Construction News
Coalition Seeks Workplace Safety Protections for Florida Public Sector Workers
On March 1, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) and its Florida members relaunched efforts seeking occupational safety and health protections for Florida’s public sector workers...
Anchors and Body Support and Connectors, Oh My!
Fall protection equipment can boggle even the most educated safety director. Do you know how to specify equipment appropriate to your employees’ tasks...
How Supervisors Can Promote and Manage Safety in Operations
By understanding two fundamental questions and leading by example, supervisors can encourage their employees to work safely, according to Paul D. Balmert, a consultant with years of experience as a line manager in the chemical industry. In an interview with EHS Today, Balmert discussed managing safety in operations and offered some practical tips for supervisors...
Study: Australian Workers Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure
On Feb. 15, Safe Work Australia released the results of a study aimed to determine construction and maintenance workers’ current attitudes, awareness, compliance and exposure levels to asbestos in their workplaces...
OSHA Cites C.A. Franc Construction Company $539,000 for Willful Fall Hazard
OSHA has fined the C.A. Franc construction company $539,000 following the investigation of a roofing worker who fell 40 feet to his death at a Washington worksite. The Valencia, Pa.-based roof installer owned by Christopher A. Franc, was cited for 10 per instance willful citations for failing to protect workers from falls. In a related criminal case, Christopher Franc pleaded guilty in federal court to a violation of 29 U. S. C. Section 666(e). Sentencing is scheduled for June 18...
Pittsburgh Construction Company Cited by OSHA for Lack of Fall Protection
A worker falling 225 feet to his death has resulted in OSHA citing Mariani & Richards Inc. for failing to protect workers from falls. OSHA began its investigation on Aug. 18, 2009, and found that Mariani & Richards did not provide workers with any fall protection while they were performing maintenance on the Pennsylvanian Building, a historic landmark in downtown Pittsburgh...
New Aerial Work Platform Document Focuses on Training, Risk Management
A new industry-wide initiative has led to the creation of an aerial work platform (AWP) educational document to promote safety and expanded risk management knowledge in the use of these machines throughout the country...
OSHA’s Safety Partnership with Skanska USA Focuses on Atlanta Window Replacement Project
OSHA and Georgia Tech’s On-Site Consultative Service are forming a new partnership with Skanska USA in Atlanta. The goal of the partnership is to ensure the highest level of worker safety and health during the replacement of all windows in the 73-story downtown Westin Peachtree Plaza hotel...
Massachusetts Contractor Faces Nearly $167,000 in OSHA Fines
Trenching safety hazards at two Massachusetts work sites have led to $166,950 in proposed fines for a Methuen, Mass., contractor. OSHA cited L. Perrina Construction Co. Inc. for a total of 23 alleged willful, serious and other-than-serious violations of safety standards following inspections at work sites in Quincy and Lynnfield, where the company was installing water mains...
Contempt Orders Issued, St. Louis Employer Ignoring OSHA Citations
OSHA announced that contempt of court orders have been issued against Brian Andre, former owner of Andre Tuckpointing and Brickwork (AT&B), Andre Stone and Mason Work Inc. (AS&MW) and Regina Shaw, owner of AS&MW. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued the contempt orders against the St. Louis-area company and Andre and Shaw for failing to comply with court orders enforcing citations of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC)...
New MSHA Program Focuses on Outreach, Enforcement
The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced Feb. 2 it has launched a new outreach and enforcement program, “Rules to Live By,” designed to strengthen efforts to prevent mining fatalities...
Safety Groups Urge Commitment to Safety in Jobs Bill
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) recently joined together to stress that commitment to safe work be a focus in the Congressional Jobs Bill, HR 2847, which is now under consideration...
NIOSH Releases Spanish-Language Construction Ergonomics Guide
NIOSH recently released a Spanish-language guide to help employers and workers effectively prevent job-related musculoskeletal injuries in the construction industry...
A Construction Worker Died Today. . . Preventing the Five Greatest Construction Killers
Falls, electrocution, struck by, caught between and transportation-related incidents are the top five killers of workers on construction sites...
OSHA Imposes Reflective Vests on Construction Industry Without Rulemaking
OSHA recently announced that all highway and road construction workers – not just flaggers – must wear reflective vests. It did this even though no OSHA standard imposes such a requirement and even though its standards only recommend reflective vests for non-flaggers...
ASSE Works to Align Safety with Green Initiatives
As businesses, schools and communities go green, American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) occupational safety and health professional members are working with their organizations to incorporate safety practices in line with green initiatives...
ISEA Announces Updated Standard for High-Vis Safety Apparel
An updated national consensus standard for high-visibility safety apparel from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) now includes service-life guidelines and provides criteria and test requirements for garments marked as flame- or water-resistant...
National Demolition Association Focus on Crisis Leadership, Green Marketing and Economic Recovery at Annual Convention
Gen. (Ret.) Daniel Christman, international affairs expert with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and former superintendent of West Point, will inspire attendees to the National Demolition Association’s (NDA) annual conference March 20-23 at The Mirage in Las Vegas to lead in times of crisis. Other sessions address disaster communications, “green” marketing, safety and planning for economic recovery. The convention is the largest exposition of demolition equipment and services in the world...
OSHA Proposes $55,200 in fines to Pembroke, Mass., Contractor for Cave-In Hazard
OSHA has cited CELCO Construction Corp. for alleged willful, serious and other-than-serious violations of safety standards after an OSHA inspector observed a company employee working in an unprotected, 6-foot deep excavation at a Randolph, Mass., work site. The Pembroke, Mass., construction contractor faces a total of $55,200 in proposed fines...
Three Companies Cited by OSHA Following Explosion During Pipeline Construction
Three companies have been cited by OSHA for exposing workers to hazards during the construction of gas pipeline meter stations in Mississippi. Mustang Engineering L.P., Grand Bluff Construction LLC and Priority Energy Services received citations for failing to protect their workers after one died and three others were critically injured...
OSHA Cites International Masonry Inc. Following Fatality
OSHA has cited International Masonry Inc. in Columbus, Ohio with proposed penalties totaling $140,800 for alleged serious and willful violations of federal workplace safety standards after investigating the death of a worker...
ASSE Announces Release of New Roadway Work Zone Safety Standards
In an effort to address transportation-related incidents, which are still the leading cause of on-the-job deaths, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of a new voluntary consensus standard, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASSE A10.47-2009 “Work Zone Safety for Highway Construction.”...
L&I and Lewis Equipment Settle Appeal over Crane Safety Violations
Washington state’s Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) and Lewis Equipment Co. have settled an appeal of safety violations that were cited after L&I inspected three tower cranes at construction sites in King County last spring and summer...
OSHA Cites Four Contractors Following the Deaths of Three Workers at Austin, Texas, Worksite
OSHA is proposing penalties against four contractors for alleged safety violations following a scaffolding accident that killed three workers at the 21 Rio construction site near downtown Austin, Texas...
OSHA proposes $484,000 in Penalties against Cambria Contracting Inc. for Asbestos Hazards
OSHA issued citations to Cambria Contracting Inc. for 11 alleged willful violations of the OSHA construction asbestos standard for failing to train and protect its workers at a Buffalo jobsite. The Lockport, N.Y., demolition contractor faces a total of $484,000 in proposed penalties...
