U.S. Dept. of Labor Provides Compliance Assistance on Fall Requirements

Juan Zuniga Ramos, principal of JZ Exteriors and Repairs LLC, reportedly failed to provide fall protection and train workers on its use. OSHA says the contractor has accused more than $30,000 in unpaid fines.

— Graphic courtesy of Pixabay

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Dept. of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has developed a collection of compliance assistance resources to address falls in the workplace, the leading cause of worker fatality in the construction industry.

As previously reported by RC, violations for failure to meet fall protection requirements topped OSHA's 2018 list of most frequent citations.

OSHA said its goal is to promote awareness about common fall hazards in construction, educate job creators and workers on fall prevention, and reduce the number of fall-related injuries and fatalities. These resources, which continue the goals of the department’s Office of Compliance Initiatives (OCI), encourage and facilitate compliance evaluations.

In releasing the guidance, OSHA said falls can be prevented if employers plan ahead to ensure the job is done safely; provide the right equipment; and train workers to use the equipment safely. OSHA is working with industry stakeholders to provide informative compliance assistance resources.

The sixth annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction will be held May 6-10, 2019. The week-long outreach event encourages employers and workers to pause during the workday to discuss fall hazards and how to prevent them.
A series of fall safety videos show how to prevent construction-related fall hazards from floor openings, skylights, fixed scaffolds, bridge decking, reroofing, and leading edge work.
OSHA’s Fall Prevention Training Guide provides a lesson plan for employers including several Toolbox Talks.
Fact sheets on ladders and scaffolding provide guidance on the safe use of these types of equipment while performing construction activities.
A brief video, 5 Ways to Prevent Workplace Falls, encourages employers to develop a fall prevention plan, and to provide workers with fall protection and training.

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program provides valuable services for job creators that are separate from enforcement. OSHA recently published an analysis demonstrating how the agency’s On-Site Consultation Program contributes $1.3 billion to the national economy each year. Job creators who implement workplace improvements can reduce lost time due to injuries and illnesses, improve employee morale, increase productivity, and lower workers’ compensation insurance premiums.