There are several deaths and serious injuries each year that come as a result of neglecting aerial lift operator safety, many of which are preventable. In this post, we will give you tips on scissor lift safety procedures and boom lift safety. We will also give you a brief explanation and some background to help you understand why it’s important. We hope that these tips will help guide you, as an employer or an employee, to practice and educate others on aerial lift operator safety.
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Before you decide to buy or rent a lift, you’ll want to consider the safety of both you and your workers. Using aerial lifts incorrectly results in many injuries and deaths every year. To minimize the risk of injury, you and your operators must be educated and trained on the common hazards of construction equipment, appropriate safety procedures, and how to respond in the event of an emergency.
Ensure all necessary safety information is covered in your equipment training courses, including:
If it’s been an extended period since you or one of your operators has used the equipment in question or if there has been a recent injury or accident in the workplace, retraining might be required. You can never be too cautious in ensuring the safety of your employees. An investment in safety training is not only an investment in the well-being of your workers, but also an investment in your business productivity and job efficiency.
But before we get into specifics, there are some general aerial lift safety precautions that can be taken regardless of what type of aerial lift you’re using. According to investigations of aerial lift safety conducted by The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the main causes of aerial lift deaths are falls, electrocutions and collapses or tip overs. Many of these deaths could have been prevented by following the aerial lift safety procedures that are included in the owner’s manual.
Overall, employers need to make sure aerial lift operators are trained to follow safety procedures. In order to verify the person operating the aerial lift is trained and familiar with the safety procedures, we recommend having employees demonstrate their knowledge before going in the field to operate the piece of equipment. This way the employer can be confident knowing that the employee is well versed in the operation of the equipment and any necessary safety measures. The reason we note this tip first is that if you have a trained person using the lift, they should be familiar with the overwhelming majority of the tips on this list. However, whether you are the employer or the employee, it is good to be familiar with the aerial lift operator safety tips to ensure your aerial lift is being used safely.
Do not use aerial lifts (or any construction equipment) under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Accidents happen without these influences, so adding either of these to the mix increases risk for the operator and co-workers.
In addition to drugs and alcohol, just fooling around and practical jokes can put you and co-workers at risk. Keep it out of the work zone altogether. Make sure you are giving your full attention and focus to operating the aerial lift and following all safety precautions.
This aerial lift safety rule is a common one for all pieces of equipment — make sure you have your hard hat, safety glasses and steel-toe boots ready to go. If there is any sort of accident, these types of safety equipment can help minimize your injuries. In addition to wearing your protective equipment, make sure you are not wearing loose clothing that could get caught in any part of the lift (we recommend pulling back long hair, too).
The aerial lift should be inspected prior to use. Regardless of what type you are using, there are a variety of cords, pulleys, cables and chains that work together to make the lift work. They should be visually inspected to make sure that nothing is loose or out of place. Tires, wheels and casters should also be visually inspected — a solid foundation is essential to safely moving aerial lifts, so it is important that the tires and wheels are in good shape. The lift controls should be tested on site before anyone gets on the platform or in the bucket to ensure everything is working properly. If something seems to be malfunctioning or damaged, the aerial lift should not be used.
The manufacturer’s capacity limits should be strictly followed. This may seem like a no-brainer, but in addition to the weight of people, it includes all of the tools and bucket liners, too. Calculating the weight can take extra time, especially if additional tools are taken at the last minute. Regardless, the time it takes to calculate and make sure you are within the allowed capacity is worth it, given that one or more people will be relying on the lift to hold them. Make sure all debris is cleared off of the platform and out of the bucket, too – not only does that help free up some space, but it also helps ensure there isn’t anything extra to cause you to slip or trip as you’re working.
In addition to following the capacity limits for the aerial lift, you should also make sure you aren’t using the platform or bucket of the aerial lift as a support system for another piece of scaffolding. Regardless of whether or not it falls within the capacity limit, adding scaffolding or even something as small as a stepping stool, is putting you at a great risk of falling. Your feet should be flat on the platform or bucket at all times (ideally with some anti-slip treads).
The mention of electrocutions within the top three most frequent causes of injury or death with aerial lift may surprise you. But at the heights that aerial lifts are often used there is a good chance you will be level with power lines at some point. Power lines, wires and other conductors should be treated as if they are live wires, even if they appear insulated or you know they are down. To be safe, keep a distance of at least ten feet or three meters between you and any power lines at all times.
Almost all aerial lifts come with some sort of safety features built in, whether they are hydraulic, mechanical or electrical. Overriding these safety features is not recommended under any circumstances. These features were put in place by the manufacturer for your safety and should not be overridden.
Finally, we want to mention that aerial lifts can create sparks that could ignite any flammable substance — including vapors, fibers and dusts that may be in the atmosphere. Usually a leak or spill of a flammable liquid would be reason to cease work on site, however, while uncommon, these flammable vapors, fibers and dusts could be an issue if you are using an aerial lift in an area with poor ventilation. It is something every aerial lift operator should be aware of; even if it is something they never have to deal with.
In addition to all of these general aerial lift operator safety measures, there are additional safety measures that should be taken for the specific type of lift you’re working with. Scissor lifts and boom lifts work differently, and while they share some safety precautions, they also have some of their own.
Scissor lifts have a platform that moves straight up and down. Around the work platform, there is a mid rail and a top rail to protect workers from falling off the platform. When these lifts are extended and stationary, they can serve a purpose similar to scaffolding, and, therefore, have many of the same risks. However, the fact that the scissor lifts have the ability to move gives them a set of risks that scaffolding does not have. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have investigated injuries and fatalities as a result of using scissor lifts and found that the majority of them came down to preventable issues, such as stabilization, fall protection and positioning.
When scissor lifts are elevated, they are very tall and narrow, making them susceptible to tipping over if they are not stabilized and/or moved properly. The first step to preventing the lift from tipping over is to ensure it is on firm, stable, level ground. The base needs to have a strong, even foundation to support the lift when it is elevated. If you don’t have the most level ground to work with, make sure you’re using brakes and wheel chocks, as necessary — especially on an incline.
The second step is to make sure you’re only operating a scissor lift outside in weather conditions it can handle. Since it is very tall and slender in an elevated position, you want to avoid using it in windy conditions. It may seem like it would take a lot to push a scissor lift over, but the reality is a good gust of wind can do it. Not sure what the limit is? Don’t worry, the user’s manual will give you a limit, but it’s usually a maximum of 28 miles per hour.
Wind isn’t the only thing that can have enough force to tip a scissor lift over, which brings us to our third step — make sure the scissor lift is out of the way of other equipment. If you are working in tight quarters, this may mean alternating activity with other construction equipment and workers. This can be an inconvenience, especially when you are on a tight schedule, but it’s worth it to avoid the risk of equipment bumping into a scissor lift, causing it to tip over.
The final precautionary step you can take to prevent your scissor lift from tipping over is to avoid moving while operating a scissor lift in an upright position — no matter how small the distance. Some models may permit a certain level of movement with it in a partially elevated position, but never make any assumptions. Always make sure you consult the manufacturer’s owner manual so you aren’t putting anyone in danger.
While it is rare, it’s worth noting that scissor lifts can be unstable in another way: It’s possible that they can collapse. There are safety features built into these aerial lifts to ensure this doesn’t happen, and those features should be tested and maintained as needed — never bypassed. Why would you bypass a safety feature? Sometimes bypassing a safety feature could give you the ability to move the piece of equipment more quickly and conveniently. While there may be temporary benefits, the risks involved are not worth it.
In addition to the risks of tipping over and collapsing, there is also a risk of falling from the work platform when it is elevated. The mid and top rails are meant to protect workers from falling, but they are not meant to be climbed on or sat upon. The first step in preventing falls from scissor lifts is to make sure these rails are securely in place.
Is anything loose? Is everything on the platform securely fastened? Regardless of how recently the equipment was used, make sure you do your own inspection to minimize risks and ensure the safe use of scissor lifts.
The second step is to ensure the mid and top rails are only being used as a boundary and nothing else. While the scissor lift does a good job of getting workers to the height they need, the width of the platform limits how much horizontal space you can cover. Rather than taking the time to lower the scissor lift and move the entire lift a few feet, it may be tempting to climb on the rails to attempt to reach the area. This can lead to workers falling from the work platform, resulting in serious injury and sometimes death.
The positioning of the scissor lift while on a job site is also important to take into consideration to maximize the safety of employees. Make sure traffic controls are in place to avoid any vehicle or other equipment coming in contact with the scissor lift, especially when it’s in an elevated position. If you must move the scissor lift while it’s in an elevated position, map out the route you’re taking across the job site, no matter how short the distance, to ensure you will avoid electrical lines and any other objects that may be in your way.
Be sure to follow a thorough process of inspecting your scissor lift before use:
Before you wrap up your safety training and rent a scissor lift, double-check the condition of the scissor lift against OSHA’s standards for general scaffolding. Most of the regulations for standard scaffolding also apply to scissor lifts, so this is an invaluable resource when ensuring the safety of your team.
Safety inspections for rough terrain scissor lifts are vital in keeping you and your employees safe. Because these aerial lifts are often used in harsher outdoor conditions, it’s important to know what guidelines to follow:
There are two different types of boom lifts (also known as man lifts): telescopic and articulated boom lifts.
How the platform moves depends on the type of boom lift. Telescopic boom lifts extend straight out horizontally, and then up and down. Articulated boom lifts, on the other hand, have joints in their extension (also known as knuckle lifts), giving them more flexibility.
Since these lifts are not just going straight up in the air, there’s additional risk for the person riding in the platform. Regardless of whether you’re in a telescopic or articulating boom lift, make sure you always wear your harness and securely fasten the lanyard to the platform as instructed in the manufacturer’s manual. Falling out of the platform may seem unlikely, but an unexpected force from a collision with another piece of equipment or a gust of wind could knock you out off of the platform; without a harness and lanyard, it could result in serious injury or death.
Boom lifts are meant to lift people and tools to reach a certain area to work. They are not meant to lift heavy supplies — if you need to lift heavy supplies, you need to use a crane. Trying to use a boom lift to raise heavy supplies off the ground could result in tipping the lift over or something worse — putting those using the lift and those in the area at risk for injury or death. Know the capacity requirements and the acceptable uses and stick to them.
Do not climb or sit on the edge of the work platform.
While the platform sizes may differ between a scissor lift and a boom lift— the rules are much the same. Never climb or sit on the edge of the platform. If you are having trouble getting to an area that is out of reach, work with the boom lift operator to get into the position you need. Do not under any circumstances try to reach by climbing on the edge of the platform.
Since boom lifts’ range of motion is greater than a scissor lift, it affects a larger area on site. Workers should avoid not only the base of the boom lift, but also the entire circumference of the boom lift, which can be a wide area. This may seem like an excessive measure to take, but tools or other pieces of equipment can be accidentally dropped from the basket and result in an injury to someone on the ground. In rare cases, boom lifts can tip over, much like scissor lifts, but with a greater reach, the boom lift could cause catastrophic damage. To be safe, make sure the area is completely clear.
When moving the boom lift around the job site, make sure you know whether it can be moved in an upright position. If it is not meant to be in motion while it is extended, do not try to move it. And even if it is permitted to move while fully extended, avoid it if possible. Navigating around a job site with a boom lift fully extended puts the person in the work platform at risk, and also puts the operator at risk for bumping into other pieces of equipment, structures or even electrical wires. With or without someone in the bucket, you have an increased risk of an accident, so we recommend keeping the bucket down when navigating around the job site.
Electric boom lifts are ideal for confined and side-to-side workspaces. Because these aerial lifts can hold different attachments, safety risks can increase. The following safety tips can help protect you, your employees and electric boom lift from hazardous situations:
The straight telescopic boom rental is one of the safest lifts on the market to use and operate. The boom, rotating cab and wheels are the only moving parts, so there are fewer parts to be cautious of. All lifts should still be inspected before usage. Make sure to assess the following:
The presence of additional moving parts, such as the knuckle itself, makes the inspection process more complex for a knuckle boom lift. These points should be covered before you rent a knuckle lift and before each use:
Safety inspections are not only required for the towable boom aerial lift, but also for the towing aspect of these machines. Refer to the following guidelines to ensure your safety:
Be sure to go over important inspection points before you use, buy or rent a personnel lift. These tips can ensure the safety of your employees and the reliability of your equipment over time. Consider the following safety points before using your personnel lift:
If you want to buy or rent an atrium lift, it’s important that you’re up-to-date on the potential dangers, safety mechanisms and emergency response procedures. This information will keep your lift running over time and could even save a life. Take note of these important details:
Implement your own additional rules and guidelines for using atrium lifts on your jobsites. You can never be too safe! At MacAllister Rentals, we offer aerial lift safety resources. You can also check with local college campuses in your area for information on classes or training sessions they offer.
For further safety education and instruction, you may want to consider signing up for safety training at MacAllister Rentals or enrolling in a class at a local university.
Another part of aerial lift safety is the maintenance of the machine. Just like a car or truck, they need to be inspected and taken care of — without regular maintenance, over time they can be more likely to malfunction and break, putting users and others at risk. If you own, or are interested in purchasing an aerial lift, this is something to keep in mind. While maintenance can be expensive, it is an investment that needs to be made for the sake of your employees. If maintenance proves to be too expensive for you, or you are considering renting an aerial lift, you need to make sure the company you rent from has kept up with the maintenance on their models.
Let’s take the time today to do some hazard spotting. Take a quick look at these photos, recently taken of aerial lift operators on the job. Here we have two workers on an aerial boom lift, and one on what is often called a spider lift or a knuckle boom aerial lift. Can you spot the hazards?
Fall protection. That’s the main hazard we want to bring to your attention today.
When you are operating a scissor lift, the guardrails count as the minimum type of fall protection required. We say minimum because that is according to OSHA. But certain manufacturers and employers may require you to wear fall protection when you are in a scissor lift no matter what.
But as far as aerial boom lifts go, like bucket trucks (also called vehicle mounted aerial lifts), the standards require lift operators to wear fall protection and tie into a designate anchor point, no matter what.
So, in these two cases, there are three different employees, two different jobs, but one problem. None of them are wearing fall protection. This is against the OSHA standard .501, a rule which exists to protect workers from falls or accidentally being bumped out of the lift basket.
In addition to wearing fall protection and tying in correctly, you should also make sure you wear the proper fall arrest gear for the job, you know its capacity, and that you and your tools fall under the capacity limit. Lastly, fall arrest gear should be properly inspected and those inspections recorded before use.
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For more on Boom Lifts, Aerial Lift Training, and Fall Protection, visit us at www.www.hardhattraining.com.
In the news, a South African man recently fell about 26 feet from an aerial lift platform. He fractured his arm and ended up with some serious head injuries. We don’t know if the company that the man worked for took safety precautions or had fall protection equipment. However, it can be safe to assume that fall protection would have been helpful in that crucial moment. Knowing some components of fall protection can help you to feel more comfortable using the equipment and avoid problematic accidents.
The personal fall arrest system, or PFAS, is the most common type of fall protection equipment. There are three main components, or ABCs to this kind of fall protection: anchorage points, bodywear, and connective devices.
Anchorage points, though self-explanatory, are crucial for keeping you anchored to one spot so the wind doesn’t toss you around. These should hold at least 5,000 pounds per employee in order to be adequate fall protection equipment. They must have a safety factor of at least 2.
Permanent anchor systems stay put for long periods of time so workers don’t have to constantly reinstall them. Bolt-on wall anchors, concrete D-ring anchors, and beam trolley anchors are some common ones. Only install these if supervised by a qualified professional.
Whether reusable or for one-time use, these devices are more limited in scope. However, they still need to be able to withstand 5,000 pounds of force. Though it may be tempting, don’t wrap a lanyard around a horizontal beam.
Horizontal and vertical lifelines are also safe, approved anchors. Check these out on the Fall Protection Training from Hard Hat Training.
Bodywear equipment directly attaches to your body. This changes depending on what task you are doing, but in every instance, manufacturers design them to keep you safe.
This type of body wear is made to give you maximum mobility and to evenly distribute the force of impact. This can be accomplished via straps going over the shoulders, waist, chest, pelvis and legs. It has a shoulder attachment for the D-ring, or a ring that has a tensile load of 5,000 pounds.
Body belts are slightly different because they can restrain and position the worker, but not stop falls. Therefore they are great for keeping a worker away from the edge but not in for an actual fall. This consists of an adjustable strap around the waist with a D-ring attached to it.
Chest harnesses also position and restrain elevated workers. Like the body belts, they wouldn’t be very helpful in preventing a fall. Take a look at other equipment recognized by OSHA.
Connective devices are the type of fall protection equipment that connects the bodywear to the anchorage point. They consist of different kinds of hooks and lanyards.
These hooks connect to the anchorage points and are held to certain standards. For example, they must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds and be proof-tested for 3,600 pounds of force. Make sure the snap hook is compatible with the device you connect it to.
Lanyards are a type of deceleration device that can reduce shock absorbed by the body. This is why you shouldn’t use a regular rope or cable since they don’t absorb shock and will cause injury. Otherwise, you can experience over 2,500 pounds of force during a fall when OSHA regulations require 180 pounds or less.
You can use many different types of fall protection. However, being aware of the most common types can help you recognize what you should and shouldn’t be using. Enrico Fermi said that “ignorance is never better than knowledge,” so educate yourself and save lives with Hard Hat Training!
While we all know that fall protection is an essential part of PPE, how much of a focus does OSHA really put on it? This article answers some questions about the focus of fall protection:
Lisa Levy, OSHA’s office director in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, said in a statement that falls cause the most construction worker deaths and that Frame Q is acting irresponsibly by not providing its employees with the appropriate protection.
OSHA said the investigation into Frame Q was part of itsLocal Emphasis Program on Falls program for Region 2 (New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), which allows for more inspections on sites where fall hazards are most likely to exist. According to the agency, there were 828 construction deaths in , with 37% due to falls, slips or trips. In , there were 51 construction deaths in Region 2 alone, and more than one-third of those were due to falls.
OSHA’s focus on fall protection has led the administration to take action against several other contractors in different regions of the country. The agency recently cited and fined another New Jersey contractor for a series of safety violations, including fall protection. OSHA said it saw Station Builders’ employees in “imminent danger” from fall, personal protective and ladder violations, and therefore issued the company 13 related citations and a $291,997 fine. In Florida, a Fast Carpentry employee on his first day of work was nearly killed when a gust of wind caught a piece of roof sheathing he was carrying, throwing him 14 feet to the ground. He was left seriously injured after being partially impaled on a metal fence post. As a result, OSHA fined Fast $152,145 and cited the company for willful and repeated safety violations.
It is always important to be trained and prepared for any type of job you are performing, not only to avoid fines, but to avoid injury. Fall protection kits will be coming soon to our training collection, but be sure to check out our other training kits as well.
When it comes to slips, trips, and falls, fall protection is often overlooked. In order to avoid this, OSHA has published a final rule that should be learned and followed. Read more below.
“OSHA published the Walking Working Surfaces (29 CFR , Subpart D) and Personal Protective Equipment (29 CFR Subpart I)/Fall Protection Systems final rule on November 18, . The agency revised and updated these general industry standards “to prevent and reduce workplace slips, trips, and falls, as well as other injuries and fatalities associated with walking-working surface hazards.”
One of OSHA’s goals with this new rule is to increase consistency between the general industry and construction standards, which the agency says will make alignment easier for employers who conduct operations in both industry sectors. Other reasons cited by the agency for the changes are to update the requirements to mirror advances in technology; to harmonize them with updated OSHA Requirements and national consensus standards; and to use performance-based language to give employers greater flexibility in the implementation of their regulations.
OSHA estimates that approximately 202,066 lost-workday injuries and 345 fatalities occur every year among workers impacted by the final standard, and that the new rule will prevent 5,842 of these lost-workday injuries and 29 of these fatalities annually.
One improvement cited by OSHA is that the new rule offers employers the flexibility to protect workers from falling to a lower level by using personal fall protection systems (personal fall arrest, travel restraint and work positioning systems) instead of requiring the use of guardrail systems as a primary means, which the prior rule mandated.
While there are a number of updates made to the general industry, here are some of the highlights. However, the new rule does not affect the construction or agricultural standards.
The new rule requires worker protection from fall hazards that are at least four feet above a lower level, and establishes requirements for fall protection in specific situations, such as hoist areas, runways, areas above dangerous equipment, wall openings, repair pits, stairways, scaffolds and slaughtering platforms. It also establishes requirements for the performance, inspection, use and maintenance of personal fall protection systems.
Fixed ladder requirements are phased in where employers should have ladder safety or personal fall arrest systems for ladders that extend more than 24 feet, and phases out the use of cages or wells for fall protection following the time line for alignment below.
For portable ladders, rungs and steps should be slip resistant. Portable ladders used on slippery surfaces should be secured and stabilized; not moved, shifted or extended while a worker is on them; and the top steps and caps of stepladders should not be used as steps. Portable ladders should not be fastened together to provide added length unless designed for such use, and they should not be placed on boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases to obtain added height.
Rope Descent Systems (RDS) now have a 300-foot height limit, and building owners are required to affirm, in writing, that permanent building anchorages used for RDS are tested, certified and maintained as capable of supporting 5,000 pounds for each attached worker.
Worker training is a big deal in the new rule. The rule includes a requirement that employers train their workers who use personal fall protection and work in other specified high hazard situations. A qualified person should train these workers to correctly identify and minimize fall hazards, use personal fall protection systems and rope descent systems, and maintain, inspect and store equipment or systems used for fall protection.”
Fall protection is always emphasized as an extremely important part of personal protection equipment. That being said, the results of falling, even with fall protection, are not always emphasized. This article below discusses a topic called suspension trauma, or the after-effects of falling. When reading this article, keep in mind the importance of not only wearing fall protection, but also the importance of being sure it works well and is on correctly, making sure the situation around you protects you from falling, and knowing what to do in case of a fall.
“Imagine this scenario: A construction worker is replacing shingles on the roof of a two-story house 20 feet above ground. He loses his footing and slips, falling off the roof. He’s wearing a fall-arrest system, and as a result is saved from death.
But he’s not out of danger yet.
This worker could potentially experience orthostatic intolerance – also commonly referred to as suspension trauma.
OSHA describes suspension trauma as “the development of symptoms such as light-headedness, poor concentration, palpitations, tremulousness, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, headache, sweating, weakness and occasionally fainting during upright standing.”
After a fall, a worker may remain suspended in his or her harness before being rescued. Depending on how long the worker remains suspended, the sustained immobility can lead to unconsciousness and even death. This is because of “venous pooling,” a condition that occurs when a person’s legs are immobile and blood pools in the legs, reducing the amount of blood circulating in the body.
OSHA notes that the body reacts to venous pooling by speeding up the heart rate in an attempt to maintain sufficient blood flow to the brain. If a person’s blood supply is significantly reduced, this won’t be effective and the body will then “abruptly slow the heart rate and blood pressure will diminish in the arteries.” In severe cases of venous pooling, a person may faint or experience kidney failure, which can be fatal.
Speed is crucial after a worker experiences a fall. Suspension in a fall-arrest device can result in unconsciousness and death in less than 30 minutes. According to OSHA, workers who wear fall-arrest devices or who may perform rescue activities should know:
As far as work place accidents go, falls are the most common. Unfortunately, despite the dangers, both employees and employers still forgo using safety equipment to protect workers who are in danger of falling. This negligence will often lead to tragic outcomes. 384 workers died from falls in , accounting for nearly 39% of all work-related deaths that year. While we can’t say every one of these deaths could have been avoided by using fall protection, it’s a good bet that the number would be significantly lower.
Such is the case with Sutter Home Winery, Inc., located in Napa Valley, which is now facing $100,000 in workplace fines following the death of an employee. Daniel Mario Colombo was repairing the cooling system on the St. Helena Winery roof when he fell 16 feet through a skylight to his death. According to OSHA regulations, any height above four feet requires some sort of fall protection, unfortunately for Colombo, he had no safety harness on when he fell, nor did the roof have any guardrails around the skylight to prevent him from falling.
OSHA is recommending that over $22,000 in fines be given to Sutter, and another $88,000 to Process Cooling International for not providing a injury prevention program and failing to keep workers from getting on the roof with out harness or other form of fall protection in place. This is only part of what the companies are likely to pay, as insurance and workman’s comp rates will rise, and they are likely liable for lawsuits that are made by the family.
Accidents like this can be avoided. By taking precautionary measures, using the right equipment, and thorough training, employers will not only avoid paying fines to OSHA but will also cut costs in insurance, workman’s comp, and reduce liability for lawsuits. Sadly, despite the savings, companies are still struggling to implement safety in their workplace. These charges are set to increase as OSHA is looking to increase their fines for employers who are not adequately protecting their workers. For companies who take the time and money to invest in safety it will likely pay out for them in the end, and more importantly save the lives of their people.
When you think about fall protection, do you think about working high up on a crane? At the top of a building? Maybe on scaffolding? While all of those scenarios do require fall protection, there are other situations that require it that you may not even think of. Working on building a bridge, for example, would be one of those situations. A man was working on bridge construction when he fell to his death. While the accident is tragic, fall protection could have saved his life.
Fall-protection: you know it’s there, you know it’s required, but how important is it, really? How likely are you to be hurt in any way if you don’t wear fall-protection? Well, highly likely. And we aren’t just talking about being physically hurt. Recently in Florida, OSHA fined a contractor for fall-protection violations, and they were hurt by $143K in fines. Here is a brief of the case:
Fall-protection continues to be the leading cause of work-related fatalities. OSHA released a list of the top 10 most-cited safety violations of , and failure to provide workers with fall-protection was at the top of the list. This represented about 6,930 violations in the construction industry. So, is fall protection really important? It would appear so. OSHA is cracking down on contractors that fail to provide workers with adequate fall-protection. The fine that this Florida contractor was faced with was pretty small, compared to some other companies that have been fined with $300K+ for the same reasons. Remember, OSHA raised its maximum penalty payout by 78% for violations, in hopes that it would influence contractors to ensure safety as a priority. Don’t fall prey to the fines and the injuries. Help keep yourself and those around you safe from harm by always wearing fall-protection, and always being trained.
Are you tired of hearing about all the falls and lack of fall protection in construction? Well, so are we. But unfortunately, fall protection still makes the list of the top 10 OSHA violations. According to a report released in October, the top 10 OSHA violations for were as follows:
Fall protection – what is and what can it do for you? Well, to be blunt it is what is says it is: it is there to protect you in case of a fall. And it can save your life, that’s what it can do for you. It’s as simple as that. So why then do a lack of fall protection devices continue to top OSHA’s list of most commonly cited violations? How many people, I wonder, have to fall and get injured or, worse, die before we start heeding the standards, the very rules in place to keep us safe?
With this in mind, I want to share a few quick scenarios we were recently witness to or heard of.
The list goes on and on, but there is really no excuse anymore for not wearing fall protection when working at heights. It cannot protect you from falls if you are not wearing it. So when it is required wear it all the time. Don’t be the fall guy.
And check back soon for the upcoming release of our fall protection training kit and our fall protection online training course.
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