BWC to Hold Training Wednesday on Fall Prevention
AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – The Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation will hold a free training session on how to avoid falls in the workplace at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Boak and Sons Inc., 75 Victoria Road.
Eighty workers from 22 employers have signed up to attend, says David Costantino, loss prevention supervisor in the Youngstown office of the BWC.
Doors open at 7 a.m. and the session is scheduled to end at 8:30. BWC staff will remain afterward to answer questions.
The Ohio safety stand-down at Boak & Sons is one of two in the state as part of this week’s National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls, sponsored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The second will be held Friday in Columbus.
“Construction is the leading industry for falls in Ohio, accounting for more than 30% of all fall claims filed with the BWC and one-third of all falls from elevation,” Costantino said in a prepared statement. “Falls in Ohio resulted in 14 fatalities in 2014.”
Safety experts at the BWC’s division of safety and hygiene encourage employers to conduct routine training and discussion of how to prevent accidents resulting from falls, which Boak staff will hold.
Among the division’s recommendations:
- Wear a harness and always stay connected.
- Make sure harnesses fit properly.
- Inspect all fall protection equipment before using it.
- Don’t use defective equipment.
- Guard or cover all holes, opening and skylights.
- Use guardrails or lifelines.
- Keep work areas well-lit.
- Provide the right equipment.
- Train everyone to use the equipment safely.
To learn more or attend, call Costantino at 330 301 5825 or email him at [email protected].
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
