Category: Safety News

Fall Driving Hazards

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published 10/25/2016

Most construction companies have a safety goal of “everybody goes home safe” and “come to work safe.” This motto encompasses driving to and from work as well as any driving performed while on the job.

Many people think that the most dangerous season for driving is the winter. However, a 2009 study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Safety Institute in Ann Arbor revealed that the most dangerous season for driving is actually fall. The study discovered that the danger of dying in a car crash is 16 percent greater in October than in March. With the most dangerous driving season up on us, here are some key factors to consider.

  • Leaves – as leaves begin to fall, there are several things to think about.
    • Wet leaves are slippery and can reduce traction.
    • They can cover the yellow and white pavement markings on the road making it difficult to determine shoulder and lane widths.
    • They can get clogged under wiper blades, impeding wiper performance and visibility.
    • Parking too close to a leaf pile can be a fire hazard with catalytic converters.
  • Deer – deer collisions are most common in fall due to mating season, hunting season and the reduced hours of daylight.
    • Pay attention to deer crossing signs. They were put there for a reason. These areas have had high rates of car/deer collisions.
    • If a collision is unavoidable, hit the deer. This is safer than skidding off the road into trees and ditches.
    • Be aware that deer sometimes retrace their steps. They will cross the road, then cross back over in the same spot.
    • If you see one deer, be prepared for others. They usually travel in groups.
  • Farm Machinery – farmers harvesting will be on the roads.
    • Watch for slow-moving vehicles. A slow-moving vehicle sign is a reflective orange triangle with a red border. It warns other drivers that the vehicle displaying the sign is traveling at 25 mph or less.
    • Make sure the drivers of farm vehicles can see you.

Other fall driving hazards include:

  • Frozen bridges – Bridges freeze before the rest of the road because they are exposed to weather on both the top and the bottom. Use caution when transitioning from the pavement to a bridge surface.
  • Black Ice – Use extreme caution when driving on cold mornings where there is evidence of frozen moisture on the roadway.
  • Rain – Early fall storms are worse from a driver’s perspective because highways have a summers worth of oil and rubber buildup on the road and can become extremely slick when suddenly soaked.
  • Hydroplaning – If you feel like you are hydroplaning, steer straight and gently back off the throttle until you feel the tires make contact with the road.
  • Fog – This is statistically the single-most dangerous condition a driver can encounter. In dense fog, turn on your low beam headlamps, slow down to a crawl if necessary, and use extreme caution.

Winter months are synonymous with cautious driving. However, being cautious in every season could save a life.

Download the recording form here.

Pinch, Shear, Wrap and Crush Points

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published 10/18/2016

Heavy construction equipment uses a lot of power. Even with all the safeguards that manufacturers install, without proper precautions you could find yourself suddenly caught in a pinch, shear, wrap or crush point and be fighting for your life. You could be cut, crushed, pulled in or struck by an object when working around construction equipment.

Pinch Points – A pinch point is any point where it is possible for a person (or part of a person’s body) to be caught between moving parts of a machine, or between the moving and stationary parts of a machine. Belt drives and chain drives are good examples.

Shear Points – The edges of two objects moving close enough together to cut relatively soft material create shear points. Hedge trimmers, grain augers and rotary mower blades are examples of tools that have shear points.

Wrap Points – Wrap points are found on rotating shafts or rods and can catch a sleeve, cuff or pant leg. You can quickly be pulled into a piece of equipment if you are caught in a wrap point. Motor shafts and axles are good examples of wrap points.

Safety precautions for pinch, shear or wrap points include:

  • Examine the equipment, looking for areas where pinch, shear or wrap points occur and avoid them.
  • Wear close-fitting clothing and remove jewelry.
  • Be aware that fatigue, carelessness and haste contribute to entanglement incidents.
  • Do not reach over, around or work on rotating parts.
  • Before working on equipment, turn it off. Make sure any moving parts have completely stopped. Lock it out and tag it.
  • Replace any shields that have been removed for maintenance.
  • Maintain manufacturer-installed warning labels and place highly-visible warnings on parts and equipment to identify pinch, shear or wrap points not previously labeled.

Crush Points – Crush points exist when two objects move toward each other, or one object moves toward a stationary object. Crush points can exist when connecting trailer hitches or backing up trucks to dump a load. Safety precautions for crush points include:

  • Identify machines that may have crush points.
  • Don’t allow anyone to stand or place any body parts in the space between two objects that form a crush point.
  • When hitching an implement, wait until the tractor has completely stopped before approaching the hitch point.
  • If possible, hitch a tractor and implement by backing the tractor into position without having a person positioned between the tractor and the implement.
  • As a backup in case of mechanical failure such as a jack slipping or an overhead support breaking, use blocks to secure any equipment before working under it.
  • Block the wheels of a piece of equipment to prevent it from rolling.

Look around. If you see potential pinch, shear, wrap or crush points on your jobsite, discuss them. Develop ways to prevent injuries that could be caused by these common jobsite hazards.

Download the recording form here.

Safe Fueling Procedures

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published 09/06/2016

The hazards involved with fueling equipment on a construction site include gas and fuel fires, spills, vapors and slips, trips and falls. Here are some precautions you should take to prevent a fueling accident:

Fueling Station

  • Keep a spill kit available, and train workers to use it.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher at the fueling station.
  • Set up fueling stations in well-ventilated areas.
  • Maintain all pumps, hoses and nozzles in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications.

Fueling Your Vehicle

  • Always concentrate on the task at hand.
  • Do not use electronic devices, such as cell phones while fueling, because a spark could ignite a fire.
  • Turn off the vehicle’s engine.
  • Before dispensing fuel into your vehicle, touch a metal part of your vehicle that is not close to the fuel tank. This helps dissipate any static buildup your body created when you slid out of your vehicle.
  • Never smoke while fueling. Also, make certain there are no other potential sources of ignition, such as open flames or spark-producing equipment operating in the area.
  • Do not overfill the fuel tank.
  • Allow for fuel expansion on hot days.
  • If you are refueling portable equipment such as lawn mowers, generators, chain saws, or anything else with a fuel-powered engine, let the engine cool down before you add fuel to the tank. Spilling fuel on a hot motor instantly creates a cloud of highly flammable vapor, which can easily catch fire or explode.
  • Use only safety cans or other approved portable fuel containers to transport or transfer fuel. Unapproved containers can leak, spill fuel or rupture.
  • Never dispense fuel into a can or other portable container while it is sitting in your vehicle or truck bed.
  • If you have a fuel spill:
    • Clean it up immediately using the appropriate spill kit.
    • Remove any clothing that has absorbed gasoline and thoroughly wash the fuel from your body.

Fuels can be highly flammable and, if handled improperly, these substances can make fueling equipment a dangerous task. Be aware of the hazards and follow the prevention steps to avoid an incident on your site.

Download the recording form here.

Listening Can Save a Life

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published on Aug. 16, 2016

Listening is key to building a strong safety culture. It’s as important as your hard hat, gloves, vests, boots, glasses and tools.

Listening to each other

Pay close attention during toolbox talks, foremen meetings, pre-task planning sessions and orientations. Ask questions. Don’t leave the meeting until:

  • You fully understand what is expected of you,
  • You know the possible hazards on the job you will be doing, and
  • You know how to overcome those hazards.

Pay attention to what others will be doing as well. Your safety, and the safety of others, could depend on knowing what will be going on around you.

Listening to the sounds of equipment

Construction sites are filled with various sounds and noises. Be alert to those sounds. Don’t become so accustomed to hearing them or so distracted that you tune them out. Your individual safety could easily depend on your ability to hear approaching danger. Listen for horns, back up signals, spotters, vehicles or warnings from co-workers.

Also keep in mind that, in most cases, a tool or a piece of equipment will signal its pending breakdown by a change in the normal operating sound. Workers on the site should condition themselves to pick up these advance warning signals and fix or replace the tool or piece of equipment before the total breakdown to prevent a possible safety hazard.

Follow these tips to help you listen better and stay alert on the job:

  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Don’t concentrate so hard on the task at hand that you block out the sounds and activity around you.
  • Eat balanced, healthy meals. Overeating or eating the wrong foods can cause you to become drowsy.
  • Do not use alcohol or drugs. Even some prescription drugs can have an effect on your ability to concentrate. If you must take prescription drugs, let your supervisor know. There may be projects that you cannot safely do while taking your prescription.
  • Be sure your work area is well ventilated.
  • Avoid playing radios so loud that you can’t hear what’s going on around you. Using earbuds with individual radios and other electronic devices can prevent you from hearing what’s going on around you.

Download the recording form here.

New Silica FAQs for the Construction Industry

Posted on by Andria Hine
Source: AGC of America Senior Director, Safety and Health Services Kevin Cannon, CSP (703) 837-5410

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has just released a set of 53 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to provide guidance to employers and employees regarding OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica standard for construction.  Through the Construction Industry Safety Coalition (CISC), the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) was heavily involved in the formulation of these FAQs.  The development of the FAQs stemmed from litigation filed against OSHA by numerous construction industry trade associations – including AGC – challenging the legality of OSHA’s rule.  OSHA has also agreed to issue a Request for Information (RFI) on Table 1 to revise the Table to improve its utility.  AGC will continue to look for ways to work with OSHA to improve the workability of this significant rule.

The FAQs are extensive and organized by topic.  A short introductory paragraph is included for each group of questions and answers to provide background information about the underlying regulatory requirements.  A  four-page document with some of the clarifications and a PDF version of all the FAQs has also been created.  AGC encourages its members to review all of the FAQs to assist in their compliance efforts. If you have any questions, please contact Kevin Cannon at (703)837-5410 or cannonk@agc.org. You can also contact Nazia Shah at (703)837-5409 or nazia.shah@agc.org.

Solvent and Chemical Safety

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published on Aug. 23, 2016

Construction workers must sometimes use solvents or chemicals on the jobsite. Some of these are highly toxic and can be harmful to your health. One large exposure can harm you, but so can several very small exposures over a long period of time. A very large exposure can kill you.

We are exposed to solvents and chemicals in these ways:

  • Breathing in vapors, spray mist or dust. An example would be working with bags of concrete without using the proper personal protective equipment.
  • Absorption through the skin.
  • Ingesting them. This might happen when you are having lunch in a work area where airborne contaminants exist.
  • This could happen with a needle prick or by the misuse of a high pressure washer.

Protect yourself against chemical and solvent hazards by following these tips:

  • Make sure you understand the health and fire dangers associated with the solvent or chemical you are using. Read the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the substance.
  • Before you begin, make sure you know how to safely use and work with each solvent or chemical.
  • If you are using a respirator, make sure the respirator has the proper cartridge to protect you from the solvent or chemical you will be using. Change the cartridge if necessary.
  • Never transfer solvents or chemicals into drinking cups or bottles.
  • Make sure your work area is well-ventilated.
  • Wear the recommended personal protective equipment (PPE), which may include chemical-splash goggles, a respirator, safety gloves, apron, steel-toed shoes or safety glasses with side shields. Be sure the PPE fits properly and that you are trained in its use.
  • Inspect the PPE before use. Look for defects in the equipment such as cracks, missing parts, rips, etc.
  • Don’t smoke or do hot work when near solvents or chemicals.
  • Know the location of safety showers and eyewash stations and how to use them.
  • Wash your hands before eating.
  • Store solvents and chemicals in a safe storage cabinet that is labeled for their storage and located away from combustible materials.
  • Leave your contaminated clothing at work. If you wear the clothes home, you could expose your family to the hazards associated with the chemical or solvent you have been using. Store the clothing in non-sparking containers with lids.

If you experience headaches, nausea or tiredness, or have difficulty concentrating or breathing and are getting clumsy, stop what you are doing and notify your supervisor immediately that you may have been overly exposed to a solvent or chemical. See a physician.

Download the recording form here.