Masonry Magazine August 2011 Page. 47
INDUSTRY NEWS
Please submit your news and events to:
jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com
OSHA: Homebuilders Need Safety Knowledge
Fall protection standards are tightening for homebuilders nationwide, and Minnesota is enforcing greater compliance before the national deadline. According to a top safety publishing executive, the key to meeting these tight compliance deadlines lies in a firm commitment to safety training.
"The new fall-protection compliance deadlines set by both OSHA and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry are extremely tight," says Benjamin Mangan, president of MAN-COMM, a national safety and compliance publishing company. "Busy residential building contractors may find these deadlines daunting, but as with most business initiatives, knowledge is power. The first step to meeting these compliance objectives lies in training workers immediately so that everyone is on the same page. When it comes to safety, everyone has to see eye-to-eye. Teamwork is absolutely essential."
Compliance deadlines
On June 9, 2011, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced a three-month phase-in period to allow residential construction employers to come into compliance with regulation 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), requiring home builders to provide residential construction workers with fall protection. Nationally, the phase-in period runs June 16 to Sept. 15, 2011. Homebuilders have been following an old OSHA directive, STD 03-00-001, and during the phase-in period, OSHA will not issue citations, but will, instead, issue hazard alert letters to employers, informing them of methods they can use to update their compliance.
Sept. 15 may seem like a tight deadline, but in Minnesota, the deadline already has been passed. The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry stepped up the deadline in their state, stating that "Effective June 16, 2011, employers must follow 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13), which states each employee engaged in residential construction activities six feet (1.8 m) or more above lower levels shall be protected by a guardrail system, safety net system or personal fall-arrest system unless another provision in paragraph (b) of this section provides for an alternate fall-protection measure."
Strict, but necessary, measure
Mangan notes that, while these deadlines may seem strict, the resulting greater level of compliance is well worth the extra effort. "Inadequate fall protection in the workplace only leads to heavy OSHA fines and worse, employee injuries and deaths," he says.
The U.S. Department of Labor lists falls as one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational death, accounting for eight percent of all workplace trauma fatalities. Figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveal that over one-third of the 645 work-related fatal falls in 2009 involved falls from roofs or ladders. According to OSHA, any time a work-
Atlas Copco Acquires Gesan
Atlas Copco SAE has acquired Grupo Electrógenos GESAN SA. of Spain, a manufacturer of diesel and petrol generators sold through a global distributor network. The deal strengthens Atlas Copco's product portfolio, especially for customers in emerging markets.
Gesan had revenues in 2010 of MEUR 56 (MSEK
Atlas Copco
Caption: Geert Follens, president of Atlas Copco Portable Energy,
and Luis San Gil, former president of Gesan
510). The company employs about 160 people and is based in Zaragoza, Spain, where it has a production and assembly facility. Its generators are used for primary power supply and for standby purposes, ranging in sizes up to nearly twice as high as Atlas Copco's current offering. The distributor network reaches more than 85 countries, with Europe, Africa and Russia as the most important markets.
Atlas Copco will keep the Gesan brand in line with its brand portfolio strategy. The Group also sells generators under the Atlas Copco and Chicago Pneumatic brands. Atlas Copco's generator business operates within the Portable Energy division (formerly Portable Air), which since July 1 is part of the Construction Technique business area.
COMING IN SEPTEMBER 2011
Be sure to catch the September 2011 issue of Masonry, which will feature articles covering current trends and examining industry issues, including:
MIXERS, PUMPS & DELIVERY SYSTEMS
Mixers, pumps and delivery systems can perform well on the jobsite, withstand vigorous use and reduce labor costs. Masonry reports.
CONNECTORS, ANCHORS & FASTENERS
Masonry examines various trends and issues addressed by the connectors, anchors and fasteners industry.
CODES & STANDARDS
Adhering to codes and standards is a part of life for mason contractors. Learn about one manufacturer's approach to following these sometimes-stringent rules.
For advertising information, contact
Marvin Diamond
770.431.0867, ext. 208
Toll-free: 888.303.5639
E-mail: marvin@otpub.com
August 2011
MASONRY 45