The concept of Lock-Out/Tag-Out is a great one and it works. As rescuers, however, we have to take the common industrial application and expand it to ensure that the rescue scene is safe and that we are controlling hazards at the point of contact with the victim or in a space where something has gone very wrong.

What Does OSHA Say?

Although commonly referred to as the “Lock-out/Tag-out” (LOTO) standard, the actual title of 1910.147 is “The Control of Hazardous Energy.” This title probably better describes its true purpose – and there's no doubt that the understanding of this concept has saved many lives and prevented countless injuries. Prior to work, potential sources of hazardous energy must be identified and controlled. As responders, we do not have the luxury of studying blueprints and schematics to identify how to isolate the hazard. In fact, we’re most often responding to incidents where LOTO turned out to be ineffective or was improperly used.

Standard LOTO is usually defined in a work planning and control process or a job safety analysis. Days, weeks, and even months are spent planning and assessing cause and effect to ensure a safe work environment. During an actual emergency, rescuers have only minutes to assess and determine how to “make the scene safe.” This safety mindset serves to protect both the rescuer(s) and the victim(s) from additional harm following an incident.

NOTE: While LOTO tags are permissible by OSHA, they are not commonly used as you must prove that a tag is at least as effective as a physical lock – something that would be hard to ensure.

 We’ve found that if you ask different people to define LOTO and who is responsible for performing it, you will get a variety of answers. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147(b) has a very narrow and specific definition of who can perform lock-out or tag-out operations. That definition does not include rescuers; and there is good reason for that. OSHA defines two types of persons in regard to LOTO; “authorized employees” and “affected employees.”

An authorized employee is a person who locks out or tags out machines or equipment in order to perform service or maintenance on that machine or equipment. An affected employee becomes an authorized employee when that employee's duties include performing service or maintenance covered under this section.

Translation: A person that the employer says has the systems or mechanical knowledge and authority to safely lockout/tagout a machine or space.

An affected employee is an employee whose job requires him or her to operate or use a machine or equipment on which service or maintenance is being performed under lock-out or tag-out, or whose job requires work in an area in which such service or maintenance is being performed.

Translation: A person who has to work in an area where LOTO is in place. (Sounds like a rescuer to me.)

LOTO for rescuers

According to an OSHA clarification letter¹, an affected employee is one who does not perform service or maintenance work on the machine or a piece of equipment and does not implement the LOTO system procedural elements. Rather, the affected employee's job responsibilities include operating the machine or equipment or performing other work in an area where the service or maintenance work is being performed.

There is good reason for these prohibitions on applying Lock-out/Tag-out. Improperly performed LOTO can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than no LOTO at all. Allowing LOTO to be performed by personnel who are not familiar with the processes and equipment increases the chances of improper lock-out. As rescuers, we rarely (if ever) have the kind of institutional knowledge to perform true LOTO of a process or environment.

If the reason for the rescue is something other than an exposure to a hazardous energy source, and LOTO has already been performed, the rescuers should walk through and verify the "authorized employees'" LOTO and ensure no changes are made to the system.

If LOTO was performed improperly or has failed and is causing the emergency, then rescuers can lock-out the equipment as they see fit or as the rescue needs dictate. The control of hazardous energy is part of making the area safe for rescue operations, but doing so without understanding the bigger picture can be dangerous.  Whatever actions are taken should be completed with the coordination of a facility representative who understands where or what you are working with. 

From a rescuer’s viewpoint, our definition and options for effective LOTO needs to include other equipment and techniques that provide a safe area for rescue operations and prevent further harm to the victim. This includes equipment that is used every day in the municipal rescue world that may not typically be found in an industrial facility. This includes equipment such as hydraulic spreaders and high-pressure air bags. Even simple tools, such as metal wedges, can be used to isolate and protect the hand or arm of a victim trapped in a piece of machinery. The key is to review your current capabilities and identify what may be needed prior to an incident occurring.

Machine entrapment rescues are another all too common situation in which responders need to isolate the area at the point of contact with the patient to prevent further movement. RESCUERS BEWARE – Another huge consideration for rescuers is stored energy! Sometimes what sounds like a simple solution (such as turning off a machine) can do more harm IF the machine normally recycles before coming to a resting position. OSHA identifies these hazards and provides a pretty good list of examples to be aware of when responding. It includes stored or residual energy in capacitors, springs, elevated machine members, rotating flywheels, hydraulic systems, and air, gas, steam, or water pressure, etc. Rescuers need equipment and techniques to control, restrain, dissipate, and immobilize these hazards.

Municipal and industrial rescuers get called to a wide variety of rescues – each with its own unique problems. As we know, the number of ways people can get themselves in harm’s way is unlimited! In all entrapment incidents, however, it is essential that we protect both the victim and ourselves from further injury and limit our exposure to the hazards that are present. In every incident, rescuers must first identify the hazards and try to eliminate or control them in every way possible.

Sixth most cited standard

Every year, OSHA issues its “Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards” list. While the order of the list is different from year to year, it is generally still comprised of the same 10 standards year after year. LOTO, the control of Hazardous Energy (29 CFR 1910.147), consistently makes the list; and, for 2021, it was no different. For 2021, the LOTO standard landed as the 6^th most frequently cited standard in the industry.

Incident: An Ohio aluminum parts manufacturer with a history of safety violations now faces penalties for 38 safety and health violations and a proposed $1 million fine following an investigation into the death of a 43-year-old worker struck by a machine's barrier door on March 30, 2021.

OSHA alleges that the company allowed employees to bypass guarding mechanisms designed to protect employees from the barrier door closing on them and that a malfunction in the door's optic control existed prior to the deadly incident. The worker was loading a part into the machine when the barrier door closed on his head.

OSHA's investigation identified problems with machine guarding and a lack of protective procedures – commonly known as lockout/tagout – throughout the facility. OSHA claims that the company was aware of these problems and failed to address them adequately.

Incident: Another case of LOTO “gone bad” occurred during a Roco CSRT stand-by job at a local industrial plant. After LOTO had supposedly been performed, one of our team members decided to test it by pushing the “Start” button on a hyper bar in a tank – it turned “ON!” Further investigation revealed that electrical work had been done in the area and the fuse lock-out was moved to another box adjacent to its original location. No one had notified the workers or changed the written protocol. Workers were locking out the wrong circuit! Had this been a rescue, how would rescuers control the hazard without knowing where the problem was with the LOTO?

Conclusion

It is clear that rescuers need to look deeper into their technique toolbox for creative options to isolate energy sources in order to protect themselves as well as the victim. And, this doesn’t only apply to municipal rescuers. Industrial rescue teams are very likely to be called when an emergency like this occurs. In order to be proactive and prepared, take the time in advance to evaluate your response capabilities as well as that of local responders in your immediate area. Every minute is critical for that person trapped or injured.

¹ Standard Interpretation: Clarification of "authorized" and "affected" employees and proper energy control procedures, Feb 10, 2004, question #3

Additional Resources

• Improper LOTO Costs Company $283,390
• OSHA Lock-out/Tag-out Fact Sheet 
• Evaluating Your Rescue Service

For the first time in the state’s history, a Washington employer will go to jail for the death of one of his employees due to trench safety violations.

The incident occurred back in 2016 when a worker was crushed to death under more than 6,000 pounds of dirt when an 8- to 10-foot-deep trench caved in on top of him at a West Seattle home. Washington state OSHA regulations require trenches over 4-feet deep to be shored (the federal OSHA requirement is 5 feet.)

The Labor and Industries (L&I) Department, which houses Washington OSHA, cited the construction company in September 2016 and fined the company $51,500, including two willful violations stating that the company “knowingly ignored basic, common-sense safety rules”.

The trench in question had been dug for over a week prior. During the time it was open, there were several days of heavy rain. The trench was only shored on two sides and only part way up. It was dug right next to the house and a sidewalk, weakening the support for both of them. The dirt taken out of the trench was piled right next to it. The trench dirt had been previously loosened from earlier digging. The worker was given a reciprocating saw to use in the trench which vibrated it and further loosened the dirt. Each one of these things made the trench more likely to collapse. There was also no ladder or other safe way to get out quickly.

Violations included: not protecting workers from cave-in; failure to have an accident-prevention program for excavation work; no ladder or other safe way to enter and exit the trench; sidewalks and structures were not supported to protect employees; dirt and other materials were less than 2 feet from the edge of the excavation; and there were no daily inspections of the changing soil conditions.

Trench collapses are well known hazards and easy to prevent if federal or state OSHA standards are followed. Yet every month, workers die (or in a few cases are rescued) from unsafe trenches in this country. Federal OSHA requires every trench over 5-feet deep to be protected with a trench box or some other form of shoring or sloping. The problem is that trench walls can collapse in seconds and you generally can’t dig someone out of a deep collapsed trench. One cubic meter of soil weighs around 3,000 pounds — the size of a small automobile. When an automobile falls on your chest, you are unlikely to survive. Even the attempt to dig someone out is fraught with peril: collapsed trenches can continue to collapse, endangering the rescuers.

Criminal Charges

Two years after the worker’s death, King County Prosecutor’s Office charged the company owner with felony second-degree manslaughter and violation of labor safety regulation for alleged negligence that caused the death. It was the first time a Washington employer had faced felony manslaughter charges for a workplace death. According to L&I Director Joel Sacks, “There are times when a monetary penalty isn’t enough.”

However, instead of the manslaughter charge, the prosecutor’s office later backed down and reached a settlement with the owner, where he pleaded guilty to the crime of Attempted Reckless Endangerment, a simple misdemeanor and agreed to serve 45 days in jail. The company must also pay a fine of $100,000 (in addition to the original L&I fine) and serve probation for 18 months.

The owner is the first Washington state employer to serve time in jail for a workplace death, but he may not be the last. Five people were charged with manslaughter after the January 2020 trench collapse at a wind farm facility in Lewis County that killed a 24-year-old worker. A Lewis County Superior Court judge later dismissed all charges against four of the five codefendants. Only one of the individuals will face one count of first-degree manslaughter.

A Powerful Deterrent

According to officials, the prospect of jail time can be a powerful deterrent for employers who routinely cut corners on workplace safety. However, only 110 worker death cases have been criminally prosecuted under the Occupational Safety and Health Act since 1970, with defendants serving a total of at least 112 months in jail.

Local prosecutors have been more active, to include:

• In Philadelphia, the district attorney successfully prosecuted the general contractor and crane operator for the deaths of six individuals in the 2013 Salvation Army building collapse, winning convictions for involuntary manslaughter and jail time.
• In New York City, the Manhattan district attorney won a manslaughter conviction against a general contractor for the 2015 trenching death of a young undocumented immigrant construction worker. The foreman for the excavation company was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment, and sentenced to one to three years in jail.

This article was originally written by Jordan Barab of Confined Space.
https://jordanbarab.com/confinedspace/2022/03/15/trench-jail-time/

Additional Resources

If you’re concerned that your rescue service may not be adequately prepared, give us a call or check out these resources for more information on how to keep you and your personnel safe around trenches.

• Trench Safety & Rescue Articles: Read More
• Trench Training: Competent Person | Trench Rescue Technician
• Recorded Webinar: Staying Safe in the Trenches

We’ve all heard it before, “falls are one of the leading causes of death in the industry.” In fact, falls have been the leading cause of death in the construction industry, year after year, for over a decade now. Additionally, Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501) and other related standards continue to land on OSHA’s “Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards” list each year.

According to NIOSH, 401 of the 1,102 construction fatalities recorded in 2019 were due to falls. To raise awareness of this hazard, OSHA now conducts a “National Fall Protection Safety Stand-down” to prevent falls in construction and has done so each year since 2014. The 2022 Stand-Down is May 2-6, but OSHA encourages holding your own stand-down any time, year-round.

With all of the emphasis on fatal falls, why are workers continuing to fall to their deaths? More importantly, what can we do to prevent them? Well, I’m glad you asked!

There are many actions that employers can take to prevent fatal falls from occurring in the industry; however, the adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” definitely comes to mind here. The most effective measure that any company can take to prevent fatal falls is to implement proper planning before work begins. An effective fall protection plan is multi-faceted and contains multiple steps, all of which should be given great attention to detail.

What should a fall protection plan include?

1) General Information About the Jobsite

As with any plan, an effective fall protection plan should begin with general information about the task at hand. What type of jobsite or facility is this? Is the job taking place at a residential home, a new construction project, or an industrial manufacturing facility? What type of work is being done? Consider electrical work, roofing, hot work, confined space work, or other tasks that may be a contributing factor in falls. Are there any existing fall protection measures in place? In many cases, permanent ladders and guardrails are in place throughout the jobsite; however, on new construction, there may not be any existing fall protection measures. Are there any work surfaces that could affect the job? Take note of areas that may be slippery, areas that could be abrasive, uneven or unlevel areas or areas with trip hazards. Will the weather impact the safety of the job? Consider how rain, wind, or ice accumulation could impact the jobsite. What is the estimated duration of the job? Long-term jobs may require different solutions from short-term jobs. In some instances, scaffold erection may not be an effective use of time and mobile aerial lifts may be more feasible.

2) Assessment of All Fall Hazards on Site

Once the general information of the jobsite has been documented, a thorough assessment of all fall hazards on the jobsite should be conducted and documented. OSHA has different fall protection requirements for General Industry and Construction. While there are a nearly unlimited number of ways that fall hazards can present on a jobsite, the following are a few examples of the more common situations to look for:

• Open-sided walking/working surfaces
• Open-sided ramps, runways, and platforms
• Floor openings
• Wall openings
• Elevator Shafts
• Stairwells
• Trenches

Do not skimp out on this step of your plan. After all, if you do not identify a fall hazard, you will not be able to protect against it! Consider including workers of all levels in the hazard assessment; every worker has a different perspective and may identify things that are missed by others.

3) Outline of Fall Protection Measures to be Used

Now it’s time to decide how you are going to protect workers from the hazards identified. The hierarch of fall protection is a 5-tiered approach, and the preferred method to eliminate or reduce the risk of falls. The 5 tiers are as follows:

1. 

   Hazard Elimination (best practice)
   The most effective measure of protecting workers from a fall hazard is to eliminate it all together. If possible, relocate the work to ground level or eliminate the exposed edge or opening.
2. Passive Fall Protection
   In many cases, elimination of the hazard is not possible or feasible. The next best measure to implement is to provide passive fall protection which includes things like guardrails or hole covers. Passive fall protection provides a lower possibility of error as it does not rely on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). 
3. Active Fall Restraint
   In some cases, passive fall protection is not warranted as the duration of exposure may not offset the cost of implementing passive protection or the task being performed may not allow for passive fall protection. Active fall restraint is a type of PPE that limits a worker’s range of movement so that they cannot physically travel to the area of the fall hazard. This method is preferred over fall arrest as it significantly reduces the likelihood of secondary injury due to falls and the need to perform a suspended worker rescue. However, there are many cases where a worker must enter the area of the hazard to perform work.  
4. Active Fall Arrest
   An important note with active fall arrest systems is that they do not prevent a worker from falling but rather prevent the worker from contacting lower levels after the fall has occurred. One important, and often overlooked, element of this is having an effective rescue plan. Be sure to have a plan in place in the event that someone does fall. You must also ensure that workers are trained and understand how to properly use their equipment as well as its limitations. More on that later.
5. Establishing Controlled Access Zones (least effective)
   As a last resort, controlled access zones may be established to limit essential personnel into the area of the fall hazard. These methods generally include safety monitoring systems, warning lines or horns, or control lines. It is important to note that these controls are the least effective as they do not provide any physical means of protection. It is strongly recommended that all efforts have been exhausted to use the previous methods in the hierarchy before settling on controlled access zones.

4) Outline of Use, Maintenance, and Inspection Procedures for Equipment Being Used

Now that the methods of fall protection and prevention for the jobsite have been established, an outline of use, maintenance, and inspection procedures for the equipment used should be documented. Be sure to include proper assembly and disassembly procedures for equipment according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Ensure that a process exists for a competent person to inspect equipment at least annually or as required by manufacturer’s recommendations as well as a process for inspection of safety equipment by the end-user before each use. Any defective equipment must be tagged and removed from service immediately.

5) Outline of the Handling, Storage, and Securing of Tools and Materials on the Jobsite

This section of the fall protection plan goes hand-in-hand with the previous section. Establish a clear outline of how the equipment will be handled and stored on the jobsite. If equipment is not stored properly, it may become contaminated or damaged and render unsafe for use. Storage and handling of equipment vary from jobsite to jobsite but remember to protect equipment against heat, moisture, and chemicals when storing your equipment.

6) Outline of Overhead Protection to be Used

While not directly related to preventing workers themselves from fall hazards, it is important to address how workers in the area of overhead work will be protected. The use of toeboards, debris nets, or other side guards can be effective in preventing tools and material from falling below. Lanyards used to tether tools to the worker are also a great way to avoid dropped objects. Ensure that workers are notified of overhead work in the area with signs and barricades when possible. Consider postponing overhead work in unfavorable weather conditions and secure loose objects whenever possible.

7) Detailed Rescue Plan

Perhaps the most often overlooked item of a fall protection plan is the rescue plan. Many workers in the construction industry know that they must tie-off when working at heights; however, few take the time to think about what happens if/when they fall. Take the time to discuss and document the plan of action to be taken when someone falls. Suspension trauma is a life-threatening condition that can develop when a worker is hanging from their fall arrest system and can be lethal in as little as five minutes. Consider the use of a specialized rescue team for complex scenarios or be sure that you have the proper equipment, training, and proficiency to perform the rescue if needed. Remember, with fall protection – your life is literally on the line!

8) Employee Training and Instructions

Without adequate training, even the most effective plan is worthless. Remember that jobsites are dynamic and that fall hazards that were not present yesterday may be present today. For this reason, ensure that workers are trained to identify fall hazards and how to take measures to reduce or eliminate the hazard. Be sure that workers know when, where, how, and what fall protection equipment is to be used for the task or hazard in question. Also, ensure that workers know how to properly inspect their equipment before use and what to do with equipment that does not pass inspection. Most importantly, ensure that workers are trained on the fall protection plan, have easy access to it, and know how to access it for reference at any time.   

Summary

Despite the increased emphasis placed on falls, they continue to be the number one killer in the construction industry. Unfortunately, the one thing that doesn’t seem to fall is the number of fatalities resulting from it. While there are many actions that employers can take to reduce the likelihood of a fall occurring, the most effective measure is to have an adequate fall protection plan in place. Establish the details of the job, identify the fall hazards, and develop a method to eliminate or reduce the risk associated with the hazard. Establish a guide for proper use, maintenance, inspection, and storage of fall protection equipment and ensure that workers have the training they need to do the job safely. Last but not least, ensure that you have an adequate rescue plan in the event that a fall does occur. Remember, with fall protection – your life is on the line!

Chris McGlynn is the Director of Safety/VPP Coordinator for Roco Rescue. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals as well as a Certified Confined Space and Rope Rescue Technician, and a Nationally Registered Paramedic. As Director of Safety, Chris oversees all corporate safety initiatives, ensuring that employees at Roco have the tools and training that they need to do their work safely and effectively. He is also responsible for managing Roco's Safety Services Division, which provides trained safety professionals for turnarounds and other special projects. Finally, Chris serves as the VPP Coordinator for Roco, continuing Roco’s long-standing commitment to excellence in safety and health. Roco has been an OSHA VPP Star Worksite since 2013.

Follow Chris 

Additional Resources

• Fall Hazard Survey (pictured here) 
• Hierarchy of Fall Protection Poster 
• Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS)

Confined spaces continue to present fatal hazards to workers, and OSHA continues to take notice. While OSHA lists fewer confined space accidents in 2021 than in 2020, 100% of them involved fatalities. the following summaries are from OSHA News Releases. These tragedies serve as reminders to employers and rescuers of the inherent dangers involved in confined space entry. Don't take chances when confined spaces are involved – the cost is simply too high.

8/2/2021 Dallas – Initiative to Protect Workers from Confined Space Dangers¹

OSHA Regional Emphasis will target the transportation tank cleaning industry in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

This special initiative is designed to focus on industries involving tank cleaning activities, including trucking, rail and road transportation, remediation services, material recovery and waste management services. Transportation tanks on trucks, trailers or railcars require cleaning and inspecting before they are refilled for transport. The workers who clean these tanks risk exposure to toxic vapors from chemicals, decaying crops, waste and other substances, and to asphyxiation, fires and explosions.

The agency reported that a worker cleaning the inside of a tank trailer in Pasadena, Texas, in December 2019 fell victim to hazardous vapors, as did a co-worker who attempted rescue. Then, in August 2020, two workers entered a natural gas tanker on a railcar in Hugo, Oklahoma, and fell victim to its vapors (see the 2/10 release below). Due to these incidents, four lives were lost in the tank cleaning industry in less than a year – a troubling trend of preventable workplace deaths in the region.

“Too often, employers allow workers to enter tanks without testing atmospheric conditions, completing confined space entry permits or providing adequate respiratory protection,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Eric Harbin.

8/2/2021 Chicago – Initiative to Protect Workers in Tank Cleaning Industry from Atmospheric, Confined Space Hazards²

OSHA Regional Emphasis was issued for the Midwest after multiple deaths occurred in tank trucks. The report listed two examples of instances:

• A worker tasked with cleaning a chemical tank trailer collapsed upon entering the tank. Hearing the employee’s call for help, a nearby truck driver entered the tank. Both succumbed to fatal toxic fumes.
• A worker opened the lid of a tanker trailer containing toluene and was found a short time later lying across the open dome and unresponsive. He survived after being treated at a local hospital for respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.

OSHA Chicago reported that 23 deaths and 97 incidents have occurred in the region since 2016. The most common violations included the failure to prevent inhalation of harmful substances and to follow procedures for permit-required confined spaces.

7/23/2021 Georgia – Six Preventable Confined Space Deaths at Poultry Processing Plant³

On January 28, 2021, six workers went to work at a poultry processing plant unaware that they would not be returning home. Just after their shift began, a freezer malfunctioned, releasing colorless, odorless liquid nitrogen that displaced the oxygen in the room.

Three maintenance workers entered the freezer room without precautions – never trained on the deadly effects of nitrogen exposure – and were overcome immediately. Three other workers entered the room and were also overcome. Five of the workers died immediately, a sixth died on the way to the hospital. At least a dozen other workers needed hospital care.

Of the numerous violations, the company failed to perform a hazard assessment for exposure to liquid nitrogen and also failed to implement a permit-required confined space program for workers who entered the freezer. In addition, they did not notify contractors who are required to work inside the liquid nitrogen freezer that it was a permit-required confined space.

3/29/2021 Ohio – Production Facility Cited for Exposing Employees to Dangerous Confined Spaces and other Hazards⁴

A January 2021 investigation found that machine operators and maintenance employees entered powder-coated ovens routinely without testing atmospheric conditions or securing natural gas lines and operating machine parts. The company also exposed workers to multiple safety and health hazards by failing to designate the ovens as permit-required confined spaces. The employer also failed to isolate natural gas lines and mechanical energy, i.e., lockout/tagout.

“Confined spaces often expose workers to atmospheric and mechanical hazards,” said OSHA Area Director Ken Montgomery. “OSHA has specific regulations for implementing required training and safety procedures to protect workers who must enter confined spaces, including atmospheric testing and ensuring equipment and energy sources are disabled before workers enter these spaces.”

2/10/2021 Oklahoma – Two Confined Space Deaths at Railcar Company⁵

Here is additional information concerning a railcar incident that was mentioned in the August release above.

A worker entered a natural gas railcar for cleaning on August 12, 2020. He became unresponsive shortly after entering the tank. A second employee entered the space and was also overcome in an attempt to rescue the fallen worker. Both workers were eventually recovered and later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

OSHA found that the company failed to require a permit to allow entry into the railcar, ventilate the space, monitor hazards inside the space and complete entry permits for work inside a confined space. The company was cited for 11 serious violations and two willful violations.

“Work inside confined spaces is a dangerous job and federal workplace safety standards must be followed to avoid disaster,” said OSHA Area Director Steven Kirby. “As is the case here, failing to follow OSHA standards can be the difference between life and death.”

Additional Resources

• Attendant Safety Requirements Poster (pictured here)
• Confined Space Entry Checklist
• Common Causes of Confined Space Fatalities
• Limitations of Atmospheric Monitors

Lexington, MA: ConstructSecure, Inc., a cloud-based mobile platform that empowers clients to make smarter risk management decisions, has announced the recipients of its prestigious safety awards. Roco Rescue Inc. has received the Platinum Safety Award. This award is presented to companies that register a safety score 95% or greater in the Safety Assessment Program administered by ConstructSecure.

“Platinum status is not easily achieved. Roco Rescue Inc. has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to implementing safety management systems resulting in exceptionally low incident rates,” states Garrett Burke, CEO of ConstructSecure.

(View Official Press Release: View PDF)

The Safety Assessment Program reviewed Roco Rescue's historic safety performance as well as our safety management program and systems. As an OSHA VPP Star worksite, Roco Rescue incorporates safety into everything we do.

Additional Resources

• Safety Improvement Cycle (pictured here)
• Confined Space Entry Checklist
• Evaluating Your Rescue Service
• Is OSHA VPP a Good Fit for Your Company?