On January 14, 2009, OSHA issued a letter of interpretation regarding the use of a particular shock absorbing lanyard to satisfy the requirements found in §1926.453(b)(2)(v). The Directorate of Construction has received inquiries from regional offices, area offices and the public asking if the January 2009 letter banned the lanyard in question. OSHA did not ban the particular lanyard but stated, based on the manufacturer’s instructions, which stipulated a minimum anchor point height of 18.5 feet, it was likely that the lanyard’s use would not comply with OSHA standards at lower heights. In such cases, use of the lanyard below … Read more

The first-ever lean construction education program will include the latest research and content thanks to an agreement between the Associated General Contractors of America and the Lean Construction Institute. Both groups will work together to create additional resources for contractors about lean construction. “This agreement will connect our nationwide network of contractors with the Institute's unique expertise with and knowledge of lean construction,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America. “We will be able to offer more content to more contractors in more places working together than either organization ever could on its … Read more

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. — Construction work on San Diego's latest cancer treatment facility has reached a milestone with the topping out of structural steel work at the Scripps Radiation Therapy Center on the Torrey Pines Mesa in La Jolla, Calif. The 41,000-square-foot center, which broke ground last spring, is being built on an 8-acre parcel. The $43.9-million facility is scheduled to open for patient care by the third quarter of 2012. DPR Construction is the project's general contractor. Key subcontractors include FreemanWhite (design-build); Hope Engineering (structural engineering); RBF Consulting (civil engineering); Wimmer Yamada & Caughey (landscape design); University Mechanical (mechanical … Read more

The Associated General Contractors of America will launch a new fall protection safety training program next year thanks to a new federal safety grant the association is being awarded. The association will use the $130,000 Susan Harwood Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to tackle one of the most pressing safety issues in construction, officials said. “The new training program will help us continue to make construction safer for millions of workers,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association's chief executive officer. “This is another sign of the commitment our association and our members have to improving construction safety.” … Read more