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An estimated 120 workers are injured every single day in “struck by falling object” Incidents, that’s roughly 50,000+ workers per year in the U.S. (according to BLS). Falling objects has been identified by OSHA as one of the “Fatal Four” causes of construction site fatalities, therefore preventing these incidents is critical in keeping our employees safe and ensuring that they arrive home safely every day.
Falling objects, like tools, materials, or debris, can cause minor injuries such as cuts and abrasions, or more serious injuries like puncture wounds and concussions. Especially if proper PPE is not being used, such as hard hats, a falling object can result in hospitalization or even fatalities.
At Champion we implement a comprehensive approach called Safety at Heights. This approach sites dropped object prevention PPE as a necessity on all job sites where falling and/or dropped items may occur. Object prevention PPE includes items such as tool tethers and lanyards, anchor attachments, tool bags, and holsters.
According to OSHA Standards all workers must have protection from falling objects. OSHA Construction Standard 1926.501(c) and OSHA General Industry Standard 1910.29(c) both state that when workers are exposed to falling object hazards, they must wear head protection and at least one of the following safety measures must be implemented:
Equipment such as hard hats, netting and toe boards can help mitigate the effects of struck-by incidents, but only after an object has already fallen. There are many safety precautions that can be implemented that can help prevent falling object hazards at the work site. The first step should be to perform a hazard evaluation. Once that is complete, consider these safety measures:
With strong planning and prevention, we can keep each other safe and eliminate dropped object risks. Let’s stay focused and plan our work tasks accordingly to ensure everyone goes home safely.
From March 26 to April 9, 2025, a skilled composite crew working at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station planned and executed the complex relocation of two gamma spec radiation shield vessels—each weighing 2,500 pounds—with exceptional precision and safety. This high-risk operation involved collaboration between L399 Iron Workers, L255 Carpenters, L255 Decommissioning Technicians, L825 Operating Engineers, and L400 Electricians.
The shields were located in the hot chemistry lab on the 38-foot elevation of the reactor building, with no existing rigging points due to their original construction-era installation and heavy weight. After multiple site walkdowns and thorough planning, supervision and engineering developed a creative and safe approach using custom rigging scaffolds and the temporary removal of staircase treads to lower the vessels to the ground floor.
Once safely lowered, the crew transported the units over 300 feet to the reactor building’s truck bay, then transferred them by forklift and truck to their final location in the clean chemistry area of the OCAB/support staff building.
Led by Ironworker Foreman Fred Dobson, Brian Baldwin, and Carpenter Foreman Doug Sponsler, the team executed the plan flawlessly, completing the job on schedule with zero HUP events or safety incidents.
This team’s dedication to planning, teamwork, and safety exemplifies the high standards Champion delivers. This successful effort not only met but exceeded customer expectations, earning this team well-deserved recognition as our exceptional Crew of the Month.
Congratulations and thank you to everyone involved!
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