Safety
New cranes and derricks rule Released by OSHA
OSHA's new rule addressing the use of cranes and derricks in construction was published in the Federal Register Aug. 9. The rule will take effect Nov. 8. It addresses critically important provisions for crane operation and incorporates technological advances that will provide improved protection. In the rule OSHA requires training for all crane operators.
OSHA Has Created an "Outreach Trainer Watch List"
If your company or your chapter uses any of the trainers on the watch list in the link below, your workers may not be able to receive their 10 or 30 hour OSHA card. Please refer to the list when selecting safety trainers for the 10 or 30 hour OSHA training. The second link below contains the requirements for the 10 or 30 hour OSHA safety training. You may want to use this list when preparing for a training class as there are some recent changes to the OSHA training requirements.
Fraudulent Safety Trainer Added to OSHA's "Watch List"
OSHA added another trainer to its "Outreach Trainer Watch List" after an investigation showed the trainer, Tyrone Nichols, failed to comply with program guidelines. His status as an authorized OSHA Outreach Trainer has also been revoked. The "Watch List" is comprised of individuals whose training authorization status has been revoked or suspended because of fraudulent activity. OSHA's voluntary Outreach Training Program educates workers on the basics of occupational safety and health. Through the program, individuals who complete a one-week OSHA trainer course are authorized to teach 10-hour and 30-hour courses in construction or general industry safety and health hazard recognition and prevention.
New Construction Safety Standard Now Available
ANSI/ASSE A10.47-2009: "Work Zone Safety for Highway Construction"
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Approval Date: November 24, 2009
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Effective Date: February 24, 2010
Heightened public awareness and compliance with the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), as well as with OSHA and state regulations, can help create safer highway work zones, but as employers nationwide prepare for the 2010 construction season, SH&E professionals want to know how they can also incorporate national voluntary consensus standards into work zone safety programs.
Scope: This standard covers workers engaged in construction, utility work, maintenance, or repair activities on any area of a highway.
Purpose: Establishes the minimum requirements for the construction and maintenance of public and private highways and roads to achieve the following objectives:
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Prevent worker injuries and illnesses resulting from working in work zones.
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Establish safe work practices in highway work zones.
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Prevent vehicular crashes in highway work zones.
Click here for more information on the A10.47-2009 standard, "Work Zone Safety for Highway Construction."
EPA Lead-Safe Program Begins
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Lead-safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) program has begun.
By April 2010, all firms who disturb lead paint as part of their work in pre-1978 homes, schools, and other buildings must be EPA-certified. All of these jobs must be supervised by a certified renovator who has completed an EPA-accredited one-day training course, and other employees will have to receive specific on-the-job training. This new program will help reduce childhood lead poisoning by working lead-safe.
Tips to Stay Safe on the Job Site
“The Unknown Hazard to Electricity.” This video discusses arc blasts, which are a common hazard in the electrical industry. In the United States 5-10 of these explosions occur each day, seriously injuring over 2,000 workers each year. When these blasts occur, the electrical arcs produce some of the highest temperatures known on earth, up to 35,000°F!
Codes
Report From IEC at NEC Comments Meeting
December 2-12, 2009, IEC members attended the National Electrical Code (NEC) “comments meeting.” There were 34 Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. (IEC) code panel members in attendance, one member on each of the 19 panels. Each panel consists of approximately 10 to 15 expert representatives of manufacturers, users, inspectors, labor and installers (IEC member representatives).
This was the second stage of a three year process to develop the 2011 National Electrical Code. The first stage is the “proposal stage.” Over 5,000 proposals were submitted by the public and reviewed by panel members. In the second phase over 2,800 comments were received from the public responding to action the panel took in the first phase.
The third stage is the NFPA Annual Conference. At this meeting National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) members vote on the action of the code panels. Motions can be made at the annual meeting which can overturn the work of the code panels. IEC will be in attendance representing you at the NFPA Conference, June 7 – 10, 2010.
Did you know as an IEC member you can submit code requests? If you would like to present an issue for the code panel please contact John Masarick,
jmasarick@ieci.org.
BIM Will Transform ConstructionBuilding Information Modeling will transform the construction industry and disrupt it at the same time, writes Korky Koroluk. He notes that it will take some contractors time to adapt. "BIM is disruptive," he writes. "But the advantages it brings to the job site are too important to be ignored, even at a time when many are spooked by an uncertain economy."
Daily Commercial News (11/16)
Green Building Council Announces New LEED CreditsThe U.S. Green Building Council unveiled a library of new credits for its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. The six credits are being tested under a pilot program for LEED 2009. The new credits range from those for innovative ventilation to those for PBT source reduction.
Jetson Green
NFPA Launches New Web Pages to Streamline Access to Technical Document Information - Details on More Than 300 Codes and Standards Available
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) introduced improved document information Web pages to make finding information on its more than 300 codes and standards easier. This project was developed based on feedback received from a survey of NFPA’s technical committee members, the volunteers responsible for developing and revising NFPA documents, and other participants in the process
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