Exposure to Vehicular Traffic - On the job tool box talks

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Employees exposed to public vehicular traffic must be provided with, and must wear, warning vests or other suitable garments marked with or made of reflectorized or high-visibility material.

Use a designated, trained flag-person along with signs, signals, and barricades when necessary.


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Cold Weather can still effect your job site. Winter is not over yet.

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Prolonged exposure to cold, wet and windy conditions, even when the temperatures are above freezing, can be dangerous. Extreme cold conditions exist when the equivalent (wind) chill temperature is at or below -25° F (-32 °C). Wind chill temperature is a function of the actual temperature and the estimated wind speed. Under windless conditions, air provides an invisible blanket around the skin. As wind speed increases, this layer of heated air is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate resulting in apparent temperatures well below the air temperature.

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Foot Protection-On the Job Tool Box Talks

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The average person takes approximately 18,000 steps daily and  there's the possibility of a foot injury with each step. 

Construction jobs can be hazardous to your feet--nail punctures are common--walking on uneven ground, over materials and tools,  or slipping on oil, grease, ice, snow, etc. can result in foot  injuries, or sprained ankles -- foot fatigue can develop from prolonged standing on ladders, walking on re-bar, stone, etc. 

Your job is no place for dress, casual, or tennis shoes -- your feet need the protection of a sturdy work shoe,  maintained in  good condition. 

Concrete, cement powder, or any other chemical entering your shoe or boot can damage the tender skin of the ankle and foot very  quickly.  Other foot injuries result from chemicals that soak  through the shoes causing skin irritation or serious injury. 

Construction work is often performed under wet or damp  conditions  --overshoes can help keep your feet dry, warm and protected from chemical contact. 

Be extremely cautious of your feet and toes when working around  heavy equipment, material stockpiles, and while placing or moving heavy loads. 

Most foot injuries are caused by objects falling or rolling onto  the foot -- safety shoes can reduce the injury from these types of  accidents and they are a must for all workers.  In recent years safety shoe construction has become stronger, lighter and more comfortable to  wear than ever before.

 PROMPT FIRST AID FOR MINOR INJURIES CAN PREVENT MAJOR COMPLICATIONS.

This information provided by: Assurance Agency

Electrical Safety - TBT

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Electricity is one of the 4 leading causes of death on construction sites, don’t take it for granted. The following information is being provided to highlight the requirements for the use of extension cords, electrical tools, & temporary power

EXTENSION CORDS

Extension cords shall be of the three-wire type and construction grade. Construction grade cords will be marked with one of the following: SJ, SJO, SJT, STO, S, SO, ST or STO.
• All extension cords shall be visually inspected daily. Check the cords as you roll them out and roll them up. Damaged cords are not to be used until repaired properly
• All extension cords and electrical tools shall be included in the quarterly Assured Grounding Program. Cords and tools need to be checked for missing ground pins, cracked insulation, and other damaged. Each cord will be tested for continuity. Cords will be marked with colored electrical tape at the male end of the cord to indicate that the cord has been tested and is good to use. Personal cords and tools need to be included in this program. 1st Qtr.- White; 2nd Qtr. – Green,; 3rd Qtr. – Red; 4th Qtr. – Orange.
• All extension cords shall be on good condition. Cords with damage such as missing ground pins, cuts to the outer insulation, or pulled out strain relief shall not be used (even when a GFCI is used). Repair or replace damaged cords as needed.
• Plastic and metal multi-outlet strips (computer type multi outlets) are not in accordance with electrical regulations and are prohibited from use. "Homemade" metal outlet box extension cords are not in accordance with electrical regulations and are prohibited from use.
• Flat and two wire extension cords are prohibited from use.
• Cords can not be repaired if there are more than 3 repairs per 25 feet of cord or the inner insulation is damaged.

ELECTRICAL TOOLS
• All electrical tools must be equipped with a third wire ground prong electrical cord or be double insulated.
• All electrical tools, including double insulated, shall be visually inspected daily.
• Damaged tools must be taken out of service immediately and tagged or otherwise identified as damaged and in need of repair.

Provided by: Assurance Agency

Alcohol and its effects

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The purpose of this toolbox talk is to provide some basic information and to increase the level of awareness to focus on this as a potential safety issue on the job. This will primarily address issues of “the morning after” affect.

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL:

This information briefly summarizes some of the some of the effects of a person that is hung over. Direct effects of alcohol vary with the individuals. In general, a person will excrete approximately one alcohol drink per hour.

Consider the following:

An employee is out until 1:00 a.m. and has consumed 12 or more beers. They show upto work at 7:00 a.m. This employee is likely to have at least six alcohol drinks in his system at the time of starting the work. At this rate, the employee will start work intoxicated, eventually drift into a hangover and will probably be working in a very dangerous state during most of the workday.

ISSUES OF A HANGOVER

All employees should be aware of the condition their crew reports to work in. Specifically, employees that start work and are hung over from use of alcohol or drugs from the night before should be watched very closely. The following are some points to consider:

• A person with a hangover may have lower levels of alcohol in their system and may be “legally sober”.

• Any levels of alcohol in the system can affect the central nervous system, which will affect
JUDGMENT and MOTOR SKILLS. (Judgment and Motor Skills are critical components of working safely on a construction site.

HANGOVER EFFECTS

Employees that are hung over are impaired from low sugar levels, dehydration and may still be legally intoxicated.

Symptoms / Effects:

• Impaired judgment

• Decreased motor skills

• Potential for dizzy spells, etc.

Employees no longer under the influence of alcohol but still feeling hung over still have an effect:

Symptoms / Effects:

• Impaired judgment

• Decreased motor skills

• Dizziness

• Increased potential to lose consciousness

Bottom Line:

Employees that come to work with a hangover may become injured or injure  others and should be asked to stop work and possibly sent home. Keep a close eye on your crew.

Production is important, but employees that are under the effect of alcohol or hangovers are a serious safety issue that may wind up a tragedy.

This information provided by: Assurance Agency

Driving in Snow and Ice

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The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all, if you can avoid it.

Don't go out until the snow plows and sanding trucks have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

If you must drive in snowy conditions, make sure your car is prepared and that you know how to handle road conditions.

It's helpful to practice winter driving techniques in a snowy, open parking lot so you're familiar with how your car handles. Consult your owner's manual for tips specific to your vehicle.

Driving safely on icy roads
1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4. Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Use low gears to keep traction, especially on hills.
6. Don't use cruise control or overdrive on icy roads.
7. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
8. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
9. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.

If your rear wheels skid...
1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Steer in the direction you want the front wheels to go. If your rear wheels are sliding left, steer left. If they're sliding right, steer right.
3. If your rear wheels start sliding the other way as you recover, ease the steering wheel toward that side. You might have to steer left and right a few times to get your vehicle completely under control.
4. If you have standard brakes, pump them gently.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Housekeeping - On the Job Tool Box Talks

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Maintaining good housekeeping is an important part of the overall job of supervision. There are a number of advantages to having a clean and orderly plant, including: avoidance of accidents, better fire prevention, improved health of employees, and increased worker efficiency and morale.

Avoidance of accidents is one of the major goals of any company. That occasional piece of scrap or wet spot on the floor can cause slip, trip, and fall hazards. Cluttered aisles and congested work areas can add to the dangers. A thorough, regular, and successful program of good housekeeping that eliminates hazards makes good sense for everyone.

Housekeeping can appear to be a never-ending and thankless job, but if too much dirt, debris, and disorder are allowed to accumulate, this can eventually lead to production problems caused by increased accidents, absenteeism, and turnover. Typically, you will find that places that have good housekeeping will have competent foremen and a low accident rate.
People don’t really enjoy working in areas that are disorderly and crowded with booby traps. They don’t want to continuously climb over excessive accumulations of spilled material, be hit by objects falling from above, or scrape up against poorly placed materials.

Keeping everything in order will prevent these incidents from occurring.
A responsible foreman and responsible employees know that good housekeeping cannot be maintained simply by an occasional large cleanup. It must be planned on a regular basis. It should also be a part of everyone’s daily routine.

Here are some real life examples of what did happen because of bad housekeeping:
• A plumber fractured his ankle after he slipped on some pipe while attempting to get to his crowded work area/.
• A carpenter slipped on a wet floor and sprained his back.
• An electrician stepped on a tool while climbing down a ladder and sprained his ankle.
All of these accidents could have been prevented through better housekeeping. With good housekeeping, you can reduce operating costs, increase production, and prevent injuries. Good housekeeping is just good business.

Checklist for Housekeeping
• Is your workplace neat and orderly?
• Have you emphasized the importance of housekeeping to your workers on a regular basis?
• Do your employees know that housekeeping is everyone’s responsibility?
• Are spills and slippery spots cleaned up immediately?
• Are employees provided with adequate storage areas to put tools and other work items away?

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

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