Jan 3, 2019

H-2B application site crashes If you were one of the thousands of people trying to file H-2B labor certification applications on Jan. 1, you may have noticed a hiccup in the process. Around midnight, those attempting to file applications via the Department of Labor's iCERT portal were either kicked out or received error messages. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)  reported that after it contacted the DOL Liaison Committee, the DOL posted the following statement: We sincerely apologize for the major service interruption in the iCERT System around midnight. In the interest of equity for all stakeholders, the Department's technology staff have temporarily taken the iCERT System down. We are working diligently to determine root cause analysis and developing a plan to correct this situation as expeditiously as possible. As soon as we are prepared to bring the iCERT System back up, the Department will place a new public notice on the OFLC website and the iCERT System website. The DOL cited high-demand as a potential cause for the glitch. More than 97,800 worker requests were pending. Prescott Landscape Professionals , a team based in Arizona, recently announced the acquisition of Nature West. Nature West's Bob Vastine, the owner who started the business 18 years ago in Prescott, is staying on with Prescott Landscape Professionals with his team. Vastine will be running the design/build side of business. This has increased the company’s crew to 15 and the combined experience to 40 years. “We’re thrilled to be able to have this opportunity to expand our business and look forward to working with Bob’s clientele," Prescott Owner Josh Crothers said. "Our service, expertise and attention to detail matches what Bob provided for years. He’s very creative and in tune with the natural environment and his horticultural knowledge is an amazing addition to our services.' In addition, Adrian Riveras has been hired onto Prescott Landscape Professionals as a maintenance manager. He brings 20 years of experience working for national firms as an account manager for residential, commercial, homeowners associations and resort properties in Arizona. He will be assisting with customer service, quality control, estimates and client follow-up. Happy New Year! MOLINE, Ill. –  John Deere is updating its line of Worksite Pro attachments with three new angle and five new pickup brooms . The BA72C, BA84C and BA96C angle brooms and the BP72C, BP84C, BR60C, BR72C and BR84C pickup brooms were designed for efficient cleanup in turf, snow and construction applications. Like all Worksite Pro attachments, these angle brooms are optimized to work with John Deere skid-steers and compact track loaders. They’re also compatible with most competitive models. “With new OSHA silica dust exposure rules, contractors are in need of attachments with options that meet these requirements and make contractors more competitive bidders,” said Jessica Hill, program manager, global attachments, John Deere Construction & Forestry. “We designed a new class of brooms to deliver more durability and job site protection to help our customers get the most of out of their investments.” The new pickup brooms offer a solution for dust mitigation challenges and restrictive barriers, like curbs and sidewalks. These pickup brooms feature a 660-mm (26-inch) diameter brush with standard 50/50 poly-wire segments and optional all-polypropylene brush segments, allowing operators to customize the attachment to their job site. The BR models use bolts for brush-contact adjustment, while the BP models incorporate a tool-free system for easy adjustment. BP models feature a 12.7-mm (0.5-inch) single-bevel cutting edge; BR models have a 15.9-mm (0.625-inch) double-bevel cutting edge. Optional 95-liter (25-gallon) broom-mounted or 113.5-liter (30-gallon) roof-mounted water-tank kits are available for dust-suppression applications. An adjustable baffle on BP pickup broom models increases hopper capacity by 22 percent. A front caster wheel on BP models allows the brush to follow ground contours, while a front bumper on BR models provides extra strength and protection when sweeping close to walls or obstacles. An optional 510-mm (20-inch) gutter brush with wire bristles can be mounted on the right or left side of any model pickup broom for collecting material close to curbs. Designed for turf and snow removal applications, the BA model angle brooms feature a hydraulic-angling range of 30 degrees to the right or left of the machine. The 810-mm (32-inch) diameter brush features standard 50/50 poly-wire segments. Optional all-polypropylene brush segments are available for work on softer surfaces. Brush-core removal for bristle replacement requires no tools. Foldaway storage stands help the brush maintain its round shape when not in use. An optional hood extension provides 180-degree brush coverage, while a rubber deflector prevents snow from blowing back onto the machine when winter strikes. An optional 114-liter (30-gallon) roof-mounted water tank kit is available for applications that require dust suppression. For added performance and durability, both the pickup broom and angle brooms feature a heavy-duty, high-torque, bidirectional motor coupled to the brush core through a 63.5-mm (2.5-inch) hex hub. The attachments’ motor and bearing are protected within the broom-frame structure. Motor and bearing separate from the brush core without having to disconnect any hydraulic hoses, eliminating the risk of oil spills or contamination. To learn more, visit JohnDeere.com