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The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a final rule in the latest phase of its Standards Improvement Project (SIP). The final rule makes changes to many of its construction, general industry, and shipyard safety and health standards, removing or revising duplicative, inconsistent, outdated, or unnecessary regulatory requirements.
Falls are the leading cause of fatalities in construction, accounting for one-third of worker deaths in the industry, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH and OSHA, along with The Center for Construction Research and Training (CPWR), are cosponsoring a National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction the week of […]
OSHA plans to put out a request for information about its crystalline silica standard for the construction industry.
In November 2018, OSHA finalized a long-awaited rule on crane operator certification requirements, amending the standard at 29 CFR 1926.1427. Still confused about what you need to know? Check out the infographic for an overview of employers’ responsibilities for training, certification, evaluation, and more.
Responding to petitions for review from the National Association of Home Builders and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the EPA is proposing modifications to its 2017 Construction General Permit (CGP). The CGP comprises National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements for construction site operators disturbing 1 or more acres of land or less than 1 acre […]
OSHA has published a final rule in the Federal Register that clarifies certification requirements for crane operators at and maintains the employer’s duty to ensure that crane operators can safely operate the equipment. According to the agency, the final rule will maintain safety and health protections for workers while reducing compliance burdens.
Protecting workers from the hazards of trenches has lately been front and center in OSHA’s outreach to employers. One critical step in ensuring that you are meeting your obligations to protect employees who dig and work in trenches is to have a solid knowledge of how to classify soils. The Agency has produced an 11-minute […]
Pneumatic nail guns (PNGs) are formidable machines powered by air compressors that with a single trigger activation enable nails to be completely driven into hardwood floors, framing lumber, plywood sheathing, and roof substrates. When used properly, PNGs boost productivity, particularly in home construction. However, the power and speed inherent in these tools have led to […]
In a recent news release, OSHA announced the development of a series of compliance assistance resources to help keep workers safe from trenching and excavation hazards. OSHA’s goal is to increase awareness of trenching hazards in construction, educate job creators and workers on safe cave-in prevention solutions, and decrease the number of trench collapses. These […]
The latest trend in safety for construction workers may have been established by a New York City (NYC) law signed by Mayor Bill de Blasio in October 2017. Local Law 196 established new training requirements for employees at certain construction jobsites. The requirement—a minimum number of hours of training on specific safety subjects for workers […]