Tag: OSHA

Dummies Guide To Construction Safety Hazards

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Few would disagree that construction safety hazards is the most important issue in the American construction industry today. The very nature of the work effectively means that hazards will always be present and that action must be taken to control these.

The federal government has created the OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to ensure that good practice is enforced in the whole country.

It is up to contractors and companies to stay up to date with changes in legislation, regulations and standards so that they always in compliance. Despite this, accidents still occur and there are many reasons why they do. Below are the most common hazards one find on any construction site.

1. Falling Objects

On a construction site, there is always a chance that something will fall on someone. As a result, it is always recommended that all personnel wear hard hats, but sometimes it may not be enough to prevent serious injury from big and heavy objects. In most of these, human error is a fault and as a result, it’s important that personnel are always attentive.

2. Chemicals

Quite often, chemicals play a part in construction. The main problem is human exposure to these over a long period of time which can lead to serious illnesses and hold back a project due to a lack of personnel. Furthermore, chemicals tend to be flammable and have to be managed with great care.

3. Electricity

Electricity is one of those construction safety hazards that is understated because its not the first thing that pops into peoples minds when they think of hazards. You cannot forget that construction sites typically have power lines which must be managed correctly to avoid accidents. You can’t leave out the issue regarding power tools.

4. Excavations

Construction always involves sort of excavation and the danger is that there could be cave ins. Many workers can be left trapped underground and get asphyxiated. Another thing is that these holes tend to be big and falling into them can lead to serious injuries such as broken bones.

5. Heavy equipment

Cranes and forklifts are common sights on the construction site and have to be used with the greatest care for your fellow workers.

There are certainly a lot of construction safety hazards that you will have to deal with during a project which means that your work will be cut out.

Top 6 Construction Site Hazards!

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Construction sites are considered the most potentially hazardous and accident-prone parts of any working environment. Excessive exposure to these construction site hazards exposes workers to injury and possible death. To prevent this, a company should know how to identify and be aware of all possible dangers that can be encountered during normal business operations. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) wants every employee to have sound knowledge of their susceptibility to harm or injury in the workplace.

Listed below are the top six construction site hazards identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA):

1. Electrical- Electricity is one of the greatest hazards to people either at home or at work. Power line workers, electricians and electrical engineers work continuously with electricity and can face exposure to this hazard on a daily basis. At the construction site, the best way to prevent this kind of hazard is for the power line workers to be a safe working distance away from the power lines. Other precautionary measures includes guarding and insulating of the vehicle from which they might work. This would help prevent electrical hazards from injuring them while working.

2. Excavation and Trenching OSHA has recognized excavation and trenching as the most hazardous construction site operation. From the year 2000 to 2006, the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics (USBLS) recorded 271 worker fatalities in trenching and cave-ins. These hazards are preventable yet injuries related to these hazards are still happening. Both employer and employee must follow safety standards and use protective equipment to minimize hazards while trenching and excavating.

3. Falls – Falling from scaffolding over six feet or a fixed ladder over twenty feet is the most dangerous and common construction site hazard. Falling from high places such as a ladder, scaffolding and roofs account for more than fifty percent of the accidents that happen at the workplace. The usual cause of this incident is slipping, tripping and using unstable ladders. There are thousands of reasons for fall hazards and to eliminate such risks, employers must have a fall protection program as part of any overall workplace safety and health program. Workers should be trained to identify and evaluate fall hazards and be fully aware of how to control exposure to such risks as well as know how to use fall protection equipment properly.

4. Stairways and Ladder – According to OSHAs construction safety and health standards, stairways and ladders are major sources of injuries and fatalities among construction workers. These recorded injuries are serious enough to put a worker out on sick leave. OSHA registered approximately 24,882 injuries and 36 fatalities yearly that are related to falling from stairways and ladders used at the construction site. To prevent such accidents and injuries, employers and employee must comply with OSHAs general rule for the safe use of ladders and stairways.

5. Scaffolding – Every year, approximately 60 workers die by falling from scaffolding; one out of five construction site falls are fatal. The most potential risk of scaffolding is due to moving scaffold components; scaffold failure related to damage to its components; loss of the load; being struck by suspended materials; electrical shock; and improper set-up. Construction workers who assemble and dismantle scaffolding and work platforms at construction sites face the risk of serious injuries due to falls. The scaffolding hazard is addressed by stated OSHA standards. They give specific requirements for the maximum load, when to use scaffolding, bracing and the use of guardrails.

6. Heavy Construction Equipment – Approximately 100 construction site workers die each year due to heavy construction equipment. The main causes of such accidents includes: ground workers struck when a vehicle is backing up or changing direction; equipment rollovers that injure the operator; mechanics run over when brakes are not properly set; and ground workers crushed by falling equipment from backhoes, buckets, and other moving construction vehicles. To prevent this kind of risk, workers should follow all construction safety guidelines necessary to eliminate the exposure to such injuries and accidents.

Safety risks on construction site are unavoidable; however, these can be prevented if workers are instructed on how to identify the hazards that might be present at the work-site. The employer must establish proper safety standards that meet the maximum requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This will ensure that workers will have a safe working environment during normal operation.

This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list of construction site risks; however, these top six items are certainly important ones that all construction site employers should be aware of and continually working to eliminate them from happening.

Construction Safety 101 A Quick Look At The Training Involved

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It doesn’t really matter what kind of work is performed, there are usually common threads that run throughout construction work sites. That’s because these are the places where women and men are typically working with heavy, dangerous machinery, or climbing on structures several stories high. Someone has to be in charge of keeping these workers so that the work can get done properly.

If you have taken courses in safety jobs or OSHA compliance, you can be the one who is hired on a construction site to be in charge of keeping with OSHA construction regulations as they pertain to environmental, health, and safety. Anyone who has been taught in the ways of occupational health and workplace safety becomes invaluable to firms looking to keep with OSHA compliance.

Construction firms hire many workers who have a variety of skills, and even specialists to finish their projects, like electricians, roofers, welders, and others. These jobs are inherently dangerous, so finding those who have construction safety training is imperative. Anyone who has construction safety training can prevent disaster from happening to any of the workers at the work site.

When someone goes through construction safety training, they learn about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA. This safety regulating agency was created in 1970 specifically to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and even death by drafting and enforcing guidelines for employment and safety in the workplace.

Specifically, you will be trained in how to handle dangers that are inherent to specific workers, like electricians and welders. You will be able to inspect rigging and scaffolding so that you can make sure these apparatuses are safe enough for workers to use them without getting hurt. You will also be able to identify dangers that are common to high-up places, not to mention those that are tight or confined.

By learning all aspects of construction safety, you’ll become an authority on on SHE (Safety Health and Environment) and EHS (Environment Health and Safety) rules and regulations set up by OSHA and other regulating agencies.

One of the most appealing aspects of construction safety training is that the skills you learn in the course

can be used more often than not to supplement other construction training you’ve already been through. If you already have all the skills and experience of working to keep employees safe on a work site, then the additional training you get on safety can only help you stand out from the pack of other people seeking employment.

If you’re an employer who wants to hire folks who have been trained in safety rules, insurance loss control, or other aspects of construction site safety employment, you need want to check out www.constructionsafetyjobs.com. This is a website run by an organization dedicated to helping employers find those potential employees who have completed construction safety training so that you know you’re hiring the best of the best.

Article Source: Construction Safety Jobs Blog.