The US-American Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently revised
the steel erection compliance directive for the agency's Steel Erection
Standard to change two enforcement policies related to tripping hazards and
installation of nets or floors during steel erection.

One of the revised policies addresses the standard's requirement that employers
install a floor or net within two stories or 30 feet, whichever is less.

The other policy states that employers must comply with the requirement that
steel studs, known as shear connectors, be installed at the worksite. Shear
connectors bind concrete to the steel.

"Falls are the leading cause of death among construction workers," said acting
Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "We are intent on reducing
the number of injuries and fatalities in the construction industry and believe
these policy revisions will help us attain that goal."

Bureau of Labor Statistics 2007 data show that 1,204 fatalities occurred in the
construction industry, 447 of which resulted from falls. The steel erection
standard sets forth requirements to protect workers from the hazards associated
with steel erection activities when constructing, altering, and repairing
single and multi-story buildings, bridges, and other structures where steel
erection occurs.

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AplusA-online.de - Source: U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration