While Google has been testing their driverless car for months and months, with mixed results, the construction industry will actually be the first to enjoy the benefits of the developing technology.
Read more150 Cubic Yards of Concrete Spills After Rebar Collapse in Ohio
Residents and business owners are probably pretty upset that the construction of the West State Bridge in Salem, Ohio will be delayed an additional 2 weeks following a rebar collapse, according to WKBN News. 150 cubic yards of concrete fell to the railroad tracks approximately 30 feet below, after the 65 foot by 28 foot area collapsed.
Read moreOSHA Fines Construction Companies Almost $2 Million Dollars for Exposing Employees to Asbestos
Photo by Joe P, CC BY SA 2.0
You’ve probably heard the commercials about it hundreds of times by now, but Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is most commonly caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. It is estimated that those who develop mesothelioma only have a 10 month survival time, as the disease is nearly always fatal. In 1989, the United States and the Environmental Protection Agency effectively banned the vast majority of all asbestos containing material. Surprisingly, a court of appeals overturned the ban and there are still more than a few building materials not banned from using asbestos, including roofing felt, cement shingles, millboard, cement pipe, and roof coatings.
Read moreConstruction Company Owner and Project Manager Sentenced for Involuntary Manslaughter after Laborer Dies in Trench Collapse
The photo above shows a trench rescue by the Charlotte, NC fire department in 2011. Photo by Charlotte Fire Department, CC BY 2.0
Properly shoring trenches require a lot of extra room, time and money on job sites. Because of that, many contractors try to cut corners and skip the shoring, but doing so can have fatal consequences. We recently wrote about trench safety and a neat tool that makes it very easy, which you can find here.
Read moreMan Pulled from Rubble After Two Construction Cranes Collapse onto Holland Homes
In a terrifying turn of events, two construction cranes were hoisting a gigantic steel ramp of a bridge on the deck of a barge when one crane buckled under the weight of the ramp, pulling the other down with it. The base of the two cranes fell into a canal in Alphen naan den Rijn, South Holland as the booms and ramp completely destroyed several nearby houses and businesses.
Read moreDeadliest Construction Projects in the Modern Era
The people over at Gizmodo and Safer America have put together a stunning visualization of "The Human Cost of Construction". It is an amazing and often untold look into just how dangerous of a profession construction can be.
Read more[Videos] Construction Crane Collapses are Terrifying
Cranes are a staple on the construction site, but can cause devastating consequences if something goes wrong and they happen to collapse. In the best case scenario, thousands of dollars worth of equipment or building damage is created and, in the worst case scenario, people’s lives are lost.
Read moreOSHA Postpones Full Enforcement of New Confined Spaces Rules in Construction
Back in May, it was announced that OSHA would be releasing a new set of rules and regulations for confined spaces in construction. Originally supposed to take full effect on August 3, 2015, but, due to some requests for additional time to gather necessary equipment and train crews, OSHA has issued a temporary enforcement policy.
Read moreConstruction Groups Combine Forces to Keep Drugs and Alcohol Off the Job Site
Photo by Eneas DeTroya, CC BY 2.0
Construction job sites are one of the most dangerous places to work at in America and the presence of drugs and alcohol only make it more dangerous. Construction workers need to stay alert and be able to adjust quickly to their surroundings to avoid injury and, as we all know, being under the influence slows response time. That's why a group of construction organizations have teamed up to help contractors achieve a drug and alcohol free workplace.
Read moreNIOSH Finds Simple Solution to a Common Hazard
Photo by Ben Ferenchak, CC BY 2.0
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has recently published a new study that finds a low cost solution to harmful silica dust. Inhaling silica dust, which is commonly found in fiber-cement siding, can lead to a lung disease called silicosis, which is deadly. While silicosis is preventable now, it's estimated that 100 people still die from it each year.
Read more