The Idaho Occupational Safety and Health Consultation (OSHCON) program joined together with Engineers Structured Inc. (ESI) to host a “Safety Stand Down” at the Grove Plaza on May 5. The event emphasized the importance of fall protection and compliance with fall protection safety and regulations and demonstrations were given on the impact one experiences during a fall. OSHCON estimated that over 350 workers were in attendance.
“Safety Stand Down’ was part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) ‘National Safety Stand Down’ week. The nationwide campaign reminds and educates employers and workers in the construction industry of the serious dangers of falls, the number one cause of death in the industry. The unprecedented number of residential and commercial building projects underway in the Treasure Valley and the recent deaths of two construction workers in a Boise trench collapse on May 3 made the event especially timely and relevant.
“Falls still kill far too many construction workers,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. “While we regularly work with employers, industry groups, and worker organizations on preventing falls and saving lives, the ‘National Safety Stand Down’ encourages all employers ‐ from small businesses to large companies operating at many job sites ‐ to be part of our effort to ensure every worker makes it to the end of their shift safely.”
“Safety is a very serious matter at ESI. We are very intentional with our training and accountability programs,” said Neil Nelson, president of ESI. “At the end of the day, we want to ensure our most valued assets, our people and our partners’ people, are equipped with the knowledge and training to get home safely to their families after work. We’re excited to share our best practices with our teaming partners; events like the ‘Stand Down’ make this possible.”
ESI has been recognized for their emphasis on worker safety in the past. Last year, they won a national safety award for their efforts, specifically on the Nampa Library Square project. ESI implemented a “Stretch and Bend” program to reduce and/or eliminate soft tissue injuries on the job. As everyone is stretching and bending each morning, they also share information about what will go on at the job site that day, ensuring all the workers knew about any potential hazards, such as a new crane or new excavation.
OSHCON provides free occupational safety and health services to small businesses within the state of Idaho to help them understand and comply with rules and regulations required by OSHA. OSHCON primarily does this through onsite consultation services and their audiovisual lending library. Thier consultants can help with hazard recognition, reduction, and elimination; industrial hygiene monitoring; and written program requirements. Their lending library can assist businesses with training and increasing business knowledge about occupational safety and health. OSHCON is funded by OSHA through the Department of Labor but is not involved in enforcement efforts and does not assess penalties or fines during a visit with a business.
For more details and to learn more about the National Safety Stand‐Down, visit the Federal OSHA site at https://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown/index.html.