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.

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.

OSHA Residential Construction

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will extend for three months its temporary enforcement measures in residential construction through December 15, 2012. The temporary enforcement measures include priority free on-site compliance assistance, penalty reductions, extended abatement dates, measures to ensure consistency, and increased outreach.

OSHA has been working closely with the industry to assist employers in complying with the new directive. Since October 1, 2011, OSHA's On-site Consultation Projects performed more than 2,500 on-site visits, conducted 925 training sessions and delivered 438 presentations related to fall protection in residential construction. OSHA’s regional and area offices also conducted more than 800 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, which are available on the Web pages for residential construction and the Fall Prevention Campaign.

OSHA Top Citations

OSHA recently released its list of the most frequently cited workplace safety and health violations for 2011. The top 10, starting with the most violations: fall protection in construction, scaffolding in construction, hazard communication, respiratory protection, lockout/tagout, electrical wiring methods, powered industry trucks, ladders in construction, electrical requirements, and machine guarding. Find compliance advice at www.osha.gov/SLTC.

One man aerial lift by by Reechcraft-Powerlift

SAFETY

Reechcraft treats safety as job one. PowerLift was designed for safety as well as convenience and productivity and fully meets ANSI A92.3 safety standards. You can’t be productive if you don’t feel safe. The fully enclosed personnel basket on the PowerLift provides security and safety. An anchor point for a safety harness is also provided. A hand crank system is provided for emergency lowering if there is a loss of power or the operator is incapacitated.

PRODUCTIVITY

PowerLift is perfect for locations where access is difficult for other lifts such as down stairs and tight spaces. It works great in factories, warehouses, offices, and homes. It’s a super lift for outdoor work as well.

PORTABILITY

PowerLift is the lightest mid-range lift on the market. At 278 lbs empty weight one person can easily move it about on it’s castors. Other mid level lifts weigh more than 650 lbs, too heavy to carry up slopes or stairs.

SIMPLICITY

PowerLift’s only electrical component is the drill for power(corded or cordless). There are no expensive controls, sensors or switches to go wrong and repair. PowerLift is very simple to operate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThVxVbx9SJs

Fall Protection Residental Roofing

Fall Protection in Residential Construction

The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has
issued a directive rescinding the Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for Residential Construction
(STD 03-00-001).

Before issuance of this new directive, STD 03-00-001 allowed employers engaged in certain residential construction activities to use specified alternative methods of fall protection (e.g., slide guards or safety monitor systems) rather than the conventional fall protection (guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems) required by the residential construction fall protection standard (29 CFR1926.501(b)(13)).

With the issuance of the new directive, all residential construction employers must comply with 29CFR 1926.501(b)(13). Residential construction employers generally must ensure that employees working six feet or more above lower levels use guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems DIRECTIVE NUMBER: STD 03-11-002

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 16, 2010

ENFORCEMENT DATE: June 16, 2011

OSHA Issues Memo About Fall Protection on Aerial Lifts

OSHA Issues Memo About Fall Protection on Aerial Lifts

On January 14, 2009, OSHA issued a letter of interpretation regarding the use of a particular shock absorbing lanyard to satisfy the requirements found in §1926.453(b)(2)(v).  The Directorate of Construction has received inquiries from regional offices, area offices, and the public asking if the January 2009 letter banned the lanyard in question.

OSHA did not ban the particular lanyard but stated, based on the manufacturer's instructions, which stipulated a minimum anchor point height of 18.5 feet, that it was likely that the lanyard's use would not comply with OSHA standards at lower heights.

In such cases, use of the lanyard below 18.5 feet would apparently not provide adequate fall protection.  This determination has raised questions about the use of body harnesses, typically married with appropriate lanyards, for fall protection in aerial lifts.  To help avoid any confusion on the issue, DOC is rescinding the January 2009 letter, #20070823-7896.

Under subpart L, employers must ensure that employees tie off at all times when working from an aerial lift [§1926.453(b)(2)(v)].  Employers must ensure that employees using personal fall arrest systems while working on aerial lifts at heights six feet or more above a lower level comply with §1926.502(d) of subpart M, specifically:

Personal fall arrest systems, when stopping a fall, shall:
(iii) be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 m), nor contact any lower level.  [§1926.502(d)(16)(iii)]

However, §1926.502(d) does not require employers to comply with manufacturer's instructions when using personal fall arrest systems.  To cite §1926.502(d)(16)(iii), the facts must show that the personal fall arrest system would permit a free fall of more than six feet or would permit contact with a lower level - and not base this conclusion solely on information provided by the manufacturer.

As has been the Agency's longstanding policy, an employer may comply with OSHA's fall protection requirements for aerial lifts in one of three ways:

1. Use of a body belt with a tether anchored to the boom or basket (fall restraint system),
2. Use of a body harness with a tether (fall restraint system), or
3. Use of a body harness with a lanyard (fall arrest system).

OSHA Residential Construction Fall Protection

Just a reminder that the three month phase in period for the OSHA residential construction fall protection is over.  It is know required and non compliance can mean large fines.  A simple solution is the use of a roofers bucket safety kit that complies with the OSHA requirements.  Another solution would be guard rail roof brackets that are installed at the roof edge to eliminate a fall.  For larger jobs system guardrail packages are available from Bluewater Manufacturing.  Avoid fines that could be crippling to you business.

Ladder Safety Lock

There is a new product that can be used to secure your extension ladder to a building and reduce the possibility of your ladder falling. The product is called "Ladder Lock" It will help you comply with OSHA requirements to secure your ladder. It will clamp onto plywood, metal overhangs, 5 and 6" gutters, drip edge and wall cap flashing and tubing. When used on gutters the adjustable arm actually folds back into the gutter to prevent the ladder from crushing the gutter. The ladder lock can be installed on either the left or right side of the ladder. An independent engineering company has tested the ladder lock and it follows OSHA guidelines for securing an extension ladder. Here is a link to a facebook video on the product showing it in use. If you are interested in purchasing, here is a link to our site.

Safety Training Videos

while searching the internet I came across some safety videos that might be of interest to you to keep up with OSHA training requirements. Two of the sites are free and one is pay.

A video on fall distance calculations as covered in 1926.502(d)(16).

This 22 minute video introduces the viewer to fall distance calculations for personal fall arrest systems. OSHA, (July, 1998). Topics covered include anchor points, lanyard types, lanyard reach and various harness types. Sample calculations for determining proximity to the edge of a platform and fall distances are also included in the video.

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/video/whatsthefalldistance/video.html

Roof safety video

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=osha+safety+videos&hl=en&emb=0#q=roof+safety+video&hl=en&emb=0

This web site has training programs available at a cost that your employees can do online.

http://direct.safetyskills.com/safetyskills-course-list.aspx

Emergency High-Angle Rescue from Elevated Work Areas

EZE-Man from Elk River is your solution for emergency high-angle rescue. Manufactured in Germany, constructed of high-quality, lightweight machined aluminum, it won't weigh you down. With its automatic controlled descent, you'll get to where you're going safely. And with self-rescue and 2 person rescue options, it is there to get you out when you need it. Three models to chose from covering 50' to 500'. Elk River also has a
EZE-Man Auto Decent Devices 50' to 350' in 50' increments There is also a video available on the Elk River web site showing this equipment.


Features include:
Solution for an emergency high-angle rescue from a wide range of elevated work areas.
Automatic Controlled Descent – 3ft. / 0.9M per second
Bidirectional design – one end of the lifeline descends as the other ascends
Ideal for self-rescue or multiple escapes -approved for two person rescue
Maximum number of descents - 20
Easy installation and operation
Two person rated - 550 lbs. (250 kg.) Total combined weight
Available with lifting function to facilitate rescue -Hub model only
Compliance: OSHA 1926, Subpart M, Appendix C
ANSI Z359.4-2007, CSA Z259.2.3-99 /EN 341A
Device is designed from high-quality, lightweight machined aluminum

EZE-Man SealPac 250'/500/
Long term storage- designed for up to 7 years continuous storage with annual self-inspection seals. Case avaiable in two sizes: up to 250' and up to 500'.



Typical Kit Includes
Weather Resistant Case
EZE-Man® Auto-Descent Self-Rescue Device, with orwithout Hub 3.6M Gate
2 Rescue Harnesses - for emergency self-rescue only
Rope Bag 84303 - holds up to 500’kernmantle rope
Self-Inspection Seals
SealPac Bag Opener
Standard or Customized Rope Lengths

OSHA Safety eTool Web Site

We have recently added links to the OSHA eTool web site. eTools are "stand-alone," interactive, Web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics. They are highly illustrated and utilize graphical menus. Some also use expert system modules, which enable the user to answer questions, and receive reliable advice on how OSHA regulations apply to their work site. We feel that these modules will help contractors with training issues required by OSHA. Take a look at them. They are very well done.