FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Angela Gallagher, APR Nehlsen Communications Office 309-736-1071 Cell 563-299-2533 [email protected] How to Avoid Falls on the Worksite CHICAGO (June 4, 2012) – Fall hazards on worksites continue to be a deadly proposition for the construction trades. 2010 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that in spite construction fatalities dramatically decreasing in the last five years, falls at worksites today result in death more than one-third of the time. (Preliminary data for 2011 is scheduled to be released by the bureau in September 2012.) “We continue to advocate managing risk and creating safer workplaces by offering education and tools for the worksite,” says Stephen Lamb, Executive Vice President of Mechanical Contractors Association Chicago (MCA Chicago). “We are presently mailing safety kits to our member companies reminding them to remain diligent when it comes to safety on a worksite.” MCA Chicago reminds all mechanical contractors and pipefitters that fall hazards can be minimized by keeping these tips in mind: Reduce risk at the site  Protect all floor and roof openings with guardrails, or cover with solid planking or plywood that is clearly marked “HOLE”  Provide permanent or temporary stairs in buildings under construction as soon as possible. Cinder blocks do not count as stairs into a building or a trailer Use Guardrails for fall protection  Provide guard rails on all work areas — scaffolds, platforms and floor edges  Cross braces are not part of a guardrail system and don't provide adequate fall protection Using Fall Arrest Systems Safely  Ensure that personal fall arrest systems will, when stopping a fall:  Limit maximum arresting force to 1,800 pounds  Be rigged such that an employee can neither free fall more than 6 feet nor contact any lower level  Bring an employee to a complete stop and limit maximum deceleration distance to 3½ feet  Have sufficient strength to withstand twice the potential impact energy of a worker free falling a distance of 6 feet, or the free fall distance permitted by the system, whichever is less -more- MCA CHICAGO AVOID FALLS ON WORKSITE – 2      Remove systems and components from service immediately if they have been subjected to fall impact, until inspected by a competent person and deemed undamaged and suitable for use Promptly rescue employees in the event of a fall, or assure that they are able to rescue themselves Inspect systems before each use for wear, damage, and other deterioration, and remove defective components from service Do not attach fall arrest systems to guardrail systems or hoists Rig fall arrest systems to allow movement of the worker only as far as the edge of the walking/working surface, when used at hoist areas Ladders  Don't use ladders, buckets, boxes, planks or other materials to extend your reach  Don’t lean out too far over the top-rails when they are in place and never step up on the midrail  Discard defective ladders with broken or missing rungs and use ladders that are high enough for the job  Straight ladders should be tied off and extend 3 ½ feet above the work level being used  All ladders should have non-slip shoes or should be cleated in place Scaffolding  Use scaffold only on firm level surfaces and make sure scaffold pieces are held together with pigtails, toggle pins, or bolts and nuts. Never attempt to use a scaffold held together with wire, welding rods or any other substitutes  Never climb up or down on the braces of a scaffold, use a ladder for access. If the scaffold does not have a built in access ladder, secure a ladder to the scaffold  Avoid riding on the scaffold when it is being moved from one location to another ### About MCA Chicago: Mechanical Contractors Association Chicago promotes the highest caliber of worker at all levels of the union mechanical contracting industry by advancing safety and education. MCA Chicago represents 60 member companies who work with the highly qualified pipefitters and service technicians of Pipefitters Local Union 597. Together, they install and service heating and air conditioning; and install piping wherever it's needed – from power generation, to oil refineries, to pharmaceuticals, and food processing plants. For more information, visit www.mca.org.