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Politics & Policy
US House Introduces Resolution Opposing DOL’s New Davis-Bacon Rule
ABC Slams OSHA’s Worker Walkaround Rule for Failing To Promote Workplace Health and Safety
State Off-Year Elections Deliver Losses To GOP Heading Into 2024
Safety
Utilize Software To Achieve Your Safety Goals
OSHA Extends Comment Period on OSHA Walkaround Proposed Rule to Nov. 13
ABC Expresses Serious Concerns to Congress About OSHA Worker Walkaround Rule
Events/Products/Programs
Nearly 350 ABC Leaders Gather in Washington for Annual Legislative Conference
ABC Members Rank Among ENR’s Top 400 Contractors
Trades Day: Industry Outreach Opportunity With Meaning
State/Local News
Ed Capodanno Honored by Delaware State Legislature
Election Update: ABC Staff and Members Elected in 2022
California Targets Workplace Cannabis Testing
Awards
ABC Congratulates 30 Members Awarded DOL’s 2023 HIRE Vets Medallion
ABC Honors 3 New Applicants With the AQC Credential in October
Graham Roofing Earns the AQC Credential in September
Legislation
ABC-Supported Legislation To Overturn the Northern Long-Eared Bat’s Endangered Species Listing Heads to President Biden’s Desk
ABC Advocates for Solutions to Workforce Shortage at U.S. House Committee Roundtable
Smucker Introduces the ABC-Supported Main Street Tax Certainty Act
Regulations
NLRB Extends Effective Date of the Joint Employer Final Rule to Feb. 26, 2024
DOL’s Unlawful Proposed Overtime Rule Will Disrupt Construction Workers’ Workplace Flexibility
ABC’s November Regulatory Roundup—Learn About the Latest Developments Affecting the Construction Industry
Workforce Development
Register Now for ABC’s Construction Inclusion Week Webinar Series
DOL High Road Workforce Development Program Map Snubs Nonunion Programs
LISTEN: How to Design an Effective Technology Adoption Strategy
On Oct. 15, ABC submitted comments as part of the Construction Industry Safety Coalition on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Request for Information on Table 1 of the agency’s Respirable Crystalline Silica Standard for Construction.
According to an OSHA news release, the agency is seeking feedback on its current and any additional engineering and work practice control methods to effectively limit exposure to silica for the equipment and tasks currently listed on Table 1 and other construction equipment and tasks that generate silica that it should consider adding to Table 1.
“CISC applauds the agency for issuing this RFI and has been pushing the agency to do so for more than two years. Expanding Table 1 and otherwise improving compliance with the rule is of paramount importance to CISC member associations and contractors across the country. Based upon the feedback the CISC has received from contractors—both large and small—compliance with the rule remains challenging. CISC encourages OSHA to move quickly with rulemaking to permit contractors additional compliance options and tools,” according to the comment letter .
Additionally, CISC urged OSHA to consider the following improvements to the respirable crystalline silica rule:
1. Add an “under one hour” column, row or table that provides equipment/tasks and controls for short-term activities. Such an allowance would provide contractors more flexibility and increase the number and types of control options available.
2. Add dry cutting with vacuum attachments to Table 1 for stationary masonry saws and handheld power saws, as the data shows that exposures to this equipment with these controls are under the PEL. OSHA should also allow for the use of standard shop vacuums as part of engineering controls, based on recent data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. In addition, OSHA should explore the use of floor and pedestal fans and air scrubbers as simple compliance solutions either on their own or in conjunction with other control measures.
3. Add masonry scrubbers, wire saws and wall saws to Table 1 based on data showing low exposures when using this equipment.
ABC will continue to keep members informed of any developments on the silica rulemaking in Newsline.