Pipeline Construction

 

If you work on a pipeline, you and your company must obey the OSHA safety and health regulations. OSHA recently visited a number of pipeline installation jobsites in a northern state. This Toolbox Talk discusses the results of those OSHA visits.

The contractor received willful and serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The citations were for: (1) inadequately guarded trenches, (2) improper operation and maintenance of pipelaying cranes, and (3) allowing unauthorized employees to ride machinery.

All of these activities are prohibited by the OSHA regulations.

Cave-in-protection

The common hazard found at most of the worksites was the lack of adequate cave-in protection for employees working in trenches five feet or more in depth.

Twenty-five American workers died in trenching-related cave-ins in 1998.

OSHA standards require that effective collapse protection be in place and in use before you enter a trench. The absence of such protection leaves workers exposed to being struck by and buried beneath tons of soil before they have a chance to react or escape.

Other trenching and shoring violations that were observed were: (1) water accumulating in a trench, (2) a trench lacked a ladder or other means of exit every 25 feet, and (3) removed dirt piles were placed too close to the edge of excavations.

Unauthorized modifications to heavy equipment

The boom of a pipelaying crane that was pulling the equipment sled fell, struck, and killed an employee riding on the sled. OSHA cited the company for making un authorized modifications to the pipelayer and allowing employees to ride the sled.

Other equipment problems that were cited were: (1) a custom-made lifting device had not been load-tested or had its load lifting capacity marked on the device, (2) damaged crane slings were in use, and (3) a sling was not marked with its load rating.

Jobsites are complicated and busy. It takes alert supervisors and employees, ones that know the OSHA regulations, can spot hazards, and are willing to correct those hazards, to make jobsites safe.

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

 

Trench cave-ins can be prevented. Part 2

 

Trench cave-ins can be prevented. Yet every year there are an estimated 75 to 200 deaths and more than 1,000 lost work days per year from trenching accidents.

What does the competent person look for?

According to OSHA, your company competent person must inspect all excavations each day for evidence of a situation that could result in:

·            possible cave-ins.

·            indications of failure of protective systems.

·            hazardous atmospheres.

·            other hazardous conditions.

How­ever, if you work in trenches/excavations you should know much of the same information your competent person does. Why? A sudden change could mean disaster for you and fellow workers.

What are unsafe conditions?

Some of the things that could cause an immediate change at an excavation site are:

·            A bulldozer or excavator coming too close to your trench could cause a surcharge (overload­ing) and stress cracks at or near the edge of the trench.

·            A sudden downpour could fill the trench or cause rain-soaked soil to give way.

·            Accidently striking an underground utility line with a tool could present an immediate electrocution or hazardous atmosphere hazard.

These are just a few of the sudden incidents that need immediate attention and decision-making. That’s why the OSHA rules require your company to train you in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions, the regulations applicable to your work environment, and to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury.

What does OSHA's regulation cover?

OSHA’s excavation rules apply to all open excavations made in the earth’s surface including trenches. The regulation is in the construction standards at §1926.650-.652 and covers:

Scope and application—The rule applies to all open excavations made in the earth’s surface. Excavations are defined to include trenches.

Specific excavation requirements—to include surface hazards, underground utilities, getting in and out of the excavation, traffic hazards, hazardous atmospheres, emergency rescue, inspections, and fall protection.

Requirements for protective systems—The rule says each employee in an excavation must be protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system designed in accordance with the OSHA regulations for:

·            sloping and benching systems, or

·            support, shield, and other protective systems.

Exceptions would be when:

·            Excavations are made entirely in stable rock; or

·            Excavations are less than five feet deep and examination of the ground by a competent person provides no indication of a potential cave-in.

·            Excavations are one of the most dangerous places in construction work. Your knowledge of the hazards and a constant vigil could make a life or death difference.

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

 

Trenching and Excavation Safety

 

Overview

Your employer has a tremendous amount of responsibility to make excavations and trenches safe for you to work in. Employees also have responsibilities, the first of which is to question any unsafe conditions at your excavation site and report them to your supervisor/competent person.

What must my employer do?

·               Are all surface hazards and the spoil pile moved back the required two feet from the edge of the excavation, or are devices used to keep materials from falling or rolling into excavations?

·               Are all underground utilities located and protected, supported, or removed?

·               Is a safe means of entry and exit provided for excavations more than four feet deep, and is it no more than 25 feet from the employees?

·               Are you required to wear warning vests or other high-visibility garments when your work exposes you to public vehicular traffic?

·               Are you prohibited from standing under any loads handled by lifting or digging equipment?

·               Is a warning system in place when the operator of mobile equipment does not have a clear direct view of the edge of the excavation while the equipment is being operated adjacent to or near the excavation’s edge?

·               When hazardous atmospheres exist or could exist, are they tested for and eliminated prior to entry?

·               Is rescue equipment provided where hazardous atmospheres exist or could reasonably be expected to develop during work in the excavation?

·               Is adequate protection provided before anyone works in an excavation when water accumulation is a hazard?

·               Are adjacent structures shored, braced, or underpinned when their stability is endangered by the excavation operations?

·               Is protection provided when loose rock or soil that could fall or roll from the excavation face poses a hazard?

·               Does your company competent person: (1) inspect the excavation, adjacent area, and protective systems daily for evidence of situations that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions, (2) inspect after every rainstorm or other occurrence that could increase the hazards, and (3) remove employees from the excavation or trench if any of these hazards exist?

·               Are employees protected from cave-ins by adequate protective systems (including sloping and benching, support, or shield systems)?

What must I do?

·               Do you use safe work practices and follow the above requirements (that apply) when your supervisor/competent person is not around?

·               Do you properly use the equipment and protective gear that your company has provided?

·               Do you immediately report unsafe situations to your supervisor/competent person?

·               Do you know when to leave an excavation and how to respond to an emergency?

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