Safety News You Need: Ladder Safety

On August 7th the American Society of Safety Professionals reported that "approximately 20% of workplace falls involve ladders, according to NIOSH".  Their weekly Safety News You Need included "resources on how to properly set up, climb, and work safely while on a ladder:

• One crucial element of ladder safety is knowing which type of ladder to use for different tasks. Know how to choose the right ladder for the job and how to properly maintain ladders your workers use. Learn more
• After you’ve selected the right ladder, you have to know how to work safely while on it. Following these dos and don’ts can help your workers stay safe when they use a ladder. Read more
• Beyond the potential for injury, falls from ladders can affect workers’ mental well-being. A recent study examined the psychological effects of ladder falls and what can be done to improve safety. Learn more
• Using a ladder on a construction site poses hazards that may not exist in other workplaces. Follow these six tips to help your workers stay safe while operating on ladders on the job site. Learn more"  

Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., F.NSPE, as a Past Chair of the National Society of Professional Engineers PE's in Construction Interest Group, and current President-Elect of the NYS Society of Professional Engineers, has helped to facilitate discussions between Professional Engineers across the country on important matters such as safety in the construction industry. Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to consult with property managers, real estate developers, builders, attorneys, contractors, insurance professionals, adjusters, and other related parties regarding construction site safety issues.  Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such matters.

Codes updated for mass timber construction

On August 4th Engineering News-Record reported that "the American Wood Council and International Code Council have released a joint publication, Mass Timber Buildings and the IBC, which gives an overview of code changes regarding mass timber construction. These changes, which started with the ICC’s 2015 International Building Code, allow taller and larger-area timber buildings and recognize cross-laminated timber as a building material...The publication also reviews the code’s reorganization of heavy timber provisions in the 2018 IBC and significant changes for tall mass timber construction in the 2021 code and the International Fire Code (IFC)".

Yarmus Engineering, P.C. makes it a priority to remain aware and knowledgeable of ongoing building code updates and similar regulatory changes so that we can incorporate same into our designs and inform our clientele of such new regulations which might affect their properties. Firm President, Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., F.NSPE, maintains his certification as a NYS Code Enforcement Official to ensure same.  Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such matters.