Find a Contractor Buyer's Guide
MCAA Logo
Member Login JOIN
NEWS
Join Us For The 75th Anniversary Midyear Meeting Sep 7-11 ↗

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis to Establish Charter on Construction Safety and Health Advisory Committee

Words: Diana GillispieSecretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis will re-establish the charter of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health. The group advises the secretary on formulating safety and health standards and policies that affect construction workers and the construction industry. The charter will expire in two years.

"Since OSHA's inception, ACCSH has played an important role in furthering the safety and health of workers in the construction industry," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Dr. David Michaels. "The members' advice and recommendations are extremely valuable to the agency because they have a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience on a wide range of construction trades, activities and issues."

Established in 1969 as a continuing advisory committee under the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, commonly known as the Construction Safety Act, ACCSH is comprised of 15 members appointed by the secretary. The advisory committee consists of five representatives of employers in the construction industry, five representatives who present the viewpoint of employees in the construction industry who are generally from various building trades unions, two public representatives, two representatives of state safety and health agencies and one from the National Institute of Occupational Health. The members generally serve staggered two-year terms and may be reappointed.

As part of its advisory role, ACCSH provides comments and recommendations on OSHA proposed rules affecting the construction industry. In addition, the committee provides other recommendations and develops various work products such as quick cards and fact sheets for OSHA's consideration. Currently, ACCSH also has a number of active work groups focusing on areas including women/diversity in construction, education and training, green jobs, multilingual issues in construction, power fastening tools such as nail guns, prevention by design, residential fall protection, and silica and other construction health hazards. The meetings of ACCSH and its work groups are open to the public.

For more information on ACCSH and the group's reports and recommendations, go to www.osha.gov/doc/accsh.
 0
Using Respirators for Silica Exposure
July 2025

Some in the masonry industry have expressed interest in respirator use as protection from harmful exposure to silica. This topic is of paramount importance due to its impact on our workers and the serious health effects of silica exposure. For those new t

Zach Everett
Read More
From Bikes to Buildings: The Importance of Embracing Rainscreen Wall Designs and the New Building Codes.
July 2025

Have you ever been asked to do a project over the course of your lifetime? For example, when my kids were little, my wife asked me to assemble their bicycles. So, I opened the box, dumped out the contents, and cast aside whatever I thought was unnecessary

Keith Lolley
MAP Partner
Read More
Laying the Foundation for Growth: Concrete Masonry Checkoff Unveils Five-Year Vision for Industry
July 2025

The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) put the finishing touches on an ambitious five-year vision for the industry, targeting a 20% increase in market share, driven by increased demand for concrete masonry products. “This is about building exquisite, enduri

Industry News
Read More
Five of the Seven Chimneys Have Been Saved: Project Chimney Update
July 2025

In the wake of the devastating January wildfires that swept through Los Angeles's Pacific Palisades, a remarkable preservation effort is underway, spearheaded by Project Chimney, an initiative led by Evan Hall, founding director of the non-profit House Mu

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More