Thousands of people yearly are injured or die on construction sites around the country. As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created more than 50 years ago to ensure as few incidents as possible. The purpose of this authority is to mandate safety standards for workplaces so
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there is a recognized hazard when working on the roof or at heights. Minimizing the dangers of working in such areas starts with a deep-rooted understanding of the risks and deployment of the necessary equipment. There are various reasons why people
BDC 319 : Aug 2024
Thousands of people yearly are injured or die on construction sites around the country. As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created more than 50 years ago to ensure as few incidents as possible. The purpose of this authority is to mandate safety standards for workplaces so that employees can go to work in the safest environment possible, whether in a quiet office or a bustling construction site. By its very nature, construction is a dangerous industry. Heavy equipment, sharp objects, tripping hazards, heights, and any hazardous situations could occur. The OSHA provides regulations and standards to minimize and mitigate those risks to protect workers. Here is a basic overview of OSHA regulations relating to construction sites. Heights and Fall Prevention As you can imagine, working from heights is very common on construction sites and presents a unique set of risks. As a result, OSHA has several guidelines about safely working from heights to keep workers and the general public safe. For instance, scaffolding must be able to hold four times its weight safely. On top of that, it must have guardrails and toeboards to prevent falling over. The OSHA also has guidelines for working near power lines which can pose a severe risk to someone working from heights. They also have safety standards for every type of ladder used on a site. This includes how to secure them properly and how to climb on and off of them. Stairways on construction sites must have proper hand and guardrails and be debris-free. Nothing can be stored on stairways, including at the top and the bottom. If a stairway gets wet, it must be cleaned immediately to prevent slips and falls. Electrocution Electrocution is another major cause of injury and death on construction sites. Therefore, workers must be conscientious when dealing with any appliances or exposed wiring while on the job. As part of their guidelines, OSHA mandates that no worker can access or work on electrical circuits and outlets until the power is cut and the ground wires are attached. Also, any damaged wiring has to be replaced immediately. This includes power cords. Tools that require electricity to operate must be inspected regularly. If a possible defect is concerned, it must be repaired or disposed of immediately. Do not use a tool that may have frayed or damaged electrical components. Any equipment, including ladders and materials, must be at least 10 feet away from electrical power lines. Communication Communication among construction workers is a big part of OSHA’s safety guidelines. This means that workers must talk and communicate with each other, and management must make sure that all employees have safety training and reminders. In addition, there must always be an MSDS data sheet on-site if dangerous chemicals are present. It must be easily and quickly accessible by anyone on the site, not just management. Any possible hazards on the job site must be efficiently communicated to workers. For example, upon discovering an unsafe condition, or a chemical, management must let everyone know about the danger and provide the steps to avoid it. Waste Management Loose waste can be a dangerous component of any construction site. The OSHA has several guidelines to make sure that removing waste to keep the job site safe and clean is done properly. For example, if you work more than 20 feet from the ground, any material waste you produce must be dropped to the ground using an enclosed slide or a similar implement. If you are dropping waste through the floor to the level below, the drop zone area must be marked and blocked off to prevent someone from walking underneath. In addition, using disposal equipment will make disposal more efficient and safer for workers. For example, self dumping hoppers can hold a large amount of waste, are moved easily using a forklift or other lifting equipment, and can be emptied without requiring human hands to touch the disposed of material. Personal Protective Equipment Employers are responsible for making sure that all employees have the right personal protective equipment for their jobs. Every job has different risks, but some common basics are required. This includes protection from head injuries by wearing a hard hat while on the job site. In addition, debris can fall from above, or a worker could trip and fall. If working with heavy machinery, operators must also have proper hearing protection to avoid hearing loss over time. All workers should have protective work boots or shoes; some may even need leg and shin padding for their work. Due to the risk of flying debris, sparks, and wood chips, all workers must have eye protection in the form of goggles, shields, or both. Safety is paramount. If your staff isn’t safe on the job, there will be injuries, productivity issues, and staffing problems. Besides, it looks unprofessional to any partners, clients, or the general public that might be interested in what you are doing. So ensure you keep your workers safe with the OSHA’s guidelines and regulations.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there is a recognized hazard when working on the roof or at heights. Minimizing the dangers of working in such areas starts with a deep-rooted understanding of the risks and deployment of the necessary equipment. There are various reasons why people might be on a roof, especially on a commercial building rooftop. For example, maintenance workers could be inspecting the rooftop air handlers, or there might be project construction workers that need to finish a project. Whatever the reason, the property owner must still be able to protect and ensure the safety of the people who might be on the roof of their building. Take note that falls are one of the most common causes of severe workplace-related deaths and injuries. Fortunately, there are several ways to protect whoever is on your roof. Below are some of the ways to avoid fall-related accidents when on the roof. Fall Protection Guardrails Safety System Items which are not carried or worn like anchor points that protect against the risk of fall is under the fall protection safety system. One of the best examples is the guardrails. Guardrails are a stationary system used to safeguard workers from falls when working at height. This type of fall protection safety system is a preferred means of securing workers because they don’t have to be trained on how to wear, use, and inspect a personal fall protection system (PFPS). High-quality guardrails are a convenient and reliable means of fall protection since they act as a physical and visible barrier. Therefore, this fall protection system prevents falls between levels- from heights, stairwells, balconies, roofs, or open holes. The system is commonly used in many places, such as : warehouses retail shops construction sites shipping facilities industrial settings commercial buildings landscaping settings Handrails and guardrails are often used interchangeably. However, handrails and guardrails are not the same, even though guardrails usually have handrails. Generally, handrails are a handhold for people to support themselves when going either downstairs or upstairs. On the other hand, guardrails are specifically designed to prevent falls around the hazard areas. The OSHA has imposed regulations for when guardrails should be installed and specifications for how they must be implemented. By law, building owners or employers should comply with all regulations concerning fall hazards in the workplace provided by the OSHA. Moreover, this fall protection system must be used when people have access to unsecured edges of the following surfaces: Open edges of slab formwork for roofs and floors Around a mezzanine or balcony Around open platforms, raised platforms, or scaffolds Around elevated work surfaces If you are looking for a guardrail that can be installed temporarily, opt for a free-standing, portable, and OSHA compliant mobile roof safety rails. This safety guardrail is non-penetrating and meets the OSHA fall protection standards. Personal Fall Protection Equipment Items that are carried or worn, which protect users from falling, are under the category of personal fall protection equipment (PFPE). There are three PFPE types and methods currently of use. Each equipment focuses on a different risk level and work situation. The first type is called the travel restraint PFPE. It restricts or limits access to locations where a fall can take place. This restrictive PFPE is designed to prevent accidents such as falls. Travel restraint PFPE consists of the following: Anchor Rope Grab Lifeline or Lanyard Full Harness Make sure to pick an anchor that’ll fully support the force of the load. Also, it must be positioned correctly. Before you use the travel restraint PFPE, do the following: Determine all fall hazards in the area. Choose the right components like a snap hook, self-retracting lifeline, energy absorbers, and Y-lanyard. Find suitable anchor points. For example, an anchor point that is almost perpendicular to the hazard area. Ensure that a competent person inspects the equipment before and after use. If a single component of the travel restraint system is not working, that part should be removed immediately. The second type of PFPE is called the positioning PFPE, which enables the partial or total suspension of a worker. It is typically used to protect workers when climbing ladders, allowing them to work without using their hands to support them. The third type is called personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). This equipment isn’t designed to prevent falls from happening but stops the worker’s free fall from a working-walking surface. PFAS consists of self-retracting lifelines, personal fall limiters, connecting devices, and a full-body harness. Regardless of the type of equipment or method use, PFPS must be designed by an experienced and qualified person. An analysis or examination of the supporting structure must also be practiced. Quality Inspection There are several things to consider when examining fall protection systems and personal protection equipment. Has a fall protection system been correctly installed within the guidelines of the manufacturer? Are the calculations accurate to ensure safe load levels? Has it been constructed properly with the correct components? If the answers to these questions are no, then workers working at height may be in danger. Therefore, some problems that quality inspection must cover include: Signs of corrosion Checking damages in cables Energy absorbers inspection Inspection of harnesses and lanyards for cuts and breaks Re-tensioning of cables Checking damages to fittings Quality Training Although safety for people working at heights sits with the employer or building owner, the worker themselves must take responsibility for their safety. However, most of them lack the proper training or knowledge required to correctly identify whether a fall protection system or PFPE is safe to use. Failure in doing so could lead to severe injuries, or worse, death. Thus, quality training is imperative and is always the best form of protection. Takeaway Quality training, regular quality inspection, and the right equipment are essential. However, all count for nothing without the required safety methods and risk assessments considered in place. That said, all equipment must go through pre-checks. Consider hiring an external company
