Date Posted: 02/10/2024

Confined spaces, such as utility holes, crawl spaces, and tanks, are not designed for continuous occupancy and are difficult to exit in an emergency. People working in confined spaces face life-threatening hazards, including toxic atmospheres/substances, electrocutions, explosions, and asphyxiation.

Date Posted: 10/28/2023

OSHA estimates that more than 840,000 workers are exposed to silica levels that exceed the new permissible exposure limit (PEL) annually. Silica is found in many materials common on construction sites, including sand, concrete, rock, mortar, stone, and brick. When workers cut, grind, abrasive blast, jackhammer, or perform other tasks that disturb these materials, dust containing crystalline silica can be released into the air. Workers who inhale this dust are at risk.

Date Posted: 10/27/2023

Lead is a toxic, naturally occurring heavy metal. Traditionally in the construction industry, most over-exposures to lead have been found in the trades such as plumbing, welding, and painting.

Date Posted: 10/27/2023

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous, colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. Although it has no detectable odor, CO is often mixed with other gases that do have an odor. So, you can inhale carbon monoxide right along with gases that you can smell and not even know that CO is present.

Date Posted: 09/23/2016

Carbon monoxide gas is colorless, tasteless, odorless and non-irritating. It cannot be detected by any of the senses. Because it is not readily detected, employees can be exposed to very high levels without realizing there is a problem.

Date Posted: 09/20/2016

Construction Material Salvage typically requires the deconstruction of a building in a way that preserves building materials for future reuse. The salvage of lumber, bricks, steel, windows, stone, floor coverings, ornamental items, etc. are common, if in good condition, for the reuse in new structures. It is becoming more necessary as virgin materials are more expensive. The reuse of salvaged materials also reduces unnecessary landfilling.

Date Posted: 09/20/2016

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention requires a lot of coordination and onsite management lending itself to potential overlap and collaboration opportunities between sustainability and safety. There are a number of parallels between safety supervision and construction activity pollution prevention that can make a jobsite and the surrounding community safer.

Date Posted: 09/18/2016

Demolition is high-risk work and adequate preparations are required. Falls and premature collapse of structures are the greatest risk. Communication is the best line of defense to reduce injury.

Date Posted: 09/18/2016

Diesel engines provide power to a wide variety of vehicles, heavy equipment and machinery in a large number of industries such as construction, transportation, mining, agriculture and types of manufacturing operations.

Date Posted: 09/07/2016

Green Building Indoor Air Quality Management helps ensure worker safety and reduces the risk of poor air quality to future users of the finished space. A common responsibility of a site safety coordinator.

Date Posted: 09/06/2016

OSHA estimates that approximately 838,000 workers in construction are potentially exposed to lead.

Date Posted: 09/06/2016

Lumber Reuse focuses on the removal of old wooden beams, columns, decking, studs, and ornamental woodworks for the reuse in new structures. It is becoming more common as virgin wood products are more expensive and the appearance can often be more attractive. The reuse of salvaged lumber products also reduces unnecessary material from being sent to the landfill.

Date Posted: 09/04/2016

Summer is the season when many people want their houses repainted. In the Northwest, we get very few opportunities with good weather. It is important to not be in too much of a hurry that safety concerns are overlooked.

Date Posted: 09/02/2016

Electrical generators can save lives by maintaining heat, light, refrigeration and medical equipment during a power outage. These devices can be hazardous if not utilized properly. The following information outlines the specific hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning inherent with the use of generators.

Date Posted: 08/31/2016

Rainwater Collection & Storage can be used instead of potable (drinking) water for things like irrigation or flushing toilets.

Date Posted: 08/29/2016

We want to protect your body and lungs. When all other engineering and work place practice controls are exhausted, then respirators will be worn when the employee is exposed to harmful dusts, fumes, gases, mists, vapors, and sprays that are above the permitted exposure limits.

Date Posted: 08/24/2016

Silica is found in many materials common on construction sites, including sand, concrete, rock, mortar, and brick. When workers cut, grind, abrasive blast, jackhammer or perform other tasks that disturb these materials, dust containing crystalline silica can released into the air. Workers who inhale this dust are at risk. Silica can cause serious, sometimes fatal illnesses including a lung disease called silicosis, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Date Posted: 08/14/2016

One of the most significant health hazards in the welding process is the generation of fumes and gasses. A new welder was assigned to an area where he had never worked before. After welding pipe for several hours, he began to feel ill. As the day progressed, his flu like symptoms worsened and he became lethargic. Metal Fume Fever was the result from welding on galvanized steel.