Y.V. General Construction Corp. of Kearny, New Jersey, is the latest company fined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for construction violations. Last week, OSHA issued a $49,280 fine for nine violations for exposing workers to fall hazards at a Robbinsville construction site. Most of the infractions involved improper scaffolding, which injures more than 2,000 workers each year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry and should never be taken lightly," reminded OSHA area director Paula Dixon-Roderick in a press release.

Scaffold training is just one of 11 topics covered in Safety Advantage's 10-hour construction safety training course. Taught by Authorized Outreach Trainers, the class is designed for entry-level construction workers to learn how to identify and prevent safety hazards. Workers will also learn about their own rights and their employers' responsibilities in guaranteeing a safe workplace. The course meets OSHA's Safety and Health Regulations for Construction (29 CFR 1926).

Also available is a 30-hour course, which covers 21 topics and meets Occupational Safety and Health Standards (29 CFR 1910) in addition to 29 CFR 1926. Workers and supervisors learn about the many threats to construction site safety and how to address them. At the end of either class, attendees will receive a course completion certificate and, shortly thereafter, a wallet-sized OSHA card to identify them as having undertaken the training course.

Training programs help construction companies prevent accidents, meet OSHA regulations and guarantee the well-being of their workers. Professional safety consultants can also carry out audits and inspections on-site to ensure that construction workers are not exposed to dangerous situations.