Managing Construction Safety and Health: Experience of New York State Department of Transportation

1997 ◽  
Vol 1585 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurel B. Andrew ◽  
James E. Bryden
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Highway Construction ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Construction Safety ◽  
York State Department ◽  
York State ◽  
Safety Risks ◽  
Safety And Health ◽  
Health And Safety Risks

To construct and maintain transportation facilities in a cost-effective manner, management of a large state highway construction program must address health and safety risks to highway users and workers. Successful management of construction-site risks requires defined objectives, strong agency commitment, adherence to fundamental safety and health principles, and clearly defined procedures. Health and safety risks and associated costs inherent in highway construction are examined, and the New York State Department of Transportation’s construction safety and health program is described. These efforts are offered as a model to other large transportation agencies that may be considering adopting such an approach. Key elements in this program include clear-cut contractual requirements, adequate program staffing, an accident reporting system to identify critical concerns and track progress, formalized procedural manuals to provide operational guidance, quality assurance/ quality control procedures, and compliance measures and outreach efforts to the construction industry and other agencies. Problem areas have been identified where greater program focus can obtain results in terms of reduced losses. Initiatives have been directed toward falls, utility contacts, demolition safety, and work-zone traffic control.

scholarly journals The Intersectionality of Activism and Public Health in New York State: Can Labor/Health and Safety Move Addiction Recovery Forward?

2021 ◽  
pp. 104829112110462
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Campbell ◽  
Jonathan Rosen
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Substance Use ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
New York State ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
State Funding ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
York State ◽  
Crisis Prevention ◽  
Safety And Health

People affected by overdose deaths are advocating for prevention and increased access to treatment. Activist coalitions challenged the deadly impact of stigma, discrimination, and inadequate access to life-saving substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health care. Advocacy by coalitions resulted in federal and state funding and legislation, improving access to care. New York State is a model for these reforms. Occupational safety and health activists have largely been absent from this critical policy work even though 70% of people who are struggling with substance use are working. Antiquated workplace policies discipline workers who have substance use problems, silencing those who need support. Pain related to hazardous and stressful work are drivers of the crisis. Prevention and recovery-friendly workplace programs are part of the solution. Partnerships among employers, unions and safety and health activists with the recovery movement can prevent SUD and help affected workers build and sustain their recovery.

Simple Model of Forward Visibility for Snowplow Operators Through Snow and Fog at Night

1997 ◽  
Vol 1585 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Bullough ◽  
Mark S. Rea
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Line Of Sight ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Light Sources ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
Narrow Beam ◽  
York State ◽  
Beam Type

Backscattered light reflected from falling snow, rain, and fog impairs visibility and can hinder performance of snowplow operators. New York State Department of Transportation snowplow operators cite backscattered glare as an important problem, and many drivers use their own “solutions” to counteract it. A literature review yielded two important conclusions: backscattered light from a lamp in fog and falling snow is reduced, and visibility is improved ( a) as the lamp is moved away from the operator’s line of sight and ( b) with a narrow-beam lamp. Field tests of lighting configurations during inclement weather were conducted to determine the effects of beam type and displacement from the operator’s line of sight on visibility, glare, and satisfaction. On the basis of these data and the literature, a simple mathematical model was developed that predicts the forward-visibility ratings of snowplow operators. This model can be used to guide specifiers in selecting light sources and mounting locations for snowplow operations.

scholarly journals New York City’s Brownfield Redevelopment Program: Economic Catalyst or Taxpayer Giveaway?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Tatyiana Gordon
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
York City ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
New York State ◽  
Property Values ◽  
Environmental Conservation ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
York State Department ◽  
York State

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the New York City Office of Environmental Remediation (OER) manage and coordinate brownfield cleanup programs. These are intended to promote environmental restoration and redevelopment of underutilized or abandoned properties that have been affected by the presence or discharges of oil or hazardous substances. This paper seeks to determine whether these programs have achieved the goals and objectives sought by decision makers and if the cost of those achievements in terms of public money subsidies and forgone tax revenue have been commensurate with the realized benefits.The DEC brownfield program offers financial incentives, such as tax credits, as well as regulatory benefits (limited liability protections) to promote alternatives to greenfield development. OER efforts are New York City centric with incentives divided into three sectors: procedural, legal, and financial with a major goal of reducing remedial (cleanup) timeframes. To evaluate the effectiveness of the New York City Brownfield program changes in property values over time were evaluated. The five New York City counties experiencing the two highest percent increases in property values also claimed the highest brownfield credits. Queens and Brooklyn received most brownfield credits during this period but also experienced the most redevelopment. These and other data illustrate a return on the brownfield investment (ROBI) credit of about one to six; or one dollar in brownfield credit stimulating six dollars in project spending. New York City counties’ ROBI is consistent with all other New York State County ROBI’s: roughly six dollars in redevelopment activity being stimulated by one dollar in brownfield credit. The roughly $6 ROBI presented here is similar to ROI’s for other public services such as disease prevention and incarceration intervention.

An interlaboratory comparison of control materials for use with hematofluorometers.

1989 ◽  
Vol 35 (10) ◽  
pp. 2059-2065 ◽  
Author(s):  
P J Parsons ◽  
N V Stanton ◽  
E W Gunter ◽  
D Huff ◽  
J R Meola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Environmental Science ◽  
New York State ◽  
Extraction Procedure ◽  
York State Department ◽  
York State ◽  
Department Of Health ◽  
Target Values ◽  
Wide Scatter ◽  
The Stability

Abstract This interlaboratory study was conducted to examine four erythrocyte protoporphyrin control materials from Aviv Biomedical, Helena Laboratories, Kaulson Laboratories, and the New York State Department of Health for use with hematofluorometers. Our principal aims were to monitor the stability of these materials at three different storage temperatures (room, refrigerator, freezer) and, where appropriate, to validate the manufacturer's target values. Measurements for the study were generated in three reference laboratories that used a total of five hematofluorometers, three from Environmental Science Associates and two from Aviv Biomedical. Each instrument was calibrated against a consensus acetic acid-ethyl acetate extraction procedure. We found the materials from Aviv to be the most stable, followed by the New York State material. However, the target values assigned by Aviv were not within the acceptable range determined by consensus. The target values assigned by Kaulson Laboratories for their materials did fall within the acceptable consensus range, but they were the least stable of the materials evaluated. The materials from Helena Laboratories were originally designed for use as calibrators with Helena's "ProtoFluor Z" hematofluorometer, which reports in different units. They were deemed unsuitable for use as control materials with the Aviv or Environmental Science Associates hematofluorometers because of the narrow range of values and the wide scatter of results.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document