Turner Again Studies Heat Impact on Construction Workers

• Turner Construction will again track vital signs of 200 construction workers this summer to measure the effect of high heat on their health.
• The study will track their core temperatures, heart rate and other vitals during the course of their work day.
• The research team includes Flatiron Construction; insurers Chubb and Liberty Mutual; and health research nonprofit La Isla Network.
• Last year’s study found that 43% of the 33 workers assessed had core temperatures of more than 100.4 degrees, even in cooler than typical summer conditions.
• Turner said it confirmed the need for hydrating in the morning and throughout the day, regardless of temperature or work activity.
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Tesla Sued by Family of Electrician Who Died at Texas Gigafactory

• The family of a Texas man who died while working at Tesla’s Austin-area facility earlier this month is suing for more than $1 million in damages.
• The suit names Tesla, its affiliate Colorado River Project LLC and Belcan Services Group L.P., the man’s employer.
• The filing said the worker, Victor Joe Gomez Sr., was at the facility on Aug. 1 to inspect electrical panels before they were energized. However, a panel was already energized, and upon inspecting it, Gomez was “immediately electrocuted” and knocked unconscious.
• He was transported from the scene by Austin-Travis County EMS to Dell Seton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has also said that it’s investigating the incident.
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NY State Senator’s Bill Aims to Strengthen Highway Worker Safety

• New York State Senator George Borrello has introduced legislation aimed at boosting safety in highway construction and maintenance zones.
• One bill would increase the penalties for a driver failing to move over or slow down when approaching authorized emergency vehicles, as required by New York’s “Move Over” law.
• A second bill would mandate the installation of at least two photo speed violation monitoring systems in work areas on state highways and the New York State Thruway.
• The legislation would expand and strengthen the five-year Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement program.
• Under that program, drivers caught by work zone monitoring cameras while driving at least 10 miles per hour over the posted limit in a work zone area are fined through a ticket they receive in the mail. 
• The program identified more than 130,000 speeding violations in work zones statewide last year.
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