On December 13th, 2011 a public hearing will be held by the Mass BBRS on several Building Code Proposals including the Stretch Sprinkler Code. Officials expect this meeting to be well attended due to the controversy generated by the Stretch Sprinkler Code. This building code proposal if adopted, would require sprinklers in new one and two family homes.

This week our Mass RRP Lead Certification Class was approved for 8 Continuing Education Units towards the new BBRS CSL requirement. Safety Trainers Inc is our training provider and Mark Paskell of The Contractor Coaching Partnership, Inc is the primary principal instructor.

Yesterday two roofers were electrocuted on a residential roofing project in Bridgewater Massachusetts. They were raising a ladder and hit a wire. Officials said 13,800 volts went through the mens bodies. One was not breathing when help arrived and he was revived.

The State of Mass DLS (RRP Enforcement) announced that they are finding many contractors not complying with the RRP licensing requirement. All Mass contractors who work on pre 1978 properties are required to obtain their Mass Lead Safe Renovation License. Here is the application if you need it. This requirement also applies to property management firms, landlords, housing authorities, banks and realtors who manage foreclosures, institutions who own and rent pre 1978 residential properties, weatherization contractors and more.

The OSHA Wolves are at residential contractors door..........                         

OSHA in New England is very active enforcing fall protection. Another Massachusetts contractor from Everett was hit for major fall protection violations. (Article links below) Last week we had several calls about OSHA visits and citations for fall protection violations south of Boston.

A Mass painting contractor was issued a stop work order yesterday for not being in compliance with the Mass RRP Lead Law. The job is in Brookline Massachusetts. Here are the details;

On Friday I got a call from a contractor who was just nailed by OSHA because some of his guys were not wearing harnesses. It turns out some of his guys were tied off and some were not. The OSHA inspector assessed the violations totaling $17,000.00. The contractor has asked us to meet with OSHA on his behalf in the hopes we may be able to persuade them to lower the fines. We will provide abatement services at the OSHA office hearing.

OSHA has announced a temporary policy on fall protection enforcement. Essentially all contractors not following the new directive and following the old one will have some latitude from inspectors with some reduction in fines for good faith efforts. Fines will still be levied even if good faith efforts are shown.

We have scheduled more free OSHA Awareness Seminars for residential contractors in Massachusetts. Our first one last month at Brockway Smith was well attended by over 40 contractors.