Safe Lifting

Do you realize you may be risking serious injury. It's true if you don't lift correctly. Improper lifting causes back injuries that can take months and even years to heal. Many times these injuries are permanent and disabling. A little know-how can help you to lift safely. 

When you are preparing to lift, check the load. If it looks too heavy, don't be afraid to ask for help. If the object has rough or sharp edges wear suitable work gloves. They'll give you a good grip and protect your hands. Also wear proper footwear. There is always a chance of dropping something on your toes, or losing your footing. 

Know that you can lift the load. Is it too heavy or too awkward? If so, get some help. Check your path and make sure it is clear. Check to see if you have enough room, that there are no obstructions in the way and that there is nothing overhead. Be aware of uneven surfaces. 

When you make the lift, squat down and get a good grip on the object. As you rise, lift with your legs, keeping the load as close to your body as possible. Remember that your legs are much stronger than your arms. If you have to place the load to your left or to your right, don't twist your body. Move your feet instead. When you have to lower the load, simply reverse the procedure. 

 

Remember these points when you lift. 

• When lifting, get a firm footing, feet apart, one slightly behind the other for good balance. 

• Stand close to the load. 

• Always remember to lift with your legs and not your back. 

 • Carry the load close to your body. 

• Never try to carry a load that is too heavy. 

Ask for help or get a machine such as a forklift to do the heavy lift.

Mechanical Hazards

 

Each piece of machinery has its own unique mechanical and non-mechanical hazards. Machines can cause severe injuries: amputations, fractures, lacerations, or crushing inju­ries. Machines can also cause minor injuries such as bruises, abrasions, sprains or strains, burns, or cuts.

Mechanical hazards

Examples of mechanical hazards that can hit, grab, or trap an operator are: ·         hazardous motions. ·         points of operation. ·         pinch points and shear points. ·         There are different types of hazardous mechanical motions and actions: ·         hazardous motions such as rotating parts, reciprocating parts, or traversing parts. ·           hazardous actions such as cutting, punching, shearing, or bending.

Non-mechanical hazards

There are also non-mechanical hazards that can injure operators, including flying chips, splashes, sparks, or sprays that are created when the machine is running.

Operating instructions

Follow the machine’s operating instructions to ensure that the machine is being run cor­rectly and safely. Understand how the machine works, and you will reduce your risk of injury.

 

Lead Operations

 

Pure lead (Pb) is a heavy metal. It can combine with various other substances to form numerous lead compounds.

If absorbed into your body in certain doses, lead is toxic. It can be absorbed by breathing it in and through your mouth. As exposure continues, and if not filtered by the body and excreted, lead is stored in increasing amounts causing irreversible damage to body cells, organs, and whole body systems.

Long term (chronic) overexposure to lead may result in severe damage to the blood-forming, nervous, urinary, and reproductive systems.

OSHA’s lead standard

OSHA’s lead rule for construction workers sets the permissible exposure limit (PEL) at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air as an 8-hour time weighted average. An action level is set at 30 micrograms per cubic meter calculated as an 8-hour TWA. The action level is the level at which your employer must begin certain compliance activities outlined in the standard.

Who does the standard apply to?

The rule applies to all construction work where an employee may be exposed to lead, all inor­ganic lead compounds, and organic lead soaps. Some operations that generate lead dust and fume include:

·         Flame-torch cutting, welding, the use of heat guns, sanding, scraping, and grinding of lead painted surfaces in repair, reconstruction, dismantling, and demolition work.

·         Abrasive blasting of bridges and other structures containing lead-based paints.

·         Use of torches and heat guns, and sanding, scraping, and grinding lead-based paint sur­faces during remodeling or abating lead-based paint.

·         Maintaining process equipment or exhaust duct work.

Worker protection program

Your employer must develop and implement a worker protection program. The program is essential in minimizing your risk of lead exposure. Some projects involve limited exposure, such as the removal of paint from a few interior residential doors. Others may involve the removal, or stripping off, of substantial quantities of lead-based paints on large bridges.

Engineering controls and good work practices are the most effective way to minimize expo­sure. Respirators cannot be used instead of engineering and work practices but must be used in conjunction with them to control employee exposures.

 

Back Safety

 

Back disorders are listed in the "top ten" leading workplace injuries published by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. They account for 27 percent of all nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work. It's no wonder. Your back is a sophisticated piece of machinery made up of numerous muscles, bones, nerves, and supporting tissues. It's a machine you use every day, probably in ways you don't even notice.

Just like the finest machinery, your back requires proper care to keep it working. If it's not working right, you'll suffer. An injured back affects your ability to move your limbs, your hips, your neck, and your head. Injuries to the back can be very debilitating, causing a lot of pain, time away from work, and often require physical therapy or even surgery. Everyone whose job involves stressful lifting or awkward postures is at risk for a back injury. Here are some tips to keep your back in optimum condition:

While lifting:

• Don't bend over an object you are lifting. Bend your knees, squatting in front of the object to reach it.
• Lift the object slowly and carefully, using your leg and arm muscles to lift, not pulling with your back.
• Keep your head up and look straight ahead while making the lift.
• While lifting, keep the object as close to your body as possible.
• Keep abdominal muscles tight while making the lift.
• Use the same techniques when you put the object down.
• If the object is too big or too heavy to lift using these techniques, use mechanical assistance or get someone else to help.

When reaching for objects:

• Do not reach for an object unless you're sure you're strong enough to lift it.
• Use a stepladder to reach objects above shoulder height.
• Avoid awkward stretches while reaching. These stress your back and could cause you to lose your balance.
• Don't depend on structures to support you (e.g., a shelf support, a storage rack, etc.). These could easily give way if you pull or tug on them.

Exercise also plays an important role in keeping your back strong, healthy, and flexible. A properly exercised back is less likely to be injured. Your physician, company medical personnel, or other heath-care provider can recommend the best exercises for you, taking into account your physical condition and the type of work you do.

Always be alert for situations that could cause a back injury. Be kind to your back. Don't take unnecessary chances. By following proper lifting and reaching techniques and exercising properly, you'll help keep back problems behind you!