Floor / Wall Openings

 

In the construction industry falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. When working around floor and wall openings, you must be careful that you don’t fall through. You can be injured or killed if you step into a hole or opening, or are hit by objects falling through.

Definitions

• Guardrail system means a barrier erected to prevent employees from falling to lower levels.

• Hole is a gap or void 2 inches or more in its least dimension, in a floor, roof, or other walking/working surface.

• Opening is a gap or void 30 inches or more high and 18 inches or more wide, in a wall or partition, through which employees can fall to a lower level.

What you need to know

If you are working on a surface or floor that has holes or openings and that surface is more than six feet above a lower level, you must be protected from:

• Falling through holes (including skylights) by personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around the holes;

• Tripping in or stepping into or through holes by covers; and

• Objects falling through holes by covers.

Covers and safety
How can you tell a cover from a sheet of plywood laying on the floor?

• Covers must be secured when installed to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees. If the cover material is secured to the floor it may be there for a reason so don’t remove it.

• All covers must be color-coded or marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” to provide warning of the hazard. This should be a good indication that the material is a cover.

What if you are going to work in an opening that has a cover secured over it?

• Never remove a cover until you are ready to work in the hole or opening.

• Use personal fall arrest systems when working in the hole or opening.After you are finished working in the opening your employer must either replace and secure the cover or erect guardrails around the hole.

- What if you are moving or disposing of material through a wall opening to a lower level?

If you are working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached) you must use a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest system, when:

• the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is six-feet or more above lower levels; and

• the inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches above the walking/working surface.

- OSHA recognizes that accidents involving falls are generally complex events frequently involving a variety of factors. By following the requirements in this handout, you can avoid falling through floor and wall openings.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Forklift Inspections

 

Like any piece of construction equipment, forklifts need to be inspected and maintained. Although a regular maintenance schedule should be set up for lift trucks, you should always run down a safety checklist at the start of your shift.

This inspection includes checking fluid levels, hydraulics, wheels and tires, brakes and any potential mechanical problems with the vehicle. Make this examination at least daily.

Brakes

Brakes are the single most common cause of lift truck accidents due to mechanical failure. To check the brakes:

·            Push the brake pedal in. It should have free travel before meeting resistance.

·            Then, depress the pedal again and hold it for ten seconds. The pedal must hold solid and not be spongy or drift under pressure.

Steering

Steering is a vital maintenance concern. With the engine running, check if the steering wheel turns correctly both ways to its stops. The wheel should not feel loose and the pump should not squeal before reaching the stops.

 

Sample checklist

The following checklist should be strictly adhered to before operating the vehicle:

·            Check the fork pins and stops to make sure that they are in place.

·            Check all cowling and body parts.

·            Check the wheels and tires for excessive wear.

·            Look for any broken or loose parts.

·            Check the fuel level, crankcase oil level, and radiator water level.

·            Check the engine air cleaner, the fan belt, the hydraulic fluid level, and the battery water level.

·            Check the hour meter and record it. This is important for maintenance scheduling.

·            With the engine running, check operation of the hour meter, headlights, taillights, and warning lights.

·            Check the oil pressure gauge, the water temperature, ammeter, and sound the horn.

·            Note if the clutch is working properly, check incapability, the hydraulic controls, and any other controls on the lift system.

Report anything not up to par to your supervisor at once.

 

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

 

Handling Loads

 

One of the most common sights on a jobsite is the forklift. Whether it is a tow motor, a man lift, or a motorized cart, it is considered one of the most versatile pieces of material handling equipment available. These forklifts can be powered by propane gas, electric power, or diesel fuel.

General operating requirements
• When traveling behind another forklift, maintain a safe distance of about three truck lengths from the truck ahead.

• Slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles and other locations where vision is obstructed.

• Look in the direction of travel and keep a clear view of the path of travel.

• Operate the forklift at a speed that will permit it to be brought to a stop in a safe manner.

• Slow down for wet and slippery floors.

• Make sure dockboard or bridgeplates are properly secured; drive over them carefully and slowly and make sure their rated capacity is never exceeded.

• Operate forklifts equipped with attachments as partially loaded trucks when not handling a load.

Moving a load
• If the load being carried obstructs forward view, you must travel with the load trailing.

• Ascend and descend grades slowly. When ascending or descending grades in excess of 10 percent, drive the loaded forklift with the load upgrade.

• On all grades the load and load engaging means must be tilted back and raised only as far as necessary to clear the road surface.

• Only stable or safely arranged loads should be handled.

• Use caution when handling off-center loads which cannot be centered.

• Only handle loads that are within the rated capacity of the truck.

• Adjust long or high (including multiple-tiered) loads which could affect capacity.

• Place the load engaging means under the load as far as possible and tilt the mast backward to stabilize the load.

• Take extreme when tilting the load forward or backward, particularly when high tiering.

Remember, forklift operators need to be trained before they can use the forklift.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

Forklifts- Training

 

All workers hired to operate a forklift must be trained—according to the operator training requirements in
29 CFR 1910.178(l)—BEFORE being allowed to use a forklift.

OSHA uses the term powered industrial truck to describe a mobile, power-driven vehicle used to carry, push, pull, lift, stack, or tier material. Included in this description would be: high lift, counterbalanced, cantilever, rider, forklift, high lift platform, and motorized hand/rider
trucks.

The following information highlights the requirements of the forklift training rule:

The OSHA forklift training standard is in the OSHA general industry regulations at 29 CFR 1910.178(l)–Powered industrial truck operator training.

If you are a forklift operator you must: (1) be competent to safely operate the particular forklift you will use, and (2) successfully complete the training required by the standard.

Your trainer must have the knowledge, training, and experience to train you and evaluate your competence. Trainees can only operate a forklift: (a) under the direct supervision of a knowledgeable trainer/evaluator, and (b) when it does not endanger you or others.

You must initially train in all topics listed in the regulations unless you and your employer can demonstrate that a topic is not applicable to safe forklift operations at your jobsite.

Topics are broken down into three broad categories: (1) truck-related, (2) worksite related, and (3) the forklift rule requirements.

Refresher training and evaluation must be done to ensure you have the knowledge and skills needed to operate the forklift safely. Refresher training is required when: (1) unsafe operation is observed, (2) an accident or near-miss has occurred, (3) an evaluation reveals unsafe operation, (4) you will operate a different truck, and (5) workplace conditions change that could affect safe operation.

An evaluation of each forklift operator must be conducted at least once every three years.

If you have previously trained in a required topic, the training is appropriate to the forklift and working conditions encountered, and you have been evaluated and found competent to operate the truck safely, that training does not have to be duplicated.

Your employer must certify that you have been trained and evaluated as required by the standard.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com