Construction Safety Articles

ASSP is calling on OSHA to elevate the importance of fall protection management programs and advise employers to look to consensus standards such as ANSI/ASSP Z359 and ANSI/ASSP A10 for the latest industry practices.

ASSP will conduct a webinar Sept. 17 on ANSI/ASSP/ISO 31000-2018 Risk Management Guidelines, which was recently updated and adopted as a U.S. national standard. The 90-minute session will highlight the standard’s improved framework and explain how risk management can play a role in processes across any organization.

On-site training offers the opportunity to learn how you can improve your operation through occupational safety and health principles in a way that optimizes both your employees’ time and your organization’s safety performance.

Opioid abuse has found its way into every industry, with devastating consequences. Given the demographics of its workforce and the physical nature of the work being done, the construction industry in particular has experienced firsthand the impact of opioid abuse.

Risk assessment, like many processes, begins with gathering data. Data gathering allows safety professionals and others to develop an understanding of what hazards and risks exist within a facility and how they affect employee safety.

A recent study by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found that a disproportionate number of opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2015 involved workers in the construction and extraction industries.

Excavation and trenching are some of the most dangerous activities in construction, but the hazards are preventable. By taking the proper steps, contractors and workers can have confidence that they can conduct excavation and trenching operations safely.

ASSP is encouraging involvement in the second-annual Safe + Sound Week held Aug. 13-19. The nationwide campaign – spearheaded by OSHA and co-sponsored by ASSP – aims to build a stronger connection between safe workplaces and sound businesses.

Want to use virtual reality to train your employees? Starting with a goal and understanding the upfront costs can dramatically mitigate the risk. Those first steps can also help safety professionals convince high-level stakeholders that VR isn’t just an expensive trend.

A peer-reviewed article by Craig Galecka, P.E., CSP, and Shawn Smith, CSP, titled “Fall Protection: Top 10 Misuses & What to Do About Them,” highlights common mistakes that are made when using fall protection equipment, and ways to avoid them.