From the Desk of Chris Trahan Cain, Executive Director | | | Construction Worker Deaths from Heat Exposure Can Be Prevented | | |
Last month’s heat dome, which brought some of the hottest temperatures in a decade to parts of the U.S., was a dangerous reminder of the hazards of summer weather. Construction employers must protect workers from not only higher temperatures -- both outdoors and in enclosed spaces -- but also from skin cancer and summer storms. CPWR offers a range of resources to help, including Toolbox Talks, Hazard Alert Cards, infographics, on-demand webinars, and checklists to support the development and execution of a heat-related illness prevention (HIP) plan. An employer-developed HIP means they can select customized, effective controls to protect workers. In addition, register below for our July 29 webinar on summer heat.
| | TOOLS FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH | | |
Construction Chart Book Interactive Adds 5 More Dashboards
CPWR’s Data Center continues to expand the 7th edition of the Construction Chart Book. New interactive dashboards examine electrical injuries, Focus Four injuries, and health risk factors. There are also two historical dashboards, which preserve important data, covering COVID-19 vaccinations and nanomaterials. .
Fact Sheet on Cut-Off Saws Now in Spanish
Our fact sheet on cut-off saws, released this spring, is now available in Spanish. It provides essential safety information on proper saw operations to help prevent struck-by injuries, fatalities, and exposure to silica dust. Developed with support from the NIOSH-NORA Construction Sector Council Struck-by Work Group, it covers both potential hazards and approaches to prevention, including training and PPE; it also lists additional resources.
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Participate in CPWR Heat Safety Research
The multiple efforts to develop standards to address occupational heat stress point out heat's impact on construction workers, including increased risk of traumatic injuries like falls, decreased physical work capacity, and life-threatening illness in the form of heatstroke. CPWR has begun a study to better understand the impacts of heat stress and to develop effective strategies for managing it, and we are looking for contractors to participate in the research. Learn more from this flyer.
Heatwaves, Traumatic Injuries, and Barriers to Heat Safety Program Implementation. Miranda Dally. CPWR Small Study, 2025. Read the Key Finding and the full report.
Using 360-VR Narrative Communication to Boost Small Employers’ Safety Practices. Jing Wen and Masoud Gheisari. CPWR Small Study, 2025. Read the Key Finding and the full report.
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Tuesday, July 29th at 1:00 p.m. ET (1 hour)
NABTU-CPWR Summer Heat Webinar
Construction workers, who often work outdoors in direct sunlight or in hot, enclosed spaces, are at risk for heat-related illnesses and, in severe cases, death. Rising global temperatures in recent decades increase that risk. However, these illnesses and deaths are preventable. North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) is working with its affiliates, contractors, and other industry stakeholders across the country to prevent heat-related illness and injury through better pre-job and pre-task planning and training. As part of this effort, NABTU and CPWR invited two construction labor representatives and two contractor representatives to share their perspectives on how to beat the heat while still getting the job done.
Moderator: Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, Executive Director, CPWR
Panelists:
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Shannon Jones, Tri-Fund Coordinator, Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America (LHSFNA)
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Ken Seal, Safety and Health Director, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
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Shane Eckerman, Executive Director of Safety, CSI Electrical Contractors, Inc.
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Aaron Knight, OHST, EMT-B, President, NMC Companies
Click here to register and submit questions in advance
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July 21-24, Orlando -- ASSP Safety Conference + Expo 2025
7/23, 1-2 p.m. (ET) – The Silent Hazard: Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and the Role of EHS Professionals
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Linda M. Tapp, CSP, ALCM, CPTDP, ASSP
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Georgia Bryce-Hutchinson, LMFT, MSEE, CPLC, Mental Health Consultant
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Wesley L. Wheeler, SMS, CESCP, MSP, National Electrical Contractors Associatio
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Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, NABTU/CPWR
7/24, 8:45-9:45 a.m. (ET) – Turning the Tide on Child Labor: Addressing Troubling Trends Head-On
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Reginald Richards, AIHA
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Vilma Bell, U.S. Department of Labor
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Barney Burns, ASSP
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Chris Trahan Cain, CIH, NABTU/CPWR
7/24, 8:45-9:45 a.m. (ET) – ANSI/ASSP Z359 Fall Protection and Restraint Forum
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Thom Kramer, P.E., CSP, LJB Engineering
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Dan Henn, LJB Engineering
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Michael Overholt, CSP, ARM, ACIG – American Contractors Insurance Group
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Jessica Bunting, MPH, CPWR
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Safe + Sound Week Coming Next Month
Safe + Sound Week -- a key part of OSHA’s year-round campaign to encourage every workplace to have an effective safety and health program -- takes place August 11-17. Visit the campaign website to learn more, including how to register.
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