Preparing for the Next Downturn: Lessons Learned From the Great Recession (Part 2 of 4)
The E&C industry has endured seismic shifts during the past decade and is still going strong in 2019. Rumblings about a recession on the horizon are starting to make company leaders a bit nervous, but many are just too busy keeping up with current work to start thinking about contingency planning. In fact, the constrained […]
Keep Calm, Stay Focused and Get Ahead of the Next Downturn (Part 1 of 4)
2018 marked another strong and dynamic year for the North American built environment, with total U.S. engineering and construction (E&C) spending growth expected to finish at 5%, the same as in the previous year. Through 2019, FMI expects E&C spending to continue to grow at an anticipated 3% annual rate, with mostly positive, albeit moderately […]
Getting Creative With Job Modifications
Disabilities are as individual as the employees experiencing them. A disability can be temporary, such as an employee returning to work after an injury; or can be permanent, such as an employee who has spinal injuries after a car accident or a disease affecting hearing, sight or mobility. PTSD and other mental health issues are […]
4 Common Mistakes in Testing Confined Spaces
“Don’t get too comfortable working in confined spaces, and never take safety for granted,” says EMC Senior Industrial Hygienist Craig Black. Following his advice may well save lives. There are a number of ways for you to keep employees safe when entering and working in a confined space. Prevent these common mistakes as you also […]
Top 5 Causes of Loss in 2018
While reviewing EMC loss data for 2018, EMC Risk Improvement Senior Engineer Paul Porter points out that there are various ways to examine the information. “You can look at total dollars lost and find a few big fires, tornadoes or hurricanes that really push up property losses. Or you can look at the number of […]
Incentive Programs, Post-Incident Drug Testing Not Prohibited, OSHA says
Post-incident drug testing and safety incentive programs are not prohibited under the anti-retaliation provisions in OSHA’s electronic record keeping rule, the agency has clarified in an Oct. 11 memorandum sent to regional administrators and state designees. As part of its Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses final rule issued in May 2016, OSHA states […]
OSHA restores Site-Specific Targeting Program
OSHA is reviving its Site-Specific Targeting Program and will be using the initial set of data collected from its electronic record-keeping rule to identify workplaces with high injury and illness rates, the agency recently announced. The SST program directs OSHA enforcement resources to “high injury rate establishments” – based on 2016 data from Form 300A […]
Loss Control Insights for Contractors: 5 Keys to Winterizing Your Jobsites
There was a time when the arrival of winter meant the end of building season in many parts of the country, but technological innovations, such as ground thaw machines and more effective cold-weather protection, have allowed many trades to continue working year-round despite the freezing weather and snow. To minimize interruptions, injuries and property damage […]
DISTRACTED DRIVING
Commercial Fleet Managers in all industry groups, including the wood and lumber industry, have growing concerns regarding the issue of distracted driving. Distracted driving relates to any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. Driver distractions could include one or […]
HOT WORK
One of the most prevalent causes of fire and explosion losses within the United States is open flames and sparks. Open flames and sparks, often referred to as “hot work,” includes a number of operations such as applying roofing materials, brazing, welding, cutting, grinding, soldering, and in many Northern areas, thawing of frozen pipes. All […]
