Eighty-percent of all accidents are caused by 20 percent of risk categories. These risk categories comprise the Focus Four Hazards identified by OSHA. In fact, one of these categories — Falls — is responsible for 33% of all construction injuries! It doesn't have to be that way. Not only that, but contractors who work at safety not only enjoy lower accident rates, they enjoy lower Workman's Compensation rates. This can translate to major increases in profits. On the other hand, those that don't can price themselves right out of the market since a contractor’s Worker’s Comp rates can be significantly increased or decreased based on accident experience.

This is your opportunity to learn from one of the foremost and experienced safety consultants and OSHA-authorized trainers, Neil Opfer, also professor of construction management at UNLV. This unique presentation will have your staff working with renewed interest and incentive to improve the safety culture at your organization. Whether you're a contractor, construction manager or an owner, safety knowledge is your responsibility and provides you with direct benefits. Workers who feel their organization is looking after their safety will work more confidently and more productively as well.

Note the emphasis on Falls. There's a lot of ground to cover here for the most important hazard. You'll want to gather as many of your project staff, supervisors, lead personnel and your subcontractors to participate. The safety of your workers starts with implementation of an OSHA Fall Prevention Campaign:

• Plan ahead to get the job done safely means determining how the job will be done and what safety equipment is needed, particularly fall protection
• Provide the right equipment, such as making sure ladders and scaffolds are appropriate for the job at hand
• Train everyone to use the equipment safely

Fall Protection/Fall Arrest Safety

According to OSHA Statistics, on average over the years, more than 30% of fatalities on construction site are due to falls. The incidence of deaths and injuries from falls indicates that not enough training is being done. Even when a worker properly wearing fall protection equipment, such as a harness and lanyard, falls they need to be rescued quickly to avoid more serious injuries or death. Key causes of fall fatalities will be addressed such as: unprotected sides, edges and holes; improperly constructed walking/working surfaces; improper use of access equipment; failure to properly use personal fall-arrest systems; and slips/trips including housekeeping issues.

This fast-paced part of the recorded webinar focuses on these key areas with fall protection/fall arrest:

• Key definitions
• Fall hazards
• Fall hazard elimination
• Planning to eliminate fall hazards
• Fall prevention
• Fall arrest
• Fall protection equipment
• Fall rescue

Electrical Safety — Shock and Awe

According to OSHA Statistics, on average over the years, more than 10% of fatalities on construction sites are from electrical issues. Mobil equipment on the jobsite, such as cranes, concrete pump booms and “shooting-boom” forklifts, can all contact overhead power lines. Double-insulated power tools, while an important innovation in the industry over the past few decades, still pose significant risks. This program will look at why GFCI’s are such an important protection with electrical circuits and why one can’t depend on circuit breakers for personal protection.

This information-packed program covers:

• Threshold milliamp levels for serious injuries and fatalities
• An important third step besides lock-out and tag-out with electrical equipment
• Contact with overhead power lines
• Contact with live circuits in panels
• Arc flash hazards and prevention
• Poorly maintained cords and tools
• Lightning strikes

Caught In Between/Struck-By Safety: Not So Obvious But Definitely Avoidable

According to OSHA Statistics, the caught in between/struck-by categories in combination account for more than 30% of the fatalities on construction sites. Key components for a solid safety program here are preventing worker contact with falling objects from above when material-handling activities are taking place. Both equipment operators and workers around equipment can take sound actions to eliminate on-site problems in their work. Those concerned with trenching/excavation safety will understand basic soil mechanics and how to properly protect workers from these hazards.

Caught in between fatality issues include:

• Falling Objects
  • Loose materials/materials that shift in handling
  • Rigging failures
  • Equipment tip overs or malfunctions
  • Lack of overhead protection
• Construction equipment strikes
  • Equipment backing-up incidents
  • Construction workers on foot
• Flying objects

Struck-by fatality issues include:

• Trench/excavation collapse
• Soils issues/soil mechanics
• Rotating equipment
• Unguarded parts
• Equipment rollovers
• Equipment maintenance

This event features key insights from our knowledgeable construction expert: