ABC New York Chapter Pushes for Mandatory Drug Testing of All Construction Workers

May 18, 2017 Shane Hedmond

Photo by Eneas DeTroya, CC BY 2.0 — Photo by Eneas DeTroya, CC BY 2.0

According to the US Department of Labor (US DOL), the construction industry has the highest rate of current drug users (15.6%) as compared to any other industry in the United States. As the city of New York grapples with trying to reduce their alarming rate of injuries and fatalities on construction sites, the New York chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) has proposed that lawmakers add mandatory drug and alcohol testing for construction workers to the law books, according to the New York Daily News.

Exoskeleton Suits Promise Lower Fatigue, Higher Productivity for Construction Workers

May 16, 2017 Shane Hedmond

I’m a firm believer that before robots start taking over construction jobs, we’ll first be working with robotics to make workers more efficient and our job sites more functional. Instead of using 3D printing robots to build an entire project, why not use them first to create intricate details and bring character back to buildings? Instead of pushing human labor out of the way, why not use robotics to enhance the abilities of our workers, to improve their health and productivity? With rise in development commercial exoskeletons, workers will soon be able to harness additional strength by just slipping on a suit.

Injured Carpenter Awarded $2 Million After CM Fails to Instruct Him to Wear PPE

May 10, 2017 Shane Hedmond

The worst day on the job is when someone on site gets injured. The 2nd through 500th worst days are the legal battle that follows many of those injuries. Nobody expects accidents to happen, but it’s best to be adequately prepared if one does. That not only includes knowing how to react to injuries with a safety plan, but also making sure your company’s documentation is in order in case lawsuits start flying.

Construction Prank: Job Site Obstacle Course Has Surprise Ending

May 5, 2017 Shane Hedmond

There’s no doubt that construction workers love a good prank and some of them get pretty creative. Our favorites in the past have included the seismic test prank, the fake bear on site prank, and the “staple in the finger” prank. Obviously, as far as messing around on the job site goes, the least dangerous as the prank is, the better.

Washington DC Contractors Add RFID Tags to Worker’s Hard Hats to Track Whereabouts

May 4, 2017 Shane Hedmond

Tracking employees instantaneously is a dream scenario for employers. It gives them tons of data to analyze to determine where money can be saved and where resources can be placed to be most efficient. The struggle is convincing the employees that tracking their every move is not going to get them in trouble or fired. There’s a balance in there somewhere and that’s the challenge facing both employers and tech companies right now.

Cool Tools: Cordless Hard Hat 360 Degree Light Attachment

May 2, 2017 Shane Hedmond

Two of the most critical concepts of construction safety are the ability to see what you’re doing and to also be seen by others around you. Construction workers rely heavily on their employer providing lighting systems when working in low light conditions, but those systems are not always adequate.

Trump Signs Measure to Eliminate OSHA Recordkeeping Rule

April 24, 2017 Shane Hedmond

Construction industry groups are applauding President Donald Trump’s decision to sign a measure that eliminates a rule that would allow OSHA to issue citations for recordkeeping violations up to 5 years old. The previous statute of limitations was 6 months.

America’s First Full Scale Heated Concrete Slabs Being Tested at Iowa Airport

April 14, 2017 Shane Hedmond

Snow causes all kinds of travel nightmares and not just on the roads. Snow and ice can cause major airline delays and flight cancellations. Because of these issues (and the large amounts of money to be gained by solving them) several different groups of researchers have been hard at work figuring out ways to reduce and remove snow and ice from pavement without the need for chemicals and snow plows. The first technology to get a full scale test slab installed at an American airport, however, came from Iowa State University professor Halil Ceylan.

OSHA Issues First Contractor Citation Press Release Since Trump Inauguration

April 13, 2017 Shane Hedmond

Prior to January 20th, 2017, it was almost a daily occurrence for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a press release about a large fine they have recently levied against businesses. Since January 20th, news coming directly from OSHA has been extremely sparse. There were some updates, like the delay of their new silica dust exposure rule and information about their “Safe and Sound Campaign,” but nothing about recent fines and citations.

OSHA Delays New Silica Dust Exposure Rules

April 10, 2017 Shane Hedmond

Originally set to be enforced on June 23, 2017, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration new rule regarding silica dust exposure limits has been delayed an additional 90 days, to September 23, 2017. Many construction industry groups were upset by the new rule, as they deemed it “technologically and economically infeasible, but also unnecessary.”