A construction worker fatality at East Georgia State College in Swainsboro, Ga. has resulted in five safety violations against Smiley Plaster Co. The company faces $57,000 in penalties.
NJ company has “active and ongoing disregard for its workers’ safety”
March 12, 2014
A company inspected in January as part of OSHA’s Local Emphasis Program on fall hazards in construction was cited for two repeat and two serious safety violations for failing to provide required protective equipment and to protect workers from serious fall hazards.
A new NIOSH-funded study on fatalities in the construction industry suggests roofers in residential construction are among those most likely to die in falls from roofs. The study, "Fatal falls from roofs among U.S. construction workers," finds that "the odds of fatal falls from roofs were higher for roofing and residential construction than any other construction sector."
The working height can be dangerous if safety precautions are not taken. You should know that even a drop of a few inches can cause serious injury. Work requiring the use of ladders or scaffolding must be studied in order to eliminate as much risk to workers.
A fall arrest system, respiratory protection for high altitudes and industrial lighting that can illuminate 7 acres of workspace are this week’s top EHS-related products featured on ISHN.com:
Employers must set up the work place to prevent employees from falling off of overhead platforms, elevated work stations or into holes in the floor and walls. OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations.
Falls from elevations are severe accidents that occur in many industries and occupations. Falls from elevations result in injuries which are produced by contact between the falling person and the source of injury, under the following circumstances:
Contractors have been put on notice: ensure you use fall protection systems, or face fines. In May 2011, a WorkSafe WA inspector observed a self-employed roofing contractor working on a roof at a construction site in Mandurah. He had been engaged by a roofing company to fit all the roofing material, including flashing and capping.
Escape and rescue kit and high-altitude respirator helps protect workers in extreme environments
March 4, 2014
3M has expanded its personal safety portfolio with a new controlled descent device for escape and rescue at height and a high-altitude upgrade for its popular 3M™ Adflo™ Powered Air Purifying Respirator system. The 3M™ and DEUS™ Escape and Rescue System enables workers to steadily descend from heights up to 590 feet, while the 3M™ Adflo™ Turbo Assembly with High Altitude Upgrade can provide continuous filtered air to welders working at altitudes of up to 10,000 ft.