OSHA requires that fall protection equipment shall be inspected by the user before each use. ANSI and most suppliers require a competent person other than the end user perform a formal inspection of that same equipment at least annually. Inspection intervals for competent person inspections should not exceed twelve months for the construction industry and they must be documented.

April 22 was Earth Day, which got us thinking about energy efficiency and some of the biggest energy efficient trends that are making their way into construction. Having an energy efficient building is becoming not just a trend, but a requirement for some businesses and companies. These are just a few of the trends that we have noticed in projects around the country.

Material handling is the largest single cause of lost workday injuries in construction. One out of every four work injuries happens because someone lifted, carried, pushed, or pulled something the wrong way or lifted beyond his or her capacity. Workers suffer many painful injuries because they forget or are not properly trained in the basics of manual material handling.

Hiring the right contractor for the job is key to the job’s success. Many contractors specialize in certain building types, so doing the research prior to hiring someone will help you determine what type of contractor you should hire for the type of project you have. Here are a few tips on how to pick the perfect general contractor for your project.

Sparks fly, combustibles go boom, and workers flee the scene with smoldering clothing or materials. This sounds like the perfect script for a Halloween movie. Only it is all too real of a possibility when you are working on construction sites with dangerous chemicals, faulty wiring or haphazard fire safety training. Nobody wants to be caught on fire when trying to earn a living at a construction site. Here are five ways to prevent fires at work.

Congratulations to Dean Kurtz Construction and craftsmen for winning the Construction Industry Center Master Craftsmen Award for their work on the Bowen Residence and Stables Project in Custer. The award serves to recognize the individuals in the industry that perform their work to the highest standard and help to encourage personal initiative, ingenuity, originality, and extra effort on the job.