During the entire week, there will be a safety stand down at construction sites throughout the state. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the stand down has been orchestrated by the state of Georgia, the Federal Highway Administration, construction contractors, OSHA and many other construction-related groups, companies and safety advocates to help to raise awareness about National Highway Work Zone Awareness Week 2012. This national campaign takes place from the 23rd of April through the 26th.The stand down will be taking place from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. During this time, officials will be conducting work zone safety training to help prevent work zone accidents in Atlanta and elsewhere throughout the state. During this time, officials will be addressing distracted driving and injuries resulting from other traffic objects. Every year, roughly 77 percent of struck-by deaths involve heavy equipment such as trucks or cranes.
Our Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys understand that roadside workers face some of the highest risks for work-related accidents. This stand down is used to address this very real problem and to help to highlight the importance of work zone safety. Through the stand down, officials hope to not only raise awareness about the risks for these kinds of accidents but the ability for workers and employees to recognize and eliminate these kinds of hazards.
Employees and employers are urged to check out the campaign’s toolbox and informational flyers, available in both Spanish and English, to help kick off these efforts.
OSHA strongly believes that by committing 30 minutes to an hour of our workers’ day to safety training can help to significantly increase employee safety morale.
Would you or your company like to participate? All you have to do to register your company is shoot an email to Cherri Watson.
Georgia Branch, AGC is now participating in its third year as a part of the OSHA Struck By Alliance for three years.
Involved in the stand down:
-National Safety Council – Georgia Chapter
-Pike Electric
-Georgia Power
-The Surveying and Mapping Society of Georgia
-Lamar Signs
-Georgia Tech Research Institute
-The Association County Commissioners of Georgia
-The Federal Highway Administration’s Georgia Division
-Georgia’s Department of Transportation
-3M Visibility & Insulations Solutions
-The Associated General Contractors of America Georgia Branch
According to statistics of 2010 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were nearly 5,000 work-related fatalities in the U.S. Construction workers face some of the highest risks for fatal work-related accidents. Alliances and work-safety programs continue on in the effort to help to reduce the risks of these kinds of accidents and to help keep workers safe nationwide. Remember to keep safety as a number one priority in your workplace!
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job in Atlanta or in any of the surrounding areas and would like to discuss your rights, contact the experienced Atlanta workers’ compensation attorneys at the Law Offices of J. Franklin Burns. Call 404-920-4708 to schedule a free appointment to discuss your claim.