Spotted! #5

As we described in our two-part series on Training published in June, OSHA requires training on initial assignment – before workers set out to their assignments.  If their employer had trained them and made it clear that safety rules are to be followed, it is likely this case would have not occurred.

In the picture, a couple of violations are obvious:

1. A ladder used to reach a higher level of work should extend at least three feet above the level the worker is reaching. Using the rung spacing to estimate, we can say the ladder extends above the roof by about a foot.

2. The workers are not wearing gloves (or any other PPE, for that matter). So they expose their hands to several hazards when dealing with the metal Air Conditioner units.

3. Although the picture was taken while standing at ground level, it is easy to see the debris around the feet of the worker on the roof.  This debris presents tripping and slipping hazards.

4. Since the work is taking place close to an edge more than six feet above the lower level (the ground), Fall Protection for the worker on the roof is mandatory.

Some unseen concerns.

5. The base of the ladder is too close to the wall, so the ladder is too vertical. Regulations call for a ladder to be placed at  1:4 ratio – 1 foot out for every 4’ in elevation to the support point. The wall is approximately 13’ high, so the ladder should be around 3’ out from the wall for maximum stability.

6. Training: The workers are willing to work in unsafe conditions, so it is likely their training is deficient. Had the workers been trained in the requirements of federal laws, they would understand the hazards and how to avoid them.

A gentleman told me the other day: “You know, safety rules are pretty much common sense.” He is right, they are not difficult to remember or to follow.  Workers need to know the hazards and how to prevent injuries. Employers must want to protect their workers.

See our Web site: SafetyRich