Employees of demolition companies in Ohio deserve to be fully informed about the safety hazards their jobs pose. Demolition work includes wrecking, razing, dismantling and destroying structures that may hide endless lists of safety threats. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, hazardous materials and chemicals requiring specialized handling like silica, asbestos and lead could be hidden in a structure to be demolished. Furthermore, the weaknesses or strengths of the construction materials could pose severe risks to the workers.
There are three crucial steps involved in demolition, namely Plan, Provide and Train.
Plan
A competent person should be appointed during the planning period before any work on a demolition project commences. It is not a responsibility to take lightly. That person must survey the structure to identify weaknesses that might cause the structure to collapse and any health hazards present. The individual put in charge of this role must be in a position to mitigate any identified threats.
Provide
During the planning process, the individual in charge must determine the personal protective equipment the workers would need to avoid injuries or illnesses. The employer must then provide the PPE and the necessary training to use and care for the equipment properly.
Train
Employers must inform workers of all the risks they might encounter to avoid suffering both physical harm and potential harm to their health. Employee training should include instructions and demonstrations of the equipment they will use during the demolition. Providing a safe workplace is the employer’s responsibility, and the employer must provide training in the language understood by all the workers.
Workers’ compensation
The Ohio workers’ compensation insurance program has the backs of victims of work-related injuries or illnesses. Benefits typically cover all the medical expenses and a percentage of lost wages, and additional compensation might be awarded for injuries that caused a permanent disability. However, only claims submitted within the time limit will be considered.