Construction
March 13, 2025
Cal/OSHA Amends Residential Construction Fall Protection Standard
California OSHA (Cal/OSHA) has amended its fall protection standards in residential construction and roofing. The amendments include making the fall protection height standard 6 feet instead of 15 feet, making it more uniform to align with federal OSHA standards, and removing the term “impractical” and replacing it with “infeasible” within certain fall protection requirements. This...
February 25, 2025
2025 Construction Industry Trends
Several trends look to impact the construction industry in 2025. As such, construction business leaders should monitor these developments and adjust their risk management programs accordingly. Trends to watch include: Economic Headwinds While the overall inflation rate has cooled from its recent highs, it continues to influence a range of costs in the construction industry....
January 30, 2025
National Census Shows Construction Industry Had Most Fatalities Among All Sectors in 2023
The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released information from its National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for 2023. Overall, there were 5,283 fatal work injuries in the United States, with a fatal work injury rate of 3.5 fatalities per 100,00 full-time equivalent workers. The data also showed that the construction industry...
December 19, 2024
Vacant Property Risks
Vacant construction sites face the risks of theft, trespassing, fires and other hazards. Potential losses might include the value of damaged or stolen materials, the liability of an individual being injured on the property, and the costs of organizational disruptions if an essential piece of equipment is vandalized or taken. The insurance risks and liabilities...
November 27, 2024
Strategies for Maintaining Safety Standards Amid a Labor Shortage
The construction industry faces a critical labor shortage, with over three-quarters of contractors struggling to fill open positions. Approximately 80 percent of these contractors cite the lack of skilled, experienced workers as a significant safety and health risk to their employees. The sector’s safety challenges are underscored by government data identifying construction as the industry with...
November 21, 2024
Working Safely in Cold Weather
Workers exposed to cold conditions are at risk of hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration and muscle injuries. To prevent injuries and illness while working in winter weather, it’s crucial to understand safety considerations related to cold exposure. Signs of Cold-related Injury and Illness If you or a co-worker have any of the following symptoms, get indoors and...
October 24, 2024
Preventing the Top 4 Construction Hazards
Construction is one of the most hazardous industries in the United States. Many injuries on construction sites are caused by falls, struck-by incidents, caught-in-between incidents and electrocutions. The following are basic safety tips for avoiding these hazards and remaining injury-free: Preventing Falls Preventing Struck-by Incidents Preventing Caught-in-Between Hazards Preventing Electrocutions For more information, speak to...
October 15, 2024
OSHA Announces Top 10 Violations for 2024
OSHA recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2024 fiscal year using preliminary data. This information is valuable for businesses of all kinds, as it helps them identify common exposures that affect their workforce and gives them the information they need to plan their compliance programs. For 2024, the top 10...
October 3, 2024
Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges in the Construction Industry
The construction industry is continuously moving toward digitization, adopting advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT) and Building Information Modeling software. These innovations help to automate tasks, reduce waste and improve efficiency, productivity and safety. However, this shift also brings significant cybersecurity risks. As construction companies increasingly rely on digital tools...
September 26, 2024
Proposed OSHA Heat Injury and Illness Prevention Standard
OSHA recently published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register regarding heat injury and illness prevention. If finalized, the new standard would apply to all employers conducting indoor and outdoor work in all general industry, construction, maritime and agricultural sectors where OSHA has jurisdiction, subject to limited exceptions. It would also be the...