Date Posted: 05/11/2024

In 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised the existing Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) standard and aligned it with the United Nations (US) Globally Harmonized System (GHS). The GHS includes criteria for the classification of health, physical, and environmental hazards, as well as specifying what information should be included on labels of hazardous chemicals and safety data sheets.

Date Posted: 03/11/2024

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), workers exposed to extreme cold or working in cold environments may be at risk of cold stress.

Date Posted: 02/17/2024

Workers exposed to extreme heat or working in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. Exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries. For example, heat stress can result in heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes

Date Posted: 02/10/2024

Confined spaces, such as utility holes, crawl spaces, and tanks, are not designed for continuous occupancy and are difficult to exit in an emergency. People working in confined spaces face life-threatening hazards, including toxic atmospheres/substances, electrocutions, explosions, and asphyxiation.

Date Posted: 10/28/2023

OSHA estimates that more than 840,000 workers are exposed to silica levels that exceed the new permissible exposure limit (PEL) annually. Silica is found in many materials common on construction sites, including sand, concrete, rock, mortar, stone, and brick. When workers cut, grind, abrasive blast, jackhammer, or perform other tasks that disturb these materials, dust containing crystalline silica can be released into the air. Workers who inhale this dust are at risk.

Date Posted: 10/27/2023

Lead is a toxic, naturally occurring heavy metal. Traditionally in the construction industry, most over-exposures to lead have been found in the trades such as plumbing, welding, and painting.

Date Posted: 10/27/2023

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. Although it has no detectable odor, CO is often mixed with other gases that do have an odor. So, you can inhale carbon monoxide right along with gases that you can smell and not even know that CO is present.

Date Posted: 10/24/2023

Around 5,000 people from all industries die from asbestos-related diseases every year. According to the Washington State Department of Health, asbestos is a mineral fiber found in rocks and soil. It was once widely used in building materials and products to strengthen them and provide heat insulation and fire resistance. It is still used in some products today.

Date Posted: 09/24/2016

It is a misconception that most or all asbestos has been eliminated from buildings. It might be surprising that asbestos has been found in buildings built in the 1990’s and later. Awareness of asbestos is important.

Date Posted: 09/23/2016

Carbon monoxide gas is colorless, tasteless, odorless and non-irritating. It cannot be detected by any of the senses. Because it is not readily detected, employees can be exposed to very high levels without realizing there is a problem.

Date Posted: 09/22/2016

Construction workers can be exposed to extreme weather during the winter months. Cold weather can negatively affect a person’s senses; seeing, smelling, feeling. Productivity is difficult when a worker is cold. Therefore, it is important to choose clothing appropriate for the cold weather conditions.

Date Posted: 09/20/2016

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention requires a lot of coordination and onsite management lending itself to potential overlap and collaboration opportunities between sustainability and safety. There are a number of parallels between safety supervision and construction activity pollution prevention that can make a jobsite and the surrounding community safer.

Date Posted: 09/18/2016

Demolition is high-risk work and adequate preparations are required. Falls and premature collapse of structures are the greatest risk. Communication is the best line of defense to reduce injury.

Date Posted: 09/18/2016

Diesel engines provide power to a wide variety of vehicles, heavy equipment and machinery in a large number of industries such as construction, transportation, mining, agriculture and types of manufacturing operations.

Date Posted: 09/18/2016

Unexpected traffic delays can be avoided by following specific guidelines at the Traffic Control Zone.

Date Posted: 09/17/2016

It is critical to understand where electricity is located on a jobsite in order to avoid electrocutions of electrical workers.

Date Posted: 09/10/2016

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). This update will provide a common and clear approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information:

Date Posted: 09/07/2016

Green Building Indoor Air Quality Management helps ensure worker safety and reduces the risk of poor air quality to future users of the finished space. A common responsibility of a site safety coordinator.

Date Posted: 09/06/2016

OSHA estimates that approximately 838,000 workers in construction are potentially exposed to lead.

Date Posted: 05/30/2024

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, between 2011 and 2020, 39% of all electrically related workplace fatalities were caused by overhead power lines. 53% of all fatal electrical injuries occurred in the Construction industry. The Construction industry has remained the leading source of fatal electrical injuries, with 82, about three times the amount of the second-highest industry.