OSHA proposes to halve and harmonize silica exposure thresholds

Sources: Occupational Safety and Health Administration; CP staff

In Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica, OSHA outlines reduction of permissible exposure limits (PEL) for quartz from current general industry and construction thresholds—100 and 250 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) expressed in eight-hour weighted averages, respectively—to a uniform 50 μg/m3.

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New silica exposure rule compliance burden: $1,300–$1,750 per concrete plant

Sources: OSHA, CP staff

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica (NPRM) profiles 11 ready mixed and manufactured concrete production job titles, estimating at least half of workers with three of them encounter silica exposure above the agency’s new 50 microgram per cubic meter of air over eight-hour sampling period (50 μg/m3).

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New Labor Board validates order favoring Aggregate Industries NE

Sources: National Labor Relations Board; CP staff

The newly constituted NLRB has adopted an administrative law judge’s decision dismissing a Teamsters Local 42 complaint that alleged Aggregate Industries Northeast Region failed to negotiate in good faith during collective bargaining sessions for a May 2008–April 2011 contract successor. It marked one of the first pending-case actions for the agency, which as of mid-August has four new Members and a Chairman beginning a five-year term—all following Senate confirmation last month.

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NPCA report tracks minor gain in 2012 precast shipments, better 2013 prospects

Sources: National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind.; CP staff

After several years of stagnation, the precast concrete industry is turning the corner in recovery from the Great Recession, with NPCA’s 2013 Benchmarking Report indicating 2 percent higher volume in 2012 over the prior year—coupled with a near-doubling of profit margins, from 2.5 percent to 4.9 percent.

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NCMA Foundation commits $200K to BIM for Masonry Phase II

Sources: National Concrete Masonry Association, Herndon, Va.; CP staff The NCMA Foundation has approved funding to continue the Building Information Modeling for Masonry Project in 2014, as researchers eye development of a unit model definition comparable to other material interests’ structural databases. The BIM for Masonry database will delineate physical characteristics of commonly produced concrete masonry units, and potentially other…

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FMCSA moves to codify short-haul exemption to HOS 30-minute break rule

Source: Associated Builders and Contractors, Alexandria, Va.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will not apply the provision under its revised hours of service (HOS) rule requiring drivers to take a 30-minute break for every eight hours of consecutive driving in short-haul conditions, and will initiate a rulemaking to include such text in its regulations.

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Home builder confidence index approaches 2005 levels

Source: National Association of Home Builders, Washington, D.C.

Builder confidence in the market for new single-family homes rose three points to 59 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for August, marking a fourth consecutive monthly gain and bringing the index to its highest level in nearly eight years.

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Former DOT Chief LaHood keynotes MIT CSHub Showcase 2013

Source: Concrete Sustainability Hub at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

Seven-term Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL), who served as President Obama’s first term Secretary of Transportation, will keynote this year’s CSHub Showcase, September 25-26 at the Media Lab on the MIT campus.

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