photo by Andy Rogers, CC BY-SA 2.0
Even though the means to prevent trench collapses is pretty simple, dozens of construction workers continue to be killed by them every year. A few weeks ago, The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR) held a webinar on trenching and excavation hazards, the reduction of which is has been OSHA’s priority goal since 2018.
Read more2 years ago, an under construction pedestrian bridge on Florida International University’s (FIU) campus collapsed onto the open road below, killing 6 people and injuring several more. After a 19 month investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board concluded their investigation late last year, largely placing the blame on the engineer of record’s design. Now, officials are ready to start the process of replacing the bridge.
Read morevia Triax
Many construction sites are open after nationwide shelter-in-place orders slowed the industry due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, but it’s still not business as usual. Social distancing efforts still need to be in place, but that can be hard to manage. I have heard stories of at least a few construction site shut downs after a positive test from a worker, causing everyone on site to need to get tested, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could monitor who that person came into contact with?
Read moreThe SMartLift SL1008 Outdoor Glazing Robot, via SmartLift
Suction has been a lifting method of choice for window glaziers and other trades that work with smooth, flat objects for decades. Many of those suction solutions are for manual lifting, but not SmartLift, a robotic glass lifting machine capable of lifting, hoisting, and tilting up to 2,200 pounds of glass.
Read morecourtesy of Malta Dynamics
Not only are falls the most common cause of workplace fatalities in construction, but fall protection is continually the most common OSHA violation. One of the excuses for lack of fall protection that I hear the most is the lack of a proper spot for an anchorage point. Finding anchorage points can definitely be a struggle in certain circumstances, which is why I was intrigued when I found the Malta Dynamics Mobile Grabber recently.
Read moreHaving an OSHA investigation on your jobsite that results in fines is bad enough, but don’t be tempted to compound the issue by misleading OSHA investigators. That can leave you in a legal bind personally.
Read moreAs the country is slowly loosening lockdowns and more construction sites are opening back up, it’s important to not get back into old habits and exercise caution if you’ve been away for a while. Pennsylvania, one of the first and few states to deem construction “non-essential” has begun allowing projects to continue again and have also released a guide for doing so safely.
Read moreWell, we’re in uncharted territory, to say the least. The coronavirus has placed major limitations on how many businesses can function, including construction. The state of Pennsylvania has shut down all construction sites, and so has the City of Boston, but most other states have deemed construction as “essential,” allowing projects to continue.
Read moreConstruction has been designated as essential business in most areas of the country, but that doesn’t necessarily mean construction workers don’t have any risk of contracting or spreading the disease. Chances are, you’ve probably never washed your power tools before, because, well, tools are supposed to get dirty. But, in the time of an unprecedented pandemic, now might just be the time to start, as it might allow you to do your part in slowing the spread.
Read morephoto by Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY 2.0
In October of 2019, a partial building collapse of an under construction Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana killed 3 construction workers and injured many others. After a roughly 6 month long investigation, OSHA has proposed fines against one engineer and 10 contractors, totaling $315,536.
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