US Department of Labor highlights safe construction practices during 2026 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls

US Department of Labor highlights safe construction practices during 2026 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is encouraging construction employers and workers nationwide to participate in the 13th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction, taking place May 4-8, 2026.The nationwide event focuses on preventing falls, the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry, and reinforces the importance of planning, training, and hazard awareness to protect workers.Because falls continue to pose a significant risk in construction, OSHA is making prevention a top priority. Through efforts like the Safety Stand-Down, the agency is working to drive real change and emphasizing that lasting progress is achieved through employers, workers, and industry partners working together.OSHA encourages employers to pause work throughout the week and engage employees ...

US Department of Labor cites Bronx contractor for excavation hazards after deaths of two workers at JFK Airport

US Department of Labor cites Bronx contractor for excavation hazards after deaths of two workers at JFK Airport
NEW YORK – Two employees of a Bronx water and sewer line construction contractor were fatally injured in a trench at a construction site at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens on April 3, 2023. These fatalities could have been prevented if their employer, Triumph Construction Corp., had ensured proper safeguards, a federal investigation found. The two employees were attempting to remove soil from below a concrete slab located within a trench when the slab broke apart and collapsed, fatally crushing both workers. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspectors found that Triumph Construction failed to:Support the concrete slab, exposing both employees to the danger of a collapse.Instruct employees on safe methods to remove the slab and provide supervision to ensure those methods were followed. Construct the excavation’s protective system based on designs in accordance with OSHA standards.As a result of these violations, OSHA cited the company for four serious violations with $59,153 in proposed penalties. View the citations. “Working in excavations is inherently dangerous. Demolition of existing structures must be carefully planned, and shoring systems must be built according to their design. Employers are obligated to make a good faith effort to recognize, evaluate and control workplace hazards throughout the course of the work and as conditions change, which Triumph did not do,” said Kevin Sullivan, OSHA’s Long Island and Queens area director. “Diligent oversite and management of changing worksite conditions could have helped prevent this tragedy from happening.”Triumph Construction Corp. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Learn more about OSHA  and protecting workers against trenching and excavation hazards. 

Published at October 15, 2023 at 05:00PM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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