Construction Safety


U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis

Lean Rulemaking Agenda Lists July Diacetyl Milestone

The biggest news in U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis' first semiannual regulatory agenda is no news: Nothing big was promised, just a little forward progress on long-awaited rules.

two workers direct a concrete pour

ASTM Developing Better Test for Concrete Conductivity

It could replace destructive testing that now takes much longer. Bulk conductivity is useful for designing cathodic protection systems and for concrete used in stray voltage applications.

Report: Half of Engineering, Environmental Firms Conducted Layoffs in '08

"There's obviously a lot more to the story behind these numbers, but the short version is that the red ink many of us had been expecting to see across the industry seems to have been largely avoided," says Ian Rusk, ZweigWhite president and financial consultant.

Safety Pact Signed for Scott Air Force Base Construction Project

The $93.6 million, 180,000 square-foot building project will house the U.S. Transportation Command, the U.S. Army Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, and the Defense Intelligence Agency, and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2010.

Abigail Helsers winning poster entry, "Its Time for Safety"

NAOSH Week Gets Underway Today

The annual seven-day event will be observed in multiple countries and will include the awarding of the annual "safety-on-the-job" children's poster contest winners, one of whom is Abigail Helser, 8, of Portage, Wis., whose work is shown here.

Steel Research Center Attains Star Status

The facility, which uses the latest technology to research and develop new steel production, processes, and methods, sometimes while working in high-temperature and gaseous environments, was honored for maintaining high employee health and safety standards.

Fall, Scaffold, Ladder, Related Hazards Add Up to $79,000 Fine for Roofer

"It takes only one slip or misstep to turn a construction site into an accident scene," said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA's area director for Middlesex and Essex (Massachusetts) counties.

ODNR Opens Mine Safety Training Center in Cadiz

The new facility will provide life-saving training for Ohio miners, local first-responders, and others who conduct business in and around mines, the agency says.



Selecting Respirators for Hex Chrome Exposures

On Feb. 23, 2009, a federal appeals court resolved the final challenges to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Hexavalent Chromium (CrVI) Standard that was promulgated in February 2006. The last challenge argued to lower the permissible exposure limit (PEL) to 1 μg/m3 from 5 μg/m3. This appeal was denied, and OSHA’s PEL was upheld by the court.

Virtual Task Forks

Every year in the United States, nearly 100 workers are killed in forklift-related incidents and, according to OSHA, "tens of thousands" more are injured. Truck tipovers are the leading cause of the fatalities, followed by workers being crushed between a vehicle and a surface.

Work Zones in High Gear

The 10th annual National Work Zone Awareness week was held April 6-10, 2009, with "Drive to Survive—Our Future is Riding On It!" serving as the week's theme. The national kickoff took place April 7 on the George Washington Parkway near a bridge replacement project between Washington, D.C. and Virginia, a fitting location given the federal government's stimulus of infrastructure projects this year. More money brings more work zones, more (temporary) congestion, and more risk.

MSHA Taking 'Stay Out--Stay Alive' Message to Children

"No matter how attractive they may appear, active and abandoned mines are not playgrounds. If you're not trained or authorized to enter the property, stay away," said Michael A. Davis, MSHA's deputy assistant secretary of labor for operations.

ASHRAE Guideline Readies Facility Managers for Major Events

Intended for a range of stakeholders, from architects to owners, Guideline 29-2009 offers a flexible approach to risk assessment for a wide range of safety and health hazards, according to ASHRAE.

New York City Spotlighting Construction Safety

Seminars and other events are being held all week at various locations throughout the city in support of Construction Safety Week. All sessions are free of charge and open to the public.

OSHA Proposes Nearly $230,000 in Penalties Against Dehler Manufacturing Co.

OSHA has proposed $229,500 in fines against Dehler Manufacturing Co. Inc. of Chicago for alleged willful, serious, and repeat violations of federal workplace safety standards, as a result of a safety and health inspection.

OSHA Cites Alabama Construction Contractor with $53,400 in Penalties

OSHA is proposing one willful and four serious safety violations against B&H Contracting Inc. following an inspection at the company's jobsite in Dothan., Ala.

OneWrongMove.org logo, part of a Texas Mutual Insurance Company teen safety campaign in Lubbock, Texas

New Teen Safety Campaign Launched in Texas

Texas Mutual Insurance Company launched it in Lubbock on a trial basis with several participating employers. "Workplace Accidents Are a Pain. Work Smart" is the theme, and a free movie ticket can be earned by taking a safety quiz.

this WSDOT photo shows part of its 2008 Work Zone Memorial display

WSDOT Turns Orange for Work Zone Memorial Today

This photo shows part of the 2008 ceremony, held April 25. The annual event honors 56 Washington State Department of Transportation workers who have died in work zones since 1950. On May 4, WSDOT will again deploy an automated camera to catch work zone speeders.

Developers Pay $86,000 for Stormwater Violations at Idaho Construction Site

"Keeping sediment from polluting rivers and streams isn't just a good idea, it's the law," said Jim Werntz, EPA's Idaho state office director.

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