Fatal Fall From Scaffold

Trying to convince workers on construction sites that scaffold platforms must be "fully planked," and to get them to understand just what that means, can be difficult. Often, they cannot understand why it is so important.

Well, you can tell them about the guy in Canada who fell 20 feet to his death because he stepped through an opening in the scaffolding on which he was working.

Canada's "Journal of Commerce" reported yesterday that a 60 year old worker was found dead after the accident - there were no witnesses to the accident.

Read the whole story at www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id41936/

Construction Worker Injured in Building Collapse

New York City must be a pretty dangerous place to work if you are in the construction business. The New York Times reported on the 29th that a worker was critically injured in the collapse of a Brooklyn building being renovated.

The cause? Nobody knows for sure yet.

Cranes Again?

Well, it looks like we just don't know how to operate cranes safely in New York City. Do you remember all that flap about tower cranes a couple of years ago? If you had cranes on your construction sites back then, you probably re-visited your crane safety policies and procedures. I know that I did. We were okay, but it certainly put the spotlight on how often I checked crane records. And I also found out that the State of Florida didn't require crane operators to be licensed. I also found out that the same was true in many parts of the country. But, that's another story.

To get back to the point, a couple of days ago in NYC, another crane collapsed into a building (read about it in the New York times of 3/27 and again on 3/28. Officials don't know what happened yet, but they believe that a contributing cause was that the crane operator did not lower the boom far enough before he left the site at the end of the workday. And, although they are not sure that there isn't another contributing cause, NYC officials suspended the crane operator's license.

Conclusions? Read the articles and you decide. But if I had a crane on my site, I'd be re-visiting my crane policies again.

Tragic Death of a Safety Director

On 7 February there was a gas plant explosion in Middletown, CT. Tragically, 5 people were killed in that explosion. One of those people, Chris Walters, was the Safety Manager for Keystone Construction and Maintenance Services.

Like many of us in these difficult economic times, Chris was working a long way from home. In November of last year, Chris had been laid off after 6 years as Safety Manager for Hunt Construction. I remember how delighted Chris was to have landed his new position after only about six weeks. He hated being away from his family, but like most of us in the safety profession, he loved what he did for a living and went where the work was found.

I first met Chris about 10 years ago when he worked with Martin K. Eby Construction in Florida. He was working on the Co-Generation Power Plant in Sanford, Florida. After that, we kept in touch - usually through Facebook. Apparently, the explosion happened when one of the subcontractors purged a gas line. The incident is under investigation by several agencies, including OSHA.

Chris leaves a wife and 3 children in Missouri. It is ironic that he was killed while working to keep workers from being hurt or killed. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He leaves a big hole in our safety family.

4 Fatal Falls in Pittsburgh area this week!

And they say Texas is bad! Four fatal falls in Pennsylvania in one week? Maybe OSHA should reconsider the location of their "enhanced enforcement" efforts.

The Pittsburgh CBS affiliate station reported that OSHA is investigating all four of those fatalities. According to the report, OSHA Area Director Bob Szymanski said "it's the employer's responsibility to provide fall protection, to meet our standards and not only to provide but to enforce the use of it."

From my vantage point, the lack of proper training is a critical factor in fatal falls. And, the use of "independent contractors" contributes to the problem. Many contractors, to avoid workers compensation premiums, etc. don't hire workers directly, but hire individuals (designated as "independent contractors") to do the work. They think that since those workers are not technically their employees, it also relieves them of the responsibility to provide harness, lanyards, etc. and the responsibility to train those workers.

Anyway, in this article, a 53 year old mason fell from the roof (12 stories). He was not wearing a harness, he was not protected by a guardrail system, and there was no safety net. And, you guessed it - he was an "independent contractor."

If you want to read the entire article, click here.

23-Story Fall Kills Dallas Worker

Dallas NBC affiliate reported that a worker installing metal louvers on a downtown high-rise building fell 23 stories when his scaffold collapsed and his "safety harness failed somehow."

The article also points out that Texas has taken the lead in construction fatalities and that OSHA (as previously discussed in this blog) has reported its intention to send teams of compliance officers into Texas to "fix things."

My own analysis indicates that the biggest problem is the lack of training. This is exacerbated by the use of "independent contractors" as a means to avoid high workers compensation costs. Since the "independent contractors" are not (technically) employees, no training is provided. And, these "independent contractors" are also expected to provide their own PPE, because they aren't employees of that contractor.

To read more, click here.

Chocolate Kills

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that a worker was killed when he fell into a vat of chocolate on Wednesday. Although the article doesn't say what caused the fall, or what protections should have been in place, they do say that a similar accident occurred in 2002 at a different chocolate processing plant.

And yes, OSHA is investigating this incident. To read the whole story, click here.

Trenching Fatality in Pennsylvania

Here's another very preventable accident that ended in tragedy. This guy was stripping forms from a foundation wall when the wall of the trench collapsed. This is a good story to use when training because the worker was "buried up to his waist." His fellow workers immediately tried to free him, but could not prevent his death.

This is a graphic example for your training to illustrate that tragedy occurs even in relatively shallow trenches. Saving a few dollars or a few minutes by not properly shoring a trench is just plain stupid. Here's another Focus 4 fatality.

Click here to view the entire story. There is even a short news video with this one.

Worker Dies - Pinned between two loaders

The Calgary Herald reports that a worker was killed recently when he was pinned between two loaders on a jobsite. This "caught in" accident shows the wisdom of Focus 4 training for contractors. The article is short on details, but I'm sure you can make a pretty accurate guess at what happened.

Click here to read the full article.

2 Contractors Cited in Mississippi - $175,000

Yesterday, OSHA reported that it had cited two contractors in Mississippi following the collapse of a wood shoring system. Significantly, OSHA has proposed two willful and five serious violations to the general contractor. The willful violations were the result of the contractor failing to adequately brace the structure. And, as you know, willful means that the contractor knew better. Plain indifference on the part of a contractor is nothing new to any of us.

More importantly, however, concrete subcontractor was cited for three serious violations, "for failure to provide a written hazard communication program, a safety and health program, and fall protection training." The proposed penalty was a mere $2,000. Is that penalty enough to get the contractor's attention? Perhaps - perhaps not. But it brings up a very important point that most of we safety professionals already know; large numbers of subcontractors (most in the residential marketplace) don't know that they must follow safety rules - or don't care. Training? Not they!

Yesterday, I was on a jobsite where painters were using aerial lifts to paint 2nd and 3rd levels on the exterior of a building. Surprisingly, they were all wearing harnesses. Upon closer inspection, however, none of them had lanyards. There employer had been told that workers using aerial lifts must have harnesses, so he gave them harnesses. NO TRAINING!

There are two things that employers can do to significantly reduce accidents on the job: (1) Train workers in hazard recognition, and avoidance; (2) make sure that all workers understand that they will not be penalized for telling their employer about safety hazards and asking for corrective action before they are exposed to the hazard. Yes, I know, it's a cultural change!

Over the years, I have come to realize that the single most important function of a safety professional is the education and training of workers. Not just in the classroom, but in the field - one-on-one explaining why you just told that guy to get off the top step of a step ladder, or why tying off to a guardrail is hazardous.

Dallas Cowboys Practice "bubble" Collapse

My office in Irving, Texas is across the street from the practice facility of the Dallas Cowboys. As you probably read in newspaper (or saw on television), the Texas version of high winds caused the facility to collapse over the weekend. As a result, several people were injured, two had serious injuries.

In case you were wondering, OSHA is on the site today. Yes, some of the injured were employees of the Dallas Cowboys and, therefore, subject to the multiple hospitalization inspection.

OSHA Fines 2 Contractors in Scaffold Collapse

If you work in the construction industry in Florida, you may remember the headlines about a scaffold collapse on Florida's East Coast back in December. Well, OSHA's inspection finally resulted in fines for the two contractors involved - a total of $9,000.

According to an article in the Palm Beach Post, "OSHA said scaffolding was not put up under the oversight of a qualified scaffolding supervisor, frames were not properly braced, and some cross braces were removed by persons not competent to do so." That "qualified scaffolding supervisor" that they're talking about is what we call a "competent person." This is a HUGE problem! I can't tell you how often I see deficient scaffolding and it all comes down to lack of training and lack of oversight by a "competent person." Even the so-called "small" scaffolds used by stucco workers have to be inspected by a "competent person" BEFORE we put workers onto the scaffolding. Even the saw-horse supported scaffolds used in residential construction from time to time have to be inspected by a "competent person" BEFORE we put workers onto the scaffolds. Why is that so difficult to comprehend?

Anyway, when OSHA visited that site in Florida, they didn't just look at the scaffolding. According to the Palm Beach Post, the contractor "...did not have in place proper instructions for workers in the use of respirators and both firms failed to provide adequate instruction in how to work with hazardous chemicals."

But, if we aren't careful, we lose sight of the real problem here. It's not the danger of a fine from OSHA - it's the danger of hurting or killing our fellow workers!

CSHO Saves Lives!

It just keeps coming. More and more reports of excavation/trenching hazards show up every day. I just got around to reading the latest "OSHA Quick Takes" issued on the 15th and there was an article reporting on an OSHA Inspector saving a life.

According to the report, "when a compliance safety and health officer (CSHO) from OSHA's Calumet City, Ill., Area Office arrived at a jobsite to conduct a trench inspection under the agency's national emphasis program, he observed an employee working in an unprotected 7-foot deep trench. Although the employee worked for a village public works department, the CSHO identified the hazards and the construction employer agreed to voluntarily remove the employee from the unsafe trench. As the employee began exiting the trench, the side wall collapsed and the water main the employee was working on erupted sending approximately 4 feet of water into the trench. Because OSHA had no jurisdiction, a referral was made to the State of Illinois Department of Labor for further investigation."

This is a good time to remind everyone that the ASSE in Florida is pushing for OSHA coverage for its municipal workers. Several years ago, Florida's "Division of Safety" that covered municipal workers throughout the state, was eliminated. That left municipal workers with no agency looking out for their safety. The ASSE in Florida is pushing new legislation. If you would like to read more on this topic, click here.

Crane Collapse In Texas

At about 11:30 am EDT, this morning, a crane collapsed in Cleburne, Texas. Cleburne is about 50 miles southwest of Dallas. According to several news media, one man was injured and airlifted to a Fort Worth hospital. There is no word yet on the cause of the accident. The local NBC news channel posted the following photo:

Fatal Fall in New York City

The New York Times reported that "A construction worker was killed on Wednesday when he fell from the 10th floor of a hotel under construction on Park Avenue South." According to the Times, "He fell from a plywood mold used for poured concrete columns and landed atop the sidewalk shed of an adjacent building."

There seems to be some confusion about the required fall protection, according to the article. The NYC Building Dept reported that the worker was not wearing "required" PFAS. But, the contractor indicated that he should have been working behind a guardrail system. Either way, the construction worker died as a result of a fall that could have been prevented. And either way, it may have been the result of the worker's own misconduct - I'm sure that the OSHA investigation will sort it out.

But worker misconduct is often a problem. Every day I see guardrails removed, workers refusing to wear PPE, or simply taking unnecessary chances. Often, contractors are not to blame. If you would like to read the whole story in the Times, click here.

OSHA Cites Florida Contractor for Trenching Violation

Although Florida trenches aren't usually very deep, trenching is still very hazardous. And since Florida "soil" is not usually very cohesive, the hazards are even more severe. Construction workers often believe that they are safe because they are only 5 or 6 feet below the surface - how wrong they are. Why do they believe it? Well, it's because they are often untrained! They don't know the hazard!

I have regularly warned workers to slope, use a trench box, get a ladder, get the spoil back from the edge, barricade, etc. Normally, they don't have a problem complying, they just didn't know. Shame on their employers for not taking the time to educate them.

One Florida contractor learned a hard lesson recently when an 8' trench collapsed killing one of his employees. OSHA investigated and added to his problems by citing him for a willful violation of the excavation and trenching standard. I say "shame on the contractor" because another serious citation was for "failing to adequately train... ."

According to OSHA, "the Havana, Fla., company is being cited for one willful violation with a proposed penalty of $49,000 for allowing two employees to continue working in an 8-foot-deep trench after removing a protective trench box. After the box was removed, one worker was crushed when a sidewall of the trench collapsed."

Want to know more about construction excavation and trenching? Need a good handout for your training program?

This booklet is designed as a desk reference for safety professionals and jobsite superintendents/foremen when dealing with Trenching & Excavation issues on their jobsites. It also serves well as a hand-out companion for trenching and excavation training sessions or for the trenching and excavation portion of an OSHA 10 or 30 hour course. Click Here for details.

I've Always Done It That Way

If you have been providing safety audits, training, et al for any length of time, you've heard many excuses for NOT doing things the safe way. How often have you referred to Heinrich's Theory of Accident Causation only to see employees' eyes glaze over? Well, here's a photo that might help. You may already have seen it, but it was provided by Fort Lauderdale's OSHA Area Director Darlene Fossum in a presentation to the Florida Suncoast Chapter of ASSE. I thought you might like to see it again. It may have an impact on those "hard to reach" workers on your jobsites.

Construction Worker Killed

The Coastal Courier reports that "A construction worker was killed and another was hospitalized Friday after they fell about 35 feet from the platform of an extended forklift on Liberty County's Hampton Island. The victim, James Shanks, 46, was from Bluffton, S.C., authorities said. The second worker was identified as Jay Smith, 43, also from Bluffton. He was taken by ambulance to Memorial Health University Medical Center. His medical status was not immediately known.
The construction accident occured shortly before 1:30 p.m. on an exclusive resort island just outside of Riceboro.

Film actor Ben Affleck and his wife, actress Jennifer Garner, own a home in the gated community. Riceboro Fire and Rescue Chief Earl McGinley said the two men fell from a platform that had been raised about 35 feet into the air by a forklift at the site of a home under construction on the island’s Retreat Road. Liberty County Sheriff’s Office Detective Brian Barnes said Shanks was pronounced dead at the scene.

Barnes said four men working for Sailer Stone & Stucco LP of Bluffton were applying stucco to a chimney while standing on the elevated platform.
As the four were being lowered, other workers in the area said they heard a popping sound, and the forklift jerked, throwing two of the men off.
Work at the construction site was halted immediately and was not expected to resume until at least Tuesday, Barnes said.

Authorities at the site said they did not know what kind of safety record Sailer Stone & Stucco LP has."

OSHA Looking into Rig Fatality

The Shreveport Times reported this morning that "The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation into the Feb. 4 death of a worker on a natural gas drilling rig near Stonewall, an OSHA spokeswoman said Friday." According to the report, "Elizabeth Todd, who is with the OSHA regional office in Dallas, said the agency has up to six months to investigate accidents but a report could be released at any time before then."

Click here to read the whole article.

13 OSHA Citations for Graham, TX Facility

Fox TV reported last night that "Federal safety officicials have issued 13 citations for safety and healt violations to a Graham Texas manufacturing plant that had a fatal fire over the summer.

The OSHA citations to Texas Recreation include 11 serious violations ranging from improper storage of flammable liquids to having a work area exposed to the spread of fire. Several of the violations were found in the room where three of the plant workers were severely burned, one of them fatally and one still in the hospital in serious condition."