OHSA Fall Prevention Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

OHSA Fall Prevention - Essay Example After an upsurge in 2007, fatal work accidents were trimmed by 20% down in the following year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (OSHA, 2008). Nevertheless, fall-related occupational deaths are still the major cause of job-related accidents, accounting for about 8% of occupational fatalities. Working at more than 4 feet height poses risks of falling to workers, especially, to those who work in building constructions (OSHA, 2008). Regardless of the falling height, industrial and construction workers must be protected from fall. This paper presented that the key step in the prevention of fall or any work-related injury is the identification and elimination of hazards. Any worker, exposed to fall hazards, is at risk to trauma or death. In industrial works, construction workers are more prone to fall accidents. Fall hazards in construction sites are primarily due to falling debris and elevated working area. Stairways and ladders, for instance, are frequent cause of trauma and fatality among construction workers. Annually, based on OSHA estimates, about 25,000 injuries and around 36 fatalities are recorded from stairway and ladder fall accidents (NC-DOL, 2008). Many of these accidents, on the basis of the assessment, could have prevented if the construction firm has complied with the OSHA safety requirements. Thus, OSHA rules cover every stairway and ladder used in the construction or industrial works, including their repair, structure, and decoration. OSHA also specifies the technical properties, designs, and manufacture of stairway and ladder appropriate for industrial works. Fall accidents may also involve leading edges and floor holes. Still, fa ll may occur on the same level due to tripping and slipping hazards. As mentioned earlier, the effective prevention of falls necessitates the identification and immediate control of fall hazards. This requires the collaborative effort of engineering, safety, estimating, and production personnel,