May 12, 2015
This month, safety regulators at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued a final rule regarding increased protections for construction workers who work in confined spaces. Such confined spaces include (but may not be limited to):
- Crawl spaces
- Manholes
- Tanks
- Sewers
- Other enclosed spaces that are not intended to be continuously occupied.
Just some of the hazards associated with such confined spaces include explosions, asphyxiation, electrocution and exposure to toxic substances.
Protections Offered by the Final Rule for Construction Workers
Similar to the regulations in place for manufacturing and general industry, the final rule for construction workers will require that:
- Confined spaces are large enough for an employee to enter and have a means of exiting.
- The air is tested in confined spaces before workers enter them to ensure that oxygen levels are sufficient (and that there aren’t toxic substances present).
- Construction workers share their vital safety information with others when they are going to work in enclosed/confined spaces.
- Hazards associated with confined spaces are continuously monitored and abated to the extent possible.
This final rule will go into effect on August 3, 2015, and OSHA officials have predicted that it could protect up to 800 construction workers each year, preventing them from sustaining serious (if not fatal) injuries.
Responses to the New Final Rule
Noting the importance of this new OSHA final rule for construction workers, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez has stated:
In the construction industry, entering confined spaces is often necessary, but fatalities like these don’t have to happen…This new rule will significantly improve the safety of construction workers who enter confined spaces. In fact, we estimate that it will prevent about 780 serious injuries every year.
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, Dr. David Michaels expressed similar sentiments, noting that:
This rule will save lives of construction workers… Unlike most general industry worksites, construction sites are continually evolving, with the number and characteristics of confined spaces changing as work progresses. This rule emphasizes training, continuous worksite evaluation and communication requirements to further protect workers’ safety and health.
Denver Workers Compensation Attorney at the Bisset Law Firm
Have you been injured at work? If so, Denver Workers Compensation Attorney Jennifer Bisset wants you to know that she is here to aggressively advocate your rights and help you obtain the benefits you need and deserve.
When you trust your case in the experienced hands of Denver Workers Compensation Attorney Jennifer Bisset, you can trust that she will work diligently to:
- Keep your case moving
- Keep you advised of every development in your case
- Meet all of your case deadlines
- Help you secure the maximum possible compensation for your injuries and losses.
In addition to being diligent and dedicated, Attorney Jennifer Bisset is upfront and honest. She will keep you informed of the strengths and weaknesses of your case, the choices and possibilities that you have as you move through the process, and whether it makes sense to settle your case or go to trial.
Contact Us Today
Contact Denver Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Jennifer Bisset by calling (303) 894-8900 to learn more about your rights and receive a professional evaluation of your case. You can also email our firm using the contact form on the right side of this page.
From her office based in Denver, Jennifer Bisset provides superior legal services to injured people throughout Denver County and the state of Colorado.
