November-December 2014
w\ share
ф
Tweet
IMCDOL
N.C. Department of Labor
Cherie Berry , Commissioner
www.nclabor.com
1-800-625-2267
■ПШШ
PSAs Launched to Combat Increase in Construction Fatalities
By Dolores Quesenberry, Communications Director
Along with the increased construction activity across the state,
North Carolina is experiencing a spike in workplace injuries and
fatalities on construction projects. Preliminary fatality figures for
calendar year 20 1 4 show 14 construction fatalities through the end of
October, which is seven more than the same time period last year. Half
of the construction fatalities have involved Hispanic construction workers.
Through a collaborative effort between the N.C. Department of
Labor, Builders Mutual Insurance Co. and Univision, public service
announcements were launched in October to combat the increase.
Other alarming industry data show that many construction accidents
are happening within the first 60 to 90 days on the job and in some
cases on the first day of work.
“To hear that workers are getting injured on the first day or
between 60 and 90 days on the job sends a red flag that the workers
are not getting the necessary training prior to starting the work,” said
Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry. “Whether the workers are new
to the industry or returning after the lull in construction that began
in 2007, the workers need training or refresher training before starting
the job.”
The public service announcements cover falls, carbon monoxide exposure and the importance of workers returning home to their loved ones
at the end of the workday. The three PSAs began airing the last week in October on a rotation basis and will air through the end of December.
Builders Mutual Insurance Co. made the public service announcements possible by subsidizing a $5,000 media buy for the campaign.
Univision is matching the cost of the public service announcement broadcast schedule dollar for dollar. Skanska USA provided access to one of
its construction sites, which allowed Univision the opportunity to obtain real-life footage.
“Conveying a safety message to the Hispanic community has its challenges becaase of the language and cultural barriers that exist,”
Commissioner Berry said. “We are grateful to Univision for helping us saturate their market with this important safety message by matching the
broadcast schedule.”
Falls — one of the OSH Division’s leading causes of accidents —
continue to be a major problem in the construction industry. The OSH
Division’s leading causes of accidents, known as the “Big Four,”
include falls, struck-bys, caught in/between and electrocutions. Last
year, falls were the second leading cause of deaths behind being struck
by an object or piece of equipment.
While exposure to carbon monoxide is not one of the “Big Four”
accidents, it was included in the public service announcements because
there have been several incidents each year, including in 20 1 4.
“Overexposure to carbon monoxide often occurs when workers use
petroleum-powered equipment or tools in an enclosed, unventilated
area,” said Hollis Yelverton, standards supervisor for the NCDOL
Education, Training and Technical Assistance Bureau. “In one incident
described in our hazard alert, two workers sealed the room including
air vents to keep dust from escaping into the rest of the building while
using a gas-powered concrete saw during a factory renovation. The
continued on page 3
Kevin Booker of Uni vision prepares to JUm Cesar Merlos putting on a harness
for the fall protection PSA.
From left to right: Dolores Quesenberry, NCDOL: Ben Dunn. Skanska USA:
Jodi Vedelli, Builders Mutual insurance Co.; and Shirley Davenport,
Univision, prepare for the filming of public service announcements aimed at
Hispanic construction workers.
