Construction Division

RSS

Hong Kong – Night shift workers are at an increased risk of becoming obese or overweight, according to new research by Chinese and Dutch scientists.

Philadelphia – Staffing agencies that hire temporary workers need to be regulated more vigorously, and employers that use those agencies should carry a heavier load of responsibility for workers’ safety, a trio of Temple University law students concluded in a recent report examining how staffing agencies and host employers may “pass the buck” to get around proper safety training and other requirements.

New York – The New York City Council, after eight months of bill editing, on Sept. 27 unanimously approved legislation establishing construction safety training requirements and programming.

Washington – NIOSH is seeking input on a draft of its National Occupational Research Agenda for Construction, a document intended to identify the research, information and actions “most urgently needed” to prevent injuries and illness in the construction industry from 2016 to 2026.

Washington – Employers who are found to be acting in “good faith” will have an additional 30 days to comply with OSHA’s Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Standard, according to a Sept. 20 memorandum from the agency.

Silver Spring, MD – Workers who frequently drill concrete can reduce their exposure to noise, silica and vibration by regularly replacing dull drill bits with new, sharp ones, according to a recent study from the Center for Construction Research and Training, also known as CPWR.

Washington – Environmental heat exposure should remain a concern even as summer winds down, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is reminding employers and employees.

Washington – OSHA is seeking a one-year delay on crane operator certification requirements scheduled to go into effect in November.

As expected, potential regulatory action from OSHA has been cut by more than half, according to the Department of Labor's most recent regulatory agenda.

Toronto – Standing for long periods of time at work may double your risk for developing heart disease, according to researchers from the Institute for Work and Health and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences.