Tag Archives: falling

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Hand Protection, Head Protection

TRIED AND TRUE CONSTRUCTION SITE SAFETY MEASURES (GUEST POST)

Tried and True Construction Site Safety Measures

Construction is the most dangerous private sector industry in the U.S., but that does not mean that workers have to be put in constant danger. Instead, many of the issues that plague construction sites can be avoided by simply adhering to basic construction site safety measures that have been mandated by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Unfortunately, many construction sites fail to utilize the necessary measures due to time and financial constraints. When this happens, the results can be disastrous. In fact, 721 people died on a construction site in 2011, and approximately 150,000 workers are injured every year.

Basic Safety Measures

  • Warning Signs  The importance of securing a construction site cannot be emphasized enough. After all, the fatality and injury rate is disproportionate to every other private sector industry, and this means that it is necessary for every employee to take extra precautions. The most common construction site accidents are tripping and falling. To avoid these issues, it is imperative for the work site to be cleared of extraneous debris, and any potential hazards such as cracks need to be either patched up or clearly pointed out. Utilizing signage is the best way to let workers know that there is a trip hazard or a slick surface, and these signs should be visible from every access point. 
  • Secured Ladders  The majority of falls that happen involve ladders. A simple way to reduce the number of falls is to ensure that each worker is tethered to the ladder. If workers are required to be 30 feet up on a ladder it makes sense for them to be secured. Workers should always wear safety hard hats to reduce the risk of head injuries, and it is also a good idea to use construction bubble wrap underneath the ladder if the conditions appear to be difficult. In other words, if a worker is going high up a ladder on a windy day, extra safety measures should be used to prevent an injury or fatality. 

The Importance of Documentation

In addition to using basic safety measures, it is also imperative for each construction site to properly document everything. After all, if a required safety inspection is performed but the results are not written down, it will be difficult to prove that the inspection took place. The safety leader at each construction site needs to inspect the site on a regular basis for any potential hazards, and all of the equipment should also be checked for defects.

Workers’ Compensation Claims

Failure to follow the proper procedures will make it difficult for an employer to turn down a worker’s comp claim. On the other hand, if an employee fails to follow the safety measures that are in place, they could forfeit their right to make a claim. There is a bill currently pending in North Carolina that would require employees to go through the legal system before they are eligible to file a worker’s compensation claim. Although this law may come into play, personal injury attorneys Charlotte based will confirm that under worker’s compensation laws in North Carolina, a worker who gets hurt doing any job-related task is entitled to benefits and a claim should be placed. There are specific rules in place in each state that need to be followed, and the law is constantly changing.

Regardless of the state that you are working in, it is vital to report any safety violations. After all, this is the best way to protect yourself and your co-workers. However, if you are still involved in a work site accident, you should contact a construction accident attorney immediately.

The wife of a Special Inspector, Nickey Williams knows a great deal about construction safety. The Auger & Auger personal injury attorneys Charlotte based understand that employers and insurers sometimes fail to live up to their legal obligations, and therefore, fighting for the benefits you are legally entitled to is their top priority.

 
Back Safety, Ergonomics, Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WORKPLACE SAFETY: DON’T OVERLOOK THESE COMMONLY FORGOTTEN RISKS (GUEST POST)

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By Maire Hunter

Have you ever taken the time to consider the risks that surround you when you’re at work? Unless someone’s been paying close attention, there could be a hazard around every corner of your workplace. While you don’t want to be paranoid, you do want to be aware of the potential dangers you face, so you can take steps to avoid them. Here are some common workplace safety hazards that are often overlooked.

Gas

Gas is often an odorless hazard. Not only can it lead to a risk of fires, but it can also lead to asphyxiation risks. There are many types of hazardous gases potentially found in the modern workplace, from carbon monoxide to natural gases and even corrosive contaminates, and many cannot be detected without special detection equipment. Gas detection equipment is an essential part of keeping workers safe on the job. Simply set up the gas detector you need, calibrate it and you won’t have to worry about gas leaks endangering your employees.

Falling

That puddle of water may seem innocent enough, but an unsuspecting worker could easily slip and fall, injuring himself in the process. Workers should be taught to attend to spills quickly, whether they cause them or simply see them. Leaving spills on the floor puts everyone at risk. Other fall risks include unsafe climbing, leaning on rails and failure to use safety harnesses when working on scaffolding or ladders.

Fire

Sure, everyone in your workplace knows that fire is dangerous, but do they really know how risky it is at your specific location? Make sure that your employees know what fire hazards are affecting them at work, and what they should do in the event of a fire. A fire drill may seem like something for kids in school, but it’s a good practice to have one occasionally. You need to know that your workers know how to get out if they need to evacuate quickly.

Lifting Injuries

That box you are about to lift actually is a workplace safety hazard. Sure, it might look innocent enough, but lift it incorrectly and you’re left with a strained back or slipped disk. Proper lifting technique is an often-overlooked part of workplace safety. Always lift using the muscles in your legs, not your back. This means bending at the knee, picking up the item, and then using your leg muscles to lift yourself and the item back to a standing position. Pay attention to the weight on the box, because many boxes are heavier than they look and may require two people to lift.

Yes, the workplace can be a dangerous place if you’re not paying attention. Even an office with few serious hazards can present potential risks. So take the time to think about safety around your workplace, and don’t forget to consider these often forgotten hazards. By doing a little planning now, you can protect yourself or your workers from serious injury later. Combine safety equipment, awareness and training to keep everyone safe.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

WORKING AT HEIGHTS: HOW TO AVOID DAMAGE AND SERIOUS INJURY (GUEST POST)

Sent to us by Karl Young.

Most people would be surprised by what the definition of working at heights is: work at height means working in any place where, if precautions were not taken, a person could fall down and injure themselves.

Work at height means working in any place where you work above ground level, could fall from an edge, through an opening or fragile surface; or could fall from ground level into an opening in a floor or hole in the ground. If your job requires you to work with any of the above dangerous then you will be working at height. If on a day to day basis you use working platforms such as scaffolds, tower scaffolds, cherry pickers, scissor lifts and podium steps, work on a roof, piece of plant or equipment; or use ladders or stepladders you and your employer need to be following the working at heights regulations.

Precautions

More often than not you will only be working at heights as a one off, you might be changing a light fitting or climbing a ladder to access storage space.  One of the best ways to ensure injury prevention at height is to carry out a risk assessment; this is a simple process which will help you choose the right precautions to take when working at heights.

Small businesses are often the ones that don’t have the right equipment in place to protect their employees from the dangers of working at heights. In most cases injuries and damage can be avoided by investing in long handled tools and other equipment that can sometimes be used to safety carry out a task from ground level.  Long handled brushes, roller paint brushes, water fed poles and hatch openers are just a few pieces of equipment that can enable any user to perform a basic task without the need to move above ground level.

Prevention

Employees are most often at risk from falling when working at heights, there are several methods of prevention for falling in the work place that can easily be implemented.  You can ensure the fixtures around you are safe and tight, ensure the roof of your premise if accessible is fitted with guard rails. You should always ensure that equipment purchased as a safety precaution is safe to use and has regular checks and maintenance.

Additional measure can be taken at work to reduce the risk of a fall. When using any equipment for work at height you need to ensure that:

  • The people using it are trained to use it safely;
  • It is regularly inspected and well maintained; and
  • The work is supervised to check people are working safely

The consequences of a fall can be minimised if you try and avoid and the prevent a fall before using measures that will only minimise or limit the consequences. A good example of this are safety nets, they can be installed around the edge of a premises roof to minimise the risk of injury if someone falls. Fall arrest equipment will also minimise injury if someone falls, providing the equipment is set up correctly, users know how to look after it and they understand its limitations.

The key to a safe and happy workplace is a knowledgeable employer and employee.  The failure to follow and adhere to regulations when working at heights can result in hefty fines and extreme cases employees being injured resulting in a lawsuit. It is best to be knowledgeable and smart when your employee needs to work at heights, visit your local authority’s website for more information on working heights regulations and precautions.  

The post was created by Karl Young on behalf of Loxam Access a leading specialist in the rental of Access Platforms, Access Equipment and Cherry Pickers.

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

AUTUMN LEAVES CAN BREAK YOUR BACK!

This is my favorite time of year, the leaves are falling, mornings are cool and crisp when Buddy and I go for our daily walk, football is underway, and THE TEXAS RANGERS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!    What more could one ask for? 

But getting back to the subject, the leaves are falling off our pecan trees at a pretty fast pace now, and my husband isn’t looking forward to raking all of them.  He takes care of  the outside duties, such as mowing, gardening, and well, all of it, to be honest.  I don’t know if he would listen to any of the safety tips for doing all this yard work, but hopefully, some of you will find this helpful.

Wait until all the leaves have fallen off the trees before you start raking them.  If you overextend yourself at first, you may get tennis elbow or tendonitis.  Be sure to stretch first and warm up about 10 minutes before beginning.  You will need the right tools to make the job easier.  First, a good rake is worth a few extra dollars.  Be sure the rake is compatible to your height.  Wear leather gloves that help you grip the rake, and shoes with slip-proof soles, because wet leaves can be slippery.  When picking the leaves up, bend at the knees, not the waist to save your back.  Overloading the bags with leaves will make it too heavy, so use more bags.  If you suffer from allergies, wear a N95 dustmask. Many persons have allergies as severe in the fall as in the spring.  Also, you might want to spray your clothing with some type of bug repellent. 

Another fun fall project is pruning trees.  Be sure to look over the area around the trees and be sure there are no power lines running through them before you position your ladder.  Use the right tool for each job.  If you are using power tools, you may want to wear earplugs to soften the noise.  Also, watch for falling limbs, you never know when a big limb is going to come tumbling out of a  tree. 

Cleaning gutters is another job I’d rather not do.  But for those who have to do this, be sure the ladder you plan to use is in good condition and set it on a level place.  It is better to move the ladder as often as needed than stretch to reach something while you are on it.  An extension ladder is good for checking the roof or cleaning gutters. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says that there are more than 400,000 persons treated in emergency rooms annually that are victims of lawn and garden tool accidents.  Whether you are working with a mower, wood chipper, leaf blower, or any power tool, use caution.  Always wear safety glasses when doing yard work to protect your eyes.

There’s a lot to be said about the great outdoors, whether it’s your yard, somewhere you walk, or a favorite place you take your kids for an adventure.  The best policy is to be safe and aware of your surroundings.  There may be snakes that are hiding under leaves until they choose to hibernate.    Just be sure you are safe wherever you are.   One other tip, wildlife (such as deer)  is more active during this season, so watch for them while driving. 

Enjoy every minute of this fall, because one morning you’ll wake up, and there will be frost on the pumpkin!

General Safety Issues

STAY OUT OF ABANDONED MINES!

 

“Stay Out–Stay Alive” is a national public awareness campaign designed to warn children and adults about the dangers of exploring and playing on active and abandoned mine sites.
Every year, dozens of people are injured or killed in recreational accidents on mine property. MSHA launched “Stay Out–Stay Alive” in 1999 to educate the public about the existing hazards. The campaign is a partnership of more than 70 federal and state agencies, private organizations, businesses and individuals.

 

            SOME EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO DID NOT HEED THE WARNINGS:

         1-2008:  Nineteen-year old Arizona man died after falling into 35’ abandoned mineshaft.

         2-2008:  Twenty-year old man died when he came in contact with a high voltage transformer in a fenced-in area of an active mine in Pennsylvania.

        5-2008:  Three men in their twenties died from lack of oxygen when exploring an abandoned mine in California.

        5-2008:  Eighteen-year old boy drowned in off-limits, privately owned quarry.  Gates were locked and signs warning trespassers were all around.

NEAR MISSES:

        A twenty-three year old Pennsylvania man survived a 500’ fall into an abandoned strip mine.  While trespassing, he fell into a 700’ deep, 3,000’ long, and 1,500’ wide mine; rescuers spent hours on a dangerous rescue.  He faces charges of defiant trespass.

        Two twenty-one year old men escaped serious injury in a car crash in Wisconsin.  No seatbelts were used.  This happened in a rock quarry near an active mine. 

Throughout the year, “Stay Out–Stay Alive” partners visit schools, communities and youth organizations around the country to educate children about the importance of steering clear of abandoned mines.

These are not places to be explored.  I there are warning signs – take heed!