Construction

Abrasive blasting, which uses compressed air or water to clean surfaces, apply a texture, or prepare a surface for paint or other coatings, can be harmful to workers if proper precautions are not taken.

Washington – A resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act seeks to overturn a final rule from OSHA clarifying employers’ “ongoing obligation” to make and maintain accurate records of work-related injury and illness data.

Silver Spring, MD – The Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR, has scheduled a free webinar for March 1 to help safety professionals prepare for the 2017 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, set for May 8-12.

Oakland, CA – More than 6,000 workers in California have elevated levels of lead in their blood, according to a report from the state’s Department of Public Health.

Washington – Employers required to keep and maintain an OSHA 300 injury and illness log must publicly post their 300A summary sheet from Feb. 1 to April 30. Form 300A summarizes work-related injuries and illnesses recorded in 2016.

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that occurs in rock and soil and can be found in construction materials uncovered during renovation work, according to the Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR). Exposure to the fiber can increase a worker’s risk of developing lung disease, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis, although it may take years for symptoms to develop.

Washington – NIOSH has developed a sound level meter mobile app designed to measure noise exposure in the workplace.

New York – Construction worker fatalities have been rising in New York City and throughout the state – and Latino workers are particularly at risk due to falls and willful violations – according to an annual report released Jan. 18 by the advocacy group New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health.

Hopkinton, MA – “Overexertion involving outside sources” was the leading cause of disabling injuries in the United States in 2014 for the third consecutive year, according to the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, an annual ranking of serious, nonfatal workplace injuries based on direct workers’ compensation costs.

Washington – OSHA has issued a final rule lowering occupational exposure limits for beryllium. The standards apply to general industry, construction and shipyards.