Preliminary data report for 2009 fatal work injuries were 4340 in the US compared to 5214 in 2008. Within the numbers are some interesting things:

1. The 2009 total was the lowest since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) started keeping this data in 1992.

2. Fatal rate was 3.3 per 100,000 full-time equivalents  for 2009 compared to 3.7 per 100,000 for 2008.

What about economic factors?

Because 2009 had a weaker economy, 6 percent fewer hours worked in 2009 than 2008,  these numbers still show a dramatic reduction. Yes, a full 17 percent lower fatalities in 2009 than in 2008.

There is a debate arising as to what are the reasons for these results.

What do you think the reason is?

The full article is available    http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf

Please come back to voice your opinion on what's happening.

During the past year and a half, OSHA has issued twice as many OSHA egregious violations as the previous administration in a similar time period. 17 cases of egregious violations were issued to companies like BP.  Instead of combining violations for penalty purposes, each instance of noncompliance is considered a separate violation and a penalty applied separately.  This is the definition of an egregious violation.  These egregious violations may result in multi million dollar penalites to employers that show flagrant and willful indifference to protecting workers.

We were warned.

You need to make sure lift is working properly.

Make sure operator and maintenance manuals are on lift.

Be sure proper personal fall-protection is provided and used.

In 2006, there were 1226 construction fatalities.

Falls accounted for 34.9% of these fatalities.  Falls in construction has been the leading cause of death for many years.  Primary causes are falls from unprotected sides, edges and holes; improperly constructed waling/working surfaces; failure to properly use personal fall arrest equipment (lanyard, harness and anchorage), and slips and trips (poor housekeeping).

Electrical shock resulted in 10.1% construction deaths.  Electrocutions are caused by contact with overhead power lines or live circuits and improper use of power tools or power cords that are poorly maintained. 

9.7% of construction fatalities are being struck by an object.  Approximately 75% of struck-by fatalities involve heavy equipment.  One in four “struck-by-vehicle” deaths involve construction workers, more than any other occupation.

The 7.7% of the caught-in fatalities are caused by being crushed by collapsing materials, such as in a trench or excavation, being caught in, or between, machinery or equipment, or equipment rollover.

The “other” category includes assaults and violent acts, fires, heat stress, exposure to harmful substances, etc. It is very large, partly because OSHA includes vehicle accidents in this category rather than in “struck-by.”

These hazards are called the “focused” four and OSHA focusing on these when inspection.  A better name for these accidents are the fatal four.

Supervisors can protect workers by enforcing safe work practices and immediately correcting hazards found during regularly scheduled inspections.

A consistently implemented safety program improves job morale, protects the company, protects managers and supervisors while protecting workers.

Under this program, building inspectors will notify OSHA when they observe unsafe conditions, so OSHA can send a compliance officer to inspect that workplace. "Through this program we will extend OSHA's eyes and ears where they are needed most to save lives in the construction industry," Barab stated.

No mention if these building inspectors are trained in hazard recognition or not.

This bill is considered one of the most sweeping changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.  Business groups are lobbying against this bill.

Under this bill, deaths or serious injuries in the workplace become felonies rather than misdemeanors.   These felonies carry a 10 year prison sentence for a first offense and 20 years for a second.  But it is not clear who would be charged since the language states, “any officer or director”. 

The bill also removes the word “willfully” and replaces it with “knowing” when it comes to these criminal penalties.  Since “knowing” is a new term in safety, this creates confusion.  How does a director defend against “knowing”?

Another bone of contention is the requirement to immediately abate hazards that OSHA finds and cites.  These hazards have to be fixed even before OSHA proves that a standard has been violated.  If OSHA says it, it is now gospel.  Business groups says this violates the concept of “due process”.

 
Again this bill does more than just improve miner safety. It continues to reinforce the adversarial stance that OSHA has taken. 

This standard has some sweeping changes.  However, these changes only affect cranes used in construction or cranes that are used for construction activities.  The rule goes into effect November 8, 2010.  Certain provisions have delayed effective dates from 1 to 4 years.

Revisions include:
• Operator certification and qualification requirements.
• Qualification for signal persons are specified.
• Requirement added for the use of qualified rigger when employees are in the fall zone to handle the load and for rigging operations during assembly/disassembly.

• Information exchange requirements between employers are specified regarding ground conditions.
• Pre-erection inspection of tower training.
• Employers must pay for the cost of operator certification for operators who they employ on the effective date of the final rule
• All pole work performed with digger derricks related to power transmission and telecommunications work are excluded and are covered by 1910.269.
• Operator certification test may be administered in a language understood by the operator candidate.
• Employers must comply with local and state licensing laws which will be considered to meet requirements of this final rule.
• Employers must comply with manufactures recommendations for the use of synthetic slings.

If you would like to review the 1070 pages of the crane standard. it's found here

http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-17818_PI.pdf