On most
of the job sites on which I have worked OSHA regulations are WAY exceeded by the requirements of either the contractor or the client. OSHA is the "minimum" required, just like our "minimum" requirements to be licensed.
Andy
> As for those posting OSHA concerns, "lighten up". Whats the big deal about walking up to the edge of the building, setting up the scanner and walking away.
The "big deal" is the power imbalance in the employer-employee relationship, and the lowest-common-denominator phenomenon that drives the business world. Absent a rule with enforcement teeth banning an unsafe practice, a negligent employer will require his employees to take unreasonable risks in the interest of cutting costs, and that will produce injuries and/or deaths. The negligent employer thus gains a competitive advantage -- at least temporarily, until negligence judgments drive him into bankruptcy -- and more scrupulous employers are forced to either lower their safety standards or lose business due to increased costs. Employees are the losers in either case, as they lack the power to refuse unsafe activities without jeopardizing their jobs.
I can appreciate the size of y'all's projects and what a crane collapse can do. I've seen, offshore, a deck crawling Manitowac boom fall and slice through three inch pipe railing not twenty yards away.
I'm just laughing to myself over here thinking of who's gonna' issue an all-stop or stop-work for the vip who won't strap on a harness and lanyard over their fancy pressed linen shirt.
Busted.
I managed to save $500 in billable time on a $500K contract by refusing to allow my employees the time to anchor in for half a dozen five minute set ups during a month of scanning. "Please, please" they cried "let us take a few minimum precautions". But I didn't give an inch " Damnit men this is a race to the bottom and if I have to risk every one of your lives to cut costs, even on qualifications based no bid contracts, then that is what I am going to do.
I wish I had posted the pictures from around back in the rail yard. The poor in empowered employees (or project managers with masters degrees in geodesy and years of high rise, rail, and bridge experience) were tied to the tracks whilst I twirled my handlebar mustache.
I would think that you'd have no problem with knowing the locations of all the exits in IKEA, being omnipotent and all.
Looks like I touched a nerve...
You know...
I was going to ask yesterday about the safety and security clearances that you must have for doing this project being that it is a RR and homeland security related.
but I will pass....:-|
> I can appreciate the size of y'all's projects and what a crane collapse can do. I've seen, offshore, a deck crawling Manitowac boom fall and slice through three inch pipe railing not twenty yards away.
> I'm just laughing to myself over here thinking of who's gonna' issue an all-stop or stop-work for the vip who won't strap on a harness and lanyard over their fancy pressed linen shirt.
You'd be surprised, my biggest Client is The Michels Corporation. Michels is in the Top 50 on the ENR rankings. Tim Michels is on the Jobsite at least 3 times a week and his office is 2 blocks away, all he cares about is Safety. He wears more PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) than the Sandhogs, he has mandated termination for anybody working unsafely or not wearing their gear. He wants an accident free job. Why? First off Mr. Michels is just a great guy, secondly there is tons of money associated with minimal accidents.
Try Keiwit, Turner, Bovis , Flour etc. you'll get the same attitude. Only the smaller guys that are trying to see what they can get away with to save a buck don't subscribe to it.
Ralph
On most
> of the job sites on which I have worked OSHA regulations are WAY exceeded by the requirements of either the contractor or the client. OSHA is the "minimum" required, just like our "minimum" requirements to be licensed.
>
> Andy
:good: :good:
> The "big deal" is the power imbalance in the employer-employee relationship, and the lowest-common-denominator phenomenon that drives the business world. Absent a rule with enforcement teeth banning an unsafe practice, a negligent employer will require his employees to take unreasonable risks in the interest of cutting costs, and that will produce injuries and/or deaths. The negligent employer thus gains a competitive advantage -- at least temporarily, until negligence judgments drive him into bankruptcy -- and more scrupulous employers are forced to either lower their safety standards or lose business due to increased costs. Employees are the losers in either case, as they lack the power to refuse unsafe activities without jeopardizing their jobs.
I understand all that, I just do not see an "unreasonable risk"? No one is hanging off the sides of the building. There would be as much risk in walking to the truck an extra time for the safety equipment as standing on a tall building for 5 minutes. IMO
>
> I understand all that, I just do not see an "unreasonable risk"? No one is hanging off the sides of the building. There would be as much risk in walking to the truck an extra time for the safety equipment as standing on a tall building for 5 minutes. IMO
I don't think Mr. Flemming is trying to take any unreasonable risks or cut corners, hell I've set up in a lot more dangerous scenarios than that when no one was looking :).
I'm on Jim's side. It's the 5th or 10th or 100th time that a safety precaution isn't followed that something's going to happen. Skipping one thing makes me think other things are being skipped--it's sloppy.
Although I didn't narc on them, I have a front row view of the construction that's adding new wings onto my building. So far I've seen a guy 'jumping' a free-standing ladder to a new position (multiple times) and another guy riding the bulldozer blade. Plus the not-attached workers on upper floors before the safety wires were in place.
On a personal note, a cousin, a city inspector, backed off a 2nd floor balcony on a house under construction. He didn't survive. Was it careless/stupid of him? Sure, but if a safety wire had been strung across, he might still be alive.
Melita
Lack of fall protection is the number 1 OSHA violation, which corresponds to the #1 cause of worker deaths...falls (36%).
> Lack of fall protection is the number 1 OSHA violation, which corresponds to the #1 cause of worker deaths...falls (36%).
I agree with that, however there is more to it than that. Out here, since he is more than 6' above the ground he would also need a railing with a toe guard to protect anybody below from having something drop on them. He might have even required a flagman to divert the pedestrian traffic (and a permit from the city to do it).
Ralph
> Try Keiwit, Turner, Bovis , Flour etc. you'll get the same attitude. Only the smaller guys that are trying to see what they can get away with to save a buck don't subscribe to it.
A mechanic got fired last year on our job, a fifteen year guy. He locked out/tagged out a loader he was working on and left the key in the lock. Fired on the spot.
They dont play around