A 59-year-old construction foreman suffered a fatal fall from the leading edge of a roof deck despite wearing fall PPE. Investigators found that his employer failed to train him on how to use the equipment. Washington State Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation (FACE) program investigators determined that the foreman used a fall-arrest system that was […]
Failure to properly train employees and the use of older mobile equipment that lacks up-to-date safety features can be a lethal combination. Employees using heavy equipment need to be thoroughly trained to operate these vehicles safely. This is especially critical when heavy equipment of an older design is in use because these vehicles could have […]
A construction company owner and foreman were convicted of homicide and other charges in relation to a fatal wall collapse at a New York City worksite. Jiaxi “Jimmy” Liu, owner of WSC Group Inc., and Wilson Garcia Jr., a foreman for the company, were both convicted at trial for the death of Luis Almonte Sanchez, […]
OSHA has joined with a task force of construction industry employers, unions and educators to help raise awareness about the high rate of suicide among construction workers. The task force seeks to highlight the work stresses seen as the causes of depression and suicidal thoughts and acts among workers in the construction industry, according to […]
A 42-year-old construction laborer died when he fell 25 feet as he was climbing the cross braces of a scaffold, according to a new report on the incident. The laborer was new to the trade and had only received informal on-the-job training, the Aug. 29 Washington State Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation (FACE) Program report […]
Believe it or not, EPA may add polyvinyl chloride (PVC) piping to its hazardous waste list! A court ruled EPA must reconsider a 2014 petition to regulate PVC, vinyl chloride and associated phthalate plasticizers under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Rulemaking would end dumping PVC in landfills Suffice to say, such a move would […]
Falls from elevations are the most common cause of death for construction workers and the annual National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction highlights this entirely preventable hazard. This year, the week-long event from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) takes place May 2 through May 6. The Stand-Down is an opportunity […]
A Florida construction contractor was fined $50,000 for lying to OSHA following two inspections in October and December 2017. Alcir DeSouza, owner of DeSouza Framing Inc., pleaded guilty Jan. 26 to a felony count of making a false statement during an OSHA investigation. The court found DeSouza lied to OSHA inspectors after the agency conducted […]
Three Washington roofing contractors are facing more than $750,000 in fines for fall protection violations at different worksites across the state. All three companies are accused of allowing their employees to work on rooftops of homes without using fall protection and other safety-related violations. Allways Roofing, Wilson Roofing & Construction, and Valentine Roofing – all […]
