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Construction Safety Equipment and Protocols: [OSHA Statistics and Standards for Construction]

By Seth Hird | Posted on December 17, 2019

Equipment Industry

The need for construction industry safety is becoming more and more apparent. According to an OSHA study, 4,674 worker fatalities occurred in the private industry in 2017. Of those, 971 or 20.7% of workplace fatalities occurred in the construction industry. Of course, heavy machinery and environmental factors are often unavoidable dangers, and the industry is undoubtedly experiencing a lack of qualified workers. But are these the only the only reasons for construction injuries or fatalities?

The same OSHA study, found four causes that accounted for 59.8% of construction industry fatalities.

  • Falls – 39.2%
  • Struck by object – 8.2%
  • Electrocutions – 7.3%
  • Caught-in/between – 5.1%

As a result of these statistics, many companies are looking for internal and external ways to keep their employees safe. Below, are some products, programs, and safety standards that will help keep your employees safe.

Milwaukee Tool’s New PPE Products

Man wearing hard hat and safety glasses
Personal Protective Equipment

Milwaukee Tool Company is a staple within the construction industry. In September of 2019, they introduced a new line of PPE to help keep workers safe and productive on the jobsite.

“We are always looking for ways to help our users get their work done faster and more efficiently, while keeping users safe. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is critical on jobsites, but many of the current solutions on the market have experienced very little change over time,” said product manager for Milwaukee Tool, Zach Richman. “Milwaukee intends to disrupt the personal safety market with solutions designed for the challenges users face and offer new features they’ve demanded for years.” For a full list of Milwaukee Tool PPE, visit their website here.

KwikSafety, Guardian, and 3M Safety Harnesses

As shown in the OSHA statistics above, the number one cause of construction related injuries is falls. So, companies that manufacture safety harnesses are constantly making product improvements and developing new products that help ensure the safety of construction workers. In a December 4th, Environmental Design + Construction Magazine article, Veronica James records her 10 best 2019 safety harnesses.

Among these top 10, are the KwikSafety THUNDER 3D Ring Safety Harness, the Guardian Fall Protection 11173 M-L Seraph Construction Harness, and the 3M DBI-SALA ExoFit NEX Construction Harness. These three harnesses have amassed 532 Amazon reviews, which have a total average 4.7 stars per review. Of course, these are just three of many great safety products in the market. However, when you are buying any safety harness, make sure it is in compliance with OSHA safety standards.

Scorpion II TMA

While this technology isn’t exactly new, the Scorpion II TMA has the power to save lives. Debuting in February of 2018, the Scorpion II TMA is the first Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH), tested and approved Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA). To see this product in action, click here to view footage from their tests.

This TMA is designed to absorb the massive amount of force caused from a uncontrolled vehicle. Not only does this technology protect the driver of the construction vehicle, but also the driver of the vehicle causing the impact. We all know how dangerous roadway construction can be. In light of that, TrafFix Devices Inc., creator of the Scorpion II TMA, has created a full line of construction safety products.

OSHA Resources

It is easy to look past the seemingly normal dangers of everyday life, such as driving a vehicle at highway speeds. However, because road travel is normalized, we view the act as less dangerous. When it comes to construction, this idea of being blind to everyday dangers is no different.

Thankfully, one of OSHA’s responsibilities is to make companies aware of the unassuming dangers surrounding their workplace. In their Worker Safety Series on Construction, OSHA includes the 10 most cited safety violations given to companies. Not only do they give the most common reasons for the citations but they give many solutions on how to avoid these pitfalls. Review and utilize their material to help keep your employees safe on the jobsite.

Click here to read other Equipment Industry Blogs!

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