Posts by developer
Functional Capacity Evaluations
According to Facility Safety, businesses spend $170 billion a year on costs associated with occupational injuries and illnesses, but workplaces that establish safety and health management systems can reduce their injury and illness costs by 20 to 40 percent. Injuries and illnesses increase workers’ compensation and retraining costs while decreasing productivity, morale, and profits. By…
Read MoreAsk Rigid Lifelines: What’s my structure’s anchorage requirement?
Question: Does my structure holding your track need to meet the 5,000-pound anchorage requirement? Answer: To begin, OSHA defines “anchorage” as “a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards or deceleration devices, and which is independent of the means of supporting or suspending the employee.” OSHA’s 5,000-pond anchorage requirement has three sections, OSHA 1926.502(d)(15), (d)(15)(i),…
Read MoreAn Effective Contractor Safety Program
Many large jobs in the construction industry involve employing contractors to do specialized assignments around the jobsite. These contractors are exposed to general and industry-specific hazards based on the type of work they perform. Unfortunately, if these contractors are injured or injure others, the employing company can be held accountable. For that reason, it is…
Read MoreHow to Inspect Your Fall Protection System Effectively
To use fall protection systems correctly, companies must follow many policies and regulations, such as a fall protection program, rescue plan, and proper training for users. Maintaining these tasks and procedures can seem overwhelming, and inspecting a fall protection system effectively is no exception. Many factors should be considered—like inspection frequency and inspectors’ qualifications. However,…
Read MoreFall Protection Systems for Residential Construction
Fall protection in the construction industry remains a serious issue. In fact, 36.5 percent of all occupational fatalities in the construction industry were due to falls from height in 2013. For this reason, fall protection systems in the construction industry are extremely important for worker safety. In the residential construction industry, fall protection systems are…
Read MoreThe Importance of Fall Protection
In 2014, fall protection was the most frequently cited OSHA violation. In fact, fall protection has been the most frequently cited OSHA violation since 2011. Falls from height have been a serious issue. For example, falls to lower levels were the second leading cause of all fatal occupational injuries in 2013. Similarly, there were 57,020…
Read MoreUnderstanding the Benefits of ANSI Z359.15
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a non-profit organization that coordinates the development of voluntary U.S. standards for products, services, systems, and staffing/human resources. In fact, ANSI has coordinated the voluntary standardization system for the U.S. private sector for more than 90 years. As an established national standards organization, ANSI is always striving to…
Read MoreRope Access Systems
Hopefully, every safety manager is familiar with OSHA and ANSI requirements and standards for fall restraint and fall arrest systems. Self-retracting lanyards (SRLs), shock absorbing lanyards, and anchorage points are all protective equipment covered in current standards. But, what should you do when the protective equipment specified in current standards does not apply for your…
Read MoreOSHA Versus ANSI
Today, companies normally task a facility or safety manager with keeping workers safe at height. Part of his or her job description is to compile a fall protection plan. Unfortunately, many companies take on this task after an employee is injured or they have been cited for a specific safety violation. It is more than…
Read MoreDifference Between Fall Protection for Recreational and Industrial Use
Today, fall protection encompasses many different applications across various industries. Many people think of industrial applications when they hear the term “fall protection,” but other forms of fall protection exist. There are many recreational activities that require fall protection: rock climbing, high-lining, and even hunting, to name just a few. Although there are clear differences…
Read MoreIs Your Rescue Plan as Good as It Can Be?
Post-fall rescue is an essential part of developing an effective fall protection program. Implementing a thorough fall protection program helps to establish guidelines protecting all employees who are exposed to potential fall hazards. Overall, a fall-protection plan includes several factors, including the installation of appropriate fall protection systems, storage and maintenance of equipment, training, fall…
Read MoreThe Dangers of Fixed Ladders with Cages
This blog was originally posted April 24, 2015. On November 19, 2018, new regulations went into effect regarding fixed ladder cages. Under the new regulations, cages are no longer considered appropriate fall safety equipment. New fixed ladders cannot be installed with cages as a form of fall protection, and cages will be permanently phased out…
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