OSHA has released its preliminary list of the top 10 most frequent workplace safety violations for 2009.
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Tags: fall protection, frequent workplace safety violations, hazard communication, scaffolding, Top 10 safety violations 2009
The construction industry knows it’s a frequent OSHA target. Now we know that darkness won’t keep OSHA inspectors from their rounds.
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Tags: construction, night construction, silica
A jury in Illinois has awarded the family of a worker $6.74 million after he died at an Archer Daniels Midland plant in 2007.
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Tags: Archer Daniels Midland, record jury verdict, third degree burns
New York City will begin monitoring its building inspectors via department-issued cell phones and GPS.
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Tags: Edward Marquette, monitoring building inspectors, New York City
Ever want to give your point of view to attorneys who represent workplace accident victims and always seem to blame the employer? Well, now’s your chance, especially after one New York injury attorney released a statement that expresses his bewilderment over continuing construction accidents.
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Previously, we looked at the causes of workplace fatalities in 2008 according to government figures. Now, let’s take a look at where the deaths are occurring.
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Tags: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Falls, workplace fatalities
Severe weather adds hazards for outdoor workers. A massive storm that unleashed a torrent of water with no warning led to an employee’s death at an excavation project in Texas.
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Tags: employee death, flash flood, outdoor workers
Now, if OSHA decides to come to your facility to perform an inspection, it’s much more likely to be comprehensive instead of one just focused on a single problem.
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Tags: construction industry, general industry, OSHA inspections
The head of Oregon OSHA has suggested raising fines for serious workplace safety violations. But some large companies say higher fines won’t make them any safer.
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Tags: ConAgra, higher OSHA fines, Oregon OSHA
A lot of attention has been paid lately to the plight of farm workers who labor in extreme heat in California. But heat stress dangers aren’t limited to the agriculture industry.
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With the difficulty and expense that some parents have trying to find childcare, some companies may allow employees to bring their kids to work. But this case shows the need for strict rules about restricted areas in hazardous jobs.
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Tags: 12-year-old buried in sand, bring kids to work, children at work sites
A construction fatality in Texas has spurred criticism of OSHA’s recent inspection increase. But not all of the criticism is the same.
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OSHA is doing something it hasn’t done in a long time: The federal agency has formed a task force to investigate a state workplace safety agency.
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Tags: Jordan Barab, Nevada, OSHA
In the last two weeks, three undocumented workers have reached settlements totaling $3.85 million for workplace accidents in New York.
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Tags: construction, illegal immigrant workers, workplace accidents
Expecting an employee to construct a proper scaffold from materials and tools available at a worksite violates state labor law, according to a New York state court.
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Tags: New York state labor law, responsibility for safety, scaffold
OSHA is two-thirds of the way through the federal 2009 fiscal year. How are inspections stacking up this year?
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Tags: ASSE, high incident rates, OSHA inspections
U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis had two messages for attendees at the American Society of Safety Engineers’ annual conference: We’re here to help companies provide safe workplaces, but we’ll also crack down on those who don’t.
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Tags: American Society of Safety Engineers, Hilda Solis, Jordan Barab, Safety 2009, Texas construction fatalities
When is a fire escape not a fire escape? When it’s a scaffold, according to a New York Court.
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Tags: demolition, fire escape, scaffold
In the last two weeks, three undocumented workers have reached settlements totaling $3.85 million for workplace accidents in New York.
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Tags: employer financially responsible, illegal immigrants, injuries to undocumented workers
A new report from a local advocacy group for construction workers paints a picture of a dangerous profession and less-than-caring employers.
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Tags: Associated Contractors of America, Building Austin, construction safety, Workers Defense Project
In response to media coverage of a rash of construction worker fatalities, one state is now requiring such employees to get safety training.
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Tags: 10-hour OSHA course, construction worker fatalities, Nevada safety training
California authorities have made massive allegations of workers’ comp fraud against an employer.
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Tags: insurance premiums, Petronella Roofing, workers' comp fraud
The owner and a manager of a roofing company in Santa Rosa, CA, will both go to jail after a pair of incidents involving employee falls through skylights. One employee died, the other was permanently disabled.
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Tags: fall protection, falls through skylights, permanently disabled
A worker in New Richmond, WI, was killed in a trenching accident, but not because of a cave-in.
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Window Safety Tips for Builders and Remodelers
PARKERSBURG, W. VA. – To mark National Window Safety Week, April 5 – 11, 2009, Simonton Windows® has come up with a list of tips to help builders and remodelers safely transport, install and handle windows at the job site.
Tip #1 – Use caution and proper lifting techniques when it comes time to move, lift and place windows in their openings. Windows can be heavier than they appear, so using a team effort is a good idea.
Tip #2 – Make sure window units are locked before moving or transporting them. You don’t want the sash to slide open while a unit is being moved!
Tip #3 – If you’re storing windows at a job site, never stack items on top of them or directly against the window units. This could cause breakage of the glass or harm the frames. It’s best to keep the windows wrapped in their original packaging until you’re ready to install them in a structure.
Tip # 4 – Before removing the protective packaging, visually inspect each unit to make sure the unit has not been damaged during shipping. Also look to make sure the unit is the correct size, style, color, etc. compared to the original order and that they appear in good working condition.
Tip #5 – While handling a window installation project, do not lay window units flat against the ground. The weight of the units can harm the lawn in a short amount of time.
Tip #6 – Before starting a replacement window project, make sure homeowners have secured all family pets and young children, so there are no surprises underfoot while you’re working with heavy window units.
Tip #7 – If you have a cherry picker or other lift unit on site for a project, use it to help safely transport windows being installed on the second floor of homes (and higher). Also make certain to have people stationed inside the window opening to assist positioning it into place.
Tip #8 – If you have to use a ladder to install a window, work in the buddy system. Always have someone hold the base of the ladder for you and secure it on a level surface. Avoid loose-fitting clothing (which could get stuck in the ladder) and wear close-toed shoes or sneakers. For additional ladder safety tips, visit http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/home-garden/news/august-2006/ladder-safety-tips-and-risks-for-stepladders-telescoping-extension-ladders-8-06/overview/0608_ladder-safety-tips-and-risks_ov.htm.
Tip #9 – Looking to make newly-installed windows sparkle? Never use a high-pressure spray washer. The extreme pressure could crack or destroy caulking around the units. Instead, take time to individually clean the windows. If you have vinyl-framed windows, a soft cloth or ordinary long-handled soft bristle brush and some mild detergent may be all that’s necessary to maintain your windows. And, remember not to use abrasive cleaners that may scratch the frame or glass.
Tip #10 – Leave all window labels on each unit until the entire project is completed. This helps reduce the chance of the glass being broken because someone didn’t see that the windows had been installed! And, at the very end of the project, save all labels and present them to the homeowners who may need them for energy tax credit and warranty back-up.
Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in five days or less. Part of the home and hardware division of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton delivers nationwide to key markets throughout the 48 continental United States. For information, call (800) SIMONTON or visit www.simonton.com. ENERGY STAR is a trademark owned by The Nelrod Corporation.
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Tags: National Window Safety Week, Simonton Windows, window safety tips
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