What is OSHA?
If you’ve spent time around a construction site or any other business, you’ve likely heard of OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Congress created the organization in 1970 when it passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Overall, OSHA’s role is to ensure proper working conditions for employees. The organization creates safe business environments through education, training, and site visits to enforce standards. As a business owner, knowing OSHA’s standards and how they may affect your commercial insurance is crucial.
OSHA’s Fatal Four
OSHA is present in many industries, but construction has proven to be the most accident and fatality-prone. OSHA’s fatal four refer to the most common types of construction-related fatalities:
- Falls: Improper use of ladders, uncovered openings, and lack of railings can all cause severe falls on a job site.
- Struck By Objects: Lack of high-visibility clothing and being unaware of surroundings in an environment where large objects are constantly moving can quickly become fatal.
- Electrocutions: Without proper safety protocols, working with exposed wiring, electric tools, and around power lines can be dangerous.
- Caught In/Between: Trench collapses and being caught between pieces of machinery can lead to fatality.
Employee safety should certainly be your business’s number one priority. Eliminating dangerous situations that could lead to the fatal four will not only create a safe workplace, but may also help your business avoid costly increases to your insurance plan.
Your insurance agent can help you understand the dangers of your specific industry and how they may impact your business insurance policy. Following OSHA guidelines and ensuring your business has the right coverage to avoid losses in the event of an accident or fatality on a job site is critical.
Please contact Steve Longenecker (303-808-9351, x2) at Mountain Insurance: Longmont to discuss your business insurance coverage options in Longmont, CO, and our neighboring communities.
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