If you’re performing Government construction projects and you’ve been suffering through sleepless nights and spontaneous crying over what to do with Accident Prevention Plans due to the updated 2024 EM 385-1-1, your frustration is just about over.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Safety and Health Requirements Manual, otherwise known as the EM 385-1-1, is being revised. The current release date is 15 March 2024 with a new name, “Safety and Occupational Health Requirements”.
Being able to work while being mobile has become ever more important in our daily workflow, especially in the construction industry. Time is at a premium and field personnel are having to be more accurate in less time to maintain schedules and boost profitability!
Every construction contract awarded by the federal government requires the creation and use of an Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) for each and every step or Definable Feature of Work (DFOW) of the project. The creation of each AHA requires a substantial amount of both experience and research to correctly complete. For those in the industry, it’s honestly a daunting task for even the most seasoned safety professionals.
The construction industry is a powerhouse, adding more than $900 billion to the US economy in the first quarter of 2020, then disaster struck. COVID-19 caused a massive slowdown claiming almost a million jobs and over $60 billion of revenue. Obviously, companies exposed to COVID-19 affected segments were hit harder, but that wasn’t the only determination of weathering the storm. Companies that could react to the changing realities on the ground through capitalizing on advancements in technology to meet the needs of a diminished workforce and lower overhead costs seem to fair much better. While this wasn’t the only factor, there are significant trends occurring in the industry and much room for optimism.