Occupational Health and Safety Act Violation

A local Toronto company was recently fined $100,000 for a violation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act after a worker was killed.  The worker was walking backwards and tripped and fell through a skylight.  The worker fell approximately 5.5 metres (18 feet) on to the concrete ground below and the injuries proved to be fatal.  The Ministry of Labour determined that there was no means of fall protection provided (or used) which led to the death.

  

There are many solutions for protecting workers from falling through skylights.  These systems include:

• cables systems,
• guard rails, and
• localized anchors 

What Type Of Work Is Being Completed While Fall Protection Is A Concern?  

This can include:

• washing the windows from a ladder (on the ground)

Fixing/replacing/servicing:

• antennas
• cooling towers
• drains
• equipment located on the exterior of the building (from a ladder on the ground)
• lights
• mechanical units
• pipes
• roofing
• satellites
• surveillance cameras
  

Pro-Bel recently blogged about “Workers Falling Through Skylights” on 2/27/2013.  Please take a moment to read the blog (http://probelenterprises.blogspot.ca/2013/02/workers-falling-through-skylights.html) and more importantly the Ministry of Labour alert that was issued.

Working At Heights

The Ontario Ministry Of Labour (MOL) has issued a Working At Heights guideline that should be of interest to all architects, building owners, general contractors, and property managers.

Please take the time to review the following: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/liveperformance/gl_live_heights.php

Please contact us at (905) 427-0616 (and ask for Matt Geraghty at extension 5323) to discuss how this guideline will affect you.  Along with annual anchor inspections we can also complete hazard and risk assessments.

Spring Inspections

The Spring season is quickly approaching!  And that means window washing season is coming along with it.

Considering this and your busy Spring and Summer maintenance schedules; Pro-Bel has introduced the Customer Portal.  As a valued Inspections customer you get access to the Customer Portal completely free of charge.

Some of the key features include:

• View current and past inspection reports, test reports, and engineer stamped drawings
• Review invoices
• Share documents internally and externally

This video link will provide you with more information about what the Customer Portal has to offer.

As a reminder - all window washing systems in Ontario must be inspected once every year, (ideally prior to all window washing).   Please be sure to contact us to arrange an inspection or to confirm the last time your equipment/system was inspected.

Workers Falling Through Skylights

Check out this Ontario Ministry Of Labour (MOL) alert on Workers Falling Through Skylights >>> http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pubs/ib_skylights.php

Pro-Bel specializes in more than window washing systems; we are also experts in fall protection systems.  These systems can include:

• cable systems, 
• guard rails, and
• localized anchors;

All of which would be excellent solutions for protecting workers from falling through skylights.

Cooling Towers

The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes has proposed changes to the National Building Code that would:

·        impose minimum distances between cooling towers and a building’s air intake and exhaust vents

·         mandate backflow prevention devices and other drainage controls

·         reference for reducing legionella risks

This is intended to address the longstanding problem of inspections and maintenance of a building’s potable water system and to protect building occupants of legionella disease.

These proposed changes will require building owners to install service platforms and fixed caged ladders to provide ready access for inspection, monitoring, and testing of cooling towers.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and TSSA inspectors are currently issuing time orders to have this equipment installed (when an Inspector views a cooling towers without safe access).

With the Inspector’s increased enforcement this puts pressure on building management to take a proactive approach.

Pro-Bel can provide an assessment of your cooling tower to ensure access equipment is installed and is safe to use.

Accidents On Low-Rise Buildings

Falls are the most frequent accidents that occur on low-rise buildings and low-rise construction sites.  OSHA data shows that fall accidents on low rise buildings are the cause of many serious injuries and fatalities.

At the same time, the data shows that falls have certain properties, which may help designers to devise preventive approaches on low rise buildings.  OSHA data shows that nearly half of the fall accidents occur on projects involving commercial buildings and single family dwellings.  However, whether it is a commercial building, multi-storey building or even a single storey building; the potential for falls remains a significant hazard on low-rise buildings and construction sites.

OSHA data shows that falls occurred at what some would consider relatively low elevations.  About 75% of falls occurred at elevations of less than 30 feet, and 45% were less than 20 feet.

Environmental Concerns

Over half of the fall injuries are related to environmental factors involving the working surface (icy or wet conditions for example) or building layout conditions (awkward or inconvenient roof layouts).

Human Errors Resulting In Falls

Analysis of human errors showed that “misjudgement of the hazardous situation” is the most frequent type of error involving falls, accounting for 30% of all the accidents.

Location Of Falls

80% of all building fall accidents took place:

 

• from roofs,
• from or with scaffolds,
• from or with ladders, and
• through openings.   
 

These falls can be effectively prevented with adequate safety equipment, proper training, and suitable fall protection.  Without fall protection, workers may not be aware of their surroundings and ignore hazards.

The bottom-line is; fall protection equipment is need:

• In Canada, where any section of the parapet wall is less than 36 inches (and someone is subject to a 10 foot fall)

• In the USA, where any section of the parapet wall is less than 42 inches (and someone is subject to a 4 foot fall)

Early Fall Protection

Falls are the leading cause of worker deaths in construction (and have been for many years).

Why is this so?  We have a fall protection standard (29 CFR 1926, Subpart M).

Are we ignoring the codes, standards, and regulations?

Have we learned ways to "outsmart" them for production's sake?

When the standard calls for fall protection are we simply putting the worker into a harness and lanyard and calling it "fall protection" (to meet the minimum requirements)?  And is this the best way to ensure the safety of the worker?

Can we do more; such as engineer the hazard out with guardrail systems or some other means of protection?

One of the marvels of early 20th century construction is a testament to safe work practices and fall protection.

In 1933, (during the middle of the Great Depression), work began on the eventual 4 year project to build the world's longest suspension bridge at a cost of $35 million.  The workers who were hired to perform this dangerous work at great heights, (in strong winds over rolling water and with fog moving in and out regularly), largely were inexperienced with steel erection or with construction in general.

Because of the economic situation in the country at the time, a well paying job like this was much sought after, (even if it was one of the most dangerous jobs in the world).  Those who claimed to be ironworkers often came from very different backgrounds, but would buy identification from local residents so they would be allowed on the job.  They would, however, claim to be "experienced" ironworkers, and therefore didn't need any training.

At the time, contractors estimated one fatality for every $1 million.  As this was a $35 million project, 35 deaths were "budgeted" from the start.

The man charged with the design and engineering of the bridge was Joseph Strauss.  He was a pioneer in the world of safety and the fall protection methods he used on the bridge have been refined into state of the art systems.  He required workers to tie-off with a lifeline, and those who didn't were fired.

Today, one may even purchase ready to install systems that can be set up in minutes and systems have become comfortable to wear and easy to use.

The best known engineered fall protection device on the project was the safety net Strauss had installed prior to beginning work on the roadbed segments.  This cantilevered net ran the entire length of the roadway and extended 10 feet out from either side (protecting workers from falling to certain death in the choppy waters of the bay).   

Unfortunately, on February 17th, 1937, (just months away from final completion and opening the bridge to traffic), a scaffold carrying 10 men gave way and actually fell through the net.  Along with another worker who had fallen earlier, these were the only reported fatalities during the project.

This net was installed at a cost of 130,000 Depression-era dollars.  But the value added in saving lives proved worth it.  Of the 19 men who fell into the net, (and were later dubbed the "Halfway to Hell Club"), anyone of those who hadn't been saved by that $130,000 net could have cost the project considerably through delays, work slowdowns, and morale.

The Golden Gate Bridge opened 73 years ago; almost 40 years before OSHA mandated that these safe practices routinely be included for these hazardous activities.