If the construction industry isn’t talking about the labor shortage at the moment, the focus is on safety. Billions of dollars and thousands of hours are spent each year trying to keep workers safe on the job site, as construction is consistently a leader in job site injuries and illnesses. With so many construction companies currently operating in America, there are bound to be a few bad apples when it comes to safety and unfortunately those also make up a majority of the bad apples across all industries in the country.
Read moreOSHA is About to Make Contractor Injury Records Public
As we’re all aware, construction is a dangerous occupation, but just like any business decision, it’s hard to figure out how to solve the problem without having data for back up. OSHA has just released a final rule for employers in high risk industries, including construction, which requires companies to make injury data available to not only OSHA, but the general public.
Read moreNew Battery Powered Cooling Jackets and Hard Hat Fans Set to Hit US Market
It’s no secret that it’s much easier to create heat than to remove heat, which is probably why no one has created a “reverse microwave” yet. It’s also one reason why there is only a small amount of clothing and accessories built around cooling people off outdoors, especially those who work in the construction industry. Sure, you can install some fans around the job site, but they only help workers when it’s blowing directly at them. Now, a Japanese company is releasing their personal cooling jackets and hard hat fans to US customers and targeting the construction industry.
Read moreConstruction Worker Survives After 6 Inch Nail Impales His Heart
Photo by Daniel R. Blume, CC BY-SA 2.0
As you’re probably aware, falls are the leading cause of construction job site casualties, because if landing from the fall itself doesn’t hurt you bad enough, there’s a good chance that you’ll fall onto something sharp. Just last week, we shared an article last week about a construction worker in India who was impaled though this stomach by a piece of steel rebar and survived. This week, we learned about a man in Saudi Arabia that suffered a fall and landed on a nail that was sticking up through a piece of wood.
Read moreDemolition Crew Tears Down Trailer with a Man Unknowingly Inside
It’s always important to check your surroundings before beginning any sort of work and a Pontiac, Michigan demolition crew learned that the hard way last week. Even though you may not be expecting something to be in your way, it’s typically in your best interest to be 100% sure, that’s why services like “call before you dig” are available across the US. Typically, the worst things happen when people least expect them to.
Read more9 Construction Workers Injured after Structural Collapse in Louisiana
18 construction workers were on site of the under construction addition to the Willis-Knighton North Hospital in Shreveport, LA when a second story concrete slab collapsed. 9 workers were injured in the collapse, but it does not appear that any of the injuries are life threatening. The local Fire Chief, Scott Wolverton, told KSLA local news that the most difficult part of his team’s job was determining whether or not anyone was trapped under the rubble.
Read more[Infographic] Tips to Avoid Temporary Workers OSHA Citations
The following is a guest post by Assurex Global. With OSHA’s impending fine increases of up to 80% in 2016 and it's first increase in 25 years, it’s important to brush up on all of OSHA’s rules and regulations. The below infographic walks you through how to correctly identify what type of employees are on your job site and 7 tips for avoiding an OSHA audit.
Read more[VIDEO] Yikes, Excavator Falls Through Floor During Demolition
A nicely performed demolition is extremely fun to watch, but they don’t always go according to plans, unfortunately. When things start going badly, you can just hope that no one gets injured. Thankfully, even though the demolition in the video below went horribly wrong, no one was injured.
Read moreOSHA and Construction Industry Clash Over New Silica Dust Exposure Ruling
Crystalline silica is found in many construction materials, including concrete, stone, and brick masonry. The inhalation of silica dust is thought to contribute to the formation of many health hazards, including lung cancer, silicosis, COPD, and kidney disease. Estimates have shown that silica exposure kills 600 American workers and results in 900 new cases of silicosis each year, OSHA has been working on tightening its rules regarding the exposure to this type of dust for several years and has finally issued a new “final rule,” it’s first update on the rule since 1971.
Read moreConstruction Worker Impaled by Rebar, Survives
Photo by Paul Sableman, CC BY 2.0
Falls account for a large amount of on the job injuries, especially in construction. Because of that, many of the safety precautions construction workers take revolve around preventing falls. Unfortunately for 40 year old Santosh Nayak, a construction worker from India, he not only fell from the building he was working on, but landed face down on top of a 6 foot long piece of steel rebar, according to Central European News.
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