Michigan's Focus on Fatal Falls: Factors, Fixes, and Follow-up

Debra Chester, MSMSU

Department of Medicine

MIFACE Investigation 06MI117

63 years oldInstalling siding on dormerUsed two 2-inch screws instead of 16d nails in roof bracketsNorth bracket failed or fell from ladder9-foot fall from roof edgeDied 2 weeks later

Factors

Inadequate knowledge– Did not use correct roof brackets– Did not anchor appropriately– Did not follow “best safe work practice”

No fall protectionNo employee training– Scaffold (bracket spacing > 8 ft, 2x6 inch planks

on side)– Ladder (ladder not used properly)

No Safety Program

Work-Related Fatal Falls in Michigan, 2001-2006

Overview– 2001 to 2006: 875 work-

related deaths– 125 (14.3%) of 875 work-

related deaths attributable to falls

– 75 (60%) of 125 work- related fatal falls occurred in Construction (NAICS 23)

Number of Fatal Falls in Michigan, 2001-2006

11111223344

88

1175

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Health Care/Social AssistPublic Administration

MiningFinance/Insurance

Prof/Scient/Tech ServicesAccomm/Food Service

Wholesale TradeAdmin/Support/Waste

Educational ServicesRetail Trade

Arts/Enterainment/RecreationTransportation/Warehousing

AgricultureManufacturing

Construction

Age at Time of Fatal Fall, Michigan, 2001-2006

0

11

2320

9 10

201 1

6

16

118

3 4

0

5

10

15

20

25

0-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-89

Construction Non-Construction

Num

ber

of D

eath

s

Height of Fatal Fall, Michigan, 2001-2006

13

21

13

7

3 4 5

9

17

8

42

19

0

5

10

15

20

25

<10' 10'- 19' 20'- 29' 30'- 39' 40'- 49' 50 -100'

100+' UNK

Construction Non-Construction

Num

ber o

f Fal

ls

Construction Characterization of Fatal Falls, Michigan, 2001-2006

12%

7%

80%

1%

Construction ofBuildings

Heavy and CivilEngineering

Specialty Trade

Unknown

Fatal Falls by Specialty Trades, Michigan, 2001-2006

Number of Falls

11

22

444

67

920

0 5 10 15 20 25

Finish Carpenter

Poured Concrete

Electricians

Siding

Plumbing/HVAC

Masonry

Other Contractors

Framing

Painters

StrucSteel/Precast Conc

Roofers

Fatal Falls… What Did They Fall From? Michigan, 2001-2006

Number of Falls

22222

33

88

618

19

0 5 10 15 20

Skylight

Water Tower

Wood Framing

Cell Phone Tower

Ground/Floor

Unguarded Roof Opening

UNK

Structural Steel

Vehicle/Mach/Equip

Others

Scaffold/Ladder

Roof Edge

Fatal Falls by Month, Michigan, 2001-2006

4 5 4 4

8 75

7 8

14

5 4

02468

10121416

JanuaryFebruary

MarchApril MayJune

JulyAugust

SeptemberOctober

NovemberDecember

Month

Num

ber o

f Dea

ths

Construction Fatal Falls in Michigan, 2001-2006

Race:– Black: 2 individuals– White: 73 individuals

Ethnicity - Hispanic: 6 individuals

Gender:– Male: 75 individuals

38 deaths: able to identify if member of a construction union and if firm had written safety program. – 5 individuals were union members– 15 firms had written program

We Know What Works

Three Workers Hang Off High Rise for an Hour After Scaffold Drops

Two workers hang outside the 31-story M&I Plaza building Downtown as a firefighter descends to rescue them. They and a third worker were stranded when a scaffold collapsed as they put up a sign on the 28th floor. -MIKE FENDER / The Star

IndyStar.com. Posted 8/15/08. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/LOCAL18/808150466

Fixes Are Available

Internet Fall Protection Plans:– http://erd.dli.mt.gov/safetyhealth/brochures/fallprotect

planres.pdf– http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_doc

ument?p_id=10927&p_table=STANDARDSGuide to Developing a Fall Protection Program– http://www.doa.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=667

Fixes

Continuing education of construction contractorsOversight by general contractorsSubcontractors safety program/employee training requirementCourage to call out fellow workers about unsafe work practicesContractor trade groups educate public about value of safety programs, builder designations, etc vs. low bid

Follow-up

New Michigan Legislation (PA 155-158 of 2007)– Require residential builder and

maintenance/alteration contractor to meet continuing competency (CC) requirements.

60 hours pre-licensure courseworkCurrent license holders have varying CC requirements

Follow-up

New Technology– NIOSH newly developed guard rail system

Educational Outreach to employers who hire non/limited-English speaking workers– MIOSHA new job postings – desirable qualification

is bi-lingual ability– MIOSHA trying to translate more educational

materials – budget constraints limiting effort– OSHA Compliance Assistance – Hispanic

Workers

Fixes

Continuing education of construction contractorsOversight by general contractorsSubcontractors safety program/employee training requirementCourage to call out fellow workers about unsafe work practicesContractor trade groups educate public about value of safety programs, builder designations, etc vs. low bid

Follow-up

MIOSHA Enforcement of Multi-employer Worksites Instruction– July 31, 2007

Clarified guidelines for conducting MIOSHA compliance inspections at multi-employer worksites– Identified:

Creating contractor – caused hazardous conditionExposing contractor – own employees are exposedCorrecting contractor – responsible for correcting hazardControlling contractor – general supervisory authority

Follow-up

MIOSHA Falls Prevention Outreach Initiative– 8500 letters and educational materials sent

identified as having work activities in which employees may be exposed to fall hazards

5000 to construction employers3500 to manufacturing employers

– ObjectivesHighlight the seriousness of fall protectionincrease awareness of fall hazards within these industrieshighlight the need for appropriate fall protectionhelp ensure that employees receive the appropriate training required by the MIOSHA Fall Protection Safety standards.

MIFACE Investigation 07MI172

34 years oldWorking for friend who owned roofing businessRoofing activitiesUnwitnessed fallNot using fall protectionDied 5 days after incident

Follow-up

MIFACE Outreach– MIFACE Investigation Report 07MI172

citing the MIOSHA multi-employer worksite document will be sent to all general contractors, home builder associations, and over 1200 roofing contractors in MI

– MIFACE will conduct a phone survey to follow-up with representative number of companies to gather additional information

Fixes

Continuing education of construction contractorsOversight by general contractorsSubcontractors safety program/employee training should be requiredCourage to call out fellow workers about unsafe work practicesContractor trade groups educate public about value of safety programs, builder designations, etc vs. low bid

MIFACE Investigation 01MI094

31 years oldPainting under bridgeUnsecured in lift basketBasket not properly placed on forks of rough terrain forklift

Safety Culture

Management looks the other way when unsafe actions are usedFellow employees look the other way when unsafe actions are usedWho wants to correct the unsafe actions of “experienced”employees?But everyone wants a safe workplace…

Fixes

Continuing education of construction contractorsOversight by general contractorsSubcontractors safety program/employee training should be requiredCourage to call out fellow workers about unsafe work practicesContractor trade groups educate public about value of safety programs, builder designations, etc vs. low bid

Follow-up

Collaborated with MAHB to secure grant funding to develop construction standard/employee training CD/DVDUnsuccessful grant, but MAHB entered an alliance agreement with MIOSHA – Outcomes:

CET promotionIncreased awareness of:

– How to develop H&S programs– MIOSHA Construction S&H standards– How regulations apply to residential construction

Co-sponsorship of MIOSHA workshopsAmicable working relationship

Questions?