Construction inspections comprise 60% of OSHA’s total inspections. Our non-fatal injury rates are 71% higher than other industries. For this article “Do’s & Don’ts from the Field: Would Your Jobsite Pass a Safety Inspection?” in Construction Superintendent, Deb Hilmerson stressed that because better solutions now exist, now may be a good time to reevaluate jobsite safety protocols.
Jobsite injuries and deaths can seriously damage a company’s reputation, and create legal and financial problems. “Even something related to health or safety, but that would not result in serious injury or death, could result in fines up to $12,934 per violation. For something deemed to be a willful or intentional violation of OSHA standards, those fines could skyrocket up to $129,336 per violation and possibly jail time for individuals,” she wrote in the article.
Her advice to construction superintendents is to be actively engaged in, and reinforce, safety best practices. “Set the safety expectations at the beginning of the job and hold everyone accountable for their own safety performance,” she suggested. She also described ways to ensure everyone on the site, from craft workers to upper management, complies with safety protocols.
Hilmerson devoted some of her article to fall protection which she observed is, “obviously overlooked on job sites because it continues to be the leading cause of death in construction.” She described a number of safety issues that may still exist even if safety rails are engineered to meet or exceed OSHA standards. She suggested that using a construction-grade™ system will reduce or eliminate these risks.
She also pointed out that COVID-19 precautions have created a new hazard. Wearing a mask can cause safety glasses to fog, making it challenging to work safely. Hilmerson’s advice is to use quality safety glasses with anti-fog technology embedded in the lenses.
Another safety concern that Hilmerson addressed in this article is perimeter security. “Barrier fencing prevents vehicles, thieves and vandals from entering the jobsite. It keeps the public, including curious children, safely away from construction hazards such as trenches and excavations that could easily collapse, trapping them.”
But she cautioned that if your barrier fencing is made of light gauge steel – unlike the newer, maintenance-free options – it needs frequent inspection because it is prone to damage.
Developed with significant input and feedback from the field, American-made Hilmerson Safety Rail System™ and Hilmerson Barrier Fence System™ are designed to significantly improve jobsite safety.
Our robust construction-grade™, OSHA-compliant guardrail system is made with 13-gauge hot-dipped galvanized steel and is coated with zinc inside and out to prevent rust. It has a 15+ year lifespan. It is easy to install, remove, ship and store. Our reusable Barrier Fence System will simplify attaching fence panels to barriers, prevent recurring damage to your barriers, and install quickly and easily.
We’d love to discuss how you can ensure your job site passes safety inspections, and how Hilmerson Safety’s® American-made, OSHA-compliant, construction-grade™ products can help you save money and lives.
