Thoughts About Safety

Without doubt, safety is the most important consideration on every construction job, and not without reason. Construction is a dangerous business and falls are among the most prominent accidents. Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees all across the country. Here in New York City a worker falling is the most common construction related accident.

Each year OSHA sponsors The National Safety Stand-Down to raise fall hazard awareness in an effort to stop or at least, slow, fall fatalities and injuries. The 2019 Stand-Down, which was scheduled from May 6—10, occurred just before this issue of Off The Wall reached you. I hope all our members participated in this OSHA-sponsored event and focused the attention of your workers on safety.

Another danger that is small but expected to grow in the months and years to come is drones used on construction sites. Fun to think about and prone to expansive ideas, they are a popular matter for discussion. You may already have talked about drone use at our convention and other occasions where you interact with your peers. Drones offer tremendous potential on construction sites, especially for workplace safety. Among their many uses they can save lives and save time and money at the same time by eliminating the need for in-person inspections in high or otherwise dangerous places.

But drones themselves can be accident-prone. A recent contributor to Construction Dive explained why contractors should nix ‘casual use’ of jobsite drones. As contractors, subs and other stakeholders embrace on-site use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), he advises they pay close attention to the safety and liability risks that can be associated with this technology. Efficient as they are, a small drone can do great damage if not used properly. Think caution when you think drones.

A reminder—scholarship applications are still being accepted through July 31st for the 2019—2020

academic year.

I hope to see all of you at our 40th annual Golf Outing on Monday, June 17th at the North Hempstead Country Club.

-John