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.
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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.
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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
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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 
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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.
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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!