Construction sites can be a dangerous place to work, but did you know about all the safety regulations in place to protect workers against a potentially unsafe workplace? Rest at ease next time you pass a construction site–the people high up on a crane service or on lifting equipment have the equipment and knowledge to keep them safe on the job. Safety is number one in most jobs, but in places with heavy machinery, large equipment, and constant activity, it’s even more important for workers to be aware of protocol and safety measures. Employers are responsible for educating their employees and ensuring that everyone present on the work site knows how to operate machinery properly and what’s expected.
What Measures Are In Place To Ensure Safety?
The first and foremost regulator is known as OSHA, short for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. It’s a federal agency that keeps an eye on safety regulations and maintains/updates regulations as needed. For construction sites, there are very specific measures in place in regards to safety equipment used at certain heights, etc. They also have a three step process to make sure dangerous falls are contained. The three steps are to plan, provide, and train. Good planning eliminates many accidents by making sure bad situations don’t arise. Provision makes sure that employers have the necessary tools to educate their employees and that employees have the correct equipment to use for maximum safety. And training makes sure everyone is alert, aware, and able to assist in case of an emergency.
What Specific Rules Are In Place On A Work Site?
Many OSHA requirements deal with height and fall protection. They offer fall protection courses and some workplaces mandate that their employees go through such a course, especially if they work high up, like in crane services or are working with rigging equipment. OSHA mandates that fall protection equipment is available for people over six feet up in construction, over five feet in shipyards, and eight feet in longshoring. Employers should have these equipment and the correct tools to carry out the job, meaning they should have the correct type of ladders, scaffolds, and safety gear like slings.
What Kind of Equipment Is Used?
Fall arrest systems are usually put in place if a worker is working in an elevated position. There’s a few different kind of systems–one being a general fall arrest (such as nets underneath where the person is working) and a personal system, like being attached to a lifeline. Someone working in a crane service, for example, may wear a personal arrest system. Nets are generally used if the fall distance is greater than 25 feet or where temporary scaffolding and floors aren’t put in place. Generally speaking, OSHA requires that when a fall arrest system is tested, the weight should be about 300 pounds for accurate results.
If you know of a place or your loved one works at a place that does not comply with OSHA regulations or that you fear might be unsafe, it’s important to look into it, for everyone’s sake. An unsafe workplace is a serious thing and conditions no one should have to work under.
