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DOL OIG recommends MSHA lower exposure limit for silica

Washington — The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is advising the Mine Safety and Health Administration to lower its legal exposure limit for silica released Nov. 16.




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Annual DOL OIG report outlines challenges for OSHA, MSHA

Washington — The COVID-19 pandemic has “exacerbated” the challenges for OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration to use their resources to protect the safety and health of workers, according to the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.




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Lawmakers, UMWA join call for MSHA to lower exposure limit to silica

Washington — Five Senate Democrats are imploring the Mine Safety and Health Administration to lower its exposure limit for crystalline silica – a carcinogen found in sand, stone and artificial stone.




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Michigan OSHA launches emphasis program on silica

Lansing, MI — Michigan OSHA intends to conduct inspections at jobsites where workers are most likely to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica, as part of the agency’s recently launched state emphasis program aimed at reducing exposure to silica and preventing silicosis.




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OSHA drastically cut silica-based inspections in FY 2018, 2019: DOL OIG report

Washington – OSHA’s scaled-back enforcement efforts on silica exposure during a recent two-year period left more workers at risk, according to a Department of Labor Office of Inspector General audit report released Sept. 29.




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Ontario to grant compensation to miners who developed Parkinson’s after inhaling McIntyre Powder

Toronto — A recent decision by Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to formally recognize Parkinson’s disease as an occupational disorder linked to McIntyre Powder exposure guarantees provincial compensation benefits to affected workers and their families, Minister of Labor Monte McNaughton has announced.




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MSHA administrator to miners and operators: Be proactive on preventing silica exposure

Arlington, VA — As the Mine Safety and Health Administration works toward publishing a proposed rule on respirable crystalline silica, agency administrator Chris Williamson is encouraging mine workers and operators to “take proactive measures” to assess silica-related health hazards.




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MSHA ‘actively working’ on a proposed rule on silica, Williamson says

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is “actively working” toward publishing a proposed rule on respirable crystalline silica, agency administrator Chris Williamson said Oct. 20.




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Proposed rule on silica on the agenda for upcoming MSHA meetings

Washington — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has scheduled public meetings on its recently published proposed rule on worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica.




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MSHA extends comment period for proposed rule on silica

Washington — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has extended until Sept. 11 the comment period for a proposed rule on worker exposure to respirable crystalline silica.




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OSHA seeks to protect stone countertop workers from lung disease

Washington — A new OSHA initiative is aimed at protecting workers in the engineered stone fabrication and installation industries from silica exposure.




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Support charity appoints new chief

Nicola Burston has been at The Drinks Trust for the past four years




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Commission looks into charity that closed abruptly

Re:work helped marginalised people find employment




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Street sale nets charity almost £1m more than expected

The Gloucestershire road includes 22 residential homes and two mixed-use buildings




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Multiple sclerosis charities merge

The charities say the move puts them in a stronger position to make a positive impact on the lives of people affected by multiple sclerosis




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‘Substantial rise’ in individual giving as major charity’s income up by 10 per cent

The charity also received a £5m grant from the People’s Postcode Lottery




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Hospice saved after raising more than £6m in a month

Zoe’s Place Liverpool had said it faced closure by the end of the year




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Charity chiefs from ethnic minorities remains static at just 7 per cent, report finds

Nearly a third of charity chief executives have experienced discrimination or barriers during their career in the sector, Acevo says




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Female charity chiefs hitting ‘concrete ceiling’ as gender pay gap at 10-year high

The gap reached 14 per cent last year, research from the charity leaders body Acevo shows




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Hundreds of charities offered chance to gain London Marathon places in shake-up of bond system

The system has offered running places in the race to charities since the 1990s




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Regulator recovers more than £10m in unused funds for Welsh charities

The programme has supported 72 inactive Welsh charities to become operational again, the commission says



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Consultancy walks away from ‘dream gig’ with NCVO, citing differences in values

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations says Fair Collective had completed the work it had been contracted to deliver but the consultancy disputes this




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Cancer charity broke fundraising code over clothing collection bags, regulator rules

The Fundraising Regulator says it saw ‘little supporting documentary evidence’ to suggest the charity had comprehensive oversight over the work carried out by a clothing collection company in its name




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Volunteering charity appoints next chief

Amerjit Chohan will take up the top job at Helpforce in the new year




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More than 230-year-old grantmaker changes its name

Richmond Parish Lands Charity has become the Richmond Foundation




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Government to close £1.5bn National Citizen Service programme

The NCS Trust, the charity set up to operate the scheme, will also be wound down, MPs are told




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Inquiry into poverty relief charity that failed to act on regulator’s order

GiftingHumanity was already part of the Charity Commission’s ‘double defaulters’ class inquiry for failing to file financial documents on time




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Government confirms where £350m of dormant asset funds will be allocated

The government has earmarked four areas for spending until 2028




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Holyrood committee urges Scottish Government to prioritise three-year funding for charities

Funding models must also include provisions for inflation-based adjustments, the report says




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Twenty-one people made redundant at hospice charity

It is fewer than the about 40 job cuts that St Giles Hospice warned it might have to make in the summer




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ABC: Nonresidential Construction Employment Increased by 28,300 in August

The construction industry added 34,000 jobs on net in August, according to an Associated Builders and Contractors analysis of data released Sept. 6 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On a year-over-year basis, industry employment grew by 228,000 jobs, an increase of 2.8 percent.




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Commercial Construction Market Forecast for 2024-25

The American Institute of Architects published its latest consensus forecast for 2024 and 2025. Learn more about what the AIA and other forecasting resources are projecting for the construction market in the coming years.




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Stucco Cladding: A Modern Approach With Stone Wool

Explore the fire safety, durability and moisture management advantages integrating stone wool continuous insulation in stucco systems.




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FGIA Now Offering Pertinent FenestrationMasters 3.0 Courses à la Carte

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance is now offering two topics from the upcoming third edition of FenestrationMasters, its flagship education program, for individual purchase. The two à la carte modules cover the North American Fenestration Standard, including the NAFS Canadian Supplement and Fundamentals of Insulating Glass.




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Knight Wall Systems Hires Human Resources Manager

Knight Wall Systems announced on Sept. 17 the hire of Anna Allen as human resources manager, according to Knight operations manager Pat Collins.




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Phampena: The Meaning of Family

In this special episode of If Walls Could Talk, Walls & Ceilings Associate Editor Michael Levitt speaks with Phampena Inc.’s Taide Pham, Hien “H” Pham and Trinidy Pham. The company is on the cover of W&C’s September issue and has grown into an industry leader since being founded in 2010.




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Hurricane Helene Damage Comes Into Focus With Long Rebuild Effort Expected

State transportation agencies in North Carolina and Tennessee are still assessing damage from the storm, forecasting a months-long effort to repair hard-hit critical arteries such as Interstate-40. 




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A Strong Case of the Fontainebleau

A journey of transformation: creating a world-class landmark in Las Vegas.




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FGIA Members and World Vision Donate Backpacks and School Supplies

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance partnered with World Vision, a humanitarian organization helping children, families and their communities overcome poverty and injustice, to provide school supplies to in-need children during the 2024 FGIA Fall Conference on Sept. 16-19.




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VIDEO: Hurricane Recovery Efforts in Florida

In this video, W&C contributor Trent Cotney gives an update on Hurricanes Helene and Milton.




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Architectural Color Trends and Building Product Impact Shared at FGIA Fall Conference

Participants at the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance’s 2024 Fall Conference heard color forecasts from an expert in the field, who shared an exploration of trends emerging and evolving in the building products market over the next three to five years.




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FGIA Fall Conference Presenters Share Technical Training and Education Expertise

Several training and education opportunities took place during the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance’s 2024 Fall Conference in Minneapolis, including an informative session on mockup testing in construction, a primer on corrosion, and an educational, hands-on workshop demonstrating proper application of materials common in fenestration installation, as presented by the FGIA Wall Interface Council.




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Minnesota Officials Share Energy Efficiency and PFAS Remediation Efforts

Those participating in the Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance’s 2024 Fall Conference, which was held in Minneapolis, heard the ways in which Minnesota is leading the nation when it comes to commercial energy codes and efficiency, as well as efforts to mitigate the impact of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances on the environment and local drinking water supply.




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New PAC-4000 MCM Can Be Field-Formed for Installation and Cost Efficiency

Petersen’s new PAC-4000 metal composite material provides design options for those wanting to add truly flat, colorful surfaces to building exteriors. The material is resistant to fire, impacts and water intrusion and can be curved for aesthetic appeal.




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CPI Celebrates Polyurethane Trailblazers with Top Industry Awards

On Oct. 2, the Center for the Polyurethanes Industry of the American Chemistry Council announced the recipients of two prestigious industry awards – the 2024 Polyurethane Innovation Award and the 2024 Distinguished Leadership Award.




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SMACNA Appoints 2024-25 President and Incoming Executive Committee Members

The SMACNA Board of Directors welcomed Tom Martin, president of Cleveland-based T.H. Martin, Inc., as its 2024-2025 president. Martin took the reins from current SMACNA president Carol Duncan of General Sheet Metal.




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Innovative Polymer Systems Expands Operations

Spray foam insulation manufacturer Innovative Polymer Systems is expanding its operations across the United States. IPS operates material distribution centers across the country to serve contractors nationwide.




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BuildBlock Adds Frank Gordon, Assoc. AIA, as Strategic Development Vice President

BuildBlock Building Systems, the manufacturer of BuildBlock Insulating Concrete Forms, announced the addition of Frank Gordon, Assoc. AIA, as the vice president for strategic development. Gordon will be leading the marketing, sales and technical teams and bringing them together to build relationships with industry leaders, stakeholders, developers, industry professionals and more, supporting BuildBlock’s growth initiatives.




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BuildBlock Adds Commercial Development Director

BuildBlock announced that Russ Nicely has joined the company as commercial development director. Nicely will focus on continuing education and promotion for architects, engineers, general contractors, specialty subcontractors, owners and developers, as well as working to further develop commercial construction projects across North America.




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Nearly 350 Building Enclosure Professionals Attend 2024 IIBEC/OBEC BES

The 2024 IIBEC/OBEC BES — the fall’s premier building enclosure industry event — wrapped on Oct. 1. Nearly 350 attendees were on hand to experience 21 education sessions, interact with 35 exhibitors and network with like-minded colleagues.