Emergency Action Plans

 Overview
There is always the potential for emergencies to occur at your facility. To reduce your exposure to potential emergencies, your employer has developed an emergency action plan.

Emergency actions plans are developed to provide guidelines on what actions to take if an emergency should occur at your facility.

What is an emergency action plan?
In 29 CFR 1910.38(c), OSHA lists the minimum elements which should be included in an emergency action plan. These elements include:

1. Evacuation procedures and exit route assignments. Your employer will also point out the location of internal shelter areas, and exterior safe areas for evacuation.

2. Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate. Some critical plant operations include gas, electrical, power, and water. Chemical manufacturing processes could also be included.

3. Headcount procedures to account for you and your coworkers after emergency evacuation has been completed.

4. Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them.

5. Procedures for reporting fires and other emergencies.

6. Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or an explanation of duties under the plan.

Additional information
Your employer will also explain:

• How to report fires, hazardous chemical spills, and other emergencies.

• Procedures for sounding emergency alarms on-site.

• Who to notify in the event of an emergency.

• What phones to use and numbers to call.

• Location and use of emergency fire alarms.

• Critical plant operations and those responsible for their operation/shut down.

• Accounting for all employees after emergency evacuation.

• Personnel designated to perform rescue and medical duties.

• Alarm system.

• Recognition of different alarms, such as audio and visual.

• Who is to be contacted for more information on the emergency action plan.

• Where a written copy of the plan can be obtained.

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

Ergonomics

 What is Ergonomics?
Ergonomics is the process of fitting the job to the worker. It is the design of machinery, tools and the way work is done in order to reduce stress on the body. It emphasizes how people do their work and what body movements they make and positions they hold while working. It also emphasizes what tools and equipment workers use and what effect all of these have on their comfort and health.


What are some ways to identify ergonomic problems?
There are six basic risk factors associated with ergonomic problems:

1. REPETITION: When a job requires repeated activity using the same part of the body.

2. EXCESSIVE FORCE: When a worker has to continually use a lot of force when lifting, pushing or pulling.

3. AWKWARD POSTURE: When a job task forces a worker to maintain an uncomfortable position.

4. MECHANICAL STRESS: When a worker must constantly hit or push a hard part of a machine or a tool.

5. VIBRATING TOOLS: When a worker must hold vibrating equipment, OR MACHINES: especially when the   temperature in the workplace is cold.

6. TEMPERATURE: When a worker has to work under very cold or very hot conditions.

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

Recognzing Medical Conditions

 Medical emergencies are a workplace reality. Not every supervisor needs to know first aid and CPR, but supervisors should know who in the building is trained to handle emergencies and what they can do in the meantime. Here are some common medical emergencies and some helpful responses:

Choking
First, ask if the person needs help. If he says no, you may only make matters worse if you interfere. If he nods yes—or motions for help— use the Heimlich maneuver. Call for help if the situation doesn’t clear immediately.

Allergy Attacks
Allergy attacks are more likely to happen when a person is around paint, chemical vapors or insects (bees). Symptoms include itching, hives, swelling of the eyes or mouth and difficulty breathing. Have the person sit down in an area with clear air. If he or she is having trouble breathing or goes into shock, call for help immediately.

Heart Attacks
Symptoms include chest pain, shoulder pain, nausea, fatigue and/or sweating. Call for emergency help immediately. Have someone start CPR if necessary.

Diabetic Complications
Symptoms include extreme thirst, lethargy, weakness, mental confusion or coma. Call for help immediately. If the person is conscious, give him or her fruit juice or hard candy.

Seizure Disorders
During minor seizures (petit mal) the person loses awareness, stares and twitches. Once the episode is over, encourage the person to go to the hospital or see a doctor. During a severe seizure (grand mal) the person may lose consciousness, become very stiff and then twitch and jerk. Do not try to hold the person down or keep him still. Clear the immediate area to help prevent injury. Call for help immediately.
 
This information is provided by Assurance Agency https:www.assuranceagency.com

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 https:www.assuranceagency.com
 

Designated Path

 

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. These exits can be hallways, corridors, balconies, ramps, stairs, or lobbies.

The designated paths of exit must be arranged and maintained to provide a free and unob¬structed means to exit all parts of the building at all times. Employers must also ensure that these paths are accessible to occupants who have impaired mobility.

Exits must lead directly outside, to a refuge area, or to an open space with access to the outside. The area beyond the exit has to have enough room to accommodate the people who are likely to use the exit.

Exit doors:
• must be able to be readily opened without having to use keys, tools, or special knowledge.
• cannot have any alarm or device that would restrict emergency use of the exit if the device fails.

What must my employer do?
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 at least two exits from your area of the workplace.
You have the duty to not block exits or paths of exits, and alert your employer if you notice exits that are blocked.

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

Electrical: Extension Cord Safety

 

Electrical safety is often taken for granted.  During the course of the workday damaged cords may be placed in use without thinking about it.  It is extremely important to verify that all electrical equipment is in good condition before being placed into use.  Approximately, 17% of all construction fatalities are caused by electrical shock, therefore the health and safety of all employees on site can be affected by the use of faulty electrical equipment.  Safe electrical work practices will help guarantee the health and safety of all employees.  

The following can be used as a basis for establishing safe electrical work practices. When rolling out cords at the beginning of the day, always visually inspect the extension cord or electrical tool for damage.  Some things to check are: missing ground pins, insulation fraying and strain relief pulling out of plug ends.  When a cord is damaged, do not use it, have the cord repaired or replaced.  If any copper wire is showing, the cord CANNOT be repaired and must be removed from service immediately.  If just the outer insulation is cut, the cord can only be repaired with electrical tape.  As a rule of thumb any cords with more than 3 repairs per 25ft should be removed from service.  Only heavy duty multiple outlets are allowed to be used.  The multi outlets that should be used are solid molded rubber style only.  Computer strips and homemade electrician boxes are NOT to be used.

Additionally, to ensure that all extension cords and electrical tools are protected and in good condition it is important that they are plugged into a GFCI protected outlet and/or updated with the Assured Grounding Program.  

What is a GFCI?  A GFCI is a fast-acting circuit breaker which senses small imbalances in a circuit caused by leakage to ground and, in a fraction of a second, shuts off the electrical supply.  The GFCI continually matches the amount of current being supplied to an electrical device with the amount of current returning from the device.  When the amount supplied differs from the returning amount by approximately 5 milliamps, the GFCI will disconnect the electrical supply.

Remember to keep in mind that a circuit breaker is not a GFCI; a circuit breaker protects equipment and property - not people.

What is an Assured Grounding Program?  The Assured Grounding Program requires testing of all equipment to verify adequate grounding and a visual inspection to guarantee safe equipment is being used.  Testing is verified by the use of a Quarterly Color Coding Schedule which is identified as follows; 1st quarter (January-March) – White, 2nd quarter (April-June) – Green, 3rd quarter (July-September) – Red, 4th quarter (October-December) – Orange. The following are two methods of testing to be used when using the Assured Grounding Program.

Method 1: Plug a continuity tester into the female end of the extension cord.  The tester will light up.  You will then need to look up the color code provided in your continuity tester manual.  If the adequate lights are lit the tester is indicating proper grounding. It is important to remember that this method will not give an accurate reading if the electricity is provided by a generator.

Method 2: THIS IS TO BE DONE WHEN THE CORD IS UNPLUGGED! This method should be used if the electrical power is generator provided and to test NON-double insulated tools.  Attach the clip end of the tester to the ground prong and insert the probe into the ground hole of the UNPLUGGED cord.  A light will indicate that the ground is continuous.

Don’t take electricity for granted - Check all of your cords.

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

Deenergizing Lines & Equipment

 

Before starting work on power transmission/distribution systems, crews must determine existing conditions by inspection or test. One critical condition that must be determined is whether lines and equipment are energized or deenergized.

Deenergizing lines and equipment

When deenergizing lines/equipment operated in excess of 600 volts, and the means of disconnecting from electric energy is not visibly open or visibly locked out, the following rules apply:

• The particular section of line or equipment to be deenergized must be clearly identified, and it must be isolated from all sources of voltage.

• Notification and assurance from a designated employee must be obtained that:
   - All switches/disconnectors through which electrical energy may be supplied to the particular section of line or equipment to be worked on have been deenergized.
   - All switches/disconnectors are plainly tagged indicating that employees are at work.
   - Where the design of the switches and disconnectors permits, they have been rendered inoperable.

• After all designated switches and disconnectors have been opened, rendered inoperable, and tagged, visual inspection or tests must be conducted to ensure that equipment or lines have been deenergized.

• Protective grounds must be applied on the disconnected lines/equipment to be worked on.

• Guards or barriers must be erected as necessary to adjacent energized lines.

• When more than one independent crew requires the same line or equipment to be deenergized, a prominent tag for each crew must be placed on the line or equipment by the designated employee in charge.

• When completed with work on deenergized lines or equipment, designated employees in charge must determine that all employees in their crew are clear, that protective grounds installed by their crew have been removed, and they report to the designated authority that all tags protecting their crew may be removed.

When a crew working on a line or equipment can clearly see that the means of disconnecting from electric energy are visibly open or visibly locked-out, the following provisions will apply:

• Guards or barriers must be erected as necessary to adjacent lines.

• Upon completion of work on deenergized lines or equipment, each designated employee in charge must determine that all employees in their crew are clear, that protective grounds installed by their crew have been removed, and they must report to the designated authority that all tags protecting their crew may be removed.

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