OSHA Launches Regional Campaign to Raise Awareness of Construction Industry Hazards

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a regional campaign to raise awareness about the four leading safety hazards in the construction industry. The “Focus Four Hazards” campaign will serve employers and employees in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. From March through June, the campaign will educate employers to recognize, evaluate and control electrical, struck-by, fall and caught-in/between hazards. Each month, OSHA representatives will participate in “toolbox talk” discussions focused on one of the four hazards. “This campaign is designed to promote and encourage a safe … Read more

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World’s Tallest Modular Hotel to Open in NYC

NEW YORK, N.Y. – The grand opening is drawing close for the world’s largest modular hotel, the CitizenM, located at 189 Bowery in Manhattan, New York. The creation of the unique and ultra-trendy project was orchestrated by Rinaldi Group. The CitizenM hotel is expected to feature roughly 300 rooms, all assembled using sealed, fully furnished prefabricated units. Among the many advantages to modular construction are the saving of considerable cost and time which limits street closures, keeping them clear and safe for pedestrians. Modular construction methods reduce a project’s completion time by as much as 50 percent, allowing companies, residents … Read more

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Construction Employers Add 60K Jobs in February, 254K Over Year

Construction employment increased by 61,000 jobs in February to the highest level since June 2008 as rising pay rates enabled the industry to attract more workers, according to an analysis of new government data by the Associated General Contractors of America. However, association officials cautioned that the Trump administration’s newly imposed steel and aluminum tariffs have the potential to undermine future employment growth for the sector. “Construction industry employment has accelerated over the past four months, and industry pay rates are now more than 10 percent higher than the private-sector average,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “However, steep … Read more

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Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction Wins Diverse Business of the Year Award

San Francisco, California’s Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction was named as the first-ever Diverse Business of the Year award winner by the Associated General Contractors of America, association officials announced. The association also awarded Diversity and Inclusion Excellence awards to Auston Commercial, Bjork Construction, the Massachusetts Port Authority and the San Antonio Chapter of AGC. “These awards honor member firms and chapters that have established exceptional programs dedicated to expanding the diversity, and with it the strength, of the construction industry,” said Art Daniel, the association’s president and president and COO of AR Daniel Construction Services. “Launching these awards is … Read more

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OSHA Will Enforce Beryllium Standard Starting in May

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will start enforcement of the final rule on occupational exposure to beryllium in general, construction and shipyard industries on May 11. This timeframe will ensure that stakeholders are aware of their obligations, and that OSHA provides consistent instructions to its inspectors. The start of enforcement had previously been set for March 12. In January 2017, OSHA issued new comprehensive health standards addressing exposure to beryllium in all industries. In response to feedback from stakeholders, the agency is considering technical updates to the January 2017 general industry standard, which will clarify and … Read more

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