Construction Safety - Falls
James J Johnson
#222417
Columbia Southern University
Research Paper: Fall Protection Programs
Construction sites are dangerous, and many accidents can occur. Each day on a work site, construction workers are subject to many tasks and pieces of equipment that can put their lives in danger. Workers are asked to work with heavy equipment and powered vehicles, such as forklifts (Powered vehicles), cranes and other heavy duty equipment, (OSHA, 2010). With all of the activities that occur on a construction site, accidents due to falls are the number one threat to construction workers on a work site, (OSHA, 2010). The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) states that falls are the number one cause of construction injuries and deaths, (OSHA, 2010). Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the construction workplace. From 1995 to 1999 with an average of 362 fatal falls occurred; this trend is on the rise, (OSHA, 2010). OSHA states that it is important that safety and health programs have steps or measures to protect construction workers from falls on sites. Most fall-related injuries occur from unprotected side walls, wall openings, floor holes, not using scaffolding correctly, unguarded protruding rebar and not using ladders correctly, (OSHA, 2010). Falls from a height or from an elevation will count towards one third of all deaths in construction. Majority of construction work is conducted above ground, several stories in the air. Leading cause of falls are due to construction companies not having or utilizes the safety program that works towards a reduction in fall related accidents, (OSHA, 2010).
To better assist construction companies that have a poor or no safety program that is geared to reduce falls , OSHA has created a program within their own OSHA website, (OSHA, 2014, https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/falls/mainpage.html). The site is called the OSHA Construction eTool. This
#222417
Columbia Southern University
Research Paper: Fall Protection Programs
Construction sites are dangerous, and many accidents can occur. Each day on a work site, construction workers are subject to many tasks and pieces of equipment that can put their lives in danger. Workers are asked to work with heavy equipment and powered vehicles, such as forklifts (Powered vehicles), cranes and other heavy duty equipment, (OSHA, 2010). With all of the activities that occur on a construction site, accidents due to falls are the number one threat to construction workers on a work site, (OSHA, 2010). The U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) states that falls are the number one cause of construction injuries and deaths, (OSHA, 2010). Falls are the leading cause of deaths in the construction workplace. From 1995 to 1999 with an average of 362 fatal falls occurred; this trend is on the rise, (OSHA, 2010). OSHA states that it is important that safety and health programs have steps or measures to protect construction workers from falls on sites. Most fall-related injuries occur from unprotected side walls, wall openings, floor holes, not using scaffolding correctly, unguarded protruding rebar and not using ladders correctly, (OSHA, 2010). Falls from a height or from an elevation will count towards one third of all deaths in construction. Majority of construction work is conducted above ground, several stories in the air. Leading cause of falls are due to construction companies not having or utilizes the safety program that works towards a reduction in fall related accidents, (OSHA, 2010).
To better assist construction companies that have a poor or no safety program that is geared to reduce falls , OSHA has created a program within their own OSHA website, (OSHA, 2014, https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/falls/mainpage.html). The site is called the OSHA Construction eTool. This
References: Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), 2014. Visit the site at, https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/construction/falls/mainpage.html Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), 2010, Plan Provide Train, visit the website at, https://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/