Contractors

New Orleans — OSHA can issue citations to general contractors who fail to control hazardous conditions at multi-employer worksites, even if those conditions do not directly affect their own employees, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled Nov. 26.

Silver Spring, MD — Construction companies with fewer than 20 employees have experienced an increase in worker fatality rates at the same time larger companies have seen rates fall, according to a recent report from the Center for Construction Research and Training (also known as CPWR).

Washington — Workers who frequently drill concrete can experience reduced exposure to noise, silica dust and vibration if pneumatic rock drills are replaced with electric rotary hammer drills, according to researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

Washington — OSHA has released an updated QuickCard and a public service announcement video intended to raise awareness of trenching safety, after a recent increase in trench-related worker deaths.

OSHA data shows 23 workers were killed in trench collapses in 2016 – surpassing the combined total from 2014 and 2015. “Employers need to realize that any excavation has the potential for exposure to serious injury and fatality,” one expert says.

Washington — Commercial construction leaders are concerned about higher safety risks resulting from a shortage of skilled workers, according to the most recent results of a quarterly survey conducted by USG Corp. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Washington — Noting that it “has conducted several investigations where insufficient safety requirements for contractor selection and oversight were found to be causal to the incident,” the Chemical Safety Board has published a new “Safety Digest” highlighting the issue.

Washington — OSHA has unveiled a new sticker intended to raise awareness of trenching safety by reminding workers to “slope it, shore it, shield it.”

Safety+Health presents a look at safety in the construction industry.

New York — Contractors in the construction industry are increasing their use of emerging technologies to enhance safety, and further growth is likely, results of a recent survey show.