FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH IN CONSTRUCTION.

In 2010, there were 264 fall fatalities (255 falls to lower level) out of 774 total fatalities in construction. These deaths are preventable.

Falls can be prevented and lives can be saved through three simple steps:

• Plan

• Provide

• Train

This website is part of OSHA's nationwide outreach campaign to raise awareness among workers and employers about the hazards of falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs. The educational resources page gives workers and employers information about falls and how to prevent them. There are also training tools for employers to use and posters to display at their worksites. Many of the new resources target vulnerable workers with limited English proficiency.

We invite you to join in this effort by helping to reach workers and employers in your community with the resources you find on this site. OSHA will continue to add information and tools to this page throughout the year.

OSHA has partnered with the Natioonal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) - Construction Sector on this nationwide outreach campaign to raise awareness among workers and employers about common fall hazards in construction, and how falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be prevented and lives can be saved. Here's how:

PLAN ahead to get the job done safely
When working from heights, such as ladders, scaffolds, and roofs, employers must plan projects to ensure that the job is done safely. Begin by deciding how the job will be done, what tasks will be involved, and what safety equipment may be needed to complete each task.

When estimating the cost of a job, employers should include safety equipment, and plan to have all the necessary equipment and tools available at the construction site. For example, in a roofing job, think about all of the different fall hazards, such as holes or skylights and leading edges, then plan and select fall protection suitable to that work, such as personal fall arrest systems (PFAS).

PROVIDE the right equipment
Workers who are six feet or more above lower levels are at risk for serious injury or death if they should fall. To protect these workers, employers must provide fall protection and the right equipment for the job, including the right kinds of ladders, scaffolds,  and safety gear.

Different ladders and scaffolds are appropriate for different jobs. Always provide workers with the kind they need to get the job done safely. If workers use personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), provide a harness for each worker who needs to tie off to the anchor. Make sure the PFAS fits, and regularly inspect all fall protection equipment to ensure it's still in good condition and safe to use.

TRAIN everyone to use the equipment safely
Falls can be prevented when workers understand proper setup and safe use of equipment, so they need training on the specific equipment they will use to complete the job. Employers must train workers in hazard recognition and in the care and safe use of ladders, scaffolds, fall protection systems, and other equipment they'll be using on the job.

OSHA has provided numerous materials and resources that employers can use during toolbox talks to train workers on safe practices to avoid falls in construction. Falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs can be prevented and lives can be saved through three simple steps: Plan, Provide and Train.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced a national safety stand-down from June 2 to 6 to raise awareness among employers and workers about the hazards of falls, which account for the highest number of deaths in the construction industry. "Falls account for more than a third of all deaths in this industry," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "We're working with employers, workers, industry groups, state OSH plans, and civic and faith-based organizations to host safety stand-downs that focus on recognizing hazards and preventing falls. We are getting the message out to America's employers that safety pays and falls cost."

During the stand-down, employers and workers are asked to pause their workday to talk about fall prevention in construction, and discuss topics like ladder safety, scaffolding safety and roofing work safety. OSHA has also launched an official national safety stand-down website with information on how to conduct a successful stand-down. Afterwards, employers will be able to provide feedback and receive a personalized certificate of participation.

The stand-down is part of OSHA's ongoing Fall Prevention Campaign, which was started in 2012 and was developed in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and NIOSH's National Occupational Research Agenda program. The campaign provides employers with lifesaving information and educational materials on how to plan ahead to prevent falls, provide the right equipment for their workers and train all employees in the proper use of that equipment.

"We are pleased to join again with OSHA and our NORA partners to focus on fall prevention at construction sites," said Dr. John Howard, NIOSH director. "Preventing falls in the construction industry benefits everyone, from the worker, to the employer, to the community at large. This safety stand-down serves as an important opportunity for everyone to take the time to learn how to recognize and prevent fall hazards." To learn how to partner with OSHA in this stand-down, visit http://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/. The page provides details on how to conduct a stand-down; receive a certificate of participation; and access free education and training resources, fact sheets and other outreach materials in English and Spanish. To learn more about preventing falls in construction visit http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov; this is also where this article was taken from.

Hazard Corner ... Do you run a Transfer Station, Recycling Center, Refuse Station or Town Dump?

Municipal inspections conducted by CONN-OSHA compliance officers over the past few years have discovered that municipal employees are often exposed to fall hazards and “crushing type” injuries at Municipal Transfer Stations.

To protect them from falls, in accordance with OSHA General Industry 1910.23 , every open-sided floor or platform, where an employee can fall more than four feet, shall be guarded by a standard railing or its equivalent (as specified in the standard). Areas that are commonly overlooked are open-sided walking and working areas at Transfer Stations. More often than not, it is the safety of the residents dropping off trash that is of utmost concern. This is due to the insurance liability issue so keeping a resident from getting hurt on the property becomes the priority and the employee’s safety gets overlooked.

It is the employer’s responsibility to train their employees on safe work practices when performing their job duties and to eliminate any potential hazards which could cause them harm. Engineering controls, workplace practices, adequate signage, high visibility garments, traffic control, controlled access zones and the use of front loaders for moving refuse into open sided pits should be considered when reducing hazards to employees at Transfer Stations. The practice of allowing employees to remove fall protection barriers, without alternate protection, when working near open-sided edges where they could fall four or more feet, is unacceptable and a violation of OSHA standards. When this situation is found, CONN-OSHA inspectors are often told, “we used to have a barrier over there but the cars kept hitting them”. There is no reason to allow cars to get that close; the use of vehicle bumpers or curbs with adequate warning signs could be a solution.

Do you have a compactor? Does the equipment get jammed sometimes? Does the machine get serviced periodically? If so, then there must be specific procedures that are followed to ensure that the machine does not cycle (or turn on) while these tasks are being performed. Do you know how your employees unjam the compactors? Ask them, and if they are putting any part of their body in or near the point of operation, or they could inadvertently fall into the compactor, they must be protected from these hazards. It is the employer’s responsibility to know how these tasks are performed and have safeguards in place. Whenever the unexpected energization or startup of a piece of equipment could cause injury to employees, employers must follow the requirements of the OSHA General Industry Standard 1910.147, commonly referred to as Lock Out/Tag Out procedures. This standard covers the minimum performance requirements for the control of hazardous energy. Interlocks are the safest way to be certain a piece of equipment cannot start up when a guard or barrier is removed.

If you have any questions contact our office, (860-263-6900). Another good resource is the Na􀆟onal Waste & Recycling Association, which has a Manual of Recommended Safety Practices for Refuse Operations.

CONN-OSHA Training Update ...

Safe Driving – Get There Safely EVERY Time June 18, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to noon
Work-related vehicle crashes are the leading cause of occupational fatalities according to the U.S. Dept. of Labor. The goal of this session is to increase awareness of the need for, and the benefits of safe driving.

Powered Industrial Trucks July 9, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. to noon
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.

Workplace Violence August 14, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to noon
This workshop is designed to make you more aware of some of the issues related to the workplace and to provide tools to help manage, defuse and prevent it.

Ergonomics September 10, 2014, from 10:00 a.m. to noon
This session will help attendees develop a process for recognizing and quantifying risks, creating cost-effective solutions, and documenting the effectiveness.

Breakfast Roundtable
This discussion group meets the third Tuesday of every month from 8:15 am to 9:45 am. Pre-registration is required.

Visit our web page for more information: http://www.ctdol.state.ct.us/osha/Breakfast/index.htm To be placed on the e-mail distribution list, contact John Able at able.john@dol.gov

Classes are free and are held at 200 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield, CT in Conference Room A/B (unless otherwise noted). To register, contact Catherine Zinsser at zinsser.catherine@dol.gov. Pre-registration is required. A Photo I.D. is also required to allow entry into a public building.

For more training information, visit the CONN-OSHA web site www.ConnOsha.com