The latest developments from the desk ofND's editor.

Boart Longyear's Safety Emphasis

Boart Longyear, a major integrated exploration drilling products and services provider, received the distinguished Safety and Health Achievement Recogni-tion Program (SHARP) award from the Utah Occupational Safety and Health Adminis-tration (OSHA) for its Salt Lake City manufacturing plant. 

The prestigious SHARP award is granted to companies that maintain an exemplary safety and health management system. The Salt Lake City plant manufactures diamond coring bits.

The SHARP award was presented by the Utah commissioner of labor, Sherrie Hayashi. “Boart Longyear is the best of the best, one of only nine SHARP companies in Utah,” says Hayashi. “It’s all about making sure employees go home safely, and Boart Longyear has shown this is a high priority in [its] Salt Lake City plant.”

The SHARP award is not easily obtained. The manufacturing facility worked with OSHA to identify and implement best practices to protect workers by developing an innovative management system.

“Not many companies would invite OSHA to inspect their facilities; however, we want to assure our employees that they are working in the safest place possible,” explains Kelly Call, environmental health and safety coordinator of the Salt Lake City manufacturing plant.

“The entire Boart Longyear company takes safety very seriously,” notes plant manager Drew Butler. “We implement the same safety standards and practices as our drillers out in the field.”

Boart Longyear showcased its commitment to safety through volunteer employees who make rounds each day looking for safety risks. Safety training, team building and motivational training also take place on a regular basis. With the extra attention to the safety and health of the work environment, the company is able to produce more diamond drill bits in two shifts than it had in three shifts prior.

GEO Confers Champion Awards

The Geothermal Exchange Organiza-tion (GEO) presented its Geothermal Heat Pump Industry Champion awards to key legislators in Washington, D.C. Recipients included Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), ranking Republican on the same committee.

GEO Member Centennial Plastics (Hastings, Neb.) co-sponsored and prepared the awards, which feature the company’s geothermal ground loop pipe.

“Recipients of GEO’s Geothermal Champion Award understand the potential of our industry, and share our commitment to the technology,” says GEO president Doug Dougherty, who presented the awards. “They are leaders when it comes to promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency, and we are proud of their efforts to help grow our industry and in the process create new U.S. jobs.”

Senator Jeff Bingaman was honored by GEO for his longstanding support and promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives, including his support for the installation tax credits that have kept the industry afloat during the recent economic downturn.

Senator Lisa Murkowski was honored by GEO for her leadership on the Geothermal Exploration and Technology Act, recently approved by the Senate Energy Committee. This bipartisan legislation, among other things, directs the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct critical research that will help drive down the cost of installing geothermal heat pumps, making the technology more accessible to homeowners and businesses.

What's Really in That Truck?

Natural gas drilling is booming in southern Texas, providing financial opportunities on several levels – and not all of them are legal.

We’re all happy about the economic benefits the enterprise brings to the local economies, but like with everything else, there is a price to pay.

These projects require hundreds of miles of private roads to be built in once-remote areas. These back roads provide smugglers a way to avoid the usual checkpoints set up by local authorities. The smugglers – mostly bringing in illegal drugs from Mexico – use vehicles that mimic those of the companies working in the area to blend in with the normal activities going on.

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Water Treatment Chemicals - Market Trends Analysis

The continuous depletion of water resources around the world has forced the governments of many countries to enact stringent laws for purifying wastewater. With the growing industrialization in developing nations, the demand for fresh water also has increased many folds, which is further boosting the demand of water-treatment chemicals, as they are considered one of the best ways to economically purify waste water. There are many players in water treatment chemicals industry that are profiting from this hugely growing business opportunity. However, with constantly increasing demand, these players have not been able to meet the market demand, which has opened up gates for other players to enter the fray.

According to recently published report by TechSci Research, “Global Water Treatment Chemicals Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2017,” the market for water treatment chemicals is expected to grow enormously in the coming years. In 2011, water treatment chemicals market reached $24 billion in revenues, making it one of the most lucrative markets in the chemicals industry. The industrialization in emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil has fuelled the growth in the industrial segment of water treatment chemicals market. Growing fresh water requirements are ringing the alarm bells in water departments of many countries to start looking for alternative sources.

The report has evaluated the future growth potential of the water treatment chemicals market, and provides statistics and information on market structure, trends and opportunities. It includes segmental market projections and demand forecasting. The report is intended to provide cutting-edge market intelligence, and help decision-makers to make sound evaluations. The report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends, along with essential drivers, challenges and opportunities that are available in the worldwide water treatment chemicals market.
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