On May 4, 2015, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a new standard on Confined Spaces in Construction, which takes effect on August 3, 2015. Although construction employers have voluntarily complied with OSHA's general industry standard on Permit-Required Confined Spaces since the 1990s, this new standard imposes additional requirements. And, although the general industry standard on Permit-Required Confined Spaces and the new standard are similar, there are differences between the two. The new construction standard:

• Requires the designated "competent person" for confined spaces to perform a jobsite evaluation on all sites that could have confined space hazards;
• Imposes specific requirements for the exchange of information with affected workers before they enter into confined spaces;
• Compels contractors to perform continuous air contaminant and dust monitoring in confined spaces;
• Imposes a requirement that affected employers coordinate emergency response services before workers enter into confined spaces; and
• Changes the definition of "Isolation" to "Isolate or Isolation" and includes an employer's use of physical barriers to prevent contact between workers and physical hazards inside confined spaces.

MCAA's Safety Bulletin (www.mcaa.org/private) also provides a summary of the new standard. Additional resources are being developed to help MCAA members comply with the new standard. These resources will be free as a benefit of MCAA membership, and will be made available to members prior to the date the standard takes effect. For more information, please contact Pete Chaney at pchaney@mcaa.org.

Cultivate Effective TEAM Players with MSCA's Upcoming Webinar

In the third installment of the six-part webinar series, "The TEAM Thing," Steve Thomas will discuss the identity of "The Effective TEAM Player" on June 3 at 1:00 p.m. EDT. He will address the four types of people that exist in your company, helping you to recognize how each contributes to or detracts from performance. You will also learn how to align these employees to strengthen the team and its impact on your company's success. Register today at https://msca.webex.com (or click here to sign up via mobile device). Tentative dates for the remaining webinars in the six-part series are September 2, November 4, and December 6. For more information, contact Barbara Dolim (bdolim@mcaa.org). The first two completed webinars in the series, "Rethink the TEAM Thing" and "The TEAM Leader," are available for viewing at www.msca.org along with PowerPoint slides and handouts. 

The Mechanical Contracting Education & Research Foundation (MCEF) recently received a first-time contribution of $5,000 from Milwaukee Tool (Brookfield, WI). Michael Kirby, Milwaukee Tool Senior National Accounts Manager said, "The values and goals of MCERF mirror those of Milwaukee Tool, and we are proud to support the Foundation." The Foundation Board of Trustees is very grateful for the generous donation, which will help support MCERF's ongoing education and research activities aimed at promoting our industry's growth and advancement. Find out more about MCERF and its programs and activities by visiting www.mcerf.org or contact Dennis Langley at dlangley@mcaa.org.