by Grant Davis | Construction, Insurance, Safety Tips
Crane Safety on a Construction Site
Cranes are massive pieces of equipment common to many construction sites that make lifting and transporting heavy materials much easier. While they are an important asset, there are hazards involving all aspects of crane use on a construction site. Think of these crane safety tips when working with a crane at your construction site.
You’ll Have The Support Of GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. Experts On A Continuing Basis
Here are just a few of the added value items GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. provides:
- We review your contracts
- Review your certificates of insurance
- Additional insured endorsements
- Put on classes for your staff on these topics
- Full OSHA compliant safety programs
Selecting a Crew
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), only certified crane operators are allowed to operate cranes on a construction site. Operators may be certified through a third-party organization or through their employer, provided the employer is qualified to train the operator.
In addition to one or more operators, there are other positions that need to be filled in order to use a crane.
A “competent person” must conduct shift and monthly inspections of all equipment. OSHA defines a competent person as a person “capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.”
OSHA defines a “qualified person” as a person “who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training and experience, successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to the subject matter, the work, or the project.” Qualified persons must conduct annual and comprehensive inspection of all equipment, along with duties associated with assembly and disassembly, fall protection, maintenance and repair, and wire rope safety.
Signal persons and maintenance and repair employees must be properly certified, as well.
Preparing the Area
Cranes take up a lot of space, so preparing the area where a crane will be used is important to ensure the job gets done safely and efficiently. Consider the following crane safety when preparing the area:
- Is the ground firm and level? Softer ground is ideal for a crawler crane, while a mobile truck crane works best on hard, dry ground. OSHA mandates that ground conditions must be drained and graded before a crane can be assembled and used. In addition, supporting materials (e.g., blocking, mats, cribbing) should be used.
- Can the crane safely rotate 360 degrees? Tower cranes and telescopic cranes often need to rotate in order to transport materials, so they need to be able to rotate a full 360 degrees. Make sure there are no power lines or buildings in the crane’s path.
- Is there adequate space for the outriggers? Studies have shown that as many as 50 percent of crane accidents occur because the outriggers are not properly used. Some cranes come equipped with outriggers for added stability and to provide the maximum lifting power. Many of today’s cranes have multiple outrigger positions to adapt to more ground conditions.
- Are access roads provided? Adequate access roads into and through the site are necessary for the safe delivery and movement of derricks, cranes, trucks, other necessary equipment, and the material to be erected.
Once a suitable site for the crane has been selected, work can begin.
Access and Egress
One of the most overlooked hazards when using a crane is simply getting on and off the equipment for assembly, disassembly and use. For example, lattice boom cranes require employees to walk on the boom sections to install and remove pins for assembly and disassembly, creating a hazard. Equipment made after Nov. 8, 2011, must be manufactured with built-in walkways for this type of crane. For equipment made before Nov. 8, 2011, the employer must provide fall protection for employees who are on a walking or working surface with an unprotected side or edge more than 15 feet above a lower level when assembling or disassembling a crane, and more than six feet when performing non-assembly or -disassembly work.
Equipment that is manufactured after this date must be equipped to provide safe access and egress between the ground and the operator work station(s), including the forward and rear positions. Walking and stepping surfaces, except for crawler treads, must have slip-resistant features, such as diamond plate metal, strategically placed grip tape, expanded metal or slip-resistant paint.
It is common for the area around the crane to get muddy, so extra precautions should be taken when walking in and around the equipment. The area in front of ladders and walkways should be free of water and mud to avoid slipping. Only ladders or ramps should be used as a means of access or egress from a cab. Scrap lumber or other miscellaneous materials should not be used.
Rigging
There are special precautions workers must take when rigging a crane. Materials often weight several tons, enough to crush just about anything it its path. Riggers must be qualified to perform any rigging work. Follow these crane safety tips to prevent accidents and injuries while rigging:
- Plan a rigging schedule to avoid rigging above or near areas where other work is being performed.
- Never exceed the maximum lifting capacity of a crane.
- Only use hooks with self-closing latches.
- Inspect straps and chains daily for defects:
- Nylon straps tear easily, so examine them for even the slightest fraying.
- Straps with knots in them can reduce the lifting capacity by up to 50 percent.
- Chain links can crack, stretch, twist or warp.
- Rope can get kinked or fray.
- Never leave materials suspended on a crane for extended periods of time.
Clearly, there are many hazards associated with using cranes on construction sites. However, they are an essential part of many construction projects and can be safe if everyone involved is properly trained. Contact GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. for more information on staying safe in construction sites.
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. With locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley 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!
by Grant Davis | Business Insurance, Commercial Auto Insurance, GDI Insurance, Insurance
Protect Your Employee Drivers with Commercial Auto Insurance
Commercial auto insurance is imperative if employees are driving on behalf of your business, regardless of who owns the vehicle. Here’s what you need to know about insuring business vehicles and how to save on your commercial auto insurance.
If your company name is on the vehicle title, you’ll need to buy commercial auto insurance.
Commercial auto insurance is typically much more expensive than personal auto insurance. Even though commercial auto insurance premiums are more expensive, commercial insurance offers more coverage. Even during the current driver shortage, onboarding a single inexperienced or incompetent employee can expose you to costly fines, crashes and a tarnished reputation.
These factors will influence the price of your commercial auto insurance:
– The number of auto insurance claims your company has had in the past.
– The motor vehicle report—or driving record—for all drivers within the company.
– The age of the drivers, this is especially important!
– The safety of the location where you keep the vehicle, such as a garage vs. on the street.
– The amount of security you have in place, which could include anti-theft devices.
Customize Your Commercial Auto Insurance
GDI Insurance Agency, Inc. provides exactly the expertise you need. We have the right commercial auto insurance plan for your commercial automobiles AND we can deliver the strategies, tools and resources that will help you manage your transportation and fleet industry risks, control workers’ compensation claim costs, advance safety and boost employee morale.
How To Create Driver Standards for Employees
When it comes to your business, keeping your employees safe is a top priority. It’s why you have workplace safety regulations, and if the unexpected happen, you have business insurance.
What About Business Vehicles?
If your business requires your employees to operate a motor vehicle at all, it’s important to create a plan for ensuring their safety. Read these tips for developing driver standards to keep both your employees — and the other drivers on the road — as safe as possible.
The best way to make sure you’re employing the most qualified drivers is to perform comprehensive pre-employment screenings in accordance with DOT and FMCSA regulations.
This toolkit includes forms, checklists and other materials that you can use to onboard a new driver and ensure that all applicable records are in order. Your business should make efforts to check for any state and local pre-employment requirements, criminal histories and other relevant information to see if candidates are the right fit.
Here are Tips On Hiring Employee Drivers
Check records. Your prospective employee’s driving history can be a strong indicator of their future driving record, which is why it’s so important to check into it. Department of Motor Vehicle Records are kept on file in every state where your employee holds a driver’s license. These records will show:
- If their license has been revoked
- If their license has been suspended
- If the driver has received any traffic violations
- If the driver has been involved in any traffic-related accidents
To obtain a DMV Record, contacting your state agency or your insurance agent is your best bet. Commercial Driver Hiring and Onboarding Toolkit In order to access a record you will need to know the individual’s name, date of birth, address and driver’s license number.
Mandate Safety Plans
After you check out your prospective employee’s MVR, it’s important to establish guidelines to help determine if they should be considered for a job that will require them to operate a vehicle. For example, guidelines that might disqualify an employee from a driving position might include:
- A driving while intoxicated conviction in the past three years
- Three serious violations, such as reckless driving or following too closely, during the past three years
- Two accidents within the past three years
- License suspension due to traffic violations in the last three years
Keep Tabs On Your Employees
After you go through the necessary background checks and the employee is cleared to start driving, its important to continue evaluating their current driving records on a regular basis. That way, you can verify they still meet your safe driving requirements after they’ve been hired.
Require Experience
If your business requires the use of large passenger vans, it’s important to understand the safety precautions you and your employees can take to keep everyone in the vehicle safe. Remember, only experienced drivers should operate fully loaded vans, and should understand and be familiar with the handling characteristics of these types of vehicles. Youthful drivers are one of the factors that will greatly increase your commercial auto insurance costs.
Risk Management Techniques
One of the best things you can do to control your commercial automobile insurance premiums is implement risk management techniques for controlling the frequency of accidents. Improving your drivers’ performance can make a big difference: A study by the U.S. Department of Transportation revealed that 90 percent of all collisions were due to driver action, attitude and behavior. Making your drivers safer and purchasing dependable vehicles can affect both frequency and severity of accidents, ultimately lowering your premiums. Some steps to take include the following:
- Select good drivers. Conduct background checks and request regular motor vehicle driving records.
- Provide driver safety training on a regular basis, both at hire and as a refresh, ensuring that both new and seasoned employees are properly prepared.
- Train employees on reporting a loss immediately after a crash.
- Monitor drivers to ensure their best performance.
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. With locations across the heart of California’s Central Valley 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 auto insurance quote!
by Grant Davis | Construction, Insurance, OSHA, Safety Tips
Ladder and Fall Prevention Safety at the Construction Site
Falls from elevated surfaces are frequently listed as one of the most common causes of accidents in the construction industry. Most of these accidents occur due to failure to follow basic ladder safety. GDI Insurance Agency, Inc is here to help your construction business call us today 1-209-634-2929 for your California contractor insurance needs. To help prevent ladder injuries on the jobsite, practice the following ladder and fall protection tips.
Setting up Safely
Make sure you select the correct ladder for the job – check the length and duty rating. Proper length is a minimum of three feet extending over the roofline or working surface.
Inspect your ladder before each use for loose or damaged parts, such as the following:
- Steps
- Rungs
- Spreaders
- Rung dogs
- Safety feet
- Other parts
Clear the area where you will be working. Never place a ladder in front of a door that isn’t locked, blocked or guarded.
Because metal ladders conduct electricity, use a wooden or fiberglass ladder near power lines or electrical equipment.
Check that all locks on extension ladders are properly engaged before placing your ladder on a steady surface. The ground underneath the ladder should be level and firm. Large, flat wooden boards braced underneath a ladder can help level it on an uneven surface or soft ground. Straight, single or extension ladders should be set up at approximately a 75 degree angle.
Use the 1:4 ratio to ensure your safety when on a ladder. Place the base of the ladder one foot away from whatever it’s leaning against for every four feet of height up to the point of contact for the top of the ladder.
Use Caution
Always use caution when using a ladder at your construction site, and never use a ladder for any other purpose than intended.
Other safety considerations include the following:
- Make sure the weight that your ladder is supporting does not exceed its
maximum load rating (user plus materials). Only one person should be on a
ladder at a time.
- Keep your body centered between the rails of the ladder at all times. Do
not lean too far to the side while working. Never overreach—instead,
descend from the ladder and move it to a better position.
- Do not step on the top step, bucket shelf or attempt to climb or stand on
the rear section of a stepladder.
- Always face the ladder when climbing up or down. Never leave a raised
ladder unattended.
- Slowly step down from a ladder if you feel dizzy or tired.
- Non-slip footwear should be worn at all times when on a ladder at a
construction site.
Minimize ladder accidents by adhering to these fall and ladder safety and prevention tips.
Residential Construction Fall Protection Requirements
Falls in residential construction are deadly and common. According to data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 40 workers are killed each year as a result of falls from residential roofs—the number one cause of workplace deaths in construction. These injuries and deaths are not only costly to your company due to claims and elevated insurance premiums, they are preventable. For this reason, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has explicitly stated that residential builders are not allowed to bypass fall protection requirements.
Who is Involved?
All employers engaged in residential construction work are required to provide fall protection for workers working more than six feet above ground. Residential construction includes the following elements:
- The end use of the structure being built is a home or a dwelling.
- The structure is built using traditional wood frame construction
materials and methods. Limited use of structural steel does not disqualify
a structure from being considered residential construction.
Any employer involved in residential construction is required to comply with OSHA regulations regarding ladder and fall protection systems. This means employees working 6 feet or more above lower levels must use one of the following safety systems:
- Guardrails and safety nets
- Personal fall arrest systems, an example of which being a full body
harness, a deceleration device, a lanyard and an anchor point.
Certain types of work specified under other OSHA provisions warrant alternative fall protection measures.
What if Ladder and Fall Protection is Infeasible?
When the use of conventional ladder and fall protection methods is infeasible or creates a greater hazard, employers must create a written, site-specific fall protection plan that documents why these methods are infeasible and why they would create a greater hazard.
Does your broker provide you with timely updates on new and revised OSHA regulations?
When regulatory changes affect your business, we’ll make sure you have all the resources you need to keep your team informed and compliant.
Are you being proactive in your approach to workers’ compensation costs?
We can help you control workers’ compensation claims by establishing a safety policy, adopting a return to work program, streamlining reporting procedures and identifying top loss sources.
Did you know that businesses see a significant return on every dollar invested in safety and health?
Our construction safety manual and Safety Matters “toolbox talks” provide your employees with useful injury prevention information and help build a culture of safety.
We also provide posters, flyers, newsletters and more to keep safety top of mind at the jobsite.
Roofing Contractor Continuously Violates Fall Protection Standards and Faces Nearly $400,000 in Fines
According to OSHA, a Maine-based roofing contractor has ignored numerous safety standards and exposed workers to significant fall risks for a number of years. OSHA cited the contractor—which has operated under the names Lessard Roofing & Siding and Lessard Brothers Construction—for safety violations at 11 different worksites between 2000 and 2011. However, the contractor failed to address the citations or pay any of the issued fines.
In 2011—after Lessard initially failed to address the OSHA citations—the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the contractor to correct the worksite violations, implement appropriate safety measures and pay accumulated fines with interest. Now, the court has held Lessard’s owner in civil contempt for defying the original 2011 order.
As a part of the recent court ruling, Lessard must do the following:
- Provide financial documentation to demonstrate the contractor’s ability to pay the $389,685 in outstanding OSHA fines.
- Ensure that employees and contractors use required safety equipment and fall protection.
- Conduct worksite safety analyses and meetings.
- Employ a competent person to ensure work proceeds according to OSHA regulations.
- Give OSHA details about each of the contractor’s worksites so the agency can conduct safety inspections.
Falls from ladders and roofs still account for the majority of injuries at work. In fact, fall protection violations are one of OSHA’s most frequent citations every year, with 6,072 issued in 2017 alone. Identifying fall hazards and deciding how to protect workers is the first step in eliminating or reducing fall hazards. Contact us at 209-634-2929 for OSHA programs, presentations and training materials you can use to protect your employees and avoid costly fines.
Contact Us
At GDI Insurance Agency, Inc., we have a variety of materials for you to ensure compliance and promote a safe workplace, which are essential components of any construction risk management program. Contact us today at 1-209-634-2929 for your comprehensive construction insurance quote.
