Snow loads can be problematic for roofs, especially when the roof has multiple layers of shingles.

Here's why you have to be sure your roofer has paid up insurance

JOBS

America's Deadliest Jobs Include Sanitation Work and Roofing 

 http://politix.topix.com/homepage/1972-americas-deadliest-jobs-include-sanitation-work-and-roofing

Cops make the list, but don't place where you'd think...

Next>

Sep 2, 2012 by Dain Fitzgerald

Staff Writer t

"See, I told you, more dangerous than police work" / Image: tomeggebrecht.com

Risk Management provides a detailed look at the top ten most dangerous jobs in the US, and while some might surprise you, others invite the obvious "duh." Let's start with some occupations that won't surprise: industrial machine workers, mining machine operators, logging workers, and police officers. But while all rank in the top ten, the difference between them can be immense. Loggers, for example, are over five times more likely than cops to suffer a fatal injury on the job. Miners are just over twice as likely.

And what are the jobs deadlier than you'd expect? Time was we'd have noted "fishermen," but that's now common knowledge. So try sanitation workers, who likewise have a fatality rate higher than that for cops. But also roofers, farmers, and even airline pilots, who despite the cliche that flying is safer than driving, experience deaths on the job at a rate nearly four times that of armed civil servants. Why are these occupations consistently compared to that of a police officer? Because "police officer," most surprising of all, comes in at number ten. Via Risk Management.

Update - DOE Ruling on 80% AFUE furnaces

Regional Standards Enforcement Framework Document

I. Background

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 modified the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to authorize the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) to consider regional standards for certain products if such standards can save significantly more energy and are economically justified. Specifically, in addition to a base national standard, DOE was authorized to establish up to two additional regional standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps (CACHP) and one additional regional standard for furnaces. 42 U.S.C. § 6295(o)(6)(B)(ii).

The Department recognizes that regional standards present new certification, compliance, and enforcement issues. Congress ostensibly anticipated these issues and explicitly required DOE to initiate rulemaking for enforcement of regional standards no later than 90 days after issuance of the final rule establishing regional standards. DOE is required to complete this enforcement rulemaking no later than 15 months from issuance of the final rule. (42 U.S.C. § 6295(o)(6)(G)(ii)(I), (III))

Adoption of regional standards by DOE also triggers requirements for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). EPCA directs the FTC to initiate rulemaking within 90 days after the publication of a final rule establishing regional standards in order to determine the “appropriate 1 or more methods for disclosing information so that consumers, distributors, contractors, and installers can easily determine whether a specific piece of equipment that is installed in a specific building is in conformance with the regional standard that applies to the building.” The FTC is required to complete this rulemaking no later than 15 months of publication of the final rule establishing regional standards. (42 U.S.C. § 6295(o)(6)(H)(i), (iii))

On June 27, 2011, DOE promulgated a direct final rule establishing regional standards for residential furnaces and residential air conditioners and heat pumps. 76 Fed. Reg. 37408. In addition to a base national standard for each product, DOE established one regional standard for furnaces and two regional standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps. Compliance dates for these standards are May 1, 2013, for non-weatherized furnaces and January 1, 2015, for weatherized furnaces and central air conditioners and heat pumps.

The tables below provide the amended regional energy conservation standards, as set forth in the June 2011 direct final rule. Table 1 displays the amended standards for furnaces; Table 2 displays the amended standards for central air conditioners and heat pumps.

1