roll forming machine

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...

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...