A remodeling called with a problem; he is having a tough time getting back to his leads with timely estimates because he is so busy.

Two years ago, 19 year old Tyler Walsh was struck and killed when a worker dropped a steel bracket from three stories. The worker yelled heads up and Tyler, who was likely not properly trained to work on a job site, looked up and his head met the steel bracket. According to the Manchester Union Leader report the metal lodged into his eye and penetrated his brain. He didn't stand a chance.

Last week I was asked to speak with OSHA at two fall protection awareness sessions in Framingham, Ma. and at National Lumber in Mansfield Mass. In Framingham contractors met an OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer from enforcement. In Mansfield the OSHA instructor was a Compliance Assistance Specialist from the education side. Although these sessions do not meet the OSHA training requirements for fall protection, they exposed contractors to the standards that employees and subcontractors must follow working on their job sites.

You know contractors use carefully selected tools to build their projects, but before you do you need the right estimating tools to make sure you cover your labor and material costs, overhead and net profit. One or two mistakes can cost you your hard earned profit and maybe lead to you buying the job.

The EPA just released that Lowes has been fined $500,000.00 for violating the EPA RRP Lead Law. EPA inspectors discovered violations of the RRP record keeping requirements and work practice standards. The EPA press release states that Lowes hired contractors that were not EPA certified, not properly trained, did not use lead-safe work practices and incorrectly used lead test kits at Lowes renovation work site. 

You're Fired

Lowes has been ordered to fire any contractor that is not operating in compliance with the RRP Law, to investigate reports of non-compliance and correct any violations. I wonder what will happen to jobs under contract right now. Will some contractors be removed in the middle of a project?

Enforcement; Recordkeeping and Documentation

The EPA states that they discovered the violations through a review of records for projects performed by contractors under contract with Lowes stores throughout the country. The press release states that the investigation was prompted by tips and complaints submitted by the public. 

Our training schedule for Massachusetts contractors and remodelers is now up for the next 6 weeks. We have a blend of business related and safety courses. 

A Connecticut siding contractor, fined by Bridgeport OSHA for fall protection violations, is getting the wrong kind of on line exposure in Google search results. In our fall protection training at Rings End in Stratford one of our students talked about this OSHA on line exposure and his concern that it could cost him business.

General Contractors, Remodelers, Sole Proprietors and Construction Managers who hire unsafe subcontractors to work on their jobs run the risk of OSHA inspections and fines. Under the OSHA Multi-Employer Citation Policy the controlling contractor can be cited and fined if a hired subcontractor creates unsafe work conditions for his workers and others on the job site.