 The Roman philosopher Seneca once said, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” When companies approach compliance preparedness with this thought process, they are overwhelmingly successful in their interactions with OSHA.
Here are three tips to not only survive but thrive when OSHA visits your site.
Get more details about implementing these three tips and additional details. 1. Define who is your competent person onsite for hazardous activities. When an OSHA compliance safety and health officer arrives onsite for a scheduled visit, employee complaint or accident, they will want to know who the company’s competent person for those hazardous activities is. An OSHA "competent person" is defined as "one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them" [29 CFR 1926.32(f)]. The two key words to this definition are “capable” and “authorization.” Companies will be able to demonstrate capability by the training the employee has had and work history. Authorization is demonstrated by companies defining who these competent persons are during the preconstruction process. 2. Provide formal and ongoing training for employees on hazardous activities. OSHA will request employee training records for hazardous activities during an investigation. Companies will be well served to provide formal training for all employees prior to putting them to work. For Steel Erectors, the must have training prior to starting work will probably involve:
3. Train employees on what to expect from OSHA visits and their rights under the law. When employees know what to expect they will be less apt to make compounding mistakes when dealing with OSHA. The rights of workers during an inspection are:
A full list of workers’ rights published by OSHA can be found here. While this list doesn’t encompass everything a company needs to do to prepare for an OSHA visit, by being proactive on the front end of projects, companies will save time, money, and their reputation if OSHA ever does visit. Resources: OSHA Worker Rights and Protections Worker Rights Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 OSHA Workers Rights Pamphlet 1960.26 - Conduct of inspections This Safety Flash was contributed by Bryan McClure, Senior Safety Consultant, Trivent Safety Consulting, in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations. Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to admin@seaa.net Forklifts (telehandlers or industrial trucks) are vital workhorses in the construction industry. Routine inspections and maintenance are required to ensure that forklifts are reliable and safe to operate. In the steel erection industry, forklifts are constantly moving heavy loads, which leads to wear and tear. It’s important that operators not become complacent when conducting routine inspections, which can lead to discovery of critical warning signs. Completing regular maintenance and correcting damage or deficiencies is essential to safety and prevention of operational hazards.
 In the past when new employees were hired, they often went straight to the job site and it was weeks before they received safety orientation. But establishing an onboarding procedure that introduces new hires to your company’s safety culture is a critical first step in reducing risk.
According to a 2016 article by Safety + Health magazine and research from Toronto-based Institute for Work & Health, “Employees in their first month on the job have more than three times the risk for a lost-time injury than workers who have been at their job for more than a year.”  No matter how low or high you are off the ground, a tumble from a ladder can have serious consequences.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) reports that more than 500,000 people in the United States are treated for ladder injuries every year. What’s more, about 300 fatalities occur each year from ladder-related injuries. Ladder safety is something that should be taken seriously. OSHA Standard 1910.23(b)(9) states that the employer must ensure that ladders are inspected before initial use each work shift, and more frequently as necessary, to identify any visible defects that could cause employee injury. Not to be taken for granted, if ladders are used regularly by employees, it’s a good idea to include ladder safety in daily safety meetings. And even if your workers only use them occasionally, then at least an annual safety meeting on ladder safety is a must. Best Practices
True or False: An employer is not required to have a training program for each employee using ladders? FALSE – Per OSHA 1926.1060(a), the employer shall provide a training program for each employee using ladders and stairways, as necessary. The program shall enable each employee to recognize hazards related to ladders and stairways, and shall train each employee in the procedures to be followed to minimize these hazards. Ladder safety training is often overlooked. Why? It’s simple. Anyone can climb a ladder. Right? Remember when you climb a ladder you are placing yourself at height. Height is a hazard and a hazard should be controlled or eliminated. References: OSHA Standard 1910.23(b)(9) American Ladder Institute National Ladder Safety Month Ladders: From Research to Smart, Safe Practices This Safety Flash was contributed by Kevin Muldoon, Project Manager at Mazzella/FHS Engineered Lifelines & Fall Protection, in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations. Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to admin@seaa.net  Millions of U.S. construction workers are exposed to extreme heat in their workplace, especially when working outdoors. Of those millions, thousands of workers get sick from heat exposure each year, and some cases are fatal. The General Duty Clause (Section 5[a][1] of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970), requires employers to provide a place of employment that is “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.”
Heat-related illness can take on five forms. 1) Heat rash is caused by clogged skin pores that hold in sweat. This prevents the body from cooling down and causing skin rash. 2) Next are heat cramps, which are painful muscle spasms caused by dehydration. 3) The third form is heat syncope, a condition causing an employee to become light-headed and sometimes faint. It is caused by dehydration resulting in decreased blood flow to the brain. 4) Even more severe is heat exhaustion, which sets in when the body loses too much water creating an electrolyte imbalance. Signs include weakness, dizziness, nausea, headache, heavy sweating, and clammy skin. 5) Finally, heatstroke is an extremely serious condition and can lead to brain damage or even death if not treated promptly and properly. Signs of a heatstroke include a rapid pulse, hot, dry skin, mental confusion, and temporary vision/hearing impairments. The first line of defense in all forms of heat related illness is to immediately get the employee out of the heat so they can cool down and hydrate. All employees should learn how to recognize a victim of heat-related illness. Evaluate the symptoms, then follow the recommended first aid actions.
Hazardous heat exposure can be prevented by employers. Supervisors should watch for warning signs of heat-related illness in their crews and should never push employees beyond their limits. Many companies offer first aid training to educate, prevent, and treat heat-related illnesses. Some preventative strategies include establishing a shaded break area, providing ice, water/sports drinks, and issuing protective clothing/cooling towels. Companies can also limit employee heat exposure through well planned work and rest schedules. Although most healthy employees will be able to acclimate to heat over a period of time, some staff may be heat intolerant. Employees can take their own preventative measures to combat heat. Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day and staying away from alcohol and caffeine is essential. Remember to eat lighter meals while working because the more calories you consume, the more body heat you produce. Wear protective lightweight clothing and use sunblock on exposed skin. Employees should know their limits and notify a supervisor immediately if having heat illness symptoms. Occupations requiring heat exposure do not have to be dangerous. If everyone works together to take preemptive measures and watch for warning signs, heat-related illnesses can be prevented. Resources: Nation Safety Council, 2016, Heat-related Illness Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Heat American Red Cross Heat Wave Safety OSHA’s Final Rule for Safety Standards for Steel Erection was published in 2001, and paragraph (e), Multiple Lift Rigging Procedure, outlines OSHA’s standard for lifting multiple pieces of steel at one time. Multiple Lift Rigging (Christmas-Treeing), is allowed only for steel erectors and should only be done when the outlined criteria are met. Recently, I have seen erection companies perform multiple lifts with items not approved under OSHA’s final rule. For example, bundles of decking, pallets of CMU blocks and portable toilets are not permitted for multiple lift rigging because it unnecessarily exposes employees to overhead loads. Multiple lifts should only be performed if the following criteria are met:
It is important to understand the Steel Erection Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committees (SENRAC) original argument captured in the Federal Register persuaded OSHA to allow steel erection employees to work under the load by using multiple lift rigging. This is because multiple lift rigging, when done properly, is a safe and effective method for decreasing the number of total crane swings and employee exposure on the steel while connecting. To be in compliance with OSHA, steel erectors may “tree” steel beams, bar joists, and girders. Other benefits of multiple lift rigging are:
Best Practices:
Resources:
OSHA’s Final Rule for Safety Standards for Steel Erection OSHA’s Safety and Health Regulations for Construction Subpart R This Safety Flash was contributed by Bryan McClure, Senior Safety Consultant, Trivent Safety Consulting in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations. Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to admin@seaa.net Pop Quiz: What’s the total sling capacity of two ½” EIPS/IWRC wire rope slings that are used in a double wrap choke at 45 degrees? The answer may surprise you.
Failure to properly account for sling tension is the most common rigging mistake I’ve seen construction professionals make over the years. Sling tension occurs when the slings are rigged at an angle; this directly affects capacity. The same misunderstanding of sling angle on capacity often happens when basket hitches are rigged to a single attachment point, whether the sling is vertical or at an angle from the center gravity. Many riggers simply believe that the lifting capacity is doubled because of the assigned multiplier of 2.00. Keep reading to find solutions to these scenarios and to learn about handy references every rigger should have.  In April 2019, the final piece of the OSHA Cranes & Derricks Standard 29CFR 1926.1400 came into effect. This requires employers to conduct evaluations of crane operators to ensure that they are certified and qualified. If an employer is not conducting evaluations of their crane operators, they are not in compliance with OSHA.
Once the operator has been successfully evaluated for the necessary skills and knowledge for the size and configuration of the crane they plan to operate, they may operate similar equipment. In order to do so, it must be determined that it does not require considerably different skills, knowledge, or ability to recognize and avert risk. Operators must demonstrate their skills and knowledge, which includes understanding of crane configuration, counterweight setup, use of safety devices and operational aids, and other items. The OSHA Crane & Derricks standard 29CFR 1926.1400 took almost 10 years to fully come into effect. Rigger & Signal persons had to be qualified by November 2010 and crane operators had to be certified by November 2017. The final piece, the requirement to evaluate operators, is now also in force. Best Practices
Resources: OSHA Enforcement Memo Free Operator Evaluation Form Operator Qualification final rule https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1926/1926.1427 This Safety Flash was contributed by Bryan McClure, Senior Safety Consultant, Trivent Safety Consulting in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee. It is designed to keep members informed about ongoing safety issues and to provide suggestions for reducing risk. Best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. They may be more or less stringent than individual corporate policies, and are not intended to be an official recommendation from SEAA. Always get approval and direction from your company officers on any new practice or procedure as these best practices may not work for all situations. Everyone benefits when a worker avoids injury. Submit your ideas for Safety Flash to executivedirector@seaa.net |
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