OSHA Extends Temporary Enforcement Measures for Residential Construction Into 2013

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will extend for three months its temporary enforcement measures in residential construction. The temporary enforcement measures, now extended through March 15, 2013, include priority free on-site compliance assistance, penalty reductions, extended abatement dates, measures to ensure consistency and increased outreach.

OSHA Fall Prevention Fact Sheet

OSHA has been working closely with the industry to assist employers in complying with the new directive. From October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012, OSHA's On-site Consultation Projects performed more than 3,000 on-site visits, conducted close to 1,100 training sessions and delivered close to 500 presentations related to fall protection in residential construction. OSHA’s regional and area offices also conducted more than 1,200 outreach activities on the directive. The agency will continue to work with employers to ensure a clear understanding of, and to facilitate compliance with, the new policy.

OSHA will also continue to develop materials to assist the industry, including a wide variety of educational and training materials to assist employers with compliance for residential construction and theFall Prevention Campaign.

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.