Utility Knife Safety

Utility knives are a handy tool used by construction and trade workers on jobsites throughout the country. Commonly, this knife consists of a handle with a retractable razor blade. Because of the frequent use, injuries caused by utility knives are a common occurrence.

Hazardous to your health
The greatest hazard from using a utility knife is getting cut. This happens because the following reasons:
• The blade is not retracted and the user forgets that.
• The knife slips off the material being cut. This can occur because of improper force (too little or too much) being applied to the material.
• The material shifts while being cut and the blade injures the user.
• The razor blade breaks and strikes the worker. This sometimes happens when the razor blade is dull and the user has to exert excessive force to cut the material.
• The worker cuts toward his or her body and is injured when the blade slips or breaks.
• The user is not watching the blade when performing the cut and is injured when it strikes some part of his or her body.
• While changing out a dull or broken blade, the worker is cut by the dull blade or by the new blade.

How to avoid being injured
• What can you do to prevent being injured while using a utility knife? Follow these basic rules when using a utility knife:
• Retract the razor blade into the handle when not using the knife.
• Replace the razor blade when it becomes dull or broken.
• Make sure the material being cut is held securely so it can’t shift or move.
• Concentrate on the material to be cut and watch the blade at all times.
• Apply a consistent, firm (but not excessive) pressure while performing the cut.
• Always cut away from your body, rather than toward it.
• Be careful when changing dull or damaged blades.
• Dispose of blades in a safe manner. Put them in a metal container if possible.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Falling Object Protection - TBT

The OSHA fall protection rule also covers falling object protection. The rule requires your employer to take measures to protect you from falling objects.

Hard hats are the number one defense against overhead hazards including falling objects. However, hard hats are not enough. An additional method of protection must be used when there are employees working or walking below.

Falling object protection alternatives
OSHA provides a number of falling object protection methods to select from, depending on your company’s need. The choices are toeboards and screens, guardrails, canopies, signs, barricades, or simply moving objects away from the edge.

Falling object protection methods

Guardrails — When guardrails are used to prevent materials from falling from one level to another, any openings must be small enough to prevent passage of potential falling objects.

Toeboards — When toeboards are used as protection from falling objects, they must be erected along the edges of the overhead walking/working surface for a distance sufficient to protect persons working below.

To ensure a toeboard can stop falling objects, it must be capable of withstanding a force of at least 50 pounds applied in any downward or outward direction anywhere along the toeboard.

Toeboards must be a minimum of 3.5 inches tall, have no more than 0.25 inches clearance above the surface, and be solid or have openings no larger than one inch.

Where tools, equipment, or materials are piled higher than the top edge of a toeboard, panelling or screening must be erected from the walking/working surface or toeboard to the top of a guardrail’s top rail or midrail, for a distance sufficient to protect employees below.

Materials storage — To prevent tripping hazards, no materials or equipment, except masonry and mortar, can be stored within 4 feet of working edges.

Excess mortar, broken or scattered masonry units, and all other materials and debris must be kept clear of your working area. Remove these materials regularly.

During roofing work, materials and equipment cannot be stored within 6 feet of a roof edge unless guardrails are erected at the edge. Materials near a roof edge must be stable and self-supporting.

Canopies — When used as a protection from falling objects, canopies must be strong enough to prevent collapse or penetration by objects that may fall onto them.

Being hit by falling objects at construction sites is not only possible but probable at some point in your career. Being prepared is the best defense against serious injury.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Recognize the Warning Signs TBT

Overview
In an effort to decrease the number of accidents and injuries in the workplace, OSHA developed two standards on safety color-coding and specifications for accident prevention signs and tags. A sign refers to a surface on prepared for the warning of, or safety instructions of, industrial workers or members of the public who may be exposed to hazards. The information is located in 29 CFR 1910.144 and 1910.145.

What must I know?
There are a few different means of designating signs and tags. Color and shape work well for the purpose of communicating required information. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has developed the following color scheme:

Safety colors:
- Red - Fire, danger, or stop
- Orange - Warning
- Yellow - Caution
- Green - Safety
- Blue - Notice

Shapes:
- Triangle - Hazard alerts
- Circle - Mandatory actions
- Square/rectangle - Information
- Circle with slash - Prohibited activity

According to the National Electrical Manufacturer’s Association/American National Standards Institute (NEMA/ANSI), the lettering must be in upper case block letter, and large enough that a person with normal vision can read it. The labels on piping also play a vital role in informing employees and emergency personnel what is contained in the pipes in your workplace. These labels are color-coded and include the substance name.

Labels on piping:
- Yellow - Flammable
- Green - Liquid, non-flammable
- Blue - Gaseous
- Red - Fire quenching material

Adequate lighting should be available for signs so that the message is readable. Your employer strives to maintain the safest workplace possible, and the communication of hazards plays an important role. Knowing the difference between red and green may sound simple, but it could save a life.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency