CLARKCC.COM LEFT ZEROOF Q2.2022•Project Spotlight • Director Article • Clark Safety Days
LEFT OF ZERO - Q2.2022
All common areas will be different in some way, with no two areas furnished identically, becoming less formal as you move up through the building.
The Kettering University Learning Commons is a state-of-the-art facility which holds an emphasis on the multi-use, student-centric environment. This four-story, 105,000 sf building broke ground on February 5, 2020, while completion is estimated by the end of Summer 2022. This open concept addition uses a natural light design with many student amenities. These amenities include: a digital library, auditorium, dining facilities, media resource centers, collaboration rooms, a kiva, a coffee shop, and a green roof terrace complete with lounging space.
LEFT OF ZERO - Q2.2022
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The design of the building placed the student’s needs as a top priority and allows for students to remain on campus for as as they need.
LEFT OF ZERO - Q2.2022LEFT OF ZERO - Q1.2022
-Colin McLean, CCS Project Manager
CONTRACTING
CLARK
SERVICES served as a partner on the project with scope including; Exterior cold-form framing/sheathing, metal studs, drywall, ACT ceilings, millwork/trim, wall panels, counters and stone tops, doors/frames/hardware, projection screens, markerboards, bathroom partitions/accessories, USG Ceilings Plus Metal Panel interior/exterior systems, fixed auditorium seating, suspended maintenance and fall protection equipment, spray acoustic insulation, accordion folding partitions, overhead doors, loading dock, waste compactors, and General Conditions.
A key safety challenge that the project faced was the scaffolding of the atrium and the auditorium. The subcontractor, Seaway, was able to collaborate with CCS carpenters layout/erect work surfaces at the appropriate elevation lapping the eyebrow soffits encompassing the atrium at each level. This allowed the work to not only be done safely, but productively and with the quality needed and expected with such a bright and high-exposure area.
The project offered another unique challenge in the Auditorium with multiple-angled ceiling and sloping soffits that required multiple work elevations to maintain safe and productive work.
Kettering Safety Challenges: CCS
LEFT OF ZERO - Q2.2022 The safety challenge that first comes to mind is the huge ‘dance floor’ constructed from ground floor up to just below the ceiling. The collaboration to erect the system and maintain it safely was commendable. - Stan Marshall, Project Safety Manager
As you’ve heard me speak about in meetings and at our Clark Safety Days, Heat Illness and particularly, Heat Illness Prevention Plans are the focus of OSHA and MIOSHA this year. Currently, the U.S. still does not have a federal heat stress standard for workers. Meanwhile, California, Washington, Minnesota and the U.S. military have issued heat protections and state standards. Absent a federal standard, OSHA currently polices heat-related injuries and deaths only by enforcing its “catch all” general duty clause that requires employers to provide safe worksites. Enforcement is scarce and, by definition, reactive rather than preventive, meaning OSHA only investigates after an incident has occurred. Conversely, from 2013 through 2017, California used its heat standard to conduct 50 times more inspections than OSHA, resulting in more heat-related violations than OSHA conducted nationwide in the same time period under the general duty clause.
Currently in the US Senate is The Asuncion Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act. This Act is named after a farmworker who died of a heat stroke in 2004, after picking grapes for 10 hours straight in 105-degree temperatures. Unfortunately, Mr. Valdivia’s story is not unique, and yet heat-related fatalities, injuries and illnesses are completely preventable. This bill introduced directs OSHA to develop a heat stress standard for indoor and outdoor workers to prevent further heat-related tragedies.
Heat Illness is a very real and easily preventable, as temps remain high with high humidity, the risk of a heat illness event rises. As we have spoken, the first and best defense against heat illness is hydration. Hydration starts before you get to work. Its easier to stay hydrated, then to try and hydrate while working. Drink a glass of water when you first wake up. Our Clark Heat Illness Prevention Plan covers hydration and other ways to reduce the risk of heat related illnesses.
Director Article FROM THE DESK OF DALE AVE-LALLEMANT, SAFETY DIRECTOR
Have a safe and healthy day!
LEFT OF ZERO - Q2.2022
Protecting workers from heat has economic benefits. In high heat, people work less effectively due to diminished ability for physical exertion and for completing mental tasks. This reduces productivity, increases the risk of incidents, and drives up medical expenses for employers. The costs of lower labor productivity under rising temperatures is estimated to reach up to $160 billion in lost wages per year in the U.S. according to the 2018 National Climate Assessment. These impacts can be mitigated by heat Forprotections.instance, in 2011 a central Texas municipality implemented a heat illness prevention program for outdoor municipal workers that resulted in a significant decrease in heat-related illnesses. In fact, no heat-related illnesses were reported in 2016 and 2017. The outcome data from this heat illness prevention program also showed a decrease in worker’s compensation costs by 50% per heat-related illness.
LEFT OF ZERO - Q2.2022 We are excited to offer relevant safety and health training in the mornings and updated CPR/FIRST AID/AED training in the afternoon sessions of each day. Email forthcoming to sign up for the day you would like to attend - more to come! OCTOBERLANSING11& 12 AUBURN HILLS OCTOBER 13 & 14 OCTOBERALPENA17 (TENTATIVE) Clark Safety Days
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