The same day in Florida, construction worker Daniel Caldwell, 40, died after a 25 ft fall off a roof.

Two weeks ago construction worker David Pink, 25, was injured in a 60 ft construction fall. Pink was taking plywood off the top floor of a building when the wind caught him and he went off the edge head first.

Most recent sources say that Pink’s 30 ft retractable did not engage and when he hit the end of the retractable he flipped and the cable snapped. After the cable snapped he continued to fall another 30 ft, shattering his hip and the side of his face. What saved his life was that he was working across the street from a hospital and the ambulance, as well as a doctor, arrived in minutes. He was able to get to the UW Trauma center immediately.

Most retractables need to be re-certified every 2 years and it was believed this retractable was closer to 3 years. OSHA is investigating this accident.

Most people don’t get do overs. Stay safe! 100% tie-off, check your equipment, keep up to date, train your workers properly! DO what you need to do for everyone to stay safe and alive.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, workplace accidents, workplace safety

Today OSHA has proposed $70,000 in fines (for one willful violation), citing a failure to protect workers from falls. The company was also cited for the same violation in 2007 but failed to remedy the situation. OSHA defines a willful violation as, “one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.” and gives the company, “15 days to comply, request a conference with OSHA officials, or contest the ruling and fine.”

Detailed information about fall hazards and safeguards is available on OSHA’s Web site at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/construction.html.

Technorati Tags: fall protection harnesses, workplace accidents, workplace safety

Let us know if it’s useful or about your favorite free resources. We like to pass them on.
Be Safe!

Technorati Tags: workplace safety, workplace safety resources, workplace training resources

Through Skanska’s Top 40 competition they hope to “leverage the best leadership of the subcontractor organizations to eliminate all on-the-job falls…Skanska’s Top 40 subcontractors have successfully worked together to create ways to eliminate falls, lacerations and flexibility-related injuries.”

I wish more companies thought big picture and displayed this kind of leadership. I’m thankful for the ones that do. What does your company do that makes a difference?

Technorati Tags: construction related falls, contruction fall protection, eliminate falls

What do I consider a no-brainer? Well, it’s something that goes without saying. Such as having pretzels with beer, or watching Baywatch with your pants off. It just makes sense.

You know what else makes sense? The two training DVD’s that Snug Harness have available for free. Yep, you heard me right… Free. The only thing you pay is shipping. That’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. I have no idea how long this will be around so take advantage while you can. It’s a no brainer! You can get them HERE >>>

Technorati Tags: fall protection, fall protection training, snug harness

Technorati Tags: safety, simpsons safety posters, the simpsons

Construction worker falls 40 stories
Sept 4th, NY, NY — A subcontracted construction worker fell 40 stories after he lost his footing. The safety harness he was wearing was not attached to anything.

Fall Claims Silo Builder
Sept 10th, Minneola, KS – Silo builder killed while working on grain silo. He fell 120 ft from the scaffolding.

Construction Worker Killed in Fall
Sept 16th, Mooresville, NC – Construction worker killed in fall. Lost balance on scaffolding and fell 20 ft.

Worker Killed in Fall
Sept 14, Los Angelos, CA – A worker died from injuries after attempting to replacing a skylight and falling through chute.  He had been wearing a safety harness but unhooked it.

Construction Worker Dies After 6-foot Fall in Morton Grove
Sept 12, Chicago, IL – Further investigation is needed to show what caused the death of a Chicago construction worker who fell 6 feet from scaffolding outside a home in Morton Grove Thursday.

Cell Tower Technician Falls to Death
Sept 12, Port Angeles, WA – An employee of Emerald Wireless died from injuries from falling 40 feet from a cell-phone tower. He was not wearing safety equipment when he fell.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, safety, safety tips

1. Scaffolding – 7,027 violations
2. Hazard Communication – 4,973 violations
3. Fall Protection – 4,797 violations
4. Respiratory Protection – 3,062 violations
5. Lockout/Tagout – 2,937 violations
6. Electrical – Wiring – 2,524 violations
7. Powered Industrial Trucks – 2,437 violations
8. Machine Guarding – General – 2,138 violations
9. Ladders – 2,135 violations
10. Electrical – General

Technorati Tags: osha, osha violations, safety

5. Guardian Deluxe Seraph Harness
4. Safewaze AirFlex Harness
3. Miller Revolution Harness
2. Safewaze Elevation Harness
1. Guardian Edge Series Construction Harness

Technorati Tags: fall protection, guardian, safety harnesses

I just read that, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 532,000 people in the USA were injured in falls from ladders last year.

With Fall upon us (pun intended!), it’s prime time for ladder injuries since many of us will be cleaning gutters, washing windows and doing other autumn chores – maybe adjusting your cable dish for football?

Up here in Wisconsin, roofing companies are squeezing in as many jobs as possible. Thank goodness for the unusual 70 degree weather. Wisconsin can be a fickle in the weather department, but right now it’s giving us lots of love.

Be careful out there! -Especially getting on and off your roof! That’s where 80% of ladder falls happen. Need ladder dollies or ladder extensions? We have ‘em for you. Even dollies for those monster ladders.

The Home Safety Council offers many home safety tips that you might want to check out: http://www.homesafetycouncil.org/safety_guide/safetyguide.aspx

Technorati Tags: ladder safety, safety

It’s a private non-profit organization that oversees the development of voluntary standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the U.S.

What a bunch of mumbo jumbo.   Here’s the thing.  Or at least what you need to know.  ANSI is completely voluntary.  A manufacturer does not have to get ANSI approval, but then again it doesn’t really help them because these standards are so ingrained in the safety industry that it would be dumb not to.

ANSI makes it’s biggest impression on the safety glasses industry and high visibility gear.  For example, they make sure that safety eyewear is constructed to specifications to ensure maximum protection.

I guess the breakdown is this.  ANSI doesn’t play a huge part with OSHA, but they have a pretty big reach so it is in your best interest to use ANSI approved equipment when available… Nuff said.

Technorati Tags: ansi, osha, safety

Last week we had the lawn chairs out on the sidewalk, popcorn in our bowls, and Sippy cups out as we watched a roofing company roof the house across the street. The team of 15+men tore off shingles and put on new ones in one day!

But one thing that concerned me was one man with a rope around his stomach, bouncing on the roof like a rock climber. I can’t imagine what a fall would do to his internal organs. I wanted to take a picture to show you all, but my camera doesn’t have a good enough zoom.  A bucket of safety would’ve easily (and inexpensively) taken care of this accident waiting to happen. I just don’t get if -they can buy the pricy, pretty trucks & matching work shirts – why can’t they buy some safety equipment?

Technorati Tags: construction, fall protection, roofing

• The Pump Handle (http://www.thepumphandle.wordpress.com) Check out the Sept 8th post, “This Happens. We Live With That.”
• OSHA Underground (http://oshaunderground.blogspot.com/) They have something to say about everything. They are a little mysterious to me – where did they come from? What do they want? Who do they think they are? Why won’t they answer my emails?
• Confined Space (http://spewingforth.blogspot.com/) No longer an active blog, but has more than 2,800 posts with commentary on workplace health and safety.

Tell me what you think. Helpful?  Interesting? Feel free to share articles or blogs that would be relevant. Of course, we do lean towards topical irrelevance too so feel free to share that too.

Technorati Tags: osha, safety, safety blogs

NATE (National Association of Tower Erectors*) issued an open letter with their concerns to Dateline. Most recently they posted the following in their Tower Times newsletter. We thought some of you might be interested in this-

Please Give Us Your Two Cents!
What do you think of the NBC Dateline Tower Dogs episode?  Let us know your input.

Visit the NATE website at www.natehome.com and submit your company as a case study today! Are there media relations efforts that you feel should be made that you haven’t seen put into action yet?  We would love to hear your from you.

Send an email to industryrelations@natehome.com with your opinions and recommendations.
The results will be posted in future issues of Tower Times, and we will use the information when
targeting various media, speaking and organizational opportunities for the coming year.

IT’S UP TO YOU!

Technorati Tags: fall protection, tower dogs, tower erectors

Badour was applying caulking to the window when the window broke and he fell through. His harness kept him from a close encounter with tile flooring below.

Although firefighters arrived to rescue him, they were not sure of the best way to do it. His quickly thinking co-workers were able to pull him up safely by bringing in a crane lift to bring him back onto the roof outside. Perhaps this is a timely reminder to have your own retrieval plan and learn about suspension trauma?

Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported.  Badour suffered some minor cuts requiring stitches and is now back to work.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, safety harness, suspension trauma

British Royal Erectors, Jacko and Fish, on contract to the British Antarctic Survey check and raise masts for communication and scientific experiments.
Photographer: Miriam Iorwerth

Technorati Tags: antarctica, fall protection

Our dear Dwight from The Office – surprisingly we all could learn something from him. The following businesses OSHA fined recently certainly could have too.

Here are our top two favorite fines from the past week:

1. Samscreen Inc. in Conklin, NY was again hit with fines. This time more than $100,000 in fines by OSHA adding to the $75,000 in fines from the previous April for similar safety failures of not providing employees with required training. Samcreen Inc is contesting the OSHA findings and said that OSHA is being overzealous.

Christopher Adams, OSHA’s area director in Syracuse said (in regards to the fines in April), ”These sizable fines reflect breadth, severity and recurring nature of these hazards, which expose employees to crushing, laceration, amputation and burns.”

What makes a company ignore OSHA – is it arrogance, incompetence, or something else? Are we missing something here? They had to know that OSHA was going to follow up after the first visit.

2. Imperial Sugar (IPSU) had 8.7 million in total fines for safety violations. That’s the third highest amount in OSHA history. You may remember IPSU’s Port Wentworth refinery being in the news after they had an explosion this past February, killing 13 people and injuring 40. Highly flammable dust is produced in the process of making sugar and that is what led to the explosion.

Imperial Sugar’s VP of Operations testified, “I was surprised that we hadn’t killed anybody already because the plant was so dangerous.” He said he had been told to “back off” after he warned other officials about the dangerous conditions.

Interestingly, five weeks after the February explosion, OSHA inspectors found the same conditions at IPSU’s other sugar processing plant in Louisiana.

This is a photo OSHA inspectors took.  Notice the layer of white stuff, which is combustible dust. OSHA took the unusual step of posting an “imminent danger” notice and issued more fines. This photo is a copy from the report that OSHA published online.

One would think after similar conditions caused an explosion and the death of 13 people that they would made immediate changes at their other plants.

If you have any comments about these recent OSHA fines OR have any good Dwight quotes, share it with us.

Technorati Tags: osha, osha fines, safety

Yep, we’re under the word “expedite” in the dictionary. Yep, we’re that good.  That fast. Your problem is our problem.  Well, the safety and delivery problem/solution.  We can’t help you with your tub grout or coffee addiction, although I could help out with potty training or raisins up the nose, but that’s most likely not why you’re here. You know I like tangents… but let’s stick to what we do best.

“It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no, it’s Super Luke!” Luke is our Fall Protection expert.  He’s smart, fun to tease and puts up with slightly off-centered humor. Like the time I discussed his Care Bear tattoos in product listings (he was okay with that). Or when I salted his coffee… maybe he doesn’t know about that one …yet.

When I am in the office, I get to hear Luke talk on the phone, and he makes things happen.  He knows our manufacturers and he knows which manufacturers are behind, where everyone’s warehouses are located, who’s pokey and who will get it out fast. If he can’t do it, I don’t know who can.

“I might be able to do something, but I can’t promise it.”  Translation:  I am going to call my contacts, the warehouse and kick some *** to see if I can get you what you need faster than fast. Yeah, he’s that good. His calm demure on the phone is just a cover for his fast and furious work.  It’s pretty cool.

Sorry ladies, Luke is taken by a very nice girl who helps me out by changing .tif documents to .jpeg documents. They better not break up.  I foresee a wedding with Johnny Cash’s “Burning Ring of Fire” during the processional. What do ya think?

Technorati Tags: fall protection, snug harness

This makes me rethink my outlook when I get a dropped cell phone call.

Recent figures show that the deadliest job in America now goes to people who construct, upgrade, and repair cell phone towers. Who are these people? Are they daredevils? How’s the pay? What training do they have? What’s the appeal? I want to know.

But for now let me share with you some statistics.  According to a story in last week’s RCR Wireless News …”building and climbing towers (which can be hundreds of feet tall) is more dangerous than ranching, fishing, logging, and even ironworking. The fatality rate is currently 183.6 deaths per 100,000 workers: Five tower workers died during one 12-day span earlier this year alone. 18 tower workers died on the job in 2006.

The cause for the run up in tower worker deaths isn’t completely clear, but it’s likely a combination of careless working practices (workers not using safety gear 100 % of the time, or not using it correctly) and network operators pushing to build out and upgrade their networks too quickly. Hard to blame carriers for wanting to get faster networks up and running, but not at the cost of human life. (RCR is careful to note that the investigation into the rise in fatalities is too early to attribute to any specific source.)”

There is a bunch of oversight in this industry. The person waxing my eyebrows has to follow more state regulations than a cell tower repair person. And because the towers are built and repaired by private contractors (the carriers and tower owners themselves are not involved directly and do not face fines) it makes it more difficult and slow for safety changes to happen.  However, some experts say to look for change in federal legislation as workers themselves push for change. A partnership was recently created between the NATE (National Association of Tower Erectors) and OSHA.

I have included a picture the NATE/OSHA partnership have available for job sites to post. It’s a reminder to tie-off when working.

You can download the SAFETY POSTER HERE

Technorati Tags: cell phone repair, dangerous job, safety gear

Do you feel lucky? Well do ya? My dear testosterone pumped reader, sometimes it’s better not to rely on luck. It’s better to assume Murphy’s Law and plan for contingencies.

Think, “Hmmm, although I have never fallen, maybe I should get a Res-Q Step.” Or,”Hmmm, maybe I should wear safety glasses when mowing the lawn.” Or “Who knows when Mr OSHA man (or women) might plan a visit to your work site? Those fines are quite inconvenient.”

As I read my weekly OSHA updates I wonder what people were thinking. And I can only come to one conclusion: plan ahead or else like Dierk Bentley sings,  you’ll be saying “What was I thinkin’?” And that’s really something you should reserve for your love life not for work.

*Thanks goes out to Dirty Harry for his great line.

Technorati Tags: osha, Safety Glasses, u-res-q

There was excitement today in the office!  At least for me… but I love Extreme Make Over: Home Edition! I love the story, the tears, the giving… so inspirational.  And I love a good cry.  I can’t say the same for the guys in the office (The crying part I mean).

So here’s the 411:  The Madison Electricians who are preparing to work through next Thursday (July 31st) non-stop for Extreme Make Over: Home Edition popped in this afternoon to get safety glasses for their team.

We have a nice stash in our warehouse, and they took an assortment of everything.  What I found interesting is that the electricians said the safety glasses had to look good or else their team wouldn’t wear them.  That’s exactly why I bought my husband a rocking pair of safety glasses.

They don’t protect your eyes unless you’re wearing them.  Now, he has no excuse not to wear them since they’re comfortable and look great.  But that’s a tangent for another day…

I had to restrain myself from asking the electricians a million questions since they were on a mission to prepare for tomorrow’s big event which starts bright and early.  Our local newspaper said over 2000 people volunteered for the project located in Richmond Center, WI.

Veridian Homes, a local builder, will demolish and rebuild the home of Rochelle Anders.  Sadly, this past winter Ander’s four children had to stay at a relative’s home due to the condition of the home and a lack of heating. Rochelle used space heaters in her deteriorating home to stay warm, a difficult feat during a Wisconsin winter.

Update: Ty Pennington spotting! My neighbors went to Sundara Inn and Spa, one of the Top 10 Spas in the US which is located in Wisconsin Dells, and ran into Ty Pennington in the hot tub. They said he was just like his persona on TV.  He was having some down time before he headed to Richmond Center for the Extreme Make Over: Home Edition this past week.  Oh, the questions I could ask him!

Technorati Tags: extreme makeover home edition, eye protection, Safety Glasses

Administration (OSHA) for allegedly exposing employees to serious fall
hazards at a Newport, R.I., residential construction site.”

Rack it up kids that’s another $40,000. In American dollars this time. And notice to that this fine was issued to a RESIDENTIAL construction site. It looks like big brother is starting to go after the little guys.

Unfortunately, the sad part about this story is that these numb nuts have already been fined for this exact violation. I imagine that there thought process went something like this.

“Well we just paid $10,000 dollars in fines, now we can’t afford fall protection.” “Yeah, you’re probably right Cletus, besides they’ll never check us again, eh, piss on ‘em.”

Nice move Cletus. Luckily, no one was injured.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, osha, osha fines

It turns out that Jemico Enterprises was fined a modest $40,268 for a “lack of fall protection while working on equipment.”

I know what some of you are thinking… “Idiot that’s in Canadian money, not American dollars.” Well, the last time I checked the current exchange rate one American dollar did not equal $40,268 American dollars.

Nope it’s much higher than that. Which is stupid because you can outfit a guy in fall protection for about $100. Hmm…

$100 or $40,268? Small expense or pay out the ass? Let’s put it this way, sending your guys above six feet without fall protection is just plain dumb. You might as well be playing “Press Your Luck” (the unpopular game show from that lovely decade known as the 80′s). So if you want the whammies to stop, click here for some fall protection gear that will help win back thousands of dollars in OSHA fines.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, fines, osha

This new expedition makes fall protection easier to find and buy.  We have revamped our blog, and you can expect new updates to the fall protection dictionary as well as updates concerning what’s new at the office.  We’ll let you know if John stubs a toe, or if Frank gets shot down by another unattractive female.

The Snug Harness is branching out baby, and to quote Frank, “I think it’s contagious.”

Technorati Tags: fall protection, snug harness