OSHA targets high risk sites for inspection
OSHA will target about 3,200 worksites that reported 14 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in lost workdays or restricted activity per 100 employees and worksites that reported nine or more cases per 100 resulting in days away from work for surprise inspections.

OSHA bases this list on a 2002 initiative that gathered 2001 injury and illness information from 95,000 employers. “The purpose of our targeted inspection program is to more effectively allocate our inspection resources to those workplaces of highest safety and health risk," says OSHA administrator John Henshaw.

OSHA: Recordkeeping form remains the same
OSHA has decided not to modify the form employers must use to record workplace injuries and illnesses to include a separate column for musculoskeletal disorders.

“This decision does not change the current way injuries or illnesses are recorded and does not affect an employers’ obligation to record work-related injuries, including musculoskeletal disorders, “ says OSHA administrator John Henshaw.

Employers will continue to check the column for “injury” or “all other illnesses” depending on the circumstances of the case.

The reason OSHA decided to keep the present form was because the additional recordkeeping column would not substantially improve national injury statistics nor would it be of benefit to employers and workers.

Working in the wind
Working in windy conditions presents serious safety hazards, reports Don Moen safety director of ABC-Wisconsin. He offers these tips to reduce wind risks:

• Use bracing when erecting steel or wood walls. Put a limited access zone in place around masonry walls that is equal to the wall height plus 4' for the entire wall length.

• Stop sheathing work when winds exceed 30 mph. Do not allow winds to catch sheathing while lifting sheets.

• Crane operators must be aware of wind conditions. Tag line operators should never wrap the line around the hand, arm or body.

• Ladders should be well-positioned so wind does not knock them over. They should be tied at the top when used for roof access.

• Scaffold, if surrounded by plastic, should be anchored under the direction of a competent person.

Published in the September/October 2003 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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