The 78% increase in the Occupational Health and Safety Administration's penalty structure is now in effect, as are new reporting and record-keeping rules. OSHA is working hard to get the word out and offer employers guidance, but contractors should stay on top of OSHA's efforts.
Although the general level of safety for construction workers has improved over the years, this isn't true for catastrophic and fatal events. The resultant exposure of employers to penalties suggests that underlying assumptions for the industry's safety pyramid are due for a reassessment, write attorney Lawrence Dany and loss prevention specialist Ray Master.
AGC of America is proud to announce the launch of our 2017 project award competitions! The Alliant Build America Awards (including the Marvin M. Black Partnering Excellence category) and AGC in the Community competitions are now accepting applications. These programs recognize the nation's most impressive construction projects ranging across the building, highway and transportation, utility infrastructure, and federal and heavy divisions; those contractors excelling in their partnering and collaborative endeavors; and the charitable contractors and chapters giving back to their communities.
Citing a contractor's control over employees at a worksite and the payment of hourly wages, among other factors, a Connecticut judge ruled the contractor could not evade Occupational Safety and Health Administration fines by claiming the employees were independent contractors. The decision in a case involving Royal Construction of Canton, Conn., "upholds a basic tenet of the OSH Act, the employer/employee relationship," said Kim Stille, OSHA's regional administrator for New England. EHS Today
Contractors apparently now have more direct access to manufacturers, who are approaching them and going around the traditional middlemen. The practice is said to be more common with makers of lighting. One information technology consultant and three electrical contractors relate their experiences. TED Magazine
Employers reporting a workplace death or injury to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration should be cautious about submitting such information online, which could put them at risk of admitting fault, some lawyers say. "I don't know a single employer who completes an effective and thoughtful incident investigation in eight hours or 24 hours, so I think it's premature to commit in writing to some version of the incident," lawyer Eric Conn says. Business Insurance (tiered subscription model)
Contractors need to be well prepared when applying for insurance and surety bonding. Insurance experts offer their advice and insights on the essentials, including documentation, credit insurance and bonding capacity. The Construction Executive Blog
A positive work culture is key to employee well-being and will have bottom-line benefits for employers too, say Emma Seppala at Stanford University and Kim Cameron at the University of Michigan. They write in the Harvard Business Review that having a positive workplace culture increases positive emotions and well-being, improves employee relationships, increases workers' productivity and acts as a buffer against negative experiences such as stress. Harvard Business Review online (tiered subscription model)
Caterpillar has partnered with TORC Robotics to develop the next generation of remote-control construction equipment. The new skid steers, compact track and multiterrain loaders use autonomous vehicle technology, offering the operator more stability and control. "It responds immediately. The feel and response mirrors the operator controls of the machine itself," said Bob Shoop, Caterpillar product demonstrator/instructor. TotalLandscapeCare.net
Referring to real-world experiences, the National Safety Council's Campbell Institute has issued a report on best practices for contractor management, with a focus on safety and collaboration. The recommendations pertain to all five steps in the contractor life cycle, drawing on various companies' experiences to "help other employers establish safe contract relationships that run the gamut, from delivering mail to major construction projects," said Deborah Hersman, president of the National Safety Council. EHS Today