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Policies and Procedures |
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ÄDecember
Safety Winner of $25 Gift Card:
Steve MilnerÃ
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January Safety - Guardrails
February
Safety - Hand Tools
March
Safety - Save Your Hands
April
Safety - Ladder Tips
May Safety -
Suspended Loads
June Safety
- Check Before You Move
July Safety
- Working Around Cranes
August
Safety - Material Handling
September Safety - Screwdrivers
October
Safety - Weather
November
Safety - Wrenches
December
Safety - Injuries
Safety Incentive Program
In an effort to create an
even more safety conscious atmosphere at Electrical Staffing
Inc., we are implementing this new safety program. We will all
be winners with this program!
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Each employee will be given
one chance to win a monthly drawing for every week they work
for Electrical Staffing Inc. without a loss-time injury
within a month period. For every week you miss work,
you will lose that many chances to win.
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We will draw for a $25.00
gift card.
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If you have a loss-time
injury, you must return to work that same month to be
eligible for the drawing.
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The drawing will be held
the 1st Monday of each month and will be posted on our
website and you will be notified.
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GUARDRAILS
Guardrails protect you from falls that can
seriously injure or even kill. The amounts of protection
guardrails provide depends on how they are constructed and
maintained. Most guardrails are built of strong materials and
are usually solid when first put up. As time goes by,
however, guardrails often are abused, weakened, broken, or
moved and not replaced.
MISSING OR WEAKENED GUARDRAILS
Sometimes sections of guardrails must be taken
down so that materials or equipment can be brought in. These
sections often aren't replaced or if they are, they're hastily
thrown back up. Weakened guardrails are sometimes more
dangerous than no guardrails at all, because they give a false
sense of security.
FOLLOW THESE RULES
We can help avoid guardrail accidents if we
follow a few simple rules:
1. As you go about your job, get into the
habit of checking guardrails. If you discover a weakened or a
missing section, correct the situation if you can. Otherwise,
report it so that the hazard can be eliminated.
2. If you bump a rail with material or
equipment, check it at once if you suspect you may have
weakened it. If you discover you've broken a rail, upright,
or toeboard, repair it if you can. Otherwise, report it so
that the hazard can be repaired.
3. When repairing or replacing guardrails,
remember you're exposed to the very danger that you are
providing protection against. Perhaps you should be using a
safety belt and lanyard.
KEEP YOUR
GUARD (RAILS) UP
Different types of construction may require
different types of guardrails. But the points we've covered
today apply to all. If you have suggestions, make them known
so that we can continue to keep our guardrails up and our
accidents down.
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DON’T
TAKE HAND TOOLS FOR GRANTED
Too many people do so, both at home and at
work.
Household jobs usually are light. So you sometimes can get
away with using tools improperly or substituting one tool for
another. Our work, however, makes rugged demands on tools.
If we misuse a tool, or use one that’s wrong for the job or in
poor condition, it can result in injury or spoiled work.
Choose the right tool for the job
Would you use an axe to drive nails? Obviously not. You’d
use a claw hammer. It’s the less obvious misuse of tools that
gives us the most trouble, like using a screwdriver or a file
s pry bar. Trouble also comes from trying to get by with a
tool that’s not the right size for the job. A common mistake
is using a wrench that’s the wrong size for the nut, or one
with a handle that’s too short. This can result in scraped
knuckles or a broken wrench.
How many times have you seen a person slip a cheater pipe over
a wrench handle for more leverage on a tight nut? In many
cases, the cheater pipe slips off the handle and the worker
loses his balance and falls. And often it’s off a ladder.
Don’t take chances. Get the right tool, even if it takes you
a few minutes longer. You’ll probably save yourself lost time
and pay.
Use only tools in good condition
Sometimes the hammer whose head comes off is
less dangerous than the one whose head just wiggles a little.
In the first case, we know the hammer is dangerous and fix
it. In the second case, we never know when the head will
twist enough to glance off the work, or just fly off.
Tools in proper condition have handles and
heads that are sound and securely fitted; cutting edges that
are sharp and true. It’s usually the dull tool that hurts
you. Tools should be kept free of dirt and grease. If a tool
doesn’t meet these qualifications, don’t use it. Otherwise,
you’re asking for trouble.
Use tools properly
Very few of us are experts when it comes to
using every tool made. If you don’t know how to use a tool,
don’t be afraid to ask someone who does. Here are a few tips
for using tools properly:
1.
Pull a wrench. Don’t push.
2.
Use the full handle of the
hammer. If you choke up on it, you’ll lose control.
3.
Always cut away from yourself.
4.
Be sure to wear eye protection if
there’s any chance of chips or flying particles.
5.
Don’t use a file without a
handle.
6.
Don’t use a chisel or screwdriver
as a pry bar.
Carry and store tools safely
If you carry tools in your hands, keep sharp or
cutting edges covered and hold them away from you.
Use a toolbox or belt when you carry a lot of
tools. Don’t stuff them in your pockets. Keep the toolbox
orderly so you can easily find the tool you need without
getting cut or gouged.
If your buddy wants to borrow one of your
tools, hand it to him - don't toss it.
Hand tool safety depends on the right tool for
the job – in proper condition – used correctly – and carried
and stored safely.
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SAVE YOUR
HANDS
Here's a test to see how fast you can untie
your shoes. You can use both hands, but you can’t use your
thumbs. Not so easy, is it? And, yet, do you realize that
25% of all disabling injuries involve hands and fingers?
COMMON CAUSES OF HAND INJURIES
What are some of the common causes of injuries
to hands and fingers, most of which usually are preventable?
They include struck by hammers, pinched between objects being
moved, cut by sharp objects, pierced by splinters and slivers,
burned by hot objects or chemicals, and caught in moving
machinery.
GLOVES – A PRIME MEANS OF PROTECTION
As long as your skin remains unbroken, it can
keep germs out. Once it’s opened by a scrape or cut, however,
germs can get in and infection can result unless you get
proper treatment. And, no matter how rugged you think your
hands may be, they aren’t tough enough to stop splinters,
slivers, or to resist punctures.
That’s why gloves are important. They’re like
an extra layer of skin. The nail that rips your glove would
have injured you if your hand had been bare.
Wear gloves whenever you are handling rough or
sharp material. Use rubber gloves when working with
chemicals, solvents, or other material that can irritate your
skin. Wear gloves that fit properly. Also, remember that
gloves shouldn’t be worn when there is a possibility they can
get caught in moving machinery.
GUARDS ARE HAND SAVERS
Guards on power saws and other equipment
sometimes seem like a nuisance, always getting in the way.
But they’re on the equipment to protect you against injury.
By removing guards or otherwise making them ineffective, you
increase your chances of getting hurt, Tie one hand behind
your back for a day and you’ll appreciate what the
consequences of working without a guard can be.
OTHER DANGERS
Many hand injuries occur even when you are
wearing gloves or using guards. Be alert to these dangers,
too. Such injuries can result from the unexpected shifting of
material, getting hands caught in pinch points, grabbing
moving parts of the machinery, or holding work in the hands
that should be held in a vise or securely clamped.
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LADDER TIPS
Do you know there's a killer on this job that
you probably meet face-to-face everyday? I’m talking about
the common, ordinary ladder. Ladders are involved in many
accidents, some of which are fatal. Your life literally can
depend on knowing how to inspect, use, and care for this
tool. Let’s spend a few minutes talking about ladders.
INSPECTING LADDERS
Before using any ladder, inspect it. Look for
the following faults:
·
Loose or missing rungs or cleats.
·
Loose nails, bolts, or screws.
·
Cracked broken, split, dented, or badly worn rungs, cleats, or
side rails.
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Wood splinters.
·
Corrosion of metal ladders or metal parts.
If you find a ladder in poor condition, don’t
use it. Report it. It should be tagged and properly repaired
or immediately destroyed.
USING LADDERS
Choose the right type and size ladder. Except
where stairways, ramps, or runways are provided, use a ladder
to go from one level to another. Keep these tips in mind:
1.
Be sure straight ladders are long enough
so that the side rails extend above the top support point by
36” at least.
2.
Don’t set up ladders in areas such as
doorways or walkways where others may run them into, unless
they are protected by barriers. Keep the area around the top
and base of the ladder clear. Don’t run hoses, extension
cords, or ropes on a ladder and create an obstruction.
3.
Don’t try to increase the height
of a ladder by standing it on boxes, barrels, or other
materials. Don’t try to splice two ladders together either.
4.
Set the ladder on solid footing
against a solid support. Don’t try to use a stepladder as a
straight ladder.
5.
Place the base of straight
ladders out away from the wall or edge of the upper level
about one foot for every four feet of vertical height. Don’t
use ladders as a platform, runway, or scaffold.
6.
Tie in, block, or otherwise
secure the top of straight ladders to prevent them from being
displaced.
7.
To avoid slipping on a ladder,
check your shoes for oil, grease, or mud and wipe it off
before climbing.
8.
Always face the ladder and hold
on with both hands when climbing up or down. Don’t try to
carry tools or materials with you.
9.
Don’t lean out to the side when you’re on a ladder. If
something is out of reach, get down and move the ladder over.
10.
Most ladders are designed to hold only one person at a time.
Two may cause the ladder to fail or throw it off balance.
CARE OF LADDERS
Take good care of ladders and they’ll take care of you. Store
them in well-ventilated areas, away from dampness.
REMEMBER
These tips on ladders may save you from a ladder that tips.
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SUSPENDED
LOADS
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Lightning doesn’t have to strike often to do a
job on you. Just once usually is enough. And it’s the same
with overhead loads. If one falls on you, it generally makes
a permanent impression. That’s why we always should stay out
from under cranes, booms, and buckets. This means concrete
buckets as well as backhoe buckets. Your first accident may
be your last.
USE YOUR HEAD
Use your head. Not to stop a falling object,
but to make sure an object doesn’t fall on you. Don’t stand,
walk or work under crane booms, buckets, or suspended loads.
And while using your head, keep it covered with a hard hat.
PLAN AHEAD
If you have anything to do with planning
lifting operations, be sure the boom or bucket will not be
swinging over workers. You may have to rope off or barricade
the swing area, or schedule the lifting operations when the
workers aren’t in the vicinity.
CONCRETE OPERATIONS
Did you ever get hit in the head with a piece
of semi-hardened concrete that dropped from a crane bucket?
It hurt didn’t it, even though you were wearing your hard
hat. How do I know you were wearing your hard hat? If you
weren’t you would be here. Laborers have to be especially
careful to keep clear of the crane when the operator is
loading and hoisting the bucket.
BACKHOES
So many times we think only in terms of crane
booms, but the same thoughts apply to backhoe operations. A
pipe crew gets so used to setting pipe with a backhoe that
they get in under the load in a ditch. What is going to
happen if a cable breaks or a hydraulic line blows? Look at
the mechanics of the boom. If a cable breaks, will the load
shift horizontally as well as drop? Think!
AVOID OVERHEAD HAZARDS
Remember: To avoid danger from crane booms,
keep out from under them at all times. And wear your hard
hat, just in case.
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CHECK
BEFORE YOU MOVE
You’ve probably seen the havoc heavy construction equipment
can cause. Maybe you know of someone who was killed or badly
injured by being run over or backed over. And you may even
have seen a parked car that had been crushed. Usually, this
kind of accident happens because someone fails to take
commonsense precautions.
BIGGER AND FASTER TODAY
Years ago, heavy equipment was big, bulky, and slow moving.
The operator could see well in all directions. Today, this
equipment is heavy, large, and fast moving. Often the
operator’s field of vision is restricted. So now the
equipment operator has to be more alert than he did a few
years ago to make sure he doesn’t injure or kill a fellow
worker.
TAKE A WALK BEFORE YOU RIDE
Before you climb aboard a piece of heavy equipment, walk
completely around it. Then you’ll be able to see any persons
or obstacles in the vicinity. And you’ll be able to warn
anyone who is in the way that you are getting ready to move
the equipment. With all the noise, it is sometimes difficult
to hear one more rig start up or start to move. If mechanics
have been working on a rig, be sure they have finished their
work and all have left. Make sure they haven’t left any tools
or equipment behind either.
I know of a worker on a runway job, who ate his lunch in the
shade of a large sheep’s foot roller. Then he settled down to
take a catnap before going back to work. In the meantime, the
operator got on the tractor, backed it up, and ran the heavy
roller over the man. Thirty seconds of precaution on the part
of the operator would have prevented this accident.
Another time, a service operator drove up to a dragline and
got off his truck to tell the operator about a gas can he had
previously placed in the rig. In a few minutes, he got back
on the truck and backed up. He ran over the crane oiler, who
was behind the truck and facing away from it. This shows why
it’s always necessary to have someone signal for you when
you’re backing equipment or trucks in place where people and
equipment are working. We don’t have many minor accidents
involving heavy construction equipment. Most of hem result in
serious injury or death.
Admittedly, it takes a few seconds to walk around the machine
or truck before you board it. And it takes a few seconds to
have someone signal you when you back such equipment. But
this time is well spent – especially if it saves someone’s
life. It also saves the many sleepless nights you would
suffer if you were responsible for injuring or killing a
fellow worker.
A FEW SECONDS CAN SAVE A LIFE
If you operate heavy equipment, remember that those working
around it are at your mercy. Before starting or backing the
vehicle, take a few seconds it requires to be sure that no one
is in danger. You owe it to those you work with.
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WORKING
AROUND CRANES
Experience can be the worst teacher
Experience teaches us a lot about working around cranes. But
often the lessons are costly.
For example: A laborer carrying a bag of cement walked between
a crawler crane and a building column. The crane swung around
and fatally crushed him between the counterweight and the
column.
On another job, a workman was leaning on the crane frame,
talking with one of his buddies. The load came in contact
with a live power line and he was electrocuted.
Stay out from under
It’s a smart
move on our part to stay out from under suspended hooks and
loads. There’s always a chance that during a lift, the load
could shift and fall. It may be a slim chance because of the
good rigging techniques we use. But once is al it takes to
cause a serious injury or a fatality. Also stay clear of
swinging loads. The big “I” beam can squash you like a bug if
you get in the way.
You’re not safe when not seen
Remember to, that the crane operator may not see you. He’s
concentrating on moving his crane into position or swinging
his load. Think of the swing area of the crane as “no-man’s
land.” And stay out. The crane will have no sympathy if you
get in the way. And it won’t come out second best. I’ll
guarantee that.
Other dangers
Have you ever hear of a P.L.P.? It stands for Public Leaning
Post. And a lot of people think that’s what the crane is.
They’re asking for a shocking experience if the load or boom
touches a live wire. So don’t lean on the crane. Stay
clear. It’s too bad the workman we talked about earlier
didn’t take this advice. He’d still be around today.
Of course, with all the overhead work going on, we always
should wear our hard hats. Concrete slopped out of a lifted
bucket can crack an unprotected skull.
I don’t understand why some persons never use the stairs or
personnel hoists. They insist on “riding the hook.” And
they’re asking for trouble when they do. It’s one of the most
dangerous means of transportation around.
Use extra care around cranes
The crane is a fantastic piece of equipment. It saves us an
enormous amount of work. But like anything else that’s big and
powerful, it can be dangerous. That’s why I’ve taken the time
to stress that you be extra careful when working around
cranes.
CRANE BOOM FAILURE
When a crane boom fails, watch out. As the heavy piece comes
crashing down, lives can be snuffed out and thousands of
dollars worth of property damaged. Crane boom failure can be
one of the biggest disasters on a construction job; yet poor
planning on the simplest lifting job can cause it.
LISTEN CAREFULLY – IT MAY SAVE LIVES
The time to discuss crane boom failure is before it happens,
not afterwards. So pay close attention to what we’re going to
discuss today. The suggestions we’re going to make could save
lives.
TWO MAIN CAUSES OF BOOM FAILURE
The two main causes of crane boom failure are overloading and
improper loading. Some of the specific things of which we
constantly should be aware are:
1.
Overloading for length, size, or angle of boom.
2.
Improper calculation of load weight. Remember to include the
weight of all rigging.
3.
Boom
too high.
4.
Sudden release of load on near-vertical boom.
5.
No
boom stop to keep it from going over backwards.
6.
Two
blocking.
7.
Attempting side pulls
8.
Top
block not centered over load.
9.
Swinging load and not paying attention to the side load on
boom.
10.
Load
hitting boom.
11.
Walking or turning too fast, causing load to swing and twist
boom.
12.
Failure to use tagline or other control on a load
13.
Chassis not level, causing side bend in boom.
14.
Not
using outrigger or outriggers improperly shored.
15.
Not
enough counterweight, tipping the cab house and chassis.
16.
Using
boom with twisted members or braces. Makeshift repairs.
17.
Improper maintenance.
18.
Poor
brakes. Worn clutch.
19.
Failure to check boom.
20.
Inexperienced or careless operation. Chance taking. Short
cuts.
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MATERIAL
HANDLING
Lowering from overhead
We talk a great deal about the proper way to
lift things up. But we don’t say enough about lifting them
down – that is, lowering them from overhead. This can be
dangerous. Recently a worker was tearing down a machine. He
had to remove a flywheel from a shoulder-high shaft. The
wheel didn’t look heavy to him, but when it came free, it was
more than he could handle. He fell to the floor with the
flywheel on top of him and was seriously injured.
A common occurrence
Getting into trouble when lowering heavy items
is a common occurrence. You may have experienced trouble
yourself. Perhaps you had to get a box of hardware from a
high shelf. You had the box over your head and suddenly
realized you couldn’t handle it. It was coming down on top of
you. You were afraid to hang on to it, afraid to let go. The
box hit you as it slid from your grasp. The contents
scattered all over the floor.
How to approach overhead loads
v
Size up the load: if it looks too heavy for you to have lifted
it to where it is, it’s probably too heavy for you to take
down. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Once you get
it loose, it’s all yours. And if you can’t handle it, it’s
too late.
v
Ask yourself: How did it get up there? Was it put there by
lift truck? By two men? By a real big guy? Atlas maybe? The
way it got up there is probably the best way to get it down.
How to lower a load you can handle
When you are lowering something you can handle,
set it down the same way you would lift it up. Keep knees
bent and back straight. If you have to place it to one side
or the other, don’t twist your body. Move your feet instead.
What goes up will come down – faster
If you’re lifting something up, you can always
stop if you find it’s too heavy. But when lowering a load
from overhead, you've already passed the point of no return
the moment it breaks free.
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SCREWDRIVERS
The screwdriver is intended for one purpose only – to loosen
and tighten screws. It’s not only important to know what a
screwdriver is used for, but how to take care of it and use it
properly. The following suggestions will enable you to make
the best use of his tool.
Proper care of screwdrivers
w
Repair screwdrivers that are badly worn or have bent or broken
tips. Grind or file the blades square so that the sides that
engage the screw are parallel. Be careful not to remove the
temper from the blade during the grinding, or it will become
soft. A sharp, square-edged blade will not slip as easily as
a worn, dull, rounded one.
w
Replace a broken handle. A broken or damaged handle is not
only difficult to hold, but you risk cutting yourself or
getting a splinter or blister.
w
Keep
the tool free of dirt, grease, or burrs.
Proper use of screwdrivers
w
Select the proper size screwdriver for the screw, so that the
thickness of the blade makes a good fit in the slot. This not
only prevents the screw slot and blade from being damaged, but
reduces the force required to keep the tool in the screw
head. Clean the slots out with a corner of the screwdriver if
they are clogged with paint or other debris.
w
Keep
the screwdriver square with the screw head. You will avoid
damaging the screw and lessen the possibil | | | |
