For the past several years, my research at Virginia Tech has examined the safety of workers who are constructing metal plate-connected wood truss roofs at height. This work can be very hazardous without proper fall protection systems and procedures in place. Falls from height are the result of...

Lately, competing building materials have been using construction fires as an opportunity to attack wood construction. It’s true; fires do occur in buildings under construction. But they occur in buildings of all material types, including concrete and steel. However, because wood...

The new Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s electronic recordkeeping rule to improve tracking of workplace injuries and illness became effective on January 1, 2017. The rule includes provisions to protect those who report injuries or illnesses from retaliation by their...

Being that it is early spring, it may be a good time to think about taking steps to protect your family in the event of a tornado. The 4th Edition of FEMA P-320, introduced below, contains a “treasure” of design information for constructing a residential safe room, either in the home...

The winter season is upon us, and families across the country are decorating their homes for holiday festivities. Unfortunately, this time of year is also marked by an increase in fires – with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reporting the highest occurrence of candle and...

The American free enterprise system has been the greatest engine for prosperity in world history and has the potential to deliver a promising economic future for our country and around the globe. However, manufacturing in the United States faces significant challenges in an increasingly...

Dear Anna: A recent long span truss collapse during installation reminded me of the new 2009 (and later) IBC bracing requirements for the Owner of a project with metal plate connected (MPC) wood trusses spanning 60 ft. and greater (churches, schools, commercial, retail, and so on)....

Why are we seeing all the code change proposals regarding wood trusses in the current ICC code change/update process? It is true that there were several proposals submitted pertaining to wood truss restraint and bracing and another requiring special inspection of the installed truss...

As we head into the fall, families across the country have been spending more time in the backyard, often on their porches or decks. This fact serves as a good reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety of the outdoor spaces we enjoy so much. Unfortunately, deck collapses all too often...

Sometimes people give me a variety of answers when I ask them to describe lean: tightening the belt; doing more with less; reducing inventory; cost-savings program; waste elimination; quality program; reducing head count; and turnaround tool. The word has meaning to many different people...