CPWR Toolbox Talks: Now en Español

CPWR's 52 toolbox talk series is now available in Spanish, alongside their English-language counterparts on the CPWR website, thanks to a collaborative effort with The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). This series, a collaboration in content development with NIOSH, has been available in English for just over two years and is widely used on construction sites across the country. 

http://www.cpwr.com/publications/handouts-toolbox-talks

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Workplace Violence-TBT

What is workplace violence?

Workplace violence ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. It can affect and involve employees, clients, customers and visitors. Workplace violence includes but is not limited to:

·        Physical violence

·        Harassment

·        Intimidation

·        Other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site

How can workplace violence hazards be reduced?

Behaviors of concern can help workers recognize potential problems with fellow employees. If a coworker begins acting differently, determining the frequency, duration, and intensity of the new, and possibly troubling, behavior can prove helpful. Specific behaviors of concern that should increase vigilance for coworkers and supervisors include:

·        Sadness or depression
·        Threats
·        Menacing or erratic behavior	·
·        Aggressive outbursts	·
·        References to weaponry        Verbal Abuse        Inability to handle criticism        Hypersensitivity to perceived slight          Offensive commentary or jokes referring to violence

These behaviors—when observed in clusters and coupled with diminished work performance (as manifested by increased tardiness or absences, poor coworker relations, and decreased productivity)—may suggest a heightened violence potential. It must be pointed out, however, that no single behavior is more suggestive of violence than another. All actions have to be judged in the proper context and in totality to determine the potential for violence.

Care must be taken when dealing with what can be highly charged situations. Certain signs that may help determine if a coworker is experiencing such difficulties include:

·        Disruptive phone calls and e-mails	·
·        Anxiety
·        Poor concentration
·        Unexplained bruises or injuries          Frequent absences and tardiness         Use of unplanned personal time           ·        Disruptive visit from current or former partners

Remember that all incidents are different and must be viewed on their own individual merits.

What is the process if I witness or experience workplace violence?

Report concerns regarding workplace violence to your supervisors or Human Resources Department.

Your employer will investigate all threats, incidents of actual violence, and suspicious individuals or activities.

The identity of the individual making a report will be protected as much as possible. Your employer will not retaliate against employees making good-faith reports of threats, violence, or suspicious individuals or activities.

Following an investigation, disciplinary action may be taken, up to and including termination of employment. 

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency 

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New NIOSH video on Nail Gun Safety

The NIOSH Small Business Assistance Program and the NIOSH Office of Construction Safety and Health are pleased to inform you that the videos “Know Your Nailer: Nail Gun Safety” (long and short versions, both in English and Spanish) are now available on YouTube. The videos are also available on the NIOSH website at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/construction/  and http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nailgun/default.html .

Nail guns are used every day on many construction jobs—especially in residential construction. They boost productivity but also cause tens of thousands of painful injuries each year.  These videos provide brief, practical, and straight-to-the-point advice that contractors can use to prevent nail gun injuries on their worksites. The videos were developed based on numerous publications and information products resulting from NIOSH-funded studies, which are listed on the topic page in the link above.  

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The Effects of Alcohol - Tool Box Talks

Download the full article.

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:
The above 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 up to 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 is provided by Assurance Agency
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Medical and First Aid for your job site.

Download the full Article 

First aid supplies and other medical services must be available at your jobsite. The minimum OSHA requirements are:

·             Medical personnel must be available for advice on occupational health matters.

·             Prior to the start of a project, provisions must be made for prompt medical attention in case of serious injury.

·             An infirmary, clinic, hospital, or physician must be nearby, or someone trained in first aid must be available at the worksite.

·             First aid supplies must be easy to get to.

·             Having available means to transport an injured person to a physician or hospital.

·             If 911 service is not available, the posting of emergency numbers for physicians, hospitals, and ambulances.

On-site medical treatment—The construction rules for medical services and first aid say that prior to starting a project, provisions must be made for prompt medical attention in case of serious injury. This means that when an injury or illness occurs, maximum response time is fifteen minutes. This is currently recognized by OSHA as appropriate for most cases.

However, conditions at each workplace must be looked at when the first aid program is developed. This is to ensure that fifteen minutes is adequate to meet all needs. Where a medical facility is near the workplace, OSHA rules require your employer to ensure the following:

·             In areas where accidents resulting in suffocation, severe bleeding or other life threatening injury or illness can be expected, a three to four minute response time is required.

·             In other circumstances, for instance where a life-threatening injury is an unlikely outcome of an accident, a longer response time of up to fifteen minutes is acceptable.

·             If you work in areas where emergency transportation is not available, your company must provide acceptable transportation. If arrangements cannot be made to provide emergency medical service within an appropriate time frame, then a trained first aid person must be available for each shift.

Eyewash/drenching stations—Where you may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable eyewash/drenching stations must be available at your jobsite.

You need to review your company’s Emergency Action Plan for first aid and medical services. It should outline everything you need to know to get help during a medical emergency.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

2016 RCEC/HBAGC Golf Outing

Thursday, May 26, 2016
The Highlands of Elgin
875 Sports Way, Elgin

9 am registration
10 am shotgun start

Golf - $155 per person
Dinner - $55 per person

Sponsorship Opportunities
Download the list of sponsorships available.
Download the registration form.

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Blueprint reading class

Blueprint for Success - Class
Don’t let your lack of knowledge interpreting blueprints prevent you from getting ahead in your job! The Residential Home Builders Alliance is pleased to offer blueprint reading classes for anyone who needs to understand blueprints in their daily work. This course is ideal for contractors and sales personnel. [READ MORE]

Thursday, May 5 and May 12, 5 - 8 pm
Assurance Agency1750 E. Golf Road
Floor 2
Schaumburg

RCEC/RHBA Members $60
Non Member $75

Call today and reserve your spot
630-512-0552