H.R.2067 - Protecting America's Workers Act of 2009 (PAWA)

Even though the statistics for 2008 appear to show improvement in worker safety, there is very important legislation being developed in the U.S. Congress, one is the Protecting America's Workers Act of 2009 (PAWA. Some highlights of

OSHA Releases Fall Statistics for 2008; GOOD NEWS!!!

It is with amazement and great pleasure we present the statistics from OSHA
including the year 2008, in the two tables below, from OSHA, along with our
comments.
Fatal falls nationwide FELL 20% from 847 in 2007 (the worst year on record)
to 680 in 2008, a number not seen since 1995, fifteen (15) years ago! The
fatality rate per 100,000 hours worked dropped by 10% overall since 2007. We
don't have

OSHA Releases Fall Statistics for 2008; Table 1 and Table 2

Table 2

Table 1

ANSI ASSE Z359 Standards of 2007 and 2009; Attempting to Help Reduce Fatal Fall Accidents

Since around 1994 until now, all workplace fatalities have decreased about 12%. This number includes fatalities due to falls. Sounds good right? Work is getting safer, right?

WRONG! In the same time period, fatalities due to FALLS HAVE INCREASED ABOUT 30%. In the USA about 750 people die in fatal

Fall Statistics

The source of this information is OSHA, the Department of Labor (DOL), or the Center for Disease Control (CDC):

• 14% of all fall accidents are fatal.
• Since 1992 serious injuries and fatalities due to falls have been on the rise in spite of new regulations and better operations and practices.
• In 2006 there were 809 fall accident fatalities in the USA; from roofs, unprotected walks, ladders, scaffolding, staging, etc.
• Surprisingly, the distribution of falls of various heights from 6' to over 100' is roughly evenly spread out. Fatalities from falls of under 6' are rare. Falls to hard surfaces tend to be more fatal (abrupt deceleration causes severe unjuries, head injuries substantial).
• Falls cost businesses over $170B a year in medical, wages, lower productivity, lower morale and other negative impacts.
• The actual number of non-fatal fall accidents is unknown, as not all are reported.
• The costs of litigation and settlements is unknown.
• The costs of OSHA citations can be quite substantial.

Fall Protection is the 3rd Most Cited Issue per OSHA

For 2008 there were nearly 5,000 violations of "Fall Protection" discovered by OSHA. They are getting serious about saving lives, and consequently, about writing citations and issuing fines. Numerous citations have been over $100,000. The cost of prevention and having the proper equipment is significantly less - do you want to play safety roulette?

News from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Bureau of Labor Statistics has just released its August 20, 2008 Report for 2007.

Since 1992 the fatal falls stat has increased 39% to 835, from 600. See the green trend-line in the chart, taken from the DOL BLS 2007 report.

This in spite of new and improved OSHA regulations and industry concensus standards such as the I-14.1-2001, not to mention most construction firms now have the new post of "Safety Director" to create safety manuals, monitor practices on site, prevent accidents before they happen. Unfortunately, there aren't enough OSHA inspectors for all the

Fatal Falls in 2007 Sets a Record! (not good)

At the "pump handle", Christina Morgan writes there were 835 fatal falls in 2007, and, each and every one of them were (or should have been ) preventable... and the workers whose lives are literally hanging on the line everyday have come to the sad disposition that they have to live with these circumstances - that coming home to their families at the end of the day is a statistical probability, but not an absolute.

Please read here ---> http://thepumphandle.wordpress.com/2008/09/08/this-happens/