Some Construction Health and Safety Notes, for August 1

There were to postings on the Building Trades Department's website this week that caught my eye. The first is a study by the Center for Policy Initiatives, which highlighted the high number of uninsured workers in the California construction industry. The second is the formation of a industry- labor council in New York City.

The study by the Center for Policy Initiatives highlights how many people do not have health insurance, by industry. According to the study construction workers had the highest numbers.
Below are some of the stats from the study:

Construction occupations had high rates of uninsured workers: 32 %

• 30% for electricians
• 60% for drywall installers, ceiling tile installers and tapers
• 47.1% for construction laborers

On a brighter note the Building Trades Website reported the development of a Construction Industry Safety Council in New York City. The Council is made up ofthe city's leading high-rise contractors, contractor associations, the Building and Construction Trades Council of New York, and the Real Estate Board of New York.

According to the press release:

Goals for the council are to encourage and facilitate sharing of ideas and best practices; conduct research on safety practices elsewhere and evaluate their adaptation to a dense urban environment; and develop a safety Web site open to members and the public. Other goals include raising safety awareness and the standard of care in the industry through research, education, and advocacy; urging government agencies to establish safety standards "that all contractors building in the city should adhere to"; and interacting with neighborhood representative organizations for discussion and input.

Hopefully the best practices identified can make their way across the country.

Photo by ethorson