Shaw Capital Awarded Construction Management Contract for Clean Fuel Project

Shaw Capital Awarded Construction Management Contract for Clean Fuel Project at Marathon Illinois Refinery BATON ROUGE, La.,–The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE: SHAW) today announced it has been awarded a capital contract from Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE: MRO) to provide construction management services for a benzene reduction project at its refinery in Robinson, Ill. Services include management of site construction activities such as contractor selection, safety warning, materials management and project controls. The construction is expected to be completed before the mandated date for reduction of benzene content in gasoline to meet new EPA standards. The award follows Shaw’s earlier project management, engineering and procurement services work for the feasibility and definition phases of the project. “Shaw has extensive refinery expertise and a strong reputation for helping customers meet clean fuels regulations at their plants,” said Lou Pucher, president of Shaw’s Energy & Chemicals Group. “We place a priority on understanding key environmental and economic drivers and working closely with our customers to ensure success.” Most recently, Shaw management completed engineering and procurement services for another benzene reduction capital project at Marathon’s Catlettsburg, Ky., refinery and a 70,000 barrel per day heavy gas oil hydrocracker unit and 47,000 barrel per day kerosene hydrotreater unit at Marathon’s Garyville, La., refinery as part of that plant’s recent major expansion project. Last year, Shaw was awarded a maintenance, capital construction, turnaround support and specialty services contract for Marathon’s Texas Refining Division. The undisclosed value of the new contract will be included in Shaw’s Energy & Chemicals segment’s backlog of unfilled orders in the third quarter of fiscal year 2010. The Shaw Group Inc. (NYSE:SHAW) is a leading global provider of engineering, construction, technology, fabrication, remediation and support services for clients in the energy, chemicals, environmental, infrastructure and emergency response industries. A Fortune 500 company with fiscal year 2009 annual revenues of $7.3 billion, Shaw has approximately 28,000 employees around the world and is the power sector industry leader according to Engineering News-Record’s list of Top 500 Design Firms. For more information, please visit Shaw’s website at www.shawgrp.com. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for certain forward-looking statements. The statements contained herein that are not historical facts (including without limitation statements to the effect that the Company or its management “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans” or other similar expressions) and statements related to revenues, earnings, backlog or other financial information or results are forward-looking statements based on the Company’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by the Company. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond our control) and assumptions and are subject to change based upon various factors. Should one or more of such risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. A description of some of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements can be found in the Company’s reports and registration statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports, and on the Company’s website under the heading “Forward-Looking Statements.” These documents are also available from the Securities and Exchange Commission or from the Investor Relations department of Shaw. For more information on the company and announcements it makes from time to time on a regional basis, visit our website at www.shawgrp.com.

Barefoot Boom Construction Secrets Revealed

If you have been water skiing then you have no doubt been entertained by or been the source of entertainment for others while you struggled. It doesn’t matter whether you are learning to get up on combo ski, a slalom ski, wakeboard, kneeboard, kid’s skis, or even barefooting. The bottom line is what you knew had to be true in your gut. There has to be an easier way! The barefoot boom is your answer.

Although it was invented to help barefoot water skiers learn as early as the 1960’s, it is hard to pinpoint the barefoot boom’s beginning since there were so many home made versions. Mike Seiple began a company, Barefoot International, in 1983 which specialized in making barefoot booms and it was the hidden secret to the success of his ski school.

The success of Barefoot International drew many machine shops into the boom making business. But you are about to get the industry secrets to knowing what makes a good boom. This is information that the industry is trying to stop me from telling. Booms are not only not all equal, but there is a growing problem with serious injuries from inferior boom construction. Learn the truth about urban legends surrounding barefoot booms.

Myth number 1: light-weight booms are better because they are easier to handle

The Truth about Myth 1: Not true. The most time tested construction a solid core boom. A boom is lighter when it is hollowed out or made from a lesser quality aluminum. Aircraft aluminum is the preferred metal. The amount of leverage put on a boom is tremendous depending on the weight and the activity of the skier during the teaching stages. The safety of the skier as well as the passengers depends on great construction.

Myth number 2: a single cable is better than two cables to connect the boom to the bow of the boat

Boom Cable Myth Truth: false. Booms are subjected to multiple violent forces from multiple directions. A single cable dramatically reduces the stability of a barefoot boom. All it takes is witnessing a cable break to realize that a single cable is unacceptable.

Myth No. 3: a flexible boom clamp allows for easier adjustment and is better than a double bolt clamp

Boom Clamp Myth: Not True. After subjecting boom clamps to continuous heavy downward forces on the end of the boom, we found out that flexible adjusting clamps fail quicker because of the inherit design and thinner materials. The difference in time it takes to adjust a solid construction bolt clamp versus a flexible clamp is about 15 seconds in favor of a flex clamp. This could be an expensive trade of of seconds for safety.

When you are looking at booms, you are investing in the happiness and well being of others. Make sure that the construction of your boom meets the highest standards that you demand from your equipment. When you find yourself becoming the pro on your lake, you are going to want to make sure that your equipment will meet the demands of combo skiing, wakeboarding, kneeboarding, slalom skiing, and even barefooting. If you demand the best boom, you will only have to buy one.

Disasters In Bridge Design And Construction

A country’s infrastructure is essential to its success, and having a network of transport systems in place is vital not only for the industry, but for safety too. Bridge construction forms a major part of access routes in every country in the world; from simple wooden bridges in the foothills of rural Wales, to the world famous engineering masterpieces such as the Golden Gate Bridge. The structures may be very different but they serve the same purpose, to provide safe and swift access.

In wealthier parts of the world such as Europe and the UK, the need for bridges is often a matter of convenience, for saving time and improving access and traffic flow from one area to another. In more remote parts of the world, bridges can form a vital connection to essential supplies, and without them certain sections of the population would be at risk in the event of a natural disaster or during times of conflict.

For example, during a study of the Turkish infrastructure, it was noticed that a fault line separated the country along what happened to be an economic divide. In the event of an earthquake this would endanger the lives of some of the poorest of the population as there would be no direct route for supplies and aid. This study led to the construction of a bridge that would ensure that such help would be able to reach these areas should such a disaster occur.

Designing and constructing any bridge is a feat of engineering excellence, but building bridges to withstand the rigours of some of the toughest natural environments is a marvel all of its own. Hurricanes, extreme tides, earthquakes and tornadoes are all elements that need to be accounted for when designing a bridge, and do not forget that human error needs to be accounted for too.

Some of the most notorious bridge disasters involve collapse due to impact from boats and trains. In these accidents, the piers or pilings have given way from the force of the collision and caused the rest of the structure to give way. Other bridge failures have been blamed on superstructure failure due to bad workmanship, such as poor welding, or the use of low quality materials. The final way that bridges can fail spectacularly is in the miscalculation of sums by the engineers themselves.

The mathematics involved in bridge construction involves complex equations that have to account for natural variations in the properties of the chosen construction materials and the way these materials will function in the chosen environment. Add this to the effects of a speeding train, hundreds of vehicles or the marching feet of pedestrians, and the numbers in bridge building become very complex indeed. Many bridges that have appeared structurally sound on paper have behaved in a very different manner in real life.

Some of the most spectacular of these bridge failures have been attributed to what is known as a sinusoidal wave which causes harmonic motion. There is well aired footage of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge which collapsed after the not so harmonic motion caused total structural failure. Basically, small vibrations caused by movement on the bridge accumulate until what appears to be a solid structure has a fluidity that resembles the movement of a wave in water. In some cases, this movement subsides if the causes of the vibrations cease, but in other cases, once the process is underway, the movement becomes self- perpetuating until collapse occurs.

A similar occurrence happened when the Millennium Bridge was opened to the public in 2000. As pedestrians crossed the river the vibrations of the footsteps caused the bridge to sway slightly, and as it did, those crossing had a tendency to walk in time with the movement which served to feed the harmonic motion. Fortunately the bridge was closed without there being any injuries, and over the course of a couple of years the design was modified slightly to prevent such an event happening again. The conclusion is that there will always be a fine balance between engineering genius and pushing the limits of physics itself whilst engineers strive to provide easy or essential access to remote areas and popular destinations alike in the name of technological advancement.

The Key Elements Of A Good Construction Safety Plan

Now, what, to you is the real benefit of looking for an online construction site safety plan? If you are looking for one for its proper use, you will be after one which puts the safety of your workforce to the fore. Sadly, many construction site safety plans are built with simple ease in mind. This is a terrifying thought, especially since we in the construction industry have so many fatalities.

Any good construction site safety plan should have, as its first and only priority, your workforces safety in mind. The goal of making the site managers life a little easier is one which too often gets involved in the search for a plan. Similarly, budgeting is something that factors in quite heavily, when really it shouldnt at all. The trouble is that both the ease of the site managers life, and the safety of the workforce can all be encompassed in one fell swoop, even at lower costing brackets.

What makes a good construction site safety plan, then? At its heart, it should be suitable for the management of all construction work. This word suitable is important here. Remember, this is the most important document in your safety planning, and unless it is utterly comprehensive, it is useless.

It should also aid the compliance with health and safety legislation. Sure, while this is an important element of the document, its by no means the be all. Even if it highlights the compliance with regulatory bodies, this in no way means that it it wholly suitable. A good test for this is whether you can buy one, and it still be applicable to a different site.

A construction site safety plan ensures that on site workers develop the awareness of risks in the workplace. It should also inform every member on the site of how to minimize the risks to themselves and their co-workers. If it fails to do this, it is near useless. Keep that in the fore of your brain if you are looking for a construction site safety plan.

Design and survey information should be in evidence, which means any number of appropriate schematics, sketches and architectural drawings. The locale should be detailed here as well, which may include local amenities, stores, materials, hazards and local infrastructure. A fire safety plan should also be present, as its probably the single most important aspect of fire safety.

Its very important for any construction site safety plan, or indeed documentation relating to construction safety, that it is written in plain English. The addition of legislation and regulatory laguage has little or no validity on a construction site. Indeed, this is one of the most frustrating aspects of construction legislation. When we, as construction workers, use language which is as pragmatic as possible, very often the Safety and Health legislation concerning us is filled with little of intelligible worth. Remember to look out for this plain english in any literature to do with this document.

A construction site safety plan is entirely for the safety of the site, not the ease of the site manager.

Steps To Being Successful In Construction Jobs

Constructions jobs have once again made way towards the top in the job market. Since the worldwide economy has recently undergone recession and is trying to recover, huge investments are taking place again in the field of infrastructure. This has resulted in the growth of job opportunities in the construction industry. Although there are certain hurdles in being successful in this job, such as the many challenges and risks involved, you can compensate for these by working hard and receiving very attractive salaries. There are some simple steps you should follow in order to be successful in construction jobs.

When it comes to the educational qualifications required for construction jobs, this varies with the kind of career under consideration. There are some careers within this industry that require specialized qualifications and there are others that do not require any special qualification. For instance, if you wish to become an architect, civil or electrical engineer, you will have to complete certain specialized degrees. For this purpose, you must plan everything in advance. The next most important step if you are employed at a manager level position in a construction firm is to build a sense of trust and confidence amongst your colleagues. You must possess very good leadership skills and be able to guide your subordinates in performing their functions in the most efficient manner.

When it comes to construction jobs, a manager should be able to effectively communicate the roles of each individual under his/her control. The workers must be explained in detail what is exactly required of them. As a manager, you can hold meetings on a regular basis to stay updates with the activities of the rest of the employees. These meetings should also be used to solve any issues, problems and confusions that the employees may be having regarding the tasks that have been assigned to them. Always remember to draw up a proper plan before the start of a project and stick to it unless some necessary amendments are required. The company’s resources must be directed towards the effective execution of the plan.

Another important requirement for construction jobs is to learn to adapt to the situation instead of changing it to suit you. There are a lot of challenges associated with change and as a manager, you should try to avoid these. Effective communication between the various employees of the company is also essential for the overall profitability of the company. If you maintain good links with your colleagues, they will feel more comfortable telling you about their problems and needs. The final step you need to follow is to work with honesty and utmost determination.