Masonry Magazine December 2004 Page. 49
News
News continued from page 48
Contractors who do not invest in job site security and protection usually adopt residential systems, which are not designed to meet specific job site needs, and often fall short in protecting key assets such as job site office trailers, material goods, tools, and heavy equipment or machinery. This lapse can lead to significant financial loss and productivity losses, ultimately increasing costs for consumers, especially those purchasing new homes. In fact, the National Association of Home Builders recently reported that residential job site losses account for an annual 1%-2% increase in the cost of building a new home.
The financial impact of job site theft and vandalism affects the bottom line of both commercial and residential contractors. Many contractors who purchase their own tools and equipment see the loss coming directly out of their own pockets.
In gathering its research, DeWALT interviewed more than 200 end-users on job sites across the country, as well as worked with an independent research company, which polled more than 1,500 construction end-users and buyers.
While DeWALT's research findings underscored those of industry organizations and associations, DeWALT's study uncovered a surprising truth. The construction industry is deeply concerned about the economic impact of the security problem, yet less than 15% of job sites have identified an effective alarm system or other solution.
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QUIKRETE® Assists in National Museum
QUIKRETE takes pride in playing a significant role in the construction of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington, D.C. By providing the mortar used to lay block and stone on NMAI, the newest addition to the Smithsonian's National Mall, QUIKRETE has forever linked itself to this historic U.S. landmark.
GA Masonry Corporation used 1,935 QUIKRETE 3,000-pound bags of type S News continued on page 52
OSHA Proposes Revised Rule on Hexavalent Chromium
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium in the Oct. 4, 2004, Federal Register. OSHA is proposing three separate standards that cover exposure to hexavalent chromium (CrVI) in general industry, construction and shipyards. The agency is accepting public comments on the proposed standards until Jan. 3, 2005.
"The risks involved in the occupational use of hexavalent chromium can be serious and potentially life-threatening," says OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "This proposed rule is both economically and technologically feasible, and will substantially reduce the risk to workers potentially exposed to hexavalent chromium."
OSHA is proposing to lower its permissible exposure limit (PEL) for hexavalent chromium and for all CrVI compounds in construction, shipyards and general industry from 52 to one microgram of CrVI per cubic meter of air as an eight-hour time weighted average. The proposed rule also includes provisions for employee protection such as preferred methods for controlling exposure, respiratory protection, protective work clothing and equipment, hygiene areas and practices, medical surveillance, hazard communication and recordkeeping.
Hexavalent chromium compounds are widely used in the chemical industry as ingredients and catalysts in pigments, metal plating and chemical synthesis. CrVI can also be produced when welding on stainless steel or CrVI-painted surfaces. The major health effects associated with exposure to CrVI include lung cancer, asthma, nasal septum ulcerations and perforations, skin ulcerations (or chrome holes), and allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.
Comments, whether submitted by mail, fax or electronically, must be sent by Jan. 3, 2005. Three copies of written comments must be sent to the Docket Office, Docket H054A, Room N-2625, OSHA, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20210. Comments of 10 pages or fewer can be faxed to the OSHA Docket Office at (202) 693-1648. Comments can be submitted electronically at http://ecomments.osha.gov. Further information on submitting comments can be obtained by calling the Docket Office at (202) 693-2350.
OSHA plans to hold an informal public hearing in Washington, D.C., beginning on Feb. 1, 2005. The meeting is expected to be held from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on each day.
OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships, and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
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