Brilliant Expansion Project: January 2006

Skanska leads in rail project for Ground Zero

Skanska leads in rail project for Ground Zero
Skanska USA Civil, the Queens-based unit of Swedish construction firm Skanska AB, is one of the leading firms in a joint venture that won a $1.1 billion contract to build a rail transit hub at Ground Zero.

The joint venture, named Phoenix Constructors, comprises Skanska and Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based Fluor Corp. as the lead companies with a 32.5% interest each, along with Watsonville, Calif.-based Granite Construction Inc. and London-based Bovis Lend Lease.

Hazards exposed: A look through the OSHA lens

Hazards exposed: A look through the OSHA lens - Minnesota OSHA
The following photos of imminent danger situations were taken by Minnesota OSHA staff members during 2002 and 2003. An imminent danger is any condition or practice that presents a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could occur immediately or before the danger can be eliminated through normal enforcement procedures. MNOSHA becomes aware of these situations through reports received from employees, the general public or direct observation by an investigator.

Photo 10
"Best of the worst"*

January Safety Meeting, open forum and tool draw

Hazards of Manually Lifting Balloon Framed Walls

Hazards of Manually Lifting Balloon Framed Walls - U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Calumet City Area Office investigated an accident where the weight of a balloon framed wall became too heavy for the employees raising the wall, and the wall collapsed back onto the employees. OSHA's Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) data from July 1999 through July 2004 recorded 21 additional incidents involving the collapse of balloon framed walls. As a result of these 22 incidents, five employees died and 28 employees were injured, 16 of whom required hospitalization.

Balloon Framing

Balloon framing involves the placement of framed walls (generally over 10 feet in height) that run the entire vertical length from the structure's floor sill plate to the roof. Balloon framed walls have been raised for years using manual labor. However, over the years framed walls have become heavier due to contemporary construction designs. Many contractors have developed guidelines for employees raising such walls. However, these guidelines are not consistent and often rely heavily on the foreman guessing the weight of the wall and estimating the number of employees necessary to perform the lift.

Study: 15 Percent of U.S. Work Force Under the Influence of Alcohol

Study: 15 Percent of U.S. Work Force Under the Influence of Alcohol - Occupational Hazards
The study, conducted by the University of Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions, estimates that 2.3 million workers (1.8 percent of the work force) have consumed alcohol at least once before coming to work and 8.9 million workers (7.1 percent of the work force) have drank alcohol at least once during the workday. Most workers who drink during the workday do so during lunch breaks, though some drink while working or during other breaks, according to the study.
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Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace - U.S. Department of Labor
Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace is a U.S. Department of Labor initiative that raises awareness about the impact drugs and alcohol have on the workplace and provides information on how to establish drug-free workplace programs that protect worker safety and health.

Australia: 90 meters up, why no safety harness?

this fatality was referenced by WorkSafeBC - Safety at Work Construction Information - Sun Jan 8, 2006 -- additional info was obtained by querrying Google News for "scaffolder"

Why no harness - By LARISSA CUMMINGS, Daily Telegraph, Australia
"I was a scaffolder myself and I've seen too many people killed," he said. "They were the only two sons I had and now half my family's dead.

"I didn't want to let them go into scaffolding, but Paul wanted to follow in my footsteps."

Mr Hughes said he was aware his son was not wearing a safety harness but said it was virtually impossible for a scaffolder to work while clipped to one.

"When a bloke is building scaffolding, he needs the freedom of his body to do that job," he said.
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Mr Whitehead said Mr Hughes's death could prompt the industry to introduce intermediate decks for scaffolders, similar to those being used in Victoria.

"This will be the catalyst for a major shake-up of the building industry," he said.

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Scaffolder's death prompts calls to scrap IR changes - ABC Regional Online, Australia
The construction union says such tragedies could happen more frequently because new legislation will give unions less access to inspect workplaces.

Mr Hughes' father, Frank, says he is devastated by the loss.

'Every man that comes to a job, his birth right is to come home from a job,' he said.

'I learned that a very, very long time ago because I've been in the building industry all my life and I learned that a long time ago if you go to work, you're entitled to come home.'