Tag: #CPWR

CPWR publishes tip sheets on preventing roofer falls

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
roofing-safety.jpg
Photo: CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training

Silver Spring, MD — Two new resources from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training are intended to help prevent falls among roofing workers.

In “Roofing Safety for Construction Workers,” available in English and Spanish, CPWR cites Bureau of Labor Statistics data showing that 1 out of 10 fatal slips, trips and falls involve roofers – 3 out of 5 of whom are Hispanic.

The organization calls on employers to:

  • Eliminate or minimize fall hazards during job planning, when possible.
  • Provide workers with proper tools and safety equipment to safely complete tasks.
  • Train workers on inspection and use of safety equipment in a language they understand.
  • Enforce safety regulations.
  • Regularly review work practices that help prevent falls.

An additional CPWR fact sheet – Roof Safety: Weather to Work? – provides guidance on working safely in inclement weather. Tips include:

  • Ensure workers are trained on fall protection and wearing proper personal protective equipment.
  • Monitor weather conditions before work and throughout the day.
  • Inspect the roof for icy, wet or slippery conditions before work starts.
  • Have a plan to provide workers with cover from lightning.
  • Find a stable, nonslippery surface to set up and secure a ladder.

A Spanish version of the weather-related resource is in development, CPWR says.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

CPWR releases resources for aging construction workers

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
older-male-construction-worker.jpg
Photo: simonkr/iStockphoto

Silver Spring, MD — Recognizing the importance of older workers in the construction industry, CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training has developed a series of resources for them.

Citing data from the Bureau of Labor Statics, CPWR says the average construction worker is 42 years old and that many of them are expected to remain on the job longer, “influenced by financial pressures as well as by job satisfaction.”

The resources include a data dashboard, tools for hazard assessment and primary prevention, supportive programs, and legal resources.

The Aging Workers Data Dashboard examines the U.S. workforce by the numbers, including the number of workers 55 and older in construction, along with the average worker age in all industries and nine separate industries.

Because the physical demands of construction work make hazard assessment and primary prevention important, CPWR offers a suite of guidance on:

  • Fall prevention and protection
  • Health and wellness promotion
  • Heat-related illness prevention
  • Lighting
  • Manual materials handling
  • Noise and hearing loss
  • Safety climate
  • Site management and housekeeping

Examples of supportive programs include pairing younger workers/apprentices with older journey persons, bidirectional mentorship and training for “career ladders.”

Online links to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, OSHA construction standards and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards provide information on age discrimination, workplace safety and health, and the role of reasonable accommodations on the job.

McCraren Compliance offers a full range of safety and health training and consulting services. Plus we can help you incorporate well-being into your traditional systems in order to support the Total Worker Health of your workforce.

Call 888-758-4757, email info@mccrarencompliance.com or visit our website www.mccrarencompliance.com

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

Welders tell researchers why they don’t always wear PPE

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
"Hazards of welding"
Image: rusak/iStockphoto

Tempe, AZ — A recent study indicates that many welding workers believe some of their tasks don’t warrant the use of personal protective equipment.

Commissioned by CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training, researchers from Arizona State University surveyed 124 members of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America. They also interviewed 23 workers from nonunion firms in the Southwest United States that have fewer than 10 employees.

The result: Nearly 64% of the workers who were surveyed said they’ve heard co-workers say a welding task was too simple or quick to make shields or ventilation equipment necessary. An equal percentage cited “personal preference,” while 63% find PPE uncomfortable and 60% said it’s inconvenient or “too much trouble.”

At the same time, 10 of the 23 workers who were interviewed said their employers don’t provide any safety measures or equipment, while 13 said their employers offered only general PPE such as gloves or eye and ear protection. Hazards associated with welding include burns and exposure to fumes and nanomaterials.

Those workers agreed that their experiences likely differed from the survey group’s “because contractors belonging to professional associations employ union workers who have documented safety requirements.”

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication

New app focuses on disaster response and cleanup safety

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Washington — A recently launched app provides centralized, on-the-go access to health and safety training tools for workers involved in disaster response and cleanup activities.

Original article published by Safety+Health
disaster response
Photo: National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training

The National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training partnered with CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training to develop the Disaster Tools app. The clearinghouse is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Science’s Worker Training Program, which offers grants to nonprofit organizations “so they can deliver training to a variety of workers who may face a hazardous work environment.” This includes industrial and construction workers, environmental cleanup workers, first responders and law enforcement, health care workers, and transportation and rail workers.

The app is available for download on Apple iOS and Android devices. A user guide walks users through the download process.

The app is available for download on Apple iOS and Android devices. A user guide walks users through the download process.

McCraren Compliance can help you understand and comply with FMCSA, USDOT and ADOT and ensure your drivers and your vehicles operate safely and efficiently.

Call us Today at 888-758-4757 or email us at info@mccrarencompliance.com to schedule your free FMCSA Compliance Assessment.

Are you ready for the National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction?

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Photo: OSHA

Washington — The 10th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction is fast approaching, and employers nationwide are being encouraged to host an event.

Set to take place May 1-5, the stand-down was created by NIOSH, OSHA, and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. It’s intended to help prevent fall-related deaths and injuries by raising awareness of hazards. Falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death in the industry, accounting for 351 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In a press release, OSHA administrator Doug Parker says that although the event’s message has remained similar over the past decade, it “bears repeating again and again.”

He continues: “Workers should never have to risk their lives to make a living. The stand-down is an opportunity for employers to prove their commitment to their workers and provide the leadership, tools and training to prevent falls.”

NIOSH encourages workplace participation in the stand-down through toolbox talks and safety activities such as developing drills, practices and rescue plans; conducting equipment inspections; and discussing job-specific hazards.

CPWR is offering multiple resources for employers as part of its One Stop Stand-Down Shop, including a public service announcement that can be shared, ideas for stand-down events to be hosted and hazard alert cards that can be handed out to workers.

On its website, OSHA features highlights of past events from around the country. Last year, about 3,500 stand-downs conducted worldwide reached more than 455,000 workers. Fifty-four percent of attendees indicated they had participated in at least three events during their careers.

“The stand-downs are an important opportunity to further occupational health equity and emphasize worker safety at all times,” NIOSH Director John Howard said in the release. “Stopping to take time in the workday to recognize existing fall safety hazards and offering demonstrations or trainings can contribute to a positive work culture and a safer working environment for all.”

Employers can share their stand-down stories by emailing oshastanddown@dol.gov or using the hashtag #StandDown4Safety on social media.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Nail Gun Safety

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Photo: NIOSH

Before you pick up that nail gun, do you know how to use it safely?

Here are a few common causes of injury that CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training says are related to improper use of nail guns: unintended firing, holding down the contact trigger when the gun isn’t firm against the work surface, ricocheting or airborne nails, nails going through the work surface, and bypassing safety features.

All of these can be avoided.

According to CPWR, here’s how:

  • Keep the nail gun pointed away from your body and other workers, especially when the air supply is connected.
  • Disconnect the compressed air if you leave a nail gun unattended, move to a new location with it, hand it off to a co-worker or are performing maintenance.
  • Don’t reach up and attempt to use the nail gun in a spot you cannot fully see. If you can’t reach the work, use a hammer instead.
  • Wear personal protective equipment: safety glasses marked with Z87+, hearing protection and steel-toed footwear.
  • Make sure you’re trained on the safe use and handling of a nail gun.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by NIOSH

Español (Spanish) 

The National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction was launched in 2012 through the NORA Construction Sector Council with leadership from NIOSH, OSHA and CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training. Each year as part of the campaign, a National Stand-Down is held to focus on fall prevention. Falls are the number one cause of construction-worker fatalities, accounting for one-third of all on-the-job deaths in the industry.

2023 National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction May 1-5.

A variety of campaign materials are available (in Spanish and English) to raise awareness about construction falls and to provide practical information about fall prevention on OSHA’s official Campaign website. Products include Stand-Down planning tools, fact sheets, infographics, training materials (including toolbox talks), videos, hazard alert cards, and more.

Infographics

Each year, NIOSH, CPWR, along with the NORA Construction Sector Council Falls Working Group work together to develop a new series of infographics in English and Spanish. View and download the infographics as PDFs or JPEGs for use in social media, presentations, and print materials.

infographic a snapshot of fatal falls
Heat Exposure Infographic
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Mark your calendars for the National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by Safety+Health
CPWR_StandDown2023.jpg
Photo: CPWR

Washington — An annual event intended to raise awareness of struck-by hazards – and how to prevent them – is set to take place April 17-21.

The National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-By Incidents, scheduled in conjunction with National Work Zone Awareness Week, will kick off with a webinar hosted by CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.

OSHA says the four most common struck-by hazards involve falling, flying, swinging or rolling objects.

“The national stand-down encourages employers and workers to pause voluntarily during the workday for safety demonstrations; training in hazard recognition and fall prevention; and talks about hazards, protective methods, and the company’s safety policies, goals and expectations,” states the National Work Zone Awareness Week website, managed by the American Traffic Safety Services Association.

Resources related to work zone, lift zone and heavy equipment safety are available from CPWR.

NIOSH’s National Occupational Research Construction Sector Council coordinates the stand-down, while partnering with OSHA, CPWR, and the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Construction Safety

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Prevent falls through skylights and other openings

In 2021, 62 U.S. construction workers died after falling through a surface or an existing opening such as a skylight, according to data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.

“Holes and openings are made in roofs and floors of buildings, both when they are built and when they are torn down,” CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training says.

Prevent injuries on your jobsite. Tips from CPWR:

  • Guard or cover all holes before you leave a work area. Your co-workers may not see an uncovered hole, which means they could fall through it.
  • Label all covers with the word “hole” or “cover.”
  • If you see a hole that’s uncovered, take the time to cover it.
  • Make sure hole covers can support at least two times the weight of your co-workers, equipment and materials. If a hole is larger than plywood, use guardrails. (OSHA requires covers of standard strength and construction.)
  • Fasten all hole covers with screws and/or nails. “If a worker steps on an unsecured cover, it can shift and the worker can fall through the hole and be injured.”

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

CPWR report examines causes of death for current, retired and former construction workers

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

Silver Spring, MD — Of the nearly 225,000 construction worker deaths recorded in 2020, 60% were at least 65 years old, according to a new report from CPWR – The Center for Construction Research and Training.

Researchers looked at 2020 data from the National Vital Statistics System, which included all causes of death for construction workers – employed, retired or no longer working – from every state except Arizona, North Carolina, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia.

Findings show that, among the 224,400 deaths, the majority were non-Hispanic (88%), white (87%) and male (96%).

The leading cause of death varied by age group. For workers 16-34, the leading cause was poisoning and exposure to narcotics and hallucinogens (17%). For those 35 and older, COVID-19 was the leading cause, including nearly 15,000 workers 65 or older. Another 8,700 workers at least 65 years old died of heart disease.

“Although CPWR and others have extensively researched fatal occupational injuries, there is limited information on deaths not on the jobsite among construction workers, even though worksite exposures and tasks may result in lifetime health impacts such as cancers,” CPWR says.

The report was published in the January issue of CPWR’s Data Bulletin.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.