Author: Nazia Shah
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has published a new Lithium-ion Battery Safety Safety and Health Topics page (SHTP) to help employers and workers recognize and address hazards associated with manufacturing, using, storing, recycling, and shipping these batteries. The resource brings together technical information, applicable OSHA standards, national consensus standards, and guidance on evaluating exposures and controlling hazards. For construction employers, the resource is relevant to cordless power tools, battery-powered equipment, and projects involving energy storage systems. While lithium-ion batteries offer portable, rechargeable power, they also present electrical, chemical, fire, and explosion hazards that should be addressed through workplace…
As part of its efforts to keep stakeholders informed, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has shared its key strategies, national outreach initiatives, and calendar of workplace safety and health observances for FY 2027. The agency’s plans emphasize hazard abatement, compliance assistance, small business outreach, and modernizing workplace safety and health standards. The summary below reflects OSHA’s FY 2027 Strategies and Outreach Initiatives document. Dates are subject to change. Visit osha.gov/calendar for updates. I. National Initiatives OSHA will support the following national outreach initiatives in FY 2027: OSHA CARES: Customer Assistance, Resources, & Engagements OSHA CARES is an agency-wide…
AGC participated in OSHA’s annual Alliance Program Forum on September 29 in Washington, D.C., joining Alliance partners and agency leaders to discuss safety and health priorities, share resources, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Hosted by OSHA’s Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, the forum featured updates from OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), along with industry presentations on serious injury and fatality prevention and artificial intelligence. Construction Enforcement Trends and Outreach OSHA’s Directorate of Construction highlighted persistent hazards facing the industry, with fall protection, scaffolding, and ladders leading its list of the most frequently cited…
On October 14, during AGC’s quarterly Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum, Dr. Hongtao Dang of Washington State University explored how psychological safety can help construction workers feel comfortable raising concerns, asking questions, admitting mistakes and seeking support without fear of retaliation or embarrassment. The presentation highlighted a construction-focused psychological safety training program developed through collaboration among Washington State University, Oregon State University and AGC of Washington, with funding from Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. Attendees learned about free training materials scheduled for release in English and Spanish, including participant and instructor manuals, toolbox talks, construction case studies…
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new fact sheet to help employers and workers recognize and respond to opioid overdose emergencies in the workplace. Opioid Overdose Rescue with Reversal Medications outlines practical steps that contractors can use to strengthen jobsite emergency preparedness. The guidance encourages employers to keep overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone, readily accessible alongside other emergency supplies and train workers to recognize overdose symptoms, administer medication, and provide support while awaiting first responders. OSHA emphasizes that reversal medications do not replace emergency medical care: responders should always call 911 immediately when an overdose is…
On September 29, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established a new two-year alliance with the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), University of Colorado Boulder’s Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA), and National Safety Council (NSC) to advance serious injury and fatality (SIF) prevention. The alliance will develop and share practical guidance, training, and resources to help employers and workers identify and prevent SIFs. Planned activities include workshops, webinars, industry discussions, and technical briefings for OSHA staff, with materials available in languages and formats appropriate for their audiences. Injury, illness, and hazard exposure data…
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced that it has awarded approximately $10.2 million to 67 organizations through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. The funding will support workplace safety and health education, emphasizing small businesses and industries with high injury, illness, and fatality rates. Several awards directly address construction hazards, including falls, electrical hazards, extreme temperatures, trenching and excavation, silica exposure, and roadway work zones. Other grants will fund new construction training materials on PPE, lithium-ion battery safety, fall prevention, confined spaces, and heat stress. These projects will expand resources available to help contractors recognize hazards and…
The next AGC Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Forum is scheduled for October 14, 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Eastern Time. Mandi Horton, Director of Safety with AGC of Washington, and Dr. Hongtao Dang, Assistant Professor of Construction Management with Washington State University will highlight new research examining the role of psychological safety on construction jobsites. Participants will learn how psychological safety can strengthen mental well-being, physical safety, productivity, quality, communication, teamwork, belonging, and inclusion. The forum will also introduce practical tools and examples that construction leaders, supervisors, and safety professionals can use to build jobsite cultures where workers feel heard, respected, and empowered to…
The Best Part of CSHC? The People. Ask past attendees what they value most, and many will tell you the same thing: the opportunity to connect with other safety professionals who understand the challenges they face every day. This winter at the Construction Safety & Health Conference, join safety leaders from across the country to share ideas, compare approaches, and bring home solutions you can apply immediately. The sessions matter. The conversations between them matter just as much.
The Hazards You Can’t See Can be Some of the Most Dangerous Most crews know how to spot fall hazards, struck-by risks, and equipment dangers. Health hazards are different. Exposure effects from silica, lead, asbestos, excessive noise, and other workplace health hazards often develops over time. These long latency periods can often disguise the serious nature of these exposures and the long-term impact on workers’ health. AGC’s Health Hazards in Construction (HHC) course gives safety professionals practical tools to identify, evaluate, and manage these risks before they impact workers, projects, or company performance. What You’ll Gain: HHC is one of…