Crowds were somewhat subdued at the World of Concrete equipment show, held in Las Vegas on Jan. 17-20. But while many of the more than 50,000 attendees were eager to try out ride-on concrete trowels and carnival-style games at outdoor exhibitor booths, the largest crowds on the show floor lingered at displays explaining compliance with the silica-dust exposure rule, issued last year by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The rule, which limits workers’ exposure to harmful silica dust, went into effect on June 23, 2016, and construction companies have until June 23, 2017, to fully comply.
Many of the larger construction- equipment manufacturers held off on large displays at the show in anticipation of the triennial CONEXPO-CONAGG trade show, set for March, so concrete tool manufacturers took advantage of the quieter show to roll out more specialty wares.