Industry Working Groups
Collaboration is key within any project, especially within deep foundations. DFI collaborates with these industry working groups, who are themselves collectives of people and associations dedicated to safety and innovation within our industry.
Geo-Industry Risk Working Group
The geo-associations, including ADSC, DFI, Geo-Institute, Geotechnical Business Association, and PDCA, all provide risk-related activities and resources for the industry.
Working Group Chair
Richard D. Kalson, Esq.
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan and Arnoff
Richard Kalson, an attorney with Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan and Arnoff, provides counsel to subcontractors, contractors, suppliers and project owners in litigation and business consultation matters, including many ENR 400 contractors and ENR 600 specialty contractors, on all phases of the construction process on projects throughout the U.S.
Kalson has represented clients in construction disputes involving infrastructure, bridges, airports, highways, schools, retail complexes, warehouses, medical centers, petrochemical plants, commercial buildings, hotels, residential developments, ice skating rinks, prisons and government buildings before courts and arbitrators in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, Wisconsin, New York, Maryland, Virginia, California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, West Virginia, Georgia and many other states across the country.
Participating Groups
Guidance
While each group continues to pursue their own activities independently, the groups are also collaborating in this industry-wide group on risk to increase awareness of associations’ activities, reduce duplication of efforts, facilitate collaboration, and address risk practices that can be agreed will improve the industry.
Related Links
Working Platforms Industry-Wide Working Group
The Working Platforms Industry-Wide Working Group is an industry-wide forum gathered to improve design and construction practices that ensure safe working platforms for equipment used to install deep foundations.
Working Group Chair
Scott A. Jacobs, P.E.
Keller
Scott A. Jacobs is a senior engineer for Keller supporting the Northeast region and assisting on projects nationwide. A registered professional engineer in seven East Coast states spanning from Florida to New York, Jacobs has 20 years of experience in geotechnical engineering and contracting. He holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s in geotechnical engineering from the University of Florida. He is a member of the DFI Drilled Shaft Committee and a voting member of the ACI 336 Drilled Shaft committee.
Purpose Statement
Consensus Deep Foundation Industry Position on Working Platforms for Foundation Construction and Related Equipment in the United States of America and Canada…
Participating Groups
Outreach and Awareness
Developing outreach messages for general contractors, insurance organizations, state OSHAs, and architects.
In progress…
Guidance
Industry-generated guidance for safe design, maintenance and administration of safe working platforms.
Education
- Safe Working Platforms for Construction Equipment
- 2020 ACWS Working Platforms Update
- Safety on Working Platforms
- Working Platforms - Concerns and the Requirement for an Industry-wide Effort to Implement Meaningful Change When It Comes to Higher Standards of Safety
- UK Working Platform Initiative and Calculation of Rig Bearing Pressure
- Proceedings: 2022 DFI/EFFC International Conference on Deep Foundations and Ground Improvement: Smart Construction for the Future