The San Diego Union-Tribune brings us an update on the Scaffolding Collapse in San Diego back in Late August – (Raw Video Footage). Cal-OSHA has released an official report detailing the fault of the collapse rests on the shoulders of a Scaffolding Contractor, ‘Paramount Scaffold, Inc.’ Cal-OSHA has issued a total fine of $10,120 for two violations of California Safety Regulations.
Perhaps the most publicized of the lawsuits arising from the accident has been filed by the widow of Tyrone Allen, Tina Allen, who alleges a wrongful death lawsuit, due to the fact that a crane operator had noticed the initial buckling of the Scaffold nearly an hour before it’s collapse, and nothing was done to prevent it.
Paramount Scaffold has not yet made any public comments aside from stating that they had not seen the report.
A popular forklift accident video is currently making it’s way around the social media giants of the web. The video shows a forklift driver carrying a very wide load through an aisle which is not big enough. The seemingly makeshift shelves crumble when he takes out one of the legs.
Now is a great time to remind ourselves of the very strict laws OSHA has in place for this type of setup, specifically OSHA CFR 1910.22 B, C, and D :
1910.22(b)(1)
Where mechanical handling equipment is used, sufficient safe clearances shall be allowed for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways and wherever turns or passage must be made. Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repairs, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard.
1910.22(d)(2)
It shall be unlawful to place, or cause, or permit to be placed, on any floor or roof of a building or other structure a load greater than that for which such floor or roof is approved by the building official.
To read more on the OSHA requirements that SHOULD have been followed to prevent this accident, you can visit OSHA’s website, www.osha.gov, or just Click Here.
A case study developed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and The Dow Chemical Company Alliance shows how Dow’s contractors reduced their recordable injury rate by more than 90 percent at Dow’s Freeport, Texas facility.
The case study, titled “Contractor Safety Case Study: Texas Operations Contractor Alliance for Safety at Dow Facility in Freeport, Texas,” describes how Dow and 15 contractor companies formed the Texas Operations Contractor Alliance for Safety (TOCAS). The organization consisted of senior managers from Dow’s Texas Operations and from its on-site contractors who could authorize implementing safety and health management systems within their own companies.
The Beverage Company based out of Pennsauken, NJ was recently given a hefty fine totaling in $195,000.
OSHA initiated its investigation on April 1 in response to a complaint alleging that employees were exposed to hazards when clearing jams on the machine used to stack and transport pallets. As a result of the investigation, OSHA issued three willful citations.
The willful violations include the company’s failure to provide training on lockout/tagout procedures, which prevent the inadvertent start-up of machinery or the release of hazardous energy, failure to apply lockout/tagout procedures when machines were being serviced and failure to properly guard machinery. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for the law.
“The machine hazards identified at this facility pose a serious safety threat to employees if left unabated,” said Gary Roskoski, director of OSHA’s Marlton, N.J., area office. “A proven way of ensuring future abatement of all serious hazards, compliance with OSHA regulations and the prevention of employee injury, illness and death is for Pepsi-Cola and National Brand Beverage Ltd. in Pennsauken to establish an effective safety and health management system.”
For more information on preventing similar fines in your own companies, see :
NEW YORK — The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued citations to three contractors with proposed penalties totaling $313,500 for alleged violations of safety standards after investigating the catastrophic March 15 collapse of a tower crane in New York City that killed seven people. The accident took place at 303 E. 51st St. in midtown Manhattan.
Cited were Rapetti Rigging Services Inc., the crane’s erector; Reliance Construction Group, the project’s general contractor; and Joy Contractors Inc., the project’s concrete and superstructure contractor. Rapetti was cited for alleged problems associated with rigging the crane and lack of fall protection, while Reliance and Joy were cited for lack of fall protection, fire protection and other hazards unrelated to the crane collapse. Continue Reading »
The LexisNexis Workers’ Compensation Law Center Powered by Larson’s recently announced the 2008 honorees for the LexisNexis Top 25 Blogs for Workers’ Compensation.
“These blogsites contain some of the best writing out there on workers’ compensation and workplace issues in general,” says the LexisNexis Workers’ Compensation Law Center. Continue Reading »
The International Civil Aviation Organization released it’s audit of United States Aviations including Airports, Personnel, Licensing and Aviation Legislation. ICAO granted the U.S. a hefty 91 out of 100 score.
What is the I.C.A.O.?
I.C.A.O. stands for International Civil Aviation Organization, a department created under pressure from the United States in 1995
The ICAO codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth. Its headquarters are located in the Quartier International of Montreal, Canada. The ICAO Council adopts standards and recommended practices concerning air navigation, prevention of unlawful interference, and facilitation of border-crossing procedures for international civil aviation. In addition, the ICAO defines the protocols for air accident investigation followed by transport safety authorities in countries signatory to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, commonly known as the Chicago Convention.
The Safety Oversight Audit Section (SOA) is responsible for the management of the Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP) that was launched by ICAO in 1999. The SOA Section establishes and schedules teams to conduct USOAP audits according to an annual plan based on a six-year cycle involving all ICAO Contracting States and other oversight entities. The audit teams rely to some extent on approved auditors seconded by Contracting States.
ICAO Strategic Objectives
Safety – Enhance global civil aviation safety
Security – Enhance global civil aviation security
Environmental Protection – Minimize the adverse effect of global civil aviation on the environment
Efficiency – Enhance the efficiency of aviation operations
Continuity – Maintain the continuity of aviation operations
Rule of Law – Strengthen law governing international civil aviation
The Safety Oversight Audit
The SOA is divided into 7 sections, listed as follows, you can read more on the requirements of each section by clicking the links :
Safety Services Company is proud to announce that we’ve been included among the 5000 fastest growing private companies in America. On Wednesday, August 20th 2008, Inc.com announced it’s latest “Inc. 5000″ list, Safety Services Company was ranked 1,316.
Our growth has been a result of great employees, hard work, and complete dedication to providing a quality thorough, yet affordable array of products for construction and manufacturing companies. Along with the Inc. 5000 award, Safety Services Company also passed the threshold of 100,000 clients throughout the United States and Canada. A goal nearly 6 years in the making.
Some basic information about our company:
Safety Services Company was founded in 2003 by President/CEO Devon Dickinson, operating out of Yuma, Arizona. Devon continues to hold an active role and provides the driving force behind our immense success.
“When we started in 2003, we had only 5 employees. Our annual revenue in 2004 was $1.4 Million, growing 278% in just 3 years, finishing out the 2007 year with a Gross Revenue of $5.3 Million. Our company has continued to see success even throughout an economic recession, which has hit the construction and manufacturing industries particularly hard.”
In the 2007/2008 years Safety Services Company managed to launch 3 new products, our Mine Safety Program, our Petroleum Safety Manuals, and our Safety Training Kits.
Weekly construction safety meetings which are printed and mailed out to you on a monthly basis. Clients choose from over 800 topics to customize their own safety program. Employees sign on the dotted line and you keep a copy on hand for records.
Mine safety standards are among the strictest in the business. Our weekly mine safety meetings are geared specifically toward the mining industry and MSHA standards.
The custom safety manuals are the written safety policies and procedures specific to each company. The safety manual is comprised of 26 general topics, with over 20 specialized appendixes available at no extra charge.
An all inclusive program of safety meetings, coupled with live incident reporting makes our fleet safety program the best in the business. Choose from 400 topics to create a custom program, and use our online center for incident reporting and monitoring.
7. Online Safety Training
Online Safety Training allows clients to log on remotely and receive training on the most requested and relevant safety training topic
Other Services:
In addition to our complete array of safety products, Safety Services Company is committed to the community at large by providing the Safety Services Company blog which provides free articles, tips, and how-to’s related to occupational health and safety. You can use it to catch up on the latest OSH news, search a specific topic or question you may have, or make valuable contacts within the safety industry. You can view our blog, at www.safetyservicescompany.com/blog
Through a commitment to a safe workplace, progressive safety culture, and some hard work – we believe that every company can be not only 100% compliant, but 100% safe.
Devon Dickinson – President/CEO
Safety Services Company
Yesterday OSHA responded to the many highly publicized crane accidents by implementing a Regional Emphasis Program on Crane Safety Standards. Under this program, construction sites who use cranes are subject to inspection with regards to :
Being struck by objects
Electrocution
Crane tip-over
Being caught in or between machinery
Falls.
According to Regional Administrator Dean McDaniel,
“Past inspection evidence indicates these hazards are the leading causes of accidents where cranes are used in the construction industry. This Regional Emphasis Program (REP) was established as an enforcement initiative for the inspection of cranes used in construction, with the goal of preventing serious and fatal injuries to employees working on and around cranes,”
OSHA’s General Crane Safety requirements (29 C.F.R. 1926.550) dictate that cranes must be inspected prior to each and every use, as well as many other requirements ranging from strict adherence to manufacturer specifications, to wire safety, to pre-operation safety meetings.
The Regional Emphasis Program applies to construction sites with cranes in Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and select sites in New Mexico.
So it’s time to sound off! What do you think about the measures OSHA has taken to combat Crane Accidents? Use the poll below to give your opinion. Please note all responses are taken anonymously and we will post the results after we get enough responses. If you want to leave additional comments, you can leave a comment by using the form at the bottom of the article.
Also note : We have many resources to guide you in Crane Safety.
If you have more questions about Crane Safety, or would like information regarding a complete and customized, OSHA compliant safety program, please feel free to contact us. You can read more about our Safety Program by clicking Here.
