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| Don’t Fall for Rooftop Hazards |
At this time of year, the buildup of heavy snow on the roof is a common concern at both the workplace and at home. And it’s a concern best left to the professionals to handle.
The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) warns workers not to attempt clearing snow from rooftops unless they are trained professionals with the proper equipment. It’s good advice for homeowners, too.
A study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine indicated that patients were more likely to fall from a roof while shoveling snow on days with more than 12 inches (30 cm) of snow accumulation.
The bottom line: Never step on a sloped roof in wintertime, or even a flat, icy roof, without fall prevention systems, such as covers, screens, railings or guardrails. If you must work on a roof, wear your fall protection (a full-body harness, lanyard, connectors and appropriate anchorage points), wear slip-resistant footwear and never sit on, lean against or step on a skylight lens or any covering placed over a hole in a roof.
Although most people feel safer at home than they do at work, this sense of security is a false one. The reality is that workers are much more likely to be killed or injured off the job. So it’s important for employers to address safety issues that workers face at home. Include seasonal safety in your off-the-job safety program, such as these Safety Talks on:
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| From the exposed rebar to the wall openings lacking guardrails, to the poor housekeeping, to the lack of worker access, this worksite is a safety inspector’s nightmare. (WorkSafeVictoria, Australia) |
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| Can Workers Sue Employer for Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke? |
Inmates in a prison are allowed to smoke. As a result, unionized prison workers are exposed to second-hand smoke. Some of them claim that such exposure has affected their health and made them sick. Some of these workers—but not all—have filed workers’ compensation claims for their illnesses.
Other workers who aren’t sick now worry that exposure to the smoke will have a long-term effect on their health. The collective agreement requires the prison to make reasonable provisions for the safety and health of workers during the hours of their employment.
Assume that illness from second-hand smoke in this context is work-related and thus covered by workers’ comp. Can the workers sue the prison for violating the collective agreement by exposing them to second-hand smoke?
Read more on the issue of employer liability on OHSInsider.com.
(note: subscription is required; to get instant access, simply sign up for a No-Cost Trial of OHSInsider.com. Plus, you will be entered into a drawing for a FREE NHL jersey of your choice.)
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| Nuclear Weapon Drivers Reportedly Drunk on Job |
Nukes and booze don’t mix, particularly when some US government employees whose job it was to drive nuclear weapons in trucks reportedly got drunk on the job.
Sixteen alcohol-related incidents among drivers have been investigated by the US Energy Department’s assistant inspector general. These incidents occurred between 2007 and 2009 and involved National Nuclear Security Administration Office of Surface Transportation personnel.
In certain cases some of the workers were detained by police while on the job. The administration prevents agents from consuming alcohol for 10 hours before they report to work. In several instances, workers parked vehicles in “safe harbors” before checking into hotels and drinking.
Throughout the US there are about 600 federal agents involved in shipping nuclear weapons, weapon components and nuclear material. |
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