CSC Classes for December 2015

Cancelled - OSHA 10 Hour for Construction Dec 1 - 2, 2015 #7500 Intro to Safety and Health Management - Call NSEC at 800-656-5317 to register Wed, Dec 2, 2015 Hazard Communication: Globally Harmonized System of Classification & Labeling of Chemicals Thu, December 3, 7:30am - 11:30am 2nd Annual Christmas Open House Fri, December 4, 1pm - 4pm buildsafe.org to register Health Hazards in Construction Sat, December 5, 7:30am - 11:30am OSHA #510 - Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry- Call NSEC at 800-656-5317 to register Mon, December 7, 7:30am - Thu, December 10, 4:00pm ATSSA Flagger Training Mon, December 7, 7:30am - 11:30am OSHA 30 Hour in Construction, 4 day class December 8, 10, 15, 17,  7:30am - 3:30pm $99 Year-End Deal for American Heart Association First Aid/CPR/AED Wed, December 9, 7:30am - 1:00pm ATSSA Flagger Training Sat, December 12, 7:30am - 11:30am NFPA 70 E Hazards Mon, December 14, 7:30am - 11:30am Work Zone Safety, Temporary Traffic Control and MUTCD Hazard Awareness Mon, December 14, 7:30am - 11:30am Scaffold User/Erector Hazards Tue, December 15, 7:30am - 3:30pm Confined Space Entry Wed, December 16, 7:30am - 3:30pm Job Hazard Analysis Fri, December 18, 7:30am - 11:30am Signal Person Hazards for Cranes Fri, December 18, 7:30am - 11:30am Rigging Hazard Awareness Fri, December 18, 12pm - 4pm Excavation Safety for the Competent Person Mon, December 21, 7:30am - 3:30pm Fall Protection Safety for the Competent Person Tue, December 22, 7:30am - 3:30pm Register Online Print the USPS Registration Form View the Calendar

Happy Thanksgiving from the Construction Safety Council

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you the best of everything always. Wishing you the best from all of us at the Construction Safety Council. Join us for our 2nd Annual Holiday Open House Friday, December 4th, 2015 from 1pm - 4pm Construction Safety Council 4415 West Harrison Street Suite 404 Hillside, IL 60162 Please RSVP on our website at www.buildsafe.org We hope to see you all there! Gayla Hurson

2016 Construction Expo and Safety Conference

Save the Date - March 7 & 8, 2016
Drury Lane Conference Center
Oakbrook Terrace, IL

View the video from the 2015 Conference.

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New Budget Deal to Significantly Increase OSHA Fines for the First Time in Twenty-Five Years

Employers beware! The new bipartisan budget, passed by both the House and the Senate and signed by President Obama on November 2, 2015, contains provisions that will raise OSHA penalties for the first time in 25 years. The budget allows for an initial penalty “catch up adjustment,” which must be in place by August 1, 2016. The catch up adjustment is tied to the percentage difference between the October 2015 Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the October 1990 CPI.

Because the October 2015 CPI will not be available until November 17, 2015, the actual percentage increase is unknown at this time. However, based on recent CPI trends, the increase will likely be in the range of 70% - 80% over current penalty amounts. OSHA would be required to pass an interim final rulemaking to finalize the “catch up” increase.

Assuming an 80% catch up adjustment, starting in August 2016, new maximum penalties would be as follows:
• Other than Serious violations: $12,600
• Serious violations: $12,600
• Willful violations: $126,000
• Repeat violations: $126,000

After the initial catch up adjustment, OSHA will be required to implement annual cost of living increases, with the adjustment tied to the year over year percentage increase in the CPI. Adjustments must be made by mid-January each subsequent year.

OSHA has the option to implement a catch up adjustment less than the maximum if the Agency determines increasing penalties by the maximum amount would (1) have a “negative economic impact” or the social costs of the increase outweigh the benefits and (2) the Office of Management and Budget agrees. However, OSHA Chief Dr. David Michaels has long advocated for a substantial increase in penalties so it is difficult to envision the Agency seeking anything other than the maximum increase.

The changes in the budget go into effect on July 1, 2016, with the new penalties coming into effect by August 1, 2016. Such a large increase in penalties along with the yearly cost of living increases will require employers to change how they handle OSHA inspections and the financial ramifications of citations.

This information is provided by: Seyfarth Shaw LLP One Minute Memo® | November 3, 2015 ©2015 Seyfarth Shaw LLP. All rights reserved. “Seyfarth Shaw” refers to Seyfarth Shaw LLP (an Illinois limited liability partnership). Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Mark Lies & James L. Curtis & Patrick Joyce, Seyfarth Shaw

Download the full article. http://toolboxtalks.coffeecup.com/CSC/151109OSHAFINES.pdf

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New data show rate of most serious work injuries unchanged; overall rate drops slightly

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses*, released Oct. 29, shows that private industry employers reported nearly 3 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2014. While the incidence rate of total recordable cases fell slightly, the rates for cases involving days away from work and for cases of job transfer or restriction were unchanged. After reviewing the report, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels issued a statement on the need to better protect workers:

"Today's Bureau of Labor Statistics report shows that too many workers are still being injured or sickened on the job. Workplace injuries and illnesses have a devastating effect on workers, their families, and the businesses where they occur. These injuries and illnesses contribute to the pressing issue of income inequality: they force working families out of the middle class and into poverty, and keep the families of lower-wage workers from entering the middle class and achieving the American Dream."

 This information is provided by: OSHA.

Dr. Michaels testifies before Congress on OSHA's efforts to improve workplace safety and health

In testimony to the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections on Oct. 7, Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels described how, with limited resources, OSHA achieves its mission through a balanced approach of standards, compliance assistance, enforcement, outreach and whistleblower protection.

"We recognize that most employers want to keep their employees safe and make great efforts to protect them from workplace hazards," Dr. Michaels told the committee. "Our enforcement program specifically targets the most dangerous workplaces, where workers are most likely to be hurt on the job, and the most recalcitrant employers. For those employers who need technical assistance, we provide free on-site consultations to small employers, as well as other compliance assistance, educational materials and training."

Dr. Michaels also detailed challenges in addressing the changing structure of employment relationships, such as the dramatic increase in temporary workers in virtually every type of workplace. Unless properly managed, these structural employment changes greatly increase risks of injuries and illnesses among all the workers in these workplaces.

For details, see Dr. Michaels' testimony.

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