OSHA recently released its Top Ten Safety Violations for 2009 for all industries. Fall protection continues to be among the top violations, occupying three of the top ten spots. However, early indications are that fatalities are substantially down according to the most recent (September 2010) fatality date on OSHA’s website (http://www.osha.gov). Interesting enough, a common thread through all these violations is that strict adherence to a company safety & health program, or I2P2 (OSHA’s latest term for Injury and Illness Prevention Program/ Plan) would address all of these issues. Read the rest of this entry »

This is a four part series on the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry.  These four hazards, known as the Focus Four account for 8 to 9 out of every 10 fatalities in construction.  Today we’ll talk about the third leading fatality: electrocution hazards.

Electrocution hazards can be generalized into four categories: Working around power lines, working around power tools and extension cords, locking out and tagging out electrical equipment, and demolition work.
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This is a four part series on the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. These four hazards, known as the Focus Four account for 8 to 9 out of every 10 fatalities in construction. Today we’ll talk about the second leading fatality: struck by hazards.

Struck by hazards encompass many activities. Construction workers may be struck by vehicular traffic, struck by heavy equipment on a construction site, struck by moving loads, or even falling loads.
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In August, 2010, OSHA Puts its new Cranes & Derricks Regulations in place, with an effective date of November 9, 2010 for most of its provisions, including a new training requirement for signal persons.

Anyone who may signal a crane will now be required to be qualified through specific training. This Qualified Crane Signal Person training has five distinct topics.

• Know and understand the type of signals used. If hand signals are used, the signal person must know and understand the Standard Method for hand signals.
• Be competent in the application of the type of signals used

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This is a four part series on the four leading causes of fatalities in the construction industry. These four hazards, known as the Focus Four account for 8 to 9 out of every 10 fatalities in construction. Today we’ll talk about the leading fatality: falls.

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and one of the leading causes of death in general industry. Several hundred construction workers every year die from falls. Most of these falls are from elevated heights and most of those are from scaffolds and ladders. Falls from roofs, account for another significant cause of falls from elevated Heights. Read the rest of this entry »

20 is the New 10

OSHA has significantly changed it’s treatment of powerlines with its new subpart 1926.1407-1411.  In the past there was little to no discussion until personnel or equipment got within 10 feet of an overhead powerline.

Now, before assembly or disassembly of a crane, the employer must determine if it could come within 20 feet of a power line. If so, the employer must either confirm with the power company that the line is de-energized and visibly grounded at the worksite, make sure no part gets within 20 feet of the power line or follows Table A, which has minimum distances based on voltage.
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Myth #1 –OSHA’s budget is supported by its fines

A common belief among employers. Even I have heard some OSHA inspectors from state programs, intimate that the fines pad their budgets, there is no truth to the rumor. State and Federal OSHA programs alike, pass the citations on to either the U.S. Treasury or the respective State Treasury coffers. That’s not to say that fines are not on the increase. Recently, Dr. David Michaels, the head of OSHA, circulated a memo, which basically is asking OSHA area office to triple or quadruple their average fine structure. Read the rest of this entry »

Overhead powerlines are an electrocution risk for anyone who works with or nearby cranes. Before beginning work on a site that has any powerlines, the electrical utility or site owner (if the lines are privately owned) should be known.  In addition, if the work is within the safe approach distance (usually 20ft. to 10ft.) the utility/ owner should be notified of the date, time, and type of work involved.  If any work is required within the 10ft. minimum approach distance, their permission should be requested to either de-energize and visibly ground the powerlines or to provide insulated barriers between the powerlines and the work. Read the rest of this entry »

OSHA requires that workers wear steel toe shoes when working on certain jobsites. Steel toe shoes have become a common piece of safety equipment in the workplace. These durable shoes help to protect the feet from injury on the jobsite. Many that wear steel toe shoes at work know how important it is to protect ones feet from injury.
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Scaffolds can be some of the most complex, time-consuming, and ultimately dangerous tools to use on the job. Proper setup and use of scaffolds can be some of the most technical challenges for the worker since there are multitude of regulations, manufacturer’s and/or engineer’s requirements, and common sense that have to be utilized when erecting, altering, using, and dismantling scaffolds. This article will address selection of the best type of scaffold for your project.
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