Contractors Identify Strong Safety Programs to Address Skilled Labor Scarcity, Substance Abuse

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Q3 2018 USG Corporation + U.S. Chamber of Commerce Commercial Construction Index recently released indicates skilled labor shortages will have the greatest impact on commercial construction businesses over the next three years. The report revealed 88 percent of contractors expect to feel at least a moderate impact from the workforce shortages in the next three years with over half (57 percent) expecting the impact to be high/very high. The skilled labor shortage has been consistently identified as a major issue facing the industry, but it is now reported by 80 percent of contractors to be impacting worker and … Read more

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5S Makes Jobsites Safer, Cleaner and More Productive

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By Mark Jagiello The 17-story Home2 Suites by Hilton hotel, under construction in downtown Chicago, Illinois, recently topped off six weeks ahead of schedule and with 293 days and 90,000 work hours without an injury. While Mortenson implemented an array of innovative techniques to reach this milestone safely and ahead of schedule, the Lean approach known as 5S played a critical role. We use 5S to maintain neat, clean, orderly project sites and work areas improving safety, quality and efficiency. 5S was originally based on five Japanese words: seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu, and shitsuke. It has been adapted in English … Read more

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OSHA Seeks Nominations for Construction Advisory Committee

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OSHA and the Secretary of Labor are seeking nominations for new members for the Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health, according to a notice posted in the Federal Register. The committee last met more than a year ago, and the terms of all of its members have since expired. ACCSH advises the Secretary of Labor and the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health on construction industry standards and policy related to safety and health. Members generally serve staggered two-year terms. OSHA seeks nominations for 14 new members in the following categories: Five members who are qualified … Read more

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Driving Schedule through Teamwork

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Methods for staying ahead, anticipating future challenges By Josh Farr As a superintendent, there are three things that are completely non-negotiable on a job: creating a safe culture on the jobsite, ensuring customer satisfaction and meeting the schedule. For many, even the word “schedule” can evoke immediate feelings of stress as it can be one of the most obstacle-riddled parts of construction. What makes it that way, is how it ties into every decision a project team makes. When evaluating safety, there are countless opportunities to ensure safe work planning. While you’re digging into drawings and establishing your job flow, … Read more

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OSHA Proposes Rule to Ensure Crane Operators are Qualified To Safely Operate Equipment

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed a rule to increase the safety of America’s construction sites. In addition to providing long-term clarity regarding crane operator certification requirements, the proposal reinstates the employer duty to ensure a crane operator is qualified to safely operate equipment. Under the proposed rule, a change to the categories of certifications for crane operators would ensure more operators are able to meet the requirement. The proposal discontinues a 2010 requirement, which never went into effect, that crane operator certification must include the crane lifting capacity for which the operator is certified. The … Read more

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