What Does OSHA Say About Working Outside During High Wind

Several workers were hurt in construction collapse in September due
to high winds. They should have stopped work. Here is the OSHA
definition of high winds.

High wind. A wind of such velocity that one or more of the following
hazards would be present:

1.The wind could blow an employee from an elevated location,

2.The wind could cause an employee or equipment handling material to
lose control of the material, or

3.The wind would expose an employee to other hazards not controlled by
the standard involved.

Note to the definition of “high wind”: The Occupational Safety and
Health Administration normally considers winds exceeding 64.4
kilometers per hour (40 miles per hour), or 48.3 kilometers per hour
(30 miles per hour) if the work involves material handling, as meeting
this criteria, unless the employer takes precautions to protect
employees from the hazardous effects of the wind.

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