On March 15, 2018, 6 people were killed and 8 others were injured when an under construction pedestrian bridge collapsed in Florida. Several months later, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released their preliminary report while conducting an official investigation. The NTSB has recently released an “Investigative Update” to their preliminary report.
Read moreThe Top States to Work in Construction: #30 Montana
Montana is one of the biggest states, by area, and has one of the smallest populations in the country, but that doesn't have anything to do with it being #30 on our countdown. It may be surprising to many, but Montana actually has a larger than average cost of living, at .7% higher than the national average.
Read moreBosch is Giving Away 2,000 of it’s Half Impact Driver, Half Impact Wrench Kits
I’ve seen a lot of giveaway contests for tools over the past few years, including several that we’ve done one Construction Junkie, but the contest that Bosch announced this morning is one of the biggest ever. 2,000 people are going to be given the chance to win The Freak, which is Bosch’s two-in-one impactor that combines a ¼” hex impact driver and a ½” square driver impact wrench.
Read more7 Short Videos To Help Train Your Construction Crews on Silica Dust Hazards
It’s been almost a full year since OSHA’s more stringent regulations regarded respirable crystalline silica dust officially became enforceable. Even though the topic has been a staple in news outlets since before and after September 23, 2017 (the official enforcement date), there is still plenty of confusion across the industry.
To help contractors comply with the new regulations, OSHA has recently announced a few new resources to be used for training. Among them are a customizable PowerPoint Presentation (pdf download link), an FAQ page, and several short videos. Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) reported that the FAQ page, which contains 53 frequently asked questions and their answers, was directly linked to a lawsuit filed by several construction industry groups, including ABC.
The videos are a combination of one OSHA produced overview video and several others that were produced by ERG and are specific to a task or piece of equipment. You will find each of those videos embedded below. More information can be found on OSHA’s Silica for Construction home page.
Protecting Workers from Silica Hazards in the Workplace Video
Handheld Power Saws (any blade diameter)
Masonry Table Saw
Handheld and Stand-Mounted Drills
Jackhammers
Handheld Grinders for Mortar Removal (e.g., tuckpointing)
Handheld grinders for uses other than mortar removal
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Procore is Searching for This Year’s Hard Hat Hero
There’s no doubt that construction workers do not get enough recognition for the hard work they put into building our nation's structures. At the end of each project, the workers are typically on to the next jobsite while executives and politicians are cutting the ribbon on their new facility.
Read more[Review] Milwaukee’s M18 Cordless Random Orbit Sander
After heavily focusing on the mechanical trades for years, Milwaukee Tool has made a concerted effort to attract carpenters and remodelers to their constantly growing M18 battery platform. The tool manufacturer has introduced cordless miter saws and nail guns in recent years. They also announced several more carpentry tools are on their way at their yearly New Product Symposium event in May, including a new D-handle jig saw, a table saw, and an updated 7-¼” circular saw.
Read moreThe Top States to Work in Construction: #31 Virginia
Virginia, which averages a just slightly higher than average cost of living, is next on our countdown at #31. The state is all over the board when it comes to profession by profession breakdown, with several rankings in the 40s, 30s, 20s, and teens. Their lone profession to be ranked in the top 10 is construction managers, who have an average hourly wage of $51.46, after adjustment, which is good for 6th highest in the country.
Read morePlanGrid Updates Field Reports to Allow Reference Document Attachments
Tesla Solar Roof Tiles Experiencing Major Delays Because Elon Musk Doesn’t Like How They Look
Last summer, Tesla announced that the first of their solar roof tiles had been installed on test houses. However, as has become customary with many Tesla products, the company is experiencing significant manufacturing delays.
Read moreMulti-Story Parking Garage in Texas Collapses Twice, Trapping Dozens of Cars
There have been a few devastating structural collapses across America and the world this year. In March, an under construction pedestrian bridge collapsed in Florida, killing 6. In Colombia, ten workers were killed when a large section of a bridge being built collapsed. Both of those tragedies happened while the structures were still being built, but a recent collapse in Texas has a bit of a different story.
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Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.