Posts
Well, here's an OSHA alliance that I think is one of the best ideas in a long time. The BOCES in the Finger Lakes of New York and OSHA have formed an alliance designed to train high school students in occupational safety. This will help prepare them when they take their places in the workplace and help develop a critical safety culture. In case you don't know, BOCES stands for Board of Cooperative Educational Services and it is a high school vocational school. In my home town, students from two counties could attend their "home school" for half a day and attend BOCES for the other half to learn a trade.
BOCES taught such things as mechanical trades (electrical, plumbing, etc.), carpentry, masonry, and other non-construction trades like printing, cosmetology, auto mechanics, etc. My Dad taught masonry in a BOCES school for about 30 years. So, teaching safety in BOCES (high school) has great potential to develop the safety culture for future workers. That isn't to say that vocational teachers didn't stress safety, but offering formal OSHA 10 or 30 hour construction classes, etc. will prepare future workers for the jobsite making it easier for employers to get the cooperation they need.
Congratulations BOCES & OSHA on forming a partnership that shows great promise. To read more about this alliance, click here.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
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.
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.
Another Trenching Citation?
I don't get it. OSHA put Excavation & Trenching into a National Emphasis Program years ago but contractors don't seem to understand that they are serious about the hazards of working below grade. "It ain't rocket science" but it takes some thought.
OSHA reported again this week that a contractor (this one in Georgia) was cited for trenching violations to the tune of $124,250! According to OSHA, they are "citing McLendon Enterprises Inc. of Vidalia with six workplace safety violations and proposing $124,250 in penalties.
The citations come after an OSHA compliance officer observed company employees working in a trench without cave-in protection at a jobsite in Hinesville, Ga., last September.
OSHA is proposing three willful violations against the company, carrying proposed penalties of $38,500 each, for allowing workers inside an and 11-foot-deep trench without safe egresswithout cave-in protection. While in the trench, workers were exposed to being struck or engulfed by soil placed too close to the trench and by an excavator that was operating too close to the edge of the trench. The agency defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.
Three serious safety violations with combined proposed fines of $8,750 are for the company's failure to train a non-English speaking employee in trenching hazards, allowing employees to work in a trench without head protection and allowing an employee to use a cutoff saw without wearing eye protection. A serious citation is issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
"Excavation is recognized as one of the most hazardous construction operations," said John J. Deifer, OSHA's area director in Savannah, Ga. "The significant fines proposed here reflect the fact that this company knew the OSHA rules yet chose not to follow them. It is fortunate in this case that no one was injured."
And I'll bet that there was no "competent person" on site either! And let's not forget that we as employees have the right to refuse to put ourselves in harm's way. I know it's tough to put your job at risk by refusing to work in an unsafe trench. Even though it is your right by law to refuse, you think "I need this job." But, you need your life more!
Come on contractors, get with the program! There is no excuse for ignoring excavation/trenching safety. Train your workers - make sure you have a competent person and let that competent person do what's right!
Here's another one! In Niagara Falls, NY last week, "proposed $43,050 in fines against Custom Crews Inc., a Lockport, N.Y., contractor, for allegedly failing to provide cave-in protection for employees working in an unprotected 5 foot, 8-inch-deep trench located at 1925 Main St. in Niagara Falls, N.Y."
"OSHA issued the company one willful citation with a $42,000 fine for not guarding the trench against a possible collapse of its sidewalls and one serious citation with a $1,050 fine for not having a ladder or other safe means for workers to exit the trench. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health, while a serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.
"Warmer weather and the thawing of the soil means an increase in excavation work," said Dube. "Before that happens, I'm calling upon the region's employers to review their excavation safety procedures to ensure that no employee enters an excavation unless and until it is properly guarded against collapse."
That's good advice! Review your excavation / trenching safety procedures or get one if you don't have one! Make sure you train a competent person and that he/she trains you workers in hazard recognition and make sure that you tell them that it's okay to report hazards!
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.
OSHA reported again this week that a contractor (this one in Georgia) was cited for trenching violations to the tune of $124,250! According to OSHA, they are "citing McLendon Enterprises Inc. of Vidalia with six workplace safety violations and proposing $124,250 in penalties.
The citations come after an OSHA compliance officer observed company employees working in a trench without cave-in protection at a jobsite in Hinesville, Ga., last September.
OSHA is proposing three willful violations against the company, carrying proposed penalties of $38,500 each, for allowing workers inside an and 11-foot-deep trench without safe egresswithout cave-in protection. While in the trench, workers were exposed to being struck or engulfed by soil placed too close to the trench and by an excavator that was operating too close to the edge of the trench. The agency defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.
Three serious safety violations with combined proposed fines of $8,750 are for the company's failure to train a non-English speaking employee in trenching hazards, allowing employees to work in a trench without head protection and allowing an employee to use a cutoff saw without wearing eye protection. A serious citation is issued when there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
"Excavation is recognized as one of the most hazardous construction operations," said John J. Deifer, OSHA's area director in Savannah, Ga. "The significant fines proposed here reflect the fact that this company knew the OSHA rules yet chose not to follow them. It is fortunate in this case that no one was injured."
And I'll bet that there was no "competent person" on site either! And let's not forget that we as employees have the right to refuse to put ourselves in harm's way. I know it's tough to put your job at risk by refusing to work in an unsafe trench. Even though it is your right by law to refuse, you think "I need this job." But, you need your life more!
Come on contractors, get with the program! There is no excuse for ignoring excavation/trenching safety. Train your workers - make sure you have a competent person and let that competent person do what's right!
Here's another one! In Niagara Falls, NY last week, "proposed $43,050 in fines against Custom Crews Inc., a Lockport, N.Y., contractor, for allegedly failing to provide cave-in protection for employees working in an unprotected 5 foot, 8-inch-deep trench located at 1925 Main St. in Niagara Falls, N.Y."
"OSHA issued the company one willful citation with a $42,000 fine for not guarding the trench against a possible collapse of its sidewalls and one serious citation with a $1,050 fine for not having a ladder or other safe means for workers to exit the trench. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health, while a serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.
"Warmer weather and the thawing of the soil means an increase in excavation work," said Dube. "Before that happens, I'm calling upon the region's employers to review their excavation safety procedures to ensure that no employee enters an excavation unless and until it is properly guarded against collapse."
That's good advice! Review your excavation / trenching safety procedures or get one if you don't have one! Make sure you train a competent person and that he/she trains you workers in hazard recognition and make sure that you tell them that it's okay to report hazards!
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.
Friday, March 20, 2009
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:
Inspiratonal Message
As a safety professional, I am often in the position to tell people things that they don't want to hear. I try to avoid being the "safety cop" on a project site, but sometimes I don't get the cooperation that I need. Anyway, this picture shows the results when a construction safety guy "pissed off" a guy with a backhoe.
The moral of the story is: "Never Piss Off a Guy Who Owns a Backhoe!"
The moral of the story is: "Never Piss Off a Guy Who Owns a Backhoe!"
Thursday, March 19, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Here's a Great Sign!
I came across this great sign and thought I'd share. Maybe we can come up with similar signs for our jobsites too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
