Underground Utilities

 

Ever have to probe for and diffuse a land mine? Most people can happily say no. But for con­struction workers, probing for underground utilities, or working in excavations with under­ground utilities exposed, the resemblance can be close.

Trenches and excavations are dangerous. Trenches and excavations with underground utili­ties exposed, or in the process of being exposed, are more dangerous.

Before excavation work begins, the OSHA rules require contractors doing the work to deter­mine the estimated location of utility installations — sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations — that may be encountered during digging.

Your company must:

·                  Contact utility companies or land owners and inform them of the proposed work.

·                  Ask the utility companies or land/building owners to find the exact location of the under­ground installations.

If they cannot respond within 24 hours (unless the period required by state or local law is longer), or if they cannot find the exact location of the utility installations, contractors may proceed with caution.

Detection equipment

Your company must:

·                  Contact utility companies or land owners and inform them of the proposed work.

·                  Ask the utility companies or land/building owners to find the exact location of the under­ground installations.

If they cannot respond within 24 hours (unless the period required by state or local law is longer), or if they cannot find the exact location of the utility installations, contractors may proceed with caution.

Detection equipment

If the company proceeds on its own:

·                  Detection equipment or other acceptable means to locate utilities must be used.

·                  The exact location of the utilities must be determined by a safe and acceptable mean when the operation approaches the estimated location of the utilities.

·                  The underground utility must be located and totally exposed before digging begins.

Hazardous atmospheres

You must remember that where there are utilities, there is the possibility of hazardous atmospheres. If there is the potential that hazardous atmospheres exist or could reasonably be expected to exist, atmospheric testing and control is required.

After utilities are uncovered, and while the excavation is open, underground installations must be protected, supported, or removed as necessary for your safety.

Always be especially careful when working on, around, or in excavations where underground utilities may be or are known to be present.

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

 

Heavy Equipment Overview

 

The OSHA rules for heavy equipment are broken down into two sections: motor vehicles and materials handling equipment. The motor vehicles section covers off-road vehicles, and on-road vehicles such as dump trucks and pick-ups when they are off-road. The materials handling section is further broken down into: earth moving equipment such as scrapers, loaders, and dozers; and materials moving equipment such as forklifts and telescopic handlers. This handout will help you get the big picture of how OSHA approaches the safety rules for heavy equipment.

General safety and health provisions

Using any machinery, tool, material, or equipment not in compliance with OSHA standards is prohibited. They must be identified as unsafe by tagging or locking the controls, or be physically removed from the jobsite.

Only employees qualified by training or experience can operate equipment and machinery.

Motor vehicles and mechanized equipment-General requirements

This section covers equipment in general. It discusses:

·               Leaving equipment unattended at night.

·               Using safety tire racks and cages when inflating tires.

·               Suspending, blocking, and cribbing equipment to prevent falling or shifting during maintenance.

·               Moving in the vicinity of power lines or energized transmitters.

·               Parking brakes, safety glass, and other safety equipment.

Motor vehicles

This section covers motor vehicles that operate at off-highway jobsites, not open to public traffic. This section discusses:

·               vehicle safety equipment such as brakes and lights,

·               horns and reverse signal alarms,

·               windshields and seat belts, and

·               inspections.

Earthmoving equipment

These rules apply to earthmoving equipment such as scrapers, loaders, crawlers, wheel tractors, bulldozers, off-highway trucks, graders, and similar equipment. This section covers:

·               seat belts,

·               roadways and grades,

·               brakes,

·               fenders,

·               rollover protective structures, and

·               horns.

Materials handling equipment

These rules apply to lift trucks, stackers, forklifts, handlers, and similar equipment. This section covers:

·               rated capacities,

·               modifications and additions,

·               steering mechanisms,

·               overhead guards, and

·               personnel platforms attached to forks.

The OSHA regulations and your operators manual, together, are good companions and give you the tools you need to make your equipment operations and your jobsite safer.

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