Construction & Utilities

Washington – OSHA fines will increase for the first time in a quarter century, under a provision in the recently signed congressional budget deal.

Silver Spring, MD – Construction worker fatalities have increased 16 percent since 2011, outpacing an increase in construction employment during the same time period, according to a report released Oct. 26 by the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.

New York – The New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health is upset about the recent arrests of New York City construction workers who allegedly possessed fake OSHA cards.

Washington – The national injury and illness rate for workers in private industry decreased in 2014, continuing more than a decade-long trend, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Oct. 29.

Charlotte, NC – Saying a “growing influx of new and inexperienced workers” is contributing to an increase in the number of U.S. construction deaths, the Associated General Contractors of America and Carolinas Associated General Contractors have issued a 13-step plan aimed at reversing the trend of construction worker fatalities.

Washington – OSHA has updated its guidance document on trenching and excavation activities to include a section on the employer bidding process.

Sheffield, England – The risk of bladder cancer is rising in some occupations, a review of research from the University of Sheffield indicates.

Los Angeles – A new resource offers guidance to employers about how to develop and maintain effective workplace wellness and health promotion programs.

Washington – Full enforcement of OSHA’s new Confined Spaces in Construction Standard is being delayed again.

Columbia, MO – By taking a break to go for a brief walk, workers can reverse damage to blood vessels caused by prolonged sitting, according to research from the University of Missouri.