All articles by Kelly C. O'Connor
Winter Weather Advisory: Preparing for Safe Snow Removal from Rooftops and Other Elevated Structures
Snow removal can be dangerous business, particularly when removing snow and ice from rooftops and other elevated structures. As we head into the winter season, now is a good time to review safe snow removal practices.
OSHA’s General Duty Clause imposes a duty on employers to protect workers from recognized serious hazards in the workplace, including snow removal from roof and other elevated structures. How to meet the duty of care:
Before the work begins, employers should:
- Plan ahead for safe snow removal from roofs
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OSHA and the Roofing Industry: Fall Protection
The duty to have fall protection in construction (OSHA section 1926.501) regularly tops the list of most frequently cited OSHA standards following workplace inspections. When it comes to the roofing industry, however, fall protection—though of paramount importance—is not the only requirement for an effective safety program. This article will address some critical considerations for roofers when it comes to ensuring compliance with applicable OSHA standards and, more generally, keeping their workers safe.
COMPLIANCE WITH PROVISIONS
In 2016, OSHA published its “Recommended Practices for Safety and…
Process Safety Management and Small Businesses
OSHA has issued a Process Safety Management standard pertaining to Highly Hazardous Chemicals (HHCs), which is contained in 29 CFR 1910.119. The standard identifies the requirements associated with management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals and aims to prevent unwanted and/or unplanned release of HHCs in the workplace.
Any company, large or small, involved in on-site storage, handling and/or moving of a HHCs (defined by 29 CFR 1910.119) at or above the threshold quantity set by OSHA must comply. Some examples of small businesses with potential PSM…
OSHA Restores the Site Specific Targeting Program Based on E-Filing
OSHA reinstated the Site Specific Targeting Program (SST) effective October 16, 2018. The SST, OSHA’s main site-specific targeting inspection plan for non-construction workplaces that have 20 or more employees, will be based on the 300A data associated with a 2017 rule published by the US Department of Labor, requiring certain employers to publicly E-File injury and illness data, beginning in calendar year 2016.
Prior to 2014, OSHA’s SST program was based on information collected in connection with the OSHA Data Initiative (ODI). The OSHA Data…
