The Verdict 
Construction Site Accidents
- Field Tile Collapse - Another Danger in Farming
- Another Collapsed Construction Site Ditch Death, This One in Texas
- Newton, Iowa Construction Site Wall Collapse Injures Three Workers
FAQs
Construction Site Accidents
If a construction worker falls to his death, what if anything can be done legally?
There is a stress tag on the lanyard I use on the construction site. What is it for?
Does OSHA require locking type snaphooks on pole strap systems used by linemen after 1 January 1998?
The Lombardi Law Firm Blog
Construction Site Accidents
Field Tile Collapse - Another Danger in Farming
A Joice, Iowa man was trapped under the dirt that caved in from the drainage tile trench he’d dug in a bean field. As of this writing there are few details about the incident. Not even the man’s name had been released. There is no indication of whether he was working alone or with a helper. He was 79-years-old and the accident occurred in Worth County. Shoring up the sides of a trench a necessary part of trench work safety.Another Collapsed Construction Site Ditch Death, This One in Texas
It’s basic safety when doing tunnel or ditch work on a construction site to support the walls. Another question is why weren’t they using a trench box? Look at the linked articles below. Here is one on point: Construction Site Safety - A trench box would have saved the Georgian tunnel worker. And after you read the article, this being a Texas case, call Brooks Schuelke at Perlmutter & Schuelke LLP.Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. Knowing your rights and how to protect yourself is important. Always be alert to risks that can cause you injury or get you killed. Steve Lombardi provides commentary and insight on this blog, The Verdict and also writes for the Des Moines market of the InjuryBoard.com and on occasion on the Des Moines Register web site. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses for all types of accidents and injuries. Attorney Steve Lombardi is a personal injury lawyer. Join us in making the world a safer place. (515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com )
Newton, Iowa Construction Site Wall Collapse Injures Three Workers
Three construction workers were injured on a job site in Newton, Iowa as a wall collapsed and causing the scaffolding to do the same. KCCI news reporters watched a videotape taken by a security camera from across the street at Dave’s Wholesale. The security camera footage shows the collapse, to what degree isn’t known or disclosed. The men worked for Boucher Masonry Co. from Boone, Iowa. IOSH is investigating the incident.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Illinois Highway Construction Worker Backed Over
A highway construction worker was struck and killed in Morrison, Illinois. The worker was identified by the Quad City Times as Michael S. Holloway, 44 or Rock Falls, Illinois. The worker killed was working as the flagger. He was run over by a dump truck backing up. The dump truck driver is 75 years old.
This is a situation I’ve blogged on several times on The Verdict. Just today we posted on older drivers and how old is too old to be driving.
Hit and Run that kills Bicyclist spurs debate on the impact of age on driving privileges
In other posts I’ve talked about road construction worker safety and traffic risks.
The Verdict, Construction Site Accidents
Highway Workers are at risk of being killed while repairing the nations roads - be careful
And in other posts I’ve discussed backing-up accidents that kill workers and pedestrians.
Construction Accidents - Backing up and rear warning devices.
Safety should never go on break.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
John Deere foundry worker electrocuted - Is this a lock-out-tag-out safety issue?
It appears the worker who was electrocuted at the John Deere Waterloo facility has died. The man, Daniel Gerdman, 22-years-of-age died on Tuesday while working at the foundry. Working on some lighting he was electrocuted. OSHA is investigating the incident. Gerdman was found at around 11:30 a.m.
Most people probably wonder why did this happen? There is a simple answer that we've effectively advanced in may litigated cases. We just posted another blog about an electrician from Des Moines who died from being electrocuted on a job in Cedar Rapids. He was 24-years-old. Here is my article on the Injuryboard.com.
What caused the death of a 24 year old Des Moines electrician? That was the question surrounding the death of Chris Turney but now the autopsy has revealed that it was in fact caused by electrocution. Mr. Turney was standing on a metal scaffold working with electrical wires at the Hy-Vee under construction at College Square Mall in Cedar Rapids when it happened. OSHA is currently investigating and one has to ask how does something like this happen? The company Mr. Turney worked for; Kline Electric of Ankeny, was hired to install the new wiring for the store. Was this caused by a mistake of a co-worker, did Mr. Turney have proper training to be working in the area he was, or was this just a freak accident? Whatever the reason this is another regrettable example of the preventable loss of a young man in the workplace.
These are all preventable. Like the Turney electrocution, Gerdman’s dependents are also entitled to work comp. benefits and should investigate a third-party case.
See also my post on the Lombardi Law Firm website blog. My news item contains a different video on lock-out tag-out safety rules.
Did this 24-year-old Iowa electrician die needlessly?
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. Knowing your rights and how to protect yourself is important. Always be alert to risks that can cause you injury or get you killed. Steve Lombardi provides commentary and insight on this blog, The Verdict and also writes for the Des Moines market of the InjuryBoard.com and on occasion on the Des Moines Register web site. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses for all types of accidents and injuries. Attorney Steve Lombardi is a personal injury lawyer. Join us in making the world a safer place. (515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com )
Did this 24-year-old Iowa electrician die needlessly?
What caused the death of a 24 year old Des Moines electrician? That was the question surrounding the death of Chris Turney but now the autopsy has revealed that it was in fact caused by electrocution. Mr. Turney was standing on a metal scaffold working with electrical wires at the Hy-Vee under construction at College Square Mall in Cedar Rapids when it happened. OSHA is currently investigating and one has to ask how does something like this happen? The company Mr. Turney worked for; Kline Electric of Ankeny, was hired to install the new wiring for the store. Was this caused by a mistake of a co-worker, did Mr. Turney have proper training to be working in the area he was, or was this just a freak accident? Whatever the reason this is another regrettable example of the preventable loss of a young man in the workplace.
A review of the Iowa Industrial Commission decisions did not turn up an arbitration case against Kline Electric.
The Iowa Secretary of State’s website shows a Kline Electric, Inc. as corporation number 291108 from 2785 N ANKENY BLVD. , Ankeny, Iowa active since March 3, 2004. Filings with the Secretary of State are as follows.
|
W00374589 |
2 |
3/3/2004 |
3/3/2004 |
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION |
|
A06291108 |
1 |
4/20/2006 |
4/20/2006 |
BIENNIAL REPORT FILED |
|
W00575333 |
1 |
6/23/2008 |
6/23/2008 |
AGENT'S CHANGE OF OFFICE |
|
A08291108 |
1 |
7/1/2008 |
7/1/2008 |
BIENNIAL REPORT FILED |
A general search shows Kline Electric, Inc. an electrical contractor, at a different address: 502 N Ankeny Blvd Ste 20, Ankeny, Iowa.
Hy-Vee is a large grocery store chain that together builds its own stores. Like many corporations they have found access to capital through selling stores to investors at a price determined on a low capitalization rate of the annual lease payments. One way to increase the net profit on the sale end is to lower your construction costs. There are various ways to accomplish lower costs, labor being one. Are these electrical workers union trained workers with stringent electrical safety training or workers who have learned the trade here and there? We have no way of knowing Mr. Turney’s background, but the news items from Radio Iowa and KITM fail to mention any union hall affiliation. Safety training is an important tool for your tool box. It’s not something you reach in and grab to show someone; it’s just something that may save your life.
So what might have caused this electrician to get electrocuted? My guess is that it’s a failure for the construction site workers to follow lock-out tag-out procedures. I could be wrong, but many times that is the breakdown or failure that kills a working electrician on the job site. I’ve got a section on the Lombardi Law Firm website dedicated to proper lock-out tag-out protocol. Essentially this is what LOTO is about. We’ve included blogs, video and helpful resources for you to learn more. Remember, safety first. I’ve personally handled these types of cases and I’m sorry to say the workers usually died and I represented the widows and children. I’ve included examples of other workers who have died when others on the construction site fail to follow the LOTO procedure.
On the Injuryboard I’ve covered this subject and also others have as well. See the following posts.
Construction Safety and Trial Lawyer Skills: LOTO or Lockout ...
Yesterday we covered Lockout/Tagout safety rules in a very general way. Today we look at it as lawyers are required. What is the law of Lockout/Tagout? ... 101k
Construction Safety: Video Training of LOTO or Lockout/Tagout ...
... Miscellaneous. Miscellaneous. Construction Safety: Video Training of LOTO or Lockout/Tagout Procedures for Electricians. Email Member. ... 99k
Construction Safety: The risk of being electrocuted | InjuryBoard ...
... The rules are known as the “lockout/tagout” procedure rules. ... 1. Define what is meant by Lock Out Tag Out (LOTO or Lockout/Tagout) and when it is used. ... 101k
"Worker Error" Hides Poor Management | InjuryBoard Tampa Bay
... It's called the "Lockout-Tagout" standard, technically known as the "Control of Hazardous Energy" standard, and is used to protect workers who may be repairing ... 101k
InjuryBoard Des Moines Archives | January 2009
Des Moines Personal Injury Lawyer | January 2009 Archives | InjuryBoard Des Moines. 101k
Being an electrician is dangerous. A good working knowledge of safety is essential.
When working on the electrical system of any job site all electricians and other workers involved must disconnect the power at the main box, then place a lock with their name tag on the electrical junction box door so no one is able to turn the power back on while they are touching the otherwise live wires. If another worker at the same time wishes to work on the electrical system, he too places his lock and tag on the first lock. That signals the first guy that someone else is working on the electrical system and needs to contact before the electrical juice is turned back on.
So what happens that makes this system not work? Well, people don’t follow the LOTO procedure. The general contractor in charge of the site doesn’t enforce the rules, things get slack and pretty soon you have a safety culture that is corrupted and it can lead to the death of a worker.
Did it happen in this instance? We don’t know. I’m sure IOSH along with OSHA are investigating and will get to the bottom of it.
For the young electricians out there pick up an application with Iowa’s electrician’s apprenticeship program and learn the ins and outs of safety. The electrician’s union has offices in Des Moines, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Mason City, Sioux City and Waterloo. Remember a good safety education through the IBEW Local 347 in Central Iowa may save your life.
Hy-Vee began in the 1930’s by two men, Charles Hyde (1883-1970) and David Vredenburg. With a goal to provide “good merchandise, appreciative service and low prices,” Charles Hyde (1883-1970) and David Vredenburg (1884-1949) opened a small store in Beaconsfield, Iowa, in 1930. The store was leased only a few weeks before the stock market crash of October, 1929. The two men began calling their operation Hyde & Vredenburg in 1933.
Today Hy-Vee has grown to more than just a grocery story. They also team up with Weitz Construction to build these stores. That company is known as Hy-Vee Weitz Construction.
“Since 1995 Hy-Vee Weitz Construction has built its reputation on award-winning, quality construction for Hy-Vee, Inc. We are now prepared to offer our extensive services to a broader market.”
The dependent spouse and children are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits as well as other damages if liability can be shown arising from another contractor’s employee’s negligent actions. Protect yourself, know your rights and be diligent about enforcing them.
La misión de OSHA
Más de 100 millones de trabajadores cuentan con OSHA
La misión de OSHA es la de asegurar la seguridad y salud de los trabajadores in América estableciendo y haciendo cumplir normas, ofrecimiento de adiestramientos y educación, estableciendo asociaciones y motivando a un mejoramiento continuo en la seguridad y salud en el lugar de trabajo.
Nuestros servicios
OSHA y sus socios estatales disponen de aproximadamente 2100 inspectores, así como de investigadores de quejas por discriminación, ingenieros, médicos, educadores, redactores de normas y de otro personal técnico y de apoyo en más de 200 oficinas en todo el país. Estos profesionales establecen normas de protección, aplican dichas normas y se relacionan con empleadores y empleados mediante programas de asesoramiento y de asistencia técnica.
El público que servimos
Casi todo hombre o mujer en la nación se halla al amparo de la jurisdicción de OSHA (aunque existen ciertas excepciones entre mineros, trabajadores del transporte, muchos empleados del sector público y trabajadores independientes). Otros usuarios y recipientes de los servicios de OSHA incluyen: profesionales de la seguridad y salud ocupacional, la comunidad académica, abogados, periodistas y personal de otras organizaciones gubernamentales.
Plan para el mejoramiento de servicio
OSHA ha determinado utilizar eficazmente sus recursos limitados con el fin de promover el compromiso entre la administracion de la empresa y la participacion de empleados en programas de salud y seguridad en el trabajo.
Estudio de nuestro público
El personal de OSHA se dedica a mejorar la calidad de nuestros esfuerzos y sabe que nuestro éxito depende de una agencia cuyo impulso mayor es el compromiso al servicio público. OSHA debe primeramente escuchar y responder a sus clientes. Por lo tanto, hemos realizado una encuesta cuyo fin es saber más sobre la opinión que tienen los empleadores y los empleados de los servicios de OSHA.
Debido a que las inspecciones de los lugares de trabajo representan una de las actividades principales de OSHA y ya que los esfuerzos voluntarios para mejorar las condiciones laborales finalmente dependen de una aplicación firma de la ley, nuestra encuesta enfocó principalmente el proceso de inspección. Hemos realizado una encuesta al alzar entre empleados y empleadores que fueron inspeccionados por OSHA recientemente pidiendo su opinión de la inspección en particular y de las normas y otras actividades educacionales y de ayuda en general.
Normas del servicio
Hemos basado las nuevas normas de OSHA para el servicio público se basan en lo que aprendimos de las encuestas, de reuniones con grupos de empleados y de empleadores y de grupos de discusión con trabajadores de varias plantas e industrias en todo el país.
Nuestro programa para el mejoramiento del servicio público se realizará en forma continua. Seguiremos recopilando información sobre la calidad de nuestro desempeño en la entrega de servicios en areas que no forman parte de la encuesta de este año, especialmente en el sector de la construcción. Además, el año próximo tenemos previsto aprender más sobre la reacción del público frente a nuestros programas de asistencia y asesoramiento.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. Knowing your rights and how to protect yourself is important. Always be alert to risks that can cause you injury or get you killed. Steve Lombardi provides commentary and insight on this blog, The Verdict and also writes for the Des Moines market of the InjuryBoard.com and on occasion on the Des Moines Register web site. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses for all types of accidents and injuries. Attorney Steve Lombardi is a personal injury lawyer. Join us in making the world a safer place. (515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com )
Peosta, Iowa trench collapse (Zimmerman) is why construction workers need to protect themselves
I’ve written before about trench safety and how to avoid trench collapses. It’s obvious to me that some employers just don’t practice trench safety or trench collapse prevention. That means the workers need to be aware of how to stay safe while digging or being in a trench.
It’s being reported about a construction worker digging at a construction site in Peosta, Iowa that needed to be rescued after being buried up to his neck in soft dirt that collapsed onto him. His name is Adam Zimmerman of Monticello, Iowa. The crew he was working with was digging a trench to install geothermal heating system at a house. He was working for Kraus Plumbing and Heating of Monticello, Iowa. The dug him out and took him to the hospital in Dubuque.
Workers need to know how to protect themselves and if you say no to get into a trench and you employers fires you call IOSH and a lawyer. They can’t ask you to do something that could kill you when they are guilty of violating the safety laws of this state. That’s called retaliation and it too is illegal.
Here is the list of articles previously posted dealing with trench safety.
1. Construction Safety - Trench Collapse | Lombardi Law Firm
Jul 11, 2008 ... Marion, IL worksite saw the untimely deaths of two construction workers this past March when a trench caved in and buried the two men under ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../construction-safety-trench-collapse.cfm - Cached - Similar -
2. Construction Site Safety - A trench box would have saved the ...
Bartow County, Georgia – The construction site in Bartow County off I-75 exit 296 experienced a trench collapse; then a worker fell 20 feet and was buried. ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../construction-site-safety-a-trench-box-would-have-saved-the-georgian-tunnel-worker.cfm - Cached - Similar -
3. Trench Collapses On Pittsburgh Man | Lombardi Law Firm
Trench Collapses On Pittsburgh Man as he visits someone in the apartments. - 515-222-1110 - Three Fountains Office Park 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 112 West ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../trench-collapses-on-pittsburgh-man.cfm - Cached - Similar -
4. Workers Safety: Trench Collapses on builder worker | Lombardi Law Firm
Workers Safety: Trench Collapses on builder worker - 515-222-1110 - Three Fountains Office Park 4200 Corporate Drive, Suite 112 West Des Moines, IA 50266.
www.lombardilaw.com/.../workers-safety-trench-collapses-on-builder-worker.cfm - Cached - Similar -
5. Construction Worker Safety: Trench collapse and rescue operations ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWpk7bZvvcs. Construction Worker Safety: Trench collapse and rescue operations - new sewer line, worker dies. ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../construction-worker-safety-trench-collapse-and-rescue-operations-new-sewer-line.cfm - Cached - Similar -
6. Construction Worker Safety: Trench collapse and rescue operations ...
In this video clip you will how many rescue workers it takes to save the life of one construction worker trapped in a cave-in or collapsed trench.
www.lombardilaw.com/.../construction-worker-safety-trench-collapse-and-rescue-operations-to-avoid-death-of-the-injured-w.cfm - Cached - Similar -
He was able to climb out of the trench but took only a few steps before collapsing and died at the scene. The employee of Simmons Co., of Pittsboro was ...
www.lombardilaw.com/news.cfm?page=4&catid=-1 - Cached - Similar -
8. Construction Site Accidents | Central Iowa Accident Attorney ...
A construction worker was crushed to death when a trench collapsed in Brooklyn. .... Construction Site Safety – Trench boxes stop collapsing trenches from ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../construction-site-accidents2.cfm - Cached - Similar -
9. Construction Site Safety – Trench boxes stop collapsing trenches ...
At Lombardi Law we make it a point to blog about the issues that affect those who are effected by accidents. Call us for a FREE evaluation of your case ...
www.lombardilaw.com/.../construction-site-safety-trench-boxes-stop-collapsing-trenches-from-trapping-workers.cfm - Cached - Similar -
10. The Lombardi Law Firm Blog | Lombardi Law Firm
Construction Site Safety - A trench box would have saved the Georgian tunnel ... So why are the rules for safety not followed when it involves trench work? ...
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Scaffolding collapse in Texas at Austin's 21 Rio Condo Project points to safety changes needing to be made.
Brooks Schuelke, an attorney from Austin with Perlmutter & Schuelke writes about a scaffolding collapse at Austin’s 21 Rio Condo Project. Here in the Lombardi Law Firm site we have discussed scaffolding safety on several occasions. We stand by what we’ve stated and what attorney Schuelke writes in his post, Scaffold Collapse At Austin's 21 Rio Condo Project Demonstrates The Need For Fall Safety Systems, June 10, 2009.
Other Readings:
Construction Safety - Construction Accidents: Scaffolding Safety ...
... 1910.28(a)(6). Any scaffold damaged or weakened from any cause shall be immediately repaired and shall not be used until repairs have been completed. ... 101k
Why are construction workers killed from falls when fall ...
Another death resulted in a fall from a swinging scaffold hear Thompson, Iowa. A Minnesota man was working on a construction ... 101k
Construction Safety - Collapsing Scaffolding injures six and kills ...
... Two Indiana construction workers fell 40 feet to the ground when the scaffold they were working on collapsed. The scaffold had a ... 101k
The following law firm is separate from the Lombardi Law Firm, the two are not associated, although we do recommend them for Texas litigation involving construction accidents:
You can contact Perlmutter & Schuelke, LLP at 1717 W. 6th Street, Ste. 375 Austin, Texas 78703 or by telephone at (512)476-4944 http://www.civtrial.com. (512) 476-4944 or by e-mail at mlp@civtrial.com.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
WORKER SAFETY: Saw kickback can cause serious injury and death, like this Wisconsin worker
In a freak accident WEAU 13 News reports on a terrible accident involving a trench worker. In this incident being investigated by OSHA, 33-year-old Eugene Hakes, Jr., of Cadott was working for A-1 Excavating on a job site using a saw, it kicked back cutting his throat and causing his death. He was working in a trench cutting pipe, using a gas powered cut-saw to saw through a water main while putting in a new pump stations for the City of New Richmond in Wisconsin.
See Saw Blade Kickback, What Causes Kickback? DeKalb Saw and Tool.
Know your tools, don't be foolish or in a hurry.
How To Avoid Saw Kickback
Chainsaw Safety
Chainsaw Kickbacks
This worker's family, wife and children, should still be entitled to workers' compensation benefits. If you need help finding a lawyer in Wisconsin, contact the Lombardi Law Firm, we will gladly assist you.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Construction Site Safety - Crushed worker dies from a lack of the right safety culture
A 28-year old construction worker was crushed and killed while attempting to change a piece of equipment on the job in Prior Lake. OSHA is inspecting.
The man, whose name was not released, was trying to change the bucket on a skid loader around 2:30 p.m. when he somehow got pinned between the bucket and the cab of the machine, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Office. He was working at Applied Ecological Services Inc. in the 21000 block of Mushtown Road.
There is no time-out from employing the right safety rules at the job site. Construction work is extremely unforgiving and dangerous.
"Four" Safety - Implement OSHA's Four-Step Safety Program – requires a culture of safety.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Construction Site Safety - Crushed worker dies from a lack of the right safety culture
A 28-year old construction worker was crushed and killed while attempting to change a piece of equipment on the job in Prior Lake. OSHA is inspecting. Iowa has had many of these types of crush injuries. Not so often about the head but to the arms, fingers, hands, feet and legs.
The man, whose name was not released, was trying to change the bucket on a skid loader around 2:30 p.m. when he somehow got pinned between the bucket and the cab of the machine, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Office. He was working at Applied Ecological Services Inc. in the 21000 block of Mushtown Road.
There is no time-out from employing the right safety rules at the job site. Construction work is extremely unforgiving and dangerous.
"Four" Safety - Implement OSHA's Four-Step Safety Program – requires a culture of safety.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Construction Site Safety: Being your own contractor can be a tough way to save money.
Disgruntled drywaller kills over how much he was to be paid
In front of co-workers a drywaller shot and killed the homeowner following a dispute as to how much he was to be paid. The homeowner was only 43-years of age. The Jackson County, Missouri man then held up in his pick-up truck and held police off for several hours while negotiations ensued. It’s unclear what they were negotiating but the man asked to speak to his family and was thrown a phone.
Building a house and acting as your own contractor can be very difficult. Vendors in the construction trade will often times underbid the project to get the job hoping they can later increase the amount charged for worked added by the homeowner-contractor or latent defects that cause additional work. It’s frustrating to deal with these issues and with angry vendors. Everyone senses they are being played and in the end tempers can flare. Using a written contract is a one way of resolving disputes. All contracts should be bid and all bids should include a break down of time and materials along with a firm completion date.
Getting so mad that violence erupts is never the answer.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Construction Site Safety - A trench box would have saved the Georgian tunnel worker
Bartow County, Georgia – The construction site in Bartow County off I-75 exit 296 experienced a trench collapse; then a worker fell 20 feet and was buried. Firefighters worked furiously to save the man’s life, but couldn’t get to him. The job was making way for a new sewer line. The incident was thirty feet down and forty feet under the roadway, where the man was trapped.
This isn’t rocket science, its dirt work. You follow the safety rules and no one gets hurt, you don’t and someone can die. It’s really that simple. So why are the rules for safety not followed when it involves trench work?
Follow the link to see the video with Stacy Elgin reporting for Fox 5 News.
While we are talking about tunnels and how easily they can collapse let me draw your attention to tunnels in the Middle East. While researching this story I ran across a truly fascinating story about underground tunnels as a way to survive. There is an entire commercial enterprise on digging, running goods through and in owning the underground tunneling system in the Palestinian territories.
“Since Israel imposed its siege on Gaza after Hamas won democratic legislative elections in January 2006, the number of Palestinians tied to some segment of the tunnel industry has grown in direct proportion to the increasing lack of availability of raw materials and basic necessities, including food, fuel and medicine. Palestinian sources estimate that some 6,000 people are employed as diggers in the hundreds of tunnels crisscrossing the Gaza-Egyptian border.
But tunnels are not the romantic passageways portrayed in Hollywood films about World War II or Vietnam. You can die simply upon entering one—as a result of the tunnel collapsing, of suffocation from the tear gas lobbed in by Egyptian authorities, or from electrocution caused by the willy-nilly wiring jerry-rigged to provide lighting and ventilation. You can die simply by getting lost in the maze, or from breathing in the unstable sand. If you’re lucky, your body will be found and given a proper burial.
Like the toll houses of a bygone era, Gaza’s tunnels are owned by individuals who collect fees for their use. One such owner is Abu Khaled, a father of seven. Although he doesn’t dare traverse the 30- to 45-foot tunnel himself for fear it might collapse, Abu Khaled is among a growing number of tunnel entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia corridor, Rafah’s no-man’s-land between Gaza and Egypt. Others involved in the industry include diggers, runners, smugglers and merchants.
Tunnel owners earn $300 for each 100 pounds of goods smuggled in. (Smuggling animals for Gaza’s zoo can net up to $3,000 each!) With this revenue Abu Khaled supports 20 workers: diggers who do the dirty work, and runners who transport the goods. “
Hard to believe this can be the way people are living in this world. What is harder to believe is that the United States spent $28 Million coming up with a tunnel detection system. We can’t get contractors to spend the money for renting tunnel wall supports but we can spend $28 Million on equipment to locate them in the Middle East.
“Under pressure from Washington, Egypt recently escalated its efforts to shut down the tunnels, destroying scores in the past months and fast-tracking the acquisition and implementation of a new $28 million U.S.-made tunnel detection system. Israeli sources confirm that U.S. experts are working with the Egyptians to find and expose the tunnels along the Philadelphia corridor.
Providing the means for Gaza’s businesses to remain operating is a most lucrative form of smuggling. One tunnel owner who just a few months ago could afford nothing and used donkey carts for transportation now has enough money to afford luxury jeeps and merchandise for his wife.
The tunnels are not only used to supply Gazans with food, clothing, medicine, fuel and spare parts, however. They also make it possible to reunite families who have become separated when their non-Palestinian spouses find themselves prevented from reaching their husbands, wives or children as a result of the Israeli-imposed border closures. In desperation, they pay handsomely to be smuggled in or out of Gaza. One smuggler admits to having received $1,000 to reunite a European wife with her Palestinian husband and children living in Gaza.”
Is it only me or do other people see a failure of logic and sound economic policy in all of this?
Back to trench safety in America. Look at this video clip about trench safety. It will help you understand the concept.
Construction Safety - Excavator trench servicing and backfilling
OSHA has plenty of information available on trench and excavation safety.
Trenching and Excavation – by OSHA
The primary hazard of trenching and excavation is employee injury from collapse. Soil analysis is important in order to determine appropriate sloping, benching, and shoring. Additional hazards include working with heavy machinery; manual handling of materials; working in proximity to traffic; electrical hazards from overhead and underground power-lines; and underground utilities, such as natural gas. The following references aid in recognizing and controlling some of the hazards associated with trenching and excavation.
Special Emphasis: Trenching and Excavation. OSHA Directive CPL 02-00-069 [CPL 2.69], (1985, September 19). Establishes a National Emphasis Program (NEP) for the programmed safety inspection of trenching and excavation operations.
Working Outdoors in Warm Climates. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2005, September), 26 KB PDF, 2 pages.
OSHA offers a pamphlet on trench and excavation safety. Here are the warnings.
Protect Yourself
Trench Safety - OSHA 3197-04N-04
• Do not enter an unprotected trench!
• Trench collapses cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year.
• Trenches 5 feet deep or greater require a protective system.
• Trenches 20 feet deep or greater require that the protective system be designed by a registered professional engineer.
Protective Systems for Trenches
• Sloping protects workers by cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation.
• Shoring protects workers by installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement.
• Shielding protects workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins.
Competent Person OSHA standards require that trenches be inspected daily and as conditions change by a competent person prior to worker entry to ensure elimination of excavation hazards.
Safety Tips
• Inspect trenches at the start of each shift, following a rainstorm or after any other hazardous event.
• Test for low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases before entering a trench.
• Keep heavy equipment and excavation spoils at least two feet away from the trench edge.
• Provide stairways, ladders, ramps or other safe means of access in all trenches 4 feet or deeper.
Like I said it’s not rocket science. Construction workers, be smart, be safe and don’t risk your life for a boss and company that are too stupid and greedy to take the right safety measures. Know how to do the job the right way and if the boss or company asks you to do it wrong, call OSHA. If they fire you call a lawyer. Better to make the OSHA call then your wife calling the morgue.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Construction Site Safety - Crane operator from St. Louis County dies during disassembly
From the Lombardi Law Firm News...
A crane operator’s apprentice was killed in Maryland Heights as he was assisting the operator disassembling the crane. With his harness hooked into the crane’s cable he was pulled into the crane. The young man, Steve Michael Lillicrap was only 21 years-of-age. He was from St. Louis County. The work site was the Edward Jones north campus at Building B-1.
OSHA will inspect to determine the cause and how this could have been prevented. Here is a link and the sources for crane hazard evaluation that OSHA has available to those apprentices working with cranes.
To a crane operator, few experiences can be as frightening as when a crane becomes unbalanced while a load is being lifted or when the crane collapses under the weight of an excessive load. The following references aid in recognizing and evaluating hazards in the workplace.
Working Outdoors in Warm Climates. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2005, September), 26 KB PDF, 2 pages.
Key Switch Controlled Elevating and Rotating Aerial Lifts. OSHA Technical Information Bulletin (TIB), (2002, April 11). Also available as a 15 KB PDF, 3 pages. Informs users of aerial lifts that emergency rescue of employees on the lifts can be delayed.
Crane or Derrick Suspended Personnel Platforms. OSHA Publication 3100, (2002). Also available as a 205 KB PDF, 46 pages.
Construction Resource Manual: Table of Contents. OSHA. Includes links to various sections on crane and hoist safety.
DOE-STD-1090-2004; Hoisting and Rigging Standard (Formerly Hoisting and Rigging Manual). US Department of Energy (DOE), (2004, June). Provides a table of contents to a reference document to be used by supervisors, line managers, safety personnel, equipment operators, and any other personnel responsible for safety of hoisting and rigging operations at DOE sites.
Mobile Crane Inspection Guidelines for OSHA Compliance Officers. OSHA, (1994, June). Provides a generic, non-exhaustive overview of mobile crane inspection guidelines.
Crane modifications. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin (HIB), (1993, April 19). Discusses hazardous conditions created as a result of modifications for "auger piling" operations.
Hoist Practices: Better safe than sorry. Industrial Distribution, (2001, October 23). Raises awareness of hoist safety issues and recommends safe work practices.
Improper Support of an Elevator Car During Installation. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin (HIB), (1995, June 22). OSHA investigated a fatality involving an elevator car sling and platform (these are also known as platforms, car frames and platforms, car slings, car frames, and safety planks) which was improperly supported during the erection and installation of a traction elevator.
Crane Safety. US Department of Energy (DOE), Occupational Safety Observer, (1993, August). Discusses two separate incidents at DOE sites where cranes became unbalanced, as well as a related industrial incident in which a crane collapsed.
Crane Safety for the Site Superintendent. OSHA, (1992), Video, 8 minutes. Links to a video that discusses some of the hazards and risks involved in crane operations and identifies information managers should be familiar with if cranes are operating on their site.
For additional information, see OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Pages on:
OSHA and Crane, Hoist and Monorail Alliance
Fact Sheet No. 1: Proper Inspection and Maintenance of Overhead Cranes and Hoists. 94 KB DOC*, 1 page. Describes standards, reference manuals and safety tips for the application and operation of overhead material handling equipment.
Fact Sheet No. 2: Hoists, Cranes and Pullers - Safety & Warning Labels and Test Certification. 89 KB DOC*, 1 page. Identifies items that operators and inspectors need to know when purchasing, installing or using hoist, crane and puller equipment.
Safety Tips Sheet No. 1: Proper use of Hand Signals for cab-controlled cranes. 300 KB DOC*, 1 page. Includes nine industry standard hand signals that are used for communication between the operator in the crane’s cab and the floor person.
Safety Tips Sheet No. 2: Pre-operational equipment check of Cranes and Hoists. 82 KB DOC*, 1 page. Includes a pre-operational equipment checklist for cranes and hoists.
Safety Tips Sheet No. 3: Safe Lifting Practices. 87 KB DOC*, 1 page. Describes safe lifting practices for moving loads of material.
Safety Tips Sheet No. 4: Hoist Operation. 87 KB DOC*, 1 page. Describes what an operator should and should not do while operating a hoist.
After a worker is injured is when they need the support of their employer the most. But injured workers aren't given a level playing field. The company doctor often times is not helping them and the case manager isn't either. The worker is left alone to fend for themselves and to make mistakes that result in lower benefits or fewer weeks of benefits. Some are sent back to work too soon. There is only one person on your side and that understands this system. If your lawyer doesn't understand the nature of this claim you've got the wrong lawyer. Steve Lombardi has practiced in the area of workers compensation for almost 30 years. He's tried hundreds of cases for more than one thousand clients. If you'd like help finding a competent lawyer we do assist people in locating a lawyer in Iowa or in Illinois. Call us.
If you have a question about your case, give us a call or drop us an email. LOMBARDI LAW FIRM - 515-222-1110 or sdlombardi@aol.com. If you or your spouse are involved in a work accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim.
Construction Site Safety - Falling brick kills worker
A 31-year old construction worker from Boston was killed yesterday when a large piece of the foundation, described as a “2-foot piece of brick fell on him.” The site is in the Financial District at Russia Wharf at the corner of Congress Street and Atlantic Avenue. OSHA is inspecting.
Construction Site Safety – Trench boxes stop collapsing trenches from trapping workers
On October 22, 2008 a 20-year-old man from Lenox, Mass. was working at a construction site occupying an excavated trench. No trench box was being used and the 8 foot deep, 2 to 3 foot wide trench he was standing in collapsed onto him, burying him and causing him to suffocate to death. The side of the trench that caved in on him was sand and clay. The trench was designed to be where drain pipes would be laid for someone's home. Although the construction owner had a good safety record and cared very much for his workers, his caring mattered little when this 20-year-old died on that job site.
Question: So how could this tragedy have been avoided?
Answer: A trench box.
A trench box would have prevented this accident. OSHA requires use of a trench box in this instance. Here is what 29 CFR 1926.652 states regarding protecting workers in excavations.
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Regulations (Standards - 29 CFR) - Table of Contents
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• Part Number: |
1926 |
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• Part Title: |
Safety and Health Regulations for Construction |
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• Subpart: |
P |
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• Subpart Title: |
Excavations |
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• Standard Number: |
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• Title: |
Requirements for protective systems. |
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Protection of employees in excavations. Each employee in an excavation shall be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with paragraph (b) or (c) of this section except when: Excavations are made entirely in stable rock; or Excavations are less than 5 feet (1.52 m) in depth and examination of the ground by a competent person provides no indication of a potential cave-in. Protective systems shall have the capacity to resist without failure all loads that are intended or could reasonably be expected to be applied or transmitted to the system. |
Simply put any employee working five feet or more below grade in an excavated area must be protected by a shielding system that prevents exactly what occurred in this case; a cave in that traps the construction worker.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Construction Safety: Storm Lake Iowa construction worker killed by falling beam.
Construction Safety: Storm Lake Iowa construction worker killed by falling beam.
Construction worker killed by falling beam - Jose Gustavo Sivrian, was killed by a falling beam at the construction site of Fresh Egg Farms in Lemars, Iowa. Mr. Sivrian is a national of El Salvador, he was 21-years-old. IOSH and OSHA are investigating the incident that killed him. He worked for S & L Construction of Storm Lake, Iowa. The site is in Plymouth County, Iowa.
Injuries caused by falling beams are not new to construction sites. On November 10, 2008 at a construction site in Charlotte, North Carolina a crane dropped several steel beams from a bundle of steel near an uptown building under construction. The falling beams caused more than six windows to shatter as they fell and landed next to a school bus. .
The debris narrowly missed a school bus and seriously shook up the driver.
In 2006 a 42-year-old worker suffered a head injury and needed surgery when he was struck by a steel beam. That was a construction site to demolish a building. And on July 25, 2006 a similar incident occurred in Denver, Colorado when “two people were injured …. when braces that were holding a construction beam in place at a home north of Longmont gave way. The beam fell on the construction workers, critically injuring one of them.”
There are many more construction site incidents which seem to be increasing. Tomorrow we will explore several of these incidents from around the globe. Join us to see how recent construction site accidents are causing injury. If you know how others are getting injured and killed maybe you can stay away from being injured.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Construction Site Safety - In the news, worker deaths on the rise.
Construction accidents resulting in death have been more numerous lately. It may be a result of safety rules being ignored due to tighter deadlines resulting from the economic conditions we find ourselves. It doesn't matter in what countries the workers work the risk of death, wrongful death or being killed are prevalent in this high risk profession. People who come into contact with construction sites and those supporting the construction trades are also at risk.
Plane crash - 6 workers died on their way to the Plutonic Power Corp's Toba Inlet hydro power plant in South Thormanby Island, British Columbia. One worker miraculously who was asleep awoke and walked away from the burning plane wreckage. This is the second Grumman Goose plane to crash in Canada this year. Reuters of Canada also reported on this construction crew plane crash.
Heavy equipment overturn - A Colorado heavy equipment operator was killed when the crane he was driving went into a small ravine and creek near the construction site. Nov. 18, 2008. A video is available.
Second floor collapse while pouring concrete - Two workers rescued from under the ruble of a hospital construction site in Meridian, Mississippi. There were 12 to 15 workers on the floor when it collapsed. No fatalities reported.
Balance lost while installing windows on the seventh floor fall kills worker - While installing windows on the seventh floor of the construction site the worker lost his balance and fell to his death.
Road construction worker hit by passing dump truck - Five years ago this occurred in Vineland, New Jersey. The driver of the dump truck has never been found.
A LeMars, Iowa construction worker was killed with a steel beam fell on him - A 21 year old Storm Lake, Iowa man was killed. S & L Construction of Storm Lake is building for Center Fresh Egg. Iowa OSHA is inspecting. In Iowa they are called IOSH. The worker is Jose Gustavo Sivrian, originally from El Salvatore. The accident is being investigated not only by OSHA but along with the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office.
Subway collapse in China kills 4 workers - when a 75 meter long section collapsed trapping the workers. This is the Railway Construction Group.
Landslide at the Johor Baru construction site - killed two Indonesian workers who were building a hospital with their crew. There is no mention of whether the construction practices being used at the site contributed to the earth and dirt instability.
Wall collapse in New Delhi, Indian killed one and injured two construction workers - Allegations have been leveled against the owner over illegal construction of the first floor level.
Dismantling a crane lead to a guardrail being cut on a platform attached to a tower crane - This New York construction site mishap caused the death of one worker and cost the two crane operator $50,000.00 and suspended licenses.
Hoisting materials and being under the load - This construction worker at a site in the town of San Pedro was killed when the pulley broke and the pallet of materials fell onto him. He was crushed by cement and tiles. The investigation is pointing to defective nails used to secure the pulley to the fourth floor of the building under construction.
Exploding inert gas cylinders at a UK construction project kills one worker and injures another - "The blast at the Hertfordshire Data Centre on the Mundells Industrial Estate was described by fire officials as a "large scale incident," which investigators say was caused by a cylinder of argonite, (sic: perhaps aragonite) an inert gas used in data center fire suppression systems." Once ignited the cylinders became missiles firing and randomly flying about the site.
Lawrence, Massachusetts road construction site backing over accident kills a worker - at a highway paving project on I-495 a 31 year old worker was backed onto by a truck on the site.
Equipment falling into trench as the ground under the excavator moving the heavy tank falls gave way or the equipment simply tipped over onto the worker burying him within the excavation.
Chula Vista construction worker killed by falling beam from crossbeam holding a wall - demolition work to make room for a new San Diego convention center.
Cab passenger driving past a construction area was killed by 200 foot high falling crane - Only 30 years of age and a promising life killed when the mast popped off and fell. Follow the link to see photos of the construction area following the collapsed crane. Also killed was a construction worker. Defective bolts could be the cause of the crane's mast coming off.
Repairing construction equipment kills worker when equipment pins him - Grinding wheel of a large wood-chipping machine clogged, worker idles the engine, but didn't shut if off, worker in the repair process inadvertently engages lever that operates the chute, causing the chute to move and pinning the worker against a steel wall resulting in his suffocating to death. The worker was 58 years of age.
Home under construction in Miami, collapsing concrete wall kills one worker and traps another for almost one hour. Victim was 49-years-old.
U.S. Department of Labor indicates that in 2007 3.7 workers per one hundred thousand workers were killed.
Freak accident on Indianapolis road construction site.
A road construction worker working alone and removing pieces of sewer pipe died from a gash across his throat. He was able to climb out of the trench but took only a few steps before collapsing and died at the scene. The employee of Simmons Co., of Pittsboro was using a power saw equipped with guard must have had the saw kick back with such force that it jumped across his throat causing a gash. Reported by Bruce Smith of the Indianapolis Star. Fellow workers who rendered aid were unable to stop the bleeding in time. The hand saw was gas-powered. The Indianapolis Occupational and Safety Administration along with Simmons, Co. are investigating the incident. There was no report as to the make and model of saw involved. MSNBC did not report on the saw type, age or model number.
Video clip is available at Police Video News from the local station Channel 8, WISH, a CBS affiliate.
OSHA defines kickback as:
KICK-BACK: A strong thrust of the saw back toward the faller generally resulting from improper use of the nose of the bar or the pinching of the bar in a cut. Kickback causes loss of control of the saw and this in turn results in numerous saw cuts each year. Kick-back also refers to a tree jumping back over the stump toward the faller. This kind of kick-back generally results from a tree being felled into standing timber and/or lack of stump-shot.
OSHA provides a list of the 100 most cited OSHA Construction Standards and provides the top 25 physical hazards.
”Fatalities and injuries due to accidents continue to besiege the construction industry. In an effort to help employers, employees and OSHA compliance personnel (CSHO's) identify hazards that are causing accidents; OSHA has compiled listings in this report of the 100 Most Cited Standards in the construction industry. The purposes of the report are to: 1) identify the hazards causing accidents that are associated with the most frequently cited OSHA construction standards; 2) educate the employer, employee and CSHO on hazards found on construction sites and to offer suggestions for eliminating, controlling or mitigating the hazards; 3) notify employers of the types of violations on construction sites that OSHA personnel find most frequently; and 4) provide information in a format that would be readily useable for safety talks, tool box meetings, etc.
The first part of this report contains two lists:
The first list includes the 100 most frequently cited construction standards. The second list of 100 covers only those citations for standards related to physical conditions on a job site. This list does not include citations for so called "paperwork" requirements such as the hazard communications standard (Code of Federal Regulations - Title 29 [CFR 29], 1926.59)and safety training and education (1926.21) but does include citations for standards such as hard hats (1926.100), guards for open sided floors (1926.500), etc. The report refers to the first list as the 100 Most Cited List and the second list as the 100 Most Cited Physical List.
The second part of this report (Chapters 4 and 5) focuses on the top 25 construction hazards from the 100 Most Cited Physical List and serves as a guide to the elimination, control and or mitigation of the physical hazards addressed by the standards cited.”
Construction Site Safety - Collapsing Scaffolding injures six and kills one Mississippi worker.
Collapsing scaffolding at a Mississippi power plant injured six workers and killed another. The site of this accident is the Mississippi Power’s Plant Daniel in Jackson County.
"Inside a boiler house, it's a very tight, narrow space that they were working in," said Mississippi Power Spokeswoman Cindy Duvall. "It's pretty high up. About 226 feet high is how high a boiler house will go. At the time, they were at 170 feet."
It took hours to locate and rescue or remove the workers from under the collapsed debris.
The InjuryBoard has several posts about construction site scaffolding safety. I, at the Des Moines InjuryBoard have posted about OSHA Rules.
Construction Safety - Construction Accidents: Scaffolding Safety Requirements, July 7, 2008
A search of the InjuryBoard with “scaffolding” brings up more than I’ve listed below. Visit the InjuryBoard and learn how to work smarter and safer.
Scaffolding Accidents Lawsuit Information - Find Trial Lawyers and ...
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Failure of scaffolding on a highway on ramp near Chico, California caused a catastrophic highway accident early this morning.108k
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Construction Site Safety - ROPS and why you need them.
Construction Site Safety – The AP reports on a Kentucky mine worker dying after his bulldozer tipped over when pushing debris over a 180-foot wall an American coal mine. He’s the twentieth coal miner killed this year in the U.S. Here in the Midwest, Iowa, we see this same type of accident when farmers driving tractors get too close to a field terrace. Terraces are used to impede erosion by getting hills layered by leveling strips of hillside land.
In agriculture, a terrace is a leveled section of a hilly cultivated area, designed as a method of soil conservation to slow or prevent the rapid surface runoff of irrigation water. Often such land is formed into multiple terraces, giving a stepped appearance. The human landscapes of rice cultivation in terraces that follow the natural contours of the escarpments like contour plowing is a classic feature of the island of Bali and the Banaue Rice Terraces in Benguet, Philippines. In Peru, the Inca made use of otherwise unusable slopes by drystone walling to create terraces. This form of land use is prevalent in many countries, and is used for crops requiring a lot of water, such as rice. Terraces are also easier for both mechanical and manual sowing and harvesting than a steep slope would be.
NIOSH investigates each incident. They have in-house and state based reports. Farming fatality rates from tractor rollovers is prevalent and accounts for a large number of farm deaths.
“Agriculture has one of the highest occupational fatality rates of all industries in the United States (1). Tractors and other types of agricultural equipment account for a large proportion of these fatalities, and farm-tractor rollovers account for approximately 130 work-related deaths each year in the United States (2). Although rollover protective structures (ROPS) are effective in protecting tractor operators from fatal injuries during rollovers (3-5), most tractors in the United States are not equipped with ROPS (4-7). Beginning in 1985, tractor manufacturers in the United Sates agreed to sell only tractors with ROPS; however, many older tractors without ROPS remain in use. To determine the prevalence of the use of ROPS, beginning in 1992, the Farm Family Health and Hazard Surveillance (FFHHS) program * collected state-based data on tractor age and use of ROPS from selected states. As of August 1997, four states had completed collection and analysis of data on farm tractors. This report summarizes the results of that survey, which indicates that 80%-90% of tractors in use in the four states were manufactured before 1985 and that less than 40% are equipped with ROPS.”
If you want an example of the types of tractor without rollover protection look up ABC’s Good Morning America with Chris Como and Sam Champion as they race tractors without rollover protection. It’s certainly not the smartest thing I’ve seen those two do. Watch closely because when Chris Como driving the green tractor during the tractor pull has rollover protection. When racing Sam Champion neither has a ROP. So this morning we have Chris Como with the do’s and don’ts of tractor ROPS. Thanks Chris, and congratulations on beating Sam.
Blahnik Construction fined by Iowa- OSHA for Quaker Oats Work Injuries Incident - Sling Safety
Iowa Construction Site Injuries – Safe and effective use of slings
Reported in the online Gazette, Blahnik Construction (Iowa Corp. No. 139932) was fined $7,000.00 for an incident in which two employees were injured when slings being used to lift a 12,000 pound compressor in an elevator shaft broke. The two employees were apparently pinned by the compressor when it fell. No report as to how far it fell or how stout the slings were that they were being using. Blahnik Construction Company is a corporation registered to do business in the State of Iowa. The Iowa Secretary of State’s website shows it to be a Code 490 Domestic Profit business with it’s home office at 150 50th Ave. Drive SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404. It’s been on file since December 29, 1989. The registered agent is Terry M. Kohout of the same address. The president is Timothy T. French of the same address.
Blahnik Construction has its own website wherein the company prides itself on having provided construction services for over 75 years. A company with that kind of history is one that would certainly be the kind encouraging employee training.
Welcome...
For over 75 years, Blahnik Construction Company has been providing commercial and industrial construction, plus equipment installation and maintenance services.
Blahnik Construction offers a total construction solution. Our qualifications include:
· A professional office staff and the area's most experienced field staff
· New and well maintained equipment to complete your project efficiently and economically
· A full service fabrication shop, producing structural and miscellaneous metals of all types
· A state of the art information management system, providing a full range of project management and accounting functions
· A never ending commitment to safety and employee training
· The ability to provide 24 hour operations to accommodate the most demanding schedules and client requirements
· In-house design capabilities
· The experience gained over 75 years of continuous operation
Why Blahnik?
Blahnik Construction has been building relationships for over three-fourths of a century. During that time we have focused on our clients expectations, offering personal, professional service at a competitive price. We have a thorough knowledge of the industries, businesses, facilities, and personnel that comprise the Eastern Iowa Market. We are committed to maintaining our reputation as a leading commercial and industrial contractor.
The Iowa Workers’ Compensation decisions show one case wherein Blahnik Construction is mentioned. Merle Wilson vs. SG Junker & Associates, April 17, 2001, File No. 1252806, Arbitration Decision by the Deputy. You can obtain a pdf version of the decision by following this link.
In Merle vs. SG Junker & Associates the following passage mentions Blahnik Construction:
After the claimant's recovery from the surgery for the work injury and full release to return to work, the claimant began work for Blahnik Construction Company in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at their work site for Quaker Oats Company. The claimant started work on October 4, 1999, for Blahnik and his rate of pay is $21.02 per hour. His job title now is millwright foreman. This new job does not require the claimant to lift although the claimant does keep his toolbox at work. He has only used that toolbox on about a dozen occasions since he began work there.
The claimant thinks that if he were no longer able to work as a millwright foreman and had to go back to working as a millwright, he would not be able to do the work because of the back surgery.
Since the surgery the claimant no longer golfs, boats, camps, or ice fishes. He feels he is no longer as attentive to his children and that he doesn't wrestle with his son any longer. The claimant realizes that he does not have restrictions but is concerned that he may hurt himself again and wouldn't be able to provide for his family. He sometimes still experiences back pain.
The full article doesn’t report the sections of OSHA regulations that were allegedly violated.
Sling safety on the OSHA site is discussed in detail and has been created due to the number of injuries caused by the moving of materials using improper methods.
To varying degrees, all employees in numerous workplaces take part in materials handling. Consequently, some employees are injured. In fact, the mishandling of materials is the single largest cause of accidents and injuries in the workplace. Most of these accidents and injuries, as well as the pain and loss of salary and productivity that often result, can be readily avoided. Whenever possible, mechanical means should be used to move materials to avoid employee injuries such as muscle pulls, strains, and sprains. In addition, many loads are too heavy and/or bulky to be safely moved manually. Various types of equipment, therefore, have been designed specifically to aid in the movement of materials: cranes, derricks, hoists, powered industrial trucks, and conveyors.
Workers should not be cutting corners or moving materials when they are not familiar with proper material handling techniques. To know how to move materials safely you need to know sling types.
Sling Types
The dominant characteristics of a sling are determined by the components of that sling. For example, the strengths and weaknesses of a wire rope sling are essentially the same as the strengths and weaknesses of the wire rope of which it is made.
Slings are generally one of six types: chain, wire rope, metal mesh, natural fiber rope, synthetic fiber rope, or synthetic web. In general, use and inspection procedures tend to place these slings into three groups: chain, wire rope and mesh, and fiber rope web. Each type has its own particular advantages and disadvantages. Factors to consider when choosing the best sling for the job include the size, weight, shape, temperature, and sensitivity of the material to be moved, as well as the environmental conditions under which the sling will be used.
If your employer doesn’t have someone knowledgeable about slings ask to be sent to a school for additional training. Training will help you to better understand safe lifting practices; size, weight, and center of gravity of the load; number of legs and angle with the horizontal, rated capacity of the sling; history or care and usage of the sling you’re being asked to use; proper maintenance of slings, chains, wire ropes and fiber & synthetic ropes. It’s always better to admit you’re not sure of how to safely do the job and to ask for training than to guess wrong. Employers would be wise to encourage safety programs that educate workers on safe material handling methods.
Training and Education
OSHA's area offices offer a variety of information services, such as publications. audiovisual aids, technical advice. and speakers special engagements. OSHA's Training Institute in Des Plaines, IL, provides basic and advanced courses in safety and health for federal and state compliance officers, state consultants, federal agency personnel, and private sector employers, employees, and their representatives.
OSHA also provides funds to nonprofit organizations. through grants, to conduct workplace training and education in subjects where OSHA believes there is a lack of workplace training. Grants are awarded annually. Grant recipients are expected to contribute 20 percent of the total grant cost.
For more information on grants, training and education, contact the OSHA Training Institute, Office of Training and Education, 1555 Times Drive. Des Plaines, IL 60018, (847) 297-4810. For further information on any OSHA program contact your nearest OSHA area or regional office listed at the end of this booklet.
The OSHA standard that applies is 1910.184. That standard has to do with rating capacity testing of slings and how much weight slings can safely handle.
The questions posed by your memorandum of June 7, 1988, are answered as follows:
1. The proof testing of slings is the responsibility of the sling manufacturer or equivalent entity as delineated by the standard at 29 CFR 1910.184(e)(4), (g)(5), and (i)(8)(ii). The employer shall retain a "certificate of proof test" and shall make it available for examination by OSHA compliance officers.
It is believed that any proof load testing of workplace slings by other than the manufacturer or equivalent entity is an unacceptable loading and would necessitate that the sling be taken out of service unless written permission to test is obtained form the sling manufacturer. Users of slings must not exceed the sling manufacturer's specifications and requirements pertaining to use and loadings.
The requirements imposed by the Boeing Company upon their subcontractors to repeatedly proof test slings to two (2) times rated load is not a recognized inspection procedure under the OSHA standards and would be a violation of 29 CFR 1910.184 (c)(4). However, should the sling manufacturer provide written permission to test the slings on a regular basis to a load greater than the designated working load, OSHA could consider the violation de minimus. Of course the procedures for such testing would also need to comply with the manufacturer's recommendations.
The repeated testing of spreader bars and similar equipment seems to provide little more assurance of continued reliability than the visual inspections required by the various standards, including OSHA's. Properly conducted visual inspections together with the careful reporting of misuse and various damaging exposures will provide for the continued reliability of the lifting equipment. Should periodic load testing be desired, it is recommended that slings be returned to the manufacturer or equivalent entity for the conduct of detailed inspection and load tests.
2. 29 CFR 1910.184(c)(4) prohibits loading any sling beyond the rated capacity.
3. Only the manufacturer or equivalent entity are permitted to proof test and certify.
4. Certification is exclusively the right of only the manufacturer of new slings. Repaired slings may be certified by an equivalent entity who made the repairs.
June 7, 1988
If a sling is damaged or worn it should never again be used. Throw it away and get a new one. If a sling is involved in an incident or accident don’t use it again.
A mandatory requirement in those regulations is that "Slings that are damaged or defective shall not be used." Obviously, following such a rule calls for frequent careful inspections. In the same regulation, and again in 29 CFR 1926.251 ("Rigging Equipment"), OSHA prescribes these inspection requirements:
"Each day before being used, the sling and all fastenings and attachments shall be inspected for damage or defect by a competent person designated by the employer. Additional inspections shall be performed during sling use, where service conditions warrant. Damaged or defective slings shall be immediately removed from service."
B30.16 applies to the construction, installation, operation, inspection, testing, and maintenance of hand chain-operated chain hoists and electric and air-powered chain and wire ropes hoists used for, but not limited to, vertical lifting and lowering of freely suspended, unguided, loads which consist of equipment and materials. Requirements for a hoist that is used for a special purpose, such as, but not limited to, tensioning a load, nonvertical lifting service, lifting a guided load, lifting personnel, or drawing both the load and the hoist up or down the load chain or rope when the hoist is attached to the load, are not included in this volume. (J11607)
There should be a documented history of inspections. If not you’ve got trouble brewing. Iowa has an approved plan. Simply phone 515-284-4794 or 515-281-5352.
All slings should have a documented inspection history, and be labeled with a durable tag permanently attached. Remember that the annual inspection interval is a maximum. Hard usage, or the first appearance of trouble at daily inspection, will justify closer surveillance. For any "thorough" inspection, follow the recommendations of ASME B30.16 (see box) and of the hoist or sling manufacturer.
Visit the U.S. Department of Labor website and learn as much as you can about the equipment you use during construction jobs.
Welcome to the Lombardi Law Firm website. We try to make our website an interesting source of information for construction workers trying to avoid injury and for those or their relatives who need answers after the worker is injured or killed while on the job site. Construction work is a dangerous occupation; one of the most dangerous. Construction workers face all kinds of risks of being injured or killed and we try to focus on those news items that will help you avoid being injured or killed. We are here to assist you to stay safe and alive. Call us if you have legal questions or if you have safety concerns. (515-222-1110) We are willing to assist you in finding answers to your questions and regularly write about safety questions that readers bring to our attention. Good luck on the job site and be safe. Steve Lombardi is a lawyer but prides himself on doing more than just practicing law. Join us in keeping the construction site safe.
If you or your spouse is involved in a construction site accident contact the Lombardi Law Firm. We will assist you with your claim. Steve Lombardi has more than 30 years in civil litigation including death and injury cases for workers and their spouses from construction accidents and injuries. We don't charge you to talk with Mr. Lombardi to find out if you have a case. Don't delay call him today. Know your rights, act proactively and protect yourself.
Construction Safety - Trench Collapse
Marion, IL worksite saw the untimely deaths of two construction workers this past March when a trench caved in and buried the two men under several tons of dirt. A construction worker was crushed to death when a trench collapsed in Brooklyn. Two brothers were entrapped in a collapsed trench in Potomac, Washington.
Many who aren't familiar with the construction industry are probably wondering: what exactly is a trench? A trench is a confined space utilized in construction projects. As can easily be seen by the aforementioned examples, trench collapses occur more often than many know. In fact, trench collapses are responsible for the deaths of approximately 30 construction workers each year and have been responsible for some of the nation's deadliest construction incidents; and considering that soil weighs between 2,000 to 3,000 pounds per cubic yard, it's no wonder why these incidents often result in serious injury and/or death. What's worse, many of the deaths caused by trench collapses occur when other workers climb in in attempt to save other workers.
The construction industry is widely regarded as 'high-risk'; however, contractors and employers have a responsibility to protect theiremployees. In order to ensure a safe work environment is maintained, a set of safety guidelines have been developed which must be met in situations where trenches are involved. However, meeting these guidelines does not necessarily ensure an accident won't occur.
General safety rules require that trenches over five feet deep utilize one of these safety precautions: sloping, shoring, or using a steel cage or trench shield. In addition, each trench must have a way out, be it a ladder or a ramp. All trenches must abide by the OSHAs rules unless the trench is in a stable rock or the trench is less than five feet deep and there's little reason to expect a cave-in.
And OSHA isn't the only source for trench safety information; in addition to training CDs and awareness programs, there's a full, in-depth excavation safety glossary which details and defines the various aspects of excavation and trench safety. Many other websites are also dedicated to informing workers of problems and safety precautions pertaining to trench safety.
One should research such websites before working in a trench; however, research alone is not enough. Workers should also make sure all equipment is in good condition and mark utilities before digging.
Iowa Construction Workers - Scaffolding Collapses injuring two workers
Two more workers have been injured on the construction site of the new K-8 school building under construction in Shenandoah. IOSH (Iowa's version of OSHA) and OSHA will investigate. Radio Iowa reports this is the second accident in which workers have been injured. In this most recent incident some scaffolding collapsed.
Whatever company is the general contractor needs to take charge and enforce safety rules for the protection of the workers. OSHA has specific rules to follow for scaffolding. Here are some general rules to follow when using scaffolding:
General Rules for scaffolding use:
- The wheels must be locked and rigid before climbing on the scaffolding.
- Persons using the scaffolding keep their center of gravity above the scaffolding.
- Scaffolding shall not be moved with someone on it.
- Scaffolding construction shall include all pins, braces and bolts.
- Planks and walk boards shall always be at least 36 inches below the top of the scaffolding.
- People shall not work below or in the fall-zone of the scaffolding.
- The “steps” on the side of the scaffolding shall be in a line.
OSHA has specific rules related to scaffolding use. For the lawyers here is are the relevant sections to review.
1910.28(a)(1)
Scaffolds shall be furnished and erected in accordance with this standard for persons engaged in work that cannot be done safely from the ground or from solid construction, except that ladders used for such work shall conform to 1910.25 and 1910.26.
The footing or anchorage for scaffolds shall be sound, rigid, and capable of carrying the maximum intended load without settling or displacement. Unstable objects such as barrels, boxes, loose brick, or concrete blocks shall not be used to support scaffolds or planks.
1910.28(a)(5)
Scaffolds and other devices mentioned or described in this section shall be maintained in safe condition. Scaffolds shall not be altered or moved horizontally while they are in use or occupied.
1910.28(a)(6)
Any scaffold damaged or weakened from any cause shall be immediately repaired and shall not be used until repairs have been completed.
1910.28(a)(17)
Scaffolds shall be provided with a screen between the toeboard and the guardrail, extending along the entire opening, consisting of No. 18 gauge U.S. Standard Wire one-half-inch mesh or the equivalent, where persons are required to work or pass under the scaffolds.
1910.28(a)(20)
Tools, materials, and debris shall not be allowed to accumulate in quantities to cause a hazard.
1910.28(a)(22)
Wire or fiber rope used for scaffold suspension shall be capable of supporting at least six times the intended load.
1910.28(d)
"Tubular welded frame scaffolds."
Metal tubular frame scaffolds, including accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs, ladders, etc., shall be designed and proved to safely support four times the maximum intended load.
Spacing of panels or frames shall be consistent with the loads imposed.
1910.28(d)(3)
Scaffolds shall be properly braced by cross bracing or diagonal braces, or both, for securing vertical members together laterally, and the cross braces shall be of such length as will automatically square and aline vertical members so that the erected scaffold is always plumb, square, and rigid. All brace connections shall be made secure.
Scaffold legs shall be set on adjustable bases or plain bases placed on mud sills or other foundations adequate to support the maximum intended load.
The frames shall be placed one on top of the other with coupling or stacking pins to provide proper vertical alinement of the legs.
Where uplift may occur, panels shall be locked together vertically by pins or other equivalent suitable means.
Guardrails not less than 2 x 4 inches or the equivalent and not less than 36 inches or more than 42 inches high, with a mid-rail, when required, of 1- x 4-inch lumber or equivalent, and toeboards, shall be installed at all open sides on all scaffolds more than 10 feet above the ground or floor. Toeboards shall be a minimum of 4 inches in height. Wire mesh shall be installed in accordance with paragraph (a)(17) of this section.
All tubular metal scaffolds shall be constructed and erected to support four times the maximum intended loads.
1910.28(d)(9)
To prevent movement, the scaffold shall be secured to the building or structure at intervals not to exceed 30 feet horizontally and 26 feet vertically.
Maximum permissible spans of planking shall be in conformity with paragraph (a)(9) of this section.
Drawings and specifications for all frame scaffolds over 125 feet in height above the base plates shall be designed by a registered professional engineer and copies made available to the employer and for inspection purposes.
All tubular welded frame scaffolds shall be erected by competent and experienced personnel.
Frames and accessories for scaffolds shall be maintained in good repair and every defect, unsafe condition, or noncompliance with this section shall be immediately corrected before further use of the scaffold. Any broken, bent, excessively rusted, altered, or otherwise structurally damaged frames or accessories shall not be used.
Periodic inspections shall be made of all welded frames and accessories, and any maintenance, including painting, or minor corrections authorized by the manufacturer, shall be made before further use.
There are more specific rules but this will give you a place to start. These rules are what IOSH will be using to determine if a violation has occurred and if so how it can be corrected. The GC needs to be applying these same rules.
Fall protection for construction workers is a vital piece of safety equipment
I've posted about construction workers fall protection equipment on the InjuryBoard.com site but it's certainly worth rehashing the subject. It’s been reported in the news that a construction worker was injured in Waterloo, Iowa at the Cedar Valley Cancer Treatment Center after falling 20 feet from the roof. He was laying chalk lines.
Officials say Chad Mosley, of Waterloo, fell while laying chalk lines on the roof of a building at the Cedar Valley Cancer Treatment Center on Tuesday.
According to the police report, witnesses heard a shout and saw Mosley stumble backward off the roof and fall about 20 feet.
He was taken to a Waterloo hospital, then transferred to University Hospitals in Iowa City.
Probably what they will find is no fall protection was used by this worker, a situation that the General Contractor can prevent by providing it, supervising the employees and enforcing legitimate work rules required by OSHA. Fall protection regulations are covered under 29 CFR 1926, subpart M Safety and Health Regulations for Construction, Fall Protection.
“On November 25, 1986, OSHA proposed to revise the fall protection standard. The rulemaking record, developed over a nine-year period, resulted in a more performance-oriented rule, issued on August 9, 1994 (published in volume 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 1926, subpart M, and in volume 59 of the Federal Register, beginning on page 40,672). You can view the rule on OSHA's Internet site at www.osha.gov. In general, the rule requires that an employee exposed to a fall hazard of six feet or more must be protected by equipment that prevents or arrests the fall.”
Here is what OSHA’s pamphlet on fall arrest states:
“Personal Fall Arrest Systems - 1926.502(d)
These consist of an anchorage, connectors, and a body belt or body harness and may include a deceleration device, lifeline, or suitable combinations. If a personal fall arrest system is used for fall protection, it must do the following:
• Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 900 pounds (4 kiloNewtons) when used with a body belt;
• Limit maximum arresting force on an employee to 1,800 pounds (8 kiloNewtons) when used with a body harness;
• Be rigged so that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet (1.8 meters) nor contact any lower level;
• Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance an employee travels to 3.5 feet (1.07 meters); and
• Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of an employee free falling a distance of 6 feet (1.8 meters) or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less.
The use of body belts for fall arrest is currently allowed, but effective January 1, 1998, the use of a body belt for fall arrest will be prohibited; however, the use of a body belt in a positioning device system is acceptable.
Personal fall arrest systems must be inspected prior to each use for wear damage, and other deterioration. Defective components must be removed from service. Dee-rings and snaphooks must have a minimum tensile strength of 5,000 pounds (22.2 kiloNewtons). Dee-rings and snaphooks shall be proof-tested to a minimum tensile load of 3,600 pounds (16 kiloNewtons) without cracking, breaking, or suffering permanent deformation.
Snaphooks shall be sized to be compatible with the member to which they will be connected, or shall be of a locking configuration.”
Scaffolds are covered as well an in particular when they are not stable.
“In addition to meeting the requirements of 1926.502(d), personal fall-arrest systems used on scaffolds are to be attached by lanyard to a vertical lifeline, horizontal lifeline, or scaffold structural member. [1926.451(g)(3)]”
The bottom line is that this injury was probably preventable if OSHA rules had been followed. If and who weren’t following them is not known. Only a good investigation can determine those answers.
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West Des Moines, IA 50266
Phone: 515-222-1110
Toll Free: 800-383-0331
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News
- Crane Collapses in Linn County at new Federal Courthouse Site...
Posted on 11/11/2009 - Road worker killed in Illinois, Safety is never on break...
Posted on 9/18/2009 - What caused the death of a 24 year old Des Moines electrician?...
Posted on 8/8/2009 - I-80 Construction Area Collision Kills in Iowa...
Posted on 5/13/2009 - Crane collapse that killed 7 was caused by misue of sling...
Posted on 3/13/2009 - CHICAGO: Construction worker falls into hole...
Posted on 3/2/2009 - Crane in Boston falls killing a worker...
Posted on 2/9/2009 - Crane operator's apprentice killed in disassembling process...
Posted on 2/4/2009 - Construction News: Two laborers killed in New Delhi, 20 injured....
Posted on 1/7/2009 - Injured worker who fell through scaffold awarded $178,000 by Texas jury...
Posted on 1/5/2009
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Construction Site Accidents:
Construction site equipment demonstrating the use of heavy equipment