Flashings

OSHA levies fine for no fall protection

For the fourth time in four years, William Trahant Jr. Construction Inc., Lynn, Mass., was cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for exposing employees to potentially fatal falls. The company is not an NRCA member.

OSHA cited the contractor for one willful, one repeat and three serious violations of workplace safety and health standards, including lack of fall protection for employees repairing an asphalt shingle roof system on a three-story house; inadequate anchorage points for fall-arrest lines; and not training employees to recognize and address fall hazards.

An additional fall hazard reportedly stemmed from using a damaged ladder to access the roof. The investigation also revealed an employee working on the ground lacked a hard hat, exposing the employee to falling objects. OSHA has proposed $43,560 in fines.

William Trahant Jr. Construction previously was cited by OSHA in August 2014 for similar violations at a worksite in Revere, Mass. The company also was cited by OSHA in September 2012 and July 2011 for violations at two worksites in Peabody, Mass.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and proposed penalties to comply, meet with OSHA's area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

SBA announces online tool for entrepreneurs

The Small Business Administration has launched LINC (Leveraging Information and

Networks to access Capital), a new online tool to match entrepreneurs looking for small-business loans with lenders.

After a small-business owner completes a 20-question online form, the answers are sent to every lender in the borrower's county, as well as other lenders with a regional and national reach. Business owners are connected with regional and national lenders within 48 hours.

The LINC tool is available at www.sba.gov/tools/linc.

PIMA announces new EPDs

The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) has announced the receipt of third-party-verified International Organization for Standardization-compliant Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for polyisocyanurate roof and wall insulations.

The EPDs document the energy-savings potential of polyisocyanurate roof and wall insulation is up to 47 times the energy required to produce, transport, install, maintain and eventually remove and dispose of insulation. Additionally, the EPDs document polyisocyanurate insulation offers a higher R-value per inch, no potential for ozone depletion, recycled content, opportunity for reuse and outstanding fire performance.

PIMA's polyisocyanurate roof and wall insulation EPDs also meet the requirements of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED^® v4 Green Building Rating System.

National Safety Stand-Down scheduled

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and CPWR—The Center for Construction Research and Training have announced their 2015 National Safety Stand-Down will take place May 4-15.

"Fatal falls and injuries touch workers in all kinds of jobs across the country; it's a broad problem that has a terrible impact on workers and their families," says Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Given the tremendous response we've received, it's clear that this is an important issue to a great number of people across this nation. I know it is to me and all my colleagues here at the Department of Labor, which is why we are so pleased to work toward preventing these tragedies through innovative and collaborative efforts like the Safety Stand-Down."

During the National Safety Stand-Down, employers and workers throughout the U.S. are encouraged to pause during their workdays to talk about fall prevention in construction and dedicate themselves to safety.

To learn how to partner with OSHA during the National Safety Stand-Down, obtain information about how to conduct a successful event, find resources for employees and workers, receive a certificate of participation, and read the latest news about the event, visit www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown.

Proposed rules would allow drone use

Rules proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could allow thousands of small businesses to fly drones beginning in 2017.

With the FAA's draft rules, real estate agents, aerial photographers, police departments, farmers and others could fly small drones for work purposes. Drone operators would need to pass a written proficiency test, register the drone and pay about $200 in fees; however, they would not need to obtain a regular pilot's license or demonstrate their flying skills.

Businesses only would be permitted to fly drones during daylight hours, and drones would have to remain within eyesight of the operator or observers posted on the ground. Additionally, drones could fly no more than 100 mph and would have to stay below an altitude of 500 feet to avoid the risk of colliding with other aircraft. They also could not fly over bystanders not directly involved in their operations.

The regulations would apply only to drones weighing 55 pounds or less. The FAA still is drafting rules for larger drones, which likely will take several more years to plan.

NRCA is monitoring the situation and will release more information about its position soon.