Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations. Recently, OSHA fined a Chicago company for one willful and one repeated safety violation for not providing cave-in protection or a safe means of exit for employees in a trench more than 6 feet deep. OSHA has specific standards for these activities and, contain requirements for excavation and ... [Continue Reading]
Archives for July 2016
The Specifics of Scaffolding Safety Measures
OSHA estimates 2.3 million construction workers, or 65 percent of the construction industry, frequently work on scaffolds. The importance of safety measures specifically for scaffolding are clear, “Protecting these workers from scaffold-related accidents would prevent 4,500 injuries and 50 deaths every year, at a savings for American employers of $90 million in workdays not ... [Continue Reading]
Machinery Safety and the Benefits of Prevention
One of the largest OSHA penalties was filed against a company last month, to the tune of $3.4 million, for its failure to disconnect machinery from a power supply, prevent sudden movement before maintenance and failure to proper training for workers to operate machinery safely. OSHA found that the company did not take the necessary steps to protect its workers from being ... [Continue Reading]