Highway Construction Safety

 

Highway construction means working side by side with 3,000 pounds of metal speeding along two to three feet from you eight hours a day! Consequently, 86 workers died in 1999 from highway, street, bridge, and tunnel construction according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What are the hazards?

Traffic is not the only concern. Almost as many workers are killed by heavy equipment. Also, a number of fatalities occur when heavy equipment rolls over. Remaining hazards involve heavy lifting, falling hazards (i.e., bridge sites), overhead power lines, underground electrical lines, ungrounded electrical equipment, poorly maintained tools and jacks, unguarded moving parts, excavation cave-ins, vibrating tools, carbon monoxide from vehicle exhaust, asphalt fumes, extreme heat/cold, rain and fog, and darkness at night.

How can you protect yourself?

While there are many hazards, there are also many ways to protect yourself:

·         Wear highly visible clothing and a light-colored hard hat. During the day, you must wear a vest, shirt, or jacket that is orange, yellow, yellow-green, or a fluorescent version of these colors. At night, the vest, shirt, or jacket must be retroreflective.

·         Work where drivers can see you, but as far as possible from traffic. Drivers may not be able to see you when the sun is low in the sky or when it is rainy, foggy, or dark.

·         Get in and out of traffic spaces and heavy equipment areas quickly and safely.

·         Stay alert and don't wear a radio headset.

·         Do not operate equipment or a vehicle unless you are trained and authorized.

·         Always wear your seat belt when operating equipment or vehicles.

·         Make visual contact with workers on foot near you before moving equipment.

·         Make sure equipment is inspected and corrected daily.

·         Use equipment with rollover protective structures.

·         Chock two wheels when leaving equipment.

·         If you must park your vehicle near traffic, park where drivers can see you (don't park around blind corners).

·         If working on pile driving, know the special hazards of this work.

·         If working on trenching and/or shoring associated with a work zone, be sure all excavations are being properly shored and be aware of cave-in hazards.

·         If working on a bridge over another roadway or over water, use appropriate fall protection. 

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

 

Vehicle Safety

 

Vehicles are used every day on our job sites, and we become so familiar with them that we forget the importance of vehicle safety. Here are some things we need to keep in mind when using vehicles.

Vehicles must be in proper condition. Vehicle inspections are the responsibility of each driver/operator. Check fuel, oil and water levels each day. Never take the inspection of the vehicle for granted. Look at the condition of tires and make sure that turning signals and head lights are working. Record the results of your inspection in a vehicle inspection log.

When operating a vehicle, observe these rules for vehicle safety. Always obey the speed limit. Just because the speed limit is 55 miles per hour, is that speed always safe? No. Adjust your speed for traffic, weather and other factors that can affect your ability to stop.

Equip all materials that hang over the sides or extend beyond the tailgate with red flags. Check to make sure that tail gates are closed and materials are properly secured before starting out.

The maximum number of passengers allowed in a vehicle depends on the number of seats equipped with safety belts. Safety belts are to be worn by all occupants of the vehicle. Failure to wear your seat belt could result in your termination.

Remember to drive defensively. Right of way is something to be given, not taken. When you are driving, you must be concerned about the other driver and his or her actions. Watch them while you watch yourself.

Remember to report any problems with a company vehicle to your supervisor immediately. Any abuse of company vehicles could result in your termination. Treat them with care and respect.

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

 

Understand MVAC Requirements

Overview

Chlorofluorocarbon-12, also called CFC-12, has long been the refrigerant of choice for motor vehicle air conditioning systems. However, it has been shown to be a major ozone-depleting substance. It is now banned for use in new systems. The substitutes, called hydrofluorocarbon-134a or R-401C, also have ozone-depleting potential.

Class I chemicals (CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform) will be phased out by 2000, with the exception of a methyl chloroform phase-out by 2002. Class II chemicals (hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)) will be phased out by 2030.

A "reduced use exemption" is available for users of methyl chloroform or CFC-113. Manufacturers must be able to document a 95 percent reduction in overall usage from 1990. This certification must cover a 12-month period.

Who may work on air-conditioning equipment?

Only persons who have graduated from an approved technician training and certification program may work on air-conditioning equipment.

Persons who maintain, service, or repair MVAC-like appliances must either be properly certified as Type II technicians or complete the training and certification test offered by a training and certification program approved under Section 82.40.

Persons who maintain, service, or repair small appliances as defined in Section 82.158(v) must be properly certified as Type I technicians.

Persons who maintain, service, or repair high or very high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and MVACs, or dispose of high or very high-pressure appliances, except small appliances and MVACs, must be properly certifieThis information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.comd as Type II technicians. Persons who maintain, service, or repair low-pressure appliances or dispose of low-pressure appliances must be properly certified as Type III technicians.

Persons who maintain, service, or repair low- and high-pressure equipment as described in Section 82.161 (a) (1), (2) and (3) must be properly certified as Universal technicians.

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