| "1Source Safety and Health, Inc. has helped us to manage our construction safety concerns by providing onsite staff supported by offsite professionals. 1Source has provided daily inspection and safety reviews of our construction sites and have helped us to maintain a safe environment for not only our students and staff, but also the workers during a time of active construction.
This helps to eliminate potential problems, liabilities, and their associated costs." |
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-Mark Groves,
West Chester Area School District |
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Safety Program Management, Safety Management Systems, Ergonomics Programs, Safety Program Development, Occupational Health / Industrial Hygiene Surveys, JCAHO Preparation Services, Construction Safety Services, Managed Outsourcing for Safety and Health, Safety Program Management, OSHA VPP (Voluntary Protection Program), Safety Audits & Health Audits, Noise Exposure Evaluation and Control, Safety Program Management FAQ |
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Accidental Falls – The Leading Cause of Fatalities in Construction Industry
 The leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry is falls. Since 1995, more than 300 fall-related deaths have occurred each year, or approximately one third of all construction deaths. The sad part of the story is that most of these deaths could have been prevented.
How do these accidents occur?
Employees in the construction industry have a high risk of falls because they are exposed to many hazards during building construction. The hazards are compounded when there are many contractors working on a project. One contractor may create a hazard and employees of other contractors on the site may also be exposed to that hazard.
Hazardous conditions that may result in fatal falls include
- Improperly constructed scaffolds
- Leading edges of steel deck construction
- Improperly used fall arrest systems
- Holes in floors and working surfaces
- Open edges on floors
- Roofing operations
- Open elevator shafts
- Skylights
How can these hazards be controlled?
 There are two primary methods of reducing fall-related injuries: fall prevention and fall arrest systems.
Fall prevention means that the worker is protected from falling by some means that keeps the worker away from the hazardous area. Fall prevention systems must be used to prevent a fall of six feet or more. Examples are guardrails and mid-rails on scaffolds and the open edges of floors, guardrails around skylights, guardrails on scissors lifts, covers over floor openings, and restricted zones in roofing operations. These types of protective devices have specific design requirements per OSHA’s construction standards. For example, guardrails must be between 39 and 45 inches above the walking and working surface, and must be able to withstand a force of more than 200 pounds. The mid-rail must be halfway between the floor and the top rail and be able to withstand a force of 150 pounds. Covers over floor holes must withstand twice the expected weight of the personnel and equipment that may pass over the cover. The hole cover should be marked with the word “HOLE.”
Fall arrest systems are full-body harnesses attached by a lanyard to an anchor point that prevent a worker from free-falling more than six feet, or safety nets that catch a worker after a fall of no more than 30 feet. The fall arrest systems have specific design requirements. The fall arrest system must have a maximum decelerating force of 1,800 pounds, and must bring a worker to a complete stop within 3.5 feet. Anchorage points must be able to withstand a force of 5,000 pounds. Guardrails or scaffold components should not be used as anchorage points.
Training
 Training is an important component of an effective fall protection program. Employees must know how to use the systems correctly, how to inspect the equipment, and the limitations of fall prevention and fall arrest systems.
For further discussion of your specific needs and information on program development, please contact Dan Bruun, CIH, Vice President at 888-873-9983, ext. 17, or dbruun@1ssh.com.
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Managing Your Business Construction Safety Programs
 Written safety programs are the foundation of a comprehensive safety program for employers in the construction industry.
Specialized trade contractors, general trade contractors and construction managers should all have effective safety programs in place to control the many hazards employees face during a construction project.
All companies want to keep their workers safe and prevent accidents and incidents. Many contractors are required to submit a copy of their construction safety program, along with job-specific proposals, before working for municipalities, schools, government agencies or large companies. In some cases, written safety programs are also required by OSHA standards.
What is included in a construction safety program?
A typical construction safety program should be comprehensive, address the hazards workers may encounter during normal activities and identify potential emergencies. Ideally, the program begins with a safety policy statement from a senior executive of the company, clearly stating the expectations of and support for the safety program. The safety program also includes specific modules that address various aspects of the work or specific hazards the workers may encounter. Most companies will have a general safety program for the general types of hazards, and then develop site-specific safety programs to address the anticipated hazards on a specific job site.
 How do I implement a safety program?
A needs assessment based on potential hazards is the first step in determining what programs must be developed. Next, the safety director or safety consultant should write the programs. Before writing the programs, it is important to obtain input and feedback from the workers who will actually be doing the jobs covered by the program. It is also important to schedule training for workers in the requirements of the program, and to provide reinforcement of those requirements through daily job briefings and weekly safety meetings. In addition, regularly follow up and audit the activities in the workplace to ensure that the programs are being followed and to learn how the programs may be able to be improved.
What are the benefits of a safety program?
There are many benefits of having a written, comprehensive construction safety program. They include
- Improved safe work performance, with better efficiency and productivity
- Lower direct and indirect costs associated with injuries
- Access to more bid opportunities
- Better control of safety of your subcontractors
- Improved ability to keep the project on schedule
For further discussion of your specific needs and information on a construction safety program, please contact Dan Bruun, CIH, Vice President, at 888-873-9983, ext. 17, or
dbruun@1ssh.com.
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Lead in Building Renovations
 If you occupy a building built before 1978, there may be lead-based paint on interior structures such as woodwork, sheetrock walls, block walls, doors, windows, or plaster walls. In addition, the exterior of the building may be painted with lead-based paint. Proper planning of renovations will help prevent employee exposure and building contamination.
Determining whether lead paint is present is the first step in the planning process. A survey can be done by collecting representative paint samples and submitting them for analysis, or by conducting a survey of painted surfaces with an XRF
analyzer. An experienced lead surveyor and risk assessor should conduct the survey. Some states and local governments require the surveyors and contractors conducting lead abatement to be licensed.
If lead is present, the contractor must comply with the requirements of the OSHA Lead in Construction standard, 29 CFR 1926.62. In particular, the contractor may need to provide medical monitoring, hand-washing facilities, protective clothing and respiratory protection. The degree of employee protection will depend on the actual or anticipated concentrations of lead in the air during the various operations.
Personal air sampling will determine if employees are exposed at or above the action level of 30 micrograms of lead per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) or the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 µg/m3. The OSHA standard lists several operations that would be expected to expose workers to concentrations exceeding 50 µg/m3 but less than 500 µg/m3, or less than 10 times the PEL. These operations include
- Manual demolition of sheetrock or block walls
- Dry manual scraping or sanding
- Paint removal using a heat gun
- Power tool cleaning with HEPA dust collection
 In addition, some operations such as welding on painted steel may expose the worker to concentrations of lead exceeding 2,500 µg/m3, or more than 50 times the PEL. Paint must be removed from steel before welding to prevent the generation of highly concentrated lead fumes.
Lead dust remaining on surfaces may expose building occupants or the public. Lead dust and paint chips must be cleaned by HEPA vacuuming and wet wiping with trisodium phosphate (TSP). For more information on lead in paint, please contact Daniel Bruun, CIH 610-524-5525, ext. 17, or dbruun@1ssh.com.
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OSHA Outreach Training Programs – 10-Hour and 30-Hour Construction and General Industry Training
 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Outreach Training Program is a voluntary train-the-trainer training program through which OSHA authorizes trainers to teach construction and general industry occupational safety and health standards and policies. OSHA has promoted workplace safety and health by authorizing trainers since 1971. In the last three years, over 1.1 million workers have received training through this program. This type of training provides workers with important information to improve safety performance on the job.
The 10-hour course is designed to provide workers with a basic understanding of some of the most hazardous construction activities. The emphasis is on hazard identification, avoidance, control and prevention, rather than on OSHA standards only. We inform workers about the OSHA requirements and, more importantly, help them to understand why the requirements are there and how they can protect themselves and their coworkers.
 The 10-hour construction course includes the following mandatory topics:
- Introduction to OSHA, including the provisions of the OSHA Act, the general duty clause, the responsibilities of the competent person and record keeping
- Electrical safety
- Fall protection
Other topics are chosen that address the hazards to which the specific workers being trained may be exposed. Three or more of the following topics are covered:
- Personal protective and lifesaving equipment
- Materials handling, storage, use and disposal
- Hand and power tools
- Scaffolds
- Cranes
- Excavations
- Stairways and ladders
 The 30-hour construction course is intended to provide a variety of training to people who have some safety responsibility on the job site. The course covers the above topics in more detail and also includes other topics, such as
- Health hazards in construction
- Welding and cutting
- Concrete and masonry construction
- Steel erection
- Hazardous waste site operations
- Asbestos awareness
The general industry training is similar in structure but with topics that are presented specific to the potential groups of hazards. 1Source Safety and Health, Inc., has staff members that are authorized to present the 10- and 30-hour training for construction and general industry. We supplement the training team with other certified safety professionals, certified industrial hygienists, a certified professional ergonomist and other subject-matter experts. We can conduct the training at your business or on the job site.
The training includes classroom and hands-on activities such as practice with fall protection equipment, inspections of scaffolds, inspection of excavations, etc.
 Some progressive employers are requiring that contractors coming onto their sites to work have this training. Additionally, some states are moving toward requiring contractors to have this or equivalent training.
For more information or to schedule training, contact Daniel Bruun, CIH, Vice President, at 888-873-9983, ext. 17, or dbrunn@1ssh.com.
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What You Should Know About Mold During Construction
 The cost impacts when mold growth occurs during construction can be huge. A recent settlement in California for roof leaks was made for $33,000, and an $11.5 million claim was made against an architect, construction manager and subcontractors in Florida.
The primary reason for mold growth during a construction project is uncontrolled moisture incursion in the form of liquid flow, condensation, high humidity and/or capillary action that dampens building materials. Inspections for moisture incursion and a quick response are necessary, as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other sources have indicated that mold growth can start in as little as 24 to 48 hours after building materials become wet.
Some major causes of mold growth during construction include:
- Site Issues: poor site drainage, inadequate building protection, water buildup in basements and crawlspaces, and stored building materials that get wet.
- Product Issues: primarily wood members with “lumber yard” or sap-stain molds.
- Procedural Issues: the “shrug it off and build it” mentality when moisture incursion occurs.
- Design Issues: design flaws or construction defects that allow moisture incursion.
 Site, product and procedural issues are immediately recognizable and can even be addressed proactively to prevent moisture incursion and mold growth from occurring in the first place. Design flaws, when discovered, should be immediately documented to the owner and designer. When construction defects resulting in moisture incursion are recognized they should be immediately addressed for liability reduction. The longer moisture incursion is allowed to occur the more extensive the mold growth will be. Remember, there is always the potential for hidden mold growth within wall, ceiling and floor assemblies, or in “layers” of construction (e.g., multiple layers of drywall or vinyl wall coverings) that may not be apparent after a water incursion event.
 Proactive measures include developing moisture control strategies and response plans for the site and building. Having water pumps, fans, dehumidifiers and wet vacuums readily available to clean up after water events, or access to a professional drying contractor, will help reduce the potential for mold growth. Construction materials, particularly porous materials, drywall and wood, need to be protected and stored in a dry location. Contractual arrangements can be made with lumber suppliers regarding moisture content and what will be done with lumber showing visible signs of mold growth.
1Source has successfully managed active moisture incursion and mold growth during construction projects ranging from residential homes and hotels to multifloor healthcare buildings, and can assist building owners, contractors, construction managers and architects in developing proactive plans for the control of moisture and mold growth and reduce your liability potential. We can also perform proactive inspections, assess the potential for hidden mold growth and develop remediation plans should mold growth occur.
Remember, mold growth during construction can result in costly delays as well as future liabilities. Please contact Harry M. Neill, CIH, regarding this topic at 888-873-9983, ext. 15, or hneill@1ssh.com.
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