Safety topics related to infrastructure, with a focus on bridges.
There are 600,000 bridges in the United States. Millions of people cross them every day. Yet surprisingly, there are many things people don’t know about these complex structures, including the designers, contractors, and maintenance experts who work on them all the time. Here are nine facts about bridges you’ll find surprising. 1. Bridges can be friendly […]
Every year, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) publishes a list of the top 10 most common violations they cite when inspecting worksites. OSHA compiles the list as a service to employers. The organization believes that by alerting them to these common issues, they’ll be more likely to recognize them on the job and […]
A look at the headlines from across the country, along with a review of the Occupational Health and Safety Association (OSHA) website, reveals that there has been a significant increase in the number of serious bridge construction accidents over the last few years. Many led to serious injuries and deaths. In most cases, these incidents could […]
America’s bridges and the utility infrastructure they support are aging and declining at a rapid pace. The American Society of Civil Engineer’s 2013 Report Card on America’s Infrastructure (the most recent available) assigned our country’s bridge infrastructure a mediocre C+ grade. The same report gave different types of utilities scores ranging from B all the […]
There have been many serious bridge disasters throughout history, most caused by things like extreme weather, fires, and collisions. Others have come about due to highly unexpected things, like a medieval battle, singing, and a celebrity clown. No matter the cause, most resulted in significant loss of life, devastating injury, and serious economic consequences, including lost utility […]
Despite major advances in bridge and roadway construction safety, it’s still very risky work. Before the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) was created 43 years ago, an estimated 14,000 workers were killed on the job every year. The number of fatal injuries has fallen from an average of 38 a day back then to […]
Bridges, along with the roads, ramps, and other structures that connect to them, are now safer than ever before. Centuries of data and experience allow engineers to build bridges that are stronger and more durable than their predecessors. Nonetheless, emergencies happen. In order to protect the public, workers, and vital utility services, it’s absolutely crucial for municipalities […]
Almost every year since 2000, one major bridge has collapsed in the United States. Beyond major incidents, 228 bridges on average fail each year. Many of these failures are due to violent weather. Almost two hurricanes on average make landfall in the United States annually, causing damage to bridges and road infrastructure. Many states, including Florida, […]