Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health (IDLH) in the construction environment

On the Job Tool Box Safety Talks

A work environment that poses an immediate threat to an employee’s life and health are called: Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health (IDLH).

An IDLH condition is one that poses an immediate or delayed threat to life or that would cause irreversible adverse health effects or that would interfere with an individual's ability to escape unaided from a space.

NOTE: Some materials may produce immediate transient effects that, even if severe, may pass without medical attention, but are followed by sudden, possibly fatal collapse 12-72 hours after exposure. The victim "feels normal" from recovery from transient effects until collapse. Such materials in hazardous quantities are considered to be "immediately" dangerous to life or health.

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Potential IDLH Environments in Construction

Because of their potential to contain hazardous atmospheres, confined or enclosed spaces are suspect IDLH environments.

Confined & Enclosed Spaces:

• Storage Tanks
• Process Vessels
• Bins
• Boilers
• Ventilation or Exhaust Ducts
• Sewers & Manholes
• Underground Utility Vaults
• Tunnels
• Pipelines
• Open top spaces more than 4 feet in depth
• Temporary Enclosures (heating enclosures for break)
• Dumpsters
• Stair-wells
• Elevator Shafts

• Basements
• Attics
• Trenches & Excavations
• Hazardous atmospheres may exist in trenches. When a trench reaches a depth of 4 feet, they must be evaluated for IDLH conditions by a competent person.[MORE]
   

Physical & Health Hazards for Construction - On the Job Tool Box Safety Talks

Be aware that every chemical substance you handle during the day, whether it is a liquid, solid, vapor, or dust, could cause you great harm if you aren’t protected. Your first line of defense is knowing what each chemical can do to you physically and how it can affect your health. With that knowledge tucked under your tool belt, you can take correct precautions.

Physical hazards
OSHA found that many chemicals cause fires and explosions. These chemicals are physical hazards. Here are the chemical categories which are considered physical hazards, based on scientific evidence:

Flammable, combustible, or explosive material.

Compressed gas.

Organic peroxide.

Oxidizer.

Pyrophoric (spontaneously igniting substance).

Unstable (reactive) or water reactive material.

Health hazards
OSHA found that many chemicals cause health conditions including heart ailments, lung, liver, and kidney damage, cancer, reproductive problems, burns, and dermatitis. Such health effects can be acute or chronic. Acute health effects are those which appear rapidly after a brief exposure to the chemical(s). Chronic health effects are those which appear during and/ or after long term exposure to a chemical(s). If there is enough evidence that exposure to a chemical causes acute or chronic health effects, that chemical is a health hazard. Many chemicals are health hazards.

Here are the general chemical categories that are health hazards:

Carcinogens (cancer causers) like benzene and formaldehyde.

Toxic agents like lawn and garden insecticides and arsenic compounds.

Irritants like bleaches or ammonia.

Corrosives like battery acid or caustic sodas.

Sensitizers like creosote or epoxy resins.

Reproductive toxins like thalidomide or nitrous oxide.

Organ specific agents like sulfuric acid (affects skin) or asbestos (affects lungs).

You can determine chemical hazards by looking at the chemical’s label and/or its material safety data sheet (MSDS). To minimize exposure, follow the directions you will find there.

Protect yourself by understanding MSDSs and chemical labels, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment like gloves and goggles, following appropriate safe work practices, and knowing proper emergency response. Talk to your safety director about these methods of protection.



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From: Safety 360 Assurance

Stay Safe on Portable Ladders - Tool Box Safety Talks

Overview

Your ladder can be a great help on the job. It is uncomplicated and simple to use. But don't be fooled; you shouldn't take ladder safety for granted. As with any other workplace task, care is required on ladders to maintain your safety. The following points serve as guidelines for portable ladder use. 

 1. Use the ladder only for its intended purpose. Don't use step ladders as single ladders or when partially closed. Likewise, don't climb the back sections of combination ladders, when used as step ladders. 

2. Don't use a ladder as a brace, skid, lever, guy or gin pole, gangway, platform, scaffold, plank, material hoist, or any other use for which it was not intended.  

3. Don't build makeshift ladders out of chairs, benches, or boxes. If the job calls for a ladder, take the time to find one. 

4. Don't set up a ladder on a scaffold to gain extra height.  

5. Make sure there's only one person on a ladder at a time. 

6. Don't move a ladder while anyone is on it.  

7. Check the ladder's condition before climbing. Don't use a ladder with broken or cracked rails or rungs or with rungs made slippery by grease or oil. The ladder should have safety feet and sit on a firm, level surface. 

8. Don't use ladders on ice, snow, or other slippery surfaces.  

9. Don't place a ladder on boxes or blocks to make it taller. 

10. Face front and use both hands as you climb.

11. Don't overreach from a ladder. If your waist reaches past the uprights, you've gone too far—move the ladder. 

12. Set ladders up properly by using the 4 to 1 rule. The distance from the wall to the base of the ladder should be one-fourth the distance from the base of the ladder to where it touches the wall.  

13. Set up ladders so that the tops of the rails are supported equally. Avoid supporting the top of the ladder at a window or wall opening, but when you must, attach a support across the back of the ladder that is wider than the window opening. 

14. Don't set up a ladder in front of a door, unless the door is locked or kept from opening.  

15. Fully open stepladders so that spreaders are locked and the feet are level and firmly supported. 

16. Set up extension ladders so that the top section rests on the base section, with the rung locks engaged.  

17. Hoist tools or materials up to you after you reach the top of the ladder. You need both hands for climbing. 

18. Don't stand on top of a step ladder. Also be careful not to get too close to the top of an extension or straight ladder.  

 19. Be careful when using ladders around electrical circuits. Keep the ladder from getting too near or hitting any energized circuit or conductor. 

20. When you use a ladder to climb onto a roof: 

a. Make sure it extends 3 feet above the point of support at the roof line.

b. Tie the ladder down to prevent slipping before climbing up.

c. Take care not to tip the ladder sideways and avoid having the base slide.

[MORE]

Provided by: Safety 360 Assurance

 

Seven Common Causes of Incidents - On the Job Safety Talks

Consider this statistic: 80 out of every 100 incidents are the fault of the person involved in the incident. Unsafe Acts cause four times as many incidents & injuries as unsafe conditions. 



Incidents occur for many reasons. In most industries people tend to look for "things" to blame when an incident happens, because it's easier than looking for "root causes," such as those listed below. Consider the
underlying incident causes described. Have you been guilty of any of these attitudes or behaviors? If so, you may have not been injured-but next time you may not be so lucky.

Taking Shortcuts: Every day we make decisions we hope will make the job faster and more efficient. But do time savers ever risk your own safety, or that of other crew members? Short cuts that reduce your safety on the job are not shortcuts, but an increased chance for injury.

Being Over Confident: Confidence is a good thing. Overconfidence is too much of a good thing. "It'll never happen to me" is an attitude that can lead to improper procedures, tools, or methods in your work. Any of these can lead to an injury. 

Starting a Task with Incomplete Instructions: To do the job safely and right the first time you need complete information. Have you ever seen a worker sent to do a job, having been given only a part of the job's instructions? Don't be shy about asking for explanations about work procedures and safety precautions. It isn't dumb to ask questions; it's dumb not to. 

Poor Housekeeping: When clients, managers or safety professionals walk through your work site, housekeeping is an accurate indicator of everyone's attitude about quality, production and safety. Poor housekeeping creates hazards of all types. A well maintained area sets a standard for others to follow. Good housekeeping involves both pride and safety

Ignoring Safety Procedures: Purposely failing to observe safety procedures can endanger you and your co-workers. You are being paid to follow the company safety policies-not to make your own rules. Being "casual" about safety can lead to a casualty!

Mental Distractions from Work: Having a bad day at home and worrying about it at work is a hazardous combination. Dropping your 'mental' guard can pull your focus away from safe work procedures. You can also be distracted when you're busy working and a friend comes by to talk while you are trying to work. Don't become a statistic because you took your eyes off the machine "just for
a minute." 

Failure to Pre-Plan the Work: There is a lot of talk today about Job Hazard Analysis. JHA's are an effective way to figure out the smartest ways to work safely and effectively. Being hasty in starting a task, or not thinking through the process can put you in harm’s way. Instead, Plan Your Work and then Work Your Plan! 

"It is better to be careful 100 times than to get killed once." (Mark Twain)
 
Safety 360 Assurance

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