Hazards of Asbestos

Overview
Asbestos is a fiber or filament that is used in clothing, automotive parts, and building materials. It may have a fluffy appearance. When mixed, it can be found in forms such as Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Tremolite, Anthophyllite, and Actinolite.

Where can asbestos be found?
Asbestos is found in installed products such as shingles, floor tiles, cement pipe and sheet, roofing felts, insulation, ceiling tiles, fire-resistant drywall, and acoustical products. Very few asbestos-containing products are currently being installed. Consequently, most worker exposures occur during the removal of asbestos and the renovation and maintenance of buildings and structures containing asbestos.

Asbestos Symptoms
Should exposure occur, asbestos symptoms may not surface for many years. Acute exposure can cause shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain, or irritation of the skin and mucous membranes. Chronic exposure can cause breathing difficulty, dry cough, broadening and thickening of the ends of the fingers, and bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes.
How can it hurt me?
Asbestos fibers enter the body by the inhalation or ingestion of airborne particles that become embedded in the tissues of the respiratory or digestive systems. The long-term effects associated with asbestos include:
• Asbestosis (an emphysema-like condition).
• Lung cancer.
• Mesothelioma (a cancerous tumor that spreads rapidly in the cells of membranes covering the lungs and body organs).
• Gastrointestinal cancer.
• The symptoms of these diseases generally do not appear for 20 or more years after initial exposure.

How can I protect myself?
There are several methods of controlling exposure to asbestos.
Personal protective equipment - Only respirators that have been approved by NIOSH can be worn.
Protective clothing, such as full bodysuits, gloves, and footwear, must be worn when asbestos fiber concentrations exceed the permissible exposure limit. Contaminated clothing shall be placed and stored in closed containers that prevent dispersion of the asbestos outside the container.

Signs - Listed below is the wording for an asbestos warning:
DANGER ASBESTOS CANCER AND LUNG DISEASE HAZARD AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY RESPIRATORS AND PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ARE REQUIRED IN THIS AREA

Are state and local government employees protected?
EPA has recently amended the Asbestos Worker Protection Rule and the Asbestos-in-Schools Rule to protect state and local government employees from the health risks of exposure to asbestos. State and local government employees who are performing construction work, custodial work, and automotive brake and clutch repair work are now protected to the same extent as private-sector employees. The Asbestos-in Schools Rule amendments provide coverage for employees of local public education agencies who perform operations, maintenance, and repair activities.

Rigger Training On the Job Tool Box Talks

OSHA’s subpart CC, Cranes and Derricks in Construction, requires riggers to be qualified to perform their job.

Qualified rigger required
Employers must use qualified riggers during hoisting activities for assembly and disassembly work. Additionally, qualified riggers are required whenever workers are within the fall zone and hooking, unhooking, or guiding a load, or doing the initial connection of a load to a component or structure.

Qualified rigger criteria
A qualified rigger is a rigger who meets the criteria for a qualified person. Employers must determine whether a person is qualified to perform specific rigging tasks. Each qualified rigger may have different credentials or experience. A qualified rigger is a person that:
• Possesses a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing; or
• Has extensive knowledge, training, and experience; and
• Can successfully demonstrate the ability to solve problems related to rigging loads.

The person designated as the qualified rigger must have the ability to properly rig the load for a particular job. It does not mean that a rigger must be qualified to do every type of rigging job.

Each load that requires rigging has unique properties that can range from the simple to the complex. For example, a rigger may have extensive experience in rigging structural components and other equipment to support specific construction activities. Such experience may have been gained over many years.

However, this experience does not automatically qualify the rigger to rig unstable, unusually heavy, or eccentric loads that may require a tandem lift, multiple-lifts, or use of custom rigging equipment. In essence, employers must make sure the person can do the rigging work needed for the exact types of loads and lifts for a particular job with the equipment and rigging that will be used for that job.

Do qualified riggers need to be trained or certified?
Riggers do need to be properly trained, but they do not have to be certified by an accredited organization or assessed by a third party. Employers may choose to use a third party entity to assess the qualifications of the rigger candidate, but they are not required to do so.

Is a certified crane operator a qualified rigger?
A certified crane operator does not necessarily meet the requirements of a qualified rigger. Determining whether a person is a qualified rigger is based on the nature of the load, lift, and equipment used to hoist that load plus that person’s knowledge and experience. A certified/qualified crane operator may meet the requirements of a qualified rigger, depending on the operator’s knowledge and experience with rigging.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Labels & Labeling for Construction

One out of every four workers contacts hazardous chemicals on the job. As a construction worker, you have a need and a right to know the chemicals to which you are exposed, their hazards, and how to protect yourself when working. This simple concept is the basis of the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom). Labeling is the part of HazCom that requires a label on containers so that you are alerted to the fact that a potential hazard exists. Because labels are right on a container, in most cases, you can immediately find out what the chemical’s hazards are. The label’s message about the hazards is the “hazard warning label.”

Take a look at a hazardous chemical container in your facility, it should have a label. This label should have the following minimum information:

• Hazardous chemical name — the identity of the chemical(s) contained inside the container. The name used may be a common or trade name (“Black Magic Formula”), or a chemical name (1,1,1-trichloroethane)

• Hazard warning(s) — brief information regarding the physical and health hazards of the chemicals. Hazard warnings won’t be the most complete source of hazard information; they are meant to be brief (i.e., “flammable,” or “causes lung damage”).

If you need more information than that printed on the label, refer to the material safety data sheet for the chemical, the chemical inventory, and/or your company’s HazCom written program. Ask your safety director to help you.

Your company probably receives chemicals from several manufacturers. These manufacturers will label containers differently. For this reason, your company may have developed or adopted a single labeling system to help you recognize and understand labels, which can make it easier for you to identify potential hazards. Original labels may remain on the original container along with or instead of a uniform label. Learn how to understand whatever labels are in use.

Like anything, labels wear out. They become soiled or unreadable, or they fall off. When you see this happen, let your supervisor know (so he/she can replace the label) and get instructions for using the chemical.

Does everything need a label?
There are a few situations that do not require HazCom labeling.
These include:

• Portable containers of chemicals that you have transferred from a labeled container when you are the only person who will handle the unlabeled container and it will not be used on other shifts.

• Products like foods, drugs, cosmetics which are regulated by other agencies.

• Solid metals such as steel beams or metal castings that do not go through a process resulting in emissions.

• Individual stationary process containers that use signs, batch tickets, or placards instead of labels.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

RCEC-RHBA Homebuilding Associations Raise More Then $10,000

Each year, students enrolled in the Building Trades Program design and construct a home in the northwest suburbs. From blueprints to completion, the process usually takes two years.

Homes are sold at market value. Five high schools participate—Conant, Fremd, Hoffman Estates, Palatine, and Schaumburg.

The Residential Construction Employers Council (RCEC) along with the Residential Home Builders Alliance (RHBA) raised more than $10,000 in donations for High School District 211’s Building Trades Program.

Here is the 2019 home that was built by the students. 

Picture below, students show off some of the apparel they received, which included $6,500 worth of Carhartt jackets donated from RCEC along with RB Construction, GW Thiel, Monarch Construction, and Advantage Contractor Solutions. RHBA provided 100 pairs of safety gloves. The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters made a monetary donation of $2,500 while Procaccio Painting and Drywall, Parksite and Mr. and Mrs. Len Strahanoski also made monetary donations. Other gifts included safety shirts, sweatshirts, tape measures, safety gloves, and gift cards for food and groceries Chris Gunsteen, construction instructor at Palatine High School, said “District 211 offers students an authentic hands-on experience that exposes them to all aspects of home building, including working outside year around. These donations will go a long way in providing our students with the basic necessities that more often than not students are showing up to class without.”.

Stay Safe on Portable Ladders

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. Inspect all ladders for defects before you begin climbing.

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

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

13. 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.

14. 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.

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

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

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

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

19. 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.

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

21. When you use a ladder to climb onto a roof:
• Make sure it extends 3 feet above the point of support at the roof line.
• Tie the ladder down to prevent slipping before climbing up.
• Take care not to tip the ladder sideways and avoid having the base slide.

Don't forget! Be careful when using portable ladders!

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Winter Driving TBT

Winter is again upon us and it is time to start re-orienting our minds and our driving habits to the hazards of operating vehicles in adverse weather conditions such as rain, sleet, snow and ice.
The principles of defensive driving apply during all seasons and in all areas of the country. Winter brings adverse weather conditions that increase the potential for accidents or breakdowns unless precautions are taken.

Visibility: Make sure you can see and be seen. Keep windows and mirrors clear of dirt, ice and snow. Frequently clean off headlights, side reflectors, taillights and mirrors. Keep your windshield washer reservoir filled with an anti-freeze cleaning solution. Replace worn or defective windshield wipers immediately. Keep your headlights on at all times.

Maintenance: Ensure that your vehicle and its safety devices, such as window-washing units, windshield defrosters, wiper blades, headlights, taillights, side reflector lights, tires, brakes, horns, tire chains and mirrors are kept in good working condition and replaced when necessary. Engine heaters, blankets, etc. should be inspected to ensure they are in good operating condition.

Driving on Slippery Roads: Avoid abrupt stops or turns on slippery pavement. Try to anticipate emergencies before they happen and avoid the need to make sudden maneuvers. Don’t cause your tires to spin by bearing down on the accelerator too fast. Don’t lock your wheels when attempting to stop by backing off the accelerator suddenly or braking too fast. Adjust your speed to the conditions of the road.

Appropriate Clothing: Sudden changes in weather, a vehicle breakdown or treacherous road conditions may cause you to be stranded or stalled for a period of time. Your survival may depend upon planning ahead for such an emergency. Your efforts should concentrate on staying warm, dry, nourished and calm. Ideally, a wool hat that covers the ears, woolen gloves or mittens, wool socks with polypropylene liners, loose-fitting layers of garments, and footwear that will keep your feet warm and dry will ensure that you can survive whatever weather conditions you may be exposed to. If stranded in a remote area, stay in your vehicle. Attempting to hike to a nearby town without proper clothing significantly increases the chance of hypothermia.

Emergency Supplies: It is important to prepare for unexpected emergencies by keeping certain items available in your vehicle, such as first aid supplies (including a blanket), a fire extinguisher, food, water, a shovel, flashlight/batteries and extra fuses and light bulbs.

Remember, preparation is the key to survival in hazardous weather conditions.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency