Tag Archives: construction

Fall Safety

Ensuring the Safety Of Employees Who Work At Heights

Image source: Unsplash.com

Nobody needs reminders that working at great heights can be dangerous. Construction is one area where height is a near-omnipresent danger. Lots of things can go wrong when you’re working with a lot of equipment and machinery. Keeping your employees safe is an absolutely crucial aspect of working on a construction site. To prevent them from falling and injuring themselves, you need to take some special precautions.

  • Make use of railings

Passive protection is the best way to keep your workers safe when they’re working at great heights. Your workers will often tread on walkways and areas that are unprotected and pretty high up. Relying on them to protect themselves when they’re in a rush might not be feasible. Railings take that element of choice away from them. Unless they purposely decide to jump the fence, there’s no way that they are going to fall over the railing.

You can find a railing for every style of rooftop. If the roof has a low slope, you can make use of non-penetrating railing. There are prefabricated railing options that can be affixed permanently or temporarily, which makes them pretty versatile for construction sites.

There are other benefits that come with using sturdy railings. They can be used as a point of stability when the worker is carrying a load in one hand. Many of them make it very difficult to climb outside the protective area, which will provide additional protection from employee negligence.

  • Select proper active protection systems

Personal fall arrest systems can be a great tool to protect from injuries on the worksite. Even when something goes catastrophically wrong, they will make sure that the worker remains unscathed. When you opt for fall arrest systems, make sure you’re getting quality safety technology. A full body harness might perform similarly in a controlled environment, but you should consider other variables. Does it have proper heat and arc protection? How comfortable is the suit for workers in any environment? These are all factors you have to take into account before making your decision.

The fall arrest system has to have all the amenities you need to protect from work accidents. If it meets ANSI standards, it should have every functionality available. Extra D-rings have to be available on the equipment. Remember to select your lanyards properly. Workers should be able to fit snuggly into their harness and adjusting them should be a breeze. Convenience of use is extremely important when you’re talking about safety measures.

  • Understand fall distance

All the active fall protection equipment in the world won’t save you from a miscalculation of distance. If it doesn’t engage by the time an employee hits the ground, it’s going to be completely useless. It might seem like common sense, but a lot of employers don’t take into account the math that goes into lanyard length and fall protection.

For example, if you have an employee working six meters off the ground while wearing a three-meter lanyard with a decelerator, that seems like it should be enough to prevent any kind of fall injury. Unfortunately, the math in question isn’t that simple. First of all, you need to take into consideration the time it takes for the deceleration device to activate. By the time it’s functional, your employee has traversed some distance. This is usually in the range of a meter or so. When you take into account the height of the worker and any sag in the harness. With these additional numbers, the length of the lanyard seems a bit too short for complete safety.

  • Use lifts properly

Lift operators have an enormous responsibility to keep employees safe during the lifting process. Employees need to keep their harness properly tied-off. This means that they need to be secured to the engineered anchor point of the lift in order to prevent any mishaps. Not only does it keep them safe from falling over, but it also prevents them from wrapping their lanyard around the rails

Lift protection extends to safety measures that need to be taken while on the lift. Proper training of employees during lift usage is crucial for preventing injury in the event of machinery failure. Many experts like Sydney Rescue Consultants urge construction managers to train their workers to comply with safety measures when operating lifts.

  • Create an acceptable anchor point

If you visited an average construction site right now, you might be appalled to see the things workers use as anchor points for their harnesses. Not everything is strong enough to take that kind of weight. Many are under the misconception that something that can hold a human body is adequate for use as an anchor point. Unfortunately, this is not true. There are more factors at play in the physics of a fall. You have to take into account the inertia from a moving body, which will create additional tension on the harness and anchor.

A lot of workers will just strap the harness to just about anything in sight. A PVC pipe is completely unacceptable for fall protection systems. Not even steel is safe from accidents. If the steel beam is decorative, it won’t hold the weight of an employee when they fall. Teaching your employees how to anchor their harness is extremely important because without a proper anchor you don’t have any protection whatsoever.

Conclusion

When you work at a great height, you only need one mistake for tragedy to occur. This is why many regulatory agencies make sure to stress the importance of proper fall protection. Without it, you could be looking at hundreds of injuries per year. Fatalities aren’t uncommon on construction sites that don’t follow the safety measures by the book. If you make sure your employees follow the rules set by regulatory agencies, your construction site will be all that much safer from any potential fall injuries.

 

Back Safety, Ergonomics, Eye Protection, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Health Issues, Hearing Protection, High Visibility Safety, Respiratory Safety

Fatal and Non-Fatal Injuries In The Workplace

This interesting infographic is from Rebecca Fox, of Westermans International, a UK-based welding company.  We appreciate this shared information and can learn what illnesses are prevelant in their respective industries.   

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Hearing Protection, Respiratory Safety

Unseen Dangers of Workplace Nobody Will Tell You About (Guest Post)

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It would not be wrong to say that every workplace has some dangers lurking for the employees. These often go unnoticed by the employees,  sometimes causing much damage and irreparable injury.  It could be a result of carelessness on the part of the management, lack of required security for workers or simply ignorance about the existence of the danger a particular activity or device holds. This post looks into those potential dangers and discusses workplace hazards we need to be careful and alert about. 

Workers in the Hospitality and Services Industry 

All those working in hotel kitchens and whipping up delicious dishes would probably never have thought about constant dangers they are exposing themselves to. The heat and fumes that they are constantly functioning in are extremely damaging to the health of the lungs. The hot pans and bulky vessels are other sources of burns and injuries that workers in the kitchen often work with and take little care. Poor lighting in kitchens, uncared for inflammable substances are other dangers lurking around in the kitchen. 

The owner of the place must ensure proper lighting, storage, ventilation and functioning appliances in proper condition for the employees.   On the other hand, the relatively innocent looking fryers and pans could also be sources of danger. While there should be a warning board displayed in every restaurant kitchen for newbies, that isn’t the case always. And so nobody will tell you that you never put anything frozen in a fryer, the oil will bubble up and burn your hands. Similarly you must always use gloves to handle pans and pots, even those that have handles. Also a slightly unwelded or loose handle can cause the pan and its contents to fall on you. Sharp objects in the kitchen exist in abundance and you must always be careful when handling knives, scissors, peelers and other sharp objects. 

Workers in the Construction Industry 

Construction workers have one of the most high risk jobs. They are constantly exposed to all sorts of danger at work. Four workers falling to their death on Christmas Eve in Toronto was a complete jolter and again brings into focus the nonchalant, lackluster attitude some employers have towards the safety of their workers. 

While working around a backhoe, being electrocuted, cut by machines and crushed between boulders and vehicles are the obvious dangers workers are encountering at all times, there is another latent kind of danger that is of late becoming increasingly common in the construction industry. It is this phenomenon called “independent contractors”. A lot of desperate, migrant workers function as cheap labor and pump in their blood and sweat (literally) into these industries. The scarey fact here is, that employers are completely exploiting these “independent contractors” as they are not properly covered within the employment benefits.  The employers as well as the insurers can get around not paying them benefits and worker’s insurance coverage. 

States must take into account these desperate workers and make laws that help them to cover expenses and financial blows experienced due to an injury at the workplace. These workers can also seek legal counsel from aggressive and dedicated personal injury lawyers who will fight for their rights and litigate to secure them the best possible settlement in the given circumstances. 

Besides these, construction workers are exposed to a number of other things that can be highly dangerous to them. Contaminated building products lead to a lot of damage in the worker’s bodies but one building product that few people know is very harmful for workers is asbestos. Painters, demolition workers, roofers, masons and bricklayers are all exposed to asbestos in some form or the other. There has been an increased incidence of peritoneal cancers and lung cancers in asbestos exposed workers. Studies have revealed that employers are using much higher concentration of asbestos than recommended,  which is immensely harmful for the employees.  Respirator protection, eye protection, and safe gloves are required for these workers.

When Working as Drivers

Motorbike delivery services, truck drivers, taxi-drivers, chauffers may get into the job thinking it is relatively risk-free. After a few days into the job they will know it’s not. You are expected to meet deadlines when you are in the delivery service and travelling on a bike, you will be speeding for your job. A fall or an accident can never be too far and you are always at risk.

Those jobs that involve loading and unloading can give you serious spine and back injuries. Many drivers also become a victim of violence and assault while on the road, which most of them do not expect and are not prepared for.  Prolonged sitting on the job  can lead to a lot of health problems like backaches and bad posture. Handling of constant communication tools even while on the road is dangerous though not deemed so by the owner of the vehicle or the driver. If you are in this profession, avoid using your cell phone as much as possible. Moreover, your job can involve engines, brakes, doors malfunctioning anytime, which can again lead to serious accidents.Regular servicing and maintenance of the vehicle is a must to make the automobile/truck as safe as possible for the drivers.

When You are a Farmer or a Rancher

While many believe farming as one of the most safe and satisfying occupations, the truth is slightly deviated from that. Satisfying, yes, probably for most, however, there are a lot of dangers lurking in farming as well. Constant exposure to various types of chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides can lead to breathing problems as well as allergies. Ask a farmer and you will believe me.  In addition, you are also dealing with some pretty big animals (who have horns and teeth) on your ranch. They are well behaved and somewhat tame, but if any of these animals get out of control, they can severely injure you – causing fractures, deep cuts, or spinal injuries.  Hence, it is not surprising to know that the death rate percentage among farmers and ranchers as high as 21.3 per cent, which makes it  actually counted as one of the most dangerous occupations in U.S.A.

Conclusion

Most of us spend the largest chunk of our lives at the workplace whether it is a farm, car or office. Each place and each job comes with some inherent risks and potential dangers. Some of these dangers are known to us and we know how to tackle them. But there are other physical and emotional dangers associated with the job as well, which we may not be aware of and that is what makes them all the more risky. If you have discovered any such unknown danger at the workplace, letting others know will help save many from injuries, fatigue and fatalities.

Author’s Bio: 

Attorney Mike Hulen is a personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Hulen & Leutwyler, LLC in Colorado. Hulen has more than 30 years of legal experience in helping the people to rebuild their lives after being injured in accidents.  Whether you are looking for a strong representation in your personal injury case or need immediate help, call us at 888-717-7891.

Eye Protection, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection, Protective Clothing

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS (GUEST POST)

We all need to get jobs; that’s a reality we all face. And all jobs, no matter how mundane they may seem, carry with them a certain level of danger. Of course, these levels of danger vary from to another. Let’s say you make a living wrestling and catching wild bears, then there aren’t really many effective safety precautions you can take aside from not catching and wrestling those bears. Working in a typical job, like an office or so, still can be dangerous, and here are some of the dangerous “normal” jobs out there and the safety precautions you can take to avoid accidents. 

Construction and Related Fields 

        If you work in construction or some other job that requires you to be physically present in a construction site, the first step to staying safe is recognizing that the construction site is inherently a dangerous place. With all the dangerous materials, heavy equipment, and the work going around, the chances of an accident happening is extremely high, no matter the amount or quality of supervision. The common safety precaution for being in a construction site is to always wear a hard hat, as the primary risk is having something heavy land on your head. A hard hat is your friend. Keep it on your head at all times. 

Jobs Involving Chemicals and Toxic Materials 

        Working with chemicals tends to be dangerous for your general health. There have been a lot of cases wherein people suffered burns, inhaled harmful substances, and other complications that came about due to exposure to these materials. When you work in an environment where hazardous chemicals and materials abound, the common safety precaution is to wear protective gear like goggles (in case of splash back), gloves, aprons, boots, and masks all made with protective materials like rubber or latex. In more extreme cases, hazmat suits are a popular choice. 

Work Involving Animals and Fieldwork 

        Being amidst the natural elements has provided the world with officially the most dangerous jobs ever. Fishing, farming, ranching, and logging are considered to be jobs that have seen the most accidents. These accidents are hard to avoid, as most of them come from unpredictable elements like animal attacks. While there are a number of equipment that can be used to lessen work-related injuries in line with these trades, the number of these injuries can be reduced mostly by workers themselves. Working in pairs, taking extra care of themselves on and off the field (maintaining one’s self in tip top shape and getting enough rest does make one more focused and alert), along with other precautions, would be helpful. 

        At the end of the day, working is hard and dangerous as much as it is personally and financially rewarding. Whether you’re a nine to fiver working in an office, or out in the open ocean fishing, one small accident can alter your life forever. The best courses of action are watching out for yourself, getting yourself covered with a personal accident insurance plan, and hoping for the best. 

Author’s Bio

Ryan Del Villar is a writer and online marketing specialist at Money Max, Philippines’ leading online comparison portal. Ryan is also a freelance writer at Helm Word, an Online Reputation Management company. He worked as an online video editor before he started his writing career.

 

 

 

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WORKING AT HEIGHTS: A GUIDE TO STAYING SAFE (GUEST POST)

 There are going to be many times in your life where you are likely to be required to work at heights; whether it’s due to a tree that needs trimming or your roof tiles need replacing, working at heights can be incredibly dangerous. However, there are a number of ways in which you can change the way that you work at heights in order to make the process safer and thus reduce the risk of accidents occurring. 

Regulations Regarding Working at Heights

There are a number of rules and regulations in place that prevent those who work at heights for a living from making potentially fatal mistakes. 

Organization

One of the most important regulations in place is that all work at height must be organized and planned thoroughly to avoid any incidents or accidents. This also means that you should plan your actions in accordance with any accidents that may occur; for instance what would you do if you fell from a great height? Do you have a method of contacting others in the event of an emergency? 

Qualifications

It’s essential that all of those that work in forestry, arboriculture, construction and many other trades are qualified to work at heights and are competent in doing so. If you are not qualified to work at heights you could be putting yourself and those around you at risk, you could also get into a lot of trouble as you will be held responsible for any mistakes that are made.  

Assessment

Before you begin a job that requires you to work at height you should perform a risk assessment and determine whether or not the job is too dangerous for you to participate in. Even if the task that you have been given is not the most dangerous job that you have encountered it’s still recommended that you utilize a powered access platform as these platforms are often surrounded by barriers that will prevent your fall.

If you do not make an assessment of the area that you will be working in before you begin it’s possibly that you could cause harm to others through fallen branches, displaced roof tiles or falling debris. 

Equipment

Once you’ve made an assessment of the task that requires you to work at height you must select the appropriate equipment that you will use for the job. It’s crucial that you keep an eye upon the condition of your fall protection equipment and ensure that it is maintained at all times; allowing your equipment to fall into disrepair can cause serious issues as it means that they are liable to break or make the task at hand much more difficult than it has to be. 

Overall there are many different aspects of working at heights that you must take into account, and these include the various dangers. Where possible we recommend that you avoid working at heights, but if it’s necessary you should follow the guidelines above.

We also ask that you remember that falling from a great height can cause a loss of mobility and in many cases the fall can be fatal; ensure that there are measures in place that will minimize the distance and the consequences of a fall if it should transpire.

Submitted by Kevin Grant
PromaxAccess.com

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

PREVENTING FALLS – A VERY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY OF EMPLOYERS

 This just in from OSHA QUIK-TAKES bi-monthly newsletter:  

OSHA has cited Republic Steel for 24 safety violations carrying fines of $1,138,500. The Canton, Ohio-based steel manufacturing plant was inspected after OSHA received a formal complaint alleging inadequate fall protection and other unsafe practices that exposed workers to various hazards in the plant’s melt shop. OSHA discovered during the inspection that two workers had been seriously injured from falls in 2012. The company has a history of failing to address fall hazards and will remain in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.  

It’s a fact: falls from elevations account for one-third of all construction deaths.  Because of the nature of construction workers, it is not surprising that their job is classified as high-risk.  Everyone has a critical role to play in protecting construction workers.  Beginning with architects who design the building, to equipment designers, and the construction company itself, owe it to their employees to plan ahead to get the job done safely.  They must train all employees in ways to protect themselves with the proper personal protective equipment, how to maintain it, and provide them with the correct equipment to do the most efficient job. 

It is important that workers who speak different languages are trained to understand how important working safely is.  Materials should be provided in English and Spanish on ladder, scaffold, construction falls, and personal fall arrest systems.  Special training should be given to ensure all workers comprehend and follow the precise instructions from the manuals or brochures. 

It may be surprising to some, but many serious injuries are caused by falls from as little as six feet of height.  Requirements from OSHA are that anyone exposed to six feet or more falls need either a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall protection.  

Hazards in the construction industry include: 

  •          Unguarded protruding steel rebars;
  •          Improper scaffolding construction;
  •          Misuse of portable ladders;
  •          Unprotected sides or open floor holes.

 
After the building site is surveyed, the first thing to be done once construction has started, is to cover all floor openings and sides of building.  The largest percent of workers reportedly suffering fatal falls came from falls from ladders.  Others were falls from roof, scaffolds, non-moving vehicles/lifts, through openings, through roof surface, and falling to lower levels. 

Laws that pertain to the safety of workers are as important as laws requiring compliance in all other topics.  The people that construct our buildings and homes have the right to work safely and confidently, using their talents to their full extent.  It is the obligation of the company to see that they are kept safe every day.  If employers are responsible they can avoid expensive settlements and fines

Source: OSHA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

SAFETY FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an initiative to further protect temporary employees from workplace hazards.  A new OSHA memorandum directs field inspectors to assess whether employers who use part-time workers are complying with their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Inspectors will use a newly created code in their information system to denote when temporary workers are exposed to safety and health violations. Additionally, they will assess whether temporary workers received required training in a language and vocabulary they could understand.

The memo underscores the duty of employers to protect all workers from hazards.  Also,  OSHA said it has begun working with the American Staffing Association and employers that use staffing agencies, to promote best practices ensuring that temporary workers are protected from job hazards.  However, it is the responsibity of the employer to provide the same training full-time employees are given, as they are legally liable for the safety and health of temporary workers. 

In recent months, OSHA said it has received a series of reports about temporary workers suffering fatal injuries – many during their first days on a job. OSHA has issued citations when the employer failed to provide adequate protections, including safety training.  Many of these, as stated above, did not understand instructions given.  They must be trained in construction industries, as well as manufacturing.  They should attend regular safety meetings and understand about fall protection, chemicals, machine guarding, and other hazards, as well as become familiar with PPE
personal protective equipment they should be given.

Data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries conducted by the Bureau of Labor, reported statistics on workers killed on the job in 2011:  fatal work injuries involving contractors accounted for 542 – or 12 percent – of the 4,693 fatal work injuries reported. Hispanic/Latino contractors accounted for 28 percent of fatal work injuries among contractors, well above their 16 percent share of the overall fatal work injury total for the year. 

A report from the nonprofit Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) details the increasing use of contingent workers to perform dangerous, undesirable jobs in industries like farming, construction, warehousing and hotel services. Noting that the number of contingent workers has doubled in twenty years to more than 2.5 million, the report underscores Bureau of Labor Statistics data that they suffer higher rates of injury and death than other employees. 

The economic and political vulnerability of contingent workers, who are often poor and sometimes undocumented, makes them easy to exploit not only with low wages and long hours, but also with unsafe working conditions. According to the study, because contingent employees rarely have health insurance or even workers’ compensation coverage, employers are able to shift the financial burden of workplace injuries onto the public, and often skimp on safety training of temps.

Most temporary workers are thankful for a paycheck and are willing to do any type of job.  Employers owe it to them to see that they are able to return home at the end of the workday safe and sound.

 

General Safety Issues

TWENTY-FIVE BLOGS TO KEEP YOUR STAIRS SAFE FOR VISITORS (GUEST POST)

Submitted by Jeralyn Nelson of Housesittingjobs.com

The last thing any homeowner would want is for someone to get hurt coming up to or into their home.  Not only is there a chance that someone might sue you, but no one wants a friend to get hurt coming for a visit.  There are lots of things you can do that will keep your stairway safe.  Many are routine maintenance types of things, some are weather related and others have more to do with construction.  To learn more about how to keep your outside stairway safe for visitors you can check out these 25 blog entries.

Preventative Stuff

Make sure that you take a look at your front entryway and try to see it as a visitor would.  Can you easily get to the door or are there pots and decorations everywhere?  Check to make sure the light outside isn’t burnt out and other routine things.  These five blog posts will get into preventative things you can do to keep your front stairway safe.

During the Winter

Outdoor stairs can get slippery in the winter with all of the ice and snow that pile up there.  Slippery stairs are a danger for anyone trying to enter your home.  To avoid falls you need to take care of your outside steps.  These five blog articles will give you some tips to accomplish that task.

When Considering Construction

Are you tired of that old stoop and considering having a new set of stairs installed?  There are many things to consider when you are making such an improvement on your home.  You will need to make sure that the stairs are safe once they are built. Here are five blog entries that will help you make some decisions that will keep your family safe.

All About Railings

One of the most important safety features on any type of stair is the handrail.  There are many attractive options in railings on the market.  These five blog entries will show you what types of railing are available.

Hedges and Bushes

Have you ever walked up to someone’s door and had trouble finding the doorbell because there were plants and bushes hanging all over it?  Planting a bush on either side of your door is a common landscape choice, but if you don’t keep the bushes trimmed they may encroach on the walkway up to the door.  For these tips and more check out these next five blog entries.

Thanks, Jeralyn, for sharing these important tips. We all need to ensure that our steps are safe for our families as well as visitors. pb

General Safety Issues

SEVEN STEPS TO GET A JOB IN CONSTRUCTION (GUEST POST)

Jobs in the construction industry can be divided into two broad categories: labour and management. In either category, there are countless opportunities to secure jobs with sub-contractors, contractors, private organizations and municipal agencies. Construction as an industry can be very rewarding if you are willing to work hard. There are good employment benefits and the pay-rate is also higher compared to jobs in other industries. Here are 7 steps that could make getting a job in the construction industry easy for you. 

  • Know your vocational inclinations to understand which type of position in the construction industry would suit you the most. If you like physical work, a labour based position should be your choice. On the other hand, if you are not averse to paper-work, like compiling budgetary allocations, and co-ordinating projects, you might be better suited for a managerial post.   (It must be noted that managerial posts would require the candidate to have degrees in business, architecture management or engineering. Even in case of labourers, some sort of minimum qualification like a high-school diploma or an equivalent is required for minimum eligibility.) 
  • Research the various types of jobs available in the construction industry. There are general labour jobs like carpentry, wood-framing, drywall work and door installations. On the other hand, speciald labour would include electrical work, plumbing, painting, masonry and concrete work. You need to take time in properly researching the different aspects of the industry and look at them from the perspective of your vocation before starting your job hunt. 
  • You would need to narrow down your search based on the type of job you are looking for. For example, if you wish to occupy a managerial or general labour post, you will need to target general contracting companies which handle all aspects of a construction project. 
  • Keep tabs on the local construction activities in your area. This would allow you to predict accurately the demand for the type of employees. It will also allow you to sound informed about local trends in a job interview, further bettering your chances of landing the job. 
  • Look for trade schools and/or apprenticeship programs being offered in your locality by community colleges or trade unions. Possessing a degree in your chosen trade would keep you ahead in the competition. In case of an apprenticeship, you will get assistance in securing a job while taking classes at night to augment your skills in the chosen trade. 
  • Keep your eyes open for construction jobs listed in the local newspapers. Apply to the appropriate openings with your resume and then follow the instructions specified in the ad. It is also a good idea to constantly follow up on your applications through e-mails and phone-calls until you land a job. 
  • Take initiative in contacting prominent contractors or sub-contractors even if they are not looking to hire anybody new. It would be preferable to meet them face to face about your interest in working for them. If not, leave a letter and a copy of your resume.

 

Penny Cooper is an expert associated with CV Insight, a leading UK firm specializing in CV verification and pre employment screening services. For more details on their employment screening and verification services, click here.

Many thanks, Penny, for this good advice about securing a job in this industry.  The key is to be “willing to work hard” in many jobs; and, there are folks out there who need work, so we hope these suggestions will help them to emphasize their willingness to do just that when they are seeking employment.  It also would be wise to assure them that they will be a careful and safe employee.  pb

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WE’RE NOT THROUGH COUNTING OSHA VIOLATIONS!

It seems that the Top Ten List of Violations on OSHA’s Top Ten for 2009, were still on their Top Ten List for 2010, many of them just in different places.  The third highest on the penalties assessed list for 2010 was violation of (29CFR 1910.21), Safety Training and Education, Construction, Walking and Working Surfaces.  Serious, willful, or repeat violations can result in harm or death from hazards, and it seems that employers would do everything in their power to protect their employees from such hazards, rather than pay stiff penalties. 

Slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents; fifteen per cent of all accidental deaths are caused by slips, trips, or falls – second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities.  OSHA standards for walking/working surfaces apply to all permanent places of employment, except where only domestic, mining, or agricultural work is performed.  Annually, about 20 workplace fatalities happen, with another 3,700 injuries resulting  in lost workdays.   

As in any job, on-the-job training is first and foremost, with the accent on safety.  Employees who could be exposed to specific hazards related to walking and working surfaces, scaffolding, mobile elevated work platforms, and portable and fixed ladders, should have full knowledge of the safeguards and precautions to prevent injuries.  Retraining is imperative for affected employees whenever there is a change in the appropriate area, or when an employee is seen deviating from the prescribed safe work practices.  Training should be done by experienced and qualified persons.  Training should be certified with written training records, and actual work observations should verify the effectiveness of such training. 

  • Proper guarding should be provided for open pits, ditches, floor openings, and other open areas by covering or guarding with a standard railing.  If not guarded or covered, it must be protected by a temporary barrier on all exposed sides or attended by an assigned person.
  • Appropriate railings for stairways that are 30” – 34” to tread should be provided. 
  • A standard railing on all open sides should guard all open-sided platforms that measure four feet or more above the adjacent floor of ground level.
  • Six foot controlled access zones along pits, floors, and flat roof edges where fall protection is not feasible should be set up.  A controlled access zone must use control lines or other barriers to restrict employee access to fall hazards.  Warning signs must be posted at controlled access zones.
  • Employees working on steep slope roofs (greater than four inches of run per twelve inches of rise) that are four feet or more above a lower level must be protected from falls by a guard rail system, personal fall arrest system, or safety net system; and
  • Employees working on low slope roofs (less than or equal to four inches of run per twelve inches of rise) with unprotected sides and edges that are four feet or more above a lower level are protected by one of the following methods:

(1) A guard railing system; (2) personal fall arrest system; (3) safety net system; (4) combination of a “warning line” and any other of the above; or  (5) a combination of a “warning line” and a safety monitor. 

Walking and working surfaces should have the strength and integrity to support employees safely.  Floors should not be overloaded with materials and/or equipment over the approved load limits.  Elevated storage and other platforms should be marked with the load bearing weight.  Aisles and passageways should be clearly visible and allow space for both moving equipment and employees.  There should also be safe clearance room at all turns, doors, and passageways, and the areas should not be obstructed by physical barriers or stored materials.  Work environments should be kept neat and orderly, waste properly discarded, and floors kept clean.  Mats and grating could be used when appropriate. 

Hopefully, this year will bring fewer violations of this standard, as well as many others.  Training employees, protecting them from workplace injuries by better planning and housekeeping, and giving them the right PPE for each particular job will pay dividends for companies, along with the reward of a safe workday every day for each person.  That would be the best reward for everyone involved!