Construction

Construction work is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,000 workers every year. Most of those fatalities involve one of the "Focus Four" hazards. As the industry experiences another boom and the workforce grows, safety pros are focusing on training and engagement.

At a recent Capitol Hill briefing, American Industrial Hygiene Association officials and former OSHA administrator David Michaels made their case to members of Congress about the benefits of OSHA's recent final rule on protecting workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica.

From homes and workplaces to sidewalks and playgrounds, cement is everywhere. According to the Portland Cement Association, cement is one of the safest building materials available – when precautions are observed.

Imagine this scenario: A construction worker is replacing shingles on the roof of a two-story house 20 feet above ground. He loses his footing and slips, falling off the roof. He’s wearing a fall-arrest system, and as a result is saved from death. But he’s not out of danger yet.

Silver Spring, MD – National Work Zone Awareness Week will take place April 3-7, with a national kick-off event planned for April 4 at the Maryland state Randolph Road/Georgia Avenue Interchange Project.

San Francisco – Ninety percent of on-the-job eye injuries could be avoided if workers wore eye protection, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Washington – After a narrow vote in the Senate, the so-called “blacklisting” rule that sought to force federal contractors to disclose previous labor-law violations is all but eliminated.

Washington – The Department of Labor is proposing to delay until May 20 the effective date of a final rule intended to protect workers from beryllium.

Lansing, MI – The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a public service campaign intended to raise awareness of fall hazards and how to prevent them.

Ladder-related incidents injure more than 50 workers every day in the United States. To help address the issue, the American Ladder Institute has designated March as National Ladder Safety Month.