Sheet Metal Workers Take Action to Lessen Suicide Rate among Ranks

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Last November, the CDC released a study showing that from 2012 to 2015, males in construction and extraction workers have the highest rate of suicide in the United States. Categorized in that group are the sheet metal workers which, as an organization, has been focusing on bucking the trend and educating membership through a program aimed at not only challenging trends but decades of stereotypes. The Sheet Metal Occupational Health Institute Trust, the safety arm of the unionized sheet metal, air conditioning and welding industry, and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation workers, took notice of … Read more

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MYCON General Contractors Promotes Construction Safety

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MYCON’s participation in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s sixth annual National Safety Stand-Down week was a huge success, according to the firm’s Senior Vice President Justin Jeffus, CDP, LEED AP. OSHA’s Safety Stand-Down is a voluntary event that encourages employers to stop work, or stand-down, and talk directly with workers about safety and how to prevent workplace accidents and fatalities. More than 1,000 workers, including sub-contractor personnel and corporate employees, participated in sessions that focused on preventing injuries from falls, struck-by object, caught in between and electrical hazards. “Providing a safe and secure workplace improves … Read more

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Safety Tips to Protect Construction Workers from Extreme Heat

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Summer is a great time for construction work, but a brutal time for construction workers. Excessive heat and sun exposure pose significant dangers, such as sunburn, dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Every year, construction workers become ill on the job and some even lose their lives due to heat exposure. To protect its workers from the extreme summer heat, Western Specialty Contractors manages a heat illness training program and a safety hotline for its employees. As part of the program, training is provided to all employees and supervisors who work in high temperatures. Training topics include: how … Read more

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AGC Launches Campaign to Alert Summer Motorists to Slow Down + Remain Alert in Construction Work Zones

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67% of highway contractors report that motor vehicles had crashed into their construction work zones during the past year, according to the results of a new highway work zone study conducted by the Associated General Contractors of America. In response, association officials have launched a new radio and media campaign urging drivers to slow down and remain alert in highway work zones. “There are simply too many cars crashing into too many work zones, putting too many lives at risk,” said Brian Turmail, the association’s national spokesman. “That is why we are launching a nationwide outreach effort designed to better … Read more

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General Contractor Guides Vision for Customized Female-Fitting Safety Vests

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When it comes to personal protective equipment on construction sites, one size doesn’t fit all. Women shouldn’t be asked to compromise their safety by wearing unisex vests, gloves or goggles that are too large. It’s unsafe and unfair. That’s why Skanska has set out on a mission to help provide new, custom-built PPE for this growing part of its workforce. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, the number of women working in construction trades increased by 17.6% between 2017 and 2018. And while PPE designed for a female’s body does exist, it’s not overly popular or widely used. … Read more

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