Each year OSHA releases the 10 most frequently cited standards. Many of the same standards have found themselves on this list in recent years. The penalty for violating these, and any, OSHA standards is about to increase for the first time since 1990.

What is it? Can you use it? Why would you want to use it or not? If you are a subcontractor, do you want to be in an SDI program? So many questions…

Unless you’ve been buried underneath a pile of bidding documents or work in process reports, you’ve likely taken notice of the volatility in the stock market over the last few weeks. A correction, as I’m told.

Pollution liability should not be overlooked. Claims, and the costs associated with those claims, can be expensive. They can test the financial stability of even the best of companies.

Crawl spaces, sewers, boilers, manholes. Individuals working in confined spaces such as these are exposed to life-threatening physical and atmospheric hazards.

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 construction industry has done a good job of focusing on safety and quality. This mindset has been driven down to the smallest of contractors. They know safety and quality not only impact what work they can secure and for which owners and contractors they can work, but it also drives the cost of their insurance program. Prequalifying contractors based on their safety experience and program is the norm.

The prequalification process, however, should not be limited to safety. Financial prequalification should receive adequate attention as well.

In the construction industry, it seems you are either asking someone to sign a contract or being asked to sign a contract daily. With so many contracts, and the complexity involved, it can often be difficult to accurately assess your risk exposures. Yet oversights and mistakes in this process can be extremely costly.

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.

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?