Protect Yourself From Falls
In recent months we lost two of our own due to falls on
the job. “These tragic events are a reminder of the
potential hazards our members face every day, and the importance
of knowing how to protect yourself,” says Executive
Vice President Jerry O’Malley.
The construction industry reports a disproportionately large
number of deaths and disabling injuries due to falls. According
to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2000, 375 American workers
fell to their death. BAC trades accounted for 35 of the deaths,
up from 27 the year before. Moreover, those workers who survive
construction falls require relatively lengthy absences from
work (typically about three weeks) to recuperate from their
injuries. In contrast, the average recuperation time for
all worker-related injuries is one week.
Working at any height above ground puts a person at risk
for falling. The most common falls in construction are from
roofs, ladders, and scaffolds. In these situations, one of
two things happens: either the worker falls from the work
surface or the surface collapses. According to the Center
to Protect Workers Rights there are basic steps that workers
can take to protect themselves.
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Be aware of your work situation and surroundings — learn
about the types of fall hazards on your job. |
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If fall protection is needed, make sure
you have the right type of protection, learn how to use
it, and — use it. Guardrails and personal protective
equipment can help prevent falls. The employer is responsible
for fitting and training each worker on the equipment
to be used. |
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Inspect the fall protection equipment
before each use to make sure it isn’t damaged. |
Additional information on protecting yourself from a fall
can be found on the Center to Protect Workers’ Rights
(CPWR) website www.cpwr.com, the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) website www.cdc.gov/niosh, or the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website www.osha.gov. Canadian members can
also contact the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health
and Safety (CCOHS) at www.ccohs.ca/.
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