In: Civil Engineering
Construction Safety
1. CEO of a residential roofing business: “This fall protection standard is ridiculous. I can’t afford to buy lifelines for all of my employees. Besides, they work faster without lifelines.” OSHA inspector: “The lifelines won’t cost you nearly as much as an injured employee who falls off a roof and breaks his neck.” What is your opinion of OSHA’s fall protection standard? Should residential contractors be exempted?
2. You are a recent college graduate, and this is your first real job. You are the assistant director of safety for Rayster Construction, Inc. (RCI). Your job today is to conduct preoperation inspections of the company’s two cranes that are being used to construct a bridge across a small bay. As you begin your first inspection, the crane operator—who has worked for RCI for 25 years—brushes past you and starts the crane’s engine. He says, “Get out of the way, kid. This crane is just fine. It doesn’t need inspecting. You are holding up my work.” This crane operator has an excellent safety record, as does RCI in general. How should you handle this situation?