Safety Lessons

Lessons from Losses -Masonry

A masonry subcontractor fell from a 13 foot scaffold while applying stucco material to the exterior of an apartment building. Although the scaffolding system was erected by an experienced individual, the toe-boards were inconsistently placed, violating the OSHA standard. The worker suffered severe head trauma in addition to other injuries when he fell from the exposed area. Never take shortcuts when it comes to safety. The scaffolding was the main cause of injury in this case. Toe-boards should be installed on all open sides of all scaffolds more than 10 feet above the ground and they should be a minimum of 4 inches high. See OSHA’s 1910.28 regulation for more information. In addition to scaffolding erection, the following items are essential to avoid injury:

• Develop a written safety plan or manual
• Complete formal training on a regular basis
• Assess hazards - provide employees with fall hazard assessment training
• Implement fall prevention/ protection measures before starting a job and continually thereafter. Conduct pre-job safety meetings to discuss all safety & health issues and review potential hazards

 

Safety Calendar and News

OSHA Guidance Document Helps Prevent Nail Gun Injuries in Construction.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have developed new guidance, Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors, to help construction employers and workers prevent work-related nail gun injuries. "Nail gun injuries are responsible for approximately 37,000 emergency room visits annually. In some cases, workers have died from their injuries," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "This document will help construction employers make necessary changes to improve nail gun safety and protect their workers from preventable injuries and death."

CDC Releases Surveillance Data on Waterborne Disease Outbreaks

In 2007-2008, the most recent year for which waterborne disease outbreak data are finalized, 134 outbreaks were associated with recreational water and 36 outbreaks were associated with drinking water. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has released two MMWR Surveillance Summaries:

“Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks and Other Health Events Associated with Recreational Water—United States, 2007-2008” and “Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water—United States, 2007-2008.”

An Apple or Pear a Day May Keep Strokes Away: Study

While previous studies have linked high consumption of fruits and vegetables with lower stroke risk, the researchers’ prospective work is the first to examine associations of fruits and vegetable color groups with stroke. According to a Dutch study published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers found that eating a lot of fruits and vegetables with white flesh may protect against stroke.

ASSE Urges Farmers to Work Safely

According to the CDC, the U.S. agriculture sector had a fatality rate of 24.7 per 100,000 workers in 2009, and an average of 243 lost-time injuries each day. The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) offered safety and health tips to farmers and farm workers during National Farm Safety and Health Week (Sept. 18-25). The harvest season is approaching, and ASSE said workers and employers should be careful to avoid injuries, fatalities, and illnesses.