The 7 Biggest Construction Safety Stories of 2019

Construction safety is one of the most important topics I believe that I cover on Construction Junkie.  It’s important to stay up-to-date with these stories not only from a governmental compliance standpoint, but to improve the lives of the workers on your jobsite and reduce the inherent risks of the jobs.

Below are the 7 safety stories from 2019 that could have the biggest effect on the industry moving forward:

Several OSHA Policy Updates

Every year, there are plenty of OSHA updates, but they can be difficult to keep track of. Below are 8 different OSHA regulation changes, clarifications, and news related items that will affect contractors the most:

Electronic Filing for OSHA 300 and 301 Forms

According a January 2019 press release, OSHA has officially issued a final rule eliminating the requirements for contractors to electronically submit OSHA 300 and 301, citing privacy concerns. While the Form 300, which is the Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, and the Form 301, which is the Injury and Illness Incident Report, will not need to be electronically filed, OSHA will still enforce the requirement to submit OSHA Form 300A, which is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. Forms 300 and 301 must still be maintained by each employer in a physical form on-site.

Crane Operator Evaluation Rule Finally in Effect

For years, OSHA has attempted to enforce rules that would require crane operators to be formally evaluated before being allowed to operate the equipment.  On February 7, 2019, that rule finally went into effect, details of which can be found in OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1926.1427(f)(6).

Possible Addition of OSHA Heat Standard

While OSHA provides a lot of tips for workers staying safe in the heat, they currently do not have any specific regulations for employers to follow.  In the summer of 2019, Representative Judy Chu of California introduced H.R. 3668, which would require employers to maintain a Heat Illness prevention plan, employee and supervisor training, and recordkeeping of risk assessments and heat-related illnesses and deaths.

The bill has not been adopted by OSHA, but it will be something to monitor going forward.  Of course, employers should not be waiting for OSHA to tell them to keep their workers safe, so be sure to follow best practices for working in the heat.

OSHA Submits RFI for Updates to Silica Dust Regulations

In 2016, OSHA made huge changes to its existing silica dust regulations, changing the way many would need to handle silica containing materials, such as concrete.  Last year, the administration submitted an RFI on the silica standard, notably looking into the expansion of Table 1, which contains specific instructions of how to handle dust making equipment and tasks.

2018 Miami Bridge Collapse Final Reports

The 2018 pedestrian bridge collapse on the campus of Florida International University rocked the construction industry since the incident happened. 6 People were killed when the bridge suddenly fell onto the road below. 

The time since the tragedy has been filled with litigation and investigations. In 2019, there were major developments in the case, including final reports from both OSHA and the NTSB. Both reports placed heavy blame onto the engineer of record.

3M Releases Construction Safety Virtual Reality Programs for Hands-on Learning

Safety training typically comes in the form of classroom or online OSHA 10 or 30 courses or toolbox talks, but one emerging form of training is virtual reality.  While at the World of Concrete last year, I got to experience 3M’s new virtual reality fall protection training and, I have to say, it had a major impact on me.  Hands-on learning is so much more powerful than simply regurgitating information and I really think virtual reality has a strong future in safety training.

3 Ladder Manufacturers Reinventing the Step Ladder

This may not actually be 2019 news, but I’m sick of seeing people use ladders incorrectly, so I’m including this article in the list.  One of the most significant developments in safety in recent history, in my opinion, is the release of several leanable step ladders.

As most should know, step ladders should only be operated in the fully open and locked position, but a large percentage of workers continue to ignore that.  Ladder manufacturers, such as Werner, Louisville, and Little Giant have recently released their version of a ladder that can safely be operated in the leaning position or fully opened like a traditional step ladder.  I think these ladders are a no brainer.

Crane Collapse in Seattle Kills 2 Civilians, 2 Workers and Injures 4 Others

Much like the 2018 pedestrian bridge collapse, an April 2019 tower crane collapse in Seattle killed civilians on the street below, as well as 2 workers on the crane actively dismantling it.

Several months later, the Washington State Labor & Industries (L&I) group, which handles public safety issues in the state cited 3 different contractors and cited the premature removal of the pins connecting the sections of the tower crane as the cause of the collapse.

PPE For Women

Towards the end of 2019, there was a great push to provide better fitting PPE for the women in construction.  Traditionally a male dominated field, much of the PPE available from manufacturers can be ill-fitting for many females, creating a safety risk of its own.

In September, Skanska announced that it had worked with several of its female employees and vest and glove manufacturers to produce better fitting safety vests and gloves. A couple months later, Autodesk and the AGC teamed up to provide custom-fitted safety harnesses for women in the trades.

Under Construction Hotel Collapse in New Orleans

In October, yet another tragedy struck the construction industry when the under construction Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana partially collapsed, killing 3 workers in the process. Perhaps the worst part of the incident was that the building was deemed too unsafe to be able to continue rescue efforts for 2 of the 3 men that were killed.  As of late November, reports still state that their bodies have yet to be recovered.

The building will be demolished in 2020, with it being estimated to start in May.  

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