Oregon OSHA Preparing for 8th Annual Safety Break
The agency's April 2010 e-newsletter zeroes in on fall protection, showing examples of violations found in some of its recent inspections. This year's Safety Break for Oregon is set for May 12.
Fall protection is the chief topic of Oregon OSHA’s April 2010 e-newsletter, which includes examples of recent fall fatalities and avoided falls, photos showing violations found in some of the agency's construction inspections, and descriptions of good practices to use for preventing falls. One photo shows a worker who claimed to have been properly trained to use his fall harness but, when asked to demonstrate, donned it upside down.
The newsletter notes that workers should examine their harnesses and other fall protection equipment for damage and excessive wear each time they use it. It also discusses how to eliminate some fall hazards, which is the best prevention strategy to employ.
Thirty-one workers died on the job in Oregon in 2009, including six construction workers, according to the agency’s preliminary data. The eighth annual Safety Break for Oregon, where OR-OSHA encourages employers to use award programs, training sessions, and special events to raise awareness of safety and health on the job, is set for May 12.