Ladders, scaffolds, and roofs pose some of the biggest risks for construction pros, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is bringing awareness to the issue.
The agency’s “Plan. Provide. Train” initiative offers employers and workers potentially life-saving information and educational materials about working safely at heights, starting with three basic principles:
- Plan ahead to get the job done safely.
- Provide the right equipment.
- Train everyone to use the equipment safely.
“Falls are the most fatal of all hazards in the construction industry, accounting for almost one in every three construction worker deaths,” says U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. “Our simple message is that safety pays, and falls cost.” In addition to working with trade associations, labor unions, employers, universities, and other organizations, OSHA has created a new fall-prevention Web page with detailed information in English and Spanish, and videos outlining fall-prevention techniques for a range of situations from roofing to floor openings. Visit the site at osha.gov/stopfalls.
—Lauren Hunter, senior editor, REMODELING.
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