Safety Articles

How A Safety Consultant Can Prevent Accidents On The Job

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Construction work is an inherently dangerous occupation merely due to the nature of the work being done. Rules and best-practices have been developed over time to help mitigate the danger, and they are effective. Construction related injuries and deaths have decreased significantly over the past several decades. However, there is no substitute for having a qualified, certified construction safety consultant present on your site.

The cost of workplace accidents is more significant than it appears on the surface. Not only are you spending money on the cost of the injury or illness, you’re also covering the indirect cost of lost productive time. Contacting a safety consultant to assist with setting up an injury and illness prevention program will go a long way toward mitigating these potential costs.

How Safety Program Consultants Can Help

A construction safety consultant can work with site management to implement the necessary procedural infrastructure to minimize workplace accidents. These procedures  may include designating an individual to perform functions related to ensuring that safety procedures are followed and that accidents are handled appropriately, as well as developing and implementing a system of communicating safety information to employees. Regular safety inspections can be scheduled to verify that all necessary precautions are being taken, and all safety regulations are being observed.

Choose The Right Safety Consultants

Our safety program consultants have years of experience and have undergone rigorous training in this specialized field. We can quickly and efficiently implement  the necessary procedures to help make your construction site as safe as it can be by conducting a hazard assessment survey of your site and making recommendations on how to better protect yourself and your employees from accidents and illness..

 

Construction Site Safety

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A Brief Guide to Construction Site Safety

According to the OSHA website, for the approximately 6.5 million people working at 252,000 construction sites across America on an average day, the rate of injury is higher than the national average for all industries. You are more likely to be injured in construction than in any other line of work in the country, and that’s where construction site safety comes in. It is critical in such a situation to dedicate considerable attention to on-site safety training  to maintain a safe working environment. We’ve compiled a few construction site safety tips that will help to make your construction site a safer place to work.

Secure Your Scaffolding

Scaffolding is at the top spot in OSHA’s ten most frequently cited injury situations. An average of 50 people die per year from falling off of scaffolding. These unfortunate accidents can be mitigated to a great extent with a few simple steps.

  • Secure your scaffolding. Make sure it’s sound, rigid and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended load.
  • Be sure to equip guardrails, midrails and toeboards on your scaffolding.
  • Inspect your scaffolding before each shift. If anything is damaged or compromised, have a competent person replace it.
  • Keep your scaffolding a safe distance from any electrical lines
  • Complete proper safety training

Prevent Falls

Falls account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry, from scaffolding or otherwise. Every precaution should be taken to ensure that your workers are adequately protected from falls.

  • Erect guardrails. This simple step can make all the difference. If a working location is high enough to cause fall injuries, erect guardrails.
  • Consider making use of a safety net system or body harness where appropriate

Take Care on Ascent

 Ladders and stairways are a common source of injuries and fatalities among construction workings. OSHA estimates that an average of around 25,000 injuries every year occur on ladders and stairwells.

  • Make sure ladders and stairways are clear of objects and materials
  • Always use the correct ladder for the job. That includes ensuring the ladder being used is long enough. If it’s not, get another. Don’t “make it work.”
  • Always be aware of and avoid electrical lines
  • Ensure that the treads on steps and ladders are in good condition and cover the entire stepping surface

Wear Your Gear

Head protection, eye protection, face shields, gloves: simple implements that go a long way toward making sure that injuries are avoided. These items should be readily available for all personnel  exposed to situations in which they might be necessary.

  • Ensure boots are both slip-resistant and puncture-resistant.
  • If you’re working around heavy equipment or moving heavy objects, consider wearing safety-toed footwear to prevent crushed toes.
  • Make sure to select the right gloves for the job, insulated gloves for electrical work, for instance.
  • Hardhats are always a good idea on any construction site. Make sure hardhats are free from dents or cracks and fit properly

Following these simple on-site safety training tips will go a long way toward ensuring construction site safety. This benefits you the employer as you have fewer lost man-hours due to worker injury, and it benefits your workforce by providing a safer, more conscientious work environment. Contact Safety Experts for a  consultation and complete assessment of your operating environment.

The Basics of OSHA Compliance Training

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Here at Safety Experts, we offer extensive OSHA compliance training regimens. Both the 10 and 30 hour OSHA Construction Safety Seminars are available to accommodate any working environments in which safety is a concern. These seminars are delivered by OSHA authorized safety instructors and focus on recognition, avoidance, and prevention of safety and health hazards in workplaces in the construction industry.

All of our OSHA compliance consultants have at least five years of construction safety experience and have completed the Occupational Safety and Health Standards for the Construction Industry course.

OSHA 10-Hour Course

The first part of the OSHA compliance training process is an introduction to OSHA. It covers workers’ rights, employer responsibilities and how to file a safety complaint. The introduction also provides participants with a sample weekly fatality and catastrophe report, a material safety data sheet and the OSHA Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.

The next subject discussed is the Construction Focus Four training, which looks at the four most common types of accidents that occur on construction sites: Falls, Caught-In or -Between, Struck-By and Electrocution. The course includes several OSHA compliance consultant-delivered lectures, handouts and various group activities. Covered subjects include:

  • Ladder Safety
  • How to verify that fall-prevention equipment is in working condition and properly worn
  • A briefing on nail-gun safety
  • A briefing on cranes and rigging safety
  • A discussion on electrical safety, including risks

Participants undergo an examination at the end of the course to verify retention of this important information. Participants are required to identify major hazards, describe types of hazards, protect themselves from these hazards and recognize employer requirements to protect workers from these hazards.

After the Focus Four training, Participants are given the opportunity to select two, two-hour training classes from the following topics:

  • Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Elevators and Conveyors
  • Excavations
  • Material Handling, Storage, Use and Disposal
  • Scaffolds
  • Stairways and Ladders
  • Tools – Hand and Power

OSHA 30-Hour Course

The beginning of the 30-hour course is similar to the 10-hour course. The first segment is and introduction to OSHA, followed by a two-hour course on Managing Safety and Health, which involves topics such as job site inspections, accident prevention programs, management commitment and employee involvement. The Focus Four training follows and is presented in the same fashion as the 10-hour course.

After the Focus Four class concludes, participants are required to complete 12 hours of training on the following elective courses:

    • Concrete and Masonry Construction
    • Confined Space Entry
  • Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Elevators and Conveyors
  • Ergonomics
  • Excavations
  • Fire Protection and Prevention
  • Materials Handling, Storage, Use and Disposal
  • Motor Vehicles, Mechanized Equipment and Marine Operations; Rollover Protective Structures and Overhead Protection; and Signs, Signals and Barricades
  • Powered Industrial Vehicles
  • Safety and Health Programs
  • Scaffolds
  • Steel Erection
  • Tools – Hand and Power
  • Welding and Cutting

After the completion of the course material, participants are required to complete an assessment to verify retention of the material.

For more about OSHA guidelines and safety training, take a look at Occupational Safety Council of America.