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HEADLINES ADDED: November 28, 2009
Use Near-Misses to Learn about Construction Safety
lass="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;"> Image by Elliot Moore via Flickr ven't written about construction safety in awhile. I used to write about it every Thursday. I just read an ENR editorial Analyzing Near-Misses Is Key to An Effective Safety Plan. It reminded me of how far we need to go in construction. Our industry kills about 1300 people in the US every year. Thousands of others are seriously injured. Yet, there are far more dangerous industries where people are not getting hurt at anywheres near the construction rates.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 14, 2009
Boom Lift Tips, Kills 1 Worker
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 10, 2009
Construction Workplace Injuries Down in 2008
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 06, 2009
Warming Up for Construction Safety
I saw an article in a paper the other day about a local construction company that gets all the employees together to do stretching exercises each morning before they start working. The article also said this program is being used in at least 26 different locations around the US. According to the owner of the company, after they all stretch, they briefly talk about the jobs they have to do that day and how to do them safely. That gets everyone focused on their work and has helped reduce... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 06, 2009
Flag-person hit on highway in Delta, British Columbia
A construction flag person is in hospital in critical condition after being hit while working on Highway 10 in Delta, B.C.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 27, 2009
Worker Killed in NY Crane Collapse
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 17, 2009
Worker Killed When Crane Collapses in Virginia
... Read More
Young girl's death in Calgary sparks inspection blitz
Provincial inspectors in Alberta have launched a wide-scale investigation into safety at high-rise construction sites after a toddler was killed by falling building materials in Calgary.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 05, 2009
Online Crane Operator Training Program Launched
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 28, 2009
NCCER Hosts Safety Management Academy
The program is designed for both corporate safety directors and experienced field safety coordinators and provides the philosophy, operating knowledge, and techniques necessary to design and implement a quality construction safety program for contractors.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 27, 2009
NFPA 101 2009 Tabs: Life Safety Code
By 101TAB09. NFPA. Price: $17.15. Publish Date: 01/2009... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 21, 2009
Concerns raised over fire safety for green roofs
California brush fires frequently make the news as they destroy homes and businesses. But what happens if a brush fire occurs on top of a downtown highrise?... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 07, 2009
UK Crane Collapse Forces Building Evacuation
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 17, 2009
Fire destroys 29-unit townhouse development under construction in Coquitlam, British Columbia
A massive fire completely destroyed a development under construction in Coquitlam, B.C. last week.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 15, 2009
Fire destroys condos under development in Coquitlam, B.C
A large fire completely destroyed a small condominium development under construction in Coquitlam, B.C. last week.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 11, 2009
Nevada Bill Signed to Increase Construction Safety
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 22, 2009
Man’s Fingers Crushed in Construction Accident
I’m using the latest news about a man having his fingers crushed during a road building project by a concrete pipe as an opportunity to bring up the topic of safety. It’s not so much just to point out an accident in the construction industry as it is an attempt to add another wrinkle to how you think about safety. There’s not enough information from this article to say either way if this were merely an accident or cause of lack of proper safety protocols. Regardless, it is an... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 18, 2009
Kansas Man Killed in Crane Accident
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 05, 2009
Fall, Scaffold, Ladder, Related Hazards Add Up to $79,000 Fine for Roofer
"It takes only one slip or misstep to turn a construction site into an accident scene," said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA's area director for Middlesex and Essex (Massachusetts) counties.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 02, 2009
Keen Construction fined after worker injured in fall
Keen Construction based in Downton, Salisbury, has been fined £6,600 following an accident which saw a self-employed worker seriously injured.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 24, 2009
OSHA Cites Alabama Construction Contractor with $53,400 in Penalties
OSHA is proposing one willful and four serious safety violations against B&H Contracting Inc. following an inspection at the company's jobsite in Dothan., Ala.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 04, 2009
Australia Crane Accident Kills Worker, Injures Three
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 03, 2009
Safety Requirement Goes Into Effect
A federal regulation went into effect on November 24, 2008, requiring workers to wear high-visibility safety apparel when they are within the right-of-way of a federal-aid highway and are exposed either to traffic or to construction equipment within the work area. "The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration has said that they want us to enforce this until their own rules catch u...... Read More
Construction in Illinois Gets a Safety Boost
"We would like to ensure all construction companies--big and small--are prepared to effectively control the workplace hazards their employees may encounter," said Nick Walters, OSHA's area director in Peoria.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 09, 2009
Rescue Training: Making Timely Rescue a Reality
Don't be afraid of the "R" word when developing your fall protection plan.... Read More
Tools for Safety Leaders
Most of the good things that continually happen day in and day out in the safety profession usually go unnoticed by our management and the press, but you know that is OK!... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 03, 2009
ConstructionSkills axes grants to make up £13m shortfall
ConstructionSkills is to axe its £17.50 grant towards the safety test for the industry skill card.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 28, 2009
OSHA Fall Arrest Systems course offered March 18-20 in northern California
Course will help construction businesses protect workers and reduce fall hazards... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 25, 2009
HSE urges Polish construction workers to report unsafe sites
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging Polish construction workers to get in touch if they feel their health and safety is at risk in the workplace.... Read More
The Value of a Safety-Conscious Builder
With safety being the No. 1 concern on job sites these days, it has become increasingly important to hire a builder who has implemented an extensive health and safety program. Due to the down economic environment, some business owners tend to shy away from investing in new safety programs. The reality is that hiring a builder that is not cognizant of safety standards and regulations can be extr...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 20, 2009
Former R Betts Construction employee jailed for £625,000 fraud
The former employee of a Merseyside construction firm has been jailed for five and a half years after she was found guilty of stealing £625,000.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 19, 2009
Corps of Engineers Issues New Safety Manual
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, through its Office of Safety and Occupational Health, has released a new edition of the Corps’ Safety and Health Requirements Manual, EM 385-1-1, that streamlines information for easier access and quicker use. According to the Corps, “The safety manual is a major key to the success of the USACE safety program.” The 1,050 page book is used during construction, operations, maintenance, research The manual was last revised in 2003, and the 2008 version parallels Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and other national... Read More
Former R Betts Construction employee jailed for £625,000 fraud
The former employee of a Merseyside construction firm has been jailed for five and a half years after she was found guilty of stealing £625,000.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 18, 2009
Builder loses leg during demolition
A builder had his leg amputated by paramedics after a chimney he was demolishing collapsed on top of him in Newcastle.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 16, 2009
McNicholas Construction Services fined over worker death
McNicholas Construction Services has been fined £65,000 following the death of a worker in 2007.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 14, 2009
Two firms fined £80,000 after worker killed by concrete hose
UCS Civils and Pochin Concrete Pumping have been fined a total of £80,000 after a worker was killed during a concrete pour.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 12, 2009
Construction security risks exposed
Security needs to be upgraded to prevent foreign spies from gaining access to sensitive information on public sector defence construction projects.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: February 09, 2009
Construction heaters cause raft of fires
A number of fires have occurred in Manitoba from improper use and element failures in some models of construction heaters.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: January 20, 2009
Worker Killed in Okla. Crane Accident
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 27, 2008
Equipment-Theft Prevention Summit August 26, Fort Myers, Fla.
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 24, 2008
Use of harness disputed in Saskatchewan death
A construction worker who fell from a high rise construction site in Saskatoon may not have been wearing a safety harness, say some who attended the scene.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 23, 2008
Crane Collapses in Raleigh, N.C.
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: December 06, 2008
Overwhelming Public Response Extends Crane Rule Comment Period
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 28, 2008
Worker killed by dump truck in Gloucestershire named
The man who died on a building site in Gloucestershire on Wednesday has been named as self-employed construction worker Royston Dean.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 27, 2008
Man Crushed by Crane at Washington Job Site
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 24, 2008
Second death on Laing O'Rourke site in a month
Laing O’Rourke has suffered a second fatal accident on one of its projects in a month after a 38-year-old employee was killed at a sewage treatment works.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 20, 2008
LegallySpeaking: Heed OSHA to Protect Workers and Stay Clear of Trouble
Employers are responsible for preserving the health and safety of their workers. And the government agency that oversees employers’ compliance is OSHA, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 18, 2008
Greening Hillsides For Safety
It is California's wildfires season again, with the potential of destroying thousands of acres, even threatening to overtake cities and forcing evacuations. If there is any positive to this type of natural disaster, it is that communities and even companies come together for the common good. An erosion control project in the aftermath of southern California wildfires took place near Corona, lat...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 13, 2008
Construction Equipment Theft Update
Do you know what is the most-targeted piece of construction equipment by thieves? How about the “actual” cost of equipment theft? Did you know that according to a recent survey done by Cygnus Business Media on behalf of LoJack and National Insurance Crime Bureau that 71% of construction equipment owners have experienced equipment theft, 29% have had five or more incidents of equipment theft, 70% of recovered equipment incurred damages of $5,000 or more and 62% of the stolen equipment was never recovered? Mike Harrell, LoJack Corporations Law Enforcement... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 04, 2008
Crane Safety: Managers Need Training, Too
... Read More
Developing Nations Struggle To Keep Crane Workers Safe
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: November 01, 2008
Bridge Worker Dies As Beam Collapses in Louisiana
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 23, 2008
Surveyors' failure to spot asbestos puts construction workers at risk
Construction workers were put at risk from asbestos after a specialist surveying company failed to spot the potentially deadly material at two schools in Wales.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: October 20, 2008
Builder killed in 9m roof fall
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating the death of a builder who fell more than 9m while fitting windows in Newcastle.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 22, 2008
Worker dies after fall from ladder at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario job site
A construction worker has died from an injury sustained at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario job site after a fall from a ladder.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 20, 2008
Cranes and Derricks Standard to Be Published Oct. 3
It will create four options for qualification or certification of crane operators and apply to an estimated 96,000 cranes in the United States.... Read More
Feds To Publish Crane Rule Next Month
As crane experts gathered in Toronto Sept. 18 to discuss issues plaguing crane workers, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration sent out advance-review drafts of a forthcoming rule to members of its Cranes and Derricks Negotiated Rulemaking Committee (C-DAC), which in 2004 hammered out an update to OSHA's decades-old crane regulation.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 16, 2008
3 Contractors Connected with Fatal NY Crane Collapse Fined $313,500
"This case illustrates in stark terms that failure to follow required procedures can have wide-ranging and catastrophic consequences," said OSHA chief Edwin G. Foulke Jr.... Read More
Four Workers Die in Nebraska Highway Construction Accident
... Read More
Fraud costs construction companies £8m globally
Construction companies blighted by theft, mismanagement and corruption have lost almost £8m over the past three years to fraud.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 15, 2008
Stephen Williams to leave as HSE chief inspector of construction
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) chief inspector of construction Stephen Williams is to leave his post to oversee health and safety at the 2012 Olympics.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 12, 2008
Maryland Moves to Toughen Crane-Safety Regulations
... Read More
Electrical Worker Death Could Have Been Prevented, Experts Say
A man was killed after being electrocuted while doing overnight construction work on a Wal-Mart in Walpole, Mass. According to the Boston Globe, Romulo Santos, a 47-year-old Brazilian immigrant, was re-attaching electrical wires that had been knocked down by a construction crew.... Read More
Report: Trucking Hazards, Injuries High in Washington State
"Injury rates in trucking are far above the state average for all industries combined," said Barbara Silverstein of L&I's Safety and Health Assessment and Research for Prevention (SHARP).... Read More
Worker Crushed at Michigan DOT Construction Site
A worker was killed Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. on the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) I-75 Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project. The accident occurred at one of the new bridges under construction at the Gateway site connecting I-75 to the Ambassador Bridge Plaza.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 11, 2008
Firm fined £75,000 after crush accident
A Cornish quarry company has been fined £75,000 after a worker was killed after getting caught in a machine designed to crush rocks.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 09, 2008
NY Mayor Signs New Construction Safety Laws, Issues 9/11 Health Report
One piece of legislation signed last week requires site safety managers to include in their plans a statement that workers have successfully completed a 10-hour OSHA course on construction safety and health within five years of working on the site.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 06, 2008
Worker killed in fall from New York crane
A construction worker has fallen over 120m to his death while lowering a tower crane in New York.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 05, 2008
New York Crane Accidents Ignite Lawsuits
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 02, 2008
Focus on Crane Safety
Moving materials on the job site in an efficient and safe manner is often the prime driver of the project schedule. The selection and placement of hoisting equipment is critical to our success. Whether we are renting and operating the crane directly, or turnkeying the entire structure package, we – as the controlling contractor – must conduct a detailed study of the proposed equipment.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: September 01, 2008
Focus on Crane Safety
Moving materials on the job site in an efficient and safe manner is often the prime driver of the project schedule. The selection and placement of hoisting equipment is critical to our success. Whether we are renting and operating the crane directly or turnkeying the entire structure package, we, as the controlling contractor, must conduct a detailed study of the proposed equipment.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 23, 2008
New OSHA Regional Emphasis Program Focuses on Crane Safety
The OSHA Region VI office in Dallas, Texas, established a Regional Emphasis Program (REP) covering employees in the construction industry who perform crane operations. The program conducts safety inspections of workplaces in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and sites in New Mexico that are under federal OSHA jurisdiction.... Read More
Construction Safety - Good News or Bad
lass="pull_ad">Beware of headlines. ENR reports: Fatalities Fell in 2007, Labor Dept. Reports. The story leads by telling us construction deaths were down 5% in 2007. Shall we celebrate? I think not. Have a look: td> Fatalities Construction* Other Industry 2007 1,178 (p) 3,778 (p) 2006 1,239 4,081 2005 1,192 4,022 2004 1,234 3,995 2003 1,131 3,912 p: Preliminary Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, * as reported by ENR You don't have to be a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt to see that the latest results are consistent with the... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 22, 2008
OSHA Launches Local Construction Emphasis Programs
OSHA's Region VI office in Dallas, Texas, has established a Regional Emphasis Program covering employees in the construction industry who perform crane operations. The program conducts safety inspections of workplaces in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and sites in New Mexico that are under federal OSHA jurisdiction.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 21, 2008
Construction bosses warned over legal costs of mass redundancies
Construction bosses have been warned to approach decisions on mass redundancies with caution to avoid costly legal mistakes.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 18, 2008
Scaffolding contractor fined after three men fall six metres
Pedley Scaffolding of Willenhall was also told to pay costs of £5,318 by the Stafford Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to health and safety offences.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 12, 2008
Crane Accident Prevention: Training, Maintenance, Regulation
The construction industry has been plagued by a series of fatal crane accidents in recent months. According to experts, lack of training combined with inadequate safety standards and subpar inspection services are to blame.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 09, 2008
Crane Safety Improved with Training, Maintenance, Regulation
The construction industry has been plagued by a series of fatal crane accidents in recent months. According to experts, lack of training combined with inadequate safety standards and subpar inspection services are to blame.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: August 01, 2008
Economic crime hits 40% of construction firms
Economic crime is hitting construction companies harder, with 40% suffering from some form of theft, embezzlement, corruption, bribery, money-laundering and intellectual property infringment.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 31, 2008
Economic crime hits 40% of construction firms
Economic crime is hitting construction companies harder, with 40% suffering from some form of theft, embezzlement, corruption, bribery, money-laundering and intellectual property infringment.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 29, 2008
Four Victims Identified from Crane Collapse at Houston Refinery
A large crane fell onto a smaller one Friday at the LyondellBasell Houston Refining facility. OSHA began its investigation this morning as the crane's owner identified four employees who died as a result.... Read More
16 Hurt in Second Jerusalem Construction Vehicle Attack This Month
... Read More
Democrats Seek Tougher Crane Safety Standard as Deaths Mount
... Read More
Crane Falls in Oklahoma, Kills One
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 28, 2008
Failing to Protect: Saving America's Crumbling Infrastructure
Miles of Midwest land under 10 feet of water, a major bridge collapsing to the ground, a flood-ravaged New Orleans – these are all images we won't soon forget. But how can we keep history from repeating itself yet again?... Read More
ASSE to Host Webinar on New Construction Safety Standard
A10 Committee members will lead the discussion and answer questions during the event, designed to introduce components of the new standard and how it can be implemented in construction and demolition operations. Last week, NAHB President Sandy Dunn said the standard, in it present form, "will be useless for the construction industry."... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 26, 2008
Four Killed As Huge Crane Collapses at Houston Refinery
... Read More
Concrete Technology Restores Historic Bridges
As our nation's bridges come under increasing scrutiny, New Jersey agencies are taking action. At issue was bridge safety for two deteriorating spans in high traffic areas. The challenge was to maintain the historic character of the two bridges while updating them to current safety standards. The engineering firm of French & Parrello in Wall, NJ, met this challenge head on with advanced con...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 25, 2008
CECA accident rates drop 20%
Accident rates among memebers of the Civil Engineering Contractors Assocation (CECA) fell 20% last year - the third successive annual drop.... Read More
OSHA Dispatches Extra Inspectors to NYC to Investigate Construction Safety
For two weeks beginning July 23, OSHA will bring a dozen additional inspectors into New York City to conduct proactive inspections of high-rise construction sites, cranes and other locations to combat the rise in the city’s construction fatalities. Twenty employees have died in construction-related accidents in New York City since January.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 24, 2008
NYC Proposes More Regulations to Improve Construction Safety
... Read More
CECA accident rates drop 20%
Accident rates among memebers of the Civil Engineering Contractors Assocation (CECA) fell 20% last year - the third successive annual drop.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 23, 2008
Houston Crane Collapse Kills 4
A massive crane collapsed at a Houston oil refinery July 18, killing four workers and injuring seven others.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 18, 2008
Eight arrested in crackdown on rouge site security firms
Eight people connected with a security firm that manned construction sites in Glasgow have been arrested on suspicion of working illegally.... Read More
Track worker killed on West Coast Main Line
A contractor has been killed while working on the upgrade of the West Coast Main Line in Warwickshire.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 17, 2008
New Construction Guidelines Drafted To Stop Accidents
... Read More
Excavator operator strikes gas line at Vancouver job site
Construction workers were temporarily evacuated at the site of the Stella condominium development when an excavator operator accidentally struck a gas line.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 05, 2008
3 Killed As Wall Falls at Indianapolis Construction Site
... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 04, 2008
ODA to beef up Olympic Park security
The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has announced plans to beef up security on the Olympic Park as the pace of the construction programme gathers speed.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 02, 2008
Construction deaths down to 72
The number of construction workers killed onsite each year has fallen from 77 to 72, official statistics released today show.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: July 01, 2008
Construction deaths down from 79 to 72
The number of construction workers killed onsite each year has fallen from 79 to 72, official statistics released today show.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 30, 2008
NY Buildings Department Head Announces New Tower Crane Measures
Among the changes to existing policy, the department will now be mandating maintenance, testing, tracking, and more inspections, Acting Buildings Commissioner Robert D. LiMandri said Tuesday.... Read More
Construction deaths down to 72
The number of construction workers killed onsite each year has fallen from 77 to 72, official statistics released today show.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 28, 2008
New York City Targets Concrete Work, Demolition
Days after a crane collapsed at a construction site in Manhattan, the second in as many months, New York City officials proposed a legislative agenda that would empower the city's Dept. of Buildings with additional oversight and enforcement capabilities to improve safety at construction job sites, especially during high-risk operations.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 26, 2008
Safer crane operations eyed in City Council plan
The New York City Council will work in coming weeks to turn a 15-point legislative proposal into stricter enforcement and regulations for crane operations, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday.... Read More
BCTD President: Construction Industry Needs Dedicated OSHA Agency
"Few people understand that, on average, four workers are killed every day on U.S. construction sites," said BCTD President Mark H. Ayers.... Read More
Another Fatality in Las Vegas Brings City's Death Toll to 12
Construction on the Las Vegas Strip claimed another worker's life on June 17 when union carpenter Lyndall Bates of Tempe, Ariz., died after a 12-ft fall at Boyd Gaming’s $4.8-billion, 87-acre Echelon casino project.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 25, 2008
House Hearing: Does OSHA Adequately Enforce Construction Safety Rules?
During a June 24 House Committee on Education and Labor hearing focusing on OSHA’s role in enforcing construction safety rules, legislators and industry experts questioned whether the agency is doing everything possible to improve safety at construction sites.... Read More
Labour groups oppose WorkSafeBC’s proposed changes to tunnel safety regulations
Two groups representing unionized construction workers in British Columbia are voicing their opposition to proposed changes to safety regulations for tunneling.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 21, 2008
Mobile Field Software
Josh Kanner, co-founder of Vela Systems, is the guest on the latest episode of the Construction Equipment Owner’s Podcast. Josh takes a look at the recent crane collapse and talks about how the application of mobile field software can aid in minimizing the probability of a future accident. He also discusses the use of mobile field software for the purpose of general safety inspections and how implementing a system like this can benefit the contractor throughout the entire construction business.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 19, 2008
New Yorkers Baffled by Latest Crane Disaster
To the dismay of New Yorkers already wary after a spectacular accident in March, the turntable, cab and boom of another tower crane at another highrise apartment building collapsed in a busy Manhattan residential neighborhood, raining steel down on a building near the jobsite and killing two workers.... Read More
CPWR: 22 Workers Die Annually From Crane-Related Incidents
According to a new report released by the Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), an annual average of 22 construction workers were killed in crane-related incidents from 1992 to 2006. The report offers recommendations to prevent additional fatalities, such as implementing a national certification program for crane operators and inspectors.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 18, 2008
Man seriously hurt in Barratt site scaffolding fall
A man is in a serious condition following a fall from scaffolding at a construction site in the Rutherglen area of Glasgow.... Read More
Criminal Probe Shows New Pressure Over Safety
As the Manhattan district attorney opened an investigation into last week's tower crane collapse in Manhattan, in which two workers died, a leader of the city's construction industry may have provided a hint that employers are ready for changes.... Read More
Washington State Shuts Down Chinese-Made Tower Cranes
Due to alleged electrical compliance and structural safety problems, Washington State's Dept. of Labor and Industries has ordered contractors to suspend the use of Sun-brand tower cranes supplied by Grand Prairie, Texas-based Lewis Equipment Co.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 17, 2008
Crane Accident Spurs Labor Walkout Along Vegas Strip
Safety enforcement is becoming a burning issue in Las Vegas, where angry building trades at the CityCenter project walked off the job on June 2 in protest of unsafe working conditions on the Strip.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 16, 2008
Keep the Gloves On!
The cost of hand injuries in just one sector of the construction industry is six times what it would cost those employers to offer every employee appropriate hand protection.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 12, 2008
Crane Accidents Land Inspectors in Hot Seat
Latest failure has standards for inspecting and maintaining cranes under severe scrutiny.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 11, 2008
U.S. Cities Inspect Cranes After Fatal NYC Collapse
New York City's latest string of crane accidents prompted cities across the nation to closely examine their crane operations to prevent more crane-related tragedies from occurring in the future.... Read More
Two Employers Cited for NYC Scaffold Collapse
OSHA cited two New York City employers for alleged workplace safety standard violations, including equipment failure, lack of fall protection and lack of employee training, in connection with a fatal Dec. 7, 2007, scaffold collapse.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 10, 2008
Criminal Probe Shows New Pressure Over Safety
As the Manhattan district attorney opened an investigation into last week's tower crane collapse in Manhattan, in which two workers died, a leader of the city's construction industry may have provided a hint that employers are ready for changes.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 07, 2008
Safety Advice: Eliminating Falls Through Roofs
Most state civil judiciaries legally consider roofing within the “inherently dangerous” occupation category. When you consider the steep pitches, heights to grade, surface traction conditions, material handling tasks, bulk material weights, environmental factors of wind and weather and the perpetual force of gravity on the worker’s center of mass, it is no wonder that falls from or through roofs cause more construction and demolition injuries and deaths every year than any other occupations, except steel erection.... Read More
Clinton to Foulke: Update Crane and Derrick Standard
In light of the recent surge of crane incidents in New York City this year, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., sent a letter to OSHA Administrator Edwin Foulke Jr., calling on the workplace safety and health agency to issue new safety standards for cranes and derricks, which she claimed were “long overdue.” She also questioned why the Bush administration has failed to update these regulations. ... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 04, 2008
New Yorkers Baffled by Latest Crane Disaster
Fatal accident at recently inspected tower crane in Manhattan on May 30th may lend momentum to federal and local safety upgrades.... Read More
Man killed in building collapse
A man has died following the collapse of a block of flats in West Bromwich.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 03, 2008
AFL-CIO Examines Construction Safety and Pushes for Better Training, Regulations
The recent trend of construction-related fatalities prompted Mark Ayers, president of AFL-CIO's Building & Construction Trades Department, to stress the need for better education, training and awareness for safety-related issues within the industry.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: June 02, 2008
Second crane collapse in New York - VIDEO
There has been a second tower crane collapse in New York in as many months. A crane on the Upper East Side appears to have fallen onto the street, hitting a building as it fell.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 31, 2008
Two Dead in Crane Collapse at NY Condominium Construction Site
The city's newspapers are reporting that a second construction worker died in the incident.... Read More
NY crane collapse update - one confirmed dead
One person is confirmed dead after a crane smashed into a 23-storey apartment building in New York and crashed onto the street below.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 23, 2008
Contractors Get New Tool In Combatting Corruption Overseas
An independent organization has been set up to help construction-related companies and organizations fight corruption on projects.... Read More
Will the Construction Safety Act Cost Illinois Consumers, Employers and Job Seekers?
Some contractors in Illinois are concerned about an amendment to House Bill 2094 that would create the Construction Safety Act, essentially reinstating the Structural Work Act (SWA), which was on the books for 88 years before being repealed in 1995.... Read More
Gas Explosion Tears Through San Diego Hotel Construction Site, Injures 13
A natural gas explosion rocked a Hilton Hotel that was being built on the San Diego waterfront, destroying part of the hotel's facade and injuring 13 workers, several of them critically.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 20, 2008
Eco concerns driving building product design
Sustainability and environmental concerns are driving a high proportion of new product development in the building industry. This in part is fueled by increasing demands from new legislation. The government recognises that with half of CO2 emissions in the UK coming from the built environment, it holds the key to change that will enable them [...]... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 17, 2008
New Alliance Addresses NYC Construction Hazards
OSHA and the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) formed an alliance to address construction hazards in the city’s five boroughs, with plans to cross-train their inspectors and managers on each agency’s construction safety standards, regulations and procedures.... Read More
Sustainability and environmental concerns are driving a high proportion of new product development in the building industry
Sustainability and environmental concerns are driving a high proportion of new product development in the building industry. This in part is fueled by increasing demands from new legislation. The government recognises that with half of CO2 emissions in the UK coming from the built environment, it holds the key to change that will enable them [...]... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: May 15, 2008
Murray Construction and Development fined £10,000 over injured worker
A Sunderland building firm has been fined £10,000 after one of its employees fell 2.8m from rafters onto a concrete floor.... Read More
NIOSH Award Highlights Construction Ergonomics
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) presented an award to two scientists who created a booklet providing information on preventing ergonomics-related injuries for construction workers.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 30, 2008
Modular firm fined £100k after "pointless" death
A Liverpool modular building specialist has been fined £100,000 after a construction worker was killed and another seriously injured when a half-ton steel lifting frame fell from an overhead crane.... Read More
Kent Police to crack down on site thefts
Kent Police is to launch a major crackdown on heavy machinery thefts from building sites.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 29, 2008
HSE probe mystery construction death
Mystery surrounds the death of a 24-year-old lorry driver found dead on a Scottish construction site.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 28, 2008
Repair work begins on Pitt River bridge
A nine-metre tower of rebar, one of the support pylons for the Pitt River bridge, fell over in the early hours of April 14 when a crane came into contact with a guy wire. Despite this setback the bridge is scheduled for completion in late 2009.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 26, 2008
Company director charged with manslaughter
A company director has been charged with the manslaughter of a Chinese man who died after a fall on a Norfolk building site.... Read More
Two dead in falls from London building sites
Two men have died after falling from building sites at Westminster and Wandsworth in London.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 25, 2008
Two builders rescued after well shaft plunge
Emergency services have rescued two men who fell 12m down a well shaft at a derelict school in Sheffield.... Read More
USFA Releases Report on I-35W Bridge Collapse
The U.S.Fire Administration's report examines the area's emergency preparedness and response to the Aug. 1, 2007, bridge collapse in Minneapolis that killed 13 people and injured 121 others.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 23, 2008
Bramall Lane evacuated after explosion on GMI Construction site
Emergency services have set up a 200m exclusion zone around Sheffield United Football Club after a gas cylinder exploded on a construction site at a nearby hotel yesterday.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 22, 2008
I-35W Bridge Collapse, Week 36
Eight months after the I-35W Bridge collapse, survivors say the thoughts of it still take a toll on their emotional health. At a conference of mental health workers, a few survivors and some rescuers talked about their battles with psychological strain and other fears that haunt them. Organizers are from the Hennepin County Medical Center, which took in most of the bodies and survivors during the night of August 1.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 18, 2008
OSHA to Provide EHS Training for Alabama Gulf Coast Construction Employers
OSHA will provide free safety and health training to employers on Friday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT during the 3rd annual Gulf Coast Construction Safety Conference at the Greater Gulf Coast States Fairgrounds in Mobile.... Read More
The High Cost of Workplace Tragedies: Leading Employees Through Crisis
It can happen here. The recent crane accidents have emphasized this sad truth.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 17, 2008
Costain M25 death: police investigate reversing lorry
Kent Police and the Health and Safety Executive are understood to have identified a reversing lorry as key to the death of a 38-year-old Costain surveyor on a road project in Kent.... Read More
Equipment Theft Update
Mike Miller, police liaison with LoJack, discusses the recent equipment theft report released by LoJack, gives some tips on how construction business owners can protect their equipment and why construction equipment is a target for thieves.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 16, 2008
Modular firm fined £100k after "pointless" death
A Liverpool modular building specialist has been fined £100,000 after a construction worker was killed and another seriously injured when a half-ton steel lifting frame fell from an overhead crane.... Read More
ASSE Announces New Construction Safety Standard
To prevent injuries and illness among construction workers exposed to hazards associated with the installation and extraction of piles during construction and demolition operations, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) recently announced the approval of the new voluntary consensus standard “Safety Requirements for Pile Installation and Extraction Operations” (ANSI/ASSE A10.19-2008).... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 15, 2008
Burning builder saved by puddle
Safety chiefs are warning contractors about the risk of live electricity cables after a workman caught fire during a cable explosion and had to put himself out in a puddle of rainwater.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 12, 2008
Crane Enables Tight Site Success
A renaissance of sorts is taking place in downtown Pittsburgh. More than $3 billion in development is planned or under way in and near Downtown. The hope is to take an area long known for failed starts and vacant storefronts and turn it into a 24/7 neighborhood.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 08, 2008
Engineer's Second Fatal Air Crash Is Family Tragedy, Industry Issue
The deaths of five Canadian construction executives in a March 27 plane crash near Edmonton, Alberta, is a new tragedy for one local engineering firm and focused attention on that travel mode.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 07, 2008
Safety Advice: Trailers on the Jobsite, Part 2
According to a 2006 research survey titled “Towing Troubles” conducted by Customer Profiles Ltd. and Master Lock (www.masterlock.com), fewer than 13 percent of first-time owners were told how to safely load their new trailer. This procedure is critical to counteract the reactive forces a trailer contributes to common fishtailing.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 05, 2008
NYC Crane Examiner Charged With Faking Crane Inspection
First fallout from fatal crane collapse.... Read More
Miami Police Identify Crane Accident Victims
The two men killed were a safety inspector and a carpenter.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 04, 2008
Building site exhaust fumes targeted
A new UK kitemark has been set up to help the construction industry source reliable technology to help reduce on-site emissions of dust and harmful gases.... Read More
Cal OSHA General Industry Safety Orders 2008
By CalOHSA. American Safety Training, Inc.. Price: $49.95. Publish Date: 01/2008... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 02, 2008
Bosses not doing enough to cut carbon emissions
Construction bosses are not doing enough to reduce carbon emissions say employees who are taking action to reduce emissions themselves, a new survey shows.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: April 01, 2008
ASSE Announces New 'Pile Installation & Extraction' Safety Standard
The ANSI/ASSE A10.19-2008 standard is one of a series of voluntary consensus standards that focus on construction and demolition operations.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 31, 2008
I-35W Bridge Collapse - Week 33
The National Transportation Safety Board released photographs of the I-35W bridge from 2003 that showed at least two bent gusset plates located in the bridge’s connecting beams. NTSB investigators believe the gusset plates ...... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 29, 2008
Internal Control: A Preventive Maintenance Program
You read about this in every newspaper in every town in the entire country: Some bookkeeper, trusted by the owner of a small business, embezzles thousands of dollars. If the theft doesn't put owner out of business, it certainly causes a major headache.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 28, 2008
New York Expands Oversight of Tower Cranes
Until further notice, a Buildings Department inspector must be present on a construction site whenever a tower crane is raised or lowered in New York City.... Read More
Crane Training Vital for Safety, ASSE Member Says
Coinciding with the recent fatal crane incidents in New York City and Miami, American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) member and certified crane operator trainer Greg Peters noted that to avoid fatalities and injuries involving cranes and derricks, crane operators must receive comprehensive training and should be required to obtain national certification.... Read More
HEADLINES ADDED: March 27, 2008
Tower-Crane Fears Drive Regulations
Miami-Dade County commissioners reacted quickly after the March 15 crane collapse in New York City, passing strict rules for crane erection and inspection.... Read More
Miami Crane Collapse Kills 2, Injures 5
A 20-foot section of a crane fell 30 stories in Miami on March 25, killing two construction workers and injuring five others.... Read More