corning Glass who makes filters for DPF donated a bunch of money to campaigns of people who supported the law. Nothing like forcing the public to buy your product based on junk science and crooked politicians. It is going to cost between $8000.00 and $30000.00 per machine/truck to add these filters. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iwTbTcan4fd0JSo9iEeso3PgGX8gD9F8DJ781 http://www.forconstructionpros.com/...end-Billions-on-Existing-Equipment-/4FCP15870 http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2010/04/the_story_of_an_8000_exhaust_f.html
Same thing in Kansas, State Law will require retro fitted stuff on our trucks or you can't bid on state work in Kansas.Have to spend money in a bad market,Common sense is out