Residential roofing falls a common cause of Chicago construction accidents
Late last month the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration announced new directives that would decrease the hazard of construction fall injuries. Roofing accidents in Chicago present a major threat and are a common cause of residential and commercial construction injuries in the Chicago area.
Latino workers account for over 33% of all construction workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 40 workers are fatally injured each year on the job as a result of falling from residential roofs. In other words, a construction worker is killed on average, about once a week.
Often lacking adequate access to protection and safety information, Latino workers make up 33% of the fatally injured workers.
"Fatalities from falls are the number one cause of workplace deaths in construction. We cannot tolerate workers getting killed in residential construction when effective means are readily available to prevent those deaths," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Almost every week, we see a worker killed from falling off a residential roof. We can stop these fatalities, and we must."
This new directive states that workers that are working on residential construction six feet or more above ground must be protected by some means of conventional fall protection. These should include a guardrail, safety net or personal fall arrest systems. Certain jobs may require an alternative fall protection measure. An optional can be proposed if the traditional methods are unfeasible. Employers will have until June 16, 2011 to initiate compliance to the new standards of safety.
The following are some rooftop safety tips that employees can follow:
-Don't stand on, sit on or lean against a cover placed over a hole or a skylight lens.
-Cover all holes before leaving a work area. If you use material that isn't weight barring then you should clearly identify the area as a fall hazard.
-Acquire information about fall protection from OSHA or your employer.
-When using a Personal Fall Arrest System use only anchor points identified by your employer. Inspection of your equipment regularly is a must.
Further information regarding residential fall protection can be utilized on the website seen here.
If you are dealing with a construction accident or an Illinois workers' compensation or disability claim issue in Chicago, contact the attorneys at the VanPopering Law Offices for a free appointment at 1-800-767-4878.
