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CONN-OSHA Quarterly
February, 2010
Volume No. 59
February 2010
Fall Protection: Everybody is at Risk
By: John Able, CSP
Whether we like it or not, we are all getting older
and our bodies are changing. As we age, our overall body condition deteriorates
with the loss of muscle condition, muscle mass, bone mass, flexibility, and
reaction time. These changes affect the way we work and, over time, make us
vulnerable to an injurious fall. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that falls
are one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational injury and death. In the
past five years, nearly 4,000 American workers have lost their lives to
work-related falls. Forty two of those deaths occurred in Connecticut.
Many of OSHA’s top ten most cited violations for
fiscal year 2009 (October 1, 2008 – September 30, 2009) were related to fall
prevention. Scaffolding violations took first place, followed by fall protection
violations. Seventh place went to ladder violations. Each of these citations
reflects employees working in conditions that not only increased the chance of a
fall but also increased the likelihood and severity of an injury.
Every employer and employee needs the ability to
recognize fall hazards in their workplace. They must work together to control
and eliminate that hazard. Employers are required to maintain all
walking/working surfaces in good condition. Stools, ladders, scaffolds, stairs,
safety belts, lifelines, lanyards, safety nets, aerial lifts, guardrail systems,
personal fall arrest systems, positioning device systems and vehicle-mounted
elevating and rotating work platforms are to be used:
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Appropriately by persons aware of the hazards,
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By people who take the time to assess the risks,
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By people who think about staying in control,
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By people who have assessed the consequences of
their actions, and
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Only by people that have been trained by their
employer in the use of that equipment.
These recommendations are critically important for
employees that routinely work at height (roofers, line technicians, arborists,
etc.) because they face an immediate danger to their life and health. The
employer and employee must work together to ensure the hazard is controlled to
the greatest extent possible. Guardrails, nets, harnesses, etc., are possible
control methods referred to in the OSHA standards. Always follow manufacturer’s
instructions in the proper use and maintenance of equipment.
None of us want to experience an injury from a fall.
Recognizing, respecting, and controlling fall hazards are key in preventing
falls. It is also important to acknowledge changes in physical abilities and
adjust work habits accordingly. Focusing on safety will help us get through each
day injury-free. And that’s the goal, an injury-free workplace and, while we’re
at it, an injury-free home.
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CONN-OSHA Official Wins National Award
The members of the National Association of Home
Builders (NAHB) award the Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE) to individuals
displaying unique and outstanding efforts in advancing safety in the home
building industry.
In 2009, the category of Federal/State Plan OSHA
Official of the Year was awarded to John Able, a Certified Safety Professional
for the Connecticut Department of Labor, Division of Occupational Safety &
Health (CONN-OSHA).
The SAFE award honors the achievements of builders and
trade contractors who have developed and implemented high-quality construction
safety programs, as well as government officials and NAHB-affiliated
associations who have made successful efforts to improve safety.
“CONN-OSHA works closely with the Home Builders
Association of Hartford County (HBA)” said John Able, “to promote safety so home
builders, trade contractors, and workers in the residential construction
industry return home to their families and friends each day. I would not have
received this award without HBA Safety Committee’s work to benefit its members.”
“Ensuring a safe worksite is of paramount importance
to home builders across the nation, and CONN-OSHA’s commitment sets a shining
example for the housing industry,” said Colin Campbell, chair of the NAHB
Construction Safety & Health Committee and a builder from Charleston, South
Carolina.
John Able and CONN-OSHA was recognized during the NAHB
Safety Award for Excellence Reception at the Hilton Inn, Las Vegas on January
20, 2010. Nine other categories of winners from across the country were also
honored at the ceremony.
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In the photo from left to right are: Mike Girard, HBA
Safety Committee Chairman, John Able, CONN-OSHA and Chris Nelson, President of
HBA of Hartford County.
For more information about the SAFE awards, and to
read about honorees in previous years, go to:
www.nahb.org/SAFE.
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Falls on the Same Level
Each day, 9 workers are injured in workplace falls
(annual total of 3,430). While we often assume injurious falls occur from
heights, such as ladders or roofs, 67% are falls to the same level.
Many of these injuries could be avoided with simple
precautions. Indoors, ensure that walkways are clear of boxes, carts, etc.,
floors are kept dry and clean, and carpets do not curl or wrinkle. Parking lots,
sidewalks, and outside areas should be well maintained: remove snow and ice
promptly, provide adequate lighting, patch potholes and cracks, and fix any
loose stones, bricks, or patio pavers. For employees that are frequently walking
outside, proper footgear with good traction is necessary. Consider providing
“stabilicers” – a studded overshoe that helps prevent slipping on snow and ice.
Of course, one of the best methods in preventing
injuries is to have safety-aware employees. Recognize and respect hazards, move
at a steady pace instead of rushing, and wear appropriate shoes. In Connecticut,
employees are doing a good job but there is still room for improvement.
Thousands of workers fall on the job each year and miss multiple days of work.
This disrupts home life, work life, and the financial stability of both the
employer and the employee.
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Most Common OSHA Citations for Fiscal Year
2009
Richard Fairfax, director of OSHA’s directorate of
enforcement programs, announced the most common OSHA citations for fiscal year
2009. According to Fairfax, 81 percent of the violations OSHA recorded
throughout the year were either serious or willful. The number of Top 10
violations has increased almost 30 percent from the previous year.
“These standards here in the top 10 are fairly
consistent from year to year,” Fairfax said. Citations involving ladders,
however, have only recently entered the Top 10. “Three to four years ago,
ladders weren’t on the Top 10,” he added. “Anecdotal data shows people are using
ladders when they shouldn’t.”
Once again, hazard communication landed within the top
three positions on the list. OSHA recognizes the need to start another outreach
campaign and offer more education in this area especially if it aligns its
hazcom standard with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and
Labeling of Chemicals (GHS).
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Scaffolding -- 9,093 violations. Included are scaffold
accidents (most often resulting from planking or support giving way), an
employee slipping, and employees struck by a falling object.
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Fall protection -- 6,771 violations. Any time a worker is at
a height of 4 feet or more, he or she is at risk and needs to be protected.
Fall protection must be provided at 4 feet in general industry, 5 feet in
maritime work environments, and 6 feet in construction.
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Hazard communication -- 6,378 violations. Chemical
manufacturers and importers are required to evaluate the hazards of the
chemicals they produce or import. They must prepare labels and safety data
sheets to convey the hazards to their customers.
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Respiratory protection -- 3,803 violations. Respirators
protect workers against insufficient oxygen environments, harmful dusts,
fogs, smokes, mists, gases, vapors and sprays. These hazards may cause
cancer, lung impairment, other diseases or death.
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Lockout/Tagout -- 3,321 violations. Lockout/Tagout refers to
practices and procedures that safeguard employees from the unexpected
startup of machinery and equipment or the release of hazardous energy during
service or maintenance.
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Electrical (wiring) -- 3,079 violations. Regulations in this
category protect engineers, electricians and other professionals working
directly with electricity, including overhead lines, cable harnesses and
circuit assemblies.
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Ladders -- 3,072 violations. The proper use and maintenance
of ladders, including maximum load, spacing of rungs, ladder placement,
etc., are addressed in these regulations. Ladders with structural defects
must be immediately withdrawn from service until repaired.
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Powered industrial trucks -- 2,993 violations. Many
employees are injured when lift trucks drive off loading docks, fall between
docks and an unsecured trailer, strike an employee, or are misused as lifts.
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Electrical -- 2,556 violations. Regulations in this category
protect individuals that work with electricity indirectly, such as office
employees and salespeople.
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Machine guarding -- 2,364 violations. Moving machine parts
have the potential to cause severe workplace injuries, such as crushed
fingers or hands, amputations, burns, or blindness. Any machine part,
function or process that may cause injury must be safeguarded.
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Hazard Corner
Over the past five years, workplace
falls have claimed 3,946 lives in the U.S. Eleven percent (420) of those were
falls from scaffolding.
On June 7, 2005, two employees were
operating a mast-climbing work platform. They were moving the work platform down
and had to adjust the outriggers to avoid striking the building. The outrigger
became stuck and the plunge bars would not adjust in or out. The coworker
climbed into the building while the deceased remained on the platform and
removed a cotter pin from a plunge bar, making it easier to adjust. By doing so,
he caused the plunge bar and platform boards to collapse. The victim fell
approximately 32 feet to a concrete loading dock and later died from his
injuries.
Almost all injuries – from minor to
fatal – from scaffolding failures could be avoided with the proper use of fall
protection. Any employee on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level
must use the appropriate measures to prevent falls. Personal fall arrest
systems, safety harnesses, lanyards, lifelines, etc., will protect them from
falling to the lower level. Employers must also designate a competent person to
be responsible for determining the feasibility and safety of providing fall
protection for employees erecting or dismantling supported scaffolds.
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Training Update
Lockout/Tagout: Understanding &
Implementing Energy Control Procedures February 9, 2010 Discussion of OSHA’s 29
CFR 1910.147 standard requires the isolation of energy sources to prevent
accidental re-energization. This class will be held from 10 am-12 noon.
OSHA Recordkeeping: February
26, 2010 Learn how to fill out the OSHA Log of Work-Related Injuries & Illnesses
(Form 300) accurately and correctly. This class will be held from 9am -noon.
Powered Industrial Trucks:
March 9, 2010 This workshop includes the basic requirements of the OSHA 29 CFR
1910.178 Powered Industrial Truck Standard which affects both General Industry
and Construction material handling operations. This class will be held from 10
am-12 noon.
Construction Site Safety: March
25, 2010 Construction managers, first line supervisors, and construction
employees will be provided with an overview of four areas of concern on the
construction site. Program contents include: fall protection, scaffolding and
ladders, electrical hazards, and trenching safety. This class will be held from
10:00 am—12 noon
Work Zone Safety: April 6, 2010
Basic guidelines for work zone traffic control and the requirements of Part VI
of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices will be discussed. This class
will be held from 10am-12 noon.
Trenching & Excavation Safety:
April 29, 2010 This workshop will provide an overview of 29 CFR 1926.650-652
excavations, including the role of the competent person. The session is designed
to assist participants in identifying hazards associated with excavations and
related activities. This class will be held from 10am-12 noon.
Breakfast Roundtable: This
discussion group meets the third Tuesday of every month from 8:15 am to 9:45 am.
Pre-registration is required. To be placed on the e-mail distribution list,
contact John Able at able.john@dol.gov
Classes are free and held at 200 Folly
Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT in Conference Room A/B. To register, contact
John Able at able.john@dol.gov.
Pre-registration is required. For more training information, visit the CONN-OSHA
web site www.ctdol.state.ct.us/osha/osha.htm.
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Fatality & Casualty
Reporting:
Connecticut Department of Labor - OSHA
38 Wolcott Hill Road
Wethersfield, CT 06109 |
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You may also reach us by phone at (860) 263-6900 or visit our website at
www.ctdol.state.ct.us/osha/osha.htm. |
CONN-OSHA Quarterly
Index
Last
Updated:
April 17, 2018
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