Construction Safety


Oregon OSHA Adopting New Cranes Standard Feb. 9

The agency is keeping its crane operator safety training rule in force for now and adopting a new rule requiring workers to use fall protection when they are on a crane’s unguarded walking/working surface and more than 10 feet above a lower level.

The MSA Supreme Pro™-X Ear Muff offers fully waterproof microphones.

NIOSH/NHCA Joint Hearing Protection Supplement Published

The supplemental issue of the International Journal of Audiology highlights research that was presented at NHCA's 35th Annual Conference last year.

HSE Alert Warns of Scissor Lift Overturns

Three fatal accidents within a four-year period in Europe involved overturned JLG 500 RTS lifts where a lockout valve failed or the lift/drive interlock system didn’t work, according to the agency, which reminded users to follow two JLG field service bulletins.

Illinois Roofing Firm Fined $102,000 for Fall Protection Hazards

The company's willful and repeat safety violations put McEntire's Roofing in OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

Texas Company Cited after Worker's Fatal 30-Foot Fall

The investigation found that the roof of the facility did not have the required strength and structural integrity for repair work to be performed.

12,000 Votes Cast in 2010 IBEW Photo Contest

The grand prize went to a shot of a St. Joseph, Mo. member of Local 545 making a difficult weld at a Conoco refinery.

California Apprenticeship Council to Require Green Technology Training

Some changes to the new training criteria that trades in California have made include plumbers adding geothermal and hydroponic solar water systems to their core training skills and electricians incorporating energy-efficient systems.

St John Ambulance Australia developed three first aid iPhone apps. Thousands of them have been purchased since they were introduced.

38 Finalists Chosen for Australia's National Safety Awards

The individual employees, safety managers, and companies represent a range of industries and hazard solutions, including highly successful first aid iPhone apps and an electrical engineer's contribution toward a national arc flash standard. Winners will be announced April 28.



ISEA Recommends Against Blanket Exemptions to OSHA's Fall Protection Regulations

"This basic principle, that protection needs to be provided equally to all workers, argues against exempting certain classes of workers or occupations from fall protection rules where there are technological feasible, practical, and affordable means of preventing fall injuries," said Dan Shipp, president of ISEA.

OSHA Blasts Demolition Contractor for Lead, Fall Hazards

The company was issued two willful citations with $42,000 in fines and seven serious citations with $10,500 in fines.

Scaffolding Violations Lead to Florida Stucco Contractor's $41,200 Fine

"The dangers of scaffolding can be controlled by adhering to OSHA standards, but this company continues to expose its workers to unnecessary hazards," said Darlene Fossum, OSHA area director in Fort Lauderdale.

Worker Killed in Philadelphia Gas Main Explosion

The explosion shot a ball of flame 50 feet into the sky Tuesday night after residents reported smelling gas.

DOL Seeks Notice of Company's Work Sites, Third-Party Audits

"This is only the second time that the department has invoked the statutory authority to order 'other appropriate relief,'" said Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith. "All available legal tools will be used where necessary to protect workers from future harm."

OSHA Sticks Plastering Firm with $99,000 in Fines for Fall Hazards

OSHA's El Paso Area Office initiated this inspection on Oct. 19, 2010, when employees were observed working on a scaffold without the use of fall protection equipment at a worksite.

"Our inspectors, engineers, and architects are working harder than ever to protect New Yorkers and as a result, there is a heightened awareness of safety throughout the construction industry," Commissioner Robert LiMandri said.

NYC Construction Accidents Down 28 Percent Last Year

Only four fatal construction accidents occurred in the city during 2010, all of them falls. Buildings Commissioner Robert LiMandri credits increased enforcement, new requirements, and more outreach to the construction industry for the improvements.

N.J. Stucco Contractor Cited for Fall Hazards, Repeat Violations

Due to the number of repeat violations cited, the company has been added to OSHA's Severe Violator Enforcement Program.

Southeast Electrical Safety Stand Down Set for Jan. 11

This one is focused on slips, trips, and falls and is sponsored by OSHA, the Southeastern Line Constructors Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association, Southeastern Line Constructors Apprenticeship and Training, and districts 5 and 10 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

"Workers showed a significant increase in their self-reported heat illness prevention behaviors after exposure to the campaign," according to the executive summary.

Report Finds Heat Illness Campaign Succeeded

The Cal/OSHA campaign during summer 2010 reached out to low-wage, non-English-speaking outdoor workers in the state's hottest regions through media coverage, billboards, posters, ads on lunch trucks and vans, and radio ads.

Mesothelima Cases Likely Underreported Worldwide

For every four to five reported cases of mesothelioma worldwide, at least one case goes unreported, according to a study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Fall Hazards Cited in Another Enforcement Case

Three repeat and two serious citations against a New Jersey firm included $58,080 in proposed penalties.

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