While construction has made great strides in safety over the past decade, the industry still has one of the country’s highest rates of workplace injury. In response, DPR Construction gathered nearly 100 people including trade partners, safety experts and industry leaders for a summit aimed at helping the industry take the next steps to keep workers safe. The summit’s interactive workshops and discussions highlighted the variety of behaviors throughout the project lifecycle where participants can positively affect safety, not simply rely on regulations and personal protective equipment. DPR is hosting a series of these conversations throughout the northeast U.S. to … Read more
Research Promotes Deeper Understanding of Impact of Heat Stress Mitigation Measures in Construction
Turner Construction Company, Flatiron Construction, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Chubb and The Turner Construction Company Foundation are joining forces to conduct a research project in partnership with La Isla Network to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of heat on the health of construction workers. Continued research on this topic will inform decisions to help ensure the health and well-being of the construction workforce. This month, 200 construction workers on a large industrial construction project in the Midwest are taking part in a study to measure the impact of heat. Workers on the project have easy access to shaded … Read more
Beat the Heat
Safety reminders to ‘keep your cool’ this summer By Richard Ryan “Hottest summer on record” is a phrase many of us are likely tired of hearing, and none so much as construction project leaders. When you coordinate and lead hundreds of people working outdoors every day, “hottest summer” goes beyond an uncomfortable inconvenience and can quickly verge on danger for all involved. As with many aspects of construction safety, keeping your team safe during hot conditions rests on three equally critical pillars: knowledge, preparation and collective care. When we know the warning signs, prepare to respond competently and commit to … Read more
I Felt the Earth Move Under My Feet
Top 4 ways to mitigate accidents when using earth-moving equipment By Taylor Klitzke Perhaps Carole King didn’t have mobile earth-moving equipment in mind when she wrote that song, but construction superintendents should. Because it could be a matter of life or death. As new workers prepare to begin on jobsites, construction managers and general contractors must provide a comprehensive orientation to mitigate accidents. To reduce the risk of injuries — and possibly fatalities — training should educate workers on safety protocols, equipment operation and hazard recognition, as well as all federal, state and local regulations. Proper earth-moving equipment training ensures … Read more
Applying Hierarchy of Fall Protection Controls Saves Lives, Money
By Philip Jacklin Falls continue to be a leading cause of death and injury on construction sites. Per Occupational Safety and Health Administration 1926.501, employers must protect construction workers in an environment with the potential to fall 6 feet or more to the next lower level. (Note that general industry companies must adhere to OSHA 1910 and must be protected at 4 feet or more.) On a typical jobsite, the next lower level could be an elevator shaft, several floors of unfinished framing, steel beams, rebar, heavy machinery, the hard earth below or even an excavation pit underneath that. The … Read more