State Requirements
Workers Compensation coverage is mandated for any boss, who has one of more employees. Farming businesses, independent contractors and the self employed are not affected by this rule. The rules for Workers Compensation may be different in each state. To find out what the requirements for Worker’s Compensation are in your particular locale. Visit Small Business Administration.
Workers Compensation Benefits
Worker’s Compensation applies to any worker, who has been injured in a job-related accident. It requires the payment of medical benefits, rehabilitation and lost wages to the injured employee. Worker Compensation includes a work-related death benefit.
Fall Protection Plan
The Occupation Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has certain requirements to avoid falls on construction sites. Building contractors can submit a Fall Protection Plan if the regulations may create hazards. This plan has to be submitted in writing, and it is a complex document. If you want to see a sample Fall Protection Plan, you can view one at OSHA
Safety Precautions
Safety has to be job number one on a build, especially where falling is a frequent hazard. OSHA offers an example of a Fall Protection Plan. Even if you do not want to create a unique plan for your company, the info contained in the example can enable you to lessen Worker Compensation Claims by ensuring you are complying with the protective measures.
Having a meeting to tell your workers in detail what safety measures must be in place, makes your employees much more aware to the hazards around them.You need to stress that safety measures are to protect your workers-not just your company. This kind of awareness should be expressed in terms that make your employees realize that you care about them.
Monitors
OSHA considers foremen as automatically responsible for worker safety. A monitor would be a person other than a foreman, who is knowledgeable about the risks. Legally, one monitor can only supervise six workers. The monitor needs to have reduced responsibilities to effectively implement safety measures.
A monitor must be able to be identified by wearing a blue arm band, hard hat or vest.
A monitor must forewarn orally work-hands when approaching an open edge area to avoid startling them. The monitor must speak out loud when indicating the presence of a hazardous situation.
Fall Protection Rules
OSHA mandates that fall protection regulations must be in force whenever a laborer is six feet above the bottom level of a structure. This means that during the framing or roofing of a dwelling it is crucial to observe all fall protection precautions.
Precautions
Recognize and list safety hazards.
Take an inventory of unsafe conditions and warn employees about these dangers.
Educate your employees about the potential dangers at a work site and how to counteract these risks.
Make a worker aware when he is displaying unsafe behavior on the job.
Restrict other workers from control zones.
Safety Equipment And Regulations
Have equipment available, in good condition and in use for protection.
Use scaffolds, ladders, platforms, guard rails, body belt harnesses and control zones to decrease injuries.
Rope, wire, tape or other types of equipment or structures should be made available in high risk areas.
Ropes or wires used for safety, including sagging, cannot be any less than 39″ and at the most 45″above the walking surface.
Lines used to prevent falling must have a minimum breaking strength of 200 lbs.
Holes greater than 12″X12″ have to be covered or have guarding rails.
Holes created by precast concrete columns must be covered except for the column that is currently being worked on.
Putting safety procedures in place requires time and diligence. However, the effort is well worth the work. An injury on the job can cost time, money and involve liability claims and lawsuits. Any of these outcomes can have a major negative effect on a small business.
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