On August 30, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officially published their proposed standard addressing heat illness in outdoor and indoor settings in the Federal Register.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and September 9 – 13 is Construction Suicide Prevention Week, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the unique challenges we face in the construction industry that can impact mental health and increase the risk of suicide, as well as strategies to reduce these risks and save lives. To access resources and register to participate, visit constructionsuicideprevention.com.

The Proposed Standard. On July 2, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published their proposed standard addressing heat illness in outdoor and indoor settings. The proposal codifies many of the heat safety practices the construction industry already uses to protect workers. Those measures, which broadly fall into the categories of water, rest, shade, and training, were crafted by contractors as part of their general duty obligations to protect workers from hazards associated with high temperatures. However, OSHA has not addressed the disparate impacts of heat in various parts of the country. The impacts on worker safety of a 90°F day in Mississippi are different than a 90°F day in Alaska. The final version of the rule should take into account regional differences in weather patterns.

In a new “Why Should YOU Adopt Lean” educational material series, members of the AGC Lean Construction Committee integrate impactful research with approachable “get started” guide to help more contractors adopt Lean Construction Methodology in the field.

As August 11th – National 8-1-1 Day – approaches, consider the role that responsible excavation plays in the safety of your workforce.

Safe + Sound Week is a nationwide event held each August that recognizes the successes of workplace health and safety programs and offers information and ideas on how to keep America's workers safe.

Every year, during September — National Suicide Prevention Month — the construction industry dedicates a week to raising awareness about the unique challenges workers face in construction that may lead to suicide and what we can do to help prevent it.

Join us on September 4, 1 PM – 2 PM Eastern 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.

AGC of America is now accepting speaking proposals for the Construction Safety & Health Conference taking place January 22-24, 2025, in Jacksonville, FL. This event is designed for emerging to senior-level management professionals who work in any of the commercial construction markets. All educational sessions should be targeted towards these attendees and should involve topics that reflect current and emerging issues in construction safety and health.