JMH Sheet Metal, based in Farmingdale, New York, has been at the forefront of the HVAC ductwork industry since its inception in 1972. Specializing in the fabrication and installation of ductwork from materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, and black iron, the company has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality, reliable services tailored to each client’s needs. Underpinning JMH Sheet Metal’s operational success is its strong focus on employee development. The company offers an array of benefits designed to support its workforce, including comprehensive insurance packages and a robust 401(k) plan. Furthermore, JMH invests in its employees’ futures through advanced apprenticeship programs, which ensure that its team is always equipped with the latest skills and knowledge. JMH Sheet Metal’s commitment extends beyond its business operations to its philanthropic efforts. The company supports numerous charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs. These charitable contributions highlight JMH’s dedication to making a positive impact both locally and globally. The combination of technical expertise, employee support, and community involvement underscores JMH Sheet Metal’s role as a trusted leader in the ductwork fabrication industry. This holistic approach not only ensures customer satisfaction but also fosters a thriving workplace culture.
Through its Toolbox Talks, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides vital information on ensuring operations that safeguard worker welfare and help prevent injuries. In the fall prevention sphere, OSHA brings focus to slips, trips, and falls that make up a fourth of all non-fatal workplace injuries and are the second-leading cause of workplace fatalities, after motor vehicle accidents.
Forty percent of construction worker fatalities are caused by falls, and some 80 percent of reported falls across sectors involve a drop from one level to another, with 20 percent happening on the same level. The latter type are often slips, which typically occur when an unexpected change in friction between the surface one is walking on and the soles of one’s shoes occurs. An example is when moving from a carpet to a polished marble floor.
In avoiding slips related to unexpected friction changes, one should always walk cautiously and at a measured pace, particularly when foreign materials such as liquid, dust, powder, and food are on the floor. One should either clean up spills or alert those with the equipment and capacities to do so. Similarly, any loose rugs or mats should be reported and removed.
It’s important to make use of rugs or mats placed next to doorways and passageways for wiping off excessive dirt and moisture from shoe soles. It’s also important to wear recommended or required shoes or boots with soles designed to maximize traction on the walking surface. Handrails help provide balance in slippery conditions and when climbing stairs.
Another area of danger centers on trip hazards. These range from extension cords and hoses that run across walkways to boxes, bags, and tools that workers leave temporarily in pass-through areas. From damaged tiles to carpeting loose at its edges, it’s critical to recognize potential hazards and bring them to the attention of those tasked with making repairs. When carrying a large item such as a box, it’s critical to make pre-surveys that map out potential hazards in advance.
While guardrails are an important safeguard in providing balance and support, it’s important to note that those on construction and industrial sites are typically not as strong as those in retail or commercial environments, where the general public makes use of them. OSHA safety specifications mandate that guardrails of wood or wire rope on construction sites support 200 pounds of force at minimum, applied in any direction (150 pounds at mid-rail).
As emphasized in the Toolbox Talks, this is not very much force, with the force generated by falling or tripping against the rail often far exceeding this threshold. There is a very good chance that the guardrail will not prevent a potentially serious fall, and thus, it should be treated as a perimeter indicator more than anything. It simply demarcates the platform or work-surface edge or boundary.
With these factors in mind, workers should never lean over or against, or climb on, the guardrail. They should also avoid tying ropes to the guardrail or connecting the safety lanyard, which ties to the harness (which they rely on for braking long falls when on elevated levels or platforms). All due caution must be applied whenever approaching the edge of a workspace or platform that presents a drop.
