Power Tool Institute Warns of Failure, Fire from Third-Party Batteries

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Maybe some power tool users are tired of getting the third degree about using third-party replacement batteries. But they should consider that they might be headed for third-degree burns — or worse — if they keep it up. There is simply no adequate replacement for using the original tool manufacturer batteries and chargers to keep power tools operating efficiently and safely. Efficiency and safety are critically important for professional contractors. A job that takes too long due to tool failure impacts the bottom line. A jobsite going up in flames impacts even more than that. For these and more reasons, … Read more

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National Struck-by Stand-Down Planned for April 26

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CPWR and the NORA Construction Sector Council are planning a second annual Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents in Construction for April 26. The Stand-Down, to take place on the first day of National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 26-30), asks contractors to pause work to recognize that struck-by incidents are a leading cause of death among construction workers and to educate their crews about risks and solutions for mitigating them. To make the Stand-Down a success during COVID-19, contractors, workers and other stakeholders are encouraged to participate virtually. More information on ways to participate will be posted on CPWR’s Work Zone Safety … Read more

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Annual Common Ground Alliance DIRT Report Reveals Utility Damages Continue Upward Trend

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Common Ground Alliance announced the findings from its 2019 Damage Information Reporting Tool Report. The report analyzed all 2019 data submitted voluntarily by facility operators, utility locating companies, one call centers, contractors, regulators and others from the U.S. and Canada using an in-depth statistical modeling process. The results of this analysis found that an estimated 532,000 excavation-related damages to underground facilities occurred in the U.S. in 2019, a 4.5% increase compared to the 2018 estimate of 509,000 damages. The report also examined the direct and indirect costs of damaging underground infrastructure, and estimated that the societal costs totaled approximately $30 billion … Read more

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Insights: Crisis Incident Management & the Superintendent’s Role

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By Scott Wagner A crisis is defined as “a time of intense difficulty, trouble or danger.” On a construction jobsite, a crisis – and how it’s managed – could literally be the difference between life and death. It’s part of the reason why a large part of the annual Construction Safety Week activities at Barton Malow from Sept. 14-18 consisted of establishing, refining and practicing crisis incident management plans across all of our jobsites. As an annual participant in Construction Safety Week, we’ve always found value in hosting a week’s full of safety-related demonstrations, activities, stand-downs and morale-boosting events on … Read more

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Do’s & Don’ts from the Field: Would Your Jobsite Pass a Safety Inspection?

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By Deb Hilmerson After more than 30 years in the construction industry, much of that as an independent safety consultant, I have seen more than my share of safety problems. While we are all rightfully concerned about fatalities, it’s relevant to note the construction industry’s non-fatal injury rates are 71% higher than other industries.1 It’s no wonder that construction inspections comprise 60% of OSHA’s total inspections. If you’ve been dealing with the same safety concerns for a long time, it’s easy to convince yourself better options don’t exist. That may no longer be true, especially for some of the biggest … Read more

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