Individual Safety Fraud
Individual Surety Fraud: The Damage is Lasting Last month, a federal jury in North Carolina convicted a longtime individual-surety con artist, Dennis Lyon, who received a long prison term for fraud. The court also ordered Lyon and his co-defendants to repay millions of dollars to contractors and public works agencies. Lyon has the right to […]
Protecting Your Feet
Choosing the Right Footwear for the Job Your employees’ feet are in danger every day, and one of your jobs is to help protect them. Depending on your workplace, dangers can come from: · Sharp or heavy objects workers might step on or get dropped on them · Hot or cold environments · Wet, slippery or electrified surfaces […]
OSHA Fatal Four #4: Caught In Between
“Caught in-between” hazards kill workers in a variety of ways. These include: cave-ins and other hazards of excavation work; body parts pulled into unguarded machinery; standing within the swing radius of cranes and other construction equipment; caught between equipment & fixed objects. EXCAVATION AND TRENCHING HAZARDS Excavation hazards are common on construction sites. These workers […]
OSHA’s Fatal Four Part 3: Electrocution
OSHA’s 2016 list of the top ten most frequently sited safety and health violations reflects a list that has changed very little over the past 50 years, meaning we aren’t learning the basics. This is the third in a four part series covering the OSHA’s FATAL FOUR and how you can prevent them on your […]
OSHA’s Fatal Four Part 2: Struck By Object
Employers can do more to prevent fatal struck-by injuries in the construction sector, according to a report released Wednesday. Struck-by hazards are a major cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries in construction, with 804 construction workers dying from struck-by injuries, more than any other major industry, during the period of 2011 to 2015, according to a […]
OSHA’s Fatal Four Part 1: Falls
Back in October of 2016, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a preliminary list of the ten most frequently cited safety and health violations for the fiscal year. The data was compiled from nearly 32,000 inspections of workplaces by federal OSHA staff. On the OSHA blog, where they first reported the list, OSHA […]
SAFELY OPERATING AND WORKING AROUND HEAVY EQUIPMENT
Heavy equipment designed to handle large loads can be dangerous if not operated properly. Operators need to remain alert and know how to properly use the equipment, while bystanders should be aware of their surroundings. OPERATOR TIPS • Only operate the equipment if you’ve been trained • Check the brakes and other controls prior to […]
Risk Transfer: Subcontractor Agreements & Insurance Verification
Risk Transfer: Subcontractor Agreements & Insurance Verification The purpose of a good subcontractor agreement is to spell out the responsibilities and transfer risk to the appropriate party. A good Risk Transfer preserves your assets, including your insurance limits. Here are some best practices you may want to consider for a successful Risk Transfer. 1. Have […]
Contractors get ready for OSHA’s New Silica Rule
OSHA’s new silica standard for construction went into effect on Sept. 23. Contractors who engage in activities that create silica dust (respirable crystalline silica) such as by cutting, grinding or blasting materials like concrete, stone and brick, must meet a stricter standard for how much of that dust workers inhale. The same goes for subcontractors or […]
The hidden expenses of trenching and excavation
The excavation phase of any construction project can be one of the most dangerous stages of construction. Because of this, it is imperative that safety is key from beginning to end. Without it, the consequences can be deadly…and costly. There have been numerous accounts of hefty fines (a recent fine in Boston was for $1.5 […]