Officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are taking a step back and turning their attention toward women in the construction industry. They recently solidified a two-year partnership with the National Association of Women in Construction to help to create more training resources. Officials are going to be focusing on musculoskeletal and sanitation hazards as well as issues that are related to poorly-fitting personal protective equipment.
“Safety and health problems in construction create barriers to women entering and remaining in this field,” said Dr. David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.
Our Manhattan construction accident lawyers understand that the number of women working in the industry has been on the rise in recent years. We saw a more than 80 percent increase from 1985 to 2007. Because of the loss of nearly 3 million construction jobs from 2007 to 2010, that number has been dropping. But there are still far too many women on the job who aren’t getting the proper training and equipment to complete the job safely. These individuals are completely capable of getting it done, but they need our help to make sure that the work is completed safely.
With this alliance, there will be newly-created training programs, more fact sheets and better outreach resources on sanitation, musculoskeletal hazards and PPE selection — all designed especially for women.
But the safety efforts don’t stop there. Officials with OSHA have also recently unveiled the new Women in Construction Web page, which aims to make sure that women’s rights to a safe workplace are fulfilled. Under federal law, employers are required to make sure that work areas are free from known dangers. Employers are also required to make sure that all employees have the proper training and equipment to complete the job safely.
Women currently make up almost half of the U.S. work force and increasingly are moving into occupations. There is no disputing that construction work is dangerous. Seventeen percent of all on-the-job fatalities happen in construction, which is about three times its 6 percent share of total employment.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were close to 165,000 women working in the construction industry in 2011.
One of the most important changes we need to see made is that women are provided with properly-fitting PPE. This includes eye, face, foot, hand, head and hearing protection. Oftentimes the “one-size-fits-all” approach just doesn’t cut it for female workers. Protective equipment must be provided, used and maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition.
If you’re on the job and you’re using PPEs that don’t fit your needs, it’s critical for you to speak up. You have a right to be provided with the proper-fitting equipment. If you’re not getting the right training on the job, you should also speak up. You position cannot legally be compromised by voicing your concerns about job safety and other related issues.
If you or a loved one has been injured on the job, call us today! The Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC offers free consultations. Call 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
Construction Worker Injured in Queens Excavation Project, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, July 27, 2013
NYC Construction Accident Results in Citation of Crane Operator, Contractor, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, February 22, 2013
