The best way to stop a fall is to eliminate the hazard. By using a self closing safety gate many falls can be prevented. Applications for a safety gate would be: ladderway openings, stairwell openings, equipment access ladders, scaffolding, mezzanines, and working platforms to name a few. Safety gates can be ordered painted safety yellow, hot-dipped galvanized, stainless steel, or aluminum. They are shipped fully assembled, meet OSHA standards, self closing, and are easy to install. They feature dual stainless steel springs, adjustable lengths, and reversible swing direction by simply inverting gate. Such a simple solution to eliminate a fall.
Category Archives: ladder safety training
OSHA Job Site Safety
This summer OSHA is promoting two new job site safety programs. The first is OSHA’s National Stand Down. The week of June 2nd thru 6th will be their week to raise awareness of preventing fall hazards in construction. In 2012, 269 construction worker fatalities out of a total 775 were caused by falls. Many of those deaths were preventable by proper job planning and instruction. Fall prevention safety standards were among the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards, during fiscal year 2012. Here is a link to planning a step down program for your organization.
In conjunction with this program they are concurrently promoting OSHA’s Plan, Provide, Train program. Using OSHA’s three simple step program, many job related falls can be prevented. OSHA’s website is part of a nationwide outreach campaign to raise awareness among workers and employers about the hazards of falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs. Plan ahead to get the job done safely. Provide the right equipment equipment. Train everyone to use the safety equipment safely. Three simple steps that save lives.
Bird Ladder Open House May 15th
Bird Ladder will be having their annual open house May 15th. Every year we have customer appreciation day which includes a truck load sale on everything. Werner ladders, pump jacks, planks, Granite scaffolding, MBW compactors, trowels and mixers, Werner fall protection, Acro roofing equipment, Tie down shingle hoists, Van Mark brakes, Knaack job boxes, Weatherguard truck and van equipment, Reechcraft PowerPole, PowerLift and PowerMast to name a few.
We will also have factory reps demonstrating their products. We will be introducing new products at the show. The NEW Knaack 118 data vault will be on display with demonstrations. We will also have the new Reechcraft Powermast set up. They also have a new free standing base that will be shown. We will also have new MBW plate compactors on display.
Free safety classes will also be returning this year. We will offer ladder safety courses, fall protection courses and also a presentation by Acro products on use of their roof edge protection. Cards will be issued for the ladder and fall protection training. We are also attempting to have a representative from OSHA here to answer questions.
We also serve lunch from 12:00 till the food runs out. So bring your shopping list, save money, get trained, and have lunch.
Podium Ladder promoted by Coach Tom Izzo
WernerCo podium ladder
Coach Tom Izzo who has cut down many nets at NCAA finals is helping Werner promote their new fiberglass Podium ladder. Ideal for working at fixed heights and easier to maneuver than scaffolds or lifts. Another advantage this fiberglass podium ladder offers in non conductivity. Fiberglass does not conduct electricity, so it is much safer to use around electrical sources than highly-conductive aluminum. The extra-large podium platform with toe guard feels like you are standing on the ground and 4X Work Zone allows you to work facing any direction. This podium ladder features full aluminum bracing and a full set of rear horizontals. The extended guardrail provides an extra point of contact and conveniently organizes tools and accessories. The newly designed EDGE360™ gives the bottom of the ladder protection from every angle with integrated rail shield, EDGE bracing and over-sized foot pads.
Using a platform type ladder reduces fatigue, increases productivity, and is safer than a standard step ladder.
Safety Pays, but Falls Cost
Here is a copy of an article I found written by Jim Maddux, director of OSHA Directorate of Construction. Take a few minutes to read it.
Safety Pays, but Falls Cost
OSHA’s Fall Prevention Campaign promotes ‘Planning,’ ‘Providing’ and ‘training’ to reduce the number one cause of death in construction
By Jim Maddux, director, OSHA Directorate of Construction
Falls account for one third of all work-related deaths in the construction industry. In 2010, there were 264 fall fatalities (255 falls to lower level) out of 774 total fatalities in construction. Of those deaths from falls, 90 were from roofs, 68 from ladders and 37 from scaffolds.
Many of the workers who are killed and injured on the job are temporary workers who perform the most dangerous jobs and often have limited English proficiency, and who don’t always get the training and equipment they need to do their jobs safely. As Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels has said, “All workers have the right to go home safe and sound at the end of the day, whether they’ve been on the job one day or 25 years.” Continue reading
Construction Rises to the Top Spot in Labor Statistics’ Deadliest Industries List
Fatal work injuries in the private construction sector increased 5 percent to 775 in 2012, while total hours worked in the industry increased just one percent.
The 2012 increase in fatal occupational injuries follows five consecutive years of declining fatalities in construction. Fatal construction injuries are down 37 percent since 2006.
The reversal in construction’s worker-fatality trend is stark in light of the fact that the 2012 fatal-work-injury count for all U.S. employers is down 6.6 percent to the second-lowest total since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics first started conducting the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 1992
The rate of fatal work injury for all U.S. workers in 2012 was 3.2 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers, down from a rate of 3.5 per 100,000 in 2011. There were 9.5 U.S. construction-worker deaths in 2012 per 100,000 full-time workers.
Ladder Safety
Is your ladder safety training up to date?
This free ladder safety training is a tool for the proper selection, care and safe use of all ladders, including stepladders, single and extension ladders, articulated ladders, and mobile ladders. Provided by the American Ladder Institute, this ladder safety training outlines safe ladder practices in all applications, such as construction/painting, building and custodial services, warehousing, power, manufacturing, chemical and petrochemical, oil and gas, and at home. Please visit our web site for more info.
OSHA Ladder Safety Training
OSHA ladder safety training is an important aspect of your training program. Bird Ladder has many options for you in this area. We do on site training at a cost of $10.00/ per employee plus traveling expense. Our next option is to purchase the Werner Climbing Pro Safety Kit at $ 20.00. It is a kit which your safety director can use (in both English and Spanish) is his training program. A third option is to use the on line program from Werner. We also have available a program for pump jacks.