Construction

Contact with electricity is one of the leading causes of fatalities in construction, according to OSHA.

Toronto — Findings over the past decade – including the results of case studies in the past two to three years – have strengthened the link between the lung disease sarcoidosis and on-the-job exposures to, most notably, silica and silicates, dust from the World Trade Center, and metals, according to a recent research review.

Washington — OSHA’s Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health is scheduled to meet Aug. 11.

New York — A recent string of construction worker deaths has prompted the New York City Department of Buildings to begin conducting “zero-tolerance” safety sweeps at thousands of the largest and most complex construction sites in all five boroughs.

Silver Spring, MD — Workers in construction trades are at “significantly” higher risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than non-construction workers, according to the results of a recent study.

Detroit — Workers in construction and manufacturing may experience a “significantly higher incidence” of carpal tunnel syndrome compared with office workers, results of a recent study by researchers from the Henry Ford Health System show.

Outdoor workers are unique in that they regularly share their workspaces with wasps, bees, hornets and other stinging insects. It’s important for workers to know how to respond to and treat stings, especially because some people may be allergic.

Denver — A surge in construction on Colorado’s Front Range and concerns over recent worker deaths statewide have prompted OSHA to launch an initiative to inspect worksites on weekends, “when worksites often go unchecked.”

Washington — Age-specific efforts aimed at preventing musculoskeletal disorders related to overexertion – a significant cause of MSDs among construction workers in the United States – could help address the problem, researchers from NIOSH say.

Fairfax, VA — As part of Trench Safety Month, the National Utility Contractors Association, in conjunction with OSHA, is urging employers involved in trench work to participate in the sixth annual Trench Safety Stand Down.