alls from elevation are a leading cause of death for construction employees. In 2019, 1,062 construction fatalities were recorded in the United States, according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of those, 401 were due to a fall from elevation.
Each year, Associated General Contractors of Alaska participates in a Safety Stand Down event, encouraging member companies to discuss proper safety at elevation in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.
This year, the Safety Stand Down week was May 3-7, which coincided with Construction Safety Week. Both efforts are aimed at making sure workers are present, focused, and safe on the job, so everyone can return home safely at the end of the day.
“The risks are real across our industry, and in every aspect of our work, including ones we can’t always see—the outside stresses and distractions that interfere with our ability to stay present, focused, and safe on the job. That’s why it’s critically important to promote holistic safety in the workplace. This means ensuring that we are always both physically and mentally present, and that we make every aspect of our well being part of our safety culture and programs. We must prioritize both physical and psychological safety, and how together, they play an important role in our relationships with our team members and with our ability to bring our safest, most productive, best selves to work every day,” organizers state on the Construction Safety Week website, https://www.constructionsafetyweek.com/.
ASRC Construction, a division of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, held talks on ladder safety at its Aniak school construction project and crew leaders demonstrated proper safety techniques.
At home or at work, it’s always a good idea to observe proper ladder safety. Here are six important reminders:
- Never stand on the top step if it is not designed to be a step.
- Do not lean or reach to grab something while on a ladder. Climb down and reposition the ladder closer to the object or area you are trying to reach.
- Do not carry objects up the ladder in your hands. Use a tool belt or a retrieval system to bring tools up to you once you have climbed the ladder. Always have your hands free when climbing to maintain three points of contact with the ladder.
- Always inspect a ladder before use. If there are any problems with it, immediately tag it out of use and find a properly functioning ladder.
- Use the correct ladder for the job. There are many types of ladders for different situations. Check weight ratings to ensure you do not overload the ladder during use.
- Always secure the ladder. Make sure the ladder is stable on the ground before climbing up. Tie off the ladder to the structure you are next to. Have someone hold the ladder to secure it.