Tag: Toolbox Talks

Care and Maintenance of Safety Vests

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published Sept. 13, 2016

Safety vests are designed to make workers visible to traffic and machine operators under any conditions. Vests must meet ANSI’s performance class 2 or 3 requirements. You must wear it if you are:

  • Part of a highway construction or maintenance crew (this includes flaggers);
  • An inspector;
  • Engineering personnel;
  • Part of a survey crew or utility crew; or
  • A responder.

If maintained properly, a vest that is worn on a daily basis has a service life expectancy of approximately six months. A vest not worn daily could be functional up to three years. Do not neglect washing your vest. Dirt can diminish the intensity of the florescent color. You want the color to be as visible as possible.

One manufacturer suggests machine laundering with like colors, in cold water, on the delicate cycle using a mild detergent. Do not use bleach or fabric softener. If possible, wash the garment inside out. Following these instructions will help protect the reflective tape.

Line drying your vest will also extend the life of the reflective tape. If you choose to machine dry, remove the vest from the dyer immediately. Do not let it sit with other hot clothes next to the dryer’s drum. This could also damage the reflective tape.

Your safety vest should be replaced when it becomes faded, torn, dirty, soiled, worn or defaced, or if it is not visible at 1,000 feet day or night. Factors that may cause your vest to wear out more quickly, depending on the amount of use, include:

  • Higher elevations due to increased ultra-violet rays;
  • Hot climates;
  • The types of work you are doing (some jobs are more dirty or strenuous and could be more likely to lead to soiling or tears); and
  • Care and maintenance of your vest.

When it’s time to replace your safety vest, notify your safety compliance officer or supervisor and request a replacement.

The proper care and maintenance of your vest will ensure that you are seen and help you stay safe while on the job. Launder your vest according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and replace it as soon as it is no longer appropriately visible. Your life may depend on it.

Download the recording form here.

Hazardous Energy Control (Lockout/Tagout)

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published Aug. 19, 2015

Effective lockout/tagout programs protect employees from serious or fatal injuries that could occur during an unexpected release of energy while servicing machinery or equipment.

Stored energy from many systems (electrical, mechanical, pneumatic, chemical, nuclear, thermal and gravitational) can cause injury.

Let’s discuss what happened when a rock crusher malfunctioned on a worksite, allowing large pieces to pass through the conveyor. A worker stopped the conveyor, climbed onto the catwalk and began pushing the large pieces off the conveyor belt. Another large piece of concrete rolled down the conveyor as the worker reached to remove the first piece, crushing his hand. Other workers reported the conveyor belt back traveled, possibly causing large chunks of debris to dislodge and roll.

This example demonstrates two different forms of energy – gravity and mechanical. Falling or rolling objects and unexpected machine movement can crush or trap you. Machine movement can even pull you into the workings of the machine. The worker in our example should have stopped and locked the machine before dislodging the concrete.

Workers should learn appropriate lockout/tagout procedures and follow them.

  • Look around you. Make sure you understand the different kinds of energy that could harm you. Think about the obvious things, like gravity.
  • Turn off controls.
  • Disconnect machines from their power source.
  • Tell others what you are doing.
  • Dissipate (bleed or neutralize) residual energy.
  • Clear work areas, and warn others before you restart the equipment.

Thousands of injuries occur every year because workers didn’t follow the appropriate lockout/tagout procedures. Don’t be one of the statistics.

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.

Jobsite Backing Safety

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published Aug. 9, 2016

Every time a machine is put into reverse on a construction site, there is a potential for a dangerous accident. This could result in damage to property, injury to workers or death. Accidents caused by backing vehicles or equipment are preventable if everyone is trained properly.

Here are some tips that could help prevent a backing accident.

  • Provide barricades and warning signs to identify where workers may and may not travel on the site where heavy equipment is in operation, or in congested areas.
  • Plan ahead and avoid backing up whenever possible. You can do this by providing turn-arounds and laying out traffic patterns to eliminate congestion and the need for backing up.
  • If you must back up, use a spotter and agree ahead of time on a stop signal. Spotters should:
    • Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment such as a high visibility vest and hard hat.
    • Walk the area where the backing will occur.
    • Check for hazards and clear the area of people and other equipment.
    • Check overhead clearance limits.
    • Know and use appropriate hand signals. Don’t rely on voice signals alone because work zone noises can make hearing difficult – if not impossible – especially from inside a vehicle.
    • Establish and maintain eye contact with the driver.
    • Stop the driver if you observe hazards or if you’re uncertain about direction.
  • Know your blind spots, and check them before backing up.
  • Know your equipment, and make sure your back-up alarm is working.
  • Even if the back-up alarm is working, blow your horn before you move your vehicle or equipment.
  • Use your mirrors.
  • Never be in a hurry when backing. Take your time.
  • Watch your spotter. If you lose eye contact with your spotter, stop your vehicle.

Pedestrians on a work site should stay alert near heavy equipment.

  • Never walk or stand behind a vehicle or piece of equipment.
  • Never assume a driver can see you.
  • Never try to outrun a vehicle or piece of equipment.

Remember, safety is everyone’s responsibility. Slow down, and follow these simple guidelines to help prevent damage to people or property. If there’s an accident, follow emergency procedures. If there is a “near miss,” report it to your supervisor immediately, so management can investigate and come up with corrective action to prevent similar incidents.

Drivers, spotters and pedestrians are all responsible preventing accidents. Be sure to do your part.

Download the recording form here.

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.

Emergency Vehicles in Work Areas

Posted on by admin_ici
Originally published Aug. 12, 2015

Workers learn to direct traffic in work zones by participating in flagger training programs and consulting the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which extensively cover signs, signals and the proper techniques for starting and stopping traffic. But there is rarely a discussion on what to do if an emergency vehicle needs to pass through your work zone.

Emergencies occur when we least expect them, and emergency vehicles seem to appear out of nowhere – moving quickly with lights flashing and sirens blaring. The sense of urgency associated with emergency vehicles can undermine flagger or traffic control manager confidence, and can possibly cause them to react rather than think before responding. These unplanned actions can cause accidents or unnecessary delays for emergency responders.

Before work begins, learn the locations of hospitals, fire and police stations in the vicinity of your work zone. If your work zone is on a road with direct access to first responders, emergency vehicles will inevitably drive through it. Here are some steps you can take when emergency vehicles travel through your work zone:

  • If you have enough time when you first see or hear an approaching emergency vehicle, stop traffic in all directions, and create a clear and visible path.
  • The flagger should signal the “all clear” to the emergency vehicle, allowing it to navigate through the zone with full right of way.
  • When you have no advance warning of an approaching emergency vehicle, the safest response is to stop the emergency vehicle first and then stop all other traffic to create a clear travel path.
  • You may also need to stop or clear construction equipment before you allow the emergency vehicle to pass.
  • Make advance arrangements with local police if the work you are doing, such as blasting or excavating, makes the roadway impassable.

Download a recording form here.