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. 

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

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.

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

Underground Utilities

 

 

Ever have to probe for and diffuse a land mine? Most people can happily say no. But for con¬struction workers, probing for underground utilities, or working in excavations with under¬ground utilities exposed, the resemblance can be close.

Trenches and excavations are dangerous. Trenches and excavations with underground utili¬ties exposed, or in the process of being exposed, are more dangerous.

Before excavation work begins, the OSHA rules require contractors doing the work to deter¬mine the estimated location of utility installations — sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any other underground installations — that may be encountered during digging.

Your company must: 
• Contact utility companies or land owners and inform them of the proposed work.
• Ask the utility companies or land/building owners to find the exact location of the under¬ground installations.

If they cannot respond within 24 hours (unless the period required by state or local law is longer), or if they cannot find the exact location of the utility installations, contractors may proceed with caution.

Detection equipment
Your company must:
• Contact utility companies or land owners and inform them of the proposed work.
• Ask the utility companies or land/building owners to find the exact location of the under¬ground installations.

If they cannot respond within 24 hours (unless the period required by state or local law is longer), or if they cannot find the exact location of the utility installations, contractors may proceed with caution.

Detection equipment
If the company proceeds on its own:
• Detection equipment or other acceptable means to locate utilities must be used.
• The exact location of the utilities must be determined by a safe and acceptable mean when the operation approaches the estimated location of the utilities.
• The underground utility must be located and totally exposed before digging begins.

Hazardous atmospheres
You must remember that where there are utilities, there is the possibility of hazardous atmospheres. If there is the potential that hazardous atmospheres exist or could reasonably be expected to exist, atmospheric testing and control is required.

After utilities are uncovered, and while the excavation is open, underground installations must be protected, supported, or removed as necessary for your safety.

Always be especially careful when working on, around, or in excavations where underground utilities may be or are known to be present.

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