OSHA reported: Fall hazards cause more citations, higher fines, and more deaths for Construction companies
than all other hazards. Chemical and Energy hazards hit the General Industry harder. Fall Protection, Scaffolds, and Ladders violations are the 3 Construction safety standards most violated. Haz-Com (RTK), Respirator, Lockout, Electrical, and Machine-related violations plague the General Industry more. However, Construction is also seriously hurt by Haz-Com (RTK), respirators, and other Health hazards.
What’s an employer to do? … Answer: Organize, Prioritize & Act. Here is 1 tip for each of these key areas:
- 1 Tip to Organize: Firstly, use your strengths to improve on your weaknesses. Here it’s Who’s Who…Have your most skilled and dedicated people perform or supervise the safety functions they do best. Have those who need the most safety supervision work closely with those who can and will train and supervise them best.
- 1 Tip to Prioritize: Secondly, intelligently spend all the time and money you need to be sure that critical needs are met…often in construction, it’s scaffolds and fall protection; often in General, it’s chemicals and energy. These are the areas that threaten your employees and your business the most. So, skimp on other areas, but not here; it’s too important.
- 1 Tip to Act: Thirdly, Plan, Prepare, and Perform. Plan to do important and adequate training at least monthly…not just awareness level toolbox talks; do detailed task-specific training on topics applicable to your operations. Prepare for good training (or it won’t be good). Be sure everyone fully participates to improve their knowledge and skills and performs as intended. Mandate and reward achievement as a job requirement; punish violations… and lead by example. If you take training seriously, so will they. An outside skilled trainer can get your people’s attention and show your commitment.
Above all, Terry Welsh of ASHA Safety can help you prevent falls, injuries, fines, and workers’ compensation claims.