SafetyIssues Personal and Public Safety News Articles: Prevent Work Accidents with Proper Gear

Prevent Work Accidents with Proper Gear
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Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 05/27/08 08:13:00
 
In 2005, the latest year with available data, the National Census of Fatal
Occupational Injuries found that there were 88 fatalities on the average that
were due to scaffolding accidents. In such accidents, 72% of the injured workers
believed the cause of the accident included the worker slipping or being struck
by a falling object.
There is a lot of work being done on scaffolds by approximately 2.3 million
construction workers, who comprise about 65 percent of the entire construction
industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that better protection for
workers from scaffold-related accidents could help prevent many injuries and
save $90 million in lost work time.
Safety in the construction industry has become a more urgent concern in 2008
because of an increase in accidents occurring at construction sites. Last April,
for instance, a worker installing windows on a building under construction
plummeted to the ground 23 floors below. Investigation showed that his nylon
safety strap failed to secure him.
The OSHA has published detailed specifications on a variety of useful and
necessary equipment to ensure the safety of construction workers. These include
items as simple as safety straps, harnesses, cables and snap hooks which cost
less than $20.
Construction workers can ensure their personal safety by seeing to it that they
carry the proper personal protective equipment. Such equipment can help them
avoid hazards in the workplace that cause injuries or even fatalities.
* Safety belts, straps, harnesses, and other devices to secure the worker to the
scaffold or the building should always be used. Make sure the straps are in good
condition.
* Hard hats should always be used in areas where objects may fall from above, or
where workers may bump their heads on fixed objects, or there may be potential
contact of the head with electrical hazards.
* Safety glasses and/or face shields must be worn when the worker performs
operations that have the potential of foreign objects accidentally getting into
contact with the eye, for example, welding, grinding, working with chemicals, or
going into areas with flying particles.
* Eye and face protectors should be used, as appropriate to the potential
hazards.
* Strong work shoes or boots should be used. Workers should use boots that are
fitted with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles. This helps minimize the
chances that they will lose their balance because they slip or step on sharp
objects.
* Workers should use work boots with safety-toed construction, to avoid getting
their toes crushed when working near heavy equipment or in areas with falling
objects.