Competent Person in Construction

 

Who and what is a “competent person”
The term “competent person” comes up often in the OSHA construction regulations. OSHA defines competent person as “one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings or working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees, and who has authorization to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.”

How does a competent person fit in with a jobsite safety and health program?
Your employer must have a comprehensive safety and health program that provides for frequent and regular inspections, by competent persons designated by the employer, of the:
• jobsite,
• materials, and
• Equipment.

The 29 CFR 1926 construction regulations require that a competent person inspect various work areas such as:
• scaffolding,
• excavations,
• stairways and ladders,
• asbestos abatement operations,
• welding and cutting zones, and
• Steel erection sites.

In addition, some OSHA standards add additional specific requirements that must be met by the competent person.

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

Handle the Heat

 

Overview
Working in the heat puts an extra strain on your body. With some understanding of how the body reacts to heat, you can prevent heat-related disorders.

What are the risk factors?

Personal:
Age, weight, degree of physical fitness, metabolism, medications, use of alcohol or drugs, water consumption, caffeine consumption, and a variety of medical conditions, such as hypertension, all affect a person's sensitivity to heat. It is difficult to predict who will be affected by the heat, or when someone will be affected.

Environmental:
Air temperature; humidity; radiant heat from the sun and other sources; conductive heat sources, such as the ground, air movement, workload severity and duration; protective clothing; and PPE are all other factors to consider.

Another factor is whether or not you are accustomed to the heat. By gradually being exposed to working in hot conditions, your body develops a greater tolerance for the heat.

Can personal protective equipment add to the hazard?
Yes, sometimes heavy or impermeable chemical protective clothing can contribute to a worker's exposure to the heat. However, there are specialized types of PPE that can be worn under other types of protective clothing to cool workers, such as Ice vests, water-cooled garments, and air supply systems.

Work practices can help control heat hazards
A more common technique that might be considered PPE is to wear wet clothing, headbands, or bandanas.

This could also be considered a type of work practice control. Other work practices that help control exposure to the heat include:
- Using intermittent rest periods to recover from the heat.
- Drinking about 5 to 7 ounces of fluids every 15 to 20 minutes to replenish body fluids.
- Using relief workers.
- Using the buddy system (work in pairs) when working in hot conditions.
- Pacing the work, or reducing the physical demands of the work.
- Providing cool recovery or shaded rest areas.
- Scheduling work for cooler times of the day or when heat producing equipment isn't being operated.
- Wearing light, loose-fitting, breathable (like cotton) clothing.

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

EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

 

This information briefly summarizes some of the effects of a person that is hung over. Direct effects of alcohol vary with the individuals.  In general, a person will excrete approximately one alcohol drink per hour.  Consider the following:

An employee is out until 1:00 a.m. and has consumed 12 or more beers. They show up to work at 7:00 a.m. This employee is likely to have at least six alcohol drinks in his system at the time of starting the work. At this rate, the employee will start work intoxicated and eventually drift into a hangover and will probably be working in a very dangerous state during most of the workday.

ISSUES OF A HANGOVER

The following are some points to consider:

• A person with a hangover may have lower levels of alcohol in their system and may be “legally sober”.

• Any levels of alcohol in the system can affect the central nervous system, which will affect

JUDGMENT and MOTOR SKILLS.

(Judgment and Motor Skills are critical components of working safely on a construction site.)

HANGOVER EFFECTS

A- Employees that are hung over are impaired from low sugar levels, dehydration and may still be legally intoxicated.

• Symptoms / Effects:

• Impaired judgment

• Decreased motor skills

• Potential for dizzy spells, etc.

B – Employees no longer under the influence of alcohol but still feeling hung over still have an effect:

• Symptoms / Effects:

• Impaired judgment

• Decreased motor skills

• Dizziness

• Increased potential to lose consciousness

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

Disaster Recovery

 

After a disaster, employees may be injured, buildings may be damaged, records and equipment may be lost, and normal business operations are interrupted or stopped altogether.

Successful disaster recovery requires good planning. The company takes a close look at how possible disaster situations could affect operations and prepares a disaster recovery plan with the goal of safely resuming normal operations as quickly as possible.

The company will probably need to hire outside contractors to help with recovery efforts, but it may be necessary for a team of employees to reenter the facility during recovery operations.

This team may be involved in:

• Escorting incident investigators (fire department, police, insurance agents, OSHA compliance officers, etc.).
• Salvaging records, files, personal property, etc.
• Directing the activities of contractors.

Recovery hazards
The recovery team needs to be aware of the unique hazards that may be present in a facility that has been damaged in a disaster.

Fire and explosion hazards - The facility's smoke detector, fire alarm, and fire suppression systems may be inoperable.

Flooding - Workers should be aware of the risks for disease or poisoning from contact with contaminated flood waters.

Chemical hazards - Recovery workers need to be observant for chemical spills. Only specially trained personnel can be authorized to clean up hazardous chemical spills.

Electrical hazards - Recovery workers must inspect all electric appliances carefully before use. Damaged equipment must be removed from use for repair or replacement.

Natural or LP-gas supplies - Recovery workers who discover any gas leaks should immediately evacuate the facility, warn others to evacuate, leave doors open, and call for emergency assistance.

Using portable generators and temporary heaters - Recovery workers must follow all manufacturer's operating instructions for using this equipment.

Employee training
Because your employer may need to change safety plans so they address the hazards during recovery operations, recovery workers may need additional training in topics such as:


• Emergency action plan.
• Fire prevention plan.
• First aid procedures and exposure control plan.
• Hazard communication.
• HAZWOPER (emergency response plan).
• Personal protective equipment hazard assessment.
• Process safety management program.
• Respiratory protection program.
• Risk management plan.

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

Concrete and Masonry Construction

 

There have been a number of tragic accidents over the years involving concrete and masonry construction including one that happened during the time OSHA was preparing the current set of rules. In that accident a building in Bridgeport, Connecticut, collapsed, taking the lives of 28 workers. The collapse caused the highest death toll from a workplace accident in the United States since 51 employees were killed in 1978 during construction of a cooling tower at Willow Island, West Virginia. The Bridgeport building that collapsed was being erected using the lift-slab method of construction. OSHA's investigation of the collapse revealed that there had been a failure to comply with the OSHA regulations.

The OSHA regulations require your employer to train you in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to your work environment to control or eliminate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury. That would include the hazards of concrete and masonry construction.

OSHA's standard for concrete and masonry construction is located in 29 CFR 1926, Subpart Q — Concrete and masonry construction. The Subpart addresses requirements construction employers must comply with to protect employees from accidents and injuries resulting from the:
• Premature removal of formwork.
• Failure to brace masonry walls
• Failure to support precast panel.
• Inadvertent operation of equipment.
• Failure to guard reinforcing steel.

The regulation is divided into seven major groups. They are:

Scope, application and definitions— Prescribes performance oriented requirements to help protect all construction employees from hazards associated with concrete and masonry construction operations at construction, demolition, alteration, or repair jobsites.

General requirements— Discusses general work practice requirements related to construction loads, reinforcing steel, concrete buckets, working under loads, and personal protective equipment.

Requirements for equipment and tools—Addresses the hazards associated with equipment and tools used in concrete and masonry construction.

Requirements for cast-in-place concrete—Discusses formwork in general, shoring and reshoring, vertical slip forms, reinforcing steel, and removal of formwork.

Requirements for precast concrete— Directs employers to ensure precast concrete wall units, structural framing, and tilt-up wall panels be adequately supported to prevent overturning and to prevent collapse until permanent connections are completed.

Lift-slab operations—Contains specific requirements for lift-slab construction operations.

Masonry construction—Requires employers to establish a limited access zone whenever a masonry wall is being constructed.

OSHA believes that if the concrete and masonry construction regulations are complied with, deaths and injuries that have plagued companies will be reduced.

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

 

Confined Spaces

 

Confined spaces are made up of two types: non permit-required and permit-required. Certain criteria must be met for a confined space to be classified as permit-required or non permit-required. If employees are potentially exposed to confined spaces, the employer must develop confined space procedures and program.

What is a Confined Space?
A space that:
• Is large enough and so configured that an employee can fully enter it

• Has limited or restricted means for entry and exit

• Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy

What are examples of confined spaces?
• Sewers

• Pits, tanks, or boilers

• Mechanical rooms

• HVAC units

• Crawl spaces or attics
 
• Utility rooms/closets, etc.

What is a Permit-Required Confined Space?
A confined space with:
• Hazardous or potentially hazardous atmosphere (too much oxygen, too little oxygen, toxic gas presence, flammable environment, or volatile organic compounds present)
 
• Engulfment hazard (being swallowed by grain in a silo, asphyxiated by pressure and/or inhaling solid particles)

• Physical Hazard (mechanical, electrical, radiation, explosives, chemicals, inwardly converging surfaces)

• Other serious safety or health hazards
    
How do you eliminate hazards?
• Physical hazards: Lockout/tagout

• Atmospheric: Ventilation – use of a blower, fans, etc. (Ventilation must be continuous)
    
What must you do prior to entry?
• Eliminate/isolate physical hazards

• Test and monitor the air using portable gas meters or other suitable equipment
 
• Provide a plan for rescue (non-entry rescue, unless employees are trained in entry rescue)

• Plan and train entrants and attendants (employees stationed outside of the confined space to monitor conditions, status of the entrants, and be able to execute the emergency response/rescue plan)

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

Cranes

 

Cranes are one of the most versatile, powerful and important pieces of equipment commonly found on construction sites. They can be used to accomplish a lot of heavy lifting tasks, saving the amount of time and energy spent on a project. However, they can also be one the most dangerous pieces of equipment on site. They can lift heavy loads over large areas of a project, require workers to perform work at great heights and pose the risk of electrocution.

Workers whose jobs involve working with and around cranes need to understand the hazards of moving parts and rigging of loads. Hazards relating to this type of equipment can include:

  
• Striking injuries from moving equipment, raising or dropped loads

 
• Crushing injuries from equipment overturning, breaking or rigging failures 

• Falls from performing work at heights 

• Electrocution from contact with overhead power lines

There are many different types of cranes which play an important role in lifting heavy loads. No matter which piece of equipment is being used, below are some general safety rules regarding the maintenance and operation of cranes.

Equipment Maintenance 

• Both the employer and the supplier have a responsibility to ensure that every hoist, crane and lifting device, including all rigging, used or supplied for use at a place of employment is designed, installed, maintained and operated to perform safely any task for which the equipment is used. 

• Inspections must be completed, and any defects properly repaired before the equipment is used.

 
• Structural components of the equipment must be working properly. If the equipment is not in good condition, worn out or over stressed, or if a cable or sling is overloaded, the load may drop. Power lines must be located and barricades or signs should be posted to ensure minimum distance is maintained (20 feet for power lines up
to 350kv).

Equipment Operations

 
• Crane operators of most cranes above 2,000 lb. capacity will need to be either certified by an accredited crane operator testing organization, or qualified through an audited employer program. 

• Operators must ensure all safety system indicators are functioning properly and enabled at all times.

• Inspection and logbooks must be completed daily.

 
• Equipment must not be overloaded. Operators must refer to a crane’s load chart to understand the capacities of the crane they are operating.

  
• Avoid lifting loads above workers or the public. Workers can be hit by a load, dropped or suspended, if working under or near a load. It is very important workers pay attention around crane operations, obey all warning signs and stay out of way of moving parts.


Rigging and Signaling

 
• Any workers rigging loads for a crane must be qualified. A qualified rigger is defined as a "qualified person" who, by possession of a recognized degree, certificate, or professional standing, or who by extensive knowledge, training, and experience, has successfully demonstrated the ability to solve/resolve problems relating to rigging.

 
• Any workers signaling cranes also must be qualified by a "qualified evaluator". Qualification can be either through a third-party qualified evaluator (such as an accredited certification body) or through an employer’s qualified evaluator. All signal persons must be qualified and tested through a written or oral test and a practical test, and the qualification must be documented.

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