OSHA Safety Standards & Leading Causes of Death

February 14, 2018

OSHA Safety Standards

At Industrial Resources, safety is our number one priority for our employees and clients.

Clients that use steel fabrication, steel erecting and electrical work can run into more hazards, and that’s why it’s important to follow all OSHA standards and regulations.

Three OSHA Standards are:

  • HAZCOM
  • Cranes & Derricks (annual inspections)
  • Record keeping

HAZCOM

Hazardous Communication has always helped prevent incidents and illnesses as well as provided the user of the actions to take when exposed to certain chemicals.

For the past couple of years, the Hazard Communication System has been transferring into the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). This allows all nations to come together and combine all applicable data on the new labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

This is essential when purchasing hazardous chemicals from other countries; all information on the labels and Safety Data Sheets will be in the same format.

Cranes & Derricks

Under OSHA’s “Cranes and Derricks” inspection standard, all telescopic and lattice type boom cranes and derricks shall be inspected annually. This is an extensive inspection that consists of disassembling the entire crane and having a “Qualified Person” complete the inspection.

It then needs to be tested by a Qualified Person to see if it functions correctly once re-assembled. Keeping record of these inspections prove that your company is continuously inspecting the cranes and derricks. (29 CFR 1926.1412(f)/Construction)

Record Keeping

Record keeping is crucial in today’s society. Anymore, you hear of lawsuits against companies for one thing or another. Having records of essential documentation proves that your company has done the best they could to prevent injury and/or illness.

These documents include some of the following:

  • Trainings
  • Medical records (such as physicals, audiograms, etc…)
  • Safety data sheets on chemicals used on the job
  • Inspections, etc

The employer of a company is required to keep these records for a certain amount of time depending on what the record is. It is good to get into a habit of organizing all records and making copies of these records. (29 CFR 1904)


Four Leading Causes of Death Hazards, According to OSHA

here are four particular hazards that OSHA depicts to be the leading causes of deaths in the industry: Falls, struck-by, caught between and electrocution.

Falls

Falls, being number one on the Focus Four list, include at the same ground level (slipping and tripping) or from an elevated area. Housekeeping is an essential part of eliminating multiple hazards. Spilling liquid material on the walking/working surface could lead to someone slipping on that material. Proper storage practices will eliminate tripping over boxes or pallets. Both slipping and tripping could also lead to falls from an elevated area, which increases the risk of death.  It is good practice to have a handrail or barricade on a leading edge of an elevated area in case someone does slip or trip in that area.

Struck-by

Struck-by means when someone is hit (struck-by) a moving object. Depending on the size of the object or the velocity of the object determines the level of damage that it could bring. Struck- by hazards also leads to falls. This is why it is so important to know where all moving equipment is and their distance of swing radius.

Caught Between

Caught between is defined just how it sounds, being caught it a machine or smashed between a wall and piece of equipment. These areas are called Pinch Points. From between rollers and the belt on a belt conveyor to a door of a car, these hazards are not only in the industry but in our everyday lives. Barricading or guarding these areas are the most satisfactory methods to use in these areas to prevent anyone being caught in or between objects.

Electrocution

Electrocution and electrical hazards also surround us in our everyday lives. Our homes, our offices and restaurants, it’s all around us, but how we try to protect everyone that could be affected is how we prevent harm. Correct grounding should always be practiced when running anything that uses electric for power. The cover of the machine that is generating the electrical power should also be properly grounded in case of an electrical arc.


Safety Beyond OSHA

OSHA Safety Standards

Safety is more than just preventing your employees from getting hurt on the job. Safety also consists of:

  • Quality control
  • Long term disabilities and health conditions
  • Community health and safety
  • Company property control
  • Environmental aspects and many others

OSHA Safety Standards | Industrial Resources

Industrial Resources has been in business for 75 years and has set a standard for safety, working as a team and providing the customer with a quality product that they can be proud of and one that can provide for their service and intentions for years to come.

If you would like to talk to us about your next project, tour our facility or have questions about our safety department, contact us.