OSHA Issues Guidance for Respiratory Protection during COVID-19 N95 Shortage

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued interim enforcement guidance to help combat supply shortages of disposable N95 filtering face piece respirators. The action marks the department’s latest step to ensure the availability of respirators and follows President Trump’s Memorandum on Making General Use Respirators Available. Due to the impact on workplace conditions caused by limited supplies of N95 FFRs, employers should reassess their engineering controls, work practices and administrative controls to identify any changes they can make to decrease the need for N95 respirators. If respiratory protection must be used, employers may consider use … Read more

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Construction Industry Council: Best Practices in Use to Protect Workers, Public from Virus Spread

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The construction industry is taking essential safety measures to protect workers and the public from the spread of the coronavirus. Operating under the designation as an essential business as modified by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in the downstate New York region crews are pressing forward with infrastructure renewal and environmental protection projects. While certain projects have been slowed or delayed due to staffing shortages, contracting employers and organized labor leaders are hopeful key personnel and crews can continue to deliver on public projects. Contractors continue to push ahead to protect and upgrade water resources and the utility sectors. Electrical workers are … Read more

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What Construction Companies are Doing in Wake of COVID-19

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As COVID-19 brings countless businesses to a grinding halt, the construction industry remains resilient — even in the face of tremendous challenge. Unlike many industries where “working from home” and “drive-thru service” are feasible countermeasures, construction firms have jobsites to run. Chris Hopper, executive vice president and general manager of Skanska, said, “You can’t hang drywall from your house.” The New York-based construction and development firm employs more than 10,000, and has developed a multi-faceted COVID-19 response plan to help keep employees safe and jobsites operational. Association of Equipment Manufacturers looked at what Skanska and other leading construction firms are … Read more

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Kickoff Celebration Held for NCCER-Certified Apprenticeship Program

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Workforce Solutions of Williamson County in Texas, along with TDIndustries, recently held a kickoff celebration of TD’s registered apprenticeship program. In a partnership with North Texas’ Construction Education Foundation, TD provides a 20-week training program for HVAC and plumbing employees as their first step of apprenticeship. Participants can learn the basics of pipefitting, plumbing and sheet metal work in the first course, and receive advanced training in subsequent semesters. The National Center for Construction Education and Research has certified this program. The first class began Thursday, Jan. 23 and runs through June 11. Presently, 17 TD partners are enrolled in … Read more

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Autodesk, AGC Equip Women in Construction with Properly Fitting Safety Harnesses

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Autodesk Construction Solutions and the Associated General Contractors of America are awarding grants to 21 construction firms to provide more than 300 fall protection safety harnesses designed for women. The grants are designed to address one of the most significant safety hazards for construction craft professionals and recruit more women into high-paying construction careers. “We recognize the need for more women to join the construction industry to help fill the labor gap, and keeping them as safe as possible must be top priority,” said Allison Scott, director at Autodesk Construction Solutions. “For 300 women in construction, AGC and Autodesk are … Read more

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