Muddy Conditions

With the change from winter to spring usually means the change from dry ground to muddy conditions.  Slip and fall accidents are much more likely to happen during these times. Unfortunately we are unable to  control the weather, so we must adapt to conditions daily. Simple steps taken can be the difference in  preventing an accident. 1. Keep boots free of mud. Employee should clean boots of mud once they reach the house or unit they  are to work in. This may have to be done every time you leave and return. No employee should access  top plates or roofs if their boots are muddy. 2. Keep ladders free of mud. If you are using a ladder in mud, tracking mud up the rungs of the ladders  creates a very slippery and dangerous condition. Employees should use the bottom rung to scrap mud  from there boots. If mud does accumulate, you may need to take a rag or towel and clean the rungs. 3. Walk in areas were stone driveways/paths have been provided. If a stone path is not provided,  you may want to use some plywood or planks to create a walkway to the work area. 4. Store material/lumber close to the house to minimize having to walk in the mud to reach piles or stacks. 5. Move slowly – don’t be in a rush. Carrying material or equipment through mud could cause you to slip.  Several strains and sprains have been cause as the result of a slip.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency 5 tips to ensure your regular safety meetings are effective   Download the Safety Meeting Sign-in Sheet

Face Protection

Overview
Face protection is required by OSHA where there is a reasonable probability of preventing injury when such equipment is used. Employers must provide a type of protection that is suitable for the work being done.

Employees must use the protection provided. A Bureau of Labor Statistics study found that about half of the injuries which occurred to workers faces resulted from not wearing the protective equipment supplied.

What must my employer do?
Your employer must ensure that:
• All workers required to wear face protection understand how to use it so that it offers the most protection.
• These workers must demonstrate understanding of the training, and the ability to use it properly before being allowed to perform work requiring its use.

What must I do?
As an employee who is required to use face protection, you must:
• Understand how to use the required personal protection equipment (PPE).
• Know how to properly clean and maintain the PPE.

What must face protection do?
At a minimum, face protection must:
• Adequately protect against the particular hazards for which it was designed.
• Be reasonably comfortable when worn under the designated conditions.
• Fit snugly without interfering with the movements or vision of the wearer.
• Be durable.
• Be capable of being disinfected.
• Be easily cleanable.
• Be kept clean and in good repair.

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

Covid=19 - Cloth Face Coverings

Purpose
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the coronavirus and help people who may have the virus, and do not know it, from transmitting it to others.
•Wear a mask when social distancing cannot be maintained, including:
    •To and from the jobsite – carpool, bus stop & train station
    •To and from the the work area - elevator lobby, elevators, hoists & lifts, stairways, hallways and corridors
    •Common areas, tool lock up, breakrooms, staging and clean-up areas, and work areas
•Surgical masks and N95 respirators are in short supply and should be reserved for healthcare workers or other medical first responders. Only use N95 masks when required as PPE for a work task.

Proper Wear
• Snug fit, but comfortable against side of face
• Have ties or ear loops that are snug fit to ensure they cannot be caught in tools
• Have multiple layers of fabric
• Will not restrict breathing

Sanitation
• Routinely wash coverings depending on how often they are used
• Material should be able to be machine cleaned/dried without damage
• Do not touch eyes, nose, and mouth when removing covering and wash hands immediately afterwards

Based on CDC guidelines current as of 4/4/2020. For additional information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/

This information is provided by: Optimum Safety Management

Covid-19 How to Clean and Disinfect Areas / Objects to Clean and Disinfect

How Often to Clean and Disinfect

Download this Information

•Before cleaning and disinfecting, properly put on disposable gloves

•Clean frequently touched surfaces using soap and water

•CDC recommends use of EPA-registered household disinfectants:

•https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

•Make sure to follow instructions on the label of the product

•Diluted household bleach solutions can be used if appropriate for surface

•Ensure it is not expired and follow the instructions from the manufacturer

•Alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol may be used

•Ensure safety data sheets are available on site for the product you are using

Areas / Objects to Clean and Disinfect
•All frequently touched objects should be cleaned and disinfected especially when using someone else’s

•Examples: Door handles, electronics (keyboards, touch screens, etc.), ladders, guard/handrails, light switches, toolboxes, gangboxes, paint bucket handles, vacuums, drywall tapers, paint rollers, window scrapers, suction cup window holders, and all othertools

•All frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected

•Examples: Countertops / sinks (in break rooms, in work areas, etc.), desks, and tables

How Often to Clean and Disinfect
•CDC recommends routine cleaning

•Employees should take responsibility for their tools / immediate work area

•Recommendation: Designate an employee and set a schedule throughout the workday for cleaning of common areasthroughout the site

•Examples: Break rooms, stairway handrails

This information is provided by Optimum Safety Management

POSTER: Employee Rights Under the FFCRA

Poster for the workplace - download PDF version 

Stairway Safety for Construction

Stairways, like ladders, are a source of accidents at construction sites. They are also a source for numerous OSHA citations. In September 2003, the following stairway violations were in the top 75 OSHA rules to receive citations:
- Stairways with four or more risers or rising more than 30", whichever is less, must have at least one handrail and one stairrail system along each unprotected side or edge.
- A stairway or ladder must be provided at all employee access points where there is a break in elevation of 19" or more, and no ramp, runway, sloped embankment, or personnel hoist is provided.
- Your employer must provide a training program, as necessary, for stairway use. The program must enable you to recognize hazards related to stairways, and must train you in the procedures to be followed to minimize these hazards.
- Unprotected sides and edges of stairway landings must be provided with guardrails.

OSHA has many rules that address design, stairrails, handrails, and maintenance. The following examples (of the many rules for stairways) point out some of these areas.

General
- Temporary stairways must have landings of not less than 30" in the direction of travel, and extend at least 22" wide at every 12' or less of vertical rise.
- Where doors or gates open directly on a stairway, a platform must be provided. The door swing must leave 20" of effective width.
- Proper housekeeping procedures eliminate stairway slip, trip, and fall hazards. Keep stairs free from debris and clutter.

Good lighting will help avoid stairway hazards. Like any other walking/working surface, it is difficult to avoid what you cannot see.

Stairrails and handrails
- Stairrails must not be less than 36 inches high from the tread to the top of the stairrail.
- Handrails must be between 30 and 37 inches high measured from the tread surface.
- Handrails must provide an adequate handhold to avoid falling. If the handrails are not permanent, there must be at least a three inch clearance between the handrail and wall.

Temporary stairs have their own issues
- Treads for temporary service must be made of wood or other solid material, and must be installed the full width and depth of the stair.

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

Windy Conditions and Construction

Windy conditions are a fact of life in this area during many times of the year. The goal is to maintain safety and production while dealing with this issue. Sometimes it is just too windy to work. A collapsed wall, employee injury or other related incident will cost far more than any production gains that can be made in high-wind conditions.

Wall Bracing:
How much bracing is needed? Watching the weather report is a good plan to take. A sunny day can turn into near-tornado conditions by the next day. There is no formula for proper bracing. However, experience is the primary method. Be conservative and brace assuming strong overnight wind.
• The future weather should always be a concern that is monitored.
• Some crews have made California Corner braces to increase the breaking strength of the brace.
• The point of brace contact on the floor needs to be strong. A brace nailed into the flooring needs to be nailed through a floor joist as well.
• The point of brace contact on the wall should not be damaged or split wood. Damaged lumber will not likely hold a substantial wind load without failure.

Standing Walls:
A plan needs to be established when placing walls with regard to wind. (The goal is to take precautionary measures to avoid an incident rather than reacting to a wall tip-over.)
• Make certain the appropriate man-power is available.
• Wall braces may need to be placed prior to standing the wall during windy conditions.
• The bottom of the wall may need to be strapped even on 8 foot 2x4 walls if the winds dictate.
• Determine if it is too windy to lift the walls. This may be your best decision of the day.

Bracing Roof Trusses:
Proper bracing is usually left to the discretion of the roof crew. Keep in mind that a gable truss recently broke a 2 x 4 support causing an injury. The supporting brace may subject to loads that will break a standard 2 x 4 during windy conditions. If it is becoming windy, additional bracing and sway bracing will be needed. When monitoring this on the job, ask the roof crew to support the trusses for substantial wind. Be willing to stop the work.

Roof Sheathing:
Sometimes the best protection is to suspend work. If the work will continue based on the best judgement of the foreman, the following items should be considered:
• Nail down what you place the same day.
• Always walk on the wind-side of the plywood sheet. This way, you can let go of the sheet rather than being blown off the roof. (If it is this windy, you should probably suspend roof work.)
• Storing material on the roof: The top several sheets of plywood need to be secured to prevent them from blowing off the roof. The entire plywood bunk may need to be secured based on wind or anticipated wind.

Other Operations:
• Suspend top plate work if the wind creates an unacceptable hazard.
• Unsecured material stored in a vertical position are at risk at being blown over and should be taken down or secured.
• Ladders should not be stored in a leaning position.
• Caution needs to be paid to cutting operations. Always stand up wind of the cut so the saw dust will not blow in your eyes

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