A diamond blade’s long life and toughness make them the ideal material to cut concrete. They “cut” by grinding away at the surface of the concrete, using diamonds as an  abrasive. The metal core, which is a steel disc that attaches to the saw, holds diamond crystals in place at the outer edge. These diamond crystals, which are synthetically grown to specific sizes, shapes, and toughness, are what actually grind through the concrete. The exposed synthetic diamond crystals on the blade surface do the cutting. As the diamonds become dull, they fall away, and new ones are exposed. The blade’s edge can be continuous, serrated, or segmented.

Proper mounting the blade may seem simple but is critical to safe operation. Before  installing a new blade, double check the arbor shaft for wear, radial, and axial play. If you move the shaft back and forth and there is movement, it means the arbor shaft needs new bearings, adjustment, or even to be replaced.

Let the saw do the work. All you need to do is guide it in the direction of the cut. Forcing the blade could cause it to overheat. Segmented blades have slots cut into the core that allow water and air to flow, providing faster cooling.

1. Blades are designed to go in a straight line; crooked or off-line cuts can cause blades to pinch or bite into the material and jam. Although a blade may be jammed, the running motor builds up power and can cause a worker to lose control of the saw and become exposed to the cutting blade.
2. Make sure the flanges are smooth and flat without wear, and that they are of equal and correct diameter. Ensure that the blade is mounted on a correct diameter blade shaft between proper blade flanges and is securely tightened with an adjustable wrench.
3. Pay attention to the RPM and directional arrows labeled on the blade to ensure the blade is installed properly and spins in the intended direction.
4. Make sure there is a regular flow of water on each side of the blade, and make sure there is enough coolant on hand. Check that each of the two coolant tubes located on either side of the blade are not damaged or pinched shut. If blades are used without enough water, the actual diamond segments may break off.  Regularly inspect the diamond blade for undercutting, fatigue cracks, core flatness, segment damage, and arbor hole wear while you use it.
   

Keeping the blade shaft bearings lubricated is one of the most important daily maintenance procedures. These bearings should be greased at the end of every work day. Many manufacturers recommend giving each bearing two pumps of grease while the machine is still warm from operation, if possible, and while the shaft is turning over at idle speed.

All blades come with a lettered Blade Application Code developed by the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association and are in the following format: Blade code (X – X – X)

• 1st X Wet only (W) or Wet or dry (D)
• 2nd X Cured concrete (C), Green concrete (G) or Block/brick (B)
• 3rd X Handheld (H), Wall saw (W) or Stationary saw (S)
  

IAMU will be hosting the 2018 Water Distribution Training and Water Leak Detection/Line Locating Workshops, September 5th & 6th.

0.6 CEUs will be available each day for Water Distribution.

For more information, and to register, click here.

Hope to see you there!

The IAMU Fall Broadband Meeting is Wednesday, September 26th at the IAMU Office and Training Complex in Ankeny. This annual gathering gives IAMU utility members with broadband networks an opportunity to network, share ideas, and hear from speakers on several topics.

Cost is just $35.00 per person for IAMU members or $50 for non-members. 

Register online here.

Questions?  Contact Curtis Dean at (515) 650-0251 or [email protected].

IAMU will be offering a Gas “Boot Camp” Operator Qualification Training Workshop at the end of October. The workshop will take place October 1st-5th, 2018 at the IAMU Training & Office Complex.

This workshop is geared towards:  New operators, dispatchers, on-call personnel, and operators who would like to qualify or re-qualify on the covered tasks being presented.  Hands-on and written evaluations will be offered.  Participants may attend only Monday or all week.  This training is also very valuable for dispatch personnel answering phone calls.

Qualifications will be offered for all topics covered.

Click here to register.

Mark your calendars for the IAMU Electric Utility Billing Workshop.  The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities, in cooperation with Denison Municipal Utilities, is offering a one-day training workshop to aid municipal personnel in the unique challenges faced in performing electric utility billing.  This course is targeted to all new office staff, billing clerks, customer service representatives, those needing continued training, and a light refresher for experienced staff.  A networking breakfast and a catered lunch will be provided.

The training will take place on Thursday, October 4th at Denison Municipal Utilities in Denison, Iowa.

The following topics will be covered during the workshop:

• Electrical Terminology
• Electric Equipment
• Electric Procedures
• Multipliers
• Meter Reading
• Meter Data
• Processing Data
• Billing Accounts
• Customer Issues
• Data Processing
• Software
• LIHEAP
• Winter Moratorium
• Rates (Setting & Applying)

Cost:
IAMU Members: $109
Non-Members: $159      

Workshop Location:
The workshop will take place at:

Denison Municipal Utilities
721 Broadway
Denison, IA  51442
Utility Phone Number – (712) 263-4154

Registration is open!
Registration is available online by visiting our website at www.iamu.org and clicking on the workshop under the “Events” link.  You may also mail, or fax the registration form in.  For additional information including brochure and registration link, please click HERE.

Questions?  Contact Dan Llewellyn at (800) 810-4268 or email at [email protected].

the second annual Emergency All-sector Response Transnational Hazard Exercise – is one of the largest cross-sector critical lifeline sector exercises in history. The event takes place today, Aug. 22. You do not have to participate today. The event will be open for 30 days, and you can log on at any time to go through the exercises.
 
The industry exercise takes about four hours, and the individual/family exercise takes about 40 minutes.
 
Industry Exercise
EARTH EX 2018 will provide you the opportunity to exercise your plans and policies in response to true Black Sky hazards that threaten our modern society in a direct and complex manner. Take the opportunity to learn, share information and improve your plans to become more resilient.
 
Individual/Family Exercise
EARTH EX 2018 will provide individuals and families with the opportunity to participate in a 30-0minute personal planning exercise designed to teach those in the community how to better prepare for extreme hazards.
 
To register, go to: https://www.eiscouncil.org/EarthEx.aspx

Since 1980, the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU), Jester Insurance Services, Inc., and EMC Insurance Companies have joined together to bring Iowa municipalities and utilities a comprehensive and competitive dividend insurance program. Expansions and improvements to the program are continuously made to meet the changing needs of Iowa's municipalities and utilities.

Click here to register for the 2018 IAMU Safety Group Risk Management Workshops taking place in October. We will be covering several very important topics at these seminars. We will also have guest speakers presenting on Cyber Security and Employment Practices Liability that you won’t want to miss! Please send questions or completed forms to [email protected]. You can also return the form via mail or fax to: Jester Insurance, PO Box 4779, Des Moines IA 50305; Fax: 515-243-6862. We hope to see a representative from every Safety Group member at one of the three seminars this October!

Please welcome new Associate member Community State Bank!

Please welcome new Associate member Baker Tilly!

Baker Tilly is the full-service accounting and advisory firm with nationally recognized utility expertise, providing services to more than 600 utility and energy companies. Our specialized professionals connect with you through refreshing candor and clear public power and utility industry insight. Baker Tilly speaks your language and identifies with your goals to consistently deliver comprehensive, strategic solutions that are just right for you. Baker Tilly is ranked as one of the 15 largest accounting and advisory firms in the country and is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 147 territories.

Mark your calendars for this year’s IAMU Natural Gas Operator Qualification Workshop taking place August 29 – 30, 2017 at the IAMU Office and Training Complex.  This year’s workshop will cover a multitude of topics and offer many qualification opportunities.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop provides public gas employees the chance to learn more about the gas industry, while also gaining proficiency in skills that can be used in servicing their hometown gas customers.  It is designed for employees who administer, supervise, and work in public natural gas systems.  New operators, or operators needing a refresher on skills, should plan to attend this workshop.

The annual exhibit show and dinner will also take place at IAMU, giving participants a chance to check out the latest offerings from product reps.

For more information and to register here.

IAMU will be hosting the 2018 Water Distribution Training and Water Leak Detection/Line Locating Workshops, September 5th & 6th.

0.6 CEUs will be available each day for Water Distribution.

For more information, and to register, click here.

Hope to see you there!

Saw blades build up huge amounts of kinetic energy during cutting; and when they stop suddenly, the energy must go somewhere, leaving the operator with a potentially fatal injury from a saw blade or a saw that is wrenched from its fittings and is left running freely along the ground.

Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, jammed, or bound up saw blade where the saw thrusts up and backward.

Another violent pressure that leaves the operator with uncontrolled equipment is the pull-in force, which may drag the operator toward the blade.

There are two main ways to reduce saw kickback: prevent the blade from stopping suddenly and reduce your chances of being struck if the saw does stop.

• Make sure you are trained in proper cutting techniques, safety, and how to hold the saw.
• Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment while cutting.
• Keep your blade sharp and clean. Dull or dirty blades tend to bind up in cuts.
• Do not use a saw that is too heavy for you to control.
• Never remove the guard as it is designed to capture and deflect the pieces of a shattered blade. Inspect the guard and make sure that there is no evidence of failure.
• Make a series of straight, shallow cuts. Set the blade at no greater than 1/8″ to 1/4″ more than the thickness of the material to avoid contacting foreign items while cutting.
• Operate the saw at the manufacturer’s recommended speed.
• Make sure your blade is the right size for the saw.
• Take your finger off the trigger or power switch if the blade binds up, the saw stalls, or the power is interrupted.

Stay out of the line of fire! Standing directly behind the saw increases your chances of being struck by the blade if the saw kicks back. Maintain your balance and footing at all times.