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Following a series of fatal accidents involving
construction workers, CSLB is passing along an
announcement from the California Department of
Industrial Relations about upcoming inspections of
construction sites in the San Francisco Bay Area.
CSLB likewise encourages rigorous training programs
and on-site safety measures to protect construction
workers from danger.
Cal/OSHA Targets Construction Sites for Inspections
OAKLAND
—
Cal/OSHA is focusing on safety compliance at
construction sites in the San Francisco Bay Area,
following a recent series of fatal accidents in the
region. Investigators have been deployed to inspect
construction work sites throughout the coming weeks
to determine whether adequate measures have been
taken to identify safety hazards and prevent injury.
“Construction sites present special challenges
to worker safety,” said Christine Baker, Director of
the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR).
“Employers need to have strong safety programs in
place and train their workers to follow procedures.”
Cal/OSHA is a division of state
Department of Industrial Relations.
Hazards at construction sites include open
trenches and moving equipment at ground level, but
elevated areas are particularly dangerous. Four
recent incidents in California illustrate the
danger.
On May 21, a worker at a
residential project in San Jose fell to his death
from a three-story building. On May 20, a worker on
a San Mateo project tumbled nine feet from a wall,
sustaining fatal head injuries. The same day in San
Diego, a worker near the top of 22-foot rebar column
was killed when the column fell on him. On May 18, a
construction worker was killed when the train bridge
he was dismantling in downtown Riverside collapsed,
crushing him. All four accidents are under
investigation by Cal/OSHA.
Falls are the leading cause of death for
construction workers, which is one reason why the
federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration
(OSHA) has designated June 2-6 as “National
Safety Stand-Down” week to encourage employers
to talk with workers about fall hazards and
prevention.
Cal/OSHA has posted an industry-specific
fact sheet on fall protection online, and will
be participating with federal OSHA in a series of
“Safety Stand-Down” events at construction sites
across the state to bring emphasis to the importance
of fall protection and other safety measures at
construction sites.
“Our goal is to raise awareness for everyone
working in construction that hazards can be
identified and corrected,” said acting Cal/OSHA
Chief Juliann Sum. “Preparation and vigilance are
vital to preventing workplace fatalities.”
Fall protection will be among the items
Cal/OSHA inspectors will be checking during its
inspections, from railings on buildings to personal
devices such as hooks that attach to vests.
Cal/OSHA’s teams will also examine trench safety,
equipment safety and potential site hazards such as
power lines. If inspectors find a lack of protection
or a serious hazard, they can stop work at the site
until the hazards are abated. Employers who fail to
comply with Cal/OSHA safety regulations will be
cited and ordered to correct the violations.
Cal/OSHA has
resources available for employers and employees
on its website, including safety publications for
industries such as construction. Cal/OSHA’s
Consultation Program provides free and voluntary
assistance to employers and employee organizations
to improve their health and safety programs. For
assistance from the Cal/OSHA Consultation Program,
employers can call (800) 963-9424.
Additional information on specific issues and
work-related topics are available on the
DIR website as well as on
Facebook and
Twitter.
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