The article "Florida Contractor’s Defibrillator Deployment Recharges Its Workforce Retention Effort" was a good subject with great information. All construction companies should step up a little closer to this plate as they are talk about safety programs. A year ago, I fell into the 5% group [who survive a sudden heart attack], and am thankful that site personnel not only carried personal cell phones but also had the presence of mind to immediately call 911. The EMT’s use of the automated external defibrillator (AED) kept me alive until I arrived at the emergency room. On-site defibrillators, and knowledge by all
The letter from Jeffrey B. Sodoma about safety conditions shown in a photo within ENR’s Year in Construction photo essay reflect how out of date OSHA regulations are. OSHA can only enforce the regulations that are in the applicable 29 CFR 1926 or 1910 standards. OSHA can enforce only laws that are written and/or interpreted by the legal system. Mr. Sodoma’s observation about the photograph showing individuals standing at the edge of a deep excavation is an example of how OSHA is behind the times in safety. The only section in 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P (Construction Safety Orders Excavation
Your construction-picture issue was great. I have never seen anything like some of the pictures I viewed there. I respect the efforts of all involved to ensure safe practices were shown in all pictures. However, I note two safety questions about two of the pictures. On page 30, there is a great picture of underground construction in New York City. I enjoyed this picture immensely until I realized that the worker was standing on top of the rail. In my eight years at BNSF Railway, I learned that one should never step on the head of the rail. It is