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Personal Injury

OSHA Walking-Working Surface Regulations: A Comprehensive Guide

Walking-working surfaces are a common hazard in many workplaces. Slips, trips, and falls can result in serious injuries or even death. To help prevent these accidents, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established a number of regulations governing walking-working surfaces. Unfortunately, employers and jobsite managers don’t always comply with these regulations. This blog article will provide a comprehensive overview of OSHA’s walking-working surface regulations, including the following topics: What are walking-working surfaces? What are the OSHA requirements for walking-working surfaces? How can employers comply with OSHA’s walking-working surface regulations? What are the penalties for violating OSHA’s walking-working surface regulations? What are walking-working surfaces? Walking-working surfaces are any horizontal or vertical surface on or through which an employee walks, works, or gains access to a work area or workplace location. This includes floors, roofs, stairs, ladders, catwalks, and platforms. What are the OSHA requirements for walking-working surfaces? The OSHA walking-working surfaces regulations are found in 29 CFR 1910.22. These regulations cover a wide range of topics, including: The inspection and maintenance of walking-working surfaces The provision of guardrails and other fall protection systems The use of personal fall protection systems The training of employees on walking-working surface safety Inspection and Maintenance of Walking-Working Surfaces These regulations require employers to: Keep walking-working surfaces free of hazards such as loose boards, holes, spills, and debris. Provide guardrails or other barriers to protect employees from falling from high places. Ensure that walking-working surfaces can support the weight of employees and equipment. Provide safe means of access and egress to and from walking-working surfaces. How can employers comply with OSHA’s walking-working surface regulations? There are a number of steps that employers should take to comply with OSHA’s walking-working surface regulations. These include: Conducting regular inspections of walking-working surfaces to identify and correct hazards. Providing training to employees on how to identify and avoid walking-working surface hazards. Using appropriate guard rails and fall protection systems when employees are working at heights. Maintaining walking-working surfaces in good condition. Regular Inspections Employers are required to inspect walking-working surfaces regularly to identify and correct hazards. The frequency of inspections will depend on the type of walking-working surface and the level of hazard. For example, elevated surfaces should be inspected at least monthly, while wet or slippery surfaces may need to be inspected more often. Training Employers must train their employees on the hazards of walking-working surfaces and the procedures for preventing falls. The training should be in a language that the employees can understand and should be repeated as needed. Guardrails and Fall Protection Systems Employers must provide guardrails or other fall protection systems to protect employees from falls from elevated surfaces. Guardrails must be at least 42 inches high and have a mid-rail or toeboard. Other fall protection systems may include personal fall arrest systems, travel restraint systems, and positioning systems. Personal Fall Protection Systems Personal fall protection systems can be used to protect employees from falls when other fall protection measures are not feasible. Personal fall arrest systems use a harness and lanyard to secure the employee to an anchor point. Travel restraint systems allow the employee to move freely while still being protected from falls. Positioning systems are used to keep the employee in a specific location while they work. What Should I do if I’ve had a Fall at Work? If you’ve been injured in a fall at work, you likely have a claim against your employer’s worker’s compensation insurance to have your medical bills paid and for a portion of your wages if you are unable to work becuase of your injuries. But you might also have claims outside of worker’s compensation for things like pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. The first thing you should do is seek necessary medical treatment. Even if you don’t think you were hurt that bad, get checked out by a doctor. You should also report the fall to your supervisor and to someone at the jobsite you were working on. Take pictures of the scene. It will be your burden to prove any defects in the premises that caused your fall. Get the names of any witnesses you may need later. You should also speak with an attorney who is knowledgeable about OSHA regulations and has experience handling workplace injuries. If you would like to schedule a no-cost consultation with a member of our team, give us call at (225) 963-9638 or click here to contact us.

Personal Injury

Most Common Types of Construction Accidents

Most Common Types Of Construction Accidents Working in construction sites is one of the essential jobs in America. They pave the way to society’s development and progress in both the industrial and residential needs of the community. More so, working on a construction site can be financially rewarding. However, on the flip side, working in construction sites is inherently dangerous. Thus, there are numerous safety precautions and regulations in place to try to minimize such dangers. However, not all hazardous situations can be avoided, given the nature of the job and the site. Hence, the risks associated with working in construction must not be taken lightly by those working or interested in the construction industry, as such injuries can be fatal or career-ending. Some of the most common and dangerous injuries incurred in a construction site are as follows: Slip And Fall Slip and fall are common dangerous occurrences in a construction site since the nature of the job require workers to work in high places or use ladders and cranes. Moreover, construction sites can be prone to slips since they are full of debris. Slips and falls can cause serious injuries such as brain and head trauma, broken bones, back and spinal injuries. Falling Objects As noted above, it is a regular occurrence for construction workers to work from high places while using tools. Given the nature of this job, it is unfortunate but not unheard of for tools or materials being used in a project to fall from an elevated place to workers working in a lower area. These accidents can cause injuries such as brain and head trauma, broken limbs, or even death. Electrocutions Exposed electrical wirings are also common in construction sites. Given this occurrence, electrocutions are common site injuries in construction sites if the electrical wirings are poorly handled or not appropriately secured. Electrocutions can cause serious injuries, such as burns and even death to construction workers. Vehicle And Machinery Accidents Heavy machinery and vehicles are also standard in construction sites since these are essential tools for construction workers to do their jobs. However, heavy machinery poses dangerous risks to construction workers if they are to malfunction or accidentally hit them. These machinery accidents can cause broken bones, back and spinal injuries, brain and head trauma, eye and vision damage, or even death to construction workers. Ground Collapses During excavation, construction workers must dig a significant area of the ground. Depending on the earth and its consistency, excavation can cause the surrounding area to become unstable. Often, this can cause the ground to collapse and may trap, seriously injure, or fatally injure workers standing in the vicinity. Chemical Exposure Construction workers are also exposed to numerous chemicals on a construction site. Some of these chemicals include but are not limited to PVC, mercury, lead and flame retardants, pesticides, pest control substances, fuel and mechanical oils, sewage, and wastewater. Prolonged exposure to these chemicals can cause physical and psychological damages to construction workers, including cancers, neurological illnesses, reproductive issues, endocrine injuries, and even death. If you have been injured on a construction site while conducting your work, you must take the following steps to ensure that your rights are protected, and your health and safety are taken seriously: Assess Your Injuries And Seek Medical Attention. As soon as you get hurt, you must assess your injury and seek medical attention right away. Even if the injury seems minor, it is vital to get medical assistance to rule out any underlying trauma that may not be physically obvious at the time of the accident. Document Your Injuries. It is essential to document your accident and the damages you had incurred as part of your claim. You can do this by taking photos and videos of your injuries. If possible, you must also take photos and videos of the environment where the injury has occurred at the time of the accident. More importantly, keep track of any documents provided to you by your medical provider, as you would need this when you file your claim. Report The Accident And Your Injuries To The Site Supervisor. Once you can, you should report the accident to the supervisor of the construction site. However, you should not give too much information; instead, provide a truthful, detailed report of what happened in the accident. Your lawyer can assist you in preparing what you should disclose when reporting the incident to your site supervisor. Reach Out To A Personal Injury Lawyer. Given the liabilities, and the legalities surrounding injuries incurred in construction sites, it is essential to seek a reputable legal representation as soon as you have been injured to ensure that your rights and claims are adequately protected. Our reliable personal injury lawyers can assist you in this undertaking. If you or a loved one have been hurt on a construction site, you need a reputable lawyer on your side. Our highly experienced injury lawyers are here to guide and help you in your case. Please call us at (225) 963-638, or you can click here to schedule a consultation. Our dependable personal injury lawyers can help you assess your situation, represent your claim, and answer any concerns you may have regarding your lawsuit.

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