Eye Protection - Tool Box Talks

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Overview

It can only take a moment for you to lose your sight. Because of workplace hazards, OSHA requires that employers supply appropriate eye protection. However, the employee must take responsibility and use the personal protective equipment (PPE) that is provided.

However, eye injuries can be prevented if you use proper eye protection and maintain that eye protection.

What must my employer do?

Your employer must ensure that:

·                 all workers required to wear eye protection understand how to use it so that it offers the most protection.

·                 these workers must demonstrate understanding of the training and the ability to use it properly before being allowed to perform work requiring its use.

What must I do?

As an employee who is required to wear eye protection, you must:

·       Understand how to use the required PPE.

·       Know how to properly clean and maintain the PPE.

know the locations of and how to use the eyewash stations.

 

What must eye protection do?

At a minimum, eye protection must:

• ·       Adequately protect against the particular hazards for which they are designed.
• ·       Be reasonably comfortable when worn under the designated conditions.
• ·       Fit snugly without interfering with the movements or vision of the wearer.
• ·       Be durable.
• ·       Be capable of being disinfected.
• ·       Be easily cleanable.
• ·       Be kept clean and in good repair.
• ·       Meet ANSI Z.87 standards

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

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Fall Protection Overview - Tool Box Talks

ownload the RMA Sign In Sheet. DOC Format

Download the RMA Sign In Sheet. PDF Format

 View the full article.

Falls are the leading cause of construction worker fatalities. Each year between 150 and 200 workers die and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls at construction sites. Special trade contractors, such as roofers, carpenters, and structural steel erectors, accounted for half of the fatal falls. Knowing and implementing the following rules will help protect you from such a fall.

Who does the rule apply to?

The fall protection rule covers most construction workers. OSHA exempts those who inspect, investigate, or assess workplace conditions prior to the actual start of work or after all work is done. This is because their exposure to fall hazards are for very short durations, if at all.

The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is needed. These include: (1) ramps, runways, and other walkways, (2) excavations, (3) hoist areas, (4) holes, (5) formwork and reinforcing steel, (6) leading edge work, (7) unprotected sides and edges, (8) overhand bricklaying and related work, (9) roofing work, (10) precast concrete erection, (11) wall openings, (12) residential construction, and (13) other walking/working surfaces.

What is threshold height?

Threshold height is that height where your employer must provide fall protection for the areas or activities described above. For this fall protection rule that height is six feet. At that height your employer must provide the equipment and training required to protect you from falling off, onto, or through working levels that are six feet or more above lower levels.

 

Selection of equipment

Under the fall protection rule, employers can select fall protection measures and equipment to fit the type of work you are doing. The three most common methods of providing fall protection are guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall arrest systems.

Training

Your employer must provide training, taught by a competent person, any time you could be exposed to fall hazards. The training must include: (1) recognizing and minimizing fall hazards, (2) procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling, and inspecting the fall protection equipment you will use, and (3) an understanding of the OSHA fall protection rules.

What the rule contains

The fall protection standard has three elements that are important to you. They are: (1) situations at your worksite that require protection from falling (1926.501), (2) different types of fall protection equipment and systems your employer can use to provide you protection (1926.502), and (3) training requirements (1926.503).

Always use all fall protection systems and equipment your employer provides, it could save your life.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency