Construction Advisory Committee Workgroups to Meet, Discuss Industry Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor will hold a teleconference meeting of the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health Workgroups on Thursday, March 5. The Education, Training and Outreach workgroup will meet from 10 a.m. to noon EST to discuss trench safety and fall prevention. The Emerging and Current Issues workgroup will meet from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST to discuss opioids and suicides in construction. WHAT:          Teleconference Meeting of Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health Workgroups WHEN:          Thursday, March 5 Education, Training and Outreach workgroup: 10 a.m. to noon EST Emerging and Current Issues workgroup: 1-3 p.m. … Read more

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Responding to Opioids’ Impact on Construction Workers 

The construction industry has been hit particularly hard by opioids, with state-level studies finding that construction workers are 6-7 times more likely to die of an opioid overdose than workers in other professions. CPWR is playing a leading role in helping the industry respond to this danger, including two new resources: Training program, intended to be used by experienced NABTU instructors, that is designed to increase awareness of opioids and decrease stigma associated with opioid use. The training program is available now, launched in a beta version that is under evaluation. CPWR anticipates this program will be refined in the … Read more

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CPWR to serve as NIOSH National Construction Center

CPWR’s selection to again serve as the NIOSH National Construction Center has provided the opportunity to continue conducting applied research that improves construction worker safety and health. Included in this work are 13 new multi-year research projects — seven led by university-based research partners and six by CPWR staff. Some build off previous research, on topics such as manual materials handling, isocyanates and nanotechnology; others head in new directions, such as promoting safety and health for women construction workers through mentorship and evaluating exoskeletons. Learn more.

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ABC Highlights Value of Leading Safety Indicators during OSHA Public Meeting

Associated Builders and Contractors Vice President of Health, Safety, Environment and Workforce Development Greg Sizemore spoke at a recent Occupational Health and Safety Administration public meeting on leading indicators for safety and health programs. In his remarks, Sizemore emphasized the importance of leading indicators as a proactive measure to prevent workplace hazards and reduce recordable incidents, resulting in improved safety and health performance. Citing ABC’s 2019 Safety Performance Report, an annual assessment of STEP safety management system data, Sizemore outlined the remarkable impact that leading indicators, such as toolbox talks or substance abuse programs, have on a construction company’s safety … Read more

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Autodesk, AGC to Address Custom-Fitting Safety Harnesses for Women

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, falls are the leading cause of private sector worker fatalities in the construction industry. Everyone who works at heights, whether it’s on a roof, scaffolding or the edge of a tall building, should have properly fitting safety harnesses, yet not all contractors have the supplies they need to better protect women in construction. To help address this, Autodesk is funding a grant program with the Associated General Contractors of America to supply select, in-need member contractors with fall protection harnesses sized for women who work at heights. The program comes at a … Read more

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