Owner’s representation on construction projects is an increasingly popular approach in the construction industry. An engineer is appointed as a representative of the owner and manages the project from site selection through construction and close-out. This approach is particularly useful for owners who lack the time, expertise or resources to manage a construction project on their own. We will discuss the benefits of owner’s representation on construction projects and the role of the engineer in managing such projects.

Mental health is an essential component of overall health and well-being and it is crucial to ensure that it is prioritized in all industries, including the construction industry. The construction industry is known to have a high risk of accidents and injuries, which can have a significant impact on the mental health of workers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers to administer annual medical clearances and an approved fit test to ensure their employees are protected from inhaling harmful contaminants.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a revised Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program on January 27, 2023. Any combustible material can burn rapidly when in a finely divided form. If such a dust is suspended in air in the right concentration, under certain conditions, it can become explosible. The purpose of the revised emphasis program is to continue OSHA inspections of facilities that generate or handle combustible dusts likely to cause fire, flash fire, deflagration and explosion hazards.

Industrial hygiene and diversity and inclusion are two important concepts that play a significant role in creating a safe and inclusive workplace environment. Industrial hygiene refers to the science of identifying, assessing and controlling workplace hazards that could cause illness, injury or damage to the health of employees. Diversity and inclusion, on the other hand, refers to creating a workplace culture that is accepting, respectful and supportive of individuals from diverse backgrounds.

No matter how frequently the control of hazardous energy is featured on OSHA’s annual list of the Top 10 Most Cited Violations (#6 for 2022), lockout/tagout fails to receive the attention it deserves at many manufacturing facilities and remains a black eye for safety programs across the nation.  Because LOTO procedures take time, the process impacts production and ultimately undermines the bottom line.

As with all areas of our life, technology continues to provide new methods for doing existing tasks and Audiometric testing is no stranger to these strides.  Previously we required a 40 foot trailer to provide the equipment and software necessary to do Audiometric testing.
Now, with our “Boothless” equipment, we’ve gone from a 40 foot trailer to a 21 inch rollaboard and a carry on bag.

Electrical safety is an important consideration for colleges and universities, as many aspects of campus life rely on electrical power, including classrooms, dormitories and as well as research and athletic facilities. Safety measures should be put in place to ensure the health and wellbeing of students, faculty and staff, and to protect against electrical fires, electrical shock and static spark, as well as other hazards.

In the General Industry Standard, OSHA does not go into great depth about who is qualified to work on or near energized electrical equipment.

According to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.399, a “Qualified Person” is defined as “one who has received training in and has demonstrated skills and knowledge in the construction and operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved.” So how does the employer determine and record who is a “Qualified Person”?

As an environmental consultant who specializes in assisting industrial clients with air permitting services, I get several calls per year from environmental compliance managers along the lines of the following:

– Management desires to add a new process/modify an existing process/add new equipment.

– The unit(s) have already been purchased and will be delivered to the site next week/month/real soon.

– I need to make sure we have any permits we need and are in compliance with all environmental regulations ASAP!

Occupational back injuries account for greater than one million injuries each year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Such injuries can result in lost time, reduced productivity, increased demands on other workers, costs for medical treatment and insurance premiums and adverse effects on the quality of life for the person affected. Because of this alarming number of back injuries and the detrimental effects for both the employee and employer, prevention is key, along with awareness of the causes and solutions. 

In today’s workplace, safety and compliance training is more important than ever. Having a comprehensive program in place is essential to protecting your employees and customers as well as your business. Safety training and compliance can help reduce workplace accidents and injuries, protect the environment and prevent legal liabilities. In order to accomplish this, EI recommends using the “Triple T” method when developing training: Tailored, Transparent and Timely. 

OSHA describes arc flash as “a phenomenon where a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to ground. The results are often violent and when a human is in close proximity to the arc flash, serious injury and even death can occur.” I had never experienced what an arc flash incident looked like until I attended EI’s NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) 70E training course and saw a video example of this phenomenon.

Even though it is a New Year and we are in the middle of winter, there is no time like the present to prepare for the inevitable hotter months to come, as well as potential heat-related illnesses that impact your workforce.  Many of you may be unaware that last April, OSHA added Outdoor and Indoor Heat-Related Hazards to its National Emphasis Program (NEP). This pioneering effort reinforces OSHA’s advanced notice of proposed rulemaking issued in October 2021 which marks the development of a standard that protects indoor and outdoor workers from hazardous heat. While most of us remain bundled up in our winter coats, employers can start acting now to ensure controls are in place for employees during the summer heat as well as remain prepared for OSHA heat-related inspections.

On Monday of this week, three people were killed, and two others injured after a scaffolding collapse at a construction site in Charlotte, North Carolina. All work at the site was halted after the victims fell approximately 70 feet when the scaffolding came apart. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is assisting with the investigation as to the cause of the collapse. A similar incident occurred in 2015 when three construction workers were killed when scaffolding collapsed as it was being dismantled at a high-rise construction site in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina.

Twas the night before the largest (and only) product distribution event of the year and the facility, in the coldest climate on Earth, was abuzz with bustle and frenzied activity.   Employees of shall we say “a smaller stature,” were busy transporting  parcels, both large and small, from infinite rows of shelving to the plant’s loading docks and onto an awaiting magical sled via forklifts.   Of course, all of these smaller stature employees were over 18 years of age in accordance with OSHA’s 29 CFR 1910.178 standard for Powered Industrial Trucks.