Workplace Safety

When using a stepladder or an extension ladder, there are some easy-to-follow safety guidelines that need to be respected in order to keep you working, and out of the ER.

Ladder safety begins before you step onto the first rung. Take a good look at your ladder before climbing on to ensure each rung is secure and free from slippery debris. Also, inspect your ladder’s ropes, pulleys, and locking mechanisms to see if they are working properly, and remember to check the ladder’s footings for proper traction. Remember, even if a problem appears minor during your inspection, it could pose a serious safety risk when you climb onto the upper rungs. Always err on the side of caution.

Once you’ve determined that the ladder is safe, it’s time for another round of inspections. This time, you need to examine thoroughly the surface you will use to set up the ladder. Look for an area that is level, stable, and free from small stones or other debris. Never place a ladder atop bricks or other props to keep it out of mud or to even out the surface, as these can easily slide or shift, causing the ladder to tumble.

Now you are ready to climb aboard and get to work. Construction experts recommend that ladders should extend at least three feet above its upper support point, to ensure stability. When using an extension ladder, remember to keep a 1:4 ratio. For example, the base of an 8-foot ladder should be two feet away from the support structure. On stepladders, never climb on until the stays or cross-braces have been locked securely.

When climbing up or down ladders, make sure to keep your torso facing the ladder, with your hands free of anything that could prevent you from getting a secure grip. Roofers and builders follow a three-point rule, keeping at least one hand and two feet or both hands and one foot on the rungs when climbing. When using tools, carry them in a tool belt, or use a hoist or the help of a partner to keep you and the people below safe.

Not all ladders are created equally. Refer to your ladder’s instruction manual and safety precaution stickers to see how high you can safely climb. On most extension ladders, you should not climb past the third rung from the top. With stepladders, do not climb above the second rung from the top.

Following these simple guidelines will reduce the risk of injury when using ladders, which is a smart and safe way to get the job done.

Anyone who works in a construction environment on a regular basis has found themselves working in hazardous areas before. Perhaps one of the most dangerous things one can encounter in the workplace is an opening in the floor. Floor openings are extremely common in construction environments, and can end up costing you your life if you aren’t careful. Anyone who works around the hazards of floor openings on a regular basis must be sure to take extreme care and caution each day they are on the job.

Working around floor openings is no laughing matter, as there are many deaths and injuries each year that revolve specifically around floor openings. Since openings in the floor are not always properly sealed during a construction project and lighting can often be poor, it is no wonder why working around open holes in the floor can be so dangerous. On top of the danger of falling through the hole from a high elevation, the danger of dropping something through the hole also exists, as there might be workers on the floor below.

A floor opening is defined by OSHA as being 12 inches in diameter and posing a significant risk for someone to fall through. Although some people feel that these floor openings can simply be covered, it can add extra protection if the openings are boxed in by rails. Rails will make the hole more evident to passers by, which will limit the chance of careless mistakes.

One of the best ways to be sure that you are safe on the job is to make sure that you and everyone else at the work site is fully aware of any floor openings that might be present. This often involves taking a survey of the site at the beginning of the job and marking any and all floor openings with highly visible markers such as bright colored flags. If the openings are marked, they will be much easier for people to identify and use caution around.

Always be sure that if you are working near or around floor openings that you are extremely careful. Never lean over an opening for any unnecessary reasons, and be sure that you have someone nearby in case something goes wrong. As long as care is taken when working around floor openings, work can continue safely. Be sure to read up on OSHA regulation 1910.23 for more information.

During the summer when your workers are outdoors all day in the hot sun, you’re probably worried about the risk of dehydration. Although this is a major concern, your employees are facing an even bigger hazard from the sun that ultimately could be fatal.

Construction laborers, whose work keeps them outside for extended periods of time, are at high risk for skin cancer. However, because there are so many other risks to their health and safety that are more immediate, the dangers of skin cancer have often been overlooked.

The severity of the problem was recently documented by Dr. Robert Kirsner at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, in a study titled Reported Skin Cancer Screening of U.S. Adult Workers. Kirsner and his fellow researchers used the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from 2000 and 2005 to estimate the percentage of:

• Workers who received a skin exam during a routine appointment with a primary health care provider within the past 12 months
• Workers who had a skin exam in their lifetimes

After studying the data for 38,124 workers included in the survey during that time frame, the researchers concluded that only 15% of the workers said that they had undergone a skin examination during their lifetime. In addition, only 8% of those who had seen a health care provider in the past 12 months responded that they had received a skin exam during their visit. As a result of these statistics, Kirsner and his colleagues emphasized that all patients, regardless of their occupations, should ask their physician to provide skin exams during routine check ups.

It is important that you encourage your employees to get regular skin examinations. However, there are also some other proactive steps you can take to help your employees protect themselves from the dangers of excessive sun exposure:

• Provide a tent or a canopied area where employees can take breaks and eat their lunch away from the sun’s rays.
• Minimize outdoor work from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. when the sun’s rays are the most intense. If your employees must work outdoors during these hours, schedule frequent rest breaks so that they can come inside away from the sun.
• Make it mandatory for all employees working outdoors to wear protective clothing, wide-brimmed hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and lip balm. Both the sunscreen and the lip balm should be SPF 15 or higher, waterproof, and protect against UVA and UVB radiation. Insist that employees carry their sunscreen and lip balm with them, so they can reapply every two hours.

Your employees can also visit the American Academy of Dermatology’s web site (http://www.melanomamonday.org/) to find out how they can perform a skin cancer self examination, and to see if there are free skin cancer screening centers in their area.

If you revisit some of the lessons learned in basic high school science classes, you will probably remember that 78% of the air we breathe is nitrogen gas. If you think a little more, you may also recall that nitrogen is only safe to breathe when mixed with the right amount of oxygen. That simple lesson, learned so many years ago, may save your life if you frequently work in confined spaces.

Before entering any confined work space, there are several critical points you must consider. First, is the work area defined as a confined space according to OSHA? OSHA’s definition states that a confined space is any area where an employee must squeeze in or out through narrow openings and perform their tasks while cramped or contorted. Entry and exit are difficult, and employees are not to remain in the space for lengthy periods of time.

If your work space fits this description, you must also determine if it has a dangerous atmosphere or shows the potential for you to become trapped or even asphyxiated. If so, this space will be designated as a “permit space,” and will require a permit for entry. The employer who allows an employee entry must develop a written safety program for their permit-required spaces.

Your gas monitor plays a crucial part in securing your safety when you are working in a confined space. You need to be certain that you know how to properly operate the instrument and that you fully understand the procedures for confined space monitoring. Taking these steps will lessen the risks associated with this type of work significantly. Do not allow yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security because you are working in a familiar setting. If you take unnecessary risks, you may, unfortunately, only be working in the space for a short time.

Another element of safely working in a confined area is to have an attendant who will maintain contact with you while you are working. Be certain that this person is not involved with any other tasks or distractions and that they remain outside of the confined space at all times. If you will be confined in the space for an extended period of time, this person should record additional atmospheric readings to monitor the safety of the confined space. The attendant should also know exactly what the potential hazards are, and have a plan in place in case of an emergency.

If an emergency situation does arise, the attendant needs to immediately implement the rescue plan that was developed by the employer. No matter what type of rescue situation occurs, the attendant must try to maintain contact with you during the entire rescue process. They should also attempt to gather information about the incident that may be helpful to the rescuers. Their position as “point man” between you and the rescue team can make all the difference in the success of the rescue effort.

Over the course of decades, the purpose for which we use automobiles has changed considerably. When the first cars were rolling off of the assembly lines in the 1920s, they had one purpose and one purpose only: transportation, or simply getting from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’. Today cars are becoming an all-in-one living system. Car owners eat lunch in them, watch television using special screens, play video games and of course talk on the phone, often while driving. As time goes on, car manufacturers are equipping vehicles with an endless series of gadgets, enabling us to enjoy ever more conveniences.

Sitting in the middle of this technological bonanza, it is easy to forget that simply because something is easy, does not mean it is right, or even safer. While drivers take the so-called “skill” of multitasking to the next level, they do fail to remember that their tricked-out vehicle could be deadly. To be sure, as with most tasks that become almost second nature, driving becomes an almost unconscious task. That being said, it does not mean that it is okay to do other things while driving. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

As the statistics of car accidents shows, in addition to other research, even merely thinking about something other than the road distracts us from the road. As a matter of fact, when a driver removes their eyes from the road, they typically think the distance traveled is short, when in fact, it can be quite long. This effect is only increased when driving at higher speeds, such as on the interstate or freeway. Usually, this is enough distance to possibly hit someone or something that suddenly appears in front of the driver. When drivers look away from the road, they are assuming that there is nothing in front of them, thus gambling not only with their life, but the lives of others, as well.

According to the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety between four and eight thousand car crashes happen daily as the result of becoming distracted while driving. A survey conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association revealed that 60% of all cell phone use occurs during driving. These are chilling statistics, and underscore the need to change driving habits in order to prevent the worst from happening.

Here are two steps to take to improve driving habits and head off potentially lethal events:

1. Do not use a cell phone when driving, period.
2. Make sure that the driver is familiar with the controls on the dashboard so they can easily adjust the settings without difficulty.

Choosing the right respirator relevant to the nature of the employment is critical to a worker’s safety. Exposure to different hazards means that not just any respirator will suffice. Two main classes of respirators are available:

Air-Purifying Respirators (APR) – These respirators are designed to filter air borne contaminants such as fumes or noxious dust. Other forms of APR models use a canister or cartridge containing a material that absorbs the contaminants.

APRs are tight fitting to the face and have different designs. These designs include particulate respirators, powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR), gas masks and chemical cartridge respirators. They come in four different designs, including:

• Full face piece – Fully covers the face from underneath the chin to an area above the eyes. This feature provides added protection to the eyes, especially from chemical irritants.
• Half-face mask – Gives protection from beneath the chin to and including the nostrils.
• Quarter-mask – Protects the mouth and nose.
• Mouth bit respirator – Normally used for escaping a hazardous situation only. Contains a bit which is inserted into the mouth and nose clip to seal the nostrils closed.

Supplied-air respirator (SAR) – These respirators provide breathable air via an air line or a compressed work tank. SARs come in two different types. The first has a loose fitting respiratory inlet, such as a helmet or a hood which envelopes both the neck and head, that is supplied purified air through airlines. This type may have face pieces which fit loosely. The other form of SAR has either a half or full face piece and has very snug respiratory inlets.

Choosing the Most Suitable Respirator

Selecting the most suitable respirator must be performed by an expert, such as a safety professional. The expert will consider the appropriate apparatus only after they have identified and evaluated the potential respiratory hazard and considered the relative limitations of the respiratory apparatus for the situation.

Key Questions to Ask

Here are some factors an employer should consider when determining whether a respirator may be required:

• Establish the existence of a hazard by considering warnings about the material, like its chemical components or the nature of the particulates that might be released through the work performed.
• Determine whether there is limited oxygen present. * Is the hazard airborne such as a particulate, fume, or vapor?
• Ask whether the respirator will be used for an emergency or in combating fires.
• Evaluate whether the work is strenuous and will be performed in hazardous atmospheric circumstances.
• Is there any agent present which might be possibly fatal, carcinogenic, skin absorbable or acts as an irritant?
• Will the work be conducted in a confined space or will the worker be exposed to abnormal temperatures?

The key is that respirators should be used to suit the work. The proper choice of respirator is vital to the health and safety of workers in many types of employment.

A recent American Academy of Ophthalmology study on workplace safety found that around 2,000 employees suffer on-the-job eye injuries each day. Furthermore, approximately 20% of these injuries keep employees from returning to work due to temporary or permanent vision loss. On the other hand, experts have found that 90% of all work related eye injuries are preventable with proper protective equipment and employee training.

Eye injuries pose a constant threat in many lines of work. Carpenters, construction workers, painters, welders, and those who work around dangerous chemicals are only a sample of employees that face the risk of serious eye injuries every day. Particles can fly off of saw blades and hazardous chemicals burn and release fumes, both with the potential to leave an employee seriously injured.

The majority of on-the-job eye injures result from the employee not wearing the required eye protection. Although the simple solution to this problem is to have the employees wear goggles and/or face shields, much more goes into keeping workers’ eyes safe on the job. Even welders experience eye injuries while wearing helmets and face protection while grinding, mostly because the protective equipment is dirty or does not fit properly. Wearing goggles without side shields or using face-masks that are too large or too small leave the employee’s eyes open to blowing dust or intense heat, defeating the purpose of wearing protection in the first place.

The key is selecting the correct eye protection for the job. A wide array of eye protection is available with prescription or standard lenses, including safety glasses, protective goggles, face shields, welding helmets, and even full-face respirators. As with most safety products, the higher the quality, the better it protects. When selecting eye protection, check for a snug, comfortable fit and seek out any gaps in coverage or areas of weakness. Also, investigate how it is put together to ensure the protective equipment is durable and will hold up in the work environment.

Eye injuries have serious consequences. They can leave employees permanently disabled, affecting their income and livelihood. Understand that the vast majority of workplace eye injuries can be prevented through the use of proper safety equipment.

When employees face the challenge of working outdoors in the heat of summer, or even in intense indoor heat conditions, it is critical to have guidelines in place to prevent and manage heat-related illness. When temperatures soar, the body might not be able to cool itself enough through perspiring. When this happens, the temperature of the body can rise dramatically and lead to heat-related illness.

Working in the heat also can lower mental alertness, physical performance, and increase emotional volatility, all of which can lead to a higher frequency of workplace accidents. Each year in the U.S., tens of workers die and hundreds of others experience heat-related occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days off work.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that companies take the following preventive steps to protect employees from the hazards of working in the heat:

• Train all workers to recognize the signs of heat stress, which include headache, dizziness, nausea, irritability and confusion, and vomiting and muscle aches or cramps. Workers should also be trained to administer appropriate first aid when heat related illness is suspected. Supervisors should have special training to detect the early warning signs, and have the authority to allow workers to break from their work if they are becoming uncomfortable in the heat.
• Supervisors should be aware of the physical condition of each employee, and understand if they are fit to work in extreme temperature conditions. Obesity, pregnancy, certain medications, advanced age, and lack of conditioning are conditions that can put a worker at greater risk for a heat-related illness.
• Since disorientation, confusion, and even loss of consciousness are symptoms of some heat-related illnesses, jobs should be designed so that employees can work in pairs to look out for one another.
• The body needs time to condition itself to new levels of heat intensity. Help your workers adapt to the heat by altering the workload, including extended rest periods for the first several days. If an employee returns from any kind of job absence, including a vacation, their body will again need time to be reconditioned.
• Emphasize that employees should drink plenty of water, even if they do not feel thirsty. Remember that alcohol, coffee, tea, and caffeinated sodas can actually dehydrate the body and should be avoided.
• Workers should be encouraged to wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing and to change their clothing if it becomes saturated.
• Because good airflow helps cool the skin by increasing evaporation, use general ventilation and spot cooling during times of high heat production.
• Alternate short work periods with rest periods in a cooler area and schedule heavy work for cooler times of the day.
• On an hourly basis, monitor temperatures, humidity, and your workers’ responses to heat.

OSHA has created a free, fold-up laminated card with information and tips related to heat stress. The OSHA Heat Stress Card is available in English and Spanish. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

You might think of vehicular skidding as the result of chemical spills and inclement weather only. In reality, skidding can be caused by many driving behaviors that are completely avoidable. It is essential to familiarize yourself with and avoid unsafe driving traps, and to be aware of the limitations of your vehicle. Safety Rules of the Road:

Rule 1: Inspect the tread on your tires. Without tread, tires cannot get enough traction and your vehicle will be more prone to skidding — regardless of what other precautions you take. Get your tires rotated regularly, and make sure there are no flat or bald spots on your tires.

Rule 2: Observe the speed limit in good weather, and in bad weather, drive below the limit. One of the most common causes of skidding is driving too fast for the current weather conditions. Rushing to your destination does no good if you risk life and limb to do so. Keep your vehicle, yourself, as well as other drivers and pedestrians safe by monitoring your speed carefully.

Rule 3: Avoid the tendency to over accelerate, or you might force your wheels to spin without gaining any traction.

Rule 4: On a slippery road, avoid using the speed retarder.

Rule 5: Exercise caution with how sharply you turn the vehicle. If you make a sharp turn that the vehicle cannot handle, you could force it to skid.

Rule 6: Try not to slam on the brakes. When you brake too hard, the result is that you lock your wheels and run the possibility of skidding. Back wheel lock can result in a jackknife as your trailer skids sideways and tries to “catch up” with your front wheels.

Rule 7: Reduce your speed on curves and turns. If you drive through curvy roads and turns too quickly you might not give your trailer or rear a chance to change direction.

Stopping a Skid in Progress
If you find yourself beginning to skid, and feel that you are running the risk of jackknifing, follow these instructions:

• Skidding while braking: Take your foot off the brake pedal then push your clutch in while you steer.
• Skidding while accelerating: Take your foot off the gas pedal and you should stop skidding. Next, push your clutch in while you steer.
• Skidding while turning: As the trailer begins to jackknife, steer your vehicle in the direction you are headed for. Then, as the trailer begins heading in the direction you want, quickly turn the wheel in the opposite direction. This is called a countersteer.

The more familiar you are with these methods of skid avoidance and skid stopping, the more successful you will be when you need to employ them. If you think that some focused training would help you in better executing these tips on the real roads, let your employer know that you are interested in additional training.

Although we might not often think about it, our ability to hear is a valuable asset. We hear soft, pleasant sounds such as whispers and music, and we hear loud noises such as those made by heavy equipment. With our ears, we register sounds and pass this information along to our brain. Regrettably, our ears cannot regulate sound levels, and excessive exposure to loud noise can damage the ability to hear irreversibly. One in 10 Americans has a hearing loss that affects his or her ability to understand normal speech.

People vary in their sensitivity to noise. However, as a rule, noise might be damaging to your hearing if you have to shout over background noise to make yourself heard, the noise hurts your ears or makes them ring, or you have difficulty hearing for several hours after exposure to the noise.

Loudness (or sound intensity) is measured in decibels. A whisper measures about 20 decibels, while an average speaking voice is usually around 60 decibels. A shop saw measures at about 100 decibels, and a jet engine is a loud 140 decibels! It is considered hazardous to your hearing to expose your ears to 85 decibels or greater for lengthy periods of time.

More than 16 million American workers are exposed to noise on the job that can result in hearing loss. The best way to prevent this loss is to wear hearing protection on the job site. There are two main types of protection available.

Earplugs fit in the outer ear canal and should be fit properly in order to ensure a proper seal. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes and offer the best protection against low frequency noise.

Earmuffs are a second option. Earmuffs fit over the entire outer ear with an adjustable headband. They offer the best protection against high frequency noise. Either type of protection reduces noise levels by 15 to 30 decibels. If both types are worn together, you can add another 10 to 15 decibels of protection.

Your protective equipment is only effective when you wear it consistently, and when you make sure it fits properly. Studies reveal that about half of the workers wearing hearing protectors receive one-half or less of the noise reduction potential of their protectors because these devices are not worn continuously while in noise or because they do not fit properly. Deciding to remove your earmuffs or earplugs for just an hour over an eight hour work day and exposing your ears to loud noise can reduce your 30 decibel protection to only nine decibels.

Remember that hearing loss is irreversible, but fortunately, it is also preventable. It is well worth extra effort to protect your hearing in the workplace.