2021 – Indiana Constructors Inc

Stormwater Master General Permit in Final Stages

Posted on 2021-11-102025-04-10 by Dan Osborn

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is in the late stages of a process transitioning from a permit by rule to a Master General Permit (MGP) for the three stormwater programs currently administered through Indiana Administrative Code (Rules). The three programs effected are Construction Stormwater (“Rule 5”) (327 IAC 15-5), Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (“MS4s”) (327 IAC 15-13), and Industrial Stormwater (327 IAC 15-6). The change was spurred in 2016 via urging of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).

IDEM developed draft language and engaged an advisory group in 2017. The advisory group, including representation from ICI, ACEC, INDOT and several other local and statewide stakeholder groups, met with IDEM leadership in multiple sessions throughout 2017 and 2018 to review and discuss draft language, current practices, and improvements. Brian Wolff, IDEM surface water and operations branch chief recently sent a notice to advisory group members thanking them for their participation.

“The draft language presented to the advisory group was vastly different from the output representing compromises for stakeholders and significant collaboration,” said Wolff, when asked about successes of this effort.

As an advisory member, ICI’s Director of Government Relations Dan Osborn appreciated IDEMs openness and active listening to considering stakeholder input throughout the process.

After finalizing the language in 2018, IDEM submitted the document to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review. After two years of review, public comment sessions, and revisions, IDEM received a notice of “non-objection” from the EPA. Wolff explained that the permits have been submitted to the Indiana Governor’s office for signature consideration. After 15 days, the permit will be submitted to the Indiana Secretary of State’s office for further processing. The permits become effective after a 30-day wait period post publishing of the final language. Wolff noted that owners or permittees of current permits will need to file for an “amendment-continue of coverage” under the new MGP within 90 days of the MGP effective date. IDEM cannot continue coverage under 327 IAC 15-5 for projects that will continue to operate once 327 IAC 15-5 is repealed.

IDEM has posted a copy of the MGPs and associated public comments/questions and has scheduled two public information sessions. Please see information and links below.

The information session on the Construction Stormwater General Permit will take place on November 16th at 10:00 AM
Zoom Link : https://zoom.us/j/94985414355?pwd=ak9kRXlHakZBOGtRdldkVHRPU1Q0Zz09&from=addon
Telephone: 301-715-8592 or 312-626-6799 or 646-876-9923 or 346-248-7799 or 408-638-0968 or 669-900-6833 or 253-215-8782
Meeting ID: 949 8541 4355
Passcode: 841374
Question Form: https://forms.office.com/g/1rXLXQyX8v

The information session for the MS4 General permit will take place on November 30th at 10:00 AM
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/92346799028?pwd=bWR1YksveGgvckZJVmFlNm1SdExTZz09&from=addon
Telephone: 312-626-6799 or 646-876-9923 or 301-715-8592 or 253-215-8782 or 346-248-7799 or 408-638-0968 or 669-900-6833
Meeting ID: 923 4679 9028
Passcode: 710924
Question form: https://forms.office.com/g/GAS7dWxbBB

ICI Successful in Preserving Critical Sales Tax Exemption

Posted on 2021-08-252025-05-30 by Dan Osborn

Construction safety equipment and materials purchase transactions remain tax exempt with the passage of the 2021 Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 383 which became effective on July 1. ICI worked with Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) leadership during 2020 which laid the ground work for an opportunity to propose an amendment to Indiana Code during the 2021 Indiana legislative session. SEA 383 created a statutory exemption (IN Code 6-2.5-5-55) for Indiana state sales tax for purchases of safety related equipment and materials purchased for public works construction contracts.

Previously, exemption language was solely published in the DOR’s Information Bulletin #60 up until 2017. The DOR published a revised IB #60 on July 28, 2021. The exemption applies to purchases of equipment such as barrels, barricades, temporary signs, temporary erosion control and drainage materials, but does not apply to purchases of personal protective equipment such as gloves, face masks and high visibility clothing.

Please contact Dan Osborn with general questions about this topic. Consult with a ICI member tax or legal professional for technical assistance and advice.

USDOT Requests Comments About DBE Good Faith Efforts

Posted on 2021-07-07 by Dan Osborn

The USDOT recently published a request for comments concerning the costs of documenting and submitting Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program Requirements.

Comments are requested about 17 DBE requirements, most of which are isolated to efforts of federal fund recipients. Recipients of federal funds examples include Departments of Transportation, transit entities and airports. Item number nine (9), Submitting Evidence of Having Made ‘‘Good Faith Efforts’’ To Secure DBE Participation in DOT-Assisted Contracts, requests comments from contractors in addition to recipients. Comments should include information and data concerning time and cost committed to documenting and submitting good faith effort documentation when requested.

Written comments should be submitted by August 16, 2021.

You may submit comments [identified by Docket No. DOT–OST– 2021–0072] through one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Fax: (202) 493–2251. • Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12– 140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marc D. Pentino, (202) 366–6968, marc.pentino@dot.gov or Aarathi Haig, (202) 366–5990, aarathi.haig@dot.gov/ Departmental Office of Civil Rights, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Eye Safety

Posted on 2021-07-012025-05-30 by Jim Wood

Many Americans say that losing their eyesight would have the greatest impact on their day-to-day life – more than losing a limb, their hearing or their ability to speak.

Wearing ANSI Z87 protective compliant eye wear (which costs less than $10) can prevent serious eye injuries. OSHA’s personal protective standard (1926.102[b]) requires that protective eye and face protection meet or exceed the test requirements of ANSI Z87.1. The ANSI Z87 identification is typically located on the eye ware frame. The protective eye wear must also have side shields built into the design, or attachable side shields that meet the above-referenced ANSI standard.

Common Causes of Eye Injury

Striking or scraping – Most eye injuries are caused by airborne fragments like dust or other small particles from tools and equipment hitting or scraping the eye. Keep in mind that dust or other materials can accumulate on the eyebrows or on the bill of a hard hat and can dislodge and fall into the eyes.
Chemical splash – Industrial chemicals or cleaning products are common causes of chemical burns.
Thermal burns and radiant energy – UV rays or thermal gases produced during welding can result in serious damage.

First Aid

If you get something in your eye, don’t rub it. You can scratch your cornea or drive the fragment in even deeper, resulting in a more serious injury. This increases the likelihood of infection. To remove a particle from your eye, flush the surface with clean water or a sterile saline solution and seek medical attention.

Prescription Safety Eye Wear

To meet OSHA’s personal protective requirement, prescription eye wear must also meet the test requirements of ANSI Z87.1 (1926.102[b]). The ANSI standard also requires prescription eyewear to have side shields built into the design or attachable side shields. Average prescription eyewear provides no impact protection against flying debris. An impact could shatter the lens, embedding it into the eye and creating a greater injury.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Rushing Hazards

Posted on 2021-06-012025-05-30 by Jim Wood

When you take a chance by doing something you know isn’t safe, just to save a minute or two, you can end up with a time pressure injury. Being rushed or in a hurry can:

Distract your attention from hazards you would normally recognize.
Create stress which releases the hormone, cortisol. Increased levels of cortisol can cause you to make impulsive decisions.
Lead you to take shortcuts in a process or procedure that was intended to prevent injuries.
Cause you to try to do too much.
Make you forget to ask for help to complete a task or find the correct tool or equipment to complete the work activity.
Lead to errors that cause you to redo the work, erasing any of the time you saved by rushing in the first place.
Prompt you to take shortcuts like walking between pieces of equipment instead of around them.
Cause you to strike objects with greater force and less accuracy, resulting in an injury – or a more severe injury.
Reduce your reaction time to changing conditions.

Prevention Strategies

Take a minute to plan.
Use the right tools and equipment for the job.
Wear the correct PPE, even if it means taking more time to finish the task.
Replace the guards on equipment after completing maintenance or blade replacement.
Ask for help lifting or moving material or equipment.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Poisonous Plants

Posted on 2021-06-012025-05-30 by Jim Wood

OSHA 1926.21(b)(4) states: In job site areas where harmful plants or animals are present, employees who may be exposed shall be instructed regarding the potential hazards, and how to avoid injury and the first aid procedures to be used in the event of injury.

Plants

Poison ivy has poisonous sap called urushiol (u-ROO-she-ol) in its roots, stems and leaves that causes skin irritation and blisters. Poison ivy has slightly shiny, dark green leaves that are found in groups of three. They can be smooth or notched. The plant most commonly grows as a vine, but you can also find it as a low-growing shrub. Exposure can cause a rash that can take up to 48 hours to appear and may last two-three weeks. The fluid from blisters cannot cause additional skin reaction.

Contrary to common belief, poison oak is not found in Indiana.

While not as abundant as the poison ivies and poison oaks, poison sumac is typically found in wet or swampy areas as it likes to grow in or near water. Poison sumac grows as a bush or tree with some maturing to heights of twenty feet. If the sumac plant does not have flowers or waxy, white berries, you can identify it by the red stems and feather-shaped leaves.

Prevention

Keep exposed skin covered when you are working in areas where contact is possible. Avoid burning poisonous plants or being in the area where brush and poisonous plants are being burned, as the poisonous sap can spread as a fume. Airborne sap can be inhaled, absorbed through the eyes or unprotected skin. The effects can be extremely hazardous.

Treatment

If you are exposed:

Wash the exposed areas of skin immediately with mild soap and running water.
Launder exposed clothing several times before you wear it again.
Avoid scratching affected areas. This can lead to infection.
Use corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone cream, to relieve symptoms.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that people who have had severe reactions in the past to any of these plants, contact a dermatologist as soon as possible after a new exposure.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Caught-In/Between Part II

Posted on 2021-06-012025-05-30 by Jim Wood

Caught-in or caught-between accidents happen when someone is caught, crushed, squeezed or pinched between two or more objects. Examples include getting trapped between a barrier wall and a piece of heavy equipment, getting your hand caught in an unguarded piece of equipment or being buried by a trench cave-in. Caught- in/between and struck-by accidents account for 27% of all nonfatal injuries involving days away from work for contractors in the highway, street and bridge construction classification (NAICS 237300).

Construction Equipment and Vehicles

Ensure that backup alarms/signals are working on all equipment.
Use a spotter when you back equipment or vehicles in areas with obstructed views or congestion.
Walk around, NOT between, equipment or vehicles during work activity.
Make visual or verbal contact with the operator before you approach equipment or vehicles.
When you approach equipment or vehicles, maintain at least three feet of distance from it to avoid contact.
Erect barricades, warning lines or other recognized procedures to prevent others from entering an excavator or crane swing radius.

Excavations

OSHA requires trench protection (slope, bench, trench box, shoring) for all excavations five feet or greater in depth.
You must maintain all dirt and equipment at least two feet from the edge of the excavation.
Ladders need to be accessible within 25 feet.
You must remove water accumulation within the excavation, as it can undermine the sides and increase the potential of a collapse.

Powered Tools and Equipment

All guards must be in place and in good condition on all power tools and equipment.
Never place your hands inside equipment to clean it while it’s operating.
Release any stored energy before performing maintenance.
Be aware of loose clothing, jewelry, hair or other items that could be potentially caught in rotating equipment.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Safe Rigging

Posted on 2021-06-012025-05-30 by Jim Wood

Improper rigging, rigging failure and shifting loads can be a contributing cause to struck-by and caught-between injuries (part of OSHA’s Focus Four). To prevent rigging and lifting-related injuries; below are OSHA standards and safe work practices associated with rigging for material handling detailed in 1926 Subpart H: Materials Handling, Storage, Use, and Disposal: 1926.251.

Inspections

A designated competent person must inspect a sling and all its fastenings and attachments for damage or defects each day before you use it.
Inspect rigging equipment before each shift and as necessary while you’re using it to ensure it’s safe.
Record each inspection.
Remove damaged or defective rigging equipment (web slings, alloy steel chains, wire rope) from service.
Don’t shorten slings with knots or bolts or other makeshift devices.
Don’t place your hands or fingers between the sling and its load while you’re tightening the sling.
When the load is resting on a sling, don’t pull the sling from under it.
Always connect two slings with a shackle; never tie two or more web slings together.
Never attach a sling directly to a lifting lug.
Do not use a shackle-to-shackle connection.
Don’t stand, walk or work under suspended loads.
Don’t place your hands on a suspended load to control it. Use a tagline.
Inspect the area for overhead utilities, trees and other overhead safety hazards.
Store rigging equipment so that it won’t be damaged by environmental or other conditions.

Identification Markings

Rigging must have permanent, legible identification markings.
Don’t use rigging without permanent, legible identification markings.
Don’t load rigging beyond its recommended safe working load.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Update Your PPE

Posted on 2021-05-132025-05-30 by Jim Wood

The beginning of the season is a good time to update any personal protective equipment (PPE) that has become worn or damaged during the past year. Old, tattered or dirty PPE loses its effectiveness and can put a person at risk of injury.

High-Visibility Safety Apparel

If you’ve worn hi-vis clothing for more than six months, inspect it for effectiveness.
Replace hi-vis apparel when it’s torn, cracked or the background material has become faded or dirty.
Ensure your high-visibility apparel meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Type R (Roadway) Class 2 or 3 standards.

Hard Hat

Hard hat manufacturers recommend replacement every five years.
Ensure your hard hat meets the ANSI Z89.1 requirement.
At a minimum, your hard hat should be a Type I, Class G (General) Hard Hat.
Inspect your hard hat for cracks or other damage.
If your hard hat has accumulated an abundance of stickers from projects or training, these stickers can hide cracks or other damage. Replace your hard hat and start a new sticker collection.
Monitor your hard hat for deterioration from exposure to UV rays (sun) and chemicals (asphalt or concrete).

Eye Protection

If your safety glasses are past their useful life, it’s time to replace them. Like your hard hat, your safety glasses can break down due to exposure and reduce the protection they provide.
Scratched or damaged eye protection is difficult to see through and can put a person at risk.
Make sure your eye protection fits properly and provides good visibility. Poorly fitted eye protection is potentially ineffective against hazards and makes it difficult to see correctly.
Ensure your safety glasses meet the ANSI Z87.1-2015 requirement. Typically, this information is located on the temple of the eye wear.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

365网站

Year: 2021

Stormwater Master General Permit in Final Stages

ICI Successful in Preserving Critical Sales Tax Exemption

USDOT Requests Comments About DBE Good Faith Efforts

Eye Safety

Rushing Hazards

Poisonous Plants

Caught-In/Between Part II

Safe Rigging

Update Your PPE

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