When a new person joins the work team, the work environment changes.  Employees that have been working together for a long time get in a groove.  They know the work style and work attitudes of the members of the team.

In the beginning, new employees are eager to do things right.  In fact, during the first six months, an employee is more eager to learn and please than at any other time during his employment. Smart supervisors use this time to instill proper work procedures and safety rules.  This is the time to let new people know the key job procedures.

The best way to help a new employee learn the job is by having veteran employees work with the newcomer.  The seasoned worker can show the newcomer how to do the job safely.   Both the supervisor and senior worker should monitor the new worker, continuing to advise and train.

A common mistake is overloading new employees with too much information. 

Remember they need time to get used to new people, new tasks, and a new schedule.

For the first week, keep information general.  That way, there’s a better chance the information will be remembered.  Some general safety rules to be emphasized during the first week are:

• Do not do any job, unless you have been trained to do so.
• Do not use any equipment, unless you have been trained to do so.
• Follow all safety rules.
• Be alert to hazards.
• Keep your mind on your job.

Following these safety tips, will help you setup your ladder safely.

Straight & Extension Ladders

·                     Watch for overhead obstructions and power lines.

·                     Never use a ladder in a strong wind.

·                     A ladder should not be placed in front of a door  (especially one that opens toward you) unless the door  is locked, blocked or guarded.

·                     When you use a ladder to reach a roof, make sure the ladder extends at least 3 feet (about 3 rungs) beyond the roof edge.

·                     Before positioning the ladder, check for insect or bird nests under the eaves; the top of a ladder is no place to discover a wasp nest.

·                     Keep the area around the ladder base free of clutter.

·                     Rest the ladder base on a solid, level surface.  Large flat wooden boards can be used to level the surface on uneven ground or to keep it from sinking into soft ground.

·                     To position the ladder properly, make sure the ladder is about 1 foot away from the vertical support for every 4 feet of ladder height between the base support and the top support.  This will produce an angle of about 75 degrees.

·                     When using an extension ladder, raise it to its desired height, being sure the locks engage properly on both sides of  the ladder.

·                     If possible, secure the ladder.  Tie a straight ladder as close as you can to the upper support point.

Stepladder

·                     Many of the safety tips for straight and extension ladders also apply to stepladders.

·                     Erect a stepladder on a flat, level surface.  Do not place it on a table or any similar platform for added height.

·                     Never use a stepladder as a straight ladder.

·                     Before climbing a stepladder, make sure the legs are fully extended and the spreader locked.

Ladder Inspection

·                     Are the steps firmly anchored to the side rails.

·                     Are the steps and other surfaces free of oil, grease, water, paint or dirt.

·                     Are the rungs, rails, braces, ropes, uprights or siderails loose or damaged.

·                     Are there knots or decayed areas on a wooden ladder.

·                     If the ladder has been dropped, inspect it thoroughly before using again.

·                     Tag and remove damaged ladders for repair or replacement.

Sometimes accidents happen and you have to be prepared to handle emergency situations as they occur.  Expect the unexpected.  Working on various jobsites causes additional challenges to emergency preparedness.  At the start of each and every job, make sure you know the following:

·                     The location of all exits.

·                     Your evacuation route.

·                     Assembly point after evacuation.

·                     The location of the closest fire extinguisher. 

·                     The location of the closest medical emergency facility.

·                     Location of first aid materials.

In addition, make sure all emergency phone numbers are kept near the phones.

Know the risks involved in your work area: 

·                     Flammable liquids and the way in which they could catch fire.

·                     Electrical hazards that could cause fire.

·                     Toxic chemical vapors in the air.

·                     Reactive chemicals and what causes them to react.

·                     Explosive hazards and what causes them to explode.

If an emergency occurs, you must be ready to act quickly and properly.  OSHA requires the following basic components to be part of your emergency contingency plan:

·                     Know how to report a fire, spill or other incident.

·                     Recognize the sound of the emergency alarm.

·                     If you have emergency response responsibilities (for example, administer first aid), be ready to perform your duties.

·                     If you don’t have emergency response responsibilities, do not get in the way of people assigned to respond.

·                     Alert other people around you to evacuate.

·                     Follow your assigned evacuation route and meet at your assigned assembly point.

To keep an emergency from becoming a disaster, everyone must remain calm and follow emergency procedures.

When it comes to computer work, it doesn’t matter how good your working posture is, working in the same posture or sitting still for prolonged periods is not healthy.

Change your working position frequently throughout the day in the following ways:

·       Make small adjustments to your chair or backrest.

·       Stretch your fingers, hands, arms, and torso.

·       Stand up and walk around for a few minutes periodically.

·       20-20-20 Rule– Every 20 minutes, look away from your work at something about 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

The following numbers are critical when excavatng:

2 feet         Materials and equipment must be kept at least 2 feet from then edge.         

4 feet         An exit must be provided if the excavation is 4 feet deep or greater.

5 feet         A protective system is not needed if the excavation is less than 5 feet deep and the competent person determines there is no potential of a cave-in.

6 feet         Guardrails must be provided on walkways 6 feet or more above the bottom of the excavation.

25 feet       Exits must be within 25 feet of worker horizontally.

Ethics is a code that a company or individual lives by.  It is a moral compass, or like in Pinocchio, our Jiminy Cricket.

Most times we know the right thing to do, but we are tripped up by those pesky gray areas.  That’s why I enjoy being around young teens.  They see the world in black and white and they have very few gray areas. 

This is how navigation through the gray areas happens.

I know the right thing to do, but if I do it, this job will lose money. 

I have a responsibility to shareholders.

I probably won’t get caught. 

Everybody else is doing it. 

I’ll take this shortcut just this one time.

Lately, there has been a lot of news where companies and people have messed up by doing the wrong thing.

BP, Jesse James and Tiger Woods come to mind.  I bet the head of BP, Tony Hayward would like to go to rehab for 30 days right about now.  Some sort of inhouse program for people who make bad decisions in industry  (along with Bernie Madoff and Enron execs).

Do you always follow safety rules or sometimes  skip safety when the job’s so small that it takes longer to set up safely than to actually do the work? 

If you are responsible for worker safety do you always do the right thing?

When we start chipping away at our values—looking the other way when it comes to safety, it’s easy to put them away when they get in the way and pull them out when someone is looking. 

I want to be the kind of person that always has the same values and morals—not just when the cameras rolling.

On April 20, 2010, a BP oil rig exploded killing 11 and oil has been spewing into waters off the coast of Louisiana. 

This isn’t the first time that BP has made headlines with disasterous safety news.

In March 2005, a fire and explosion occurred at BP’s Texas City Refinery killing 15 and injuring 170 workers.

According to the Center for Public Integrity an analysis of OSHA data shows that BP recieved 97% of all serious violations written against refineries  or a total of 872 violations since 2007.  Most of the violations are due to BP’s cavalier disregard to safety and their failure to fix the problems uncovered after the 2005 blast.

This is what BP had to say about their safety program in their 2008 Annual Review, “We continue to work to establish a strong safety culture, developing deep knowledge within every employee and sharing learning. This approach has been successful in building a world-class safety culture.”

 Their actions over the last few years contradict their words.  My dad gave me this advice, “Watch how a man walks, not how he talks”.  You can put fancy words in an annual review, but that doesn’t make it true.

I agree with the deputy assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, Jordan Barab when he said,  “The only thing you can conclude is that BP has a serious, systemic safety problem in their company.”

Improving survival from sudden cardiac arrest.

There are 220,000 victims of sudden cardiac arrest per year in the United States; about 10,000 sudden cardiac arrests occur at work.

Waiting for the arrival of emergency medical system personnel results in only 5-7% survival.

Studies with immediate defibrillation have shown up to 60% survival one year after sudden cardiac arrest.

Automated external defibrillators

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a medical device designed to analyze the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock to victims of ventricular fibrillation to restore the heart rhythm to normal.  Ventricular fibrillation is the uncoordinated heart rhythm most often responsible for sudden cardiac arrest.

Sudden cardiac arrest

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when ventricular fibrillation takes place or when the heart stops beating altogether. Without medical attention, the victim collapses, loses consciousness, becomes

unresponsive, and dies. Many victims have no prior history of heart disease and are stricken without warning.

Causes of sudden cardiac arrest

·       Heart attack

·       Electrocution

·       Asphyxiation (loss of consciousness and death caused by inadequate oxygen in the work environment, such as in a confined space).

Reasons for AEDs in the workplace

·       Workers may suffer sudden cardiac arrest while on the job.

·       Onsite AEDs save precious treatment time, and can improve survival odds because they can be used before emergency medical service (EMS) personnel arrive.

·       A heart rhythm in ventricular fibrillation may only be restored to normal by an electric shock.

·       The AED is compact, lightweight, portable, battery operated, safe, and easy to use.

AEDS SAVE LIVES!

These devices have a proven track record of saving lives in public places as well as in the workplace.  Please consider installing AEDs in your workplace.

Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, issued the following statement announcing the opening of an OSHA office in Las Vegas, Nev.:

"Workers deserve to be kept safe on the job. When we found serious deficiencies in the way the state of Nevada was operating its safety and health program, it was necessary to take action. I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be opening an office in Las Vegas.

"The new office will provide a federal presence and oversight in Nevada to improve coordination and share resources, make direct oversight easier and more effective, and provide technical assistance to the state as needed to ultimately ensure workers are better protected."

This announcement follows the issuance of a report last year that detailed significant problems in the operation of Nevada's state OSHA program. Federal OSHA and the state program are working cooperatively to ensure that the problems identified in the report are addressed.

This is an innovative way for OSHA to intervene and monitor Nevada’s state plan performance without revoking the state plan.

The purpose of North American Occupational Safety and Health or NAOSH week (May 2 -8, 2010) is to focus on workplace safety. 

In 2008 in the United States, 5214 people went to work and didn’t come home, that’s a little over 100 people every week or 17 people every day.

How many families are still grieving over the loss of their loved ones? Safety isn’t just a word.  Safety is real.  When it's not there, it can be disasterous.  Just ask any wife, husband, mom, dad, son or daughter who wishes that safety had been at work with their loved one that last day.

This week, let’s make safety a priority.  Just this week, follow every safety rule.  Do it one day at a time.  Pay attention to what you do.  If you’re not sure if you are doing something right, ask.  Then follow up NAOSH week, with another week of being safe, and then another.

Our goal is for everyone to come home safely at the end of the day.  17 people dying daily to provide for their families is unacceptable to me.  I hope it’s unacceptable to you, too.

Shoveling is a job usually given to a new person on the job.  A job that needs to be done and can be done by an unexperienced person.  Right?  Wrong!

Shoveling incorrectly can cause severe back injuries. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million workers suffer back injuries each year, and back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries or illnesses.

WRONG WAY:  Twisting the body while lifting a shovel may injure the joints and muscles in your shoulder, elbows, wrists and back.

RIGHT WAY: 

·       When lifting, put the weight on your front foot.

·       Before throwing, shift your weight to the rear foot.

·       When throwing, turn your front foot in the direction of the throw.

Following the above tips while shoveling, saves pain, saves money and keeps workers safe.

More than 150 police officers have been killed during routine traffic stops, since 1999 after being struck by vehicles.

Move over laws require motorists to move over one lane, if possible, whenever an emergency vehicle of any kind is working on the side of the road displaying flashing emergency lights.  If it’s too congested and impossible to move over safely, drivers must slow down below the posted speed limit.  Only police officers in Hawaii, Maryland, New York and Washington, DC are unprotected.

Drivers who break the law will be ticketed and fined.

This law helps protect police, firefighters, paramedics, tow truck drivers and all emergency and maintenance professional.

Protect first responders by moving over or when you see flashing emergency lights.

Worker on an unopened stepladder that’s leaning against a wall—is that okay if another worker holds the ladder to prevent it from slipping?  What does OSHA say?  Violation or not?

According to a 1/21/10, OSHA letter of interpretation, the short answer is “no”.

Why? (Or the long answer.)

29CFR1926 Subpart X, 1926.1053(b)(4) states:  Ladders shall be used only for which they were designed.

Thus, using a stepladder as a non-self-supporting ladder would violate §1926.1053(b)(4) if the ladder were not designed for that purpose.  Stepladder design varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.   To further the fact that ladders can’t be used as straight ladders, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards state that “self-supporting ladders shall not be used as single ladders or in the partially closed section”.

OSHA also quotes 1926.1053(a)(2):  Ladder rungs, cleats, and steps shall be…level…when the ladder is in position for use.

Stepladders are typically designed so that the rungs are level when the ladder is in the open and locked position and the ladder is placed on a stable and level surface. Consequently, it is likely that positioning a stepladder for use as a non-self-supporting ladder would result in the ladder's rungs being out-of-level, which would violate 1926.1053(a)(2).

The long and short of it is only work from stepladders that are opened fully and locked.

With savings gone and 401k plans decimated older workers are forced to put off retirement or even worse come out of retirement to make ends meet.  Some advantages of older workers are their dependability and knowledge.  But the downside, if injured, they take longer to heal.  According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), older workers are more severely injured and die with greater frequency from work-related injuries than younger workers.

Construction workers already suffer the highest number of fatalities in any U.S. industry.  But the death rate among construction workers 55 years and older was nearly 80% higher than that of construction workers under 35 in 2007. And like the rest of the workforce, the average age of a construction worker is rising; it was 40.4 in 2008, which is 4.4 years older than in 1985. The average retirement age among construction workers is 61.

As people age, the senses gradually deteriorate.  This gradual change in abilities may not be noticed by the individual.

With hearing deterioration, it becomes difficult to hear clearly in noisy environments and also determine where sounds originate.  This can be a problem on a loud construction sites where heavy equipment is operating.  Train older workers to be especially alert.  Heavy equipment operators, must also stop if they lose sight of anyone on the site.  They also need to know that the backup signals while a good tool does not replace the skills of an alert operator.

Older workers need better lighting.  Make sure safety signs are placed in locations where they are easily.  Bifocal safety glasses are available to compensate for vision loss.

Reaction times of older workers are slower than their younger counterparts.  This increases their chance of injury since they are unable to react quickly in hazardous situations, especially around equipment.  Make sure employees receive proper training and are familiar with the equipment they are operating.

In the future, the demand for workers will grow with fewer workers entering the workforce and an aging workforce.  We need to take action now and address the special needs of older workers.

$150,000 fine for a worker killed on the job, but a $10 million fine for killing fish in the same incident. Unbelievable!  In the 40 years, that OSHA has been around, there has been only one increase in penalties.  David Michaels, Assistant Secretary for OSHA, tells Congress it’s time for change.  OSHA’s mandate is to protect workers, but their efforts are thwarted by some unscrupulous employers who find it cheaper to pay a small fine rather than make the required changes.

OSHA can only visit a small number of workplaces each year and a way is needed to ensure employers comply with safety.  Enhanced penalties will be an incentive for employers to “do the right thing”.

Federal civil penalty for a serious violation is $7000.  A serious violation is ones that pose a substantial probability of death or serious physical harm to workers.  In fact, if a worker is killed the maximum fine is $70,000.

In no way are these penalties putting a price on a worker’s life, but a deterrent to employers to ensure compliance.  The increase in penalties will bring OSHA into the 21^st century and their penalties comparable to other government agencies. Some examples, the Department of Agriculture can fine up to $130,000 to a milk processor for willful violations and the Environmental Protection Agency can impose a penalty of $325,000 for Clean Air Act violations.

Do I think a penalty increase is a good thing?  Sometimes.  Good employers can be swept up with the bad ones.  Even though an employer is doing everything right, it is challenging to prove.  I know what you’re going to say, if there is a violation an employer is guilty and there are safeguards built in to protect them.  In my opinion the OSHA system is based on the concept of guilty until proven innocent and I have seen employers with a concern for their employee’s health and safety hit with some massive undeserved fines.  While they have been successful in proving their innocence, it is still time-consuming and expensive.

If penalty increase brings the bad apples to task and they start complying with OSHA regulations then I’m all for it. If it saves even one life, I’m all for it.  If it makes doing business for the good guys onerous and more expensive, then I’m against it.  I want OSHA to carry a big stick, let’s wait and see how they wield it.

Every year OSHA publishes its list of Top Ten citations and usually this list is relatively the same from year to year.  Five years ago, ladders appeared on the list for the first time and have been steadily moving up.  In the 50’s and 60’s, the record industry would place a bullet by a song that was quickly moving up the charts to the number one spot.  If “ladder citations” was a song, it would have a bullet by its name.

In five years, ladders have taken over the 6^th spot moving up from the 8^th spot.  In 2009, OSHA issued 3,227 citations (2,902 citations in 2008) and the top 5 sections cited are:

1926.1053(b)(1) – Not extending ladders at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access.

1926.1053(b)(4) -  Using ladders for purposes other than for which they were designed.

1926.1053(b)(13) – Using the top or top step of a stepladder a step.

1926.1053(b)(16) – Failure to take defective ladders out of service.

1926.1053(b)(22) -An employee shall not carry any object or load that could cause the employee to lose balance and fall. 

To avoid citations, follow these safety rules:

Choose the Right Ladder

1.     Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions posted on the ladder.

2.   You must be trained and authorized prior to using ladders.

3.   Is the ladder strong enough to support worker and the equipment that will be used.  Ladder capacity is shown as follows:

                             Light Duty (Type III) 200 pounds maximum.

                             Medium Duty (Type II) 200-225 pounds.

                             Heavy Duty (Type I) 225-250 pounds

                             Extra Heavy Duty (Type 1A) 250-300 pounds

4.   Ladder must be long enough to work safely without standing on the top step or stretching beyond a safe distance.

5.    Does the ladder have the right feet for the surface on which it will stand?

6.   Is ladder in good condition and safe for use?

Carrying Ladders

1.     Ladders should be carried horizontally, rather than vertically.

2.   If you’re carrying a ladder by yourself, make sure you can lift it easily.  Use one hand to grasp the rail of the ladder at its midpoint.  Carry it horizontally and walk with the front of the ladder slightly higher than the back.

3.   Get help, if the ladder is too long or too heavy. 

Straight & Extension Ladders

1.     Watch for overhead obstructions and power lines.

2.   Never use a ladder in a strong wind.

3.   A ladder should not be placed in front of a door  (especially one that opens toward you) unless the door  is locked, blocked or guarded.

4.   When you use a ladder to reach a roof, make sure the ladder extends at least 3 feet (about 3 rungs) beyond the roof edge.

5.    Keep the area around the ladder base free of clutter.

6.   Rest the ladder base on a solid, level surface.  Large flat wooden boards can be used to level the surface on uneven ground or to keep it from sinking into soft ground.

7.    To position the ladder properly, make sure the ladder is about 1 foot away from the vertical support for every 4 feet of ladder height between the base support and the top support.  This will produce an angle of about 75 degrees.

8.   Secure the ladder.  Tie a straight ladder as close as you can to the upper support point.

9.   On a straight ladder, don’t climb higher than the third rung from the top.

Stepladder

1.     Many of the safety tips for straight and extension ladders also apply to stepladders.

2.   Erect a stepladder on a flat, level surface.  Do not place it on a table or any similar platform for added height.

3.   Never use a stepladder as a straight ladder.

4.   Before climbing a stepladder, make sure the legs are fully extended and the spreader locked.

5.    Do not step on the top platform or top step of a stepladder.

6.   Do not step on the bucket shelf of a stepladder or attempt to climb or stand on the rear section supports.

A Few More Safety Tips

1.     Carry small tools in a tool belt or use a bucket to raise and lower large or heavy tools.

2.   Remove any slippery substances from your hands, shoes and ladder rungs before climbing.

3.   Always face the ladder and hold on securely.

4.   While climbing, always try to keep two hands and one foot or two feet and one hand in contact with the ladder.

5.    Always keep your belt buckle between the siderails.  Never stretch or lean too far to the side.

6.   Only one person on a ladder at a time.

7.    Do not use a metal ladder around electrical wires or equipment.

8.   Watch for overhead obstructions and power lines.

9.    Keep the area around the ladder base free of clutter.

10.Store the ladder in a well-ventilated place in a manner that will

     prevent sagging and warping.

11.Straight ladders are best stored in flat racks or wall brackets.

12.Stepladders should be stored in the vertical, closed position.

Every year, 50 construction workers are killed while using ladders.  Inspecting ladders and following the safety rules shown above will prevent ladder accidents.

Falls are the second leading cause of death in the workplace after vehicle crashes and, in construction, falls are the number one cause of death and the second cause of nonfatal injuries.  Not only is working at height a problem, but also there are other contributory factors that make falls almost inevitable. 

Inadequate training. OSHA requires employers to provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to fall hazards.  The training shall provide hazard recognition and hazard mitigation.  This is a challenge at all times, but if that workforce doesn’t understand English the task is aggravated.   Recent statistics show that there has been an increase in deaths among Hispanic construction workers.  A CDC report (June 2008) states that higher death rates for Hispanic workers is due to inadequate knowledge and control of hazards, inadequate training and supervision.

Inadequate Fall Protection.  Employer must determine if the walking surface is adequate to support workers.  Any unprotected sides and edges are 6 feet or higher must have a guardrail system, safety nets or personal fall arrest systems.    Workers must be protected  from falling through holes (including skylights) more than 6 feet above lower levels by personal fall arrest systems, covers or guardrail systems erected around hole.

How to Protect Workers.

1.      Identify all potential fall hazards before starting work.

2.   Take action to protect against these hazards:

a.    Install covers over floor openings.  Covers must support two times the weight of employees/materials/equipment that might be imposed on cover.

b.   Make sure unprotected sides/edges are equpped with a guardrail system, consisting of a toprail, midrail and toeboard.

c.    If a and b are not possible, provide employees with a personal fall arrest system (PFAS).  PFAS consists of a lanyard, harness and anchorage.

3.   Inspect all fall protection equipment daily before use.

4.   Make sure all ladders are in good condition and stabilized before using.

5.    Make sure employees are trained.

6.   Have a written fall protection policy.

Go to OSHA’s website (www.osha.gov) for more information on how to comply with fall protection requirements.  If you would like a free PFAS inspection form, call 800-200-0888 or email support@mrsoshasafety.com.

Protruding steel reinforcing bars must be guarded.  Impalement onto rebar can cause serious internal injuries or death.

Acceptable methods of rebar protection are bending rebar so exposed ends are no longer upright or the use of rebar caps or wooden troughs.

All rebar caps are not created equal.  The OSHA Standard states that rebar “be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement.”  Sometimes the force caused by the fall can cause the rebar to push through a plastic cap and impale the worker…in violation of the above Standard.

California does not allow mushroom caps to be used for rebar protection.  Not so at the federal level.  According to Standard Interpretation Letter dated 5/29/1997.  “There is no change in OSHA policy nor is there a ban on the general use of the small plastic (mushroom) rebar caps as recommended by their manufacturer.”  The letter further states that when working at grade, mushroom caps protect against abrasions and cuts.  It is the employer’s responsibility to determine the proper way to protect workers from impalement hazards.

Only rebar caps offering impalement protection (usually with steel reinforcement) should be used when workers are working at height above rebar. 

Fall prevention/protection is the first line of defense against impalement hazards.

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) the number of nonfatal injuries decreased 7% from 2007 to 2008. 

In 2008, the severity of injury required an employee to take 8 days to recuperate compared to 7 days away from work in 2007.

Injuries to workers 55-64 increased 3%.

Injuries to workers 65 and older , increased 13%.

Injuries to Hispanic workers increased 10%.

In 2008, sprain or strain injuries accounted for 39% of the injuries.  40% of these injuries were back injuries.

By reviewing the above statistics, you can determine if your workers fall into any of the above categories.  Also, determine what activities could result in a sprain or strain.  Concentrate on these areas for the next few months.  If you need a tailgate safety meeting for back injuries, contact me at tpenewell@mrsoshasafety.com and I’ll send you tailgate meetings covering these hazards—FREE!