American Pipeline Contractors Association

Give Thanks to Your Workers

Show your workers you are thankful for them this holiday season by making a commitment to safety and health. You can:

Improve the safety dialogue in your organization. Check out the Safe + Sound Campaign resource, Better Safety Conversations, to make yours effective.
Recognize your workers’ contributions to safety and health. During Safe + Sound Week 2018, the Princeton University Office of Environmental Health and Safety gave prizes to workers “caught” practicing safe work habits. Check out other ideas for thanking workers in your organization.

Crane Operator Certification Requirements Interim Compliance Information

If you are not already aware, OSHA issued a news release and pre-publication copy of the final rule yesterday for crane operator certification requirements. OSHA will also be posting compliance assistance resources on the Cranes and Derricks in Construction webpage. We will let you know when the final rule is published in the Federal Register.

Safety Committee Meeting Minutes Available

Meeting minutes from the August 23 APCA Safety Committee meeting have been posted online. All safety committee information as well as other safety materials are available in the Safety Zone.

Updated National Emphasis Program (NEP)

OSHA issued a press release announcing that it has updated the National Emphasis Program (NEP) on preventing trenching and excavation collapses in response to a recent spike in trenching fatalities. The NEP will increase education and enforcement efforts. The program began on October 1, 2018 with a three-month period of education and prevention outreach. During this period, OSHA will continue to respond to complaints, referrals, hospitalizations, and fatalities. OSHA-approved State Plans are expected to have enforcement procedures that are at least as effective as those in this NEP.

OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable Wrap

Another successful OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable on September 20. Record attendance was reported for the meeting focusing on labor trends in construction.

In follow-up, please see the attached roundtable slide presentations. In addition, here is the link to sign up to receive the CPWR Monthly Update Newsletter, in an effort to better track and promote their new outreach/training products and resources. The next OSHA Alliance Program Construction Roundtable is tentatively planned for September 19, 2019.

De Minimis Violation Notices-Blood Laboratory Proficiency Testing and Approval

This memo provides guidance on how to evaluate employer's use of clinical laboratories for employee blood lead testing under the general industry Lead Standard and the construction Lead Standard.

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