Construction Safety


NIOSH-Funded Studies Show Ways to Reduce Silica Exposure in Concrete Cutting

The pneumatic drill generated 444 times the OSHA permissible exposure level of silica dust, while the electric drill generated 11 times the OSHA level. The pneumatic drill's noise level was also greater than that of the electric drill, according to one study highlighted in NIOSH's October 2018 Research Rounds.

State Agency Funds New EARN Maryland Partnerships

The 15 partnerships receiving funding consist of more than 80 employer partners and will train nearly 600 Marylanders in in-demand careers, including cybersecurity, health care, and the construction trades.

More Than Two-Thirds of Employees Are Tired at Work

More Than Two-Thirds of Employees Are Tired at Work

A majority (90 percent) of employers reported feeling the effects of fatigue on their workplace, including declines in productivity and safety incidents involving tired employees, but only 72 percent of employees saw being tired as a safety concern.

A company that solely tracks lagging KPIs and has low incident rates, while positive, leaves the organization with very little data to analyze and help predict future decisions.

The Partnership Imperative: Working Together to Improve Contractor Safety Compliance

Rather than taking a punitive approach, you can make safety compliance a win-win for everyone involved.

The expo will take place inside the George R. Brown Convention Center, which opened on the east side of downtown Houston on Sept. 26, 1987. (Julie Soefer Photography)

Get Ready for the Year's Biggest Trade Show

Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center is the site for this year's NSC Congress & Expo.

OSHA Out with New Trenching Safety Materials

Trench-related injuries are preventable when workers are properly trained and the required protections are in place, OSHA notes. The agency is making new compliance assistance resources available.

OSHA Cites Five Contractors Following Collapse of FL Pedestrian Bridge

Upon investigation, OSHA determined that the companies failed to protect workers despite indications that the bridge could collapse.

OSHA Seeks Nominations for Construction Advisory Committee

ACCSH advises the Secretary of Labor and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health on construction industry standards and policy related to safety and health. The committee last met more than a year ago, and the terms of all of its members have since expired.



Transparency is an important part of the new Z359.18 standard.

A New Standard for Fall Protection Anchorage Connectors

ANSI Z359.18-2017 increases testing rigor—and it introduces field application testing, anchorage connector types, and labeling requirements.

TOSHA Administrator: Every Employer Should Join VPP

There are 37 VPP sites in the state program, with two initial certifications under way this year and eight recertifications accomplished in 2017. "Frankly, it's something every employers should do," he said. "They could do that."

Colorado Construction Companies Cited after Fatal Fall

Montes Construction LLC was previously cited in January 2018 for failure to provide fall protection, and now faces a willful citation.

OSHA Offers New Resources on Respirable Silica Standard

The FAQs were developed by OSHA, along with industry and labor organizations. They provide guidance on the crystalline silica standard requirements for employers and workers in construction.

$3.5 Million Utility Training Center to Be Built Near Pittsburgh

"This is the first step in a unique project that will assure reliable services -- gas, electricity, water, sewer, and telecommunications -- are safely delivered to homes and businesses across Pennsylvania," said State Sen. Don White.

Kentucky Construction Company Receives Governor's Award

Trace Creek Construction, Inc. in Vanceburg, Ky., received a Governor's Safety and Health Award this month.

OSHA in Milwaukee Construction Project Partnership

The partners will develop safety and health training programs and procedures; identify and address common construction hazards, such as falls, electrical, silica, noise, and carbon monoxide exposure; and encourage workers to participate in employers' safety and health programs.

OSHA Sends Message to Texas Pipe-Laying Company

The inspection was conducted in February 2018 after OSHA personnel saw employees working in an unprotected trench; OSHA cited the company for serious and willful violations.

Hawaii DOT Suspending Most Closures When Schools Reopen

In an effort to help "Beat the School Jam," HDOT announced it will suspend construction-related road closures on major state highways during Aug. 20-24 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. to alleviate congestion and help people transition into the new school year.

One Month to Go Until Safety+ 2018

The Aug. 28-31 event in Nashville will feature more than 100 educational workshops and an expo hall filled by more than 250 exhibitors.

Big Fine Issued in Unsafe Trenching Case

"A trench can collapse in seconds and trap workers under thousands of pounds of soil," said OSHA St. Louis Area Office Director Bill McDonald. "Employers performing excavation work must develop and implement safety procedures to properly protect their employees from cave-ins, and train crews to recognize and evaluate hazards."

Some jobs, such as surveying, call for specific styles of high-visibility apparel. If you are specifying products for surveyors, a selection of safety vests that are optimized with mic tabs, pen slots, and other features designed especially for them will be welcome. (West Chester Protective Gear photo)

Five Questions Every Safety Manager Should Ask When Choosing High-Vis Apparel

Choosing the right high-visibility clothing for the job per the ANSI standard is a good first step to preventing injuries on a work site. But workers must use the garments and care for them.

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