Heavy D's Death Not Unheard of in Fall Protection Field

Recently I read an article in the LA Times about the tragic death of 80’s rapper Heavy D; which forced me to think of all the people that we aim to protect on a daily basis.

An autopsy revealed that a deep leg thrombosis caused a pulmonary embolism and in turn caused Heavy D’s death on November 8th 2011. In layman’s terms he died of a blood clot that traveled from his leg into a lung; which prevented getting oxygen to critical lung tissue.

Heavy had been on a return flight from London where he was stuck in an airplane seat for up to 12 hours without moving. His stasis restricted necessary circulation to his legs which essentially lead to his death.

So, what the heck does this have to do with fall protection? EVERYTHING! It’s just another example of what we in the fall protection industry refer to as “Suspension Trauma”. If not careful what happened to Heavy can easily happen to any of us that fall while utilizing fall arrest gear without a rescue plan. 

Depending on the individual, clotting can begin within 3-5 minutes from the time the fall occurs. Most users of fall arrest equipment do not take into consideration the desperate need to rescue the fallen worker as quickly as possible. Although the fallen worker may appear to be “ok” and feel that they can be suspended for as long as it takes, they are usually unaware of the damage that is being done to their body. Heavy did not collapse and die at the airport when he finally sat up from that long flight. He died days later outside his home, when the clot finally found its way into his lungs.

When using fall arrest equipment it is vital that rescue procedures have been put into place and that the personnel using the equipment have been properly trained in not only how to correctly use it, but also what to do when the equipment actually does its job and arrests your fall. Versatile Systems always includes a user awareness course with our fall arrest systems. We need to know that the users understand the danger that they are placing themselves in and how to prevent further harm to their body once they have taken a fall.

Heavy D’s death was a tragic accident but it’s also a grim reminder that we need to be more responsible in protecting our employees. ALL employees using fall arrest equipment must have the proper training, never work alone, and understand the importance in having a rescue plan in place at all times.

Have a Safe Day, Safe Month, Safe New Year.

Versatile Systems, Inc.

New OSHA 3110 Fall Protection Training: Whose Your Expert?

OSHA 3110 Comprehensive   Fall Protection Training

Enroll Today!

Greetings! General Safety Services and Versatile Systems are pleased to sponsor a 30 Hour OSHA Fall Protection Training Course this December 5th through the 8th. We invite you to enroll ASAP because the class is nearly filled!     Under the guidance of UC San Diego OSHA Training Institute's Instructor Ray Enama, and Assistant Instructors John McHugh and John O'Toole, this course will provide attendees exposure to state-of-the-art fall protection technology and current OSHA standards.            Topics Include: Principles of fall protection. Components of fall arrest systems. Limitations of fall arrest equipment. OSHA policies regarding fall protection. Furthermore, this course features a one-day hands-on field exercise demonstrating an array of fall protection equipment.            Field Exercise Topics Include:   Conventional Systems. Body Holding Devices. Anchor Points. Harnesses. Vertical/Horizontal Traveling Systems.  Course Fee: $725 Course Time: 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Course Dates: Dec. 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th. (All classes must be attended)   Course Location: 2514 N. Naomi, Burbank, CA 91504 Course No.: FPM-40489 Section ID: 087163   Deadline: December 2nd.  All materials are included. Refreshments will be provided each morning.     Ensure your competent person has the right Fall Protection training.   Register Here!   Online www.osha.ucsd.edu      Telephone  (800) 358-9206 Fax (619) 294-3861

Ray Enama   Instructor Ray Enama is the Construction Industry Director and the Curriculum and Program Chair of Electrical and Special Projects at OSHA Training Institute's, UC San Diego Extension program. John McHugh Assistant Instructor John McHugh is the owner of Versatile Systems, Inc., California's leader in fall protection safety; his universal expertise of the field propelled him to the top of prominent figures in fall protection training, lectures and installation over recent years.  John O'Toole  Assistant Instructor John O'Toole is an Instructor & Program Coordinator for the Entertainment Industry at OSHA Training Institute's, UC San Diego Extension program; as well as the Principal Safety Consultant with General Safety Services.   Questions?   Contact John O'Toole at john@generalsafetyservices.com, (323) 258-2771     or  Ray Enama at oshatraining@ucsd.edu or visit www.osha.ucsd.edu   GSS

Silo Fall Protection Safety Guidelines

Harvest Moon

Due east of the mighty Mississippi River, a serene July night consumed the sullied goldenrod fields of Mt. Carroll, IL. as two lifeless teenage boys were pulled from a stainless steel Illinois grain bin. They were Wyatt Whitebread, 14 and Alejandro Pacas, 19. 

According to OSHA reports, the two boys were “walking-down-the-corn”, creating flow for grain emptying machinery, when the kernels suddenly assumed the nature of quicksand below Wyatt’s feet. The 8^th grader began sinking. Pacas and a third boy, Will Piper, 20, rushed to Whitebread’s safety; however the rescuers encountered the same fate of young Wyatt Whitebread: all three boys slowly sank. A fourth boy, Chris Lawton, 15, lunged for the side ladder and hustled up-and-out of the bin; inhaling large gulps of summer morning air in his dead sprint for help. 

Meanwhile, the eyes of Whitebread and Pacas disappeared below the surface of the trembling grain leaving Will Piper to sink alone. Thousands of kernels engulfed Piper’s thighs, hips, stomach and chest before the grain, now level with his neckline, came to a halt. Treading a sea of corn, he kept his head above the surface in a struggle to escape drowning. He succeeded; the machinery halted; and Piper waited. He waited six hours before being pulled out of the pit, rushed to a hospital and treated for minor injuries.

And still it was six more hours before thirty-eight firefighters finally bore witness to the harvest’s victims: two teenagers, one underage for silo employment, both without harnesses.

The boys were employed to walk the surface of the unstable crop without harnesses, safety lines or proper training. Those essentials would have prevented what OSHA has deemed an “easily avoidable tragedy” from happening. It would have prevented unquantifiable grief and unimaginable pain for the friends, family, and community of the teens. And yet this story isn’t unique. Unfortunately, agricultural cities across the country have experienced the same trials and tribulations.

2010 was one of the deadliest years for granary accidents:  

A Purdue University report showed [there were] 51 grain bin accidents last year, up from 38 in 2009 and the most since tracking began in 1978. Twenty-five people died, and five of them were children under age 16. The previous record for grain bin accidents was 42 in 1993. (Crumb, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/16/grain-bin-accidents_n_824014.html#)

The rise of silo fatalities is disconcerting in America’s current golden age of “Safety First” discourse because it implies a certain degree of indifference towards employee health. The complacency with current practices, “We’ve done it this way for years and nobody’s ever even cracked a knuckle”, is proof that the message is not getting through; deliberate inaction is far worse than general ignorance, but neither should ever be condoned. 

And so it is only true that the escalation of fatal incidents will not cease until we sensibly acknowledge the inflexible tragedies of the past and strive forth equipped with the knowledge to ensure comprehensive employee protection: hopefully the perplexity of silenced youth provides clarity for that future.

Accompanying this message is VSI’s free 7 Point Silo Safety Flyer that highlights OSHA’s guidelines for safe silo practices. Please print one for your silo employees, or pass this on to someone who may need it. 

Thank you,

VSI

We’re not your average Fall Protection company.

We’re Versatile Systems, Inc. Average doesn’t work here.

California Skylights

Skylights are not new nor are the dangers associated with them. Skylights were first conceived by the VELUX founder, Mr. Villum Kann Rasmussen and became increasingly popular in the wake of WWII. (TheBestSkylights.com)  With Europe in ruins, and struggling with shortages in viable commercial and residential space, Mr. Rasmussen's 1942 patented skylights became the perfect solution to allow the conversion of the attic from a storage space to a versatile living and working space because it allowed natural sunlight to enter, which in turn provided light, heat, and quality air to circulate these converted spaces. But the dangers of skylights weren't initially obvious which is why fall protection solutions for them lagged until OSHA established comprehensive regulations in the early 70's. But did you know; that although Federal OSHA standard promulgates skylights to be capable of resisting a 200 pound force in every state, there is but one single state which requires a standard above and beyond Fed/OSHA? Do you know the state?  Of course you do, it's California!  Cal/OSHA requires that skylights be protected with a system capable of supporting 400 pounds of force because as proven by engineers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), as well as many others, there is the potential for a 200 pound worker falling onto a skylight to transmit 400 pounds of force. (NIOSH Skylight Alert) Not surprisingly, the California standard for skylights is used by proactive companies across the nation and we applaud that commitment to employee safety. Since the 80's there has become a heightened awareness of skylight safety. In 1989, NIOSH published their first safety alert titled: Preventing Worker Deaths and Injuries from Falls through Skylights and Roof Opening. This alert, like many others, held a red flag high and wide above skylights, opening up a discussion while becoming a resource for those unfamiliar with the subject. Since the first publication, NIOSH has continued to revised and update their findings. Click the above link and familiarize yourself with the facts because skylight fatalities and injuries can be eliminated. That's a fact. Versatile Systems, Inc. We’re not your average Fall Protection company. We’re Versatile Systems, Inc. Average doesn’t work here.

National Safety Council Preventing Slips, Trips and Falls

Hello Readers,

The National Safety Council is currently promoting education to prevent slips, trips and falls this June. It is a fact that the majority of worker fatalities are over the age of 55 (a concern if we push back the legal retirement age to receive social security) and it's something we as a safety community should acknowledge.

Read More

OSHA Residential Fall Protection Revisions Debate

Hello Readers,

I recently read an article on Finance & Commerce.com about OSHA's residential fall protection revisions: http://bit.ly/CounterArgument

And I couldn't help but completely disagree. I understand the argument made but it's a narrow-minded one.

Synopsis: Brian Johnson, the writer, argued that OSHA's decision to implement such a revision at the beginning of construction's busy summer season will further hinder the struggling industry from bouncing back.

First, it should be said that OSHA has recently invoked a "Phase-In" period to allow companies time to comply, but some states have the "ability to go above and beyond", Johnson states, like Minnesota is choosing to do in this case.

Regardless of the "Phase-In", the initial date was chosen specifically with the "Busy Season" in mind. And it wasn't made with aspirations of twisting the arm of an industry whose hands are already tied back. According to the National Association of Home Builders, between the years 2003-2006, fall related deaths were the most frequent during the summer months; peaking in August with 164. That's 164 deaths in a single month.

Of course this shouldn't be surprising because by it being the "busiest season" for residential construction implies more work and coupled with an increase in work comes an increase in opportunities for mistakes, injuries, and fatalities.

With the aforementioned facts of life, it's easy to understand OSHA's decision to mark early June as the compliance date isn't it...are you beginning to see the picture?

VSI, like many fall protection companies, residential construction companies, and lawmakers applauded the date choice; we all looked forward to quelling August's 164 fall fatality figure. But most importantly we all looked forward to saving lives because we wanted to secure the physical and emotional well-being of our workers and families, secure the physical and emotional well-being of our companies big and small, and secure the physical and emotional well-being of the United States workforce.

Furthermore, the Federal Employers Compensation Act , FECA, "reportedly spent $1.88 billion in wage loss compensation, impairment, and death benefits with an additional $898.1 paid out for medical and rehabilitation services and supplies." http://bit.ly/FECAData

That is nearly 2 billion dollars spent on workers compensation every year. It's blatantly obvious that falls reduce our workforce, reduce our productivity, and increase our debt.

An obvious solution is safety. Investing in safety will protect our employees, families, and companies. It will free funds to be spent elsewhere in this country like education, infrastructure, urbanization etc.

Infrastructure and urbanization...?

Yes, of course infrastructure and urbanization. And those fields don't grow with the click of a mouse from a cozy air conditioned room in a corner office. No. It happens with sweat, smarts and force; prime character traits of the US construction industry. Therefore money saved from the workers comp supports construction projects which in turn supports the growing populace.

That's the big picture. And it's BIG. Safety can and will help bring the construction industry out of its slump. So why not start today.

Most Sincere Gratitude,

The Fall Safety Expert
www.versatilefallprotection.com
Twitter
Facebook

Give us Your VSI June Newsletter Feedback

Hello Dear Readers & Followers,

It's been a great beginning to the summer and VSI is excited about the upcoming months.

Last Friday we sent out our June Newsletter and now we would like you to give us your feedback!

Would did you think? Have anything to add? Any questions, comments, concerns?

Let's start a dialogue about fall protection so we better the field.

Look forward to hearing from you.

VSI
We're not your average fall protection company.
We're Versatile Systems, Inc. Average doesn't work here.

Versatile Systems, Inc. Skylights - Fall Protection Solutions

www.verfallpro.com

Versatile Systems, Inc. Guardrails - Fall Protection Solutions

www.verfallpro.com

5 Fall Proteciton Questions for The Solar Energy Industry

Hello Everyone,

It's the Fall Protection Safety Expert here.

We've recently experienced an increase in solar power companies reaching out to us for help in solving their fall protection needs. No surprise here. We've worked with many companies in the past, e.g. Solar Power Inc., Sunlight and Power, Solar Turbine, etc., and we experienced first hand the WIN-WIN for solar companies and their clientele. More on these benefits later!

What we haven't experienced is sufficient feedback from the community as a whole. We are concerned about the industry and general and maybe more so with the small solar power companies, from the mom and pop run cell installation tandem, to the $1.4 million dollar company run from the side streets of your local suburb.

As the safety expert, I set a goal of individually calling every solar company to get an idea of their understanding of OSHA regulations, to get an understanding of their proactivity, to get an understanding of their safety.

With this in mind, I thought, being the 21st Century, it would also benefit to forward these questions through the socially expansive internet. (makes sense, right?) SO, Let me hear your thoughts!

1. If you work for a solar power company, own one, or are around one, write in and share your thoughts with this growing online fall protection community about your general attitudes towards fall protection...what's the first thing you think of when you hear fall protection safety?
2. Let us know what systems/equipment work for you, what risks you find most prevelent (skylights? - maybe leading edges? )
3.Let us know if complacency is an issue in relation to accepting fall safety? (Old dogs don't like new tricks.)
4. If you've worked with a fall protection company before, share your experience. Was it Good? Bad? Ugly?
5. How satisfied were your clients when you offered to not only install solar power, but also install sufficient fall protection devices to eliminate fall related risks? (I bet they felt like they got a steal with such a deal-many do, and should.)

We're interested in learning from you and improving the quality of care and service to ensure a safer workplace for you, your employees and your company; today, tomorrow, and forever and ever and ever.

We're not your average fall protection company. We're Versatile Systems, Inc. Average doesn't work here.

I look forward to our discussion.

Sincerely,
The Fall Protection Safety Expert
(818) 565-5551
 www.versatilefallprotection.com
www.facebook.com/VersatileSystems
www.twitter.com/VerFallPro

Safety Alert! Congressional Bill S.807: Voluntary Protection Program Act

Good Thursday to all you safety conscientious people,

I'm here to inform you of S.807 and what you should do about it.

S.807 is a Bill currently making it's way through Capital Hill, and with your help, hopefully to the oval office.

Essentially, the bill allows the VPPPA to open it's doors to small businesses; by expanding the Department of Labor's voluntary protection program rules and regulations.

What S.807 has the potential to do is eliminate ignorance and counteract complacent mentalities at the small business level by creating a community of proactive safety conscientious companies; thus ensuring the physical and emotional security of workers, families and companies.

Sound good to you? Because it sure sounds good to me.

Here's how you can help:

Contact your state senator!
-Email, snail mail, phone call, skype, text, pigeon carrier, sky writing-JUST CONTACT THEM!

The world has made it so very easy for us to communicate. All it takes is for you to want to.

Read through the Bill here:
Or here:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.807:
Or here:
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s807is/pdf/BILLS-112s807is.pdf

JUST CHOOSE ONE.

And if you read through and agree with all the content therein, and suddenly a passion is ignited within, take the short amount of time to communicate with your state senator about your wants, needs, and hopes for them to Co-Sponsor S.807.

Find your Senator's contact info here.


Fin.

Best Regards,
Jack Guimon
Versatile Systems, Inc.
(818) 565-5551
jack@verfallpro.com

Versatile Systems, Inc at the Region IX VPPPA Conference

Tyler Clark and John McHugh bring Fall Protection Expertise to the Region IX VPPPA Conference in Las Vegas. It was a great event! We met many proactive companies and passionate people. We look forward to working with many of them.

Thought for the Month: What is the correlation between babies and adults?

Falls are one of the greatest threats to both demographics.

Think about this, every year there are more than 2.3 million fall-related child injuries reported. For children 4 years and under, 80 percent of these falls occur in the home and more than half occur at home for children ages 5-14 years. (Safe Kids USA) As a result the child safety industry has boomed. And the results are in. Child Injury has never been lower. 

For example, in New York City a window guard distribution program coupled with legislation reduced window fall-related fatalities by 35 percent after two years. (Safe Kids USA) What a drastic change. What a powerful change. What a positive change.

Babies are fragile; that’s true, but so are teenagers, adults and the elderly…We are human. We are fragile. And despite the heights we reach physically and intellectually, we’re not invincible. Safety is about having the right mindset, finding company with that mindset, investing energy in protecting that mindset.

In 2009, there were 4,340 American worker fall-related injuries; in 2008, 5,214. That is a 17 percent decrease. The decrease can be attributed to OSHA Federal and State legislation as well as exceptionally run companies, the kind of companies that see an employee as an individual and not a dollar sign. This is a harsh reality in a capitalistic society where the almighty dollar reigns supreme. Many companies receive quotes from VSI, and our competitors alike, but find the price disagreeable with their pocketbook; wrong mindset. These are stagnant companies. These are dollar vision companies. These companies fail in comprehending the long term impact of proper safety practice.

To put it squarely, many companies cannot see the forest through the trees. There are emotional and financial costs associated with fall related injuries for both the company and the family, and failure or refusal to understand the big picture is the biggest deterrent in eliminating fall injuries. 

To dispel popular myth, OSHA laws are not enforced to scare companies, or shut them down, or discomfort the worker. These programs are here to protect the emotional and physical safety of your company and employees. That’s all. See the forest. Take a proper proactive stance against the risks associated with elevated work environments. And on matters of importance, place fall protection at the top of your hierarchy.

In the end, if you care for your employees, if you care about your company, child proof your workplace. And in the case this offends your sense of manhood or womanhood, remember that you would never see professional football players running around the gridiron without pads. Their workplace is extremely safety conscious and they adhere to the rules.

Let’s carry the right mindset to the end goal of 0 fall fatalities a year.

We’re not your average fall protection company. 

We’re Versatile Systems Inc.

Average doesn’t work here.

New York City Initiative

The battle cry, "Experience Is Not Enough", will resonate through the city of New York in 2011. It is not a slogan nor is it some sales marketing campaign. It is simply a statement. An absolute truth.

It's meaning is clear and concise. It's target is complacency.

The biggest challenge Versatile Systems faces from client to client is complacency. "We've been doing it this way for years," they say, swashing a hand through the air, brushing aside safety. Sometimes their tone is more of a challenge, a "We don't need you or your protection because we're strong, smart, and invincible."

That's the mentality of an old dog. And from first hand experience, teaching that old dog new tricks can be extremely difficult.

In the office of VSI, we have a Complacency Board. You do not want to be on that board. That board is dedicated to the old dog's of the world, to the old dog's whose mentality relegates fall safety to a category they've entitled "Excessive, Unnecessary Precaution's of Modern America". To these Old Dog's, VSI dedicates a space for their company name on our Board, in bold capitols. Not a month goes by were we don't have to expand the pen, the dogs just keeping strolling in.

OSHA Betters Americans' Lives

Thanks to Rigid Lifelines tweet, I stumbled upon this great article by Clyde Payne.

--

In the 40 years since the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration was created, the agency has led the way to historic declines in workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses.

Today OSHA continues to make a difference in the lives of all workers by ensuring that businesses provide safe and healthful conditions for their workers.


At the turn of the 20th century, death in American workplaces was all too common, working conditions were dreadful and few laws existed to protect workers.

 ...

To Read the Rest, Follow the Link:
http://bit.ly/OSHA-ClydePayne

That's all from Versatile Systems, Inc.

Help VSI "Stop The Count"

Did your contractor submit a fall protection plan?

Being in the fall protection business I tend to always have my eyes on the sky. Whether I’m looking for new business or birds I couldn’t say. What I can say is that almost every day my eyes lock in on a guy, or group of guys working on rooftops without any sign of fall protection. I’m not talking about little residential roof repairs either; these are huge roofing projects on the buildings of very large companies.

Roof work with parapet walls that are below 42” will always subject workers to a fall of more than 6’. Does your HVAC or Roofing contractor have a written plan expressing how his company plans to deal with this exposure? If they do have a written plan, are you able to decipher whether it works? Will it be effective at limiting the risks posed to the elevated workers? And will it protect both companies from extensive liability?

A great fall protection plan should include the identification of the fall hazard, method of fall protection that is going to be used, type of fall protection equipment utilized, documented inspection sheets for fall protection equipment, fall protection training documentation, and a rescue plan. This should be an absolute requirement for any contractor performing work on your company’s roof.

The signed plan is a promise to your company that the contractor has taken the necessary steps to keep his people safe while on your building. It’s also documentation that you’ve done your due diligence in protecting your company’s assets if an accident does occur.

Versatile Systems, Inc. helps many companies not only write their fall protection plans but review the plans of their sub-contractors as well. A third party review by a professional fall protection company will ensure the viability of your contractor’s plan.

Have a Great Day. Have a Safe Day.

Best,

Versatile Systems, Inc.

The Big Drop

Hello,

The Fall Protection Expert here with answers for you.

I asked all of you what the maximum deceleration distance (in feet) a fall arrest system would allow an employee to travel and many of you got back to me very quickly. Some not at all. And well, there were definitely a few incorrect answers.

Yearning for the answer? You came to the right place.

According to OSHA standards 1926.502 and 1910.66, a FAS is required to bring an employee to a complete stop at a distance no greater than....

Temporary Handrails

Temporary Handrails, a set on Flickr.

Not to brag or anything, but Versatile Systems is a fall protection company up to any challenge. We recently finished a job requiring roughly 500 rails and bases that fortified the edges of a 250,000 Sq Ft multi-level rooftop. It was tough, but the symmetry sure looks pretty.

Rooftop fall protection at its finest.

Sincerely,
Jack

Fall Restraint Vs. Fall Arrest

Fall Restraint Vs. Fall Arrest

Hi there,

Let’s take a stroll down the hypothetical boardwalk. 

Shall we?

Let’s say you’re working in an elevated area. And let’s say this elevated area has a leading edge. And let’s say that falling off this leading edge would result in a 50 foot drop to certain death.

Okay.

Now let’s say you’re exuberant about the breath which enters your lungs each and every morning. And let’s say your excitement for tomorrow motivates your actions today. And let’s say that it’s for these reasons that you wish to take a rain check on the 50 foot gravity ride. And it’s for these same reasons you want to altogether scrap your rendez-vous with the pavement.  

So hypothetically, in the case of what’s detailed above, would you:

A: Install a Fall Arrest System

                Or

Residential Construction Fall Fatalities

Versatile Systems, Inc. - Bureau of Labor Statistics - http://stats.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm#19922002 - Mar. 23, 2011

 

Here's a chart to help illustrate our monthly initiative: raising awareness about OSHA's new residential construction guidelines set to take effect June 16th, 2011.

PLEASE DO NOT be misled by the dip at the end. Experts agree that the recent decrease in fall fatalities directly correlates to the decrease in construction work due to the economic penny pinching required by companies to survive in our countries current financial state.

Wishing you a safe and productive Thursday.

Best,
Versatile Systems, Inc.

At A Glance: Versatile Systems

Supervisor vs. Drunk Driver

Have you ever had that awful feeling in your stomach when something terrible just happened and you knew it could have been prevented if you had only made a better decision? Maybe you felt it the last time you left the toilet seat up. Maybe you really felt it soon thereafter when you heard the blood-curdling scream of your wife as she splashed into the toilet bowl. Maybe it was much worse than that.

Maybe it was when you had one too many drinks and chose to drive. Without a doubt that feeling would have surfaced when you saw those flashing lights behind your car and you wished to God that you had made a better choice. What if your decision to drive cost a Mother her Son or Daughter? For the guy who left the toilet seat up that feeling goes away pretty quick, but for the one who killed an innocent motorist, that feeling will never go away. Those haunting words: “If only…”

You don’t have to be a drunk driver to feel the guilt after you’ve cost an innocent person their life. You can be a hard working supervisor, safety officer, owner, or manager. Work place deaths are more common than you think and deaths from falls are one of the most common causes. You can be sure that feeling will come after you’ve sent an untrained, unprepared worker to perform a task at a height that will cause them great bodily harm or death when they fall. You can be sure that feeling will come, as it would for the drunk driver, whenever you gamble with death.

A few years back at a well-known Las Vegas venue a very young rigger was working part time while home from college. Being young and inexperienced he was designated as the ground guy. Unfortunately a couple of experienced riggers didn’t make it to work that day. The supervisor told the kid to put on a harness and get up there to help the understaffed high workers out. As I’m sure you can guess, that day ended in tragedy after the young man fell 30’ to his death wearing a harness with the lanyard attached to his belt. I’m sure the supervisor that sent him up there knew deep down that he was not ready for the assignment, but he gambled just like a drunk driver and sent him on his way. I have never spoken to that supervisor, but you can be sure that memory will never be erased. The guilt within his gut may not be present daily, but I’m sure that terrible feeling emerges whenever he recalls the incident.

Ask yourself this, am I passionately dedicated to the absolute safety of my people or do I just want to be OSHA compliant? If you are passionately dedicated to the safety of your people, your chances of experiencing that terrible feeling is much less than the guy who wants only to do the bear minimum to meet OSHA compliance. Don’t put a price tag on your people’s lives.

Versatile Systems, Inc. helps companies and their supervisors eliminate the possibility of that feeling by guaranteeing the absolute best in fall protection. We look for clients that care more about their staff’s safety than the cheapest possible bid. When working with a fall protection company be sure they are passionate about safety. Be sure they provide the best possible solution for the best possible price. Be sure in their assurance. Please visit us at www.versatilefallprotection.com. 

OSHA Revises Residential Construction Regulations

As our work environments are slowly becoming fully integrated with the necessary safety equipment, OSHA has been doing their part by reevaluating current standards. One of these is STD 03-00-001, a directive pertaining to a leading cause of fatalities in one of the top five highest fatality reporting industries: construction, specifically residential.

OSHA has come to the following decision based on data compiled over the last decade and current technological advancements.

As of December 16, 2010, STD 03-00-001 is rescinded and STD 03-11-002 is now effective, but company compliancy is not yet required.

Not until this June 16^th, 2011, when the residential construction community becomes responsible for adhering to the strict fall protection regulations the rest of the construction world abides by.

What this means is that the previous guidelines which allowed residential construction companies to avoid implementing conventional fall protection whenever they deemed it unattainable or jeopardizing, and which they were allowed to determine without providing proper fall protection documentation, will soon be eliminated.

On the 16^th of June, residential construction companies will be responsible for insuring site specific conventional fall protection (i.e., personal fall arrest systems, guardrail systems, safety net systems), unless the company strongly believes that implementation of such equipment is unattainable or jeopardizing; in which case the company will now be mandated to provide a written site specific fall protection plan.

OSHA’s belief in the versatility of recent fall protection technology is the catalyst for this recent revision. As a member of the safety community we are spreading the word of OSHA to ensure a smooth transition for residential construction companies this summer.

Have a Great Day, Have a Safe Day, Have a Safe Year

Versatile Systems, Inc.

For Free Consultation:

818-565-5551

or

john@verfallpro.com

The 5 Most Overlooked Fall Hazards in the Workplace

Over the past several years our company has had the privilege to assist numerous employers in various industries to mitigate their workplace fall hazards. The types of hazards range from twenty-story high rooftop work to working on the edge of 200’ deep pits. In many of these businesses we are seeing the same types of trends in regards to hazards that are totally being overlooked by the employers. We have made a list below of what we consider to be the top 5 most dangerous. Take a quick minute to see if you are overlooking any of the 5 right now.

1. Untrained Staff

This above all-else is what we believe to be the leading cause of workplace injuries and deaths, and not just in regards to falls. It is against the law to have employees performing dangerous tasks without proper training. Your Injury Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) should include a “Code of Safe Practices”. It should be spelled out in this document that under no circumstance would an employee perform a hazardous task until he/she has received instruction on how to do it properly, safely and is authorized to perform that task.

Purchasing fall protection equipment such as harnesses, lanyards, self-retracting lifelines, etc. is only the first step. You must provide these employees with the correct training in order to use this equipment properly. Fall arrest equipment can give a worker a false sense of safety and put them at a greater risk of injury or even death because of improper use. At minimum each employee should have “Authorized User” training that covers the specific area of danger where that employee is working. We suggest that each employee that is exposed to fall hazards be trained as a “Competent Person” in fall protection standards. This will give your employee the ability to utilize multiple types of fall protection equipment and practices.  

Do you have a site-specific fall protection plan for each fall hazard in your work place? This plan covers the specific hazard that an employee will be exposed to in your workplace. Each new employee should be trained to comply with this plan by a competent person in fall protection standards, equipment being used for mitigation of this hazard, correct procedures to perform during the hazardous task, and proper rescue techniques in the case of a fall. To avoid very costly citations have all training documented and on-site for OSHA inspectors if they are to arrive at your place of business. To learn more about fall protection training visit http://www.versatilefallprotection.com/training

2. We’ve Been Doing It This Way For Years (and nothing has happened) YET

On many job walks we will be shocked at the fact that an employer will tell us that their staff has been performing the hazardous task for 40 plus years without ever having an incident. Workplace injuries and deaths are not on a schedule. No one ever knows when an accident is going to occur. Just because you’ve had an employee working dangerously without an incident for the past 30-40 years does not make it safe. A 30-40 year old company that willingly puts an employee at risk of injury will probably not survive the OSHA citations, lawsuits and insurance premium increases, not to mention the loss of a valuable employee.

We recently visited a business that had workers walking along 2x12 planks above an acoustical ceiling to change light bulbs and perform other maintenance. The acoustical ceiling was only about 2 feet below the planks, which gave the worker the false cense of security that they were safe. The truth was that below the acoustical tiles was an 80’ death fall. If a worker accidently stepped off the planks onto the drop ceiling he/she would crash down to the auditorium eighty feet below.  The facilities management told us that it’s been done that way for years and they did not see the urgency to get a solution in place at this time. If a death ever occurs at this place of business it will be devastating to the workers family, friends, the company he/she works for and also for us as advocates for a safe workplace.

3. Rescue

Back to number 1. Training. Your site-specific fall protection plan should always include a method of rescue that goes beyond calling 911. Amazingly many employers will install horizontal lifelines, anchor points and many other types of “Fall Arrest” equipment without a rescue plan. When a fall occurs the fallen workers is at a great risk of further bodily damage from suspension trauma if they are not rescued immediately.

Orthostatic intolerance aka “Venous Pooling” occurs when the body has been suspended for a period of time cutting circulation to the lower extremities. An accumulation of blood in the legs reduces the amount of blood in circulation. The body reacts to this by speeding up the heart rate in an attempt to maintain sufficient blood flow to the brain. If the blood supply is significantly reduced, this reaction will not be effective. The body will abruptly slow the heart rate and blood pressure will diminish in the arteries. During severe venous pooling, the reduction in quantity and/or quality (oxygen content) of blood flowing to the brain causes fainting. This reduction also can have an effect on other vital organs, such as the kidneys. The kidneys are very sensitive to blood oxygen and renal failure can occur with excessive venous pooling. If these conditions continue, they potentially may be fatal.

A method of assisted recue should take place within 4 minutes of a fall. The fallen worker should perform self-rescue procedures immediately. There are multiple forms of rescue equipment that cover just about any type of fall hazard. This equipment and rescue procedures should be included in your site-specific fall protection plan. If you can’t find a rescue solution seek the help of a professional fall protection company. Never send your workers into an unsafe work environment without a rescue procedure. There are multiple stories of fallen workers that had not been rescued in time and died, this was not from impacting the surface below but by being hung in the very equipment that was meant to save their lives.

4. Passive Solutions

Many companies automatically want to put their workers in fall arrest because it’s the easiest way for them to get rid of the fall hazard in OSHA’s eyes. What these employers are not taking into consideration is that there is still a very large risk of injury or death when using fall arrest equipment. This risk increases if the worker has not been trained correctly and you don’t have the most effective fall arrest plan in place. There are three basic types of fall protection. The first and most popular would be “Fall Arrest”. In a fall arrest situation a worker is still exposed to a fall but he/she utilizes approved equipment that will arrest the fall within 6 feet and before the worker was to strike the surface below. The second is “Fall Restraint”. In a fall restraint situation the worker will be restrained from falling over an edge or into an open hole by a lanyard or other type of restraint equipment. This equipment can be limiting to the worker in regards to mobility and is often used wrong putting that person in a very hazardous situation because they have the false feeling of safety. The third type and most effective form of fall protection is “Passive Fall Protection”. With passive fall protection the fall hazard is completely eliminated by railings, portable guardrails and other barriers that will not allow the worker to fall. Passive fall protection solutions are available for most fall hazard situations. Unfortunately this seems to be the least utilized form of fall protection. Guardrails can be more time consuming and not as cost effective causing many employers to take the easy way out.

We have been renting and installing portable guardrails for the past few years and find it to be the best long-term solution. This type of protection reduces the costs of training, fall protection plans and overall vulnerability to the employer. It’s a great piece of mind for an employer to know that his people are safe and he has taken care of his obligation to provide a safe work environment for his people. See some great examples of portable guardrails at http://www.versatilefallprotection.com/projects

5. Skylight Screens

If your facility has skylights on its roof our suggestion is to immediately find out if they are rated for fall protection. There is typically a stamp on the side of the skylight that will state whether it’s OSHA rated or not.

Federal OSHA states in CFR 1910.23 Every skylight floor opening and hole shall be guarded by a standard skylight screen or a fixed standard railing on all exposed sides and Cal/OSHA Title 8, Section 3212 (1) Skylight Screens. The design, construction, and installation of skylight screens shall meet the strength requirements equivalent to that of covers specified in subsection (b) (400lbs.). They shall also be of such design, construction and mounting that under design loads or impacts, they will not deflect downward sufficiently to break the glass below them.

Basically what this means for an employer or building owner is that your skylights must be able to withstand a load of 400lbs without breaking. We have found that even on brand new buildings owners are taking the cheap alternative and installing non-compliant skylight covers. It is a fact that most employers never know when their staff is going to be on their roof and don’t take this very dangerous fall hazard into consideration. Most deaths occur when an unknowing employee sits on top of a brittle skylight and falls to his death into the warehouse below. Our suggestion is to not to guess who and when people will be on your roof. Take the necessary precautions and get these skylights covered by a professional installation company. Our company installs skylight screens for many different companies and other’s do as well. Visit http://www.versatilefallprotection.com/projects?cid=17 for a typical installation.