Housekeeping

HOUSEKEEPING – WHAT IS GOOD HOUSEKEEPING?

Overview
OSHA requires that the workplace be kept clean and orderly in order to reduce the chance of accidents.
An uncluttered workplace is essential to worker safety. Industrial housekeeping must also include proper arrangement and storage of materials and goods.
Housekeeping hazards
Poor housekeeping habits can lead to:
• Poor attitudes toward safety.
• Slips, trips, or falls due to slick, wet, or poorly maintained walking and working surfaces.
• Tripping hazards from improperly stored materials in walkways and work areas.
• Falls from holes in walking and working surfaces, uneven flooring, uncovered pits or drains, or falls from boxes or pallets being used as walking or working surfaces.
• Accidents caused by overhanging or protruding materials, poorly stacked pallets, or improperly stored materials.

Benefits of good housekeeping
Industrial housekeeping is more than sweeping the floor and cleaning up the break room. Industrial housekeeping also refers to keeping tools and equipment in order and in their assigned places. The benefits of good housekeeping include:
• Better morale and improved safety culture.
• Reduced chance of fire and accidents.
• Making working easier for everyone.
• Reduction in the amount of cleanup and janitorial work needed.
• Creates a well organized work space.
• Reflecting an image of a professional, well-run workplace.

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

HAZWOPER

You could be exposed to chemical spills or hazardous waste. During excavation operations, for example, many companies have been surprised by the sometimes deadly things they have uncovered. That’s why OSHA created 29 CFR 1926.65, HAZWOPER. Under this rule, your employer can either (1) participate in the handling of emergencies involving hazardous waste or chemical spills, or (2) immediately evacuate workers and call in trained hazardous materials (HazMat) teams.

How can HAZWOPER involve you?
Preparing for accidental chemical releases involves special training. OSHA has set up formal training for emergency responders under HAZWOPER regulations, with training levels ranging from awareness training for first response to technical training for those who solve problems associated with spill cleanup.

What should you do in case of a spill?
Whether it’s a solid or a liquid leak or spill, you can be exposed to toxic dust or vapor without even knowing it. If you are properly trained, act with care and speed. However, if you have not received training, do not respond to a chemical leak or spill. Instead, follow your company’s emergency action plan for reporting leaks and spills and evacuating.

While it is vital to avoid panic, it is equally vital to get people out of harm’s way as quickly as possible. Assess site hazards and act only when you do not endanger yourself. You want to help your fellow employees, but you won’t do that if you become a victim yourself.

Some of the things you can do before help arrives are:
• Determine the potential hazards. (Look at the material safety data sheet.)
• Know about spill equipment and safety personnel.
• Know the exits and escape routes.
• Know the location of fire extinguishers.
• Know first aid and where to get first aid equipment.

Act responsibly in chemical spill emergencies

Safety becomes extremely important when hazardous chemicals are spilled. A mistake here can be deadly. Use the buddy system, whether you’re part of the emergency response team or not. Don’t ever enter a chemical emergency situation alone.

Different chemicals will require different levels of protective clothing or other precautions. Don’t touch spills without protection. Avoid contaminated clothing of injured persons. Certainly, if the chemicals involved aren’t hazardous, respond immediately within your abilities.

Do only those things that you possess adequate training to perform. Check the area for potential hazards such as electrical cords or wires near the spill or obstacles in the path of the emergency response team. Check for injuries and notify emergency medical personnel. Decontaminate victims, if possible. Cooperate with emergency personnel when they arrive, and pass on any information you’ve gathered.

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

GHS Pictograms TBT

OSHA has updated the hazard communication (HazCom) standard to include the Globally Harmonized System. This will require that all containers of hazardous chemicals be labeled with GHS-compliant labeling.

Part of that label may be pictograms - a black symbol inside of a red diamond border. Each pictogram has a specific meaning to convey health, physical, and environmental hazard information for a chemical's hazard class and category.

OSHA requires the use of nine different pictograms. Since you will be working with these labels, it's important that you become familiar with the pictograms.

 Flame Over Circle represents oxidizers.

Flame represents flammables, self-reactives, pyrophorics, self-heating materials, substances that emit flammable gas, and/or type B, C, D, and F organic peroxides.

Exploding Bomb is used to represent explosives, self-reactives, and type A and B organic peroxides.

Skull and Crossbones represents acutely toxic materials.

Corrosion represents skin corrosives, eye corrosives, and materials corrosive to metals.

Gas Cylinder represents gases under pressure.

Health Hazard is used to represent carcinogens, respiratory sensitizers, reproductive toxicity, target organ toxicity, mutagenicity, and aspiration toxicity.

Exclamation Mark is used for irritants, skin sensitizers, acute toxicity, narcotic effects, and respiratory tract irritants.

Environment is used for aquatic toxicity.

This information was provided by Assurance Agency.

Incident Reporting

The health and safety of our employees is a top priority. It is everyone’s responsibility to help prevent injuries and report all incidents immediately so that the same thing does not happen again.
When an incident does occur, you must report it to your supervisor immediately and no later than the end of the work day. An employee statement form must be filled out so that the details of the incident can be investigated. It is important to learn what actions must be taken to prevent the accident from happening again. Your supervisor has all the necessary forms for conducting an investigation. This process is not to place blame on the employee or supervisor. It is to find the “root” cause of the incident.

No matter how small the incident may seem, it should be reported to your supervisor. Your supervisor will decide what to do next.

Let’s discuss a few scenarios:
1. While setting up a ladder, a slight pain is felt in your shoulder. You work the rest of the day however it doesn’t hurt too bad. Should you report this or wait until tomorrow to see if it still hurts?
2. You cut your finger on a utility knife and there is some blood that requires a band aid. Should you report this?
3. You trip and hit your elbow on the ground but do not feel any pain. Should you report this?

The following items should always be immediately reported to your supervisor:
1. An injury to any employee or contractor, even if the injury does not require medical attention.
2. An injury to a member of the public occurring on a work site possibly resulting from our activity or involving property, equipment, or resource
3. Illness resulting from suspected chemical exposure
4. Chronic or re-occurring conditions such as back pain or cumulative trauma disorders
5. Fire or explosion
6. Any vehicle accidents occurring on site, while traveling to or from client locations, or with any company-owned or leased vehicle
7. Property damage resulting from any activity
8. Structural collapse or potential structural hazards
9. Unexpected release or imminent release of a hazardous material
10. Unexpected chemical exposures to workers or the public
11. A safety related complaint from the public regarding our activities
12. Any other significant occurrence that could impact safety - WHEN IN DOUBT, REPORT IT!

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

Stay Alert- Avoid Slips, Trips, and Falls

Overview
Slips and falls occur every day. The extent of injuries and their recurrence can be minimized through proper safety knowledge and attitudes. Practice safety--don't learn it through experience.

There are various ways to suffer slips and falls while working. You can slip and lose your balance, you can trip over objects left in your walkway, or you can simply fall from an elevated position above the ground.

Slips
Slips can be caused by wet surfaces, spills, or weather hazards like ice or snow. Slips are more likely to occur when you hurry or run, wear the wrong kind of shoes, or don’t pay attention to where you’re walking.

To avoid slips, be on the lookout for foreign substances on the floors. Watch for deposits of water, food, grease, oil, sawdust, soap, or debris. Even small quantities are enough to make you fall.

When entering a building from the outdoors or from debris areas, clean your footwear thoroughly. Snowy and rainy weather requires that you clean off the soles of your shoes. Don't go too fast, walk safely, and avoid changing directions too sharply.

Trips
Trips occur whenever your foot hits an object and you are moving with enough momentum to be thrown off balance.

Trash, unused materials, any object left in the aisles or other areas designed for pedestrian traffic invites falls. Extension cords, tools, carts, and other items should be removed or properly barricaded off. Report any equipment or supplies that are left in walkways. Keep passageways clear of debris.

Walk where you're supposed to walk. Short cuts through machine areas invite accidents. Concentrate on where you are going -- horseplay and inattention leaves you vulnerable to unsafe conditions.

Falls
The worst falls are from elevated positions like ladders and scaffolding. They result in serious injuries and death. Learn and practice ladder safety and the proper use of scaffolding.

Hold on to handrails when using stairs or ramps. They are there to protect you should a fall occur. If you're carrying a heavy load which hampers your ability to properly ascend or descend stairs, use the elevator, or find help!

When climbing, use a ladder of proper length that is in good condition. Keep it placed on a firm surface. Do not climb a ladder placed on machinery, crates, stock or boxes. Keep the ladder's base 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet of height. Don't over-reach. Always have control of your balance when working from a ladder. Never climb a ladder with your hands full, and always carry tools in proper carrying devices.

When using a scaffold, be sure it is assembled according to the manufacturer's specifications. Check carefully for defects. Standing and working planks should be level and clean. Use toeboards to prevent tools from falling and workers from slipping. Work only with people who practice scaffold safety.

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

First Aid - CPR - AED Training - 10-10-2019

First Aid - CPR - AED Training - 10-10-2019  #rcec2
Register Online: http://rcecusa.org/registercpr.html

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Fall Protection for Construction

Construction workers continue to fall to their deaths in record numbers. In 1996, 292 construction workers lost their lives because of a fall. Your company has a duty to anticipate your need for fall protection. Careful planning and preparation lay the groundwork for an accident-free worksite. However, your employer is not perfect; you need to be involved in the process. Before you go to work at heights six feet or higher, your employer needs to look at a few issues. They need to: (1) understand the duty to provide fall protection, (2) assess the worksite for fall hazards, and (3) select the correct protection system. You are a valuable source for locating hazards. Your company should involve you in the process, and teach you how to do worksite assessments, recognize fall hazards, and select the proper fall equipment.

A duty to provide fall protection
When you are working six feet or more above lower levels, OSHA points out specific areas and operations where fall protection is required. They are: ramps, runways, walkways, excavations, hoist areas, holes, form and reinforcing steel work, leading edge work, unprotected sides and edges, overhand bricklaying and related work, roofing work, precast concrete erection, wall openings, and residential construction. The OSHA rules point out the protection options you have to satisfy the requirement. If the situation is not “listed” in the OSHA rules then 1926.501(b)(15) (walking/working surfaces not otherwise addressed), is appropriate. This reference says that if none of the other situations fit, you must still be protected when working six feet or more above lower levels by a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest equipment.

Worksite assessment
Before going to work, a worksite survey must be done to determine if the walking/working surface on which you are going to work has the strength and structural integrity to safely support you, your fellow workers, and all equipment. Once it is determined that the surface is safe, one of the fall protection options for the particular work operation must be selected if the walking/working surface is six feet or more above a lower level.
As you can see, going to work at heights above six feet is more than just going to work. Much effort is involved in ensuring your safety. Your supervisor, safety guru, or other workers can’t do it alone; you must be involved in the process. Don’t go to work in unsafe conditions; bring them to the attention of your supervisor.

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