flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Cell phones present a safety hazard at job sites

Codes and Standards

Cell phones present a safety hazard at job sites

Use of ear buds, headphones banned by some contractors.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | February 27, 2020

Courtesy Pixabay

Workers who use personal mobile phones on job sites present safety risks that contractors need to address.

Many workers, especially younger ones, commonly connect ear buds or head phones to their phones to listen to music or podcasts in their off hours. Some listening devices equipped with sound-canceling features that block off noises from the outside world. If workers use these devices on the job site, workers can be completely tuned out to sound cues that alert them to hazards.

Some contractors ban these devices at work, but the issue is an ongoing concern because sometimes workers don’t realize they have listening devices in their ears when they enter the construction zone. There is no specific federal regulation that prohibits the use of headphones on a construction site, but OSHA issued a letter of interpretation that says headphone entertainment on a construction site is permissible at managerial discretion.

OSHA standards do require employers to protect employees’ ears with ear protective devices. Personal headphones or ear buds do not qualify as protective equipment, though.

Related Stories

| May 27, 2013

Bill would mandate contractors use subs identified in bids on federal projects

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) filed a bill in May that would require prime contractors that bid on federal construction projects over $1 million to list each subcontractor they plan to use for $100,000 or more of work.

| May 27, 2013

Maryland law on codes for wind resistance will take effect in October

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety says that Maryland citizens will be safer due to legislation passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley.

| May 23, 2013

AGC Contractors Environmental Conference focuses on compliance issues

The 2013 AGC Contractors Environmental Conference June 13 and 14 in Arlington, Va., will include cost-effective strategies for firms to remain compliant and competitive.

| May 23, 2013

ASTM releases new carbon steel hollow structural sections

ASTM has released a new HSS standard, A1085 - 13 Standard Specification for Cold-Formed Welded Carbon Steel Hollow Structural Sections (HSS).

| May 23, 2013

Group Health Puyallup medical center first project to achieve 'LEED for Health Care' certification

The Group Health Puyallup (Wash.) Medical Center is the first facility to be certified under the LEED for Healthcare (LEED-HC) rating system, earning LEED Gold.

| May 17, 2013

LEED v4 has provision to reduce water use in cooling towers

The next version of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system will expand water-savings targets to appliances, cooling towers, commercial kitchen equipment, and other areas.

| May 15, 2013

New York City Council okays plans for Cornell's huge net-zero tech campus

Cornell University's proposal to build a two million sf tech campus on Roosevelt Island has been approved by the New York City Council.

| May 15, 2013

Center for Green Schools, Architecture for Humanity release new tool for green schools

The 70-page guide demystifies the processes of identifying building improvement opportunities and finance and implementation strategies.

| May 15, 2013

AAMA extends NAFS certification on fenestration products

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) announced the release of an interim procedural guide that will provide a documented, optional process to extend current, unexpired AAMA product certification to any edition of AAMA/WDMA(/CSA) 101/I.S.2(/A440), North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights (NAFS).

| May 9, 2013

New developments would face tougher stormwater rules than redeveloped sites under EPA proposal

New developments would have to meet more stringent stormwater-retention standards than redeveloped sites under a forthcoming Environmental Protection Agency proposal.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021