Safety Tips by Cotney
Understanding OSHA’s Fall Protection Standards: Part One
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) requires contractors, particularly roofing contractors, to use fall protection in the workplace. Historically, falls are the leading cause of fatalities in construction. In this three-part article, we will first discuss a general overview of OSHA’s fall protection standards along with examples of fall protection ...
Forklift Safety Practices
Following appropriate protocols for forklifts can protect you from a variety of physical hazards and safety issues. These protocols can apply when operating or working near a forklift. Knowing these will help to ensure that the forklift is always used safely and that any risks are significantly minimized. In this ...
How to Stay Safe During Flu Season
The influenza virus is highly contagious, and during flu season, avoiding the illness can be challenging. Seasonal influenza, also known as “the flu,” is a contagious respiratory illness caused by flu viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu season in the U.S. typically ranges from November to April. ...
Safety Precautions for Winter Construction
Not being prepared for winter weather can create a variety of safety challenges and hazards on a jobsite. When it comes to safe winter weather operations, supervisors need to keep these key issues in mind: 1. Slip and Falls: A common construction site accident is a slips and fall, and they ...
Three Tips for Reducing Lightning Risks
By Cotney Construction Law. Lightning is a dangerous natural force. Annually in the United States, cloud-to-ground lightning occurs 20 to 25 million times and over 300 people are struck by lightning. During the past 30 years, about 50 people, on average, have been killed by lightning strikes every year, and many more ...
Four Tips to Reduce COVID-19 Transmission
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) believe the virus is mainly spread from person to person between people who are within six feet of each other and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person ...
Two Tips for Foot Protection
OSHA does not force companies to purchase shoes for its employees but requires companies to ensure its employees are wearing the appropriate footwear. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that almost 5% of nonfatal workplace accidents requiring time off are foot related. On construction sites, footwear serves two purposes: ...
Four Tips to Reduce Falls in Residential Re-Roofing
Re-roofing exposes workers to the hazards of demolition work at heights. With the proper fall protection, the risk of serious falls may be substantially reduced. The following tips can help roofers keep employees safe from fall hazards: 1. Identify Fall Protection Needs. Before beginning the job, focus on identifying fall protection needs. ...
Four Important Tips to Reduce Struck-by Hazards in Roofing
By Travis McConnell, Cotney Construction Law. Struck-by injuries are produced by forcible contact or impact between an injured person and an object or piece of equipment, such as an automobile. Unfortunately, struck-by incidents are very common, extremely dangerous, and result in as many as 70 worker fatalities each year. The following ...
Six Important Tips for Maintaining Ladder Safety While Roofing
Ladders are present on virtually every jobsite and provide employees with convenient options to access upper levels. Unfortunately, the hazard of falling can pose significant risks to employees using ladders. Additionally, because non-compliant ladder use is highly visible, it is one of OSHA’s most frequent reasons for issuing citations. To protect employees, ...
