Construction Fatalities Decrease in 2011

According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, fatal work injuries were down in 2011.  An interesting note is that fatal work injuries in the private construction sector declined to 721 in 2011 from 774 in 2011.  This is a decline of 7% and the fifth consecutive year of lower fatality counts. Fatal construction injuries are down nearly 42% since 2006.  However, even with the number of fatalities declining, construction still accounted for the second most fatal work injuries of any industry sector in 2011. Falls, slips or trips resulted in 666 worker deaths in 2011, about 14 percent of all fatal work injuries. Falls, slips and trips were the cause of 35 percent of workplace fatalities in the construction industry.  Struck by accidents caused a total of 472 worker fatalities and made up 10 percent of construction industry deaths in 2011. To see the complete article   http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm.  

OSHA Fines Staten Island Contractor $136,000 For Fall Hazards

Below is an article I found in ForConstructionpros.com.  If you can follow the link to the citation.  Notice the the fine for missing braces($ 5390.00), missing guard rail ( $ 3850.00), improper training

($ 5390.00), improper ladder usage ($ 3080.00).  All of these items are covered when you take our ladder safety and hazard awareness course.  

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Blade Contracting Inc., based in Staten Island, N.Y., with seven safety – including one willful – violations for fall hazards at a Jersey City, N.J., worksite. The investigation was initiated after a worker with the masonry contractor was injured by falling from a sixth floor balcony while attempting to access a suspension scaffold. Proposed penalties total $136,290.

The willful violation reflects the use of makeshift devices on top of scaffolds to increase the level height for working and a failure to protect workers on scaffolds from fall hazards. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowledge or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.

Two repeat violations involve unprotected workers on scaffolds and a sixth floor balcony. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years. The same violations were cited in 2007 and 2010.

Four serious violations involve a failure to install cross bracing on the entire scaffold, ensure personal fall arrest systems were attached to a secure anchorage point and not scaffold guard rails, train workers to recognize and avoid hazards including falls, and ensure proper step ladder use. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

The citations can be viewed at:http://www.osha.gov/ooc/citations/BladeContracting_331283_0914_12.pdf*.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

OSHA and NSC renew alliance to address fall prevention The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) renewed its alliance with the National Safety Council (NSC) to continue enhancing worker safety and health by addressing construction hazards, injury and illness prevention programs and motor vehicle safety. “Our continued alliance with NSC will focus on, among other things, preventing worker injuries and fatalities from falls in construction,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for Occupational Safety and Health. “Falls cause more fatalities than any other hazard in the construction industry. We look forward to collaborating with the NSC to educate and train employers and workers on preventing job hazards.” During the two-year agreement, the alliance will develop fact sheets on the benefits of employers establishing an injury and illness prevention program, hazard identification and control topics that should be included in worker training, fall prevention and best practices for reporting near misses. The alliance also will develop a case study on preventing falls from heights in construction, focusing on the causes of fall protection failures and how employers can assure an effective and reliable fall prevention program. NSC is a nonprofit, public service organization, founded in 1913, that offers training, educational programs and materials, consulting and advocacy on various safety and health topics. The organization represents 14,000 employers and more than six million workers employed by NSC members. Through its alliance program, OSHA works with unions, consulates, trade and professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, businesses and educational institutions to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses. The purpose of each alliance is to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, and educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA inspections or any other enforcement benefits. For more information, visitosha.gov/dcsp/alliances/index.html. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit osha.gov.