Falls from roofs account for 34% of fall deaths.
The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, www.osha.gov) publishes guidance document OSHA 3755-05 2015 – Protecting Roofing Workers. OSHA confirms that “falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, accounting for over 3,500 fatalities between 2003 and 2013. Falls from roofs accounted for nearly 1,200, or 34%, of the fall deaths during that period.”
Workers at height are at risk of serious injury, illness and death as a result of weather events.
OSHA highlights how workers at height, such as roofers, encounter many health and safety hazards on sites and facilities across the construction industry and built environment. Further, workers at height are at risk of serious injury, illness and death, unless the hazards, such as slippery working and walking surfaces as a result of weather events, are controlled by the employer. Control starts with first identifying hazards and second addressing risks.
Employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized serious hazards.
OSHA 3755-05 2015 – Protecting Roofing Workers highlights the general duty of the employer, whether general contractor or trade contractor, to protect workers from hazards. For example, roofers and other outdoor workers are exposed to weather events, such precipitation, low and high temperatures, and wind and wind gust, for example. “Employers have a duty to protect workers from recognized serious hazards on the job site (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act).”
Cold stress can lead to serious health problems and safety risks.
Further, OSHA 3755-05 2015 – Protecting Roofing Workers addresses “cold stress,” or prolonged exposure to freezing or cold temperatures. Cold stress can lead to serious health problems and safety risks, such as trench foot, frostbite and hypothermia, and death in extreme cases. Some of the many signs of cold stress include uncontrolled shivering, slurred speech, clumsy movements, fatigue, and confused behavior, as noted in OSHA 3755-05 2015.
How to prevent cold weather injuries, illnesses and fatalities
For more information on how to prevent cold weather injuries, illnesses and fatalities, and planning and training resources, visit OSHA’s Winter Weather website: www.osha.gov/dts/weather/winter_weather.
More in the next blog series about weather risk management for the construction industry and built environment…
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