Pneumatic Tools

 

Pneumatic tools are powered by compressed air and include nailers, drills, hammers, and sanders. They are dangerous because the tools are under pressure and can come apart. When this occurs there is the danger of a “flying missile” striking you or other workers. It is important that you inspect your pneumatic tools daily and keep them in good working order.

You must also wear eye protection. Head and face protection is recommended. When required, you should set up screens to protect nearby workers from being struck by flying fragments from chippers, riveting guns, staplers, or air drills.

When you use pneumatic tools you must:

·                  Never point compressed air guns at anyone.

·                  Check the pneumatic tools to make sure they are fastened securely to the air supply hose to prevent them from becoming disconnected. A short wire or positive locking device must attach the air hose to the tool. This will serve as an added safeguard to prevent “whiplash” if the hose becomes disconnected.

·                  Make sure a safety clip or retainer is installed to prevent attachments, such as chisels on a chipping hammer, from being ejected during tool operation.

·                  If the air hose is more than 1/2 inch in diameter, there should be a safety excess flow valve installed at the air supply source. This will reduce pressure in case of hose failure.

·                  Take precautions to protect your air hose from physical damage. The hose can be easily damaged.

·                  Check pneumatic tools that shoot nails, rivets, staples, or similar fasteners, and operate at pressures more than 100 pounds per square inch to make sure they are equipped with a special device to keep fasteners from being ejected, unless the muzzle is pressed against the work surface.

·                  Check airless spray guns (the kind that atomize paints and fluids at pressures of 1,000 pounds or more per square inch) to make sure they have automatic or visible manual safety devices. These devices will prevent pulling the trigger until the safety device is manually released.

·                  Don’t use compressed air for cleaning, unless the pressure is reduced to less than 30 pounds per square inch, and then only with effective chip guarding and personal protective equipment.

·                  When you are using a jackhammer, wear safety glasses and safety shoes. These items will protect you against injury if the jackhammer slips or falls. Use a faceshield too.

·                  Wear appropriate hearing protection when working with noisy tools, 

such as jackhammers.

 

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

 

Floor / Wall Openings

 

In the construction industry falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. When working around floor and wall openings, you must be careful that you don’t fall through. You can be injured or killed if you step into a hole or opening, or are hit by objects falling through.

Definitions

• Guardrail system means a barrier erected to prevent employees from falling to lower levels.

• Hole is a gap or void 2 inches or more in its least dimension, in a floor, roof, or other walking/working surface.

• Opening is a gap or void 30 inches or more high and 18 inches or more wide, in a wall or partition, through which employees can fall to a lower level.

What you need to know

If you are working on a surface or floor that has holes or openings and that surface is more than six feet above a lower level, you must be protected from:

• Falling through holes (including skylights) by personal fall arrest systems, covers, or guardrail systems erected around the holes;

• Tripping in or stepping into or through holes by covers; and

• Objects falling through holes by covers.

Covers and safety
How can you tell a cover from a sheet of plywood laying on the floor?

• Covers must be secured when installed to prevent accidental displacement by the wind, equipment, or employees. If the cover material is secured to the floor it may be there for a reason so don’t remove it.

• All covers must be color-coded or marked with the word “HOLE” or “COVER” to provide warning of the hazard. This should be a good indication that the material is a cover.

What if you are going to work in an opening that has a cover secured over it?

• Never remove a cover until you are ready to work in the hole or opening.

• Use personal fall arrest systems when working in the hole or opening.After you are finished working in the opening your employer must either replace and secure the cover or erect guardrails around the hole.

- What if you are moving or disposing of material through a wall opening to a lower level?

If you are working on, at, above, or near wall openings (including those with chutes attached) you must use a guardrail system, a safety net system, or a personal fall arrest system, when:

• the outside bottom edge of the wall opening is six-feet or more above lower levels; and

• the inside bottom edge of the wall opening is less than 39 inches above the walking/working surface.

- OSHA recognizes that accidents involving falls are generally complex events frequently involving a variety of factors. By following the requirements in this handout, you can avoid falling through floor and wall openings.

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

Forklift Inspections

 

Like any piece of construction equipment, forklifts need to be inspected and maintained. Although a regular maintenance schedule should be set up for lift trucks, you should always run down a safety checklist at the start of your shift.

This inspection includes checking fluid levels, hydraulics, wheels and tires, brakes and any potential mechanical problems with the vehicle. Make this examination at least daily.

Brakes

Brakes are the single most common cause of lift truck accidents due to mechanical failure. To check the brakes:

·            Push the brake pedal in. It should have free travel before meeting resistance.

·            Then, depress the pedal again and hold it for ten seconds. The pedal must hold solid and not be spongy or drift under pressure.

Steering

Steering is a vital maintenance concern. With the engine running, check if the steering wheel turns correctly both ways to its stops. The wheel should not feel loose and the pump should not squeal before reaching the stops.

 

Sample checklist

The following checklist should be strictly adhered to before operating the vehicle:

·            Check the fork pins and stops to make sure that they are in place.

·            Check all cowling and body parts.

·            Check the wheels and tires for excessive wear.

·            Look for any broken or loose parts.

·            Check the fuel level, crankcase oil level, and radiator water level.

·            Check the engine air cleaner, the fan belt, the hydraulic fluid level, and the battery water level.

·            Check the hour meter and record it. This is important for maintenance scheduling.

·            With the engine running, check operation of the hour meter, headlights, taillights, and warning lights.

·            Check the oil pressure gauge, the water temperature, ammeter, and sound the horn.

·            Note if the clutch is working properly, check incapability, the hydraulic controls, and any other controls on the lift system.

Report anything not up to par to your supervisor at once.

 

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