Young construction workers get hurt at a disproportionately high rate, and employers must address this problem. The injuries may be related to inexperience, immaturity or simply being accident-prone, but Andrew Deen writes that ample training has to be provided to young workers on construction jobs. “Around half of all young workers work without nearby…(Read More)
Measuring vibration levels in factories, construction vehicles, building and machines is an important step in preventing injuries. Engineers, machine designers and technicians who specialize in this area can typically assess how repeated exposure to high level vibrations can potentially injure—or kill—someone. Hand-held tools such as grinders and sanders can compromise physical dexterity…(Read More)
Construction is back on track. So says a post published by Occupational Health and Safety News. OHSOnline.com reports that construction’s unemployment rate fell to 9.8 percent last month. In January, 2014, unemployment in the construction sector was 12.3 percent. The Associated General Contractors of America says projects are brisk this year…(Read More)
Many disputes regarding construction jobs can be resolved through mediation, which saves both parties time and resources. Preparing to work with a court-appointed mediator is quite different than conducting due diligence for a trial, writes attorney Elizabeth Repper of Keating Chambers. Why does Repper advise not to approach mediation as you would an arbitration…(Read More)
Keeping up with changing regulations issued by the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration just got a bit easier. The Mobile Safety Solutions App is a freebie that has the full text of OSHA rules for General Industry and Construction. “The app contains new and useful features to improve guidance to all compliance needs…(Read More)
Business models in the construction industry are changing along with legal requirements on what actually constitutes being an employee. Business leaders say loyalty and easier hiring and firing are the advantages to having employees rather than subs. The government—both state and federal—see things differently. This post on ConstructionVault.com weighs the pros and…(Read More)
Illinois, Colorado and Maryland have grabbed the top three spots on the U.S. Green Building Council’s list of states with the most LEED projects. According to a press release from the Council, the analysis ranked states in terms of square feet of LEED space per resident. “The per-capita list highlights states throughout…(Read More)
The unpopular Eisenhower-era gas tax that’s used to pay for federal transportation projects may soon be history. President Obama’s proposed spending plan for fiscal 2016 includes a six-year, $478 billion surface transportation budget financed largely by changes to the corporate tax code, writes Jeff Plungis on Bloomberg.com. “Maintenance and replacement…(Read More)
Planners of federally funded buildings, roads and other infrastructure will be required to account for the impact of possible flooding from rising sea levels or extreme precipitation, according to The New York Times. President Obama has signed an executive order that prevents agencies from using historical flood data when creating building plans. The change is…(Read More)
Lower construction equipment emissions and ground up construction jobs are among the trends we’ll be seeing in 2015. A post on EHSToday.com also points out that safety is the top priority as the construction industry continues to evolve. “Some new devices we’ll see entering the market this year include carbon monoxide-detecting…(Read More)
