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Though OSHA clearly outlines the requirements for fall protection, some companies have been known to not install a guardrail system or other rooftop safety in effort to save money. The thought was by stating their workers aren't on the roof very often or don't work near the edges it is not needed.
This can come at a cost far greater than the cost of the guardrail systems themselves.
If an employee is injured in a workplace accident, he or she will probably need time off work to recover. In 2018 across all industries, the median number of days away from work after an injury accident was eight. Across the country, that amounted to 103,000,000 lost days of work in 2018 because of current and past workplace injuries.
That means eight days where you're down one employee. Who is doing their job? Are your other employees scrambling to help, perhaps decreasing the quality of their own work, or is the work simply not getting done? Either way, it's a loss, and it adds stress to your other employees, as well.
In 2018, the estimated loss of wages and productivity due to workplace accidents amounted to $52.4 billion, with another $57.6 billion going to administrative costs. Add in medical costs, uninsured costs, and property damage, and the country's total cost was about $170.8 billion.
An accident or injury can be jarring for your other employees, as well. Depending on the circumstances, some of them may be dealing with post-traumatic stress from what they witnessed or experienced or guilt for being unable to help their co-worker. They may need to take time off, or they may be distracted while at work. They might be afraid they'll be injured next. That fear and distraction, at best, results in lower productivity—but it could also lead to another accident, continuing the cycle and making things like OSHA guardrails and other fall protection equipment even more imperative.
Turnover will also damage your productivity. Sometimes accidents happen despite all precautions, but in other cases, it's clear the accident could have been prevented with something as simple as a fall protection railing or other safety equipment. Your employees may not trust you to protect them, and they may seek employment in a safer environment. The high cost of turnover includes:
● The time you spent training the employee you're now losing
● Downtime while you look for a replacement
● Recruiting and hiring a new employee
● Onboarding and training costs for the new employee
● The time it takes for the new employee to become as productive as the one you lost
● "Rookie" mistakes made by the new employee
● Additional accidents and injuries: "Employees in their first month on the job have more than 3 times the risk for a lost-time injury than workers who have been at their job for more than a year, according to research from the Toronto-based Institute for Work & Health."
In 2016-2017, the average cost for a workers' compensation claim was $40,051; the number went much higher if there was, for example, a head injury or an amputation involved. Filing workers' comp does limit an employee's ability to sue you, but the employee might choose to pursue a civil lawsuit instead of workers' comp in an effort to recover punitive damages, which could be enormous.
The cost of this is hard to predict, since your attorney fees, the duration of the lawsuit, and the amount the injured party ends up receiving will determine your final expenses. Even if you happen to win the case, you're still on the hook for those lawyer fees and the time and stress you devoted to the lawsuit.
In some cases, the employee may be able to file workers' comp and pursue a separate lawsuit. This could be an issue if you intentionally harmed the employee - being negligent or careless doesn't typically apply.
Accounting for inflation, OSHA adjusted their penalties for 2020:
● Serious, Other-Than-Serious, Posting Requirements: $13,494 per violation
● Failure to Abate: $13,494 per day past the abatement date
● Willful or Repeated: $134,937 per violation
Since failure to provide fall protection is again the most frequently cited violation, considerable attention is being given to an employer's lack of OSHA guardrails and other rooftop fall protection. Some recent fall safety violations have resulted in enormous fines:
● $82,327: Fine imposed on two Florida construction contractors after a fatal fall injury. The employers did not provide rooftop fall protection, allowed workers to be exposed to fall and impalement hazards, did not conduct regular inspections, and more.
● $159,118: Fine imposed upon an Ohio roofing contractor after being cited for one willful and two serious violations regarding fall hazards on a sloped roof.
● $220,249: Fine imposed on an Illinois roofing contractor after being cited for five serious, one willful, and five repeat violations regarding failure to provide PPE, improper use of rooftop fall protection, and more.
● $898,682: Fine imposed on four Dollar Tree Stores in Idaho after being cited for a wide range of violations, including improper use of a ladder and exposing workers to falls from heights, as well as improper box stacking, blocking exit routes, and more. It was noted that this company has a history of risking employee safety.
When adding it all together, the cost of installing a fall protection railing is far less than the risk you take without them. The most expensive part of guardrail systems is not having them.
You never know when an injury might occur as a result of failing to protect your employees with a personal fall arrest system, fall protection railing, or other safety device. According to OSHA, guardrails are required in a wide range of circumstances for employees working at heights, and the cost of installing guardrail systems is far less than the costs you'll accrue with one injury accident. Furthermore, using the proper equipment builds trust among your team and helps you build a culture of safety throughout your organization.
Don't purchase safety equipment from someone who can't guarantee compliance. You don't have to guess when it comes to your employees' safety. For approved OSHA guardrails and more rooftop fall protection equipment, contact us.