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OSHA Regulations 101: New Confined Spaces Law

OSHA has long regulated work done in confined spaces in the interest of minimizing risks to workers. On August 3, 2015, however, new OSHA regulations went into affect that will significantly impact the construction industry. Are you ready for the changes to come? 1. What is A Confined Space? For an area to be categorized as a “confined space,” the following three requirements must be met: The space must be large enough to be occupied by a single person. The space must not be intended nor designed for continual occupancy. The space has limited entry and exit. Some spaces that typically fall into this category include boilers, manholes, air conditioning ducts, bins, and storm drains. Other factors, such as atmospheric hazards, the possibility of engulfment, and other serious hazards may play a role in the classification. 2. Why Are The OSHA Regulations Changing? The existing regulations that pertained to general industry were deemed to be inefficient for the construction industry. Accord...
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The 5 Most Commonly Violated OSHA Regulations

If you look at photographs taken during the construction of the Empire State Building, it’s obvious that worker safety has come a long way since the 1930s. Back then, it was commonplace for workers to dangle off the side of tall buildings without harnesses, and there were few, if any, hardhats to be seen on construction sites. Today, OSHA regulations do a lot to protect the safety of construction workers. Still, violations occur – sometimes due to lack of awareness, and sometimes due to intentional circumvention of regulations. Whatever the cause, the list of the most common violations in commercial construction changes little from year to year. Here are the usual suspects that almost always earn a place on this Most Wanted list: 1. Scaffolding Damaged or insufficient scaffolding can collapse, injuring workers. OSHA regulations vary somewhat based on the type of scaffolding (general, supported, etc.), but all construction scaffolding must be capable of bearing four times its intended l...
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The Future is Now: How to Use Drone Technology in the Roofing Industry

There is a new technology on the scene in the roofing industry that has only started to scratch the surface in terms of the ways it can transform how roofing and construction work is performed, measured, and maintained.  Spurred largely by the inception of Part 107 in August of 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration's Small UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) Rule (14 CFR part 107), commercial drone operators can now own and fly a drone without the complexity of obtaining a pilot’s license.  And that has made all the difference.  To own and operate a drone, start by completing the simple knowledge test, paying a small fee, following a set of common sense operational limitations, and be 16 years or older and ready to present your drone for inspection upon request.  This is the procedure to have a member of your company that can safely obtain and maintain a remote pilot in command certification.  Passage of Part 107 was a huge step towards making drone technology ac...
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The Case for Roof Supports

Commercial roof surfaces can often be an intense complex of pipe networks, platforms, HVAC equipment, and increasingly, smart technology, that needs to be organized and strongly secured to the building rooftop as a vital part of proper building safety and function.  Both in the past and even in the present, it is easy for building owners to feel either real or perceived financial pressures to cut corners or improvise some of this securing and organization by using relatively cheap and temporary means of supports to include impromptu wood blocks and scaffolding, concrete block and rope, and other loose materials.  But all buildings are serious investments.  The problem is that while temporarily effective, such measures often lead to greater costs and consequences rather quickly down the road.    Since the advent of adjustable roof support systems, including the arrival of systems like PHP’s zero penetration roof supports on the scene, building owners have the ava...
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How to Provide Safe Work Access to Commercial Rooftops

As all commercial building managers know, providing safe and reliable rooftop access is imperative to ensure that any equipment stored in this area is properly maintained. Accessing this equipment is often easier said than done, however. Without proper planning, you may encounter multiple safety and logistical issues. The best way to ensure easy rooftop access for workers and all personnel is to invest in a complete rooftop access system—including stairs, platforms, and crossovers—all of which work together to create an ideal rooftop solution that protects your equipment and roof as well as workers. What is the Most Important Equipment to Provide with Roof Access? A commercial roof is a large, flat open space that’s hard to see from the ground below. Therefore, it’s the perfect place to put large, noisy, and otherwise unsightly rooftop equipment—out of sight, out of mind. Unfortunately, what’s out of sight and out of mind might also be very difficult to access when it needs maintenance...
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How Hurricanes Can Impact Rooftops and Rooftop Equipment

Hurricane season is here, and commercial roofs can see damage as a result. Heavy rain, wind gusts, flash flooding, and debris can all result in problems for your roof, especially for low-slope roofing which poses additional vulnerability during extreme weather with risks to the perimeter, corners, and flashing areas. Today, we’re discussing how to prepare now for hurricane season, what you should do when you know a hurricane is on the way, and what you should do after a hurricane strikes. We will illustrate how using rooftop support systems can reduce the incidence of damage by eliminating some of the risks that come with storing equipment directly on the rooftop. How Will Hurricanes Damage Your Roof? Here we’re going to discuss two separate but closely-related issues: how hurricanes cause damage, and which rooftop structures will be affected by this damage. Hurricanes have three primary damage mechanisms: wind, wind-driven rain, and windblown debris. (Hurricanes can also cause lightni...
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4 Summer Roofing Tips Every Maintenance Professional Should Know

When summer temperatures soar, roofing maintenance is not on anyone’s list of fun things to do. But the many factors that can damage a roof don’t take the summer off, so you can’t, either. You do, however, have an obligation to offer your workers as much protection as you can. While there are no specific OSHA regulations that cover heat-related illness, several companies have been cited under the General Duty Clause, which requires employers to provide safe working environments.  Protect yourself and your workers by making sure everyone thoroughly understands these hot-weather roof safety guidelines: 1. Know How to Cool Off Teach your employees how to take care of themselves in the heat: Wear loose, light-colored clothing with plenty of ventilation; wear a cap with a brim that covers the face and neck; take frequent shade/water breaks (drinking at least two to four cups every hour); and avoid caffeinated beverages, which increase the rate of dehydration.  2. Understand Your Bo...
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