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OSHA’s “Water. Rest. Shade” Campaign Tackles Heat Safety in the Construction Industry

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According to OSHA, more than 40 percent of all heat-related worker deaths occur in the construction industry.  Many more workers also become ill from extreme heat and humidity.  With summer now in full effect, it’s time to re-evaluate your personal steps for keeping safe in the heat and how your company is going to help their employees stay safe.

Since 2011, OSHA has lead the charge on their Heat Illness Prevention campaign, offering training sessions, outreach events, and social media messaging, among others.  Their overall message boils down to 3 words: Water. Rest. Shade.

While there are no specific heat-related safety standards in the OSHA handbook, the administration does hide behind the General Duty Clause, which states that employer’s should provide a workplace free of hazards.  How that should be implemented is up to interpretation, but OSHA has suggested that employer’s provide worker’s with adequate water, rest, and shade; allow workers to take more frequent breaks; plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention; and monitor workers for signs of illness.

According to OSHA, more than 40 percent of all heat-related worker deaths occur in the construction industry.  Many more workers also become ill from extreme heat and humidity.  With summer now in full effect, it’s time to re-evaluate your personal steps for keeping safe in the heat and how your company is going to help their employees stay safe.

A Real Life Saver: The OVAL Fire Extinguisher

Every now and then a new product comes along and you ask yourself, “why didn’t I think of that?!”  The OVAL Fire Extinguisher is just that product.  Architecture and interior design have been moving towards cleaner lines in their spaces.  Foregone are the days of bulky protruding water fountains (bubblers for my northern friends) and fire extinguisher cabinets.   Interior designers are looking for cleaner and sleeker interior spaces but the 10lb fire extinguishers and cabinets have not changed for quite some time.   OVAL is about to change all that. 

On Tuesday, June 20, OSHA is set to propose a delay on new requirements for cranes and derricks in the construction industry at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH).

A nearby office worker caught video of a dramatic demolition that showed the remains of an 11 story building collapse on top of the excavator performing the demolition. 

Beards are a rite of passage for many men across the world.  For some, it’s a symbol of their manliness, for others, it’s rooted in religious beliefs.  One contractor in the UK, however, is concerned with the safety risk the facial hair causes.

While placing concrete on the second floor of a future seven-story mixed use building in Oakland, California, the concrete forms suddenly gave way, sending around 20 workers 10 to 15 feet below with the wet concrete. News reports explain the job site went into a panic, understandably so, and co-workers rushed to the scene to help.

Cranes collapse for a variety of different reasons.  Some are overloaded, some catch on fire, and others succumb to high wind loads.  Regardless of the reason, a falling crane can cause tons of damage and have the potential to kill on-site workers and pedestrians walking near the job site.

A recent crawler crane collapse in Northern Italy could have been much worse as the crane, carrying a large section of viaduct, crashed to the ground.