Providing continuous safety training is a key aspect of building a proper safety culture at the jobsite, and a common way that a lot of contractors handle that is through daily or weekly toolbox talks. Fresh new content for safety topics can be hard to find at times, but the NAHB, in conjunction with the Job-Site Safety Institute and National Housing Endowment, has recently released over a dozen free video toolbox talks on their website.
Read moreDon’t Forget to Electronically File Your OSHA Form 300A by March 2
image via OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application web page
Even though OSHA recently eliminated the need for employers to electronically submit OSHA Forms 300 and 301, citing privacy concerns, companies are still responsible for submitting OSHA Form 300A – and the deadline is less than a month away.
Read moreWA State Lawmakers Pushing for More Crane Regulation after Deadly 2019 Collapse
via the Seattle Fire Department
In April 2019, a tower crane disassembly turned deadly when it suddenly toppled into a Seattle, WA street below, killing two ironworkers and 2 others that were crushed by the falling crane while sitting in their cars. With the hopes of a tragedy like this never happening again, state lawmakers have proposed new legislation for crane procedures.
Read moreProcore Adds 3 Enhancements to Daily Logs & Safety Incident Logging on Mobile
via YouTube // Procore
Daily logs are a time consuming, but necessary process. Thankfully, there have been plenty of technological developments in recent years allowing superintendents and foremen to more easily collect and submit daily log information on mobile devices. Procore features mobile Daily Logs on their Project Management platform and it recently received updates to help simplify the process.
Read moreOSHA Releases 2020 Citation Penalty Increase
For 27 years, from 1990 to 2016, OSHA citation penalty amounts remained the same. In 2016, citation amounts increased 78%, a significant increase to make up for the inflation over that 27 years. Starting in 2017, OSHA began to increase the penalty amounts each year in line to keep up with inflation and 2020’s increase was just announced.
Read moreFamily of Victims File Wrongful Death Lawsuits Against 5 Contractors for 2019 Seattle Crane Collapse
via the Seattle Fire Department
On April 27, a tower crane on the construction site of a new Google campus building in Seattle, Washington was being dismantled when it suddenly fell onto the open street below. The incident resulted in the death of two ironworkers, two civilians, and injuries to 4 others. Family members of the victims and two of the injured people have filed lawsuits against five companies.
Read moreOSHA Clarifies Stance Regarding the Use of Headphones on the Construction Site
The topic of music on a construction site will generate mixed reactions depending on who you talk to. Some sites allow it and others don’t, for a variety of reasons. Recently, there have been a few emerging headphone brands that limit the playback volume and also provide external noise reduction. In a recent “Standard Interpretation” letter, OSHA has clarified its stance on this technology.
Read moreThe 7 Biggest Construction Safety Stories of 2019
The NTSB investigating the FIU pedestrian bridge collapse
Construction safety is one of the most important topics I believe that I cover on Construction Junkie. It’s important to stay up-to-date with these stories not only from a governmental compliance standpoint, but to improve the lives of the workers on your jobsite and reduce the inherent risks of the jobs.
Read moreWhy and How You Should Document Near Miss Construction Safety Incidents
When it comes to safety on the jobsite, most contractors focus on widely accepted performance indicators like an experience modification rating (EMR) or the count of their OSHA recordable incidents. While these are important overall numbers, ignoring near miss incidents can be a costly mistake for the future.
Read moreOSHA Notes an Increase in Inspections and Record Compliance Assistance in 2019
OSHA’s 2019 fiscal year started in October 2018 and ended in September 2019 and their year-end reports are finally being shared. The administration recently announced their total inspection numbers and the results of their compliance assistance program.
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