Construction

Fairfax, VA — The National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators no longer will require a physical evaluation for workers to be eligible to take its certification exams. Instead, beginning Jan. 1, NCCCO will rely on employers to determine whether their workers are physically qualified to operate the equipment.

New York — Written drug policies and programs are strongly needed in the construction and extraction industries, researchers from New York University are saying after their study revealed that workers in these industries are more likely than those in other industries to misuse prescription opioids and use cocaine.

Tumwater, WA — A new hazard alert from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries is intended for employers and workers who use personal fall arrest systems positioned near exposed edges.

Silver Spring, MD — The rate of nonfatal, work-related musculoskeletal disorders requiring days away from work in the construction industry has continued to decline, while the median DAFW for such injuries remains on the rise, according to a recent report from the Center for Construction Research and Training – also known as CPWR.

New York — Large, complex construction sites in New York City must immediately post at their exits multilingual notices about upcoming safety training requirements, Department of Buildings Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca announced Oct. 15.

Washington — As expected, OSHA is proposing changes to its beryllium standards for the construction and shipyard industries.

Washington — OSHA will not eliminate all the ancillary provisions in its beryllium standards for shipyards and construction, but will propose other changes in the future, according to a final rule published in the Sept. 30 Federal Register.

Providence, RI — Construction and extraction workers comprised nearly 20% of all drug overdose deaths in Rhode Island over a recent two-year period, with the majority attributed to fentanyl, according to preliminary data released in August by the state’s Department of Health.

Glasgow, Scotland — Construction project designers can create safer buildings and enhance their knowledge of common design-related hazards by using multimedia digital apps that help identify, prevent and mitigate risks to construction workers, researchers from Glasgow Caledonian University say in a recent study.

Silver Spring, MD — Construction workers comprised 36% of all heat-related deaths on the job over a recent 25-year period – and climate change may be a contributing factor, according to a recent study from the Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR).