Author Archives: Chuck

Construction Rises to the Top Spot in Labor Statistics’ Deadliest Industries List

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number and rate of occupational injuries, by industry sectorFatal work injuries in the private construction sector increased 5 percent to 775 in 2012, while total hours worked in the industry increased just one percent.

The 2012 increase in fatal occupational injuries follows five consecutive years of declining fatalities in construction. Fatal construction injuries are down 37 percent since 2006.

The reversal in construction’s worker-fatality trend is stark in light of the fact that the 2012 fatal-work-injury count for all U.S. employers is down 6.6 percent to the second-lowest total since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics first started conducting the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 1992

The rate of fatal work injury for all U.S. workers in 2012 was 3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, down from a rate of 3.5 per 100,000 in 2011. There were 9.5 U.S. construction-worker deaths in 2012 per 100,000 full-time workers.

Reechcraft PowerLift ML60

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reechcraft powerlift ml60

reechcraft powerlift ml60

ReechCraft, Inc. is excited to introduce the newest product to their line of innovative access solutions. The 25 foot PowerLift® will give operators the ability to take their jobs to new heights.

The 20 foot working height on the Reechcraft PowerLift ML60 is known for being lightweight as well as easy to operate, transport and store, and the 25 foot lift is no different. Due to its compact size and maneuverability, the product is designed to go where other lift products can’t, like down stairs or in tight spaces. The added height makes it a perfect solution for those jobs that are just out of the 20 foot platform’s reach.

PowerLift is a great option for facility managers, maintenance professionals, contractors, builders and homeowners and has a wide variety of applications. The unique lift is built for one operator, and the only tool needed to operate the lift is a simple cordless or corded drill.

How much does a jobsite injury really cost?

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I recently can across a very interesting tool to help you to realize how much does a jobsite injury cost you.  Employers can use the” $afety Pays” to assess the impact of occupational injuries and illnesses on their profitability. This program uses a company’s profit margin, the average costs of an injury or illness, and an indirect cost multiplier to project the amount of sales a company would need to generate to cover those costs. The program is intended as a tool to raise awareness of how occupational injuries and illnesses can impact a company’s profitability, not to provide a detailed analysis of a particular company’s occupational injury and illness costs. Your local OSHA On-site Consultation Office can help small businesses identify workplace hazards and develop and implement an effective injury and illness prevention program.  This tool is part of the OSHA Small Business program that provides links to numerous OSHA resources and information designed specifically for small business employers, including safety and health tools and publications, easy-to-follow guides for specific OSHA standards, and descriptions of benefits that small businesses receive from OSHA. The page also includes information on the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), which recognizes small business employers who operate exemplary injury and illness prevention programs.

Ladder Safety

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Is your ladder safety training up to date?

This free ladder safety training is a tool for the proper selection, care and safe use of all ladders, including stepladders, single and extension ladders, articulated ladders, and mobile ladders. Provided by the American Ladder Institute, this ladder safety training outlines safe ladder practices in all applications, such as construction/painting, building and custodial services, warehousing, power, manufacturing, chemical and petrochemical, oil and gas, and at home.  Please visit our web site for more info.

OSHA Job Site Fire Safety

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job site caddyWe would like to introduce a new product for the Job Site.  OSHA job site fire safety requires that fire extinguishers be properly identified, be easy to locate and have the proper identification.  Our new product Jobsite Caddy fills all these requirements.  Jobsite Caddy is designed to support an effective fire protection and spill response program for your job site.  This all-inclusive station serves as a fire extinguisher holder, spill response solution, and a hub for job-specific emergency information.  It can be ordered base separably, base with extinguisher flag, base with extinguisher and spill station flag and spill kit.

spill kit

Surviving an OSHA inspection.

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Here is a link to an article that is very informative on how to deal with and survive an OSHA inspection.  It covers the four steps of an inspection.  The opening conference, the inspection, the closing conference and the citations.  It also states the importance of having a designated employee at the job site. They state that the odds of an OHSA inspection is less that 1% is is important to have a plan.

Choosing the Right Vibratory Plate Compactor

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bird watermark GP2000 emailWhen looking for a vibratory plate compactor it is very difficult to compare different manufacturers because they use different specifications to rate there plates. I have found two sources to make the comparisons of different manufactures easier. First is an article Light Compaction Equipment Specifications that explains basic information about vibratory plates. It is a little technical in nature but it does give you information on the process of how vibratory plates work. The second item is a calculator that will give you the ability to compare plate amplitude of different manufactures.  Both these references are put out by MBW Inc. They are the last company I know of that still makes vibratory plate compactor here is the USA.

Battery Powered Scaffold

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Granite Industries has developed a new product that is designed to help eliminate OSHA citations when using narrow rolling scaffold.   When working on narrow scaffold the wheels must be locked.  When employees are doing repetitive work, which require constant moving of the scaffold from one location to another,  employees tend to forget to lock the casters.  In some cases they move the scaffold while on it. Trades that do this can be painters, electricians, and ceiling installers.  Granite has developed a motorized narrow scaffold that will eliminate the issue of not locking the casters and also increase production by eliminating the need to get down off the scaffold to move it.  The product is called Power Snappy.  It is available in three sizes.  It is battery powered by two 12 volt sealed batteries, has a built in battery charger, all controlled by a joy stick while standing on the work platform.  It can transported easily, both to and around the job site and will fit on a standard elevator.

OSHA Ladder Safety Training

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OSHA ladder safety training is an important aspect of your training program.  Bird Ladder has many options for you in this area.  We do on site training at a cost of $10.00/ per employee plus traveling expense.  Our next option is to purchase the Werner  Climbing Pro Safety Kit at $ 20.00.  It is a kit which your safety director  can use (in both English and Spanish)  is his training program.  A third option is to use the on line program from Werner.  We also have available a program for pump jacks.