Safety Blog ABC Keystone

By Kevin B. Keith, Director of Safety Services, ABC Keystone

May 7-11, 2018, is the week scheduled for OSHA’s National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction. The industry, according to the 2016 BLS Data, saw a total of 991 fatalities, and 370 of those were related to falls. As we are so often reminded, these deaths could have been prevented when companies incorporate a strong safety culture into their operations.

Preventing falls in the workplace requires a team approach and it all starts with the competent person. The employer must identify a competent person to do an assessment of the project to identify the potential fall hazards and create a plan to address them. The competent person performing the assessment should have a strong understanding of the equipment and the systems that can be employed to address the specific fall hazards. They should have the ability to provide training to the workers in the proper set up and use of the equipment. The competent person should then monitor the use of the equipment on the job and ensure compliance to company’s plan.

Each worker should be encouraged to start the fall safety process from within. Implementing a strong safety culture starts by empowering the worker to take an active role in safety. Providing the necessary training and knowledge to protect themselves is a critical component. Once they understand the need to implement safety measures, they can be encouraged to focus on making good safety decisions that impact their personal safety. This personal safety can then be spread by assisting others and providing real concern for their fellow co-worker’s safety. The National Safety Stand-Down is a fantastic way to get workers actively involved in fall prevention and safety. To get more information on this event click here and have your company participate in this important event!

ABC Keystone offers training to assist your company to raise the bar on fall safety compliance. View current offerings, and if you don’t see a course that you are looking for contact Kevin Keith, Director of Safety Services, to discuss a customized training for your company.