Construction Work-site Safety Tips For Winter

With winter weather already inconveniencing many outdoor work sites, it is important to maintain a safe workplace environment this season to help protect your employees.  Safe Site Medical, a provider of on-site medical services to the construction industry is well aware of the hazards at your workplace, so we would like to share a few tips from OSHA on how to prepare your work-site this winter.

Provide Engineering Controls to Combat Winter

• Radiant heaters may be used to warm workplaces like outdoor security stations
• Shield work areas from drafts or wind to reduce wind chill.

Implement Safe Winter Work Practices

• Schedule jobs that expose workers to the cold weather in the warmer part of the day
• Avoid exposure to extremely cold temperatures when possible
• Limit the amount of time spent outdoors on extremely cold days
• Provide warm areas for use during break periods
• Provide warm liquids (no alcohol) to workers
• Monitor workers who are at risk of cold stress
• Monitor the weather conditions during a winter storm, having a reliable means of communicating with workers and being able to stop work or evacuate when necessary

Dress Properly for the Cold

• Dressing properly is extremely important to preventing cold stress. When cold environments or temperatures cannot be avoided, the following would help protect workers from cold stress:
• Wear at least three layers of loose fitting clothing. Layering provides better insulation.
• An inner layer of wool, silk or synthetic (polypropylene) to keep moisture away from the body. Thermal wear, wool, silk or polypropylene, inner layers of clothing that will hold more body heat than cotton.
• A middle layer of wool or synthetic to provide insulation even when wet.
• An outer wind and rain protection layer that allows some ventilation to prevent overheating. 
• Tight clothing reduces blood circulation. Warm blood needs to be circulated to the extremities. Insulated coat/jacket (water resistant if necessary)
• Knit mask to cover face and mouth (if needed)
• Hat that will cover your ears as well. A hat will help keep your whole body warmer. Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.
• Insulated gloves (water resistant if necessary), to protect the hands
• Insulated and waterproof boots to protect the feet

Your Safe Site Medical Advantage

We help prevent OSHA Recordables & Lost-Work Time by reducing the need for Off-Site clinic treatments & unnecessary medications

We have a Specialized Team of Emergency Technicians, Paramedics, & Registered Nurses that are highly skilled in: 

• Follow-up Care 
• Case Management 
• First Aid & CPR Training

To learn more about on-site medical services for large construction projects please visit www.safesitemedical.com.

Safe Site Medical wishes everyone a happy and safe Independence Day Weekend.

The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day or July 4th—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. On July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, a historic document drafted by Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 to the present day, July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.  - History.com

June Has Work Place Safety Written All Over It

Celebrate and participate with Safe Site Medical during National Safety Month in June.  Safe Site Medical is an On-Site Medical Services Company Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA. that partners with large-scale construction sites throughout the U.S. to help make work projects safer.

June is National Safety Month
The National Safety Council 
National Safety Month focuses on reducing leading causes of injury and death at work, on the road and in our homes and communities.
Learn More

Safe and Sound Week
OSHA 
June 12-18, 2017
Raise awareness and understanding of the value of safety and health programs that include management leadership, worker participation, and a systematic approach to finding and fixing hazards in workplaces.
Learn More

Happy Memorial Day

Safe Site Medical wishes everyone a happy and safe Memorial Day Weekend.

Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.  -  history.com

The Department of Homeland Security Declares 2015 the Year of Drug Related Overdose

"It’s the highest number of drug-related deaths our country has ever seen. In a single year, we’ve lost nearly as many Americans to drug overdose as we lost in battle in World War I. Almost as many as was lost in 12 years in Vietnam.

The Department of Homeland Security recently unveiled that there was an unprecedented number of drug overdoses and drug related deaths in 2015. In 2015, over 52,000 American deaths were due to drug overdose and the CDC ranks opiates which include heroin and painkillers as the primary cause of the carnage.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly:

"It’s the highest number of drug-related deaths our country has ever seen. It’s more deaths than the peak of the AIDS epidemic in 1995. In a single year, we’ve lost nearly as many Americans to drug overdose as we lost in battle in World War I. Almost as many as was lost in 12 years in Vietnam.

"And that’s just overdose deaths. That number—as high as it is—says nothing about the long-term health damage to our citizens who survive, to say nothing about the human misery, the families ripped apart, and the extremes of crime and violence inherent in the illegal-drug enterprise.

With the widespread abuse of oxycontin, heroin and other opiates, employers need to be sure that employees are drug free and work-sites are safe for all.  Learn more about onsite medical services and keeping large scale construction projects safe with safesitemedical.com

Safe Site Medical Takes a Look at Global Work Site Safety in New Zealand

As an American safety company that provides on-site medical services to large-scale construction projects in North America, Safe Site Medical believes it is strategically important to carefully review the global landscape for construction news and workplace safety happenings. Safe Site Medical strives to be knowledgeable and up-to-date on not only U.S. workplace safety and OSHA standards but of our global partners standards as well.   In this post, we look at New Zealand and The Health and Safety at Work Act of 2016.

Safeguard Magazine recently released it's survey findings on what New Zealand workers think of The 2016 Health and Safety at Work Act, one year later.

Here are some of the survey results:

• 78% of respondents believe health and safety is taken seriously, a double-digit increase from the 67% who felt the same way last year.
• 72% of respondents agree that in their workplace, risks are discussed with other businesses which share the same site.
• Only 48% of respondents felt confident that the health of workers is taken seriously (compared to 78% who were confident about safety)
• Only 46% felt that organizations view health & safety as an opportunity to improve rather than just to comply with the law.
• Only 47% of respondents were confident that no one would be harmed or made unwell by the activities carried out at their workplace.

To read more about New Zealand's Health and Safety at Work Act of 2016 and the survey visit Scoop.

Be engaged and learn more about how American construction companies are utilizing onsite medical services to reduce OSHA recordables and keep work sites safe with Safe Site Medical.

10th International Conference on Managing Fatigue

The 10th International Conference on Managing Fatigue is being held in San Diego, California this week from March 20 – 23, 2017.  This year's theme is “Managing Fatigue to Improve Safety, Wellness, and Effectiveness.”  The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) states that fatigue is either a probable cause or contributing factor in 20 percent of their major transportation investigations. The NTSB has issued more than 200 safety recommendations to address the problem of fatigue in transportation.

Learn more about the 2017 workplace fatigue conference, keynote speakers and much more here.

To learn how to combat fatigue on construction work-sites and additional on-site medical services that can help keep construction projects safe visit safesitemedical.com.

Addressing Traumatic Brain Injuries on Construction Sites

The Center for Disease Control and NIOSH have concluded that Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) happen more frequently on construction work sites then in any other U.S. workplace.  Falling from a ladder, getting hit in the head with a steel beam and vehicle accidents are some of the leading reasons TBIs happen on construction projects.
 
A 2016 NIOSH study reported these alarming stats:

• Workers in small construction companies (<20 employees) were more than 2.5 times more likely than those in larger companies (≥100 employees) to die from a TBI.
• Males were 7 times more likely than females to die from a TBI.
• Older workers (≥65 years) were almost 4 times more likely than younger workers (25–34 years) to have a fatal TBI.
• The TBI fatality rate was significantly higher for foreign-born than for native-born workers.
• Falls, especially from roofs, ladders, and scaffolds, led to >50% of fatal work-related TBIs.
• Structural iron and steel workers and roofers had the highest fatal TBI rate, and TBIs related to falls caused most of their deaths.

NIOSH addressed the issue of TBIs in the construction industry with the following recommendations:

• Improve harness sizing designs for protecting workers from falls due to poor fit or improper size selection.
• Provide worker-support bracket and safety rail assembly that provides a guardrail system to protect workers from falling through unprotected roofs.

Read the rest of the NIOSH Science report here and to learn more about on-site medical services and safety programs for large construction projects visit safesitemedical.com.

March is National Ladder Safety Month!

Safe Site Medical is always on the lookout for newest safety data, construction work site information and the latest building industry buzz.  This month we wanted to help you celebrate 2017 National Ladder Safety Month! Check out these ladder safety resources from laddersafetymonth.com:

Did you know that, on average, work-related ladder falls result in one death and more than 180 nonfatal injuries every two days in America?*

• Why Ladder Safety and How it Affects Everyone
• Ladder Safety Training
• Ladder Safety Checklist
• Ladder Safety 101
• Safety Standards

Learn more about onsite medical services for large scale construction projects at safesitemedical.com.

Eye Protection Should Be Part of Your Onsite Medical Services Program

Eye Protection Should Be Part of Your Onsite Medical Services Program. Prevent Blindness, a Chicago-based volunteer eye health and safety organization recently reported that 2,000 workers per day experience a job-related eye injury that requires medical attention.  There are so many different type of eye injuries and they can come from so many different activities that preventive measures should be in place for protection. The National Safety Council (NSC) recommends the following eye protections:

• Spectacles – Semi/flat-folded sideshield. Provides primary protection against impact and optical radiation. Sideshield spectacles are recommended.
• Goggles – There are many different kinds of goggles that vary in appearance and protection.
• Face Shield – Plastic or mesh window. Designed to protect the whole face; must be supplemented with safety glasses.
• Welding Helmet – Stationary window or lift-front window. Protects from welding, soldering and brazing. Must be supplemented with safety glasses.

The NSC lists the following as top workplace eye injuries:

Chemical Splash 

Flying Particles

Radiation Injuries, Burns 

Blows to the Eyes 

Eyestrain 

Learn more about eye injury protection and construction onsite medical services at safesitemedical.com.

The Most Common Construction Site Accidents

As you've read in our recent Safe Site Medical blog post titled Fatal Occupational Injuries Rose in 2015 Urging Use of Pre-Emptive On-site Medical Services and Safety Trainings that construction is a very hazardous industry.  Having a rapid on-site medical services team on the job site can help treat injuries quicker and save time and money.

Per the Rybak Firm these are most common construction site accidents:

• Falls: Falls are consistently one of the most common causes of injury at construction sites throughout the United States. Some of the most common places from which workers fall are from scaffolding, ladders, roofs, and cranes.
• Falling Objects: Construction workers are at risk from falling objects, particularly tools or pieces of machinery that are dropped from above. Workers who are struck in the head by falling objects face potentially severe brain and spinal injuries.
• Equipment: Most construction sites utilize heavy machinery to get the job done, which increases the risks that workers will be injured by it. Some of the most common equipment-related injuries are caused by forklifts, dumpsters, and nail guns.
• Backovers and crushed-betweens: Unfortunately, construction workers are at risk from being run over by large trucks backing out of construction sites or being crushed in between large vehicles and walls.
• Fires and explosions: If a construction site contains hazardous materials or exposed wiring (and most of them do), construction workers are at risk of being injured in a fire or an explosion.
• Building or trench collapses: Construction workers who are working in buildings that are being demolished or are under construction are at risk from building collapse. Serious injury can also occur when a trench that’s being built collapses on the workers inside it.
• Respiratory diseases: Construction workers are particularly at risk from a condition known as pneumoconiosis, which is a chronic disease of the lungs that is caused from working for many years in dusty environments.

Is your construction site safe?  Learn more about Safe Site Medical On-site Medical Services for large-scale construction projects.

Safe Site Medical's On-site Medical Services and Workplace Safety Digest

Southern California Worker Deaths on the Rise
Recently released data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows the number of on-the-job deaths increased locally, statewide, and nationwide in 2015. 388 workers died on the job in 2015. California, the nation’s largest job market, was second in worker deaths behind Texas. But on a per-worker basis, California was the fifth-safest state to work in. California fatalities were up 44 from 2014, an increase of 13 percent. But 2015 marked the fourth-lowest tally since 2005.
Read More

Emergency Responders to Big Ox Energy in South Sioux For Chemical Exposure
"Like any kind of industrial accident or incident — as the case may be — we certainly will be working with OSHA on this and we'll report as we are required as so on and we'll work cooperatively with them." Kevin Bradley, a spokesman for Big Ox.
Read More

Tighter Beryllium Exposure Limits to Save Worker Lives: OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s final rule (RIN:1218-AB76) lowers the permissible exposure limit for beryllium to 0.2 micrograms per cubic meter of air over an eight-hour time-weighted average, or 2 micrograms per cubic meter of air over a sampling period of 15 minutes. Employers face new requirements for assessing exposure and will have to minimize worker exposure through respiratory protection, personal protective clothing and equipment, housekeeping, medical surveillance, hazard communication and recordkeeping.

“Outdated exposure limits do not adequately protect workers from beryllium exposure,” - OSHA Director David Michaels
Read More

New York City Pol Submits Legislation to End Practice of Ignoring Some Construction Deaths
State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal has submitted legislation that would end New York City's practice of ignoring some construction deaths.

The “ridiculous system” of only tracking certain deaths seemed “like government bureaucracy as justification for inaction.”- NY State Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal 
Read More

Workplace Violence Increasingly is Sounding Alarms
AN estimated 1.7 million workers fall victim to non-fatal violence while at work each year, according to US Department of Justice statistics. These are not workplace injuries on an occupational basis, but violence in the form of simple or aggravated assault (which accounts for 95%), robbery, rape, and sexual assault.
Read  More

Mid Hudson Concrete Products Fined $15,000 for Workplace Safety Violations
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration began an investigation the day after the accident. Its findings, issued on May 7,  cited six violations it deemed “serious,” resulting in $26,320 in fines being levied against the company. A settlement was reached on June 6 in which the fines were reduced to $15,000. OSHA closed the case on Oct 5.
Read More

National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Industry Groups File Challenge to OSHA's New Injury and Illness Tracking Rule
Among the many issues with the rule, there are significant concerns associated with OSHA’s requirement of employers to submit detailed injury and illness logs to the Agency for public posting.

"Not only does OSHA not have the authority to do this, it also exposes a business to significant reputational harm, all without demonstrating any evidence that it would effectively reduce workplace injuries and illnesses." - Ed Brady, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
Read More

Learn more about Safe Site Medical's onsite medical services and safety trainings for construction and building projects at safesitemedical.com.

Photo by NICK UT , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Construction Boom! Building Reaches 10 1/2 Year High!

According to CNBC, U.S. construction spending rose more than expected in November, reaching its highest level in 10-1/2 years, which could provide a lift to fourth-quarter economic growth. With increased construction activity on your agenda make sure that your employees are safe with on-site medical services by Safe Site Medical.  Read the CNBC construction report here.

Learn more about our onsite medical services for large scale construction projects including:

• Triage of Initial Injuries
• Follow-up Care
• Case Management
• First Aid & CPR Training

For a FREE evaluation & learn how your team may benefit from our on-site services contact us today!