As technology continues to improve, many companies are creating the latest high tech gadgets to provide the best quality for their clients’ work. Some companies are doing this by providing construction workers and contractors the most up-to-date equipment to bring safety and success to each job site.

Falls are the leading cause of death in construction and every year, falls from ladders make up nearly a third of those deaths. These deaths are preventable. Falls from ladders can be prevented and lives can be saved by following the safe work practices described below.

As construction season continues into its peak time, it is important for construction companies to make sure their employees are safe at all times. Without proper training and appropraite tools, construction worker safety can be jeopardized. Here are some ways to make sure construction sites are in tip-top shape for construction workers.

Good communication is a key factor in the completion of a construction project. Improve teamwork and cooperation are some benefits when construction workers and management effectively communicate. Following are some suggestions on how to foster effective job site communication.

Construction projects are a huge undertaking, and the bottom line is that there is a lot to be done and the client is looking for the best product for their money. Delivering the best product is key and lies heavily on construction site productivity and the ability to accomplish the project quickly. Here are a few ways to improve your construction site productivity to help deliver the best product for the contractor.

Summer is not only the hottest season, but the time when construction begins. With the rising temperatures, construction workers may become too busy to take an extra break to get out of the sun and hydrate. Teaching employees how to spot when a coworker is suffering from any heat-related illness can be vital to prevent serious injuries or death.

Working on a construction site often comes with certain health risks. Unfortunately, injuries are possible, although they are also often avoidable. These are some of the health and safety risks that construction workers are subjected to on a daily basis and some ways to avoid them.

OSHA requires that fall protection equipment shall be inspected by the user before each use. ANSI and most suppliers require a competent person other than the end user perform a formal inspection of that same equipment at least annually. Inspection intervals for competent person inspections should not exceed twelve months for the construction industry and they must be documented.

April 22 was Earth Day, which got us thinking about energy efficiency and some of the biggest energy efficient trends that are making their way into construction. Having an energy efficient building is becoming not just a trend, but a requirement for some businesses and companies. These are just a few of the trends that we have noticed in projects around the country.

Material handling is the largest single cause of lost workday injuries in construction. One out of every four work injuries happens because someone lifted, carried, pushed, or pulled something the wrong way or lifted beyond his or her capacity. Workers suffer many painful injuries because they forget or are not properly trained in the basics of manual material handling.

Hiring the right contractor for the job is key to the job’s success. Many contractors specialize in certain building types, so doing the research prior to hiring someone will help you determine what type of contractor you should hire for the type of project you have. Here are a few tips on how to pick the perfect general contractor for your project.

Sparks fly, combustibles go boom, and workers flee the scene with smoldering clothing or materials. This sounds like the perfect script for a Halloween movie. Only it is all too real of a possibility when you are working on construction sites with dangerous chemicals, faulty wiring or haphazard fire safety training. Nobody wants to be caught on fire when trying to earn a living at a construction site. Here are five ways to prevent fires at work.

Congratulations to Dean Kurtz Construction and craftsmen for winning the Construction Industry Center Master Craftsmen Award for their work on the Bowen Residence and Stables Project in Custer. The award serves to recognize the individuals in the industry that perform their work to the highest standard and help to encourage personal initiative, ingenuity, originality, and extra effort on the job.

It’s no secret to anyone that there is a lot of expensive equipment on a work site and unfortunately, unfenced properties can sometimes fall victim to property theft or vandalism. Heavy equipment is twice as likely to succumb to theft as natural disaster and five times likelier to be stolen than in an auto accident. So how do you prevent that happening on your work site? The safety of not only workers but also the equipment is very important, so here are a few tips on how to keep equipment safe from vandals and thieves.

Like all power tools, portable grinders can present safety concerns, including flying particles and electrical hazards. This procedure outlines requirements in the Occupational Safety & Health Administration's (OSHA) standards regarding abrasive wheels and tools (29 CFR 1926.303).

Winter in South Dakota can be a brutal season, especially for jobs, such as construction, that require people to be outside all of the time. Construction workers are exposed to all of the elements, whether it’s the sun beating down on them during summer, or the blizzard like conditions of winter. Each season presents its own type of elements that are important to take caution against, and winter is no different. It is crucial to stay safe in the winter, so here are a few tips for construction workers to keep in mind while out in the winter elements.

Rubber roofing material being installed.

Dean Kurtz Construction is working on construction of the Borated Polyethylene Shielding mazes which are designed to block the trajectory of neutrinos from room to room while still allowing electrical, plumbing, fire sprinkler, and HVAC systems to pass through! Our subcontractors continue work on installing their systems with in the CASPAR cavern as well as the BHSU Cleanroom space.

DKC is working on finishing up refinishing the floor and installing door frames while WD Masonry follows behind installing concrete masonry walls. Also, Rocky Mountain Clean Rooms is installing the hard-wall modular cleanroom in the Black Hills State University cavern. Radiation shielding walls, doors, and mazes are next on the list!