Want to Reduce Workplace Safety Risks? You Need to Be Proactive

On October 17th The American Society of Safety Professional’s ASSP Weekly reported “Does a safety record with zero incidents mean risks are sufficiently managed?…The research says it does not… In fact, zero or few incidents mean less insight is available to safety leaders, who often learn a lot about what’s really going on in the workplace from incident investigations…A safety leader and global expert in proactive learning, champions “learning from normal work,” a proactive risk reduction method in which safety professionals study the successful, if imperfect, completion of everyday tasks”…“The conditions leading to an incident do not unexpectedly materialize seconds before the event, but are present most of the time,” and safety professionals can learn a lot from them”.

Andrew R. Yarmus, P.E., F.NSPE, as an OSHA certified Forensic Engineering consultant, and as a Past Chair of the National Society of Professional Engineers PE’s in Construction Interest Group, has helped to facilitate discussions between Professional Engineers across the country on important matters such as safety in both industry and construction. As a licensed Professional Engineer, State Certified Code Enforcement Official, and OSHA certified professional, Mr. Yarmus is credentialed to consult on site safety and incident investigation matters. Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to consult with business owners, operations managers, property managers, real estate developers, builders, attorneys, contractors, insurance professionals, adjusters, and other related parties regarding site safety issues. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such site safety related matters.

Parapet Observation Reports

On October 25th The New York City Department of Buildings Building News reported that “property owners in the city with building parapets fronting the public right-of-way are required to complete an observation report of the parapets on their building every year. Detached 1- and 2-family homes, and buildings with a barrier or fence preventing access to the exterior wall are exempt from these requirements…This annual observation entails a simple visual inspection of the building’s parapets, and can be performed by anyone who is qualified to identify parapet damage, including construction professionals, handymen, building superintendents, and even the property owners themselves. The inspections can be performed from a roof, and don’t require any special equipment. The annual reports, recording the results of this simple inspection, don’t need to be filed with DOB, however they must be kept by the property owners for the next six years”.

Yarmus Engineering, P.C. is available to consult with property owners and property managers regarding the inspection, repair, and maintenance of their buildings. Please contact our office if we can be of assistance to you or your clients regarding such matters.