Ready mix concrete has been used in construction projects since the first ready-mix factory was built in the 1930s. Since the 1980s, there has been a boom in construction and the use of ready-mix as a building material means that concrete plants have had to work hard to keep up with the ever increasing demand.
Read moreMajor Scaffolding Collapse in Houston Injures 6
A major scaffolding collapse injured six construction workers Friday afternoon and the moment it happened was caught by a tourist and recorded on a cell phone camera.
Read moreWhich Construction Equipment is Most Likely to Be Stolen and Tips to Prevent it From Happening
Photo by Aaron Volkening, CC BY 2.0
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has released their full 2014 report on construction heavy equipment theft (PDF download) and the news is not great: theft has risen roughly 1.2 percent versus 2013. According to the report, a total of 11,625 pieces of equipment were stolen in 2014, compared to 11,486 in 2013. The annual report is co-authored by the National Equipment Register (NER) and examines and analyzes data from the National Crime Information Center. The NICB estimates the equipment theft costs between $300 million to $1 billion annually.
Read moreVirginia Tech Engineers Develop New Safety Vest That Could Save Lives
Construction sites are some of the most dangerous places in the world. Couple a job site with the general public and they’re disasters waiting to happen. According to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, 579 people were killed in highway work-zone related accidents in just 2013 alone. Professor Tom Martin and Kristen Hines, engineers at Virginia Tech, hope to greatly reduce that number with their recent development of a smart safety vest that gives several seconds of warning to workers if danger is approaching.
Read moreInvestigation: Liebherr Crane involved in Deadly Mecca Collapse "Technically Faultless”
Photo by Camera Eye, CC BY 2.0
Hundreds of news stories have been written recently about the tragic crane collapse in Mecca that claimed 107 lives and injured more than 200 others. The investigations into what exactly went wrong began soon after. On Tuesday, Saudi officials suspended the contractor, Saudi Binladin Group, from new contracts until all legal matters are settled, according to NBC News. Today, Liebherr released a press release statement on their findings after Liebherr crane experts visited the site of the collapse.
Read moreWatch this High Rise Building Be Demolished with Absolutely No Regard for Human Life or Safety
This will probably make you pretty upset and we can’t blame you. According to GlobalLeaks News, who posted the video, this approximately 12 story high building was located in India. In the video, you see the building implode successfully into a cloud of smoke. The only problem is, there were still several cars driving on the nearby street!
Read moreOklahoma Contractor Uses Clever Technique to Catch Construction Site Thieves
Photo by Surrey County Council News, CC BY ND 2.0
Construction sites are prime targets for theft, there are thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment and material at each location and cannot be manned 24/7. In the past, if a thief was not caught in the act of stealing, there is little to no chance of your item being recovered or the person being caught. Many contractors put cameras up on their sites, but even that only increases your odds of recovery slightly.
Read moreDon’t Lie to OSHA: Alabama Contractor Sentenced to 3 Years Probation for “False Statements”
Recently, we learned that knowingly putting your employees in danger can land contractors a prison sentence of two years for involuntary manslaughter. Well, OSHA doesn’t take too kindly to being lied to either.
Read moreReport: New York Construction Injuries Are Already 34% Higher Than Last Year
After two recent construction worker deaths and a steep rise in construction injuries in New York City, the Department of Buildings is preparing to crack down on those companies not keeping their workers safe.
Read moreThe 10 Most Commonly Issued Citations by OSHA
In an effort to raise awareness for safety issues, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), compiles their list of citations written every year and releases them to the public. OSHA recently announced the top 10 most commonly issued citations for their 2014 fiscal year (October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014).
Read more