On April 18, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued its final rule reducing exposure levels to respirable crystalline silica for all mines in the U.S. and is applicable to the contractors who work in these mines. MSHA jurisdiction is broad and includes construction work, and its rule is vastly different from the OSHA counterpart. While the same 50 ug/m3 PEL is adopted, there is no Table 1 to rely upon, no worker rotation, and compliance with the OSHA rule is not a defense to an MSHA citation of up to $324,000.

With almost every state authorizing the recreational and/or medical use of marijuana or cannabidiol (CBD), employers nationwide face a maze of legal changes.

Join us on June 5, 1PM – 2PM EST for the next virtual quarterly town hall. The purpose of these meetings is to communicate key safety and health issues and challenges, as well as discuss enforcement, regulatory, and outreach activities at the national and local levels.

On April 18, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued its final rule to better protect miners against occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The final rule will not only cover contractors who operate surface mines, but also any contractor who performs construction or maintenance activities at a mine site. After the publication of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) final rule addressing exposure to crystalline silica, many surface mine operators established programs that incorporated the OSHA requirements.

Construction workers make up approximately five percent of the country’s workforce but account for an average of 19% of all job-related fatalities each year. Over the past 10 years, at least, an average of 372 workers were killed from falls, slips, and trips, and fall protection violations continue to be among the most cited standards in the construction industry, consistently topping the list of OSHA’s most frequently cited violations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced last week that its Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) and National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (NACOSH) will be meeting virtually on April 24 (1:00 PM – 5:30 PM Eastern) and May 7 (9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Eastern), respectively. Important topics on these agendas include an OSHA Regulatory Update, Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Rulemaking, and Infectious Diseases Rulemaking. There will be opportunities for public comment in both meetings. AGC encourages members to attend these two important meetings and weigh in on these important issues.

AGC and Survey Partner HCSS Will Use Survey Results to Urge Motorists to Be Careful During the Summer Travel Season

The AGC Education and Research Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Bowen Prize for Great Builders. Established by Robert “Bob” Bowen, this new $1M endowed Prize was announced during last month’s CCC Gala to benefit the AGC Education and Research Foundation during the Annual AGC Convention in San Diego.