WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently revised the steel erection compliance directive for the agency’s Steel Erection Standard to change two enforcement policies related to tripping hazards and installation of nets or floors during steel erection. One of the revised policies addresses the standard’s requirement that employers install a floor or net within two stories or 30 feet, whichever is less. The other policy states that employers must comply with the requirement that steel studs, known as shear connectors, be installed at the worksite. Shear connectors bind concrete to the steel. “Falls are the leading cause … Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Controlling Silica Exposures in Construction, a guidance document recently published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration addresses the control of worker exposure to dust containing crystalline silica, known to cause the lung disease silicosis. The publication, intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace, includes methods for controlling silica such as wet cutting during construction operations. Wet cutting controls silica dust generated when using hand-held saws, grinders and jackhammers. Wetting materials at the point of impact makes the dust particles heavier and more likely to stick to each other, reducing the chance of … Read more