The Focus Four Hazards in Construction training program is offered free at various locations nationwide due to the Susan Harwood Training Grant from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  The Focus Four Hazards in Construction are falls, electrocutions, struck-by's and caught-in's. These hazards account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry, and this information was used to develop the training program.  Over the last 11 years, on average, 640 workers were killed despite OSHA standards and special emphasis enforcement programs.Visit www.agc.org/focusfour for training dates near you.For more information, contact Michele Myers at (703) 837-5410 or myersm@agc.org.

On January 26, 2009, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published an announcement to hold public hearing on Crane and Derricks in Construction. The public hearings for Crane and Derricks in Construction will be held in Washington D.C. on March 17, 2009.Anyone who intends to testify at the public hearing must notify the Agency in writing by February 13, 2009.  If the testimony will be longer than ten minutes, or if documentary evidence will be submitted, that information must be submitted to the Agency by March 3, 2009. For more information on the history of the Crane and Derricks in Construction proposed rule and AGC’s comments during the C-DAC process or the SBREFA panel, click here. Also, visit AGC Advocacy to review regulations and comments submitted by AGC on Safety and Health regulations throughout the year.Please contact Michele Myers at (703) 837-5410 or myersm@agc.org, if you have any questions.Previous AGC Safety and Health Newsletter articles related to the same topic:AGC Comments and Requests Public Hearings on Proposed Crane and Derricks StandardOSHA Grants Extension for Public Comments on Crane and DerricksOSHA Publishes Crane and Derrick Proposal

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), for the seventh year in a row, has partnered with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to offer the FREE Susan Harwood Grant training seminars! The Focus Four Hazards in Construction, covers falls, electrocutions, struck-by's, and caught-between’s, which account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry.AGC will be offering the Focus Four Hazards in Construction Training Seminar in 14 Chapter locations this year. The first class will be held at the Omni San Diego Hotel on January 13, 2009.Topics that will be covered:Focus Four Hazard StatisticsOSHA standards and industry best practices to abate Focus Four HazardsHow to identify locations of Focus Four HazardsSelection and criteria of Focus Four Hazards safety systems and equipmentTraining requirements for Focus Four HazardsThe FREE Focus Four Hazards training seminar will assist you in lowering your risk of falls or injuries on the job site. Click here to register or for additional details contact Raj Vohra at vohrar@agc.org or call (703) 837-5409.For a full list of Focus Four Hazards in Construction Training Seminar locations and dates, please visit our Susan Harwood Grant Training Seminar page.

The Occupational safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published an information collection (paperwork reduction) requirement (ICR) for Blasting and the Use of Explosives on December 8, 2008. OSHA is soliciting public comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the ICR specified in the Standard on Blasting and the Use of Explosives (29 CFR part 1926, subpart U).OSHA is requesting that OMB extend its approval of the collection of information requirements contained in the Standard on Blasting and the Use of Explosives. The Agency will include this summary in its request to OMB to extend the approval of these collections of information requirements. OSHA estimates that the average time per response varies from 5 minutes (.08 hour) to notify a hoist operator of blasting agents to 8 hours to develop an alternative plan if an employer is unable to display adequate warning signs against mobile transmitters during blasting operations. OSHA estimates that the total burden hours is 1,294 and the estimated cost for operation and maintenance is approximately $800,000.OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:Whether the proposed information collection requirements are necessary for the proper performance of the Agency’s functions, including whether the information is useful;The accuracy of OSHA’s estimate of the burden (time and costs) of the information collection requirements, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;The quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; andWays to minimize the burden on employers who must comply; for example, by using automated or other technological information collection and transmission techniques.Please contact Michele Myers, Director, Safety and Health at (703) 837-5410 or via email - , tomyersm@agc.org submit comments.  Comments are due to OSHA by February 6, 2009.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration published on Thursday, December 4, 2008, an extension of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) approval of information collection (Paperwork) requirements (ICR).  OSHA is soliciting comments concerning its proposal to extend OMB approval of the ICR contained in the Cadmium in Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926.1127).The Agency estimates the burden hours at 39,331; however, it is proposing to increase the currently approved capital costs from $1,657,460 to $1,775,457, a total increase of $117,997, which is due to the Agency increasing the cost to perform medical surveillance and exposure monitoring. The Agency will summarize the comments submitted in response to this notice and will include this summary in the request to OMB. OSHA estimates that the average time per response varies from two minutes (.03 hour) for a secretary to compile and maintain training records to 1.5 hours to administer employee medicalexaminations.OSHA has a particular interest in comments on the following issues:Whether the proposed ICR is necessary for the proper performance of the Agency’s functions, including whether the information is useful;The accuracy of OSHA’s estimate of the burden (time and costs) of the information collection requirements, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;The quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; andWays to minimize the burden on employers who must comply; for example, by using automated or other technological information collection and transmission techniques.Please contact Michele Myers, Director, Safety and Health at (703) 837-5410 or via email - , tomyersm@agc.org submit comments.  Comments are due to OSHA by February 3, 2009.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has granted a 45-day extension for the Cranes and Derricks in Construction Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which was published on October 9, 2008.  The original deadline for public comment was December 8, 2008.  OSHA has extended the deadline for public comments to Thursday, January 22, 2009.AGC of America had submitted a 60-day extension request for the Cranes and Derricks in Construction NPRM on November 6, 2008.  Many AGC members also requested a 60-day extension for the rule. OSHA requests over 100 requests for public comment in the proposal, which AGC must research and consider.  To provide informed and well formulated comments, AGC requested additional time beyond the December 8, 2008 deadline, as the NPRM is over 200 pages of regulatory text, not including additional sources provided by OSHA to the Negotiated Rulemaking Crane and Derrick Advisory Committee members, additional resources and materials reference in the proposal.For more information on the history of the Crane and Derricks in Construction propsal, and the complete NPRM of Cranes and Derricks, please visit Crane and Derricks in Construction and please visit AGC’s resources for crane safety.  If you have any questions or comments, please email Michele Myers or call at (703) 837-5410.

Mr. Edwin Foulke Jr., reportedly announced that his  last day  as Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will be Friday, November 7, 2008.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published the Notice for Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Crane and Derricks (C-DAC) today, October 9, 2008.  On June 13, 2008, OSHA submitted the proposal to OMB, who approved the proposed rule for publication.