Jobsite Safety. Norbord.com/NA

Transcription

1 Jobsite Safety.

2 Jobsite Safety...3 Construction Site Safety Tips...5 Staying Warm On Construction Job Sites...7

3 Jobsite Safety We re no experts on safety, so we turned to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for some guidelines on best practices for onsite job safety. They set standards for employers and employees to follow to reduce the risk of injuries on construction sites. Here are some of the most important steps to keeping your job site safe. Always check for local requirements before embarking on a new build. Safety Gear Hardhats, steel-toe boots and gloves should be required on jobsites without exception. These must meet ANSI Z89 standards. This applies to eye and face protection too. These are simple ways in which employees can avoid injury and employers can avoid worker s compensation. Scaffolding This is one of the most frequent OSHA violations and can lead to serious injuries when scaffolding collapses. Ways to mitigate the dangers around scaffolding is to ensure that the scaffolding: Is not supporting more than its designated load Is level and is secured with footings and screw jacks Is inspected on a daily basis to ensure safety Is accessible via fixed ladders Is augmented with regulation guardrails, screens and debris netting, falling object protection, midrails, toeboards etc. Must be built according to the manufacturer s instructions and in compliance with OSHA and Scaffold Industry Association (SIA) standards. All employees must attend training on how to safely use scaffolding, on safety regulations surrounding scaffolding and on using scaffolding in a way that doesn t put them and their co-workers at risk. Fall Protection The jobsite must be set up so workers are never at risk of falling more than 6 feet, but most jobsites limit that distance to 4 feet. Employees working at heights must also undergo fall training so that they know how to work safely. Fall protection systems must be installed including guard rails, mid-rails and toeboards. Safety net 3

4 systems should be no more than 30 feet below the working level and should be inspected weekly. Roof anchors should be installed and should support 5,000 pounds per employee. There must be controlled access zones 6 feet from the edge where only trained and authorized personnel are permitted. Separate specifications must be met for steel construction. Ladders And Stairways Fixed ladders are a safe way to access scaffolding. Ladder configurations must ensure that workers are not able to fall more than 24 feet. If ladders are portable, they must extend 3 feet beyond the point of support and must be tied off. Temporary stairways which are built to grant access to construction workers must be built to specifications in order to avoid citations and accidents. Stairways must be built to the following specifications: Stairs must have an inclination between degrees Rails must be installed on stairways with four risers or more or on stairways rising above 30 inches Training All employees must be trained in safety procedures including how to use and store tools, how to navigate the worksite and how to properly handle chemicals and other hazardous substances safely. Workers must be trained to work in confined spaces. Working With Electricity While electricians will have special training on how to deal with safety, all construction workers must adhere to safety procedures around electrical wiring. Light bulbs should be protected with screens or cages, flexible cords must be protected from damage. All knockout holes and circuit breaker holes must be covered. Cords should not be run through walls, ceilings and floors. All handheld tools should be grounded or double-insulated. Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFI) or an assured equipment grounding conductor program must be used. All electrical equipment must be NEMArated and circuit breakers must be properly rated. Overhead conductors must be installed at the right height; 10 feet above grade for general areas, 12 feet above for areas where vehicles are operated, 15 feet for trucks and 18 feet above streets to which the public have access. Hazardous Chemicals All the correct protocols must be followed and all construction workers properly trained. Restricted access must be exercised to keep untrained employees out. A hazard communication plan must be developed for each job site and chemicals must be properly stored, labeled and marked with warnings. All employees must be trained on how to eliminate environmental hazards and what to do in the event of a 4

5 spill. Woodworking Tools Electrical saws and sanders must be used with guards in place and must be equipped with an anti-start device for when power is interrupted. Excavations And Trenches These must be properly supported with an approved ramp or ladder located within 25 feet of each worker. Excavations and trenches must undergo weekly inspections to ensure safety. Hazardous Gases Oxygen and fuel gas cylinders must be properly stored and secured onsite. They must be separated by 20 feet or by a 5 foot-high wall. All gas welding and cutting equipment must only be used by qualified and trained workers and with all the requisite safety gear. Fire Protection Workers must be trained on fire protection procedures, firefighting equipment must be visible and accessible and in good working order. A fire alarm should be installed onsite to warn workers of possible dangers. Aerial Lifts These should only be operated by properly trained workers and in accordance with the manufacturer s instructions. Users must be attached with a body belt to the basket floor. Jobsites should be organized and free of debris and scraps. The perimeter should be properly secured to ensure that tools and building supplies are safely stored. Construction Site Safety Tips Accidents on construction sites can jeopardize the safety of your team and the public while causing delays or financial loss. While most construction sites already require safety with the use of protective gear and adherence to safety standards; reminders are never a bad idea. Fire Hazards Follow all the safety procedures outlined in permits for hot work and ensure that there are fire extinguishers within reach and a team member who is on fire watch 5

6 while heat-applied rooftops, welding and cutting are being carried out. Ensure that areas where hot work is being done are properly ventilated. Severe Weather As the incidence of severe storms increase, watching the weather has become an increasingly important part of jobsite safety. Always keep a close eye on the weather so that you can properly store panels and equipment onsite and effectively brace structures to withstand high winds. Keep your crew safe on days when high wind events are expected. Site Security Oftentimes, the real cause for concern when it comes to injuries is not the professional construction workers in your team, but curious onlookers. It s best to secure your site before construction begins. Creating an adequate perimeter fence as well as secure storage for tools and equipment will mitigate misadventure and keep your materials safe. Put up signage that alerts the public and workers to dangers and the safety requirements for entrance onto the job site like hardhats, safety boots etc. Site Manager Each site, no matter how small, should have a job site manager whose responsibility it is to ensure that safety procedures are being followed at all times. Having a dedicated safety officer will mean that regular inspections and structured procedures prevent accidents from happening. Be Prepared While having set procedures and structures on each job site will help to reduce the possibility of accidents, you need to be prepared for every eventuality. Ensure that you know where the closest medical facility is on every job and have a first aid kit onsite. Ensure that your safety officer remains up to date with emergency training like CPR and other first aid essentials. Insurance You need to be sure that your insurance policy considers every eventuality and that you are covered for crew injuries, injuries to members of the public, damage and loss. Even a small accident can financially ruin an ill-prepared construction company. Ensure that your jobsite is always in line with the occupational health and safety laws of your province or state if you want your insurance to be valid. Remember that safety always comes first. 6

7 Staying Warm On Construction Job Sites Construction workers are exposed to extreme weather when on site over the winter months. It s good to review the basics of staying safely warm when outdoors. This will help to keep your crew safe and reduce sick days. Keep well insulated by reducing the amount of skin exposed to cold winter air and don t wear thin clothing. Thermal insulated overalls are a must for workers in colder climates. These overalls are designed to insulate while allowing a full range of motion for the worker. Gloves are a must and these need to be suited to the rigors of the construction industry. Buy gloves a few sizes too big so that you are able to insert a liner. Ensure that the gloves you select keep your fingers warm without interfering too much with dexterity. Get helmet liners for your hard hats to keep you head and neck warm. Wear eye protection which has a wrap-around design to keep the wind out and prevent your eyes from watering. Insulated work boots can be combined with thermal socks to keep your feet warm, especially if you wear boots with a steel-toe which get even colder in the winter. Safety on site is everyone s responsibility and you want to avoid injuries and sick days as much as possible. 7