Videos recently released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration have been designed to alert workers and employers about the hazards of the construction industry.
According to a news release issued Nov. 14, the 12 videos are each two to four minutes long, are available in either English or Spanish and all but one are animated. The topics covered include falls, workers who are struck by vehicles or heavy equipment, sprain and strain injuries, trenching and excavation hazards, and carbon monoxide poisoning.
According to OSHA, the videos are based on real-life incidents and include detailed depictions of hazards and the safety measures that would have prevented injuries and fatalities.
According to OSHA statistics, each year, about 800 construction workers die on the job and one in every five workplace fatalities occurs within the construction industry.
“I urge anyone who works in the construction industry or operates a construction business to watch the videos. Share them with your co-workers and friends in the construction industry; organize screenings for your workers; and post them to your web pages,” Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Health and Safety said. “Every step we take to educate workers about their rights and the safety measures employers must take to protect workers in construction helps us avoid preventable injuries and the tragic loss of life.”
The videos are available at http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction.html. Spanish-language videos are
available at http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction_sp.html. They can be viewed online or
downloaded for future use. The videos are also available on the Department of Labor’s You Tube channel.