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Roped onto safety
If you are in construction, some of the things you should always place an importance on are fall safety and the use of fall protection equipment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported that a total of 7,250 fall safety infractions occurred in 2012.
This is actually the second year in a row where fall safety violations have placed first in OSHA’s annual reports for the most commonly cited OSHA violations. Also, the highest penalties that were implemented by OSHA in 2012 were related to fall protection and scaffolding infractions.
Most Common Fall Safety Violations
There are a number of violations that are part of the list of the most common fall safety infractions. These include inadequacies in scaffolding platforms and lack of basic safety standards. The absence of fall safety equipment like harnesses and other fall protection and scaffolding safety must-haves are also included in this list.
Inadequate Scaffolding Platforms - One of the most frequently violated regulations is the one that requires employers to provide appropriate scaffolding for workers. The OSHA standard is that scaffold platforms should be fully decked or planked and that these be able to support 4 times the supposed maximum load it is made to carry. There are instances however where employees are forced to work on single-plank and flimsy scaffolds. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 72% of scaffold-related injuries result from these weak platforms giving way or from people falling off of them.
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Secured from harm
Basic Safety Standards – Most of these accidents are easily preventable, if you really think about it. The sad part is that, far too many establishments do not invest enough of their company’s resources in fall protection. These standards are pretty basic. Among other things, OSHA regulations state that:
- Scaffoldings should be constructed on a stable surface. Whenever necessary, these should be secured to the actual building structure to prevent tipping over
- Employees must have all the necessary fall protection equipment they need when they are on a surface or a scaffold more than 6 ft above the ground
- Toeboards, screens, or guardrails should be in place to prevent workers from falling
- Catch platforms, debris nets, or canopy structures should also be installed to protect employees from falling objects
Practical Considerations - Providing your employees with the right fall protection equipment can significantly reduce fall safety problems. Improving your facility’s training programs, scaffolding design and work protocols would also go a long way toward eliminating fall and scaffolding issues. To further reduce the risk of falling from a scaffold, here are a few practical tips you must remember:
- Existing scaffolds must be surveyed before work begins; any openings or holes found on these scaffolds should be secured immediately
- Safety nets, guardrails and fall arrest systems must be in place whenever employees are working at a height of 6 feet or more
- Floor holes must be covered and/or secured as soon as they are constructed
- Floor hole covers or planks must be able to support at least twice the weight of people, equipment, and materials.
Allocating the proper resources for fall protection not only helps keep people safe but also saves you money in the long run. There are around 2.3 million construction workers in the United States alone and their jobs require them to work on scaffolds. Providing them with the proper knowledge and equipment would help protect their lives.
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