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September 26, 2023There is no doubt that construction products are a key aspect of building safety. However, the law and practice around construction products are enormously complex, in large part due to the fact that until Brexit, the UK's construction product laws were closely tied to EU laws.
That aside, the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) included provisions about construction products when it became law last year. Since then, there has been a lot of focus on other aspects of the BSA (like further laws on defining and registering higher risk buildings in April 2023, and new laws on Gateways and the Golden Thread anticipated in October 2023) - but there has been less noise around construction products.
So, where are we with construction products under the BSA?
Defining construction and cladding products
"Construction product" is not actually -
September 26, 2023“The opioid crisis has reached every corner of society, affecting workers in all industries and occupations," said Lorraine Martin, CEO of NSC.
The increase of the number of deaths on the job due to drug overdoses has hit an all time high. It has increased 536% since 2011.
To help address this situation the National Safety Council (NSC) recently launching a new workplace safety program, Respond Ready Workplace, designed to increase awareness of the need for naloxone in workplaces and ensure people are trained to use it.
“The opioid crisis has reached every corner of society, affecting workers in all industries and occupations. By equipping workplaces with naloxone and the knowledge to use it, we can make a tangible difference in saving lives, from the workplace to anyplace,". said Lorraine Martin NSC CEO, -
September 26, 2023While the use of generative AI to save HR professionals time and boost their productivity has captured headlines, another use of artificial intelligence in the workplace is having a significant impact: improving worker safety and reducing on-the-job injury and fatality rates.
Workplace fatality rates rose significantly in 2021, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), to the highest annual rate since 2016.
To help reverse the trend and enhance occupational safety, more companies are turning to AI, advanced data analytics tools and other safety-related technologies, according to a report from the National Safety Council (NSC), a nonprofit safety advocacy organization in Itasca, Ill. The report evaluated recent findings from academic and industry journals and identified three new technologies having a strong impact on preventing -
September 26, 2023Last month, we saw a raft of draft building safety regulations published by the government (currently laid before Parliament) and we are awaiting more. These will bring in sweeping changes for the construction industry, starting in just a few weeks' time – but the impacts of the changes will take the sector months, if not years, to get used to.
Of the draft regulations already published, the Building Regulations etc (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2023 (which we'll refer to as the BR Amendment Regulations) and the Building (Higher-Risk Buildings Procedures) (England) Regulations 2023 (which we'll refer to as the HRB Procedure Regulations) set out major changes impacting the pre-construction and construction phases for projects, which the wider construction needs to understand and start preparing for now.
We will -
September 21, 2023Grants totaling $12.7 million were given to 100 non-profit organizations to support education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards.
The U.S. Department of Labor, on Setpt. 19, announced that OHSA has awarded approximately $12.7 million in grants to 100 non-profit organizations across the nation to support education and training to help workers and employers recognize serious workplace hazards, employ injury prevention and understand workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under federal law.
Funded through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, the grants are being awarded in three categories, namely Targeted Topic Training, Training and Educational Materials Development and Capacity Building grants.
“The award of Susan Harwood Training Grants remind us of Dr. Harwood’s important contributions -
September 21, 2023Wearables can help encourage safe body movements that reduce the risk of overexertion or strains and pulls.
Beemal Vasani
There have been distinct revolutions that have changed the way we look at manufacturing and industry. From the first introduction of steam power to electricity to computers and automation, these tide shifts have transformed our conceptions of efficiency and manufacturing complexity.
Now, as we enter the fourth revolution in industry, we’re only beginning to scratch the surface of what artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the interconnectedness of humans and technology can truly accomplish when expressed to their full potential. From what we’ve seen, however, it’s safe to say that the introduction of wearable tech can have a dramatic impact on occupational health and safety of workers as well as -
September 21, 2023Seasonal and temporary hires are a necessity for a number of industries from manufacturing and warehousing down to shipping, logistics, and even agriculture. They’re the lifeblood that carries businesses through their busiest seasons.
Yet as businesses staff up to meet increased demand in summer months through the holidays, it can be difficult to maintain the same standard of safety as long-term hires. With this lack of consistency in safety practices, it’s no surprise that summer months see higher rates of workplace accidents.
By investing in workplace safety measures and leveraging emerging technology, companies can mitigate accidents — particularly for seasonal workers — which can save money in the long run and simultaneously support long-term staffing needs. At the end of the day, an engaged workforce that feels part of a broader -
September 21, 20235 Social Disclosure Trends That Companies Must Understand
Companies are increasingly focusing on social elements in their sustainability reports, says Verdandix.
In order to help companies stay informed about the ever- changing regulatory landscape, Priyanka Bawa, industry analyst at Verdandix offered these five trends in a recent blog.
- Growing scrutiny of human rights in supply chains. With the looming confirmation of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the 2023 enforcement of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and the UK government’s intent to tighten reporting requirements under the Modern Slavery Act, the global crackdown on human rights abuses is set to build more momentum.
- Higher penalties for poor quality disclosures and for bad social performance. There
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September 12, 2023
Back to Basics: Wearables, Robotics, and Exoskeletons
New technologies such as wearables, robotics, and exoskeletons will likely have a huge effect on the work being done by EHS professionals. During the National Safety Council’s 2023 Workplace Safety Summit in June, Dr. John Howard, the Director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) spoke about sensors, robots, and exoskeletons, and how to introduce wearables into the workplace.
Wearable sensors
Howard stated that according to the theory of robotics, robots process information by first sensing, using data inputs from sensors, then thinking, using artificial intelligence, and then acting. There are two types of robots: steel-collar, which are physical devices, and white-collar, which are software programs like Alexa. According to data from the international Federation of Robotics, approximately 49,000 industrial -
September 12, 2023Back to Basics Foot Protection
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a crucial factor in many industries for keeping employees safe. There are different standards for each piece of equipment, such as helmets, harnesses, goggles, and gloves, laid out by OSHA and other regulatory agencies. OSHA provides guidance on foot protection specifically, along with the corresponding ANSI standards.
OSHA’s standard
To meet OSHA’s general requirements for foot protection, the employer must ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries. This danger could come from falling or rolling objects, or objects that could pierce the sole of the shoe.
Employees whose work involves exposure to hot substances, or corrosive or poisonous materials must have protective gear to cover exposed body
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