Page 42 - Occupational Health & Safety, November 2018

FALL PROTECTION
OSHA cited an employer in September 2018 for exposing employees to fall hazards and other haz- ards at a construction site in Bridgeport, Conn., and issued $146,554 in proposed penalties. The agency said its inspectors saw employees install- ing shingles and a skylight without fall protection.
“The use of fall protection is not an option – it is a legal require- ment that saves lives,” said OSHA Jacksonville Acting Area Office Director Michelle Gonzalez. “This company’s continued failure to comply with fall protection standards puts the lives of its employees at risk for serious or fatal injury.”
■ Aug. 28, 2018: OSHA cited two companies for fall and con- fined space hazards after an employee was hospitalized following a 30-foot fall at a Millport, Ala., facility, and issued a combined $203,798 in penalties. OSHA cited one with the maximum allow- able penalty for exposing employees to fall hazards. The agency also cited the company for failing to conduct atmospheric moni- toring before allowing employees to enter a confined space; failing to develop a permit prior to employees entering a confined space; and failing to ensure emergency services were provided when em- ployees entered a permit-required confined space. OSHA cited the second company for exposing employees to fall hazards and failing to implement their permit space entry program.
■ Aug. 2, 2018: OSHA cited an Ohio-based coat hanger recy-
cling company for exposing its workers to fall, machine guarding, and electrical hazards; failing to train forklift operators; and not having proper emergency exit signage. OSHA issued $190,247 in proposed penalties in the case.
Resources
CPWR’s website http://stopconstructionfalls.com/ offers tips for keeping a fall protection program alive throughout the year, not just during the Stand-Down week. For example, the organization recommends scheduling activities quarterly or monthly to keep crews focused on preventing falls.
According to the CPWR tip sheet, any job site that experiences a fall should, at a minimum:
1. Determine what caused the fall.
2. Inspect and remove any faulty personal fall arrest systems or equipment, such as ladders or scaffolds, that may have contributed to the fall.
3. Have an open conversation with workers about their concerns. 4. Conduct refresher training on fall prevention.
5. Communicate the importance of fall protection throughout
the organization.
At https://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/edresources.html, OSHA has
posted educational materials and resources. These include wallet cards, booklets and fact sheets, and links to other fall protection/ prevention sources.
Jerry Laws is the editor of Occupational Health & Safety.
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Circle 18 on card.
Circle 22 on card.
Important Recall Reminder
Lot Code