According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were a total of 774 construction fatalities in 2010. Of those fatalities, 264 were a result of falls, making falls the leading cause of death in construction.

Because fall-related construction deaths have remained the leading cause of work-related death for construction workers for so long, OSHA has implemented a Fall Prevention Campaign that involves 3 important steps: Plan, Provide, and Train.

Essentially, these 3 steps encourage construction workers and employers to:

• Plan for the job at hand, including determining what kind of safety equipment will be necessary;
• Provide the safety equipment determined necessary in the planning process; and
• Train workers to use the safety equipment provided correctly.

As part of the campaign, OSHA has created a variety of educational materials and safety resources, including handouts, fact sheets and posters, safety etools, and press releases.

One of the largest components of a safe work environment is hazard awareness. But knowing of hazards may not be enough--preventing injuries and fatalities on the worksite requires an effort to eliminate those hazards through safety precautions and training. Never put yourself, or others, in a position of unnecessary danger, be they fall hazards or otherwise, by not using fall protection, using equipment without training, or attempting to work in an unsafe work environment without protection or training.

Safety Matters OSHA, Construction, fall, fall hazards, fatalities, fall prevention

Radio Frequency Identification – called RFID – is the latest technology in millions of credit and debit cards. Through the use of a tiny installed chip, your card can now send out a radio signal with your credit card information, allowing you to just wave your card instead of having to swipe it at stores. Convenient, yes, but how safe is the technology, and what are the risks associated with its use?

It might not be as safe as you would think. Using cheap, easily acquired equipment from the internet, potential criminals can now scan your credit card information without actually touching you. It is called electronic pickpocketing, and anyone who has this type of card could be at risk.

So how do you know if you have a credit card with RFID and what can you do to make yourself more secure? If your card does have the feature, it will usually be marked with a small radio frequency symbol. To protect your cards with RFID, you can use a protective sleeve or wallet to put your card in. Alternatively, anything metal–even a piece of aluminum foil wrapped around your credit card–will block the radio signal and keep your card safe from hackers. You can also tell your bank that you do not want a credit card that has RFID.

If you don't have a credit card with a radio chip in it, chances are you will soon. Right now Radio Frequency Identification is in about one third of all credit cards, and the number is growing.

Safety Matters Radio Frequency Identification, Credit card theft, RFID

Did you know that crashes are the leading cause of death for children aged 3 to 14? The good news is, with the proper safety measures, these numbers can be reduced, and this can be done through the proper use of child safety seats.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 8,959 lives were saved by child restraints from 1975 to 2008.

Not only should child safety seats be used, but, as mentioned above, they should be used properly. The NHTSA recommends the following guidelines when selecting, installing, and using a child safety seat in the car:

1. Select a car seat based on your child's age, height, and weight.
2. Keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as your child fits the seat's height and weight requirements.
3. All children under 13 should ride in the backseat.
4. Follow your car seat manufacturer's instructions and your vehicle owner's manual on how to install.
5. Get help. Certified technicians are available to check your car seat installation for free. Find your nearest inspection station.

For more information, including car seat recommendations for specific age groups, go to the NHTSA website on child safety.

Safety Matters Child car safety seats, NHTSA, Child restraints, Seat installation

During the Christmas shopping season, large crowds at retail establishments are not unusual as shoppers seek seasonal bargains. In recent years, however, crowd violence has increased as the number of shoppers has increased, resulting in the death of a worker in 2008, and the assault of shoppers since. For this reason, OSHA has prepared guidelines to improve worker and customer safety at retail establishments during the holiday season.

These guidelines cover four important areas when anticipating large crowds: Planning, Pre-event Setup, During the Sales Event, and Emergency Situations. We'll take a brief look at each of these.

Planning involves anticipating when crowds will occur, designating a worker to contact emergency responders if necessary, and training workers in crowd management and the emergency plan.

Pre-event setup involves the proper implementation of barricades for crowd management during the event, considering the use of an internet lottery for "hot" items (reducing disputes over scarce, popular items), and reminding waiting crowds of the entrance process shortly before opening.

During the sales event, staff the entrances with uniformed guards or other authorized personnel, provide a safe entrance for people with disabilities, and, if possible, use more than one entrance.

In emergency situations, do not restrict egress, or block or lock doors, know in advance who to call for emergency medical response, and instruct employees to follow instructions from authorized first responders regardless of company rules.

For a complete list of these guidelines, consult OSHA's Crowd Management Safety Guidelines for Retailers fact sheet.

Safety Matters