Using Compressed Gases Safely

Overview
Compressed gases are hazardous because of the high pressure at which they are stored in cylinders and pressure tanks. The compressed gases can be flammable, poisonous, corrosive, or any combination of these.

How can they hurt me?
Mishandling of compressed gases has been responsible for fatalities, serious injuries, and property damage that has amounted to millions of dollars.

Flammable compressed gases:
• Explode if handled roughly or exposed to heat.
• Ignite by heat, sparks, or flames.
• Flash back if vapors travel to a source of ignition.
• Produce irritating or poisonous gas when burning.

Non-flammable compressed gases:
• Explode when in a mixture with fuels.

Health Effects of Compressed Gases Compressed gases:
• Are harmful if inhaled.
• Have extremely irritating vapors.
• Can cause cryogenic burns to skin and eyes.
• Produces irritating or poisonous gas when burning.
• Causes dizziness, unconsciousness, or suffocation.

Handling compressed gas cylinders
Compressed gas cylinders require careful handling to prevent damage. When handling cylinders:
• Move cylinders (securely fastened, in as near an upright position as possible) on special hand trucks.
• Don’t drop or bang cylinders together.
• Don’t roll, drag, or slide cylinders and never use cylinders as rollers or supports.
• Don’t lift cylinders by their caps.
• Don’t use magnets to lift cylinders.
• Cradles or platforms can be used to lift cylinders only if the cylinder was manufactured with lifting attachments.

Compressed Gas Storage
Some general guidelines in storing compressed gas cylinders include:
• Store cylinders in an upright position.
• Storing the cylinders in a safe, dry, well-ventilated place that is clean and free of combustible material.
• Avoiding areas where cylinders can be knocked down or damaged.
• Storing the cylinders in a position that ensures that the safety relief device is always in direct contact with the cylinder’s vapor space.
• Store oxygen CGCs at least 20 feet from flammables or combustibles, or separate them by a 5 foot, fire-resistant barrier.

This information is provided by Assurance Agency

Safe Response to Bloodborne Pathogens

Overview
If you are a health professional, a designated first responder, or first aid provider in your company, or if you are involved in maintenance or housekeeping work that could potentially expose you to bloodborne pathogens, you need to know how to protect yourself from potentially infectious material.

What are Bloodborne Pathogens?
Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms in human blood that can cause disease in humans. Examples are hepatitis B virus (HBV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, syphilis, and brucellosis.

Bloodborne Pathogens and Needlesticks
OSHA has revised its Bloodborne Pathogens standard to clarify the need for employers to select safer needle devices as they become available and to involve employees in identifying and choosing the devices. Employers have to establish a log to track needlestick injuries.

Engineering and Work Practice Controls
Your company strives to reduce the risk of infection to employees who, in order to perform their jobs, may be reasonably anticipated to come into contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials. The risks can be reduced by following good work practices. Universal Precautions is an approach to infection control where all human blood and certain human body fluids are treated as if they were known to be infectious for bloodborne pathogens.

Follow these precautions when working with human blood and other potentially infectious materials (OPIMs):
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Dispose of sharps properly.
• Properly label and enclose any material contaminated with blood or OPIMs in leakproof red bags or containers.
• Wash your hands after handling contaminated material (even though you were wearing PPE).
• Report any exposure incident to your employer. An exposure incident is any specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, non-intact skin, or parenteral contact with blood or OPIM resulting from the performance of an employee's duties.

Hepatitis B Vaccination
Hepatitis B is the greatest bloodborne pathogen risk. Your employer offers you the hepatitis B vaccination series when your job duties could expose you to blood or certain body fluids. If you initially refuse the vaccination, you must sign a declination form, but you can request to be vaccinated later.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Eye Protection - On the job tool box talks

The Importance of Eye Protection
The majority of work-related eye injuries are a result of flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye.
Other Common Potential Hazards Include the Following:
• Fumes
• Vapors
• Chemical splashes
• Extremely bright or hazardous light, such as from welding

Common Types of Eye Protection
A job hazard assessment performed prior to the start of a particular task will determine the type of eye protection required.
• Safety glasses are a common form of protection against low-to-moderate impacts and sparks from activities such as grinding and woodworking. Only use safety glasses with side shields.
• Goggles form a protective seal around the eye area to better protect from hazardous chemical vapors, splashes, or dust or other small particles that may enter the eye. Make sure that your goggles include ventilation mechanisms to prevent fogging.
• Face shields provide protection for the entire face against flying particles, sparks, splashes, harmful mists, and other hazards.
• Welding masks are specially designed to protect from radiant energy, sparks, and metal splatters from welding.

Proper Use
• Always wear proper eye protection where required, even if danger to your eyes seems remote.
• Before use, verify that your equipment is appropriate for the task.
• Inspect eye protection prior to each use.
• If you wear prescription eyewear, use eye protection that accommodates it. Prescription eyewear by itself is not a substitute for safety glasses or goggles.
• When welding or cutting, always wear safety glasses or goggles underneath face shields or welding helmets.
• When your work is complete, store eye protection properly and away from extreme temperatures or direct sunlight.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Safe Lifting On the job tool box talks.

Do you realize you may be risking serious injury. It's true if you don't lift correctly. Improper lifting causes back injuries that can take months and even years to heal. Many times these injuries are permanent and disabling. A little know-how can help you to lift safely.

When you are preparing to lift, check the load. If it looks too heavy, don't be afraid to ask for help. If the object has rough or sharp edges wear suitable work gloves. They'll give you a good grip and protect your hands. Also wear proper footwear. There is always a chance of dropping something on your toes, or losing your footing.

Know that you can lift the load. Is it too heavy or too awkward? If so, get some help. Check your path and make sure it is clear. Check to see if you have enough room, that there are no obstructions in the way and that there is nothing overhead. Be aware of uneven surfaces.

When you make the lift, squat down and get a good grip on the object. As you rise, lift with your legs, keeping the load as close to your body as possible. Remember that your legs are much stronger than your arms. If you have to place the load to your left or to your right, don't twist your body. Move your feet instead. When you have to lower the load, simply reverse the procedure.

Remember these points when you lift.
• When lifting, get a firm footing, feet apart, one slightly behind the other for good balance.
• Stand close to the load.
• Always remember to lift with your legs and not your back.
• Carry the load close to your body.
• Never try to carry a load that is too heavy. Ask for help or get a machine such as a forklift to do the heavy lift.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Required Signage

Overview
All buildings must have a way of allowing occupants fast exit to the outside or a safe place of refuge in case of an emergency.
All exits, and the designated paths of exit, must be clearly marked with exit signs. Paths leading to an exit must be marked with an exit sign and an arrow indicating direction of travel.
Exit signs must be illuminated so that the sign can be seen in the dark or in cases of reduced lighting.

What must my employer do?
Your employer is responsible for providing safe means of exiting from the workplace, and for marking those exits.
Your employer will explain how to locate exits in your facility, and what you should do if you are required to exit the building in an emergency.

What must I do?
You must become aware of the appearance of the exit signs in your building, so that there is no confusion if an emergency evacuation is required.
You have the duty to alert your employer if exit signs are damaged, removed, or not illuminated properly, so that repairs can be made.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Muddy Conditions

With the change from winter to fall 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

Air Contaminants TBT

Overview
An air contaminant is any substance that is accidentally or unintentionally introduced into the air, having the effect of rendering the air toxic or harmful to some degree.

Who is covered?
29 CFR 1910.1000 Air contaminants protects employees from occupational exposure to air contaminants. The regulation applies to all workers who may be subjected to workplace air contaminants.

§1910.1000 lists various substances along with permissible exposure limits (PELs) for an eight-hour period. Your employer has a responsibility to notify you of potential hazards in the workplace, including air contaminants.

What must my employer do?
Your employer:
• Is responsible for controlling sources of air contamination by using engineering controls, or, if necessary, by using personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Must let you know what air contaminants are in the workplace and how you can protect yourself from them.
• Will discuss any necessary PPE with you and demonstrate proper use, cleaning, and storage of the equipment.  Must periodically test the air in the facility for the presence of air contaminants. You, or your representative, have a right to see the results of those tests.

If your employer chooses to use PPE in addition to engineering and work practice controls, the PPE must be provided free of charge.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency