Author: Jim Wood

UPDATE YOUR PPE

Posted on by Jim Wood

The beginning of the season is a good time to update any personal protective equipment (PPE) that has become worn or damaged during the past year. Old, tattered or dirty PPE loses its effectiveness and can put a person at risk of injury.

HIGH-VISIBILITY SAFETY APPAREL

  • If you’ve worn hi-vis clothing for more than six months, inspect it for effectiveness.
  • Replace hi-vis apparel when it’s torn, cracked or the background material has become faded or dirty.
  • Ensure your high-visibility apparel meets ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Type R (Roadway) Class 2 or 3 standards.

HARD HAT

  • Hard hat manufacturers recommend replacement every five years.
  • Ensure your hard hat meets the ANSI Z89.1 requirement.
  • At a minimum, your hard hat should be a Type I, Class G (General) Hard Hat.
  • Inspect your hard hat for cracks or other damage.
  • If your hard hat has accumulated an abundance of stickers from projects or training, these stickers can hide cracks or other damage. Replace your hard hat and start a new sticker collection.
  • Monitor your hard hat for deterioration from exposure to UV rays (sun) and chemicals (asphalt or concrete).

EYE PROTECTION

  • If your safety glasses are past their useful life, it’s time to replace them. Like your hard hat, your safety glasses can break down due to exposure and reduce the protection they provide.
  • Scratched or damaged eye protection is difficult to see through and can put a person at risk.
  • Make sure your eye protection fits properly and provides good visibility. Poorly fitted eye protection is potentially ineffective against hazards and makes it difficult to see correctly.
  • Ensure your safety glasses meet the ANSI Z87.1-2015 requirement. Typically, this information is located on the temple of the eye wear.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Members can download the audio version of this toolbox talk here.

FALLS AND EQUIPMENT

Posted on by Jim Wood

Falls are the No. 1 cause of construction worker fatalities. This OSHA statistic includes falls from equipment and large vehicles.

WHEN YOU ARE ENTERING OR EXITING CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND LARGE VEHICLES

  • Face the equipment.
  • Maintain three points of contact.
  • Be aware of loose clothing, shoelaces, jewelry or other items that can potentially get caught on steps or handholds.
  • Don’t jump off the equipment.
  • Ensure the handholds and steps are clean and undamaged.
  • Pay attention to the surrounding ground conditions.
  • Turn off the engine and engage the brakes before leaving.
  • Avoid carrying materials and tools when climbing.

MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS

  • Falls can happen when you’re performing daily inspections and routine maintenance checks.
  • Use a stepladder to check the engine and other service locations.
  • Avoid climbing on equipment areas that are not intended to be used as walking surfaces.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Members can download the audio version of this toolbox talk soon.

CONCRETE SAFETY – CONCRETE BURNS

Posted on by Jim Wood

HEALTH HAZARDS

Along with quartz (crystalline silica), dry concrete contains calcium oxide. When it’s dry, calcium oxide can potentially cause respiratory irritation. The more serious hazard is when you add water to the concrete mix. When water mixes with calcium oxide, it forms calcium hydroxide, which is extremely alkaline (caustic) with a pH of 12 to 13.

Skin contact with calcium hydroxide can result in red, irritated or blistered skin. Calcium hydroxide contact can cause second- or third-degree burns that can form slowly over hours or days. Wet concrete is also hygroscopic, drawing water away from anything that holds moisture, including wet clothing or skin.

If your skin or eyes have been exposed to wet concrete, you need to take immediate action to reduce the severity of the injury:

  • Immediately wash the exposed area with clean water for approximately 20 minutes. Add vinegar to the water to help neutralize the alkalinity. Never use a water/vinegar solution to rinse the eyes.
  • Flush eyes with clean water and get immediate medical attention.
  • Remove and replace any wet PPE or clothing.
  • Wash all exposed skin areas, even if you are not aware of contact. Concrete burns can take hours to form.
  • Seek professional medical attention immediately and provide the medical personnel with the product Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

You must wear PPE to protect the skin and eyes from contact with concrete containing calcium hydroxide.

  • Safety glasses –create a barrier between your eyes and wet concrete with appropriate eye protection.
  • Chemical-resistant gloves – protect the hands with PVC, nitrile or neoprene gloves.
  • Rubber boots – prevent contact with the feet, ankles and calves. Take additional measures to prevent concrete from entering over the top of the boots.
  • Knee pads or boards – knees and lower extremities are susceptible to concrete exposure during finishing activities. Wear knee pads or use knee boards to prevent contact.

DO NOT DELAY in getting medical treatment if your skin is exposed to wet concrete. Delaying treatment can mean the difference between a mild burn and a severe injury.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Members can download the audio version of this toolbox talk here.

EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE BLIND SPOTS

Posted on by Jim Wood

Construction equipment and vehicles have blind spots that reduce or eliminate visibility for the operator or driver. If you’re working around this kind of machinery, make sure you’re careful to avoid blind spots.

BASIC SAFETY RULES

  • If you can’t see the operator or driver (directly or through mirrors), they can’t see you.
  • Don’t cross directly in front of or immediately behind equipment or trucks without communicating (verbally or visually) with the operator or driver.
  • Coordinate with the operator or driver before approaching or performing any work on or near the equipment.
  • Pay close attention to a piece of heavy equipment that’s moving with a raised bucket.
  • Watch for sudden movements or changes in direction. This includes the booms of excavators and cranes.
  • Develop an internal traffic control plan with strategies to control the flow of workers, vehicles and equipment inside the work zone.
  • Reduce hazards for equipment operators:
    • Limit access points to work zones.
    • Establish pedestrian-free areas.
    • Develop work zone layouts to accommodate specific types of equipment.

BLIND SPOT SAFE WORK PRACTICES

  • Perform a 360° walk around the equipment or vehicle before you begin a work activity or move the vehicle.
  • Take the necessary precautions to prevent entry into an equipment’s swing radius (e.g., erect barricades, warning lines or other industry recognized procedures).
  • Use a spotter when movement would create a struck-by hazard or when there’s a lot of worker activity in the work zone.
  • Stop the machinery if someone needs to approach.
  • Set parking brakes when vehicles and equipment are parked. Chock the wheels if they are on an incline.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Members can download the audio version of this toolbox talk here.

MEDICAL HEALTH AND COLD WEATHER

Posted on by Jim Wood

Working in cold weather can have a greater impact on people with underlying health issues. Those people who take certain medications, are in poor physical condition or suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) or cardiovascular disease may be at increased risk during cold weather exposure.

INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE

For people with hypertension, colder weather can increase their blood pressure to levels higher than normal. Cold weather narrows blood vessels, leaving less room for blood flow which, in turn, raises blood pressure. The heart must pump harder to circulate blood through constricted blood vessels. As a result, your blood pressure and heart rate increase. Higher-than-normal blood pressure and increased heart rate can potentially lead to a heart attack.

CAFFEINE USE AND COLD TEMPERATURES

Blood pressure can go up significantly after caffeine use because it can block a hormone that keeps our arteries open wide. The blood vessels supplying blood to the brain can narrow as much as 27% after caffeine intake. Together, caffeine and cold temperatures can put those with underlying heart issues at greater risk.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS AFFECTED BY PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO COLD TEMPERATURES

Excessive cold stresses the body, causing it to release hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol. Cortisol, the hormone released into the bloodstream during stressful situations, helps regulate the body’s sugar, salt and fluid levels. Elevated cortisol over the long term produces glucose, leading to increased blood sugar levels. For those with diabetes, this can be dangerous.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  • Reduce caffeine intake if you are being treated for hypertension or other cardiovascular issues.
  • Be aware of possible medical complications with your medications while you’re working in cold weather.
  • Dress in layers and keep your head and hands covered.
  • Keep extra gloves, hats and jackets available.
  • Take frequent breaks in a warm, dry area.
  • If someone shows signs of cold-related stress or injuries, get them to warmth immediately.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Members can download the audio version of this toolbox talk here.

COLD STRESS

Posted on by Jim Wood

Just as there is the potential for heat stress in spring and summer, there is the potential for cold stress in the fall and winter months. Cold stress happens when the skin temperature drops and eventually reduces the internal body temperature. When the body is unable to warm itself, serious cold-related illnesses and injuries may occur, and permanent tissue damage or death may result. The body loses heat through:

  • Convection – We can lose up to 10-15% of our body heat as air moves across the skin’s surface.
  • Radiation – The body radiates and loses heat. Your body loses 40-45% of its heat through the head and neck. Combine that with wrists and ankles, and heat loss approaches 60%.
  • Conduction – Holding cold tools or kneeling or sitting on the cold ground will cause your body to lose heat.
  • Respiration – When we breathe, we warm the air in our lungs. Then we exhale that warm air, resulting in significant heat loss. Breathing through your nose helps warm the air as it enters your body slightly more than breathing through your mouth.

KEEP YOUR CORE AND BODY EXTREMITIES COVERED

It is important to dress in light layers that you can add/remove as you become colder or warmer. Excessive layers can cause you to sweat, leading to wet clothing that can affect your body’s ability to maintain its temperature. Wear synthetic or cotton/synthetic blends as a base layer next to your skin to wick away sweat.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS RESULTING FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO COLD TEMPERATURES

People who take certain medications, are in poor physical condition or suffer from illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension or cardiovascular disease may be at increased risk during cold weather exposure.

Cold stress often causes the body to release survival hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol. These cause the liver to release more glucose for energy, which can result in higher-than-normal blood sugar levels. Cold weather can also increase blood pressure, resulting in the increased potential for heart attacks.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

  • Dress in layers and cover your head and hands.
  • Keep extra gloves, hats and jackets available. This enables you to add layers or replace wet clothing.
  • Take frequent breaks in a warm, dry area to limit the effects of exposure to the cold.
  • Include a thermometer and chemical hot packs in your first aid kit.
  • If someone shows signs of cold-related stress or injuries, get them to warmth immediately.

Download a printable PDF and recording form here.

Members can download the audio version of this toolbox talk here.