By Kristine Catimbang, OSHAcademy Training Coordinator

West Coast Roofing and Painting Inc. provides roof installation and repair services to residents and businesses in the Portland Metro Area. The company was recently fined $104,000 by Oregon OSHA due to six job safety violations. Five of the violations cited were repeat offenses. Oregon OSHA cited the Portland company following an inspection that included an examination of work activities, employee and supervisor interviews, and a review of the company’s recordkeeping practices. The roofing and painting company was cited in large part for not ensuring their employees were protected from falling when six feet or more above a lower level. In one violation, a few employees were left in danger of potentially falling between 11 feet and 22 feet. Failure to implement fall protection standards puts employees at increased risk for serious injury or death due to exposure to fall hazards.

The company was cited for the following (Oregon OSHA, 2021):

• failure to follow requirements to implement adequate fall protection systems
• failure to comply with Oregon OSHA’s six-foot trigger-height requirements
• not properly installing personal fall arrest system anchors
• failure to ensure that the side rails of a ladder extended at least three feet above an upper landing surface to which the ladder was used to gain access
• employer failure to ensure employees wore proper eye protection when operating or near the operation of a staple gun
• failure to verify in writing that employees were trained in fall protection systems
• employer failure to maintain proper injury and illness documents for 2019

The construction industry experiences the highest frequency of fall-related injuries and death. Employers must provide and install fall protection systems before employees begin work that increases the risk of falling. This is to ensure their employees are protected from fall hazards and avoid work-related injuries and death. OSHA and Oregon OSHA offer several resources to help employers improve workplace safety and health. Among these resources includes online fall protection video training and fall protection topic pages.  

References

Oregon OSHA. (April 2021). Portland company fined $104,000 for multiple fall protection safety violations. Retrieved from https://osha.oregon.gov/news/2021/Pages/nr2021-14.aspx

By Kristine Catimbang, OSHAcademy Training Coordinator

Business owners and employers should prioritize the safety of employees and develop plans to respond to workplace emergencies. A workplace emergency is an unforeseen situation that threatens your employees, customers, or the public; disrupts or shuts down your operations; or causes physical or environmental damage (OSHA, 2001). Workplace emergencies can be natural disasters or man-made accidents.

The following includes examples of natural or man-made emergencies:

• Floods
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Fires
• Explosions
• Civil disturbances
• Workplace violence

In the event of an emergency, it can be rare for individuals to think clearly and make logical decision. The best way to protect yourself, your employees, and your business is to prepare to respond to emergencies before they happen. It is important to plan so you can be thorough in the response to any emergency. Employers should establish an emergency action plan that helps with responding to many issues specific to their worksite, whether it be a response to a natural disaster or a man-made incident (OSHA, 2001). It is recommended for all employers to have an established emergency action plan. When developing an emergency action plan, employers should identify the hazards and find all the emergencies that can occur in the workplace. Employers may designate responsible individuals to be in charge of certain tasks if an emergency occurs. For example, management may designate an individual as an evacuation warden and provided with specific responsibilities to perform during emergencies that may require an evacuation. It is also important to brainstorm the worst-case scenarios and consider how they would affect the workplace and employees (Perecman, 2020). The last step would be to take action. The only way to test the effectiveness and limitations of workplace emergency plans is to test and practice the procedures developed by the employer. Testing workplace emergency plans will also provide responsible individuals with more knowledge and experience in the roles they are designated to play in the case of any emergency.

References

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (2001). How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3088.html

Perecman, David. (October 2020). Preparing Your Workplace for Emergencies and Worst-Case Scenarios. Retrieved from https://ohsonline.com/Articles/2020/10/06/Preparing-Your-Workplace-for-Emergencies-and-Worst-Case-Scenarios.aspx?Page=1