Browsing: SAFETY

As the demand for new construction grows and heat indexes increase, so does the effect on the health of workers in the U.S. No matter what your political beliefs may be, the numbers do not lie. Temperatures are hotter. This, as well as more people relocating to southern states, has caused the rate of worker heat-related illnesses and deaths to increase. Estimates show that approximately 28,000 work-related injuries are linked to heat, along with dozens of deaths each year. A recent study conducted by George Washington University and Harvard School of Public Health found that when the heat index nears…

BY TOM BADSTUBNER, RYAN COMBEST, MIKE DODD, RICK SCHWEITZER, AND STEVE GUGLIELMO We had the opportunity to speak with GAWDA’s amazing Consultant team ahead of this year’s Spring Management Conference in Oklahoma City. The Consultants will be on site in OKC, so if you have any questions you want answered, make sure to stop by the GAWDA Booth during the Contact Booth Program. Last issue, we spoke about the upcoming year. This issue, we had an opportunity to discuss enforcement trends that have emerged over the first several months of 2026, as well as discuss important world events that are…

BY STEVE GUGLIELMO AND BRAD DAVIS In 2023, Brad Davis experienced the kind of safety incident most companies never want to imagine. What could have been catastrophic instead became a turning point. Not just for his team, but for how that team approaches safety, leadership, and accountability. At this year’s Spring Management Conference, Davis will walk attendees through that experience, what went wrong, what changed, and why relying on experience alone is not enough. It’s a candid, and at times uncomfortable, look at the reality of working in an industry where the stakes are high and the margin for error…

The following is an excerpt from the GAWDA Safety Organizer, a monthly bulletin sent to GAWDA members. For more information on the GAWDA Safety Organizer, or to read past issues, visit the GAWDA.org Members-Only Section.At least every 12 months, the motor carrier must review the driving record of each driver, including compliance with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Hazardous Materials Regulations. This means doing the review on or before the same date next year. If you go past the date, then DOT, during their audit, would try to find if you used the driver during the lapse.…

The following is an excerpt from the GAWDA Safety Organizer, a monthly bulletin sent to GAWDA members. For more information on the GAWDA Safety Organizer, or to read past issues, visit the GAWDA.org Members-Only Section. Everyone operating Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) (power units only) in interstate commerce must register and pay a fee based on the number of CMVs operated in interstate commerce. Vehicles used solely in intrastate commerce are exempted from the registration and fees. Please remember that you only pay for the powered commercial motor vehicles, not trailers. Definition of Interstate Commerce Interstate commerce is the general term…

The following is an excerpt from the GAWDA Safety Organizer, a monthly bulletin sent to GAWDA members. For more information on the GAWDA Safety Organizer, or to read past issues, visit the GAWDA.org Members-Only Section. Lessons learned is a new section of the GAWDA Safety Organizer that details lessons from fellow GAWDA members’ incidents, accidents and injuries. Information is sanitized to keep the member’s identity anonymous, unless the member company chooses to share their identity. Battery operated devices are everywhere and the welding industry is not immune, with battery operated welders becoming more popular. But these battery-operated devices come with…

According to OSHA, the most common work-related injuries are from slips, trips, and falls. Statistics show that more than 25% of all injuries across all industries are caused by slips, trips, and falls. Also, falls are the second leading cause of death across all industries and leading cause of death in construction. In 2020, 805 workers died in falls, while 211,640 were injured badly enough to miss work. Most people assume that deaths from falls only happen from heights. However, in 2020, 136 workers died in falls from the same level. TRIPS: What is the definition of a trip? A…

The following is an excerpt from the GAWDA Safety Organizer, a monthly bulletin sent to GAWDA members. For more information on the GAWDA Safety Organizer, or to read past issues, visit the GAWDA.org Members-Only Section. Due to the ongoing smoke pollution from the Canadian wildfires employees that work outside – especially drivers and yard employees- could be adversely affected by the smoke. Member companies in the smoke path should review the NIOSH document below (or visit GAWDA.org to download a copy), consider training the employees on the contents of the document and supply N95 respirator masks to affected employees. Wildfire…

While construction activity often takes place year-round, it truly ramps up in Spring in the U.S. This is often the time that construction companies outfit their employees with proper PPE and training. According to OSHA, falls are the number one cause of death in construction and almost all of them could be prevented with proper PPE and fall protection training. Did you know that the number one cause of construction injuries is also falls? Again, most can be prevented with the right equipment and training. At General Air, we conduct the required fall training for our customers at no charge.…

As summer approaches and the use of BBQ grills increases, we need to be mindful of the dangers propane can introduce when not properly filled, transported, and stored. This article is an overview of propane filling, transportation and storage and in-depth training should be conducted for all three topics. The greatest hazard of propane during the summer months is if liquid propane is vented into the atmosphere, it will vaporize into gas and expand to 270 times the volume. Propane gas is colorless, heavier than air and will pool in low places; if a source of ignition comes into contact…