ASSOCIATIONNEWS
By Andrew Stergiou &
Kevin Garnot
Safety ��� It is part of the Job
There are inherent risks that are
associated with any type of insurance
involving construction risks or
exposures. Installers of garage doors
and accessories face a number of
injuries every year, which may result in
���rst aid treatment or lost time injuries.
Claims data shows that a majority of
these injuries are strains/sprains (60%),
with the remaining representing
data (40%) represents injuries from
lacerations/cuts.
This type of work is often outdoors
and at times can prove to be very
challenging even to the most
experienced individual. In addition,
there are other challenges which may
present their own unique hazards such
as the terrain, type of construction,
and local regulations. The best way
to start any project, whether it is
residential or commercial, is to preplan. This can be completed during
the estimating process. The estimating
part of a project allows the company
to understand what is involved from
the amount of labor and the type of
equipment to be used.
Manufacturers of door products
normally will offer extensive training
to installers. Participants of this
training must meet several enrollment
requirements, including two years of
installation experience and complete
a few days of training programs led by the doors
ning
manufacturer���s personnel. The training also provides
rsonnel.
hands-on practice with manufacturer-recommended
installation and troubleshooting techniques. There are
oubleshooting
a number of different avenues to consider
rent
for training, which include both classroom
h
and on-the-job. Classroom training
lassroom
usually involves being taught about the
eing
door products, installation techniques,
stallation
basic mathematics, blue print reading,
s,
sketching, construction techniques and
uction
most important safety practices
afety
relating to working with glass
g
and hardware. On-the-job
n-the-job
training will have
you working with an
experienced installer
ler
who will start the trainee in
proper lifting techniques, tools
niques,
and equipment, and housekeeping
nd
requirements.
Anyone involved in the construction
d
industry would know that
ow
construction safety accidents are part
y
and parcel of the industry. However,
this only means that you should be
hat
doing all you can to make sure that
they don���t occur.
The next best thing to
hing
completely eliminating accidents
ating
is reducing them, or at least
reducing the risk of them
occurring. If you want to
achieve this goal, you have to ���rst
Cont. on page 56
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