WASHINGTON, D.C. — Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) February 4 recognized the nation's safest construction firms in 2009 at the 20th annual Excellence in Construction and National Safety Excellence awards celebration at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel and Convention Center in San Diego, Calif.   The 2009 National Safety Excellence Award winners were selected from ABC member firms achieving Platinum status in ABC's Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) program. Selection criteria for the national safety winners included each member's self-evaluation scores, lost workday case rates, total recordable rates, and interviews conducted by members of ABC National's Environment, Health … Read more

ATLANTA, Ga. — A new standard for the design of high-performance green buildings is set to revolutionize the building industry. Published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), in conjunction with the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IES) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Standard 189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the first code-intended commercial green building standard in the United States. The standard, published Friday, provides a long-needed green building foundation for those who strive to design, build and operate green buildings. From site location … Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing to revise its Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting (recordkeeping) regulation by restoring a column on the OSHA Form 300 to better identify work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The rule does not change existing requirements for when and under what circumstances employers must record musculoskeletal disorders on their injury and illness logs. Many employers are currently required to keep a record of workplace injuries and illnesses, including work-related MSDs, on the OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses). The proposed rule would … Read more