April 19, 2017
Associated General Contractors of America released a new study on April 4 with the goal of improving safety for construction workers, even as AGC announced that two-thirds of metro areas added construction jobs during the past 12 months. “We all share a common goal: getting to zero construction fatalities,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “This report offers the kind of data and recommendations needed to help construction firms achieve that goal.”
And they found something significant, and perhaps surprising: Although prior research indicated most construction fatalities occur in the morning, noon actually is the deadliest hour in construction. Sandherr said the association is now advising construction firms to hold their safety toolbox talks and stretching sessions when workers return from their 11 a.m. to noon lunch break, which is common on most job sites.
He said the study also found that Hispanic construction workers are not disproportionately the victims of construction fatalities: They are 24 percent of the national construction workforce and represent 25 percent of all construction fatalities. Sandherr said this is important because it indicates construction firms need to craft safety programs targeting their entire workforce instead of specific segments.
The study reinforced that falls from height — from ladders and other structures — account for one-third of U.S. construction fatalities, which confirms AGC’s and industry’s longstanding focus on offering training and safety stand-downs addressing fall protection. He said the association is now also looking to establish new training programs designed to improve ladder safety.
This article re-posted from OHSOnline.com