Hat-Trick Safety, Inc.

10/13/2026

A pair of construction safety organizations are teaming up to coordinate efforts on education and outreach related to worker mental health and su***de prevention.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding announced Sept. 24 – during National Su***de Prevention Month – the Construction Industry Alliance for Su***de Prevention and Safety and Health, the Construction Safety Organization hope their collaboration will “help empower the entire industry,” a CIASP press release states.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that the construction industry has a su***de rate four times greater than that of the general population. A data analysis from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training found that construction workers are about five times more likely to die from su***de than from a workplace injury.

“Construction has always been an industry built on people coming together to accomplish something greater than any one individual could do alone,” CIASP Executive Director Sonya Bohmann said in the release. “This partnership carries that same spirit forward.

“By connecting safety, mental health and su***de prevention, we can help create workplaces where people feel supported, valued and empowered to look out for one another.”

Safety and Health President Raffi Elchemmas added that the partnership is about “recognizing that safety is bigger than a hard hat, a harness or a regulation – it is about the whole person.”

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/construction-groups-partnering-on-mental-health-awareness/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sh&_zs=sUglS1&_zl=SJRA8

10/12/2026

DOB Service Notice:
Manhattan Development Inspection and Quality Assurance Unit Relocate to 280 Broadway

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the Manhattan Development Inspection Units and the Quality Assurance Unit are relocating from 1 Centre Street, 23rd floor to 280 Broadway, 1st Floor.

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/mn_dev_relocate-sn.pdf

10/09/2026

DOB Service Notice:
All DOB NOW modules (Build, Safety, BIS Options, Licensing, Inspections, and Inspections Plus) and the Buildings Information System (BIS) will be unavailable beginning Friday, October 9 at 5:00 pm until Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 5:00 pm, while an upgrade to an internal software system is made.

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/dobnow_maintenance-sn.pdf

10/07/2026

The top 10 causes of workplace injuries and illnesses accounted for about 85% of U.S. employers’ overall injury costs in 2023, according to the latest Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index.

When compiling the index, the insurer looked at its own information, customized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other data from the National Academy of Social Insurance.

“BLS nonfatal injury data are analyzed with the Liberty Mutual data to determine which events caused employees to miss more than five days of work and then to rank those events by workers’ compensation costs, which are then scaled to the NASI total cost,” a Liberty Mutual press release states. “To capture accurate injury cost data, each index is based on data three years prior. Accordingly, the 2026 index reflects 2023 data.”

Of the $58.7 billion overall cost to employers, $49.9 billion went toward the top 10 causes of injuries and illnesses. “Overexertion involving outside sources” (lifting heavy loads, for example) was the costliest source of injury, making up 26% of the top 10 causes of injuries/illnesses cost and costing employers nearly $13.1 billion in direct costs.

Rounding out the top 10 costliest categories of injuries/illnesses were:

1. Overexertion involving outside sources ($13.07B)
2. Falls on the same level ($9.9 billion)
3. Struck by object or equipment ($6.2 billion)
4. Falls to a lower level ($5.2 billion)
5. Slip or trip without a fall ($3.8 billion)
6. Other exertions or bodily reactions ($3.23 billion)
7. Roadway incidents ($3.22 billion)
8. Struck against object or equipment ($1.79 billion)
9. Intentional injury by person ($1.75 billion)
10. Repetitive motions involving microtasks ($1.6 billion)

“In any industry, gaining control of these costs starts with knowing which injuries have the most impact on medical expenses and lost-wage payments,” Liberty Mutual said in the release. “Use this year’s top 10 list as your guide and then refine your strategy.”

Ten causes accounted for about 85% of those costs, according to Liberty Mutual.

10/06/2026

People who operate or work near skid steer loaders need to maintain awareness of both the injury risks and the work environment, NIOSH emphasizes in a new toolbox talk.

Dangers include falling off and being pinned, crushed or struck by the machine.

The resource includes a real incident narrative, prompts for discussion and safety tips to help prevent injuries. Among the tips:

- Always use and maintain the safety devices provided by the manufacturer (interlocked controls, backup alarms, seat belts, lift arm supports and rollover protective systems).
- Run the loader from the operator’s compartment – never from the outside.
- Don’t exit the machine when the engine is running or when the lift arms are raised unless lift arm supports are used.
- Keep other workers away from the work area when lifting a load.
- Load, unload and turn only on level ground when possible, and always operate on stable surfaces.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/publications/numbered/2026-112.html

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/skid-steer-loader-safety-new-toolbox-talk-available/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sh&_zs=sUglS1&_zl=hCKA8

NIOSH urges awareness of equipment-related risks and the work environment.

10/05/2026

Fire Prevention Week™ is October 4–10, 2026. “Charge Into Fire Safety™. Safe Charging Is a Superpower” focuses on the everyday charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires and keep homes and communities safer.

https://www.nfpa.org/events/fire-prevention-week

This year’s Fire Prevention Week focus on lithium-ion batteries works to better educate the public about how to charge safely.

10/02/2026

Firefighters and emergency medical workers now have access to nearly 300 health and safety resources – with more to come – via a publicly available digital library.

The International Association of Fire Fighters says its new Resource Library “puts the information members need to protect themselves and serve their communities directly in their hands.”

Users can search the library by topic – such as occupational health, illness/injury, building and fire codes, nutrition and fitness, and behavioral health – and filter results by year, project time and other categories. Available resources include guides, webinars, trainings, safety advisories, checklists and social media graphics.

“The IAFF has a wealth of information to help firefighters and emergency medical workers make informed decisions about their health and safety, but those resources are only helpful if people can find and use them,” Ryan Heffernan, IAFF’s assistant to the general president for communications, said in a press release.

IAFF says it will continue to add resources to the online hub as they’re released to provide users with up-to-date guidance, research and educational materials.

https://www.iaff.org/resource-library/

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/firefighters-group-launches-online-library-of-health-and-safety-resources/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sh&_zs=sUglS1&_zl=LEEA8

Included: guides, webinars, trainings, safety advisories, checklists and social media graphics.

10/01/2026

Workers who use scaffolds should be trained on proper setup and operation to avoid serious injury and death, NIOSH emphasizes in a new toolbox talk.

“When scaffolds aren’t set up straight or used right, workers can fall,” the agency says. “Using scaffolds the correct way can stop workers from being hurt or killed on the job.”

The resource details an incident involving a fatal scaffold-related fall. It also provides clear, practical steps workers and supervisors can take to prevent these falls on the job.

For workers:

- Ensure the scaffold is properly tied off before beginning work.
- Use a ladder, stair tower or ramp to reach a scaffold. Don’t climb up the scaffold itself.
- Keep scaffolds within 14 inches of the side of a building.
- Use only scaffold-grade lumber as scaffold planks.

For supervisors and employers, always make sure:

- Guardrails and toeboards are installed on scaffolds that are 10 or more feet above the ground.
- The scaffold can support four times the maximum intended load (including the weight of the scaffold).
- The scaffold is level and plumb. Use screw jacks on base plates and mudsills to keep the scaffold level.
- Fall protection is provided for each employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level.
- A qualified person decides if it’s safe for workers to use fall protection when they’re putting up or taking down scaffolds.

The toolbox talk includes an illustration of a scaffold as well as safety solutions.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/publications/numbered/2026-111.html

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/prevent-falls-from-scaffolds-new-toolbox-talk-available/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sh&_zs=sUglS1&_zl=B49A8

Safety tips on scaffold setup and proper use to reduce injuries from falls from heights at work.

09/30/2026

Construction industry employers can help prevent harassment and violence on jobsites by staying aware of worker warning signs and developing a plan, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training says in a new guide.

Citing data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the guide states that acts of violence are the third leading cause of workplace deaths.

However, “like other occupational safety hazards, workplace harassment and violence are recognizable, foreseeable and preventable,” CPWR says. “Risks can be identified and mitigated with appropriate policies, procedures and precautions.”

The center stresses the importance of proactive planning, calling on employers to identify potential workplace factors that could increase the risk of violence – both from across the organization and on jobsites.

Although warning signs can vary among individuals, CPWR offers several emotional and behavioral signals that may indicate agitation:

- Excessive drinking and/or drug use
- Drastic mood changes, especially irritability and depression
- Repeatedly breaking organization policies and rules
- Increased conflict with co-workers
- Resistance to changes at work

Providing training and creating a formal, written policy to address workplace harassment and violence are critical to managing incidents, CPWR asserts. Effective workplace policies should cover:

- Definitions and identification of prohibited behaviors
- Procedures for conducting a hazard assessment and developing exposure control and elimination plans
- Reporting and responding protocols
- Emergency preparedness and response plans
- Plans for engaging jobsite partners such as owners, workers, supervisors, subcontractors and unions in prevention efforts

CPWR says the goal is to help employers create a harassment-free “culture of care” in which everyone on the jobsite feels safe, valued and respected.

https://www.cpwr.com/wp-content/uploads/GB-CPWR_Guide_Prevent_Workplace_Harassment_Violence.pdf

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/preventing-workplace-harassment-and-violence-in-construction-new-guide/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sh&_zs=sUglS1&_zl=H37A8

Incidents are “recognizable, foreseeable and preventable,” CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training says.

09/29/2026

OSHA Workplace Safety Reminder:
Ensure generators have 3 to 4 feet of clear space above and on all sides.

https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA4105.pdf