Understanding Fall Protection Equipment Warranty Requirements
Employers that are using fall protection equipment (e.g., personal fall arrest systems, connection components or anchors) should understand the manufacturers’ warranty requirements and instructions. Following these fall protection equipment warranty requirements is often necessary if the business would like the manufacturer to cover the product when it is damaged or if there is a functional issue. Examples of functional issues are when the fall protection fails to protect the employee when they fall or if a component of the fall protection (e.g. webbing, harness straps or buckles) needs repair.
Equipment manufacturers’ warranty instruction manuals play a vital role in workplace safety because both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rely on these manuals to develop their standards on the proper use of equipment. The instructions also include the manufacturers’ own requirements that express the particular and proper use of the equipment.
In general, employers that follow manufacturers’ instructions are protected by equipment warranties. Conversely, employers that do not follow manufacturers’ instructions face the risk of voiding warranty protections. Without warranty protections, employers have fewer legal options against manufacturers under product liability policies.
What Are PFAS?
Personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) are made up of a body harness, anchorage and connector. This equipment is used to safely stop a worker who is falling. Under OSHA standards, employers are required to train their employees on the requirements of PFAS. Training is also frequently required by the manufacturer to honor the fall protection equipment warranty. Employees must understand the performance, care and use criteria for the fall arrest systems they are using. Each manufacturer of PFAS has different requirements for their warranties.
General Fall Protection Equipment Warranty Requirements
General warranty requirements include instructions that are meant to keep the equipment in the best shape possible during use. This is why the manual normally provides instructions on how to care for and maintain the fall protection equipment. The manual will also explain how to inspect and clean the equipment if it becomes dirty. Certain manufacturers have specific ways of cleaning PFAS that the user must follow to prevent voiding the warranty.
If employees are using PFAS that are designated specifically for them and they label their equipment, it is important for employees to check the manufacturing manual to determine whether there are any specific requirements when using markers to label the equipment (e.g., a manufacturer suggests only using Sharpie markers for writing on the webbing of their products).
OSHA and ANSI do not provide shelf-life recommendations for fall protection. The shelf life of fall protection is up to the manufacturer and will be found in the manual that comes with the equipment. Shelf-life warranties have changed over the years. Most fall protection equipment used to have a product lifetime of five years from the date of first use or when it was purchased. Some manufacturers have eliminated the five-year shelf life and instead consider the condition of the equipment. Other manufacturers eliminate the five-year shelf life if the equipment passes pre-use and competent-person inspection requirements as outlined in the guidelines.
Using Other Brand Accessories or Components
Employers need to be aware that, when purchasing a particular brand of fall protection, they may be required to purchase the same brand of fall protection accessories to maintain the warranty. Manufacturers may not allow the use of other brand accessories with their equipment. While OSHA does not have a standard prohibiting the use of different brands as long as the components are compatible, the agency has published an information bulletin on the subject. The safety and health bulletin includes this advisory information:
Personal fall protection made by different manufacturers may not be compatible.
Components by the same manufacturer may not be compatible if the components are not sized properly.
OSHA requires that employers evaluate the compatibility of all fall arrest systems and anchorage devices before the devices are used to protect employees. Employers should carefully read the manufacturer manuals and the warnings to pay close attention to components that are incompatible for use together.
Using different brands of fall protection with different brand accessories could create liability issues for the employer if there is an accident while using the equipment. The manufacturer likely will not allow the warranty to cover any accident liability if the user does not follow the manual instructions. Manufacturers normally do not honor another manufacturer’s product since it is not their product and they are not required to test the compatibility of any other brands with their own. Therefore, it is best practice and in the best interest of the employer to use the same brand for all of their fall protection equipment to prevent any mixing and matching of brands.
Inspection Requirements
Inspecting fall protection is very important for employee use. Employers must ensure that employees are inspecting their equipment when it is required. If an employee finds anything that would negatively affect the integrity of the equipment, it must be removed from service.
Inspections include visual and touch inspections on the webbing of the harness for things such as:
Cuts, nicks and tears
Fraying and abrasions
Missing straps
Mildew
Brittleness
Broken fibers
Hard or shiny spots indicating heat damage
Uneven webbing thickness indicating it was possibly worn during a fall
Issues with the stitching
Additionally, the manufacturer’s label needs to be present and legible, or the equipment must be removed from service.
Both OSHA and the manufacturer require that certain inspections be completed by a competent person. A competent person is an employee who is capable of identifying existing and potential hazards in any personal fall protection system (or any component of the fall protection) and who has authorization to take prompt, corrective action to eliminate the identified hazards. Employers must designate who their competent persons are.
In the Event of a Fall
Anytime PFAS are subjected to impact loading, OSHA regulations require an employer to remove them from service immediately. PFAS should not be used again for employee protection until a competent person inspects them and determines they are undamaged and suitable for use.
Making repairs to fall protection can only be done by the manufacturer, unless the manufacturer authorizes others to make the repairs on their behalf. Review the manufacturer’s manual prior to having repairs made by a third party.
It is important for employers to have fall protection plans that review OSHA requirements, ANSI standards and the manufacturer’s instructions. By following the requirements of the brands of fall protection being used, employers can prevent voiding their warranties.
California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management
As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more. The GDI team has developed an “insurance cost reduction” quoting plan, that provides you with the best coverage at the best rate!
We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business.
National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction
Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falls account for more than 30% of fatalities in the construction industry. Those deaths are preventable. The National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.
As an employer, you have a duty to protect your workers from falls, and we’re here to help. We have developed this toolkit to arm you with the information and resources you need to conduct a successful safety stand-down. In this toolkit you will find information about the National Safety Stand-down, toolbox talks to help prevent falls, a Construction Industry Fall Protection Safety Program, posters to help bring awareness to the stand-down and much more.
Remember, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is here for your business. Contact us today to discuss your insurance and risk management needs.
A safety stand-down is a voluntary event for employers to talk directly to employees about safety. The National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction focuses on fall hazards and reinforcing the importance of fall prevention.
When is the National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction?
The stand-down will be held over one week, from Sept. 14-18, 2020. It will be held in conjunction with the North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) Safety Week.
How do Businesses Conduct a Safety Stand-down?
Companies can conduct a safety stand-down by taking a break to have a toolbox talk or another safety activity such as conducting safety equipment inspections, developing rescue plans or discussing job-specific hazards. A safety stand-down should provide an opportunity for employers and employees to talk about hazards, protective methods and the company’s safety policies, goals and expectations.
Who can Participate in a Safety Stand-down?
Anyone interested in educating employees in fall hazards, or other job hazards, can participate. In past years, participants included general contractors; sub-and independent contractors; employers’ trade associations; federal, state and local governmental agencies; professional societies and institutes; and consumer/labor-management interest organizations. Millions of employees across all 50 states and internationally have participated in previous stand-downs.
How does a Business Participate, and How do They Get a Certificate of Participation?
Participation is easy. Hold a stand-down and visit the OSHA National Safety Stand-down website to download a certificate. Employers will be able to provide feedback and download certificates of participation based on their experience. The certificate pages will be active on Sept. 14 at OSHA’s Stop Falls Stand-down and on the National Safety Council’s (NSC) webpages.
Our business received a certificate of participation for past stand-downs, why should we get another one?
One of the most important reasons you should participate through gaining a certificate is to demonstrate your commitment to fall prevention and other safety issues on the job site to your employees. Employees and other employers alike recognize the importance of demonstrated top-level commitment to promoting a positive safety culture. There are platinum, gold, silver and bronze certificates, depending on how many years you have participated. OSHA and our partners also use the attendance data and feedback from the certificate form submission to enhance and further improve this event for the future.
We are not a construction company; can we still participate in the Safety Stand-down?
Yes, you can. Participation is not limited to the construction industry, and no business is too small to participate. In previous years, many non-construction employers held stand-downs. In fact, the largest single participant in 2015 and 2016 was the United States Air Force, reaching more than 1 million military and civilian personnel. The smallest company to receive a certificate had only one employee, and nearly half of certificates for participation completed through OSHA’s website were for stand-downs with less than 25 employees.
We are a small company with just a few employees; can we still participate in the Safety Stand-down?
Yes. Any number of people can hold a stand-down. Companies and businesses of all sizes should take time out during the workday to discuss fall prevention with their employees, and participate in the stand-down. You can also find a larger stand-down event in your area.
How can we get an OSHA Representative to participate in our Stand-down?
We would like to participate in a Safety Stand-down Event, is there a list we can use to find an event?
A list of events in your area can be found by visiting OSHA’s National Safety Stand-down website. These events are free and open to the public. Attendees of these events must cooperate with the host employers’ site access and safety rules.
How can we get our safety stand-down event listed on the OSHA website?
OSHA lists events that are free and open to the public. This webpage helps employers and employees find stand-down events that they can attend in their area. Contact your regional stand-down coordinator to learn more.
Do we need to preregister for the stand-down?
No. The stand-down is free, and you do not have to register to participate. Simply hold a stand-down with your employees during the week of the National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction, then go online to tell us about your stand-down and download a certificate of participation at OSHA’s Stop Falls Stand-down or National Safety Council’s (NSC) webpage after your stand-down event.
How long does a typical fall prevention stand-down take to conduct?
It’s up to you. A stand-down could be as simple as a 15-minute toolbox talk or several hours of training over a week.
Source: OSHA
Ways to Prepare for a Successful Stand-down to Prevent Falls
Try to start early. Designate a coordinator to organize the stand-down. If you have multiple work sites, identify the team that will lead the stand-down at each site.
Think about asking your subcontractors, owners, architects, engineers or others associated with your project to participate in the stand-down.
Consider reviewing your fall prevention program. This will help provide a more effective stand-down.
What types of falls could happen:
Falls from ladders
Falls from a roof
Falls from a scaffold
Falls down stairs
Falls from a structural steel
Falls through a floor or roof opening
Falls through a fragile roof surface
What needs improvement? Is your program meeting its goals? Are you experiencing fatalities, injuries or near misses? Are employees aware of the company’s fall protection procedures?
What training have you provided to your employees? Does it need revision?
What equipment have you provided to your employees? Is better equipment available?
Develop presentations or activities that will meet your needs. Decide what information will be best for your workplace and employees. The meeting should provide information to employees about hazards, protective methods and the company’s safety policies, goals and expectations. Hands-on exercises (e.g., a work site walk-around and equipment checks) can increase retention.
Decide when to hold the stand-down and how long it will last. Decide if the stand-down will take place over a break, a lunch period or some other time.
Promote the stand-down. Try to make it interesting to employees. Some employers find that serving snacks increases participation.
Hold your stand-down. Try to make it positive and interactive. Let employees talk about their experiences and encourage them to make suggestions.
Follow up. If you learned something that could improve your fall prevention program, consider making changes.
Source: OSHA
California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management
As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more. The GDI team has developed an “insurance cost reduction” quoting plan, that provides you with the best coverage at the best rate!
We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business.
The Newly Acquired or Constructed Property Extension
As a business owner, your commercial property needs can change over time to help meet operational requirements and satisfy customer demands. Specifically, expanding your business will likely require you to obtain additional property. When acquiring additional business property, however, it’s important to reassess your commercial insurance coverage and ensure you will remain adequately protected following such an expansion. Fortunately, the newly acquired or constructed property extension found in many commercial property policies can offer temporary protection in these situations.
Review the following guidance for an outline of key coverage features and limitations for the newly acquired or constructed property extension.
Key Features of the Newly Acquired or Constructed Property Extension
At a glance, most commercial property policies offer newly acquired or constructed property coverage as an extension of your existing building or business personal property insurance. This extension can provide protection for commercial property that you acquire throughout your existing policy period.
You can typically apply the newly acquired or constructed property extension to your existing building insurance policy in the following situations:
When you construct a new building—If you decide to construct a new building for your business, this building should be covered by the extension—as long as it’s located at the premises listed in your existing policy declarations. For example, if you decide to build a new and improved structure in the same spot as your existing building, you will remain covered. Keep in mind that although this extension can offer protection for your building while it’s under construction, it does not provide coverage for the actual construction project. Be sure to secure additional insurance for construction project protection.
When you acquire a building at a new location—In the event that you acquire a building at a different location from the premises listed on your existing policy declarations, you could still be covered by the extension—depending on how you use the new space. For instance, most policies allow the extension to apply if you use the new building as a warehouse or for a similar purpose as your current premises.
The new extension can also be applied to your existing business personal property insurance policy to provide protection for commercial property stored at the following locations:
A newly acquired building— If you acquire a building at a different location from your existing premises, the extension should cover any property within that building—including the property acquired after your policy inception date.
A newly constructed building—If you decide to construct a new and improved building at your existing premises, the extension should cover any property within the new structure—including the property acquired after your policy inception date.
Your existing building—If you obtain additional property for your existing premises (e.g., new office furniture), the extension should cover this new property.
This extension generally does not apply to personal property of others that is temporarily in your possession during the course of installing or performing work on that property. Additionally, coverage for personal property of others that is temporarily in your possession during the course of manufacturing or wholesaling activities by your business is also excluded.
Key Limitations of the Newly Acquired or Constructed Property Extension
It’s important to note that the newly acquired or constructed property extension is a temporary insurance solution. This extension is only intended to offer protection for your business until you contact your insurer and have any newly acquired or constructed property officially added to your policy.
The new extension is also subject to certain limits. These limits usually span between $250,000 and $1 million for newly acquired buildings, and between $100,000 and $500,000 for newly acquired personal property.
Your new property will be subject to these limits until you inform your insurer of the acquisition. Once you contact your insurer and have the new property officially added to your policy, it will be covered at the limit listed on your building insurance or business personal property insurance policy. Make sure you update your policy limits to reflect the added value of any new property.
Further, this extension is typically subject to the following time and value limitations:
Time limitations—Under most commercial property policies, newly acquired or constructed property can only be covered by this extension if you inform your insurer of the acquisition within a set number of days and pay any additional premium that your insurer charges. In terms of the coverage period, protection under this extension ends after a set amount of time has passed since you acquired the property or started construction on it—usually between 30 and 180 days.
Value limitations—Some commercial property policies only provide coverage under this extension if you also satisfy specific insurance to value standards (the ratio of your limit of coverage to the value of your insured property). Such standards might include having a coinsurance percentage of at least 80% or possessing insurance that’s written on a value reporting basis.
Keep in mind that every commercial property policy is different. Be sure to review your unique policy to understand the full extent of your coverage as it pertains to the newly acquired or constructed property extension.
California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management
As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more.
We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive commercial property insurance quote!
OSHA Enforcement Priorities During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Due to complaints related to a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), insufficient training on appropriate standards and possible coronavirus illness (COVID-19) transmissions in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued temporary guidance for its area offices to use in their efforts to enforce the agency’s workplace safety and health mandates. These mandates require employers to take prompt actions to mitigate hazards and protect employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA enforcement priorities have changed, see below for more information.
The new guidance, issued on April 13, 2020, directs OSHA compliance officers to process most complaints from non-healthcare and non-emergency response establishments as “non-formal” and to conduct investigations via phone or fax whenever possible. However, employers should know that after receiving a serious incident report, OSHA area directors will determine whether to conduct an inspection or a rapid response investigation (RRI). RRIs are intended to identify any hazards, provide abatement assistance and confirm abatement, and OSHA generally encourages area directors to recommend them.
This Compliance Bulletin provides a summary of the enforcement guidance provisions that relate specifically to COVID-19 issues.
Exposure Risk Levels
High Risk
Jobs with high potential for exposure to known or suspected sources of COVID-19 in specific medical, postmortem or laboratory procedures.
Medium Risk
Jobs with frequent or close contact with people who may be infected.
Low Risk
Jobs that do not require contact with people known or suspected to be infected and do not involve frequent or close contact with the general public.
Action Steps
Employers should use this Compliance Bulletin to become familiar with the procedures and guidelines OSHA will use to enforce workplace safety and health laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employers are encouraged to contact their local OSHA area office if they have concerns or need clarification on how to comply with specific OSHA standards.
OSHA EnforcementCOVID-19 Inspections
Under the guidance issued on April 13, 2020, OSHA’s area offices will prioritize their resources in coordination with their regional offices to determine whether an on-site inspection of the workplace is necessary. If an on-site inspection is warranted, compliance officers will evaluate the risk of COVID-19 exposure before the inspection takes place. Employers should note that OSHA is encouraging their compliance officers to maximize the use of electronic means of communication (including remote video surveillance, phone interviews, email correspondence, facsimile and email transmittals of documents and video conferences) and to consult with their regional solicitors when appropriate.
If an on-site inspection is warranted, compliance officers will coordinate with their regional office and contact the Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing (OOMN), as necessary, whenever they identify a workplace with potential for high-risk exposure to COVID-19. The OOMN may serve as a liaison with relevant public health authorities and can facilitate Medical Access Orders (MAOs) to obtain worker medical records from employers and healthcare providers.
COVID-19 inspections will be treated as novel cases. The Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP) must be notified of all proposed citations and federal agency notices that relate to a COVID-19 exposure. State Plan designees should report any COVID-19 inspections to their regional offices.
All activity related to enforcement and compliance assistance must be appropriately coded to allow for tracking and program review. This includes COVID-19 activity, which should continue to be coded in the OSHA Information System (OIS) with the specific code: N-16-COVID-19.
Workplace Exposure Risk Levels and OSHA Enforcement
To determine the risk of exposure for compliance officers, OSHA has defined three risk categories—high, medium and low. These risk levels stem from the Occupational Risk Pyramid described in the OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19.
High Risk of Exposure
Jobs considered to be at high or very high risk of exposure are those that involve known or suspected sources of COVID-19 during specific medical, postmortem or laboratory procedures.
Workplaces considered to have job duties with high risk of exposure to COVID-19 include:
Hospitals treating suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients;
Nursing homes;
Emergency medical centers;
Emergency response facilities;
Settings where home care or hospice care are provided;
Settings that handle human remains;
Biomedical laboratories, including clinical laboratories; and
Medical transport companies.
Aerosol-generating procedures, in particular, present a very high risk of exposure to workers. The aerosol-generating procedures for which engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment (PPE) are necessary include, but are not limited to: bronchoscopy, sputum induction, nebulizer therapy, endotracheal intubation and extubation, open suctioning of airways, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and autopsies.
Medium Exposure Risk
Medium exposure-risk jobs include those with frequent or close contact with people who may be (but are not known to be) infected with COVID-19. “Close contact” refers to a distance of less than six feet. Workers in this risk group may have frequent contact with travelers returning from international locations with widespread COVID-19 transmission.
In areas where there is ongoing community transmission, workers in this category include, but are not limited to, those who have contact with the general public (such as in schools, high-population-density work environments and some high-volume retail settings).
Low Exposure Risk
Lower exposure risk jobs are those that do not require contact with people known to be, or suspected of being, infected with COVID-19 nor frequent close contact with the general public.
Workers in this category have minimal occupational contact with the public and other co-workers.
Complaints, Referrals and Rapid Response Investigations (RRIs)
Complaints and referrals for any operation alleging potential exposures to COVID-19 will be handled in accordance with established procedures, except that employers will be notified of alleged hazards or violations by telephone, fax, email or letter.
Through their phone or fax communications, area offices will direct employers to publicly available guidance on protective measures, such as OSHA’s COVID-19 webpage. As it deems appropriate, OSHA will forward complaint information to federal partners with concurrent interests.
OSHA EnforcementFatalities and Imminent Dangers
Fatalities and imminent danger exposures related to COVID-19 will be prioritized for inspections, with particular attention given to health care organizations and first responders.
During the outbreak, formal complaints alleging unprotected exposures to COVID-19 for workers with a high or very high risk of transmission may warrant an on-site inspection. Area offices will prioritize resources and consider all relevant factors, including whether a complainant alleges inadequate PPE due to supply issues, in determining whether to perform a non-formal phone or fax investigation instead of an on-site inspection.
Other Formal Complaints
In general, most other formal complaints alleging COVID-19 exposure will not result in an on-site inspection if employees are engaged in tasks that involve medium or lower risk of exposure. In these cases, area offices will use the non-formal procedures for investigating alleged hazards.
However, employer-reported hospitalizations will be handled using RRIs in most cases.
Finally, employers should keep in mind that workers requesting inspections, complaining of COVID-19 exposure or reporting illnesses may be covered under one or more whistleblower statutes.
OSHA Enforcement of Inspection Scope, Scheduling, and Procedures
Inspection activities resulting from COVID-19-related complaints, referrals and employer-reported illnesses will primarily focus on facilities with jobs involving high and very high risk of exposure. OSHA aims to reassure employers that, during on-site inspections, compliance officers will take care to avoid interfering with any ongoing medical services.
Compliance officers will inspect facilities in a manner that minimizes or prevents exposure, such as by avoiding potential exposure to suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. It is not generally necessary for compliance officers to enter patient rooms or airborne isolation areas. If compliance officers must enter a vacant, airborne-infection-isolation room (AIIR), sufficient time must lapse to allow for proper clearance of potentially infectious aerosols before they enter. Before entering an occupied AIIR or a recently vacated AIIR that has not been adequately purged, a compliance officer must discuss the issue with his or her area director.
Opening Conferences
To avoid unnecessary exposure, compliance officers may decide to conduct opening conferences over the phone. However, if an on-site opening conference is deemed appropriate, officers will attempt to use a designated, uncontaminated administrative area. If available, officers may also ask to speak to a facility’s infection control director, safety director or the health professional responsible for controlling occupational health hazards. Individuals who are responsible for providing records pertinent to an inspection may also be included in the opening conference or interviewed early in the inspection. These individuals may include, for example, facility administrators, training directors, facilities engineers, nursing directors and human resources personnel.
Program and Document Review
Compliance officers will strive to conduct the following electronically or remotely:
Determining whether an employer has a written pandemic plan as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If an employer’s plan is a part of another emergency preparedness plan, a compliance officer’s review does not need to be expanded to the entire emergency preparedness plan. The evaluation of an employer’s pandemic plan may be based on other written programs and, in a hospital, a review of its infection control plan.
Reviewing the facility’s procedures for hazard assessment and protocols for PPE use with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.
Determining whether a workplace has handled specimens or evaluated, cared for, or treated suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. This will include a review of laboratory procedures for handling specimens and procedures for decontamination of surfaces.
Reviewing other relevant information, such as medical records related to worker exposure incidents, OSHA-required recordkeeping and any other pertinent information or documentation deemed appropriate by a compliance officer. This includes determining whether any employees have contracted COVID-19, have been hospitalized as a result of COVID-19, or have been placed on precautionary removal or isolation.
Reviewing a respiratory protection program and any modified respirator policies related to COVID-19 to assess compliance with respiratory protection standards.
Reviewing employee training records, including any records of training related to COVID-19 exposure prevention or made in preparation for a pandemic, if available.
Reviewing employer documentation of provisions made to obtain and provide appropriate and adequate supplies of PPE.
Determining whether a facility has airborne infection isolation rooms or areas and gathering information about an employer’s use of air pressure monitoring systems and any periodic testing procedures. This also includes reviewing any procedures for assigning patients to those rooms or areas and procedures to limit access to them by employees who are not trained or adequately outfitted with PPE.
Reviewing an employer’s procedures for transferring patients to other facilities in situations where appropriate isolation rooms or areas are unavailable or inoperable. This includes reviewing procedures for transferring COVID-19 patients from other facilities.
Establishing the numbers and placements of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients under isolation at the time of an inspection.
Establishing patterns of placements for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 patients in the preceding 30 days.
Determining and documenting whether an employer has considered or implemented a hierarchy of controls for worker protection. This documentation can be done with photos or design specifications.
Walkaround
Based on information from program and document review and interviews, compliance officers will use professional judgment in determining which areas of a facility will be inspected. Compliance officers will avoid entering patient rooms or treatment areas while high-hazard procedures are being conducted.
Where practical, photographs or videotaping may be used for case documentation. However, compliance officers will take all necessary precautions to assure and protect patient privacy and confidentiality. Throughout their engagement with facilities treating a significant number of COVID-19 patients, compliance officers should take care to avoid interference with the facilities’ provision of ongoing medical services.
Private Interviews
As appropriate to an inspection, compliance officers may conduct private interviews with affected employees in uncontaminated areas. However, interviews will not take place in a room or area where a high-hazard procedure, such as bronchoscopy or sputum induction, is being or recently has been conducted. To the extent possible, compliance officers will practice social distancing during employee interviews. Also, when possible, officers may choose to conduct these interviews over the phone.
California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management
As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more.
We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive insurance quote!
Protecting Your Construction Workers from Coronavirus
The coronavirus
(COVID-19) outbreak has impacted a number of businesses across a variety of
industries, forcing them to rethink their daily operations to ensure the safety
of their employees and the general public. This is no different for
construction firms, where multiple contractors and tradespeople on a job site
may be working in the same space at any one time. In these instances, just one misstep
can lead to the quick spread of COVID-19, jeopardizing the well-being of
workers.
To help slow the
spread of COVID-19 and safeguard your staff, consider the strategies highlighted
in this Construction Risk Insights.
COVID-19 Safety Tips for Construction Firms
When it comes to
COVID-19, discouraging sick employees from reporting to work and encouraging
social distancing are the two of the most effective methods for protecting your
workers:
Discouraging sick employees from reporting to work—Above all, any
employee who is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., fever, cough,
shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, chills or fatigue)
should stay home. Individuals experiencing such symptoms should also be
instructed to consult guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on
seeking medical care.
Encouraging social distancing—Social distancing is the
practice of deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid
spreading illness. In terms of COVID-19, social distancing best practices for
construction businesses can include:
Avoiding gatherings of 10
or more people
Keeping at least 6
feet of distance from other people
Hosting meetings virtually when possible
Limiting the number of people on the jobs site
to essential personnel only
Encouraging staff to work from home when
possible
Discouraging people from shaking hands
Beyond these
recommendations, there are a number of specific job site and office precautions
construction firms should consider. Specifically, to help prevent the spread of
COVID-19, businesses should:
Communicate key CDC guidance to their workers on how to stay safe from COVID-19. Helpful resources include the following webpages:
Post posters and other signage that encourage workers to stay home when they’re sick and educate them on hygiene best practices to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Sample posters from the CDC can be found here.
Instruct employees
to practice good hygiene. Employees should clean their hands often, either with
an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water. Hand sanitizers should
contain at least 60%-95% alcohol, and employees should wash their hands with
soap for at least 20 seconds. It’s also a good idea to strategically place hand
sanitizer and hand-washing stations around the job site.
Instruct employees
to:
Avoid congregating,
and keep their distance from other workers where possible.
Avoid sharing tools
and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Clean reusable PPE
per the original manufacturer’s recommendation before every use. Used PPE must
be disposed of properly.
Utilize disposable
gloves as appropriate, and wash their hands after they’re done with them.
Change their clothes
before they get home. Dirty clothes should be washed using hot water and
laundry sanitizer.
Ensure the work
environment is cleaned regularly. This can involve sanitizing doorknobs,
keyboards, tools, reusable supplies and equipment.
Avoid using a common
water cooler. For increased safety, provide employees with disposable plastic
water bottles or instruct them to bring their own.
Avoid scheduling
multiple tradespeople at once. This should help limit the amount of individuals
on the job site at once.
Sanitize portable
toilets frequently.
Avoid cleaning techniques
that could generate bioaerosols.
Continued Safety
While the strategies highlighted in this document can help you protect your workers from COVID-19, it’s important to follow CDC guidance at all times. For more information, click here.
California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management
As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more.
We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive Contractor insurance quote!
Of the potential hazards on a job site, confined spaces are some of
the most dangerous. A space can be determined as permit-required, in which case
extra measures must be taken in order to ensure the safety of workers.
Permit-required Confined Spaces
Confined space permits are a key part of a company’s confined space entry program. They act as a method of controlling worker entry into potentially dangerous areas. Any area on a job site that may be a confined space must be properly evaluated by a qualified person. Furthermore, all confined spaces must also be inspected to determine if the space requires a permit.
A permit is required for
each time that workers are going to be entering a confined space, and must be
filled out with information regarding conditions and precautions. This includes
information such as:
Entry Supervision
It is the responsibility of the entry supervisor to make sure
that confined space permits are completed and that the proper measures are
taken before authorizing any workers to enter the area.
Completed permits should be posted at the entrance of the
confined space and remain throughout the duration of the entry.
Canceling or Suspending Permits
Another responsibility for entry supervisors is to suspend or
cancel a permit once work is completed or if conditions become unsuitable for
entry.
If a permit is canceled, the confined space in question cannot be
reentered until a new permit is completed. Suspended permits can be reinstated
if an entry supervisor has conducted an inspection of the space and determined
that the allowable conditions, as listed on the permit, have been
reestablished.
Canceled permits should be kept for at least a year and reviewed
to help evaluate the effectiveness of the company’s confined space entry
program.
If you have any questions about confined spaces or permits, speak with your supervisor or another qualified employee.
California’s Leader in Insurance and Risk Management
As one of the fastest growing agencies in California, GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. is able to provide its clients with the latest and greatest of what the insurance industry has to offer and much, much more.
We are headquartered in Turlock, CA, with locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley, Northern California and beyond to provide a local feel to the solutions and services we provide our clients. We pride ourselves on exceeding our client’s expectations in every interaction to make sure that our client’s know how much we value and appreciate their business. Contact us today 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive contractor insurance quote!
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional cookies
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
