The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a division of the US Department of Labor, has issued a citation to an Illinois contractor over findings it made willful and serious safety violations that exposed workers to significant fall risks. According to a news release by the agency, the contractor, KW Framing in Justice, Illinois, faces proposed penalties […]
Construction Accidents
OSHA Cites Roofing Contractor over Fall Hazards—Again
The US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently cited an Ohio-based contractor “with a long history of disregarding workplace safety standards.” According to an OSHA news release, federal inspectors observed roofing workers employed by Charm Builders “at dangerous heights without fall protection” at a worksite in Wheeling, West Virginia. As the news […]
Study: 1/3 Workplace Injury Victims Lack Employer Health Coverage
Illuminating new research by insurance platform ValuePenguin found that one-third of workers who suffer workplace injuries do not have employer-based health insurance. The study, drawn from an analysis of employer coverage “in the industries with the highest rate of workplace injuries,” also found that the workers most likely to experience workplace injuries are “paid less […]
Report: Is OSHA Doing Enough to Protect Workers from Extreme Heat?
A new report by Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, argues that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is failing to protect workers from the dangers of unsafe heat. Arguing that the escalating effects of climate change pose an increasingly perilous situation for workers, the report calls for “immediate action.”
Will New York Governor Hochul Sign Construction Safety Law?
New York construction sites are about to get much safer—if Governor Kathy Hochul signs a bill passed by the state legislature last month. Known as “Carlos’ Law,” Senate Bill S621Bwould “substantially” raise the fines that can be levied on companies convicted of crimes that led to workplace deaths or injuries. According to a recent report […]
Survey: Construction Zone Car Crashes on the Rise
A new survey by HCSS Software Solutions and Associated General Contractors found that vehicle crashes continue to pose a threat to highway construction workers, as work zones likewise pose a threat to vehicle drivers and passengers. The survey found specifically that a whopping 64% of highway contractors “report that motor vehicles had crashed into their […]
Unpacking the Eight Largest OSHA Fines So Far This Year
A recent report by Construction Dive unpacks the biggest fines issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration during the first quarter of 2022. The contractors who received these fines include DME Construction Associates, Boss Construction, Lanigan Construction, and Groundworks Colorado. The smallest of the eight largest OSHA fines identified by the report was a fine of […]
New Report Examines Construction Industry Injury Trends
“Construction is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States,” begins a new report by The Center for Construction Research and Training. Titled “Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries in the Construction Industry,” the report offers “updated information” on those injuries, based on data gathered from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal […]
Construction Industry Leaders Discuss Fall Prevention
Data provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a division of the US Department of Labor, shows that out of 1,008 construction worker fatalities in 2020, 351 resulted from fatal falls to a lower level, making falls the leading cause of construction worker fatalities. However, OSHA stresses, “These deaths are preventable.” In a recent webinar described […]
Report: Construction Industry Execs Mental Health, Suicide Risk
In an illuminating roundtable published last week, construction industry trade magazine Construction Dive asked an array of industry experts what the industry can do protect and improve its workers’ mental health. As the report noted, construction’s suicide rate is four times that of the general population, suggesting that there is much work to be done to take […]
