Construction's "Fatal Four"
OSHA and our region's construction industry partners have initiated a "Focus Four Hazards" campaign throughout OSHA's Region III's jurisdiction. We encourage you and your leadership to participate in this four month cooperative initiative being launched in February 2017. The goal of this campaign is to raise awareness in the recognition, evaluation, and control of these hazards. As noted below, the Focus Four Hazards account for the vast majority of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry. We will be sending a series of Focus Four Tool-Box Talks (starting with Electrical Tool-Box Talks) as well as a sample trainer's tool. The additional Tool-Box talks will be sent in subsequent months (March, April, May) culminating in May in coordination with OSHA's 2017 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction (May 8th through May 12th). To access this month's materials click here.
Why is being heart healthy important for the construction industry? Direct and indirect costs of cardiovascular diseases and stroke total more than $316.6 billion. That includes health expenditures and lost productivity. At the same time, construction workers are increasingly overweight. The Centers for Disease Control notes that 71 percent of construction workers were either obese or overweight compared to 63 percent for all industries combined. Obesity increases the risk for injuries and illnesses, including heart disease. Click Here to learn more and find out ways you can help fight our nation's #1 killer.
TOOLS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH
NIOSH
Noise Sound Level Meter App
Hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States, one especially prevalent in the construction sector. A new, free iPhone App developed by the National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) turns your iPhone into a sound meter. The NIOSH Sound Level Meter App enables workers and safety personnel to take real-time noise measurements on construction sites -- CLICK HERE to learn more and to download a copy.
Bob McCall
Director of Safety
Master Builders' Association