OSHA reminds employers to protect workers from dangers of handling fireworks

As plans for July 4th celebrations kick into high gear, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is urging employers in the fireworks and pyrotechnics industry to protect their workers from hazards while manufacturing, storing, transporting, displaying and selling fireworks.

“Throughout the country, Americans will enjoy the excitement and splendor fireworks bring to the 4th of July holiday, but we must be aware of the dangers workers in the pyrotechnics industry face every day,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “It is vital that employers take the required steps to ensure workers’ safety and health.”

Last year, two workers were killed and four injured in an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing facility in Alabama. The explosion happened during a fireworks mixing process. OSHA cited the employer, Ultratec Special Effects, with 14 serious safety violations and issued proposed penalties of $66,221.

OSHA’s Web page on the pyrotechnics industry addresses retail sales of fireworks and fireworks displays. The page provides information on common hazards and solutions found in both areas of the industry, and downloadable safety posters for workplaces. It also includes a training video that demonstrates best industry practices for retail sales and manufacturers based on National Fire Protection Association consensus standards.

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Residential Home Builders Alliance (RHBA) - Celebrate our first birthday.

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Incident Reporting - RCEC TBT

The health and safety of our  employees is a top priority.  It is everyone’s responsibility to help prevent injuries and report all incidents immediately so that the same thing does not happen again.

When an incident does occur, you must report it to your foreman immediately and no later than the end of the work day.  An employee statement form must be filled out so that the details of the incident can be investigated. It is important to learn what actions must be taken to prevent the accident from happening again.  Your foreman has all the necessary forms for conducting an investigation.  This process is not to place blame on the employee or foreman.  It is to find the “root” cause of the incident.

No matter how small the incident may seem, it should be reported to your foreman.  Your foreman will decide what to do next.

The following items should always be immediately reported to your foreman:
1.   An injury to any employee, subcontractor, client representative, or private citizen, even if the injury does not require medical attention.
2.   An injury to a member of the public occurring on a work site possibly resulting from our activity or involving property, equipment, or resource
3.   Illness resulting from suspected chemical exposure
4.   Chronic or re-occurring conditions such as back pain or cumulative trauma disorders
5.   Fire or explosion
6.   Any  vehicle accidents occurring on site, while traveling to or from client locations, or with any company-owned or leased vehicle
7.   Property damage resulting from any activity
8.   Structural collapse or potential structural hazards
9.   Unexpected release or imminent release of a hazardous material
10.  Unexpected chemical exposures to workers or the public
11.  A safety related complaint from the public regarding our activities
12.  Any other significant occurrence that could impact safety - WHEN IN DOUBT, REPORT IT!

From: Assurance Agency

Avoiding Electric Shocks

Electrical hazards can be found in all industries. Avoiding electrical shocks both at home and at work requires awareness of the hazards and a respect for this "Silent Killer." The human body has a low resistance to electricity, making it a good conductor, like most metals. Unlike metals however, the human body does not respond well when electricity passes through it. Physical results include thermal burns, disruption of normal heart activity, severe muscle contractions, and even death.

The most common and serious electrical injuries occur when electrical current flows between the hands and feet. This happens when a person touches an energized line. The electrical energy is looking for the shortest path to the ground, and it will pass through the body to the feet to reach it. When this occurs, a persons heart and lungs are frequently damaged by the electrical energy.

Placing an insulator between the energy and the point of physical contact is one method of protection. Porcelain, rubber, pottery and dry wood offer substantial resistance to the flow of electricity, and are therefore good insulators. These materials can often protect a person from electrical shock.

Precautions for avoiding electrical shocks include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Always make sure electric tools are properly grounded or double insulated. The double insulated tool must have an undamaged outer case and be clearly labeled as "double insulated" by the manufacturer.
• Always check to be sure the grounding system is complete. Unless they are designated as double insulated, grounded power tools must be attached to a grounded service circuit. If there is any doubt about the grounding, test it! (Ground testers are inexpensive.)
• Use heavy duty grounded extension cords. These cords have two layers of insulation, with reinforcement between the layers. They are less susceptible to damage than house-hold type cords. To check if the cord is heavy duty, check its shape. Most flat cords are not heavy duty. Heavy duty cords will have a marking on the insulation such as: "S", "SJ", "SJO", etc.
• Avoid mixing water and electricity! Not only keep cords, tools and working/walking surfaces dry, keep your hands and feet dry as well. The electrical resistance of wet skin is at least 100 times less than dry skin. Wet skin greatly increases the likelihood of severe shock if a person comes in contact with a live circuit. If you must work around water, connect to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) to automatically shut off the current if there is an abnormal current flow.
• Never work on or around a live electrical circuit. Lock Out the power so that only you have control over energizing the machine or equipment. Don't take chances.

Electricity strikes without warning-always play it safe!

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

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Noise? What Noise? Tool Box Talks

Construction sites are noisy places, especially during certain phases of a project. However, you don't have to accept hearing loss as a cost of working at construction sites. Noise is now recognized by OSHA as a hazard that can cause:
• Temporary or permanent hearing loss.
• Drowsiness, irritability, & loss of concentration.
• Decreased morale and stress.
• High blood pressure, ulcers, headaches, and sleeping disorders.

There is no cure for noise-induced hearing loss, so preventing exposure to excessive noise is the only way to avoid hearing damage and other hazards. Noise is unwanted sound measured by its frequency (high or low pitch and its intensity (loudness measured in decibels (dB)). High frequencies are most damaging. Construction workers may not be exposed to more than an average of 85 dB over an eight-hour period without hearing protection being provided.

Hearing protection devices (HPDs) do not block out sound completely, but they give some protection by reducing the amount of sound reaching your ear. At the same time, you will be able to hear speech and important machinery sounds.

Keep in mind, though, that HPDs are provided only after your employer assesses the noise, attempts to reduce it using engineering and administrative controls (like having you work far from noisy equipment, limiting the amount of time you spend in noisy environments, and installing antivibration machine mountings or acoustical enclosures), and then finds that hazardous noise remains. The various HPDs that your company may provide to you include ear plugs, ear muffs, or canal caps.

Ultimately, you are responsible for protecting your own hearing. Here are some points to remember about protecting your sense of hearing:
• Have an annual hearing test.
• Make sure your hearing protection fits.
• Don't use homemade hearing protection devices; they don't work.
• Keep hearing protection devices in good condition.
• Wear hearing protection devices at work as required and at home when working on noisy projects.

Download this article.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

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