When it comes to job site safety-Temps are people too.

I was just reminded of the death of a temporary worker on a restoration company job site; a number of years ago. The restoration company, one of the biggest in the US at the time, was cleaning up contents after a commercial fire and using a nasty solvent, Perc 111 or the like and temp worker asked for respirator. He was told that as a temp he was not allowed to have one. Respirators were reserved for full time employees only. To ensure the job got done, the restoration firm had locked the doors to the warehouse where the cleaning was taking place according to the newspaper article at the time, "to prevent anymore temps from quitting". The temp who had asked for a respirator died as a result of the vapors. The newspaper reported a settlement of $10,000 was made to his family to pay for the funeral and pay off his pickup truck. It made front page news and the restoration company never survived the bad press and hit to its reputation

For over 25 years, I owned and operated a nation-wide restoration company. Temp labor was my least favorite means to get a job done, however at times, we would have to use a hundred or more on large industrial job sites. Many came straight from half-way houses and a warm body pushing a broom was an understatement. Some were great workers that we would hire on the spot or shortly after the job was completed, many of them became full time employees and made it up to crew chief. Nothing against a person working to feed their family.

The issue arises on the subject of crew safety. For many years now, after I "retired" from the restoration industry I have been teaching OSHA Outreach Safety Classes to restoration companies. OSHA likes- industry specific training. In other words a guy who worked in the automobile factories teaching safety to guys in the automobile factories or high steel construction guys teaching high steel construction safety. Many of my fellow OSHA Outreach instructors were employed in the trades for some thirty years and now are teaching safety. Like I am to restoration firms and employees. As the Vice-Chair of the IICRC Safety and Health Handbook Committee, I am aware of the safety issues being addressed by OSHA and the IICRC.

We all know that a Hazard Assessment must be conducted on each job site to determine PPE prior to work beginning. Crew members are to be briefed prior to entering a job site about the hazards on the site, hazard controls and required PPE.

When it comes to job site safety-Temps are people too.

Remember that temps are people too. They must be trained on the job site hazards, systems of controls and PPE! Yes, to put a temp in a N-95 mask, he must be fit tested and have a medical OK from a Licence Health Care Professional just like anyone else. Check out 29 CFR 1910.134 at OSHA.gov for the complete protocol.

I've seen on line restoration firms bragging about getting 30 people in Aerial Work Platforms (AWP) in 30 Minutes.

Yes, Temps on AWPs must be trained too. Full training! Not just pointing to the controls and telling them to get to work. As an AWP Instructor for Summit Safety and approved AWP Instructor with Sunbelt Rentals, it takes me 4-6 hours to teach a class and an operator takes a long time to become competent in the use of AWPs.

Get the training before the job "has to be done in the morning". OSHA 10 & 30 Hour Construction & General Industry Training is not required by OSHA however, it is a great way to keep your guys safe. Now your crews can take the OSHA 10 & 30 on-line or have an OSHA Authorized Outreach Instructor such as myself come to your shop at your convenience and knock out a 10 Hour Construction or General Industry Class in a day and a half. Its much cheaper than the direct and indirect costs associated with a job site injury.

The bottom line is all of your employees, including temps, must have safety training to work on your job sites. Including ladders, small tools, respirators, AWPs and all safety programs needed to get the job done.

If you have any questions check out www.OSHA.gov or call me at 727-424-2000

Cheers;

Jim Thompson PCC, PCG

727-424-2000

[email protected]

Member ANSI/IICRC Standards Committee

Vice Chair IICRC Safety and Health Handbook Committee

Member ACGIH

USF OSHA Training Institute (USF OTI), OSHA Outreach Instructor for the 10 & 30 Hour General Industry and Construction Classes & OSHA 7600 Disaster Site Workers Program

40 Hour HAZWOPER Instructor

Professional Certificate in Construction USF OTI

Professional Certificate in General Industry USF OTI

*1910.134(a)(2)

"A respirator shall be provided to each employee when such equipment is necessary to protect the health of such employee. The employer shall provide the respirators which are applicable and suitable for the purpose intended." 

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