Research & Writing Assignment:
When walking on the roof surface flat shoes should be worn, any shoes with heels should not be worn as this could cause the worker to trip. Specialized shoes with soft soles are made for walking roofs and are a good idea to wear.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Safety Section - Work Sites should be inspected by all workers before any activity begins. It is everyone’s responsibility to know where the hazardous are on the site. PPE and Fall Protection is a good idea when working above 4’ and could fall.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Safety is everyone’s responsibility and all workers should be aware of the dangerous conditions while working. Before the start of each new activity workers shall survey the area to identify any hazardous. Erecting batteries and guard rails is required at all areas where a person could fall from a height of 4’ or greater.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
The photos has a few OSHA safety violations. The scaffolding at the base of the roof is not fully planked and does not have any guardrails to protect workers. At the bottom of the photo is a red safety bracket with a ring for attaching safety ropes and lanyards. This safety bracket was not nailed to the ridge and not utilized for worker safety.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Research for this assignment was done by visiting www.osha.gov to gain further insight on construction safety information. OSHA Instruction TED 01-00-015, Section V:Construction Operations, Chapter 4 “Fall Protection in Construction” [New 04/14/2016] was reviewed. The chapter covers fall prevention, fall arrest systems, and measurements for assessing hall hazards and controls. Appendix A covers fall protection for scaffolds and related equipment. Appendix B has the OSHA standards related to fall protection. For example 19 CFR 1926.1053 covers ladders. I looked at this specific standard and found that it has the requirement for all ladder, including job-made ladders. One interesting item in this section stated that the minimum clear distance between side rails for all portable ladders shall be 11 1/2 inches.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Like most other jobs, choosing the right tool can make all the difference when it comes to safety and this is the same for ladders. One thing to consider when selecting an appropriate ladder is the ladders weight capacity. Each ladder is designed to support a maximum weight limit and if the climber exceeds that limit the ladder could break and cause the user to fall or become injured.
Research & Writing Assignment:
There are a number of ways to protect workers from falls, including conventional systems such as guardrail systems, safety net systems and personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) (fall arrest systems, positioning systems and travel restraint systems) as well as through the use of safe work practices and training. The use of warning lines, designated areas, control zones and similar systems are permitted by OSHA in some situations and can provide protection by limiting the number of workers exposed and instituting safe work methods and procedures. These alternative systems may be more appropriate than conventional fall protection systems when performing certain activities.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
Inspectors need to take precautions when conducting an inspection. Inspector safety and safety of the customer are top priorities and the correct use of a ladder is just one of many ways to perform a safe inspection. When accessing a roof from a ladder always allow ladder to extend past roof line by at least 3 feet and always face the ladder when ascending or descending.
Research & Writing Assignment:
OSHA is the governing agency that dictates safe work habits. It’s imperative the home inspectors are well versed in OSHA approved practices in order to comply with safe home inspections. OSHA is constantly updating their safety regulations so it is important that inspectors and all works review OSHA safety practices periodically.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
I posted a picture of a ladder. Ladder safety is very important. You should not stand on the top step of a step ladder. You should not over reach while on a ladder, it is a good rule of thumb to not have your belly button be outside of the side rails of the ladder in use. Use a tie to secure the ladder to a roof.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I read an article on acid rain and inspection. I learned that acid rain in industrialized areas has been reported on since the mid 1800’s. Most industrialized areas that burn fossil fuels will experience some type of acid rain that will have an effect on building structures. In Arid regions buildings are more at risk because it is more like a dust that sticks to structures.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I chose the article “Scaffold Inspections” by Nick Gromiko for this assignment. The article goes over some statistics from a national study that was conducted on the use of scaffolding in the building industry. I was surprised at the number of workers killed and injured in scaffold related accidents, “50 workers killed and 4,500 injured yearly”. The article goes on to inform the reader of numerous safety measures to reduce the chance of becoming a statistic.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
For this essay I chose safety equipment, specifically safety glasses or goggles. The use of glasses is an important piece of every inspectors PPE (personal protection equipment). By using safety glasses and/ or goggles the user protects his/ her eyes from getting injured by sparks, debris, mold spores, and many other objects. The simple use of this type of PPE can avoid many hours of lost work time from an illness or injury.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
In this picture you can see an example of properly installed scaffolding. The scaffolds are completely planked and the Open Spaces are surrounded by guard rails and safety netting. You can also see a gate at the upper level scaffold for entry to that level by ladder.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Regarding the image titled proper ladder use , there are several considerations to remember for the safe use of ladders. First, it should be inspected for any damage or wear before being used. Secondly, if possible , the ladder should be used on level dry ground.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
A home inspector may choose to, when possible, use a fall protection harness when accessing a roof. Fall protection is required when working at a height above six feet or higher. While it is not common for a home inspector to bring their own fall protection to an inspection, it is an OSHA recommended practice.
Research & Writing Assignment:
Fall arrest systems save lives and money. In addition to greatly reducing the amount of injuries and deaths on job sites and at homes, fall protection also protects the employer or contractor. In the event of an accident, a fall arrest system such as a safety harness or guard rail can significantly lessen the severity.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
This is a picture of a steep roof and at the time of the inspection the material was wet which made it easier to slide of roof. These types of roof’s with a pitch greater than 4/12 should have be protected by a guardrail system with Toeboards, safety net systems, or personnel fall arrest systems.
Research & Writing Assignment:
I read about the fire hazard an attached garage can be. Due to storing fuels and paints and other materials. Water heaters and heating units are commonly installed in garage areas and a fire can quickly break out and spread to the interior of the home. That’s why we have codes for garages such as doors, drywall size.
Inspection & Writing Assignment:
More than 800 constructions workers die each year from falls and more than 1 in 3 deaths of construction workers are caused by falls. Most of these deaths could have been prevented by following OSHA standards and the proper use of personal fall protection.
