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Posts Tagged ‘Dangerous Conditions’

FALLS, FORKLIFTS, SCISSOR LIFTS, SCAFFOLDING AND ELECTRICITY

Sunday, December 19th, 2010

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE GOALS ARE SIMPLE:  SAFETY AND SECURITY.

OSHA’s recent Top Ten list of dangerous work activities included Falls, Scaffolding, and Powered Industrial Trucks. Powered Industrial Trucks would include forklifts and scissorlifts. These operations are dangerous enough by themselves. However, they become geometrically more hazardous when working in close proximity to each other.

During the first week of December 2010 two workers were performing electrical maintenance using a scissor lift and scaffolding. The men were suspended in harnesses at 30 feet.

Another employee was performing unrelated routine work on a forklift. The forklift struck the scissorlift as the men did the electrical work. Both men were knocked unconscious. One man was killed when he fell and was pinned and crushed under the scaffolding. The second worker remain hung in a harness.

The predictable company/employer CYA statement that “[we] are committed to safety and safe work enviornement” belies their actions. The contractor/owner should not have required unrelated hazardous work activities in close proximity. Company rhetoric does not alleviate the preventable suffering and sorrow to the families during this Christmas Holiday. There are no words, only acknowledgement.

Honor these fallen workers by keeping yourself safe at work and taking the extra safety precautions regardless of pressures put on you.

THERE IS NO SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

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Posted in Construction Accidents, Fall Accidents, Fork Lift Accidents, OSHA Safety, Personal Injury News, Powered Industrial Trucks, Scaffolding Accidents, Scissor Lift Accidents | Comments Off

Remembering Fallen Workers:

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

A young worker was doing his job shoveling hot asphalt into a backhoe scoop. He slipped, fell and was buried in scalding asphalt by a dump truck. The young man was trapped and burned to death in 570 degree asphalt. A coworker was severely burned trying to rescue him. The penalty for a fall should not be death.

Life did not end by accident. Don’t let it end as one.

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Posted in Construction Accidents, Fall Accidents, Personal Injury News, Remembering Fallen Workers | Comments Off

Fallen Workers Honored: Woodchipper Horror

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

America’s strong work ethic and dedicated workers is what built this country. Americans respect hard work and those who toil to support their families. Too often the reward for hard work is death. In an effort to remember workers’ deaths, injuries, and promote safety these tragedies will be memorialized to keep worker safety as a priority. (If you have a worker, safety tip, or thought to be included in this feature then please write us.)

Woodchipper Horror: The academy award winning movie “FARGO” shocked us with a convict shoving his co-con’s leg into a woodchipper while blood and flesh spewed onto the snow. The scene was repeated in real life when a maintenance worker was tangled in a tree limb while shoving it into a woodchipper.

Remember: WORKING WITHOUT SAFETY IS A DEAD END JOB.

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Posted in Construction Accidents, Personal Injury News, Remembering Fallen Workers | Comments Off

Scaffolding Accident Falls

Friday, November 5th, 2010

The Number One OSHA Violation in for the second year is Scaffolding.  There are more scaffolding violations, citations, serious injuries and deaths than any other work related injury.  Scaffolding Accidents, Falls, and Injuries are forseeable and preventable.  The Scaffolding Standards are not complicated.  The following are summary highlights of OSHA’s scaffolding standard.

  1. Fall Protection/Fall Arrest-A worker more than 10′ above a lower level must have guardrails or fall arrest system.
  2. Guardrail height-Top Guardrail 38′-45 ‘.
  3. Crossbracing-As Toprail 38′-45′.
  4. Midrails-1/2 distance between work platform and top rail.
  5. Footings-Level and support loaded scaffold bearing on base plates and mud sills.
  6. Platforms-Supported,  fully planked and decked.
  7. Guying Ties & Braces-Supported scaffolds, 4:1 height to base restrained from tipping by guying, tying, or bracing.
  8. Capacity-Support 4X maximum intended load.  Suspension Scaffolding 6X maximum intended load.
  9. Training-Workers must be trained in scaffolding safety, hazards and controls.
  10. Inspections-Competent person to inspect before each work shift.
  11. Erecting/Dismantling-Competent person to inspect and supervise.

For a complete understanding consult OSHA Requirements for Scaffolding at Section 1926.451.  The section is understandable and should be read by persons working on and around scaffolding.  There are numerous Guides and Safety Pamphlets available on line, through your Safety Supervisor for Foreman or contact this website for references.  Company Safety Manuals should include Scaffolding Requirements for workers using scaffolding.  Safety meetings must include scaffolding if used at work

Scaffolding Safety is for the worker.   If you work around scaffolding do not rely on the erectors or Safety Person for scaffolding safety.  Understand scaffolding safety, inspect for hazards and bring them to the attention of supervisors.  You know the saying:  An ounce of prevention…

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Posted in Construction Accidents, Fall Accidents, Personal Injury News, Scaffolding Accidents | Comments Off

OSHA’S TERRIBLE TEN

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

This month, October 2010,  OSHA released the Top 10 OSHA Violations by Contractors.  There is a direct correlation between the this list and work related injury activities.  OSHA’s Top 10 Violations for 2010 look a lot like 2009 and 2008.

1. Scaffolding

2. Fall Protection

3. Hazard Communication

4. Respiratory Protection

5. Ladders

6. Lockout/Tagout

7. Electrical Wiring Methods

8. Powered Industrial Trucks

9. Electrical-General

10. Machine Guarding

It is important to keep in mind that these are not ‘employee errors’ or prompted by workers, trial lawyers, or unions.  These are violations by contractors and employers who refuse to conform to OSHA Standards and repeat the same violations over and over again.  Worker related injuries will continue until the cost to contractors is greater than the cost to comply with OSHA Safety Regulations.  Workers’ Compensation benefits are down as are premiums so this is no incentive.  Civil lawsuits, increased monetary penalties and criminal sanctions will increase contractors’ safety for workers.

Safety is the number one concern for the American Worker.  What is the number one conern for the American Contractors based on these figures?

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Posted in Construction Accidents, Fall Accidents, OSHA Safety, Personal Injury News | Comments Off

Stay Cool

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

Working in the heat can adversely effect your body temperature control system. The body usually cools itself by sweating. However, lack of water, no shade, high temperatures and humidity prevent efficient heat release. Sustained high body temperatures will damage the brain, vital organs, and cause death.

Employers and contractors refused to voluntarily provide relief and have fought simple, inexpensive ways to help the worker in the heat like available drinking water and shade.

In August 2010 Cal/OSHA adopted some much needed but still inadequate heat relief for a worker in the hot summer sun.

85+SHADE UP: The contractor must have shade available close to the work.

95+HIGH HEAT WARNING: Contractor’s supervisor available to observe workers, and specifically supervise for signs of heat illness,take action and available shade, and water. This requires extra heat precautions.

WATER: Easily available, fresh, pure, and cool at all times. This is an important easy way to avoid heat illness. Most Americans are dehydrated. Sitting at home watching TV all day the normal body uses over 10 cups of water. Coffee and alcohol dehydrate your body and don’t count. At a minimum follow the 8 oz X 8 times a day water rule. Check with your Dr. for your weight, age, and height water requirements.

TRAINING: Increased training for awareness and precautions.

The new standards are inadequate but a step in the right direction. Bottom line here is that you must be aware of the heat to take the precautions available including shade, water, and rest.

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More Dangerous To Work Than Play In Stadiums

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

In San Diego OHSA recently issued a special order relating to the horrific stadium fall of a Qualcomm Stadium Worker from the press box.  Six months ago a stadium worker was distributing programs in the press box near windows that did not have an adquate guardrail or barrier.  He stumbled and tried to catch himself on the counter but hit a chair and was catapulted out the unguarded window to his death.   OSHA’s Special Order says that the Qualcomm window openings “constitute a hazard to stadium workers” and has ordered guard rails be installed 42″ tall that will withstand 200 lbs of pressure. 

In Texas OSHA cited a contractor for the fall of two workers at Cowboys Stadium.  The two workers were performing maintenance work on a roof covered with frost when they slipped, fell, and slid the length of a football field into a gutter.  They were knocked out, broke a leg and suffered back injuries as a result of the fall.

Predictably the press and contractors blamed the workers who were walking and working as carefully as possible.  The premises was in a dangerous condition for workers and/or anyone walking there.  The contractors, stadium, engineers, and/or architects operating without proper guarding should be questioned about the lack of safety devices in a civil setting.

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Posted in Fall Accidents | Comments Off