Real-Time Risk: Infection Control, Cross Contamination & Exposure

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By Marlene Linders Each year, 5,000-7,500 patients die from cross–contamination due to healthcare-related construction, and the numbers are escalating considerably. Waterborne pathogens such as legionella are on the rise. The CDC estimates that 35 percent of legionella outbreaks are caused by changes in water quality from reasons external to the building itself, like nearby construction. How would you respond to these situations? Situation #1: A 42-year-old male is having open heart surgery in a hospital in the south. Construction is ongoing during the surgery; roof repairs and renovation is a constant. There is a pipe break with considerable flooding. The … Read more

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Safeguard Your Assets: 6 Steps to Secure Your Jobsite

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Construction brings many opportunities to many different people. Communities experiencing an intense building spree can usually look forward to more foot traffic or an influx of new businesses. Unfortunately, this progress can also attract thieves and vandals, as the busy construction site of the day turns into one of the quietest spots at night when work stops. Contractors need to protect their valuable assets. These six best practices to help secure a jobsite come from CONEXPO-CON/AGG 365. Learn more at http://www.conexpoconagg.com/subscribe/). 1— Connect with law enforcement before an incident occurs Contact the local police department well before actual construction begins. … Read more

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Common Ground Alliance Estimates Damage to Buried Utilities Increased with Excavation Activity between 2015, 2017

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Common Ground Alliance, the stakeholder-driven organization dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them and their communities, announced its findings and analysis of utility damage and near-miss events in the 2017 Damage Information Reporting Tool Report. The report, which analyzes all 2017 data submitted anonymously and voluntarily by facility operators, utility locating companies, one call centers, contractors, regulators and others, used a refined statistical modeling process to estimate that 439,000 excavation-related damages to underground facilities occurred in 2017, up 5.5 percent from a revised 2016 estimate. CGA, in collaboration with its statistical analysis consultant, Green Analytics, applied … Read more

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Brasfield & Gorrie Earns Safety Certification for Arizona Project

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Brasfield & Gorrie recently attained Voluntary Protection Program Star certification at a Tucson, Arizona site where the general contractor is expanding Raytheon Missile Systems’ corporate headquarters. VPP is an Occupational Safety & Health Administration cooperative program. The certification process requires an application that details risks associated with the project, an explanation of safety and health training, assurance that the applicant will correct hazards and more. VPP offers three programs, of which Star is the highest. RMS is VPP Star certified, and the company sponsored Brasfield & Gorrie in the application. During the eight-month process, VPP authorities visited … Read more

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Contractors Identify Strong Safety Programs to Address Skilled Labor Scarcity, Substance Abuse

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Q3 2018 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index recently released indicates skilled labor shortages will have the greatest impact on commercial construction businesses over the next three years. The report revealed 88 percent of contractors expect to feel at least a moderate impact from the workforce shortages in the next three years with over half (57 percent) expecting the impact to be high/very high. The skilled labor shortage has been consistently identified as a major issue facing the industry, but it is now reported by 80 percent of contractors to be impacting worker and … Read more

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