October is Nevada Construction Industry Fall Protection Month: Builder's Insurance and Risk Services-Nevada Focus Their Construction Worker Safety Training on Fall Prevention and Ladder Safety

Business Wire, Oct 5, 2007

LAS VEGAS -- Please replace the release dated October 4, 2007 with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions.

The corrected release reads:

OCTOBER IS NEVADA CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FALL PROTECTION MONTH: BUILDER'S INSURANCE AND RISK SERVICES-NEVADA FOCUS THEIR CONSTRUCTION WORKER SAFETY TRAINING ON FALL PREVENTION AND LADDER SAFETY

A remarkable 88 percent of all construction industry on-the-job fatalities in Southern Nevada in 2007 have been fall-related - nationally, falls rank second as a cause for workplace fatalities, but in Southern Nevada, it is clearly number-one. In an effort to stem a rising tide of workplace injuries resulting from preventable falls, Builders Insurance - the original private workers' comp coverage provider for the Nevada construction industry - along with Risk Services-Nevada, administrator for Builders Insurance, have jointly named October as Fall Protection and Ladder Safety month. Governor Gibbons, who chairs an annual workplace safety conference state-wide, has been asked to formalize this proclamation.

Injuries resulting from falls of all types are devastating to both employers and to employees and their families, both in terms of lost production and cost, but most of all because of the resulting pain and suffering workers endure as a result of trauma sustained from a fall. For instance, according to Ron Landram, Vice President of Operations for Risk Services, through October 1 in Southern Nevada, 88 percent of the 23 on-the-job construction industry fatalities were related to falls - workers who fell to their deaths - the other deaths occurred when retaining walls fell on them.

"Falls are the second largest cause of injuries in the workplace nationally," Landram explained. "Falls are also the single leading cause of on-the-job construction fatalities. Unlike the impact of other more common workplace accidents, injuries resulting from a fall usually range from severe to critical, and often are accompanied with the unpleasant prospect of a long term recovery - or even permanent disability. These statistics are particularly frustrating because fall-related accidents are always preventable - and they are always costly."

Landram pointed out that encouraging construction workers to simply follow basic common sense methods of fall protection and ladder safety can make a life-saving difference. "These include following safety guidelines such as using safety lanyards and harnesses," Landram said, "making sure that guard rails are in place, and inspecting ladders for damage - then taking them out of service when defects are discovered - can reduce or eliminate employee fall injuries completely.

Examples of workplace fall-and-ladder-injury prevention techniques include:

Fall Protection

* Identify all potential tripping and fall hazards before work starts;

* Look for fall hazards such as unprotected floor openings/edges, shafts, skylights, stairwells and roof openings/edges;

* Inspect fall protection equipment, such as safety harnesses and lanyards, for defects before use;

* Select, wear and use fall protection equipment appropriate for the task;

* Use handrails when you go up or down stairs;

* Practice good housekeeping. Keep cords, welding leads and air hoses out of walkways.

Ladder Safety

* Always inspect ladders before using them. If the ladder is damaged, remove it from service;

* Never stand on the top step of a ladder;

* Always maintain 3-point contact (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) when climbing ladders. Always face the ladder while climbing;

* Only use ladders only stable and level surfaces, or secure it so it doesn't become displaced;

* Never use a ladder on top of something else (such as boxes, barrels or some other unstable base) to obtain additional height;

* Don't move or shift a ladder while a person or equipment is on it;

* An extension or straight ladder must extend at least three feet above the point of support. Do not stand on the three top rungs of a straight, single or extension ladder - yes, that includes the top step (see tip #2).

* Do not use a self-supporting ladder (e.g., step ladder) as a single ladder or in a partially closed position.

According to Landram, across-the-board employer insurance costs can also be lowered dramatically if Nevada's construction companies can get a handle on these un-necessary fall injuries. To help promote worksite fall-related safety, the Risk Services Safety Team will be visiting as many work sites as possible during October with a special focus on fall hazards and ladders. Beyond that, on behalf of Builders Insurance, Risk Services will offer extra classes in Fall Protection and will begin to offer classes in Ladder Safety. These classes will be geared towards giving supervisors and foremen the hazard recognition tools they need to actively participate in their companies' on-the-job accident reduction effort.

Landram noted that Builders is offering incentives to its members to practice good fall-prevention safety. "During October," Landram explained, "any Builder's Insurance policyholder who is observed practicing good on-the-job fall protection methods will be nominated for the prestigious November BICI Safety award, which is one more way that we at Builders Insurance are working hard to motivate best-practice safety initiatives on Nevada's construction worksites."