Over 2.5 million miles of pipeline in the US lay beneath farmland, ranchland, and across our country. Pipelines are the safest mode of transportation in the United States. A barrel of crude oil or petroleum product shipped by pipeline reaches its destination safely more than 99.9999% of the time.

Pipeline operators work hard to ensure that health, safety, security, and environmental concerns are all addressed. Pipeline companies work to prevent releases by evaluating, inspecting, and maintaining pipelines in a program called Integrity Management. Much of the activity you see out on the pipeline right-of-way (ROW) is company personnel ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the system.

Some of the common activities you may notice qualified pipeline representatives performing:

Aerial Patrol

Pipeline representatives fly over pipelines at regular intervals to perform inspections. They look for discolored ground, dying vegetation, or a sheen on the water as signs of a possible leak.

Nearby construction is noted and a call to the local field office is made. Pilots look for buildings or obstructions on the ROW (called encroachments). Pipeline patrol is an essential element of Integrity Management programs.

In-Line Inspection and Maintenance “Pigging”

For many years, the pipeline industry has used devices to clean the inside of pipelines. These devices, called “pigs,” scrub and scrape waxes and other contaminants that can build up on the interior walls. The first such devices were made of straw and wire and made a squealing noise as they traveled through the pipeline, thus earning the name “pigs.”

Today, high-tech in-line inspection (ILI) tools travel through the pipe and measure and record irregularities that may represent corrosion, cracks, laminations, deformations (dents, gouges, etc.), or other defects. Because they run inside the pipe in a manner similar to the scrubbing and scraping devices known as pigs, these inline inspection tools are often referred to as “smart pigs.”

Right-of-Way (ROW) Clearing

The pipeline ROW must be kept clear of trees, tall vegetation, or structures. The pipeline patroller’s visual inspection cannot be impeded by tree canopies, buildings, or other encroachments. It is also important to keep the pipeline ROW free of trees because roots can damage the protective coating of the pipeline, and in case of an emergency, responders need to be able to access the area quickly.

Mainline Valve Inspections

Pipeline systems have valves located throughout the entire system. These valves are used to isolate sections of the pipeline when conducting maintenance or in case of an emergency. Routine inspections verify that the valves operate properly.

Hydrostatic Testing

Hydrostatic testing can be an important part of the pipeline’s integrity management program. During the test, the pipeline is filled with water at pressures higher than normal operating pressures. The water is colored using an environmentally safe dye, so if there is a leak, it can be identified, and repairs can be made. Hydrostatic testing can last 8-12 hours or more and is a safe and effective way to proactively look for problems that could result in a release.

Corrosion Inspections

In its natural state, metal corrodes at various rates depending on the material. Pipeline companies use different methods to protect against corrosion and ensure safe operation,
including sophisticated coatings and cathodic protection (electric currents) to fight against
corrosion. When a pipeline is properly installed and maintained, it can operate safely virtually endlessly. Pipe-to-ground and close interval inspections ensure corrosion protection is operating properly.

Originally published in the 2021 PASA Farm & Ranch Excavation Safety Guide

The post The Eye in the Sky, Squealing Pigs, and Other Pipeline Mysteries Revealed appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

OSHA has published guidelines concerning safety practices and protective systems to prevent cave-ins and improve worker safety. However, the first step for a safer operation is pre-planning.

Pre-job planning is critically important for accident-free trenching, as most incidents occur due to inadequate initial planning. To successfully preplan, employers should learn as much as possible about the jobsite and the materials they will have to have on-hand in order to work in compliance with OSHA trenching and excavation standards. Some factors to consider when preplanning are soil classification, proximity of nearby structures, and quantity of shoring or protective systems that may be required.

Once the job has begun, implementing OSHA-compliant protective systems is the best way to prevent cave-ins. The easiest way to remember them three most commonly used types of protective systems are “The Three S’s”: shoring, shielding, and sloping. Employers are required to slope and bench the sides of the excavation; support the sides of the excavation; and place a shield between the side of the excavation and the work area.

Employers are free to choose the most practical protective system design that will provide the necessary protections for their employees. OSHA trench excavation slope requirements specify that the slope angle be not steeper than 1.5:1; which is a safe gradation for any type of soil. Sloping and benching systems must be approved by a registered professional engineer. When using trench boxes or shields, employees must use ones that have been approved by a registered professional engineer.

Other precautions employers are required to take include providing support systems such as shoring, bracing, or underpinning to ensure that adjacent structures remain stable for the protection of workers. These needs should be identified during pre-planning.

OSHA also has requirements regarding the safe installation and removal of protective systems once the job is complete. These are required to prevent failures due to sliding, falling, and overloading that could result in the injury or death of employees, or damage to structures.

Source: Papé Machinery

The post Papé Machinery follows OSHA guidelines appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

Ferlin Kang didn’t always know he wanted to go into the construction industry. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, he was exposed to the energy and opportunity that comes with living in a growing, evolving city. Ferlin knew he could pursue different paths in life, but he also knew how unique it was to have the opportunity to carry on his father’s business as a first-generation Canadian.

“My father had humble beginnings, immigrating from Asia. He had been in construction since the 1960s before starting Kang Construction Ltd. in 1982 in Calgary,” Ferlin said. “When I was in my teen years, I started working with the company and thought there was no way I’d be doing this.”

But for Ferlin, the opportunity to carry on the family business was something he grew interested in, and soon began to enjoy.

“My father came here, established himself, started a business and became an entrepreneur. Being able to grow the business to this point is not something to take lightly,” Ferlin said. “I didn’t want that legacy to go away.”

And that legacy will remain intact. Ferlin is now the vice president of the 60-employee Kang Construction, as his father, Alvin, gradually steps back.

Forged from orange

Initially, Kang Construction began carving out a niche in the petroleum industry. Due to an industry need for excavation, Kang Construction purchased its first excavator in early 1988: a Hitachi EX200LC. It was the first excavator of its kind to operate in Alberta.

“For us, the Hitachi brand loyalty reaches all the way back to our beginnings as a company when we first purchased our EX200,” Ferlin said. “Hitachi’s always been known for manufacturing heavy equipment that is tried, tested and true. They’re very reputable and providing the right equipment for the right job is always very important to us.”

The EX200 wasn’t the only “first” for this company. In December 2018, Kang Construction was also the first company in Alberta to purchase the ZX345USLC-6.

“Our fleet of Hitachi excavators ranges from a 470, which is our largest, to the 225, 160, 135, 85, all the way down to the minis. We also have a 350 that has a long-reach telescopic boom mounted to it for deep excavations, or we can change it to a 60-feet-long-reach boom,” Ferlin said. “Just from our fleet, you can see the versatility that Hitachi equipment provides.” 

While Kang Construction began with a niche in the petroleum industry, they have since grown drastically. Their growing fleet is a result of growing services.

“We started to go more into the earthwork side of things and away from the petroleum side toward the 2000s,” Ferlin said. “We got into more detail and mass excavations for commercial, retail and industrial projects.”

Bringing an edge to the fleet

Soon, Kang Construction expanded to offer installation of water and sewer underground utilities to their projects. This is where the 345’s versatility really shined.

“With the inner-city job sites, we deal with some tighter areas,”

Ferlin said. “Accessibility of the 345 is definitely positive.”

As it has grown, Kang Construction has tackled larger, high-profile jobs within the area. Recently, the company has been working at the Foothills Hospital Calgary Cancer Centre connector, providing earthworks, and water and sewer utilities to the project.

“The 345 worked out really well for this project in the sense that we have a new Tier 4 engine in there, which just gives minimal emissions,” Ferlin said. “A new machine like the 345 is perfect when working near a sensitive hospital environment.”

Another advantage of the 345 is the power it brings to tight spaces as a reduced-tail-swing model.

“The fact that it’s a reduced-tail-swing and has power, that’s just an added bonus,”

Ferlin said. “It’s perfect for our fleet.”

Productivity is the name of the game

If Ferlin had to choose one word that is most important to Kang Construction, it would be “productivity.” As technology advances and the needs of their clients become more stringent, he has to rely on equipment that can deliver.

“If the equipment works efficiently and safely, that’s paramount,” Ferlin said. “Breakdowns or reliability issues are critical in our business. I find that for us, Hitachi works.”

For their Hitachi equipment needs, Kang Construction turns to Wajax, one of Canada’s longest-standing and most diversified industrial products and services providers.

“Our dealer support from Wajax has been fantastic. We’re able to get anything we need from them quickly to keep us up and running,”

Ferlin said.

Along with contributing to the bottom line, Hitachi excavators are a favourite among Kang Construction operators, too.

“Getting a new piece of equipment is always like Christmas to everybody,” Ferlin said. “They love the 345. They find that being inside the machine, it’s quite roomy. They’re not crunched like they are in some other machines.”

The future of Kang

Ferlin has hopes that the company will continue to grow in Calgary, a city which he describes as “opportunistic.” And he is grateful for the growth Kang Construction has seen thus far.

“We’ve always been aggressive, ever since our small beginnings. But I couldn’t have envisioned us being involved in the types of jobs we’re working today, 15 years ago,” Ferlin said. “We are excited to see the legacy continue for our company.”

As for the company’s culture, Ferlin plans on keeping a family mentality at the core.

“I think in our current society, some-times family might be overlooked. Family is very important to me and has always been,” he said. “We always try to treat our company and employees like family, and I don’t see that changing in the future.”

Source: Hitachi

The post Forging the generation of Kang Construction with Hitachi fleet appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.