Construction Safety 6

J W

Graphic Products. (2016). Top Ten OSHA Violations of 2016. Graphic Products Library Resource. Retrieved from  www.GraphicProducts.com .

Goetsch, David L. (2013). Construction Safety and Health, 2nd Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

M C

1. I think that while wearing a lifeline might be costly for the company it is worth the investment. Residential should not be exempted because even if the heights are not like a commercial building, falls can still happen. OSHA inspector makes a good point that buying lifelines to all of his/her employees will cost less than having to pay for an accident of someone falling and injuring. Also if someone gets in an accident OSHA could make an investigation and find out that the fall protection standard was not being followed and this could mean a fine for the company too. OSHA requires that fall protection be provided at elevations of four feet in general industry workplaces, five feet in shipyards, six feet in the construction industry and eight feet in longshoring operations. In addition, OSHA requires that fall protection be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery, regardless of the fall distance.

Sources: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/

2. As a recent graduate and being a beginner in the job, it could be intimidating to perform my duties especially with non-cooperating people like the guy at the crane. Inspection of equipment such as the crane needs to be done even if the business owner or operator swears that it is working properly. I see it as in a restaurant, when inspectors go to verify sanitary regulations they go and inspect and do not take the owner’s word for granted. In the crane situation, if the company has an excellent safety record, then doing this regular inspections will keep it that way.

K W

1. In my opinion, the fall protection standard is there for a reason. The use of fall protection has prevented many injuries and deaths. If OSHA and other safety professionals did not believe it worked, there wouldn’t be such strict guidelines surrounding its use.

Residential contractors should not be exempt from the standards. Dangerous falls can happen on residential projects just as easy as they do on larger scale projects. Gravity does not discriminate. The liability and costs are too high not to utilize the equipment. The OSHA inspector’s response was correct in advising that the costs of the equipment is only a fraction of the costs they could face if one the employees were injured on the job from either faulty or lack of equipment.

2. As the Assistant Director of Safety, I would kindly remind the crane operator that Rayster Construction values the safety of their employees and in doing so it is part of the safety procedure to conduct the pre-operation inspection of the equipment. At that point I would ask him to turn off the crane and step out as there is always time for safety. If there is a problem with me stopping the work, I would happily take it up with his supervisor, as well as mine. I would much rather have that on my conscious than someone getting hurt because I let an employee dictate the procedures. Based on the crane operator’s attitude, I’m guessing the pre-inspection has been skipped quite a lot, making it all the more reason to do the pre-inspection.

J H

1. OSHA fall protection standards begin at 6 feet so anyone working above six feet is subject to the OSHA fall protections standards. As you would imagine the standard would apply to most everyone working in the construction industry. Also, as you might imagine creates a burden for companies to comply and from a certain perspective and inequality in the construction industry. This standard has created much controversy within the American economy putting financial pressure on smaller residential companies, so much so, that OSHA created allowable modifications for the fall protection standards for companies involved in residential construction. OSHA created four groups that would be covered:

a.      Group 1- Installation of floor joists, floor sheathing, and bracing of roof trusses and rafters.

b.      Group 2- Working on concrete and masonry block foundation walls and related formwork.

c.       Group 3- The following types of work in attics and on roofs: installation of drywall, insulation, electrical systems, HVAC systems, alarm systems, telecommunications systems, plumbing, and carpentry.

d.      Group 4- Installation, repair, or removal of roofing materials, such as shingles, tar paper and tile.

As a result, residential activities within the scope of the four above groups are allowed to use alternate procedures to mitigate the fall hazard.

            In my opinion while important safety is an expense that an organization must absorb in order to operate in a safe manner but it also must make a profit. it is hard to believe that every one dollar spent on safety brings four in return and most owners and managers would say the same thing thus the allowed modifications. Safety programs are not a one size fits all proposition and there must be flexibility to allow companies to develop safety programs that fit their business. I believe it is possible to develop a safety conscious environment without giving the safety department a blank check and no budgeting accountability. As to the example in question one the OSHA examiner may well be right but the CEO is a residential roofing business therefore is allowed to modify his fall protection plan and has no legal obligation to provide lifelines if it isn’t thought to be necessary. 

2. This situation is a very real possibility for a couple of reasons. First being a new employee seniority is something that is very real especially in a construction trade, second being fresh out of school. There is a growing disdain for education in the American society today resulting from the political climate and the worker shortage in construction trades. However, this dynamic is hardly new the same thing is seen in the military between commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers. There is certainly value in being educated but there is also much value in experience that a good leader would not overlook. In the situation above it would benefit the new assistant safety director to use a little diplomacy, persuasion and manipulation to get the result he is looking for. First, I would compliment his experience, you make it look easy, etc. ask questions probe his experience to set up the next phase. I would then play the victim humbling myself and expressing fear of discipline if I screw this up, etc. using this I would ask for his cooperation being sure to allow him to instruct me making sure it is done properly. Appealing to his experience and pride in his work the operator would be more likely to help you accomplish your task. Of course, everything should be documented and if this tack didn’t work, I would take a more direct approach by writing it up as is happened and require the operator’s signature for the inspection. It might not win any popularity contest but when someone has to sign for responsibility it tends to get full attention. Either way the inspection would be completed properly!

N S

1. OSHA's fall protection standard is there for the protection and safety of employees. No one should be exempt from it, not even residential contractors. The standard calls for fall protection for any employee working 10 feet or higher. If the residence that the workers will be working on requires scaffolding from higher up than 10 feet, the standard applies. The OSHA inspector is right, people can seriously injure themselves even falling from low heights. As an example I will use my father. He set up scaffolding to work on the side of our house. I am pretty sure the drop was less than 10 feet. He miscalculated the width of the scaffold and tell backward. He was inches away from impaling himself of some tools he had, and ended up with a dislocated knee and tibial fracture. Accidents are unpredictable and that is why there should be safety plans, regulations and standards.

2. Even if the crane operator has an excellent safety record, that does not exempt him from having his machinery inspected. I would make sure to let the crane operator know that I am not trying to step on any toes, and congratulate him on his excellent record. Then explain that as the new assistant director of safety, part of my job is to conduct those preoperation inspections of the cranes. I would also explain that it is in the best interest of the company and both of our jobs to let me do the inspection. I would let him know that I want his record to remain excellent by doing my part in keeping everyone safe by doing those inspections.