Nearly two-thirds of U.S. construction workers say they have experienced anxiety or depression in the past year, according to a new survey of more than 2,000 workers and executives. Poor mental health can increase the risk of injuries, slow projects and drive up absenteeism, turnover and disability claims. OSHA now highlights workplace stress and mental […]
As the construction industry continues to rebound from the recession, contractors face evolving risks that, left unchecked, can leave their operations exposed to new liabilities. If you already operate a construction firm, you know that there is a labor shortage that has affected the makeup of your workforce, and that hiring entities are asking builders […]
Construction defect lawsuits, a constant presence in the building industry, are on the rise, and legal observers expect the trend to continue over the next few years. There are several factors driving the increase, including a continuing construction industry labor shortage, contractors working on tight schedules to rebuild properties in areas devastated by natural disasters […]
Rapidly rising commercial building construction costs could result in your facility being underinsured if you suffer a major loss and haven’t increased your insurance policy replacement cost limits lately. Your policy has a maximum amount it will pay to rebuild your building, and that limit should reflect current construction costs. Otherwise, the policy may […]
Fed-OSHA has finalized a new regulation that requires personal protective equipment for construction workers to be properly fitting. The lack of access to properly fitting PPE for smaller-framed construction workers — especially women — has been a perennial problem, as ill-fitting gear may not protect employees adequately in case of an incident. The new standard […]
As construction projects become larger and more complicated, contractors are taking on more of the risk by increasing their builder’s risk insurance deductibles, according to a recent report. Michael Cusack, executive vice president of insurance broker Alliant Specialty, told Insurance Business magazine that contractors are willing to take on more of the risk as those that […]
A temporary exemption that construction trucking providers had enjoyed from the controversial AB 5 law, sunsetted on Dec. 31. AB 5, which took effect in 2021, created a higher standard for determining who is a worker or a contractor in California. This expiration will require employers who had benefited from the exemption for such service […]
The Cal/OSHA Standards Board has relented to threats from Federal OSHA and voted to align its residential construction and roofing fall-protection trigger with its federal counterpart at 6 feet. California has been the only state that runs its own OSHA and not comply with the federal mandate that requires laborers working at heights of more […]
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has issued new guidance for preventing harassment on construction industry worksites. The guidance, while not binding, can be used as a template for construction firms to implement anti-harassment policies. According to the EEOC, the industry has an especially high incidence of harassment complaints, and “some of the most egregious incidents […]
Advancements are making construction workplaces safer thanks to innovative new designs that learn from the past and the weaknesses of equipment that has been used in construction for decades. Construction firms that don’t keep up with the latest in safety devices are missing an opportunity to save lives, reduce workplace injuries and avoid costly workers’ […]