Flashings

Follansbee Steel announces closing

Follansbee, W.Va.-based Follansbee Steel—owned by Steubenville, Ohio-based Louis Berkman Co.—and Follansbee Steel's Sheet Metal Specialty Division recently closed because of "sustained unfavorable business conditions." The closure affected 36 workers. Both companies will work closely with its customers to minimize the closure's effects.

Mark Robinson, Follansbee Steel's executive vice president and general manager, says the shutdown process will be gradual, giving the company time to test the investor market. He says Louis Berkman will try to make Follansbee Steel attractive to potential buyers, but it must act quickly.

Robinson also says the company is filling existing orders but not taking new orders for materials it doesn't currently have.

Alabama recruitment program expands to Georgia

In partnership with the Georgia Governor's Office of Workforce Development, the Alabama Workforce Development Initiative has expanded its recruitment program to Georgia. The program, Go Build, which was launched in August 2010, aims to enhance the image of the skilled craft trades and recruit the next generation of workers with an emphasis on industrial and commercial construction careers.

The recruitment programs are partnering with Mike Rowe, executive producer and host of Discovery Channel's "Dirty Jobs," and his mikeroweworks.com initiative. Rowe's website and foundation call attention to the growing skills gap while providing a comprehensive resource for anyone interested in a career in the skilled trades.

The Construction Users Roundtable, an international organization founded by construction and engineering executives representing major corporations, has endorsed Go Build as its image enhancement and recruiting program.

More information about Go Build can be found at www.gobuildalabama.com or www.gobuildgeorgia.com. Registration is free, and registered users can access self-assessment quizzes to help determine their skill sets and interests to guide them to their most-suited construction trades, create and manage resumes, cover letters and reference lists, and explore a list of careers. Each career listing includes information about the job, education and experience required and average wages for Alabama or Georgia.

OSHA selects training providers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has selected 10 OSHA-authorized training providers to deliver 25 online courses as part of the agency's Outreach Training Program.

OSHA's Outreach Training Program teaches workers how to identify, prevent and eliminate workplace hazards. The program also informs workers of their rights, employer responsibilities and how to file a complaint.

The online courses are voluntary and provide training to help protect workers' safety and health and help employers reduce the high costs of worker injuries and illnesses.

The organizations OSHA selected to offer the online courses will provide construction, general industry and maritime 10- and 30-hour classes.

Following are the newly selected OSHA-authorized Outreach Training Program online training providers:

• Construction 10-hour: AdvanceOnline Solutions, CareerSafe, ClickSafety, Compliance Solutions, PureSafety, Safety Unlimited and Texas Engineering Extension Service
• Construction 10-hour in Spanish: ClickSafety and PureSafety
• Construction 30-hour: AdvanceOnline Solutions, ClickSafety, PureSafety, Texas Engineering Extension Service and Turner Knowledge Network
• General Industry 10-hour: AdvanceOnline Solutions, CareerSafe, ClickSafety, North Carolina State University, PureSafety, Safety Unlimited and Texas Engineering Extension Service
• General Industry 30-hour: AdvanceOnline Solutions, ClickSafety and PureSafety
• Maritime 10-hour: Moxie Media Access to courses and program information is available at s.dol.gov/L6.

DOT limits cell phone use

The Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration implemented a new regulation Jan. 3 that limits the use of mobile phones by commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The new rule is an attempt to reduce vehicle accidents resulting from driver distraction.

The agency noted nine states and the District of Columbia have traffic laws prohibiting the use of hand-held mobile phones by all drivers while operating a vehicle. Mobile phones are defined to include satellite phones or broadband phone services (what the Federal Communications Commission classifies as "commercial mobile radio services") but not two-way radios or citizens band radios.

Under the new rule, using a hand-held mobile phone is defined as using at least one hand to hold a mobile phone to conduct voice communication; dialing or answering a mobile phone by pressing more than one button; or reaching for a mobile phone in a manner that requires a driver to maneuver out of a seated driving position.

A CMV driver is allowed only the hand movement of pushing a single button to initiate or terminate a call—so texting and dialing numbers are prohibited. Use of a hands-free device is allowed, but a driver may not dial or hold the mobile phone in his or her hand.

The agency noted this new rule covers CMV drivers in interstate commerce, as well as drivers who operate a vehicle transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding. Commercial driver's license (CDL) holders and other CMV drivers are affected by the rule. A CMV, for purposes of the rule, is a self-propelled or towed motor vehicle used on a highway in interstate commerce with a gross vehicle weight rating, gross combination weight rating or gross vehicle weight or gross combination weight (whichever is greater), of 10,001 pounds or more.

Maximum driver and motor carrier (employer) fines under the new rule are $2,750 and $11,000, respectively, though the agency notes states may choose to set lower fines or vary amounts based on the violation's circumstances.

CMV drivers also may be disqualified under the new rule for varying periods after their second and subsequent violations of the rule during a three-year period. Violating a state or local law or ordinance restricting or prohibiting use of a hand-held mobile phone while driving a CMV has been added to the list of serious traffic offenses for which a CDL driver or a commercial learner's permit holder may face disqualification after a second conviction within a three-year period.

Formaldehyde listed as a carcinogen

In 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services released the 12th Edition Report on Carcinogens (RoC), which placed formaldehyde in the category of compounds "known to be human carcinogens." Formaldehyde previously was categorized as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen."

Formaldehyde may be found in some materials used in roofing, ordinarily in low or trace amounts. In contrast, the occupational studies cited in the 12th Edition RoC generally focus on workers with "higher measures of exposures" either in exposure levels or durations. The report noted formaldehyde is present in the environment and concentrations in outdoor air generally range from 0 to 0.1 parts per million. Residential indoor air levels of formaldehyde may be higher.

Before 1990, OSHA estimated 2 million U.S. workers were exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations between 0.1 and 1 part per million—mostly in the garment industry, according to the report. However, no current occupational data is available regarding formaldehyde.

Roofing contractors should be aware no new regulations have resulted from the listing of formaldehyde. A specific OSHA regulation exists for formaldehyde—the construction industry regulation may be found in standard 29 CFR 1926.1148, based on the general industry regulation in standard 29 CFR 1910.148. The regulation sets a permissible exposure limit and also allows objective data to be used in lieu of exposure monitoring in appropriate circumstances.

To assist employers with assessing workers' formaldehyde exposures, OSHA has published a formaldehyde fact sheet at www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/formaldehyde-factsheet.pdf.