Construction Industry Safety and Health - Articles - Page 81

Reactions to final silica rule are strong, mixed

March 29, 2016

Reactions to the final silica rule issued last week by OSHA have been sharply – and predictably – divided. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said that millions of workers “can literally breathe easier knowing that they will not have to sacrifice their lungs and their lives by working in deadly silica dust. The new OSHA silica rules—nearly 20 years in the making—will save hundreds of workers’ lives a year.”

OSHA updates eye and face protection standards in final rule

March 28, 2016

After issuing a historic final rule on silica exposure limits last week, OSHA continues its burst of regulatory activity this week by publishing a final rule that updates requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers in general industry, shipyards, longshoring, marine terminals and construction.

U.S. DOL Blog post

“It Took About 5 Years to Kill Him, and We Got to Watch”

Thomas Perez

March 25, 2016

When he was a kid, Tom Ward thought his dad was Superman, especially because he worked with his hands. When I sat down with Tom a few weeks ago, he talked about how heroic and invincible his father seemed, about his athleticism and his work ethic. But years of working as a sandblaster had taken their toll. They turned out to be this Superman’s kryptonite.

OSHA announces final rule on respirable silica dust exposure

March 24, 2016

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule to improve protections for workers exposed to respirable silica dust. The rule will curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America's workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

A NIOSH Science Blog post

Traumatic brain injuries in construction

Srinivas Konda MPH

March 23, 2016

Falling 25 feet to the ground from a roof, being struck in the head by a steel beam as it is transported across a worksite, or getting hit by a vehicle moving supplies–these are only a few examples of why the construction industry has the greatest number of both fatal and nonfatal traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among U.S. workplaces.

Residential framing company exposes workers to dangerous falls - again

March 21, 2016

South Progress LLC apparently isn't making much progress in protecting its employees from fall hazards. OSHA inspectors, acting under the agency’s Regional Emphasis Program on Falls in Construction*, found South Progress employees doing framing work without fall protection at a residential community in Santa Rosa, Florida.

Construction worker plummets 53 stories to his death at downtown LA high-rise

March 18, 2016

A construction worker on his second day on the job fell 53 stories to his death yesterday at a downtown Los Angeles high-rise slated to be the tallest building in the West, officials said.

Use of wrong floor design leads to death of contractor

March 18, 2016

When followed, safety standards save lives and painful injuries. In the construction industry, ignoring them can lead to disaster, as it did for 54-year-old Gary Berthelot as he helped rebuild a Mississippi restaurant damaged by Hurricane Isaac.

How does Obamacare affect the construction industry?

CPWR researchers take a look at the numbers

March 4, 2016

With its rapid turnover, high rates of uninsured and unusual concentration of multi-employer health insurance plans, the construction industry is one of the most complex health insurance markets in our nation.

Lack of fall protection led to roofer's death in fall at Cincinnati work site

Employer faces $117K in fines

March 4, 2016

The life of a 53-year-old roofer who died after dropping 40 feet to the ground could have been saved if his employer had provided proper fall protection, the OSHA has found.