Materials for a construction project are crucial. Without them, the project will not get done. How can you protect these supplies and avoid substantial financial losses?
There are multiple options for contractors, but the right solution will depend on the project and your role. Most often contractors will turn to builder’s risk policies and installation floaters.
The dark clouds roll in. The warning siren sounds. Severe weather is coming…are you and your employees ready?
The storm may pass your site, causing little to no damage. But if you are caught in the heart of the tornado, the result could be catastrophic. You’ve seen the images. Entire towns wiped out in the path of a tornado. You can’t predict the outcome of a storm, but you can plan ahead to make sure your organization is disaster ready.
Each year, more than 300 deaths and 4,000 injuries in the workplace are caused by electrical hazards. From falls and burns to electric shock and even electrocution - contact with electrical energy is a serious danger to workers.
OSHA estimates that 5 million U.S. workers are required to wear respirators. These respirators protect workers from cancer, lung impairment, diseases, or even death caused by insufficient oxygen, harmful dusts, fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors, and sprays. Despite the abundant use of respirators, the standard for respiratory protection has been the fourth most frequently cited OSHA standard from 2011 to 2014.
Lockout/tagout (LOTO) is #5 on the list of most frequently cited OSHA standards with 2,704 violations. OSHA estimates that compliance with the standard could prevent 500,000 injuries and 120 fatalities a year. What can your company do to meet this standard and properly protect your workforce from the dangers of hazardous energy during the machine inspection and maintenance process?
According to OSHA, approximately 2.3 million construction workers frequently work on scaffolds. Scaffold-related accidents cause about 4,500 injuries and 50 deaths every year. They also result in $90 million in lost workdays. Taking steps to ensure compliance with the scaffolding standards could help employers protect workers and prevent significant costs.
Exposure to hazardous chemicals is a serious threat to workers. Employees have the right to know what chemicals are being used, their hazards, and how to safely handle them. OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard is intended to “improve the quality and consistency of hazard information, making it safer for workers to do their jobs and easier for employers to stay competitive,” as described by former U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.
Theft, fire, collision, upset, and overturn all threaten the equipment you depend on to deliver projects on time and within budget. Direct losses from contractor’s equipment are estimated to be over $1 billion annually. Even if just one piece of equipment is damaged or out of service, it can significantly impact your project’s timeline and cause productivity to suffer. What can you do to protect your equipment and control losses?
Active shooter incidents are scary. These stories flood the news and make us worry about the safety of our children. Yet despite its overwhelming presence in the media, active shooter incidents are not the highest cause of death in schools.
They are extremely serious matters. Schools should take steps to prevent active shooters and train staff on how to respond should an incident occur. But it is critical not to overlook the often quieter, more frequent causes of school fatalities such as school transportation, homicides, and suicides.
Fall protection for the construction industry has topped the OSHA list of most frequently cited standards year after year. In fact, falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry with 294 of the 796 fatalities in 2013 being attributed to falls. Yet these fatalities can be prevented. What can you do to protect your employees from fall hazards?
