Fall Protection Program Related to Scaffolds - Research Paper Example

Fall protection program related to scaffolds Contents Introduction 3 Case summary 3 Falls in the construction industry 4 Common scaffoldings in the construction industry 4 Supported scaffoldings 4 Swingstage scaffoldings 5 Rolling scaffoldings 5 Causative factors 6 Fall protection program 7 Conclusion 8 References 9 Introduction The rapid advancement of the American construction industry has brought various devastating effects to the contemporary American community both economically and health-wise. Falls from scaffolds is an exorbitant jobsite accident. It is estimated that 65% of construction workers (about 2.3 million people) spend 50%+ of their time at the site working on scaffolds (Baldwin, 2002). The BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) recapitulates that America loses more than 750 construction workers annually with 35% of the fatalities resulting from hazards associated with working from or underneath outrigger, window jack, ladder jack, platform, catenary and bricklayers scaffolds (Oregon, 2013). The vibrant insinuation of this is that dipping scaffolding linked construction calamities will condense injuries and save thousands of lives. Developing and implementing a suitable fall protection plan will reduce deaths and injuries in the construction industry and guarantee that construction workers operate in a safe environment. Case summary Pandemonium took the best of the city on the morning of 24th September 2013 when a painter, john Hawkins, fell from scaffolds while working on the walls of Marinablue building in Miami, 10 feet above the ground. He tumbled onto strident erected staves of 2.5 feet that were erected by constructors who were redesigning the floor area of the verandah. The worker died proximately while workers who were bricklaying beneath the scaffold sustained somber injuries. The constructors who were on the site were amateurs and could hardly administer any reasonable first aid to the incapacitated contractors and an ambulance had to be called to ferry them to the infirmary where the paramedics would administer the proper medication. The cause of the fall remained uncertain but high on the list were employees who might have tempered with the outriggers that supported the poorly erected the fabricated frame scaffolds and the derisory working area. Falls in the construction industry Garnet (2000) recaps that between 2008 and 2013, 25% of the disastrous falls in the construction sector were from roofs, scaffolding contributed to 18%, ladders 16% while structural steel and girders contributed to 8%. In all cases, the construction fatalities are associated with poor structural laying and maladministration of the fall protection systems and/or programs. Construction workers working on roofs continue undergoing lethal work-related injuries. Workers contracted by small organizations, immigrant workers, and residential construction workers and Hispanics are more predisposed to the risk of falling from scaffolds than Native Americans working on a wage-basis (Garnet, 2000). Moreover, 65% of fatalities related to falls from structural steel and girders were closely affiliated to inappropriate girders configuration, inadequacy of effective communication that would inform workers about imminent vulnerabilities (Baldwin, 2002). The remaining 25% of lethal falls were falls from aerial lifts, nonmoving trucks and existing floor openings. Disparagingly, 25% of fatalities associated with scaffolds occur when workers are erecting or dismantling the scaffolds. Common scaffoldings in the construction industry Supported scaffoldings Supported scaffolding is the most cost effective, safest and convenient type of scaffold. It reduces falls risks by 65% (Keller, 2013). It allows elevation and adjustment that is essential when working on towering structures. Outriggers are principally used to hold the scaffolds and reinforce it to support huge weights. Common types of supported scaffolds include mobile or static, tube and coupler, pole and fabricated frame scaffolds. Essentially, the ability of workers manual-lifting the components of supported scaffolds enable the construction of relatively strong scaffolds. Swingstage scaffoldings Swingstage or suspended scaffoldings are used where it is impractical to construct a base. Commonly, the scaffolds are suspended from tall constructs such as roofs and used in circumstances where access to upper echelons of a structure is required. Ropes and other tough structures used in suspending the scaffolds are properly fixed onto permanent or fixed structure. Speciously, it increases risks of falls by approximately seventy-two percent (Keller, 2013). Window cleaners on tall buildings prefer this kind of scaffolds which significantly shrinks fall deathtraps and results to low negative effects if accidents occur. Multi-lend, interior hung, multiple-point adjustable and needle beam are among the common Swingstage scaffolds. Rolling scaffoldings Rolling scaffoldings are slightly supported but uses caster style wheels that permit its movement. Shrinks fall risks by 43.25% (Keller, 2013). To ascertain the safety of materials and persons on it, the wheels the wheels are locked, using special braking devices, to thwart movement. Constructors use rolling scaffolds to complete work over long distances in which a solitary scaffolding constructions would be ineffectual. Primarily, they are used be electrical and mechanical trades. The castor type, ordinarily used on smooth floorings inside buildings, has grown common. Causative factors Bad scaffold construction and poorly placed and anchored toeboards is a major cause of falls from scaffolds (Design defects). The 2x10 plank scaffolds were poorly laid increasing the peril of collapsing while the constructors beneath it were unaware of the predominant susceptibilities (Baldwin, 2002). Scaffold erectors’ failure to observe the stipulated standards when erecting the scaffolds contributes to 62.50% of scaffold related accidents. The outriggers, anchorage points and supporting materials used also imperatively determine the strength of the scaffolds. Instability of overloading often causes the collapsing of poorly constructed scaffolds. Scaffold wharves that bridge an excavation significantly limits the ability of the scaffolds to support heavy weights and might fall on people working beneath it, hurting constructors working on or around it. Moreover, the use of debris and scrap laths instead of apposite sole plates for scaffolds footing significantly contributes to the obstinacy of weakly constructed and diffident scaffolds. Poor fall arrest systems; the scaffold was not attached to the horizontal or vertical lifeline by use of resilient lanyards. Use of lanyards without self-lodging snaphooks connectors for connecting to anchorage points upsurges the risk of falls from scaffolds. Poor coordination between the lifeline, lanyards and fall arrest system often causes the tumbling of scaffolds. Indecorous use of the personal fall protection paraphernalia accounts for an overwhelming number of fatalities in the construction industry. Unprotected sides; according to Gagnet (2000), guardrails should be placed at all sides and ends of the platform before erecting the scaffold and detached only when dismantling or after dismantling the scaffold. However, this has often been unheeded and constructors ended up banging onto scaffolds harming themselves, constructors working from the scaffolds and those around it. The debacle is worsened by constructors’ failure to place admonitory notes or signs near the scaffold to warn employees about the presence of a relatively perilous platform. Fall protection program Correctly constructing scaffolds using tough materials and acquainting all constructors with its existence as well as earmarking the platform is an important consideration in a scaffold-related fall protection program (HSIAO, 2003). Contractors need to avail all materials that are required in constructing an apt scaffold and effectively communicate with employees to inform them that the scaffold subsists. To attain this, contractors must employ the veracious communication schemes comprising the use the posters and signs (Keller, 2013). Components from diverse manufacturers must be intermixed appropriately and with restraint to preclude the adversity of galvanization. Erecting toeboards along all edges of the scaffold and barricading the area under the scaffolds- tensile strength of approximately 5000+ pounds- will avert scaffold related fatalities (Ohdo et al., 2011). To safeguard the constructors working below the scaffolds, “use paneling or screening erected from the toeboard or platform to the top of the guardrail to prevent falling objects” (Ohdo et al., 2011). Vertical lines should not be used for suspension scaffolds that have extra platform levels, overhead protection or other overhead components. Moreover, every lifeline must be attached to its anchorage point and crossing should not transpire at any point. Constructors working from the scaffolds or the surrounding areas should wear hard hats that will barricade any injuries caused by falling objects (Ziebell et al., 2002). Site managers must formulate and implement strict rules that dictate workers to put on the hard hats whenever they are in the jobsite and predominantly near or on scaffolds. Properly fitting fall arrest harness inevitably reduces injuries that can be sustained when a worker falls from scaffolds (Leonard et al., 2012). What is more, the platforms need to be overlapped at 12+ inches and damaged or weakened accessories including trusses, braces, brackets, couplers, ladders and screw legs revamped instantly. Contractors and constructors are required to pay attention to the small but important guidelines and precincts that have been disregarded for perpetuities. Various authors devote an inordinate effort and time to elucidate why a proper fall protection program is important implying that the value and dignity of human life is gaining dominance and soon the stipulations outlined by OSHA shall be instigated and espoused without austere regulation. Conclusion Avoidable deaths are depriving the construction industry unconstrained talents and capabilities due to negligence of contractors and constructors (HSIAO, 2003). Having an appropriate program aimed at reducing scaffold associated falls substantively reduces the risk of acceleration and impact injuries. Proper fall protection program moderates traumatic occupational deaths resulting from falling from scaffolds. Employees should not risk the health of workers as they strive to minimize the huge costs associated with building and construction. References Baldwin, R. (2002). Innovative Solutions to Difficult Industrial Construction Fall Protection Situations. Cal/OSHA Consultation Services (Calif.). (2001). Fall protection for the construction industry: Summary packet. Sacramento: Dept. of Industrial Relations, Education and Training. Retrieved from http://osha4you.com/Portals/0/Cal%20OSHA%20Fall%20Protection%20Guide.pdf DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION. (2001). A Guide to Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry. Gagnet, C. S. (2000). Fall Protection and Scaffolding Safety: An Illustrated Guide. Lanham: Government Institutes. HSIAO, H., BRADTMILLER, B., & WHITESTONE, J. (2003). Sizing and fit of fall-protection harnesses. Ergonomics. Leonard, D., Sanger, J., Santoro, J., LeGrand, A., Bosco, A., Lee, D., & Black, M. (2012). Fall Protection in Construction Environments. Durham, NC. Ohdo, K., Hino, Y., Takanashi, S., Takahashi, H., & Toyosawa, Y. (2011). Study on Fall Protection from Scaffolds by Scaffold Sheeting During Construction. Procedia Engineering. doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2011.07.274 Oregon. (2013). Fall protection in the construction industry. Salem, Or: Oregon OSHA. OSHAs Fall Prevention Campaign. (2013). http://worldcat.org/oclc/855502966:##:Gagnet, C. S. P. G. D. (2000). Fall Protection and Scaffolding Safety: An Illustrated Guide. Lanham: Government Institutes. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=10927 Ziebell, R., Pace, M., & J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. (2002). Fall protection for construction. Neenah, WI: J.J. Keller & Associates. Keller, J. J. (2013). J.J. Kellers Construction Toolbox Talks. Neenah: J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. Read More