Access Paths - On the job tool box talks

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Getting into a unit may seem like a simple task, however many employees are injured doing so every year.  Even though injuries may be minor, they could result in lost time and loss of production.  Employees carrying  lumber or tools may needlessly trip or stumble causing an employee to twist an ankle or bruise a knee.

Key points to remember about access paths:

1.   Maintain a minimum of one 3-foot wide clear access path into each unit or house.  Front door and garage doors entryways should not have material or debris piles in front. 

2.   If an access point is not safe for entry, such as when front porch stoops are not back-filled, a rail should be placed across the access point and not be used by employees.  

3.   An access ramp must be provided when there is an elevation break 19” or greater.  It is greatly recommended that a ramp be installed with an elevation break of 12” or greater.  This saves employees knees and also is more productive.

4.   Ramps should be made of doublewide planking or equivalent with evenly spaced cleats for extra traction.  TGI boards should not be used for ramps nor should laminated planks as they could become slick when wet.  

5.   Mud and rocks should be removed at regular intervals from ramps.

6.   Ramps need to be secured and installed at a safe angle.

7.   Cords and hoses shall not be resting on ramps.

8.   When storing material in garages or in front of garages, place material so that employees do not have to climb over to access areas.  Place material off to the side of the garage away from the access point.

9.   Also keep material and debris from stairs –  plastic pop bottles on a stair can cause an employee to fall down the stairs.

This information provided by: Assurance Agency

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Annual summer campaign to prevent heat-related illnesses.

“Water. Rest. Shade.” and acclimatization are critical in preventing heat illness and fatalities

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced the launch of its annual Campaign to Prevent Heat Illness in Outdoor Workers. For the fourth consecutive year, OSHA’s campaign aims to raise awareness and educate workers and employers about the dangers of working in hot weather and provide resources and guidance to address these hazards. Workers at particular risk are those in outdoor industries, such as agriculture, construction, landscaping and transportation.

“Heat-related illnesses can be fatal, and employers are responsible for keeping workers safe,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. “Employers can take a few easy steps to save lives, including scheduling frequent water breaks, providing shade and allowing ample time to rest.”  

Thousands of employees become sick each year and many die from working in the heat. In 2012, there were 31 heat-related worker deaths and 4,120 heat-related worker illnesses. Labor-intensive activities in hot weather can raise body temperatures beyond the level that normally can be cooled by sweating. Heat illness initially may manifest as heat rash or heat cramps, but can quickly escalate to heat exhaustion and then heat stroke if simple preventative measures are not followed. Heat illness disproportionately affects those who have not built up a tolerance to heat (acclimatization), and it is especially dangerous for new and temporary workers.

“Acclimatization is a physical change that the body undergoes to build tolerance to heat, and it is a critical part of preventing heat illnesses and fatalities,” said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. “Over the past three years, lack of acclimatization was the cause in 74 percent of heat-related citations issued. Employers have a responsibility to provide workplaces that are safe from recognized hazards, including outdoor heat.”

Last year, OSHA issued 11 heat-related citations. In some of these cases, the employer and staffing agency were cited because they involved temporary workers.  

In preparation for the summer season, OSHA has developed heat illness educational materials in English and Spanish, as well as a curriculum to be used for workplace training, also available in both English and Spanish. Additionally, a Web page provides information and resources on heat illness – including how to prevent it and what to do in case of an emergency – for workers and employers. The page is available at: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/index.html.
 

OSHA also has released a free application for mobile devices that enables workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their work sites. The app displays a risk level for workers based on the heat index, as well as reminders about protective measures that should be taken at that risk level. Since its 2011 launch, more than 130,000 users have downloaded the app. Available for Android-based platforms and the iPhone, the app can be downloaded in English and Spanish by visiting:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/heatillness/heat_index/heat_app.html.

In developing its inaugural national campaign in 2011, federal OSHA worked closely with the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration and adapted materials from that state’s successful campaign. Additionally, OSHA is partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to incorporate worker safety precautions when heat alerts are issued across the nation. NOAA also will include pertinent worker safety information on its heat watch Web page at http://www.noaawatch.gov/themes/heat.php. 

2014 Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down

OSHA has announced the third year of the Construction Fall Prevention Campaign.  As part of this year's campaign, OSHA, NIOSH and the NORA Construction Sector Council (campaign partners), are asking employers to participate in a National Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down during the week of June 2-6, 2014.  We are asking employers to set aside time during that week to have an open discussion with their workers about falls and how to prevent them.  Falls are the leading cause of death in construction.  In 2012, there were 269 fall fatalities out of 775 total fatalities in construction.  Those deaths were preventable.

The national stand-down is a logical next step for the campaign.  We launched the campaign with webpages and posters in 2012, and developed more guidance products and held regional stand-downs in 2013.  In 2014, the national safety stand-down will provide a sizable opportunity to highlight the importance of fall prevention.  Last year, nearly 2,500 employers and over 50,000 workers took part in regional stand-downs that were held around the country.  This year, our goal is to involve 25,000 employers and 500,000 workers.  If we meet this goal, we will have touched almost 1 out of 10 construction workers in the country.

OSHA is asking you to help promote the fall prevention campaign, and the stand-down, by raising awareness among workers and employers about fall hazards, and by providing information they can use to prevent injury and death.  By helping OSHA reach employers and raise awareness about the hazards of falls from ladders, scaffolds and roofs, you will be part of a concerted effort throughout the nation to reduce the number of deaths and injuries that result from falls in construction.   

OSHA has developed new resources the industry can use for the stand-down.  They can be found on the newly developed Fall Prevention Safety Stand-Down webpage http://www.osha.gov/StopFallsStandDown and on the campaign webpage http://www.osha.gov/stopfalls/index.html.  Employers can receive formal recognition for participating in the event if they complete a small online questionnaire and print their "Certificate of Participation."  While participation in the Stand-Down is entirely voluntary, we hope employers will take advantage of this unique opportunity.  Information about the campaign and the stand-down is available too on the other official campaign webpages http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/stopfalls.html, and http://stopconstructionfalls.com/

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Using Fire Extinguishers - On the Job Tool Box Safety Talks

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 In the event of a fire, the correct use of a portable fire extinguisher could mean the difference between suffering a minor loss or a major one. Portable fire extinguishers, if used properly, can make that difference. But there are several things to consider in using fire extinguishers. For instance, you must know the class of fire involved and the correct type of fire extinguisher to use.

CLASSES OF FIRES AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS:
Class A Involves ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber or plastics. The common extinguishing media is water or dry chemical.
Class B Flammable liquids, grease or gases are covered under this category. Common extinguishing media are foam, carbon dioxide or dry chemical.
Class C Live electrical fires are class C fires. CO2 or dry chemical extinguishers should be used. However, the actual burning product may be class A items.
Class D Burning materials include combustible metals such as magnesium and sodium. Special extinguishing agents, approved by recognized testing laboratories, are needed when working with these metals.

RESPONDING TO FIRES:
NOTIFY those in danger & EVACUATE; CALL the local fire department; NOTIFY the foreman if a fire breaks out. Follow your company's procedures on responding to fires. But attempt to fight the fire only if, (1) you know the type of combustible material burning, (2) you have been trained to use the fire extinguisher correctly, and (3) if the fire is still in the incipient (beginning) stage. If the fire gets too large or out of control, evacuate immediately.

REMEMBER P-A-S-S WHEN USING AN EXTINGUISHER:
P - Pull. Pull the locking pin before using the fire extinguisher.
A - Aim. Aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire. Not at the flames or smoke.
S - Squeeze. Squeeze the lever of the fire extinguisher to operate and discharge.
S - Sweep. Sweep the fire extinguisher back and forth at the base of the fire to extinguish.
(Most extinguishers will only allow about 10-seconds of extinguishing media.)
Prevention is the key when it comes to firefighting. Good housekeeping, proper storage procedures and safe work practices will go a long way toward reducing the likelihood that a fire will destroy valuable property or injure either you or a fellow employee.

Discussion Questions:
• What could be some of the causes of fires at your jobsite?
• What kinds of flammables are most likely to create a fire danger at your jobsite?
• What type of fire extinguisher should be used on those flammables or combustibles?

From Assurance Agency.

Lead Overview - On the job Tool Box Talks

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Lead exposure can threaten you if you perform activities like abrasive blasting, sanding, scraping, cutting, burning, welding, and painting during repair, reconstruction, dismantling, and demolition work. If you are not properly protected, your chances of exposing yourself to lead poisoning are high.

What are the hazards?
A short-term high-dose exposure could result in a brain disorder escalating to seizures, coma or even death. Long-term low-level exposure can decrease reaction time, cause nervous system damage, kidney disease, reproductive impairment, or death.
When absorbed into the body in certain doses, lead is a toxic substance. Lead is absorbed when breathing or eating, and through the skin when in certain forms. OSHA limits the concentration of lead in work area air to 50 micrograms per cubic meter for an 8-hour workday. This is the permissible exposure limit (PEL).

What must my employer do?
If lead is present at your worksite in any quantity, your company must determine whether OSHA’s action level for workers has been reached/exceeded or not. You will be notified of the results.
If exposure is above the PEL, your company must try to minimize exposure with controls like:
• Using HEPA vacuums
• Distancing employees from abrasive blasting operations
• Using chemical removal instead of hand scraping
• Replacing lead-based painted building components
• Brushing/rolling paint instead of spraying
• Substituting other coatings for lead-based coatings.

What should I do?
You should use the following good work practices to help protect yourself when working with lead:
• Use the correct, clean respirator.
• Keep the worksite clean. Use only a vacuum with a HEPA filter or wet cleaning methods when removing lead dust. Never use compressed air for cleaning.
• Eat, drink, or smoke in areas outside the worksite. Keep all lunch boxes and coffee cups away from the work area. Use a separate lunchroom.
• Wash your hands and face before eating, drinking, smoking, or applying cosmetics.
• Use protective clothing. Store street clothes separately from work clothes. Never wear contaminated clothes home.
• Shower and change into clean clothes, including shoes, before leaving the worksite so that no lead contamination is carried home.

Respirators — Respirators are used with engineering controls and work practices. They are put on and removed outside the lead area. Fit testing guarantees a tight seal.

Signs — If exposure exceeds the PEL, you’ll see the following message posted: WARNING, LEAD WORK AREA, POISON, NO SMOKING OR EATING

From Assurance Agency
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