Tag: procedures

Job Hazard Analysis

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published July 27, 2016

Construction sites are fertile ground for hazards. Many workers are injured or killed at the workplace every day in the United States. You can help prevent workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities by looking at your workplace operations and identifying possible hazards and eliminating them. A job hazard analysis is an exercise in detective work. Your goal will be to discover what can go wrong, what the consequences could be, how did the hazard arise, what were other contributing factors and how likely is it that exposure to the hazard could actually result in injury.

Hazards exist in four areas:

  • People – Identify improperly trained or poorly supervised individuals, those that seem distracted and are not paying attention to their surroundings, employees not wearing the assigned or appropriate safety equipment and those not following safe work practices.
  • Equipment – Poorly maintained or uninspected equipment, unguarded equipment or improper or worn out equipment for the task at hand.
  • Materials – Flammable materials or those that require special storage and handling, chemicals that are volatile or dangerous when inhaled or that come in contact with skin and materials that are improperly stored.
  • Environment – Insufficient lighting, loud or constant sounds, traffic in and around work zones and inclement weather. Also identify any toxic substance produced by living things such as bacteria, viruses and fungi that can cause illness or disease in humans.

A good safety system will include a hazard assessment process for all of these areas, provide avenues for employees to report injuries and near misses, and be proactive in addressing hazards that are identified.

  • All employees should be involved in the hazard analysis process. Employees at each work level have a unique understanding of the job. A buy-in from employees will help minimize oversights, ensure a quality analysis and help provide solutions to hazards that are discovered.
  • Review your company’s accident history. This would include accidents and occupational illnesses that needed treatment, losses that required repair or replacement and any near misses where loss did not occur, but could have. These events are indicators that the existing hazard controls (if any) may not be adequate and deserve more scrutiny.
  • Conduct a preliminary job review. Discuss your findings with your employees and brainstorm with them for ideas to eliminate or control those hazards. If any hazards exist that pose an immediate danger to an employee’s life or health, take immediate actions to protect the worker. Problems that can be corrected easily, should be corrected as soon as possible.
  • List, rank and set priorities for hazardous jobs. List jobs with hazards that present unacceptable risks, based on those most likely to occur and with the most severe consequences. These jobs should be your first priority.

Hazard assessments should be done on a regular basis. Don’t assume that because you’ve done it once, everything is in order. Worksites are constantly changing, and safety hazards are bound to appear at various times throughout a given job.

Download the recording form here.

Updated Section 106 Procedures

Posted on by Andria Hine
Source: INDOT

In consultation with Native American Tribes and FHWA, INDOT’s Cultural Resources Office has updated our Section 106 consultation procedures that are effective immediately for new document submittals. These updated procedures fulfill INDOT’s and FHWA’s commitments set forth in the recently executed Tribal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between FHWA, INDOT and Native American Tribes and streamline our consultation practices.

Attached are four documents implementing the new procedures and are described as follows

INDOT-CRO Consultation Steps:  Summarizes the updated consultation procedures.

INDOT-CRO Consultation Email Template:  Please use this template for emails transmitting Early Coordination Letters to consulting parties.

CP and Tribal ECL Template_without_106_docs_2017-04-26:  Please use this template for Early Coordination Letters when HPRs or archaeology reports have not been prepared and will be forthcoming.

CP and Tribal ECL Template_with_106_docs_2017-04-26: Please use this template for Early Coordination Letters when HPR and/or archaeology reports have been posted to IN SCOPE.

The Cultural Resources Manual (CRM) will be updated to reflect these changes. In the meantime, please refer to these documents.

If you have questions on these updated Section 106 procedures, please contact Shaun Miller, Archaeology Team Lead at 317-233-6795 or at smiller@indot.in.gov or Mary Kennedy, History Team Lead, at 317-232-5215 or at mkennedy@indot.in.gov.

Quick Connect Excavator Head and Attachments

Posted on by admin_ici

Quick connector heads that allow different excavator attachments to be quickly interchanged are a tremendous innovation for construction. Today, one properly-sized excavator with several different attachments can do the work of several excavators. However, with this ease of changing attachments comes a responsibility to make sure these attachments are properly installed.

The main risk arising from the use of a quick-connect device is that the attachment, such as an excavating bucket, can become disconnected from the device and fall from the machine. Some of the reasons for this type of accident include:

  • Being in a hurry and failing to engage the quick-connect device properly;
  • Not activating a secondary locking device;
  • Poor maintenance; and
  • Overloading the attachment.

Train operators to do a complete motion check before swinging the attachment near other workers. The operator should always follow the manufacturer’s requirements for doing motion tests. All manufacturers specify steps to assure proper installation of attachments. Following is a generic list (but you should always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations):

  • Switch to the “LOCK” position after fully seating the coupler to engage the link pin with the locking lever.
  • Test the connection by completely curling the coupler inward to make sure the attachment is completely engaged.
  • Cycle the coupler attachment from “fully closed” to “fully open” at least twice.
  • Try to disengage the bucket from the coupler using the machine weight. Dig the bucket teeth into the ground, lower the attachment against the ground to lift the tracks off the ground and try to force the bucket off.
  • Perform all tests every time you engage an attachment. All tests must be performed away from personnel. NEVER swing coupled attachments over personnel.
  • Some manufacturers have developed a retrofit kit to improve the mechanical locking safety of quick-connect heads and attachments. Check with your dealer to make sure your equipment has been retrofitted, if available.
  • Instructions for testing of quick-connect heads should be in the cab of all excavators equipped with these heads.
  • Operators should always follow the testing procedures required for the type of quick- connect head they are using.
  • Consider using an independent secondary locking system to keep the attachment from falling if the primary lock fails.

Don’t take risks with your safety or that of your co-worker.

Download the recording form here.

Safety Tips for Working Alone

Posted on by admin_ici

Some construction jobs require an employee to work in an isolated environment for a period of time. Doing a job alone can be more hazardous than doing the same job in the company of others. If you’re injured, ill or trapped, there’s no one nearby to help or call for assistance. It’s a good idea to assess the situation and see if it’s possible to reschedule the job, so others can be present or close by. This is especially true if the project requires an employee to work at heights, operate hazardous equipment or materials, enter confined spaces or enter areas with insufficient lighting.

Supervisors should also:

  • Assess whether the worker might be more vulnerable than others. Consider age, disabilities and medical suitability of the individual.
  • Assess the worker’s levels of training and experience.
  • Make sure they know where their lone workers will be and have a system in place to touch base with and monitor them.

If you are working alone, consider these safety tips:

  • Talk to your supervisor and colleagues about your job, the hazards and how to minimize risks.
  • Ensure that others on your crew know where you will be working and when.
  • Have a check-in system in place. This could include:
    • Prearranged intervals of regular phone contact. Be sure your mobile phone is fully charged, or you have another communications tool in the event there’s no phone coverage.
    • Periodic visits to the site by a coworker or supervisor, so they can visually check on you.
    • Use of a “man down” or personal monitoring device that recognizes when a worker has stopped moving.
    • Arranging to call someone at the end of your shift to let them know you are OK.
  • Have a first aid kit, and know how to use it.
  • Keep a fire extinguisher on-site at all times, and know how to use it.

Establish an emergency plan in case an accident occurs, and make sure everyone on the site understands it and knows what their responsibilities are. Consider publishing these helpful tips in your company’s health and safety policy statement.

Download the recording form here.

INSafe offers fall prevention training

Posted on by admin_ici

May 2-6 is National Safety Stand-down to Prevent Falls in Construction, as coordinated by OSHA. The Indiana Department of Labor’s INSafe division will offer fall prevention training in north, central and south Indiana – free of charge. The events will include a full training session, educational materials and resources for attendees, and participants will also receive certificates of participation following completed training.

Find out more about INSafe’s involvement, registration and additional resources are available on the agency’s website.

The Purpose of Toolbox Talks

Posted on by admin_ici

Although a five-minute huddle doesn’t constitute a comprehensive safety program, there are many reasons why it’s important to conduct regular Toolbox Talks. An effective Toolbox Talk will address one issue and give specific details that provide a clear understanding on the safest manner in which to use a machine, tool or perform a particular task. In addition, these group conversations are excellent opportunities to keep employees abreast of changes in regulations, safety procedures, equipment, personal protective equipment, and job assignments and responsibilities.

On most job sites, there is variation in experience, and many workers may approach the same task in a different way based on what they’ve learned over time. Routine Toolbox Talks ensure all workers are on the same page and understand that certain actions should always follow standard practices and procedures. These meetings reinforce safety training.

Toolbox Talks should always consist of two-way communication. Workers can ask questions and provide feedback on the topic of the day. If done well, these meetings help employees understand their company’s culture and send the message that everyone’s safety is important. Toolbox Talks should focus on techniques that keep workers safe and reinforce that we should never sacrifice safety for increased productivity. This consistent messaging will improve the outlook of those on the work site — reminding them that personal safety always comes first. Use your Toolbox Talk time as a powerful tool to coordinate the thinking and actions of everyone on your work site.