OSHA Issues Guidance for Respiratory Protection during COVID-19 N95 Shortage

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued interim enforcement guidance to help combat supply shortages of disposable N95 filtering face piece respirators. The action marks the department’s latest step to ensure the availability of respirators and follows President Trump’s Memorandum on Making General Use Respirators Available. Due to the impact on workplace conditions caused by limited supplies of N95 FFRs, employers should reassess their engineering controls, work practices and administrative controls to identify any changes they can make to decrease the need for N95 respirators. If respiratory protection must be used, employers may consider use … Read more

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What Construction Companies are Doing in Wake of COVID-19

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As COVID-19 brings countless businesses to a grinding halt, the construction industry remains resilient — even in the face of tremendous challenge. Unlike many industries where “working from home” and “drive-thru service” are feasible countermeasures, construction firms have jobsites to run. Chris Hopper, executive vice president and general manager of Skanska, said, “You can’t hang drywall from your house.” The New York-based construction and development firm employs more than 10,000, and has developed a multi-faceted COVID-19 response plan to help keep employees safe and jobsites operational. Association of Equipment Manufacturers looked at what Skanska and other leading construction firms are … Read more

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AGC: Shutting Down Construction Projects Unnecessary Step, Will Harm Economy & Undermine Recovery Efforts

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The CEO of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to steps being taken to put in place arbitrary halts to construction activity in certain parts of the country: “Halting construction activity will do more harm than good for construction workers, community residents and the economy. Construction firms are already acting to ensure the safety and health of their employees in the face of the coronavirus outbreak. These new measures, which include increased hygiene and halting group gatherings of staff, are in addition to the fact construction workers already wear protective equipment, … Read more

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U.S. Department of Labor and Southern Illinois Joint Apprenticeship

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FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Southern Illinois Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Program have signed an alliance to provide members of the St. Louis – Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council with training and resources to prevent common construction injuries. The two-year alliance will focus on preventing exposures to electrical, fall, struck-by, caught-in-between, fire, explosion, lockout/tagout and confined spaces hazards at all CRC signatory jobsites throughout southern Illinois. Participants will also share information on OSHA campaigns, including the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction and the Safe + Sound Campaign … Read more

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NAHB Launches New Campaign to Raise Safety Awareness Among Home Builders, Remodelers

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The National Association of Home Builders launched Safety 365, a new member and public awareness campaign designed to ensure that building industry professionals have the information and resources to help keep construction workers safe and help minimize accidents, injuries and deaths. The initiative is designed to make construction safety a priority, every day, 365 days a year. “Our members realize the importance of jobsite safety because we know that our employees have families to return home to. We want to keep these workers safe from accidents and injuries,” said NAHB Chairman Randy Noel, a home builder and developer from La … Read more

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