1 / 59

Preventing Fall Injuries in Construction

Preventing Fall Injuries in Construction. Sang D. Choi , CSP , CPE, Ph.D . Professor Department of Occupational & Environmental Safety & Health University of Wisconsin Whitewater, WI. Xiuwen Sue Dong , DrPH Data Center Director.

waneta
Download Presentation

Preventing Fall Injuries in Construction

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Preventing Fall Injuries in Construction Sang D. Choi, CSP, CPE, Ph.D. Professor Department of Occupational & Environmental Safety & Health University of Wisconsin Whitewater, WI Xiuwen Sue Dong, DrPH Data Center Director CPWR - Center for Construction Research and Training Silver Spring, MD RtPtR James G. Borchardt, CSP, CPE, CRIS Ergonomics Consultant Bettendorf, IA

  2. Agenda • Learning Objectives • Background & Introduction • BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS) • Regulations/Resources & Research • Good Practices • Q&A

  3. Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation the attendee will be able to: • Describe and explain the trends and patterns of fatal falls among construction workers • Recognize the recent changes in the BLS Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS), and how these changes affect fall injury surveillance in construction • Identify the examples of effective applications and “good practices” for fall protection and prevention interventions

  4. Background &BLS OIICS

  5. Construction employment, 1992-2011 11.8 11.7 11.2 10.7 10.9 10.1 9.3 9.7 9.4 9.1 8.6 8.0 7.6 7.0 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1992-2011 Current Population Survey. Calculations by CPWR Data Center.

  6. Fatal injuries in construction, 1992-2011 P=Preliminary Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1992-2011 Current Population Survey and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Calculation by CPWR Data Center.

  7. Fall fatalities in construction, 1992-2011 P=Preliminary Source: 1992-2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Calculations by CPWR Data Center. Due to the coding system change, 2011 data may not be comparable to those from previous years.

  8. Leading causes of fatalities in construction, 1992-2010(All employment) Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1992-2010 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

  9. Leading causes of nonfatal injuries resulting in days away from work in construction, 1992-2010(Private wage-and-salary workers) Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1992-2010 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illness

  10. Causes of fatal falls in construction (Sum of 2008-2010) Source: 2008-2010 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Calculations by CPWR Data Center. This research was conducted with restricted access to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.  The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.

  11. Rate of fatalities from falls, selected construction occupations, 2008-2010 average (All employment) Source: 2008-2010 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and Current Population Survey. Calculations by CPWR Data Center. This research was conducted with restricted access to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.  The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the BLS.

  12. Fatal falls from roofs in construction, by age group, 2003-2009 average Source: Dong, X., Choi, S., Borchardt, J., Wang X., and Largay, J., 2013. Fatal Falls from Roofs among US Construction Workers. Journal of Safety Research, 44:17-24.

  13. Rate of fatal falls from roofs by selected characteristics, 2003-2009 average Dong, X., Choi, S., Borchardt, J., Wang X., and Largay, J., 2013. Fatal Falls from Roofs among US Construction Workers. Journal of Safety Research, 44:17-24.

  14. OIICS Revision(Version 2.01) • Expansion of coding categories that could yield more detail and useful safety prevention measures • Code existing “unspecified” and “not elsewhere classified” • Contraction of coding categories that were too detailed or too cumbersome or never yielded enough cases • E.g., “ground” as the Source of a fall • Nature or event code also included the source • Detail was eliminated for rarely used codes • Event underwent the most substantial revision • Transportation incidents • Pedestrians in work zones/roadway/side of the road/non-roadway • Struck by forward /backward-moving vehicles; vehicles struck by another • vehicle

  15. New Codes for Fall Injuries • Slips, trips, and losses of balance-without falls (previously included in the bodily reaction and exertion category)has been combined with those for Falls to make up the new division “Falls, Slips, Trips” • - Prevention measures would be similar for Falls, Slips, Trips, and Losses of Balance without falls • Distance of falls: this enhancement will be especially useful for determining the severity of falls from certain heights and for evaluating fatal falls.

  16. Fatal falls/slips/trips in selected industries, 2011 Note: Data are preliminary Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

  17. Fatalities from falls to lower level in construction, by height of fall, 2011 Note: Data are preliminary Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Calculations by CPWR Data Center.

  18. Number of fatal falls from collapsing structure or equipment, by height of fall, 2011 Note: Data are preliminary “N/A" represents no data reported or data that do not meet the BLS data release criteria. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

  19. Number of fatal falls through surface or existing opening, by height of fall, 2011 Note: Data are preliminary “N/A" represents no data reported or data that do not meet the BLS data release criteria. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

  20. Number of other fatal falls to lower level, by height of fall, 2011 Note: Data are preliminary Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries

  21. Number of Fatal falls to lower level, by cause and height, 2011 Note: Data are preliminary Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Calculations by CPWR Data Center.

  22. Fatal falls to lower level from 15 feet or less, by construction subsector, 2011 Note: Data are preliminary Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Calculations by CPWR Data Center.

  23. Regulations/ Resources for Fall Prevention

  24. Fall Prevention Methods • Enforce OSHA Regulations • Strengthen Fall Protection Programs • Evaluate Effectiveness – Training • Develop Fall Protection Equipment

  25. Fall Prevention Enforce OSHA Regulations • 1926 Subpart M - Fall Protection • 1926 Subpart L – Scaffolds • 1926 Subpart R - Steel Erection • 1926 Subpart E - Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment (safety belts, lifelines, and lanyards, safety nets) • 1926 Subpart X – Ladders • 1926 Subpart CC – Cranes and Derricks

  26. Fall Protection Systems • Guardrail system • Personal fall arrest systems • Safety nets • Warning line system and safety-monitoring system (no wider than 50ft)

  27. PFAS-Productivity? Body Discomfort?? Rope Grab Self-Retracting Lanyard

  28. Fall Prevention Resources OSHA Prevention Videos (v-Tool) Floor Openings • http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction/falls_floor_fnl_eng_web.html Skylights • http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction/falls_floor_fnl_eng_web.html Scaffolding • http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction/scaffolding_fnl_eng_web.html Bridge Decking • http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction/falls_from_bridge_fnl_eng_web.html Re-roofing • http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction/reroofing_fnl_eng_web.html Leading Edge Work • http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction/falls_leading_edge_fnl_eng_web.html

  29. Fall Prevention Resources (cont’d) - CPWR

  30. What is Prevention through Design (PtD)? • The process addressing construction site safety and health, and planning for future maintenance in the design phase of a project • Being conscious of and valuing the safety of construction workers when performing design tasks • Making design decisions based in part on how the project's inherent risk to construction workers may be affected • Including EHSS considerations in the constructability review process • A project management technique to review construction processes from start to finish during the pre-construction phase. It is better to identify obstacles before a project is actually built to reduce or prevent error, delays, and cost overrun. • Also, called Designing for Construction Safety (DfCS)

  31. Accidents linked to Design • 22% of 226 injuries that occurred from 2000-2002 in Oregon, WA and CA • 42% of 224 fatalities in U.S. between 1990-2003 • In Europe, a 1991 study concluded that 60% of fatal accidents resulted in part from decisions made before site work began

  32. Hazards Recognition • Hazards Recognition Tools: • What-if • FTA • PHA • FMEA • Design checklist • Plan review • Case studies

  33. DfCS -- Examples The Erector-Friendly Column: • Include holes in columns at 21” and 42” for guardrail cables and at higher locations for fall protection tie-offs • Locate column splices and connections at reasonable heights above floor • Provide seats for beam connections

  34. DfCS -- Examples • Anchorage Points

  35. Aging Workforce in Construction • Considering that more than 40% of construction workers are baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) • Due to the rapidly increasing numbers of older workers in the workforce there is an urgent need to give particular consideration to understanding and addressing the needs of older workers in the construction sector Average age of workers, construction and all industries, 1985-2010 (All employment) Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 1985-2010 Current Population Survey. Calculations by CPWR Data Center.

  36. Median days away from work by age group, construction vs. all industries, 2010 (Private wage-and-salary workers) Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Work-related injuries and illnesses database, Nonfatal cases involving days away from work, Selected characteristics.

  37. Aging workforce – how different? • Loss of Balance • Postural sway increases with aging • Impairments in the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory systems • Vestibular neurons decrease both in numbers and size of nerve fiber with aging, beginning at about age 40 • Persons over age 70 may have lost 40% of the sensory cells • Older people are slower to make postural adaptations to an unexpected loss of balance • Increased fallingis due both to a physiological decline in postural control with advancing age and to a decline due to disease of the CNS, or medication (drug-related symptoms).

  38. Good Practices

  39. Workers’ Compensation Costs of Falls in Construction

  40. Fall Injuries amongst Roofers and Carpenters • Falls from Elevations by Roofers cost approx. $106,000 each • Falls from Elevations by Carpenters cost over $97,000 each • The average cost of a fall from elevation for all OtherOccupational Classifications was under $50,000 • Falls from Ladders or Scaffolds by Roofers cost approximately $68,000 each • Falls from Ladders or Scaffolds by Carpenters cost nearly $62,000 each • Falls on Same Level are expensive too - about $25,000

  41. Good Practices Hierarchy Plan of Action • Fall Exposures from Height & Same Level • Eliminate Fall Exposures • Reduce Fall Exposures • Apply Administrative Controls

  42. Good Practices Eliminate Fall Exposures (examples) • Preplan • Perform tasks at ground level before elevating structure • Install FP anchorages/railings while structure on ground • Grease sheaves before booming up cranes • Fill in trenches and excavations, at least, daily • Install remote grease fittings to lubricate conveyor pulley • Perform vehicle/equipment maintenance at ground level • Provide protective barriers i.e. railings, covers, gratings

  43. Good Practices Reduce Fall Exposures (examples) • Preplan • Modify Work Environments and Tasks • Provide Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) • Use correct equipment for tasks • tall enough ladders, manlifts instead of ladders, JLG vs. scaffold • Position equipment properly • solid and level surfaces • move from ground, not while elevated • Improve housekeeping • Provide non-slip access and egress

  44. Good Practices Apply Administrative Controls • Provide warning devices i.e. cones, caution tape/flags, painted lines, “restrictive access” signs • Provide competent person to inspect worksites daily • “trained” to identify falls exposures • “authorized” to enforce fall prevention measures • Train workers to • identify falls exposures of Their jobs • perform tasks properly i.e. “3 point contact” climbing • use/inspect/maintain fall protection equipment correctly • Enforce fall prevention methods & equipment on Every job • Maintain records: training, inspections, “near miss” evaluation

More Related