The headline was alarming, “Plaster Laborer Dies After Falling from a Scaffold”. When you read further you learned that a 59 year old plasterer perishedwhen he fell from a scaffold and cracked his skull on the pavement below. The victim and a co-worker had built the scaffolding out of tubular scaffolding that was welded together and parked on the outside wall of a single-story building. The next day the workers had planned to bring the railings and access ladder to the work site. Just before quitting time, the man returned some tools and equipment to the supply truck. Unfortunately, at this time he also took off his safety helmet. He returned to the scaffold area, forgetting to put his helmet back on. At this time his co-worker was located on the top of the unguarded scaffold, when the victim started to climb the scaffold bracing. The co-worker did not see what the man was doing but heard a clanging sound on the bracing. He soon realized that the victim was lying on the ground, not moving. It was at this time, he called on someone to call 911. Unfortunately, the man died later that day from head injuries. scaffolding, whether it is rolling scaffolding or interior scaffolding can be dangerous places to work. Professionalism and safety must be practiced at all times.
When a tragedy like this occurs, it often takes many different reports to come up with the proper conclusion of what truly happened and more importantly, how not to have it happen again. Information from the employer, the police, the coroner, OSHA even the state climatologist were all obtained in a timely manner. After these reports were studied and re-studied the following five recommendations were made in order to keep other laborers safe in the workplace. It is with the intention of preventing similar occurrences that these were offered.
1. Employers should ensure that adequate fall protection is used by workers on scaffolds.
Fall protection should be provided for employees who are working on elevated work surfaces on scaffolds. You will find exact recommendations on the website OSHA.gov.
2. Employers should ensure that safe access is provided to the work platforms of all scaffolds.
Scaffolds should be equipped with a means for safe access to the work platform. The crossbars should not be used to maneuver up and down the scaffold.
3. Employers should evaluate their current written safety program and incorporate specific training procedures that emphasize recognizing and avoiding hazards.
Safety programs should be evaluated and incorporate the importance of recognizing and avoiding hazards in the workplace and following established safe work procedures.
4. Employers should encourage workers to actively participate in workplace safety.
Workplace safety should be clear and all workers should understand the role they play in the prevention of occupational injury.
5. Manufacturers of protective headgear should continue research and development of hard-hats so that they will come to eliminate or reduce the severity of injuries from falls.
Protective headgear for construction workers is designed to meet standards for limited protection against forces of electricity, impact, penetration, and flammability. These must be continually improved upon.
When these recommendations are followed and adhered to it will hopefully stop such a tragedy from happening in the future to someone else.
