United States – Construction POC

Decline In Construction Accidents Linked To Economy

Posted on September 29, 2019 by blogger

With the U.S. economy in the midst of a recession, many businesses have suffered the effects of a significant decrease in consumer spending. Real estate, historically regarded as an exceptionally good investment, has proven to be less than lucrative as home prices continue to fall in most areas of the United States. Houses sit empty in newly constructed neighborhoods and many contractors are struggling to find financial stability. Many construction workers who have previously found steady employment with a professional contractor have also struggled to find any work at all. Many skilled laborers, though highly qualified, find there is little to no demand for construction workers.

While there has been a significant decrease in the number of jobs for construction workers, there is an oddly positive bright side to this downturn. On August 20, Bloomberg news reported that deaths in the workplace fell to their lowest levels in 16 years, down 10 percent in 2008. This can most likely be attributed to the fact that there was noticeably less activity in dangerous fields such as building construction. Indeed, while deaths for construction workers dropped 20 percent from 2007, spending on construction projects fell 5 percent. According to the report, transportation accidents were still responsible for the highest number of work-related deaths.

Though construction accident deaths fell in 2008, workers should still be aware of potential safety hazards on the job site. There have still been many high profile construction accident fatalities over the past few months. Most recently, a man fell to his death in Branson, Missouri while working on a construction tank at an ethanol plant. Another man lost his life in Brooklyn, New York, while investigating incorrectly assembled scaffolding. According to a New York Times report, a section of rope disconnected, detaching the scaffolding from the fifth story wall. The worker fell to a first floor terrace and died.

Many times, construction accidents can be prevented by simple oversight and a conscientious commitment to safety by all workers on the job site. The tragic reality, however, is that safety is often not the primary concern of the workers or those in charge. Time constraints, deadlines, and a casual attitude often are contributing factors to preventable construction accidents. Workers on job sites that seem potentially dangerous should not only take extra precautions, but also notify their foreman or other job site supervisor. Vigilance regarding safety, especially in a dangerous profession such as construction, is its own reward.

Construction Chemicals How They Are The Spine Bone Of Any Construction

Posted on September 25, 2019 by blogger

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY:

The construction scene is going through tough times in the United States of America. A large section of Hispanic population in America almost all the time work for free. Labors come cheap in some parts of the United States and a family from New York or California could invest really cheap in areas like Texas for as low an amount as one lakh sixty thousand dollars. Here is a bit of both positive and negative news which is that there is a rise in about twenty eight percent in the demand for new homes in February of the present year but a rise in only about three percent in the construction jobs.

Construction business is booming in Canada and also in the rest of the world. There is a surge in the building of apartments and residential complexes. In the rest of the world there has also been a positive growth in the firms of building materials, construction and engineering sectors. In Australia there has been a growth of about six percent last November thus heralding better days in the construction business in the days to come. The government in Australia has also been proactive in building new schools in the country and which served as the impetuous in the non residential construction sector. Analysts at the Commonwealth banks comment on the fact that the construction boom in any country could last for a whole two to three years adding a two to three percentage points to economic growth.

ABOUT A FEW CONSTRUCTION CHEMICALS:

Readymix concrete is a mixture of cement, aggregates and water. Concrete is basically a mix of paste and aggregates. The paste like component in the ready mix structure is made up of cement and water and also coarse and fine aggregates like sand and rocks. The concrete can be put into any shape. Ready-mix concrete can be used to build high-rises, sidewalks, superhighways, houses and dams.

We, at Krishna Colours & Constchem Pvt. Ltd. have been in the construction business for a span of ten years and more. We cater to both large and small scale construction business with our construction chemicals. We work on both repair and alteration projects. At present we are concentrating on the residential projects but planning to span out into the commercial construction projects. As admixture manufacturer in India our construction chemical industry provides the chemical solution to commercial, industrial, residential and infrastructural segments of industries.

As readymix concrete supplier in India we understand that quality is topmost in the mind of the builders and construction companies so we take care to manufacture construction chemicals in accordance to international standards. As admixture supplier in India we can say that admixtures are those ingredients in concrete other than Portland cement, water and aggregates which are added to the mixture immediately before or after adding. Admixtures can be of various types like water reducing admixtures, plasticizers, accelerating admixtures and such the like.

Material for construction is used in the construction industry for constructing buildings and structures. Material for construction is vital for any construction industry.

Construction Site Sediment Control… Simple Solutions To A Complex Challenge

Posted on September 6, 2019 by blogger

Anyone dealing with construction site regulation compliance issues knows that it’s not an easy job. Federal, state and local laws impact many facets of construction work, and keeping up with what seem to be constant changes can be overwhelming.

Compliance with the laws is vital, though, no matter how new they are. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) takes its job of enforcing laws very seriously, as evidenced on a page of its website listing companies that have made violations and the millions of dollars in fines they’ve received.

Of special concern on new construction projects is erosion and sediment control. Storm water runoff from construction sites carries with it enormous amounts of sediment and debris that, if allowed to enter waterways that feed into rivers, streams, lakes and oceans, will damage ecosystems and kill wildlife.

The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 now includes regulations mandating sediment and erosion control solutions for every construction site affecting one or more acres of land, and smaller ones associated with larger developments or sales. Before the ground on their sites is disturbed in any way, operators of these sites must submit erosion and sediment control plans detailing the erosion and sediment control solutions they will use to prevent erosion and control sediment runoff.

In addition to the erosion and sediment control plan, each construction site operator also must submit a storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) and obtain a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) construction storm water permit prior to beginning any project. An SWPPP identifies every pollution source that could enter storm water runoff from a given site, and a detailed account of the actions that will be taken to control and filter sediment, thus keeping it and the pollutants out of waterways.

Developing Your Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan: A Guide for Construction Sites, details the steps that must be taken to develop and execute an SWPPP. This free handbook from the EPA includes an SWPPP template that can be customized by each site operator, a sample inspection form and two sample SWPPPs. It’s applicable throughout the United States, in combination with state or EPA NPDES permits.

Though the NPDES is a federally regulated program, most states authorize their own NPDES permits. If work is being done in Alaska, Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire or New Mexico, however, or on most tribal lands within the U.S., permits must be obtained from the EPA.

The Storm Water Resource Locator found on the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center’s website is a valuable tool for construction site operators. Use it to find NPDES permit forms, SWPPP requirements, and regulations for erosion and sediment control and storm water management for each state.

Of course, following the laws regarding erosion and sediment control is even more important than understanding them, and the easiest way to ensure complete compliance is to rely on products and expertise provided by a company that has made meeting regulatory requirements its business.

Erosion and sediment control professionals are available to help developers overcome even their most difficult site challenges, with know-how and products for every need. One call to a sediment control expert can save a company countless hours of research into the law and sediment control methods, not to mention thousands – if not millions – of dollars in fines if regulations are not met precisely.

Once professional sediment control products are on a construction site, they continue to save contractors time and money. They’re made for quick installation, so they can be set up in minutes and then virtually forgotten about until runoff occurs.

Products are available that sit in front of curb inlets, within curb inlets, around and under storm grates, and more. All are made to allow storm water to pass into storm systems while filtering sediment and pollutants out.

After a rainfall or any type of watering has taken place, professional sediment control products can be inspected and cleaned out easily. Sediment and debris trapped within the products’ filters are removed quickly, so the products can be reused time and time again, making them hassle-free and extremely cost efficient.

Finding a reputable, reliable sediment control company should be on any developer’s “to do” list when planning a project. Utilizing the expertise of a company dedicated to sediment control saves construction professionals valuable time, countless dollars and unnecessary worry by helping ensure complete compliancy with complex laws from start to finish.

Avoiding Construction Site Accidents

Posted on August 15, 2019 by blogger

In Los Angeles, there are different construction sites found all over the area that provide employment to people. Although working in this certain field can be beneficial for many, it can also impose danger especially if a construction site accident occurs.

Construction Site Accident Statistics

According to Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), around 5,703 people are killed each year because of their involvement in this kind of accident. In addition, working in these places was ranked as one of the most dangerous occupations in various areas in the United States.

Construction site workers are often at the risk of getting hurt in an accident due to the unsafe condition of the area. The presence of power lines, dangerous machineries, trenches, and height are some of the main elements that make a dangerous working environment for these people.

Reasons for Occurrence and Injuries Sustained

There are different reasons why an accident in construction sites often takes place. Some of the reasons why accidents in construction sites happen an reasons why workers are hurt include technical errors, machine malfunction, ladder breakage, falling of construction debris, improperly assembles scaffolding, slip and falls, explosions, exposure to toxic or other hazardous materials, lack of safety machineries or equipments, and crane accidents.

Meanwhile, in the event that a construction site accident occurred, construction workers can sustain and suffer from different kinds of injuries including disfigurement, gashes, scarring, chemical burns, head injury, blindness, and concussions, among others.

Due to the serious harm that can be sustained due to this accident, people who are involved in it should ask for professional help from attorneys in their legal battle. This is an advisable thing to do especially if serious injuries were sustained and the accident occurred due to the negligence of others.

Construction Site Accident Avoidance

It is vital that precautionary measures should be taken so that the occurrence of this accident will be avoided. In addition, it will also make construction sites safe for all people, specifically construction workers. Some of the things that can be in order to lessen the tendency that a construction site accident will occur include the following:

Maintaining the cleanliness of the area- It is important that the cleanliness of construction sites should be properly maintained. This can prevent somebody from slipping due to a wet surface or tripping due to the litter scattered all over the area.

Wearing safety gears- It is advisable that construction site workers should not forget to wear safety gears so that they will have protection in the even that such incident takes place.

Do a walk though- Site supervisors should never be to busy and should always allot time to walk throughout the whole area and check if there if anything that may be dangerous or may trigger or cause the occurrence of an accident.

Fighting with an Attorney

If you are living in Los Angeles and you are involved in a construction site accident, do not hesitate to ask the help of attorneys who specialize in that certain area. Fighting with these legal experts will give you a higher chance of acquiring the just compensation for all of your losses.

Three New York Construction Workers Settle Injury Claims For $3.85 Million

Posted on June 27, 2019 by blogger

Three undocumented workers have reached settlements in New York after being the victims of a construction accident. The three men suffered serious injuries due to extremely poor working conditions. One of the men, a plumber, was scalded when a pipe burst while he was working at a Wall Street construction site. Another of the men sustained debilitating injuries to his foot after a steel beam crushed parts of his lower body while on a construction site in downtown Manhattan. The final man was injured when three large metal trusses collapsed on him, fracturing his hip and causing several other serious injuries.

According the attorney for the three men, Brian O’Dwyer, “all three cases involve construction and terribly unsafe working conditions.” And indeed, this case is no exception to the experience of many undocumented workers; a large majority of undocumented workers are often forced to work in unsafe situations or risk losing their job. This alarming trend seems to be growing across the United States as construction jobs become harder to find amid the nationwide economic crisis. Of course, unsafe working conditions will invariably lead to more construction accidents, a sad and frightening fact for many of those involved in the construction field.

Executive director Joel Magallan of Asociacion Tepeyac, an immigrant advocacy group, said that while construction work is often dangerous, undocumented workers are likely to work at sites that lack proper safety equipment, OSHA regulation compliance, and required warning signs. According to several studies, both by local nonprofit agencies as well as national researchers, abuses of workers on construction sites are widespread. An especially high number of immigrant workers were represented among those whom had suffered either seriously debilitating or fatal injuries due to unsafe working conditions.

In light of the recent construction accident lawsuits against contractors and building site owners, there may be a positive side to the tradgedy that takes place so often on dangerous construction sites. With the victories of these three undocumented workers, the opportunity for workers who have been injured on construction sites to receive just compensation grows larger. The three men were awarded a total of $3.85 million in damages between them, money they say will now be used to support their families, pay for costly medical expenses, or pursue their dreams.

Despite improvements in safety in virtually every field, construction site accidents remain one of the most dangerous professional accidents. Many times these injuries are seriously debilitating and sometimes fatal. Additionally, workman’s compensation insurance may not provide enough to cover medical expenses, living expenses, and outstanding debt that might have accrued during the recovery time. To that end, it is paramount that workers who have been injured in a construction site accident seek compensation through the proper channels, such as contacting a construction accident lawyer when they have settled on legal recourse.