Electical Contractor

What is ergonomics, and what does it mean to the average construction worker on the job site? Ergonomics is the science of designing equipment to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort while doing the job.

On March 4, 1908, at the Lake View School in Collinwood, Ohio, 172 students and three adults died in the largest life-loss school fire in U.S. history. At the 13th annual National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) meeting in 1909, then-president C.M. Goddard addressed the event.

OSHA’s "6-foot rule" for fall protection is pretty straightforward. It states that if any employee is in a situation where they may lose balance and fall to a lower level or simply fall 6 feet or more, fall protection must be provided and used.

Millions of people spend a significant portion of their lives working in high-rise office buildings.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) selected Jack Wells, vice president of corporate development for Pass & Seymour/Legrand, as the inaugural recipient of the foundation’s Outstanding Service Award.

Tools, both hand and power, are found at every job site regardless of the trade. While tools are a craftsman’s friends, they bring hazards. The same tool that makes a job easier also can be the cause of an accident.

Throughout US history, there have been near-legendary workplace fires. In 1911, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City caused 150 deaths. As recently as 1991, a fire at the Imperial Foods poultry processing plant in North Carolina caused 25 worker deaths and 49 injuries.

Recent electrical incidents in Iraq have stirred up controversy. In August, Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) issued a statement that the victim count stood at 18. Casey reported that 16 were U.S. military personnel, and two were U.S. contractors.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the number of declared major disasters nearly doubled in the 1990s compared to the previous decade. This increase brings into focus the need and benefits of being prepared. But the DHS is not alone in its concern and call for preparedness.