Walking- Working Surfaces

 

Overview

Slips, trips, and falls account for many industry accidents. Slips, trips, and falls are responsible for 10 percent of all accidental deaths. They are also the fourth leading cause, following motor vehicles, homicides, and being struck by objects or equipment, as a cause of fatalities.

In an attempt to remove potential hazards from the workplace, OSHA developed 1910, Subpart D—Walking—Working Surfaces. Subpart D.

Hazards involved with using walking-working surfaces

The main hazard involved with walking and working surfaces include slips, trips, and falls. Stairways are also taken for granted, and so become a source for accidents in the workplace.

What must my employer do?

Your employer is responsible for providing a safe working environment. That includes reducing or eliminating hazards in walking and working areas by:

·         Keeping all employment, passageway, storerooms, and service rooms clean, orderly, and sanitary.

·         Maintain floors in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition. If wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained. Gratings, mats, or raised platforms must be provided.

·         Floors, working places, and passageways are to be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, or loose boards. ·         Keeping aisles and passageways clear and in good repair with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create hazards. ·         Appropriately marking permanent aisles and passageways.

·                   Maintaining proper aisle width so as to not limit passage or egress.

·                   Providing covers and/or guardrails to protect open pits, vats, tanks, ditches, and other hazards.

·                   Following load rating limits for all floors or roofs.

·                   Maintain adequate lighting in areas to illuminate walking surfaces.

·                   Providing handrails as required.

Fire Prevention

 

Overview
Welding and metal cutting operations produce molten metal, sparks, weld spatter, slag, and hot work surfaces. All of these can create a situation which can cause fires. At 1910.252 Gen¬eral requirements, OSHA addresses fire hazards.

When are fire watchers required?
A fire watcher is required in situations where:
• Other than a minor fire might develop.
• Combustible material is located within 35 feet of the work.
• Combustible material is located more than 35 feet away but can be easily ignited by sparks.
• Wall or floor openings within 35 feet expose combustible material in adjacent areas or concealed wall or floor spaces.
• Combustible materials are located on the opposite side of surfaces being welded.
• The fire watch is to be maintained for at least 30 minutes following completion of the work.

Fire watchers
Fire watchers are additional personnel who:
• Provide additional safeguards against fire during and after the welding, cutting, or heat¬ing operations.
• Must be trained on the specific fire hazards for that job and location.
• Know where fire prevention equipment is located and how to use it. Fire prevention equipment must be on hand, and readily available for use.

Additional information
Your employer will explain:
• The company’s welding “best practices.”
• The need to check for fire hazards prior to welding or cutting.
• How to obtain a “hot work” permit.
• How to report fires.

Personal Protective Equipment

 

There are a variety of hazards associated with welding and cutting. However, personal protective equipment can help protect you on the jobsite. To help prevent injuries from welding and cutting:

·               Use appropriate respirator—If necessary, use a respirator designed to protect you from welding fumes and gases. Check with your supervisor or the supplier of your safety equipment for protection information. If welding in a confined space, use the appropriate air-supplied respirator.

·               Wear the proper clothing—Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants with no cuffs. Do not wear light colors that can reflect the light from welding. Button the top button of shirts and sleeves. Do not tuck your shirt into your pants. Wool or treated cotton resist burns best. Do not wear clothes with tears, holes, or frays, as these can trap sparks or slag and present a fire hazard.

·               Understand how to care for welding helmets, shields, and/or goggles—Welding helmets, welding shields, and goggles protect the eyes from damage caused by looking at a welding arc or cutting torch. Keep lens covers and filter lenses clean. Do not use cracked filter lenses, and select a filter lens appropriate for the type of welding being performed. A flash burn feels like sand in the eyes, and may not be felt until as much as eight hours after exposure. Repeated exposures can permanently damage vision. In areas where other workers are present, use flash shields or welding curtains to help protect them. In addition to protective filter lenses, safety goggles or glasses prevent sparks from getting into your eyes.

·               Use burn-resistant covers—Leather or fire-resistant sleeves, capes, aprons, and caps are available to prevent burns and protect clothes. Chaps and leggings are also available.

·               Wear appropriate footgear—In addition to being steel-toed, welding shoes should be high-topped and pants should be worn over them to keep sparks and spatter out.

·               Use hearing and ear protection—Ear plugs will keep sparks out of the ears. If noise is an issue, wear the appropriate hearing protection.

·               Use head protection—You are still required to wear the appropriate head protection as required by the jobsite, to protect against sharp or falling objects.