Enhancing Pipeline Safety
Pipeline construction offers building firms the opportunity to work on lucrative projects and grow their businesses. Of course, pipeline construction work is also among the most dangerous professions in the country, so there is a great deal of risk for the reward of working on these exciting projects. In this article, an OSHA attorney with […]
OSHA Rules Regarding Cranes and Derricks
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency within the United States Department of Labor (DOL) tasked with establishing and enforcing policies that maintain employee health and safety in the workplace. Although OSHA is responsible for overseeing all industries nationwide, the inherently dangerous nature of the construction industry makes it one of the […]
OSHA Rigger Qualifications
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) rules and regulations governing cranes and derricks, a rigger must be considered a “qualified rigger” to perform certain tasks on the project site. In this brief article, an OSHA attorney will discuss what distinguishes a qualified rigger from a normal rigger. Contractors who allow an unqualified […]
Plan, Equip, and Train for Winter Weather Part 2
It’s 6 p.m. and the sun is rapidly setting over the snowy white fields where a few dozen of your workers are wrapping up work for the day. They toss the rest of their equipment into the beds of their trucks and start to navigate away from the project site, but one straggler loses control […]
Plan, Equip, and Train for Winter Weather Part 1
Winter construction presents an array of unique challenges for contractors and their workers. As temperatures drop, new hazards arise, and contractors are responsible for ensuring that their workforce is equipped with the tools and knowledge to work safely. In this two-part series, the OSHA lawyers at Cotney Construction Law will discuss how contractors can prepare […]
Employer Responsibilities Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 Part 2
As a contractor, you’re all too familiar with the additional stress imposed on you and your workforce by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Eventually, the looming presence of OSHA becomes a regular part of your life in the construction industry, but that doesn’t mean maintaining compliance ever gets any easier. That’s why our […]
Employer Responsibilities Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 Part 1
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is an agency within the United States Department of Labor (DOL) tasked with enforcing the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act of 1970. This federal labor law governs the safety and health of employees in the workplace in both the public and private sector. Employers are responsible for […]
Examining 25 Years of Worker Injury, Illness, and Fatality Case Data Part 3
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is responsible for establishing and instituting policies governing safe and healthful practices in the workplace. In this three-part series, we have been examining 25 years of worker injury, illness, and fatality case data to help illustrate employer shortcomings and propose solutions for overcoming these oftentimes deadly obstacles. In […]
Examining 25 Years of Worker Injury, Illness, and Fatality Case Data Part 2
In part one of this three-part article, the OSHA defense lawyers at Cotney Construction Law discussed a collection of studies published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) comparing data over a period of 25 years. This data, which contains in-depth information covering work-related injuries, fatal injuries, and illnesses, helps shed light on the […]
Examining 25 Years of Worker Injury, Illness, and Fatality Case Data Part 1
In 1972, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began collecting valuable data on work-related injuries, fatal injuries, and illnesses. A 25-year report of these findings was recently published to help inform contractors about the history of worker safety and provide a blueprint for workplace safety moving forward. Although worker safety has steadily increased over […]