Construction workers in Georgia and across the nation face significant workplace hazards. Over 800 construction workers died between 2011 and 2015 when objects or vehicles struck them on the job, according to data collected by the Center for Construction Research and Training. Nonfatal struck-by accidents occur at nearly twice the rate within the construction industry compared to other occupations. To increase awareness of the problem, the Occupational and Safety Health Administration added information about these hazards to its Focus Four campaign.
Common water pipe repair method could be hazardous
According to research, a procedure that is commonly used to repair water pipes in Georgia and around the country may not be as safe for workers as previously thought. It is called the cured-in-place method and involves placing a resin-impregnated fabric tube into the damaged pipe and curing it. The curing part of the method usually involves pressurized steam, hot water or ultraviolet light.
How to avoid repetitive strain injuries at work
Repetitive strain injuries may not be the most commonly known workplace injury, but they are the most costly. A report by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shared that overexertion was the most expensive disabling injury in the country.
Study calls for more reporting consistency among companies
Even though a Georgia worker might be employed at a company that is listed in the Corporate Knights' Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations, that company might lack a standardized set of reporting rules for workplaces illnesses, injuries and death. The Center for Safety and Health Sustainability released a study on Aug. 1 that was a followup to a 2013 study and found that there had not been much improvement in terms of safety and health reporting.
Work injuries affect families in many ways
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries on the job, the immediate repercussions may be obvious. For example, perhaps you have to miss work and deal with some loss of income for a while. When you are in pain and trying to get the facts straight, it is hard to think long term.
Working in confined spaces in residential construction
Georgia employees who regularly work in confined spaces on residential construction projects may not realize just how dangerous this work can be. As such, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued an updated fact sheet to residential construction companies keep their employees safe when they are working in attics, crawl spaces, basements and other confined spaces.
Lack of focus on safety leads to worker deaths in trenches
When Georgia construction workers dig trenches, they are engaged in a very hazardous activity. A single cubic yard of soil could weigh more than a ton. Any collapse could easily crush a worker, and, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, trench accidents that killed workers increased by more than 100 percent between 2015 and 2016. The agency considers contractors that ignore safety procedures as the source of many deaths.
