Workplace Safety

Prevent Blindness America, a volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness, reports that each year 800,000 eye injuries occur on the job, including 36,000 that require the injured employee to take time off from work. The organization’s mission is to encourage employers and employees to make eye protection a top priority every day.

Prevent Blindness America isn’t alone in its objective to educate the public about the need for preventing workplace eye injuries. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is sponsoring a national initiative called “Healthy Vision 2010,” whose goal is to reduce the number of work-related eye injuries by involving both the public and private sectors. In its handbook titled Educating Your Community about Occupational Eye Injury, HHS lists the following as the most common types of workplace eye injuries:

• Corneal abrasion – Flying material particles such as grit, plastic bits, or metal flakes can fly into your eye, causing irritation or a scratch on the cornea. These particles can be as small as a pinhead and still cause significant damage.
• Blunt trauma – Falling or misdirected objects, or collisions with objects swinging from a fixed position, like tree limbs, ropes, chains, lumber, or tools can damage eyes. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) names this as the leading cause of work-related eye injuries.
• Chemicals burns – Hazardous chemicals can splash into eyes, damaging them. BLS says that chemical burns account for 20% of all workplace eye injuries.
• Radiation burns – Ultraviolet light from welding torches can cause burns to the eyes and their surrounding tissue.
• Infections – Bacteria in fertilizers, waste, body fluids, and human remains can cause eye infections.
• Eye strain – Glare, poor lighting, and inadequate rest can cause eye fatigue, soreness, and headaches.

In spite of the numerous opportunities for eye injuries in the workplace, Prevent Blindness America says that 90% can be prevented. Here are the organization’s tips for keeping your eyes safe at work:

• Be aware of potential eye safety hazards at work.
• Wear safety glasses or goggles at all times whenever eye hazards are present.
• Be sure all safety eyewear is clearly marked “ANSI Z87.”
• Ask for prescription glasses or goggles if you have impaired vision.
• Know the location of the nearest eye wash station and how to use it.
• Notify your supervisor immediately if new safety hazards are discovered.
• Have regular eye exams to make sure your vision is adequate to work safely.

In his presentation to the attendees of the 2007 National Safety Council Congress and Expo, Richard Fairfax, the Director of OSHA’s Directorate of Enforcement Programs, revealed the agency’s list of top 10 violations for the year. Ranking number six on that list, with 2,577 violations cited, was powered industrial trucks, the category that includes forklifts.

The number of citations OSHA issues in this category is indicative of just how serious a problem the safe handling of powered industrial trucks like forklifts is. The agency estimates that forklift accidents account for 100 fatalities and more than 36,000 injuries annually in the United States. They are the second largest cause of fatalities in the workplace. Proper forklift handling begins with the operator performing a daily inspection. If the forklift is in use throughout the entire workday, then all operators are required to perform an inspection before beginning their shift.

The inspection consists of two parts:

1. The visual check. This is sometimes referred to as the “circle” check, because the operator is required to make a complete circle around the vehicle to complete the inspection. The following items are to be inspected during the visual check:

• Floor is clear of objects.
• No obstructions are overhead.
• Objects that must be avoided as the operator drives away.
• Fire extinguisher is present and charged.
• Engine oil, fuel, and radiator water are at the correct levels.
• Battery is fully charged. Also check that there are no exposed wires, no loose battery plug connections, no clogged vent caps, the electrolyte levels in the cells are correct, and the brackets keep the battery securely in place.
• Bolts, nuts, guards, chains, or hydraulic hose reels aren’t damaged, missing or loose.
• Wheels and tires aren’t worn or damaged, and their air pressure is at the correct level.
• Forks aren’t bent or cracked, positioning latches are in good working condition, and carriage teeth aren’t broken, chipped or worn.
• Chain anchor pins aren’t worn, loose or bent.
• Fluid leaks aren’t present.
• Hoses aren’t loose, crimped, worn or rubbing.
• Horn is working and loud enough to be heard.
• Headlights and warning lights are operational.

2. The seat check. This is performed while the operator is behind the wheel, but before the vehicle has been started:

• Foot brake holds, and the vehicle stops smoothly.
• Parking brake holds against slight acceleration.
• Deadman seat brake holds when operator gets up from the seat.
• Clutch and gearshift operate smoothly with no jumping or jerking.
• Dash control panel is operational.
• Steering moves smoothly.
• Lift mechanism operates smoothly.
• Tilt mechanism moves smoothly, and holds firm.
• Cylinders and Hoses aren’t leaking after performing the previous checks.
• No unusual sounds or noises are present.

If the operator identifies any problems during either of the two checks, they should immediately report them to the shift supervisor.

As a construction worker, you frequently challenge your body to perform tasks that can cause disabling injuries to your muscles, tendons, bones, ligaments, cartilage, and spinal discs. These injuries have a direct impact on you physically by causing extreme pain, and financially by causing you to miss work.

A 2003 survey of heavy construction and highway laborers in New York revealed that construction workers experience some of the highest rates of work-related injuries to their muscles and joints. Sixty percent of the respondents to the survey said they had felt some discomfort in their joints during the past year. The most commonly reported injured area was the lower back; however, necks, shoulders, and knees were also areas that were frequently hurt while working.

In spite of the physical demands of your job, you don’t have to be an injury statistic. Researchers who specialize in ergonomics, the study of the interaction between the human body, and how work-related tasks impact on it, have found methods of lessening the number and severity of injuries. By changing the way tasks are performed, the job can become easier and safer.

Drawing from some of the latest ergonomic information regarding construction tasks, here are some tips to help you use body mechanics to avoid injury:

• Take a 30-minute mini-break to stretch out your hands when shoveling for long periods. Open your hands as wide as possible, and create as much space between your fingers as you can.
• Hold the shaft of the shovel so that your hand is in a palm up position.
• Adjust the handle size of your shovel so that its diameter comfortably fits the size of your hand. Use a handle grip attachment, if necessary.
• Face toward the direction you will throw the shoveled load to keep from twisting and straining your back.
• Work in a radius close to your body to avoid stretching and reaching while shoveling and digging.
• Don’t pick up more than 10 pounds with a shovel at one time.
• Select a tool with a flat blade for shoveling, and one with a round blade for digging.
• Use a handle length that allows you to keep your back as straight as possible to lessen back strain caused by excessive bending.
• Wear protective gear to keep cement from getting on the skin or clothing.
• Shovel ballast by stepping on the back end of the shovel blade as you push it in. Use a long handled pointed shovel.
• Wear shock absorbing shoe inserts when walking on ballast or concrete.
• Wear gloves to prevent blisters and calluses from developing on the hands.

According to the American Chiropractic Association, 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time. That statistic has some serious repercussions for employers, because back pain is the one of the most frequent reasons employees give for missing work. Although it might be a common condition, it isn’t always a serious one. Most cases of back pain are mechanical, meaning they are not caused by diseases, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, or cancer.

Mechanical back pain can be avoided if you train your employees to follow the three Ps:

Posture — When you slouch or stand with a swayback, the natural curves of the back are exaggerated, causing muscle fatigue and injury. To avoid putting your back in an unnatural position, use the following techniques:

• When you stand for a long time, periodically rest one foot on a stool or small box.
• Always hold reading material at eye level.
• Never lean forward to do a task at your desk, or on a piece of machinery/equipment.
• When sitting for long periods, position the chair so that your feet stay flat on the floor.
• If the chair you must use doesn’t support your lower back properly, place a rolled towel or small pillow behind you so that your lower back can rest against it.
• Remove objects, such as a wallet, from your back pockets when you sit because they can interfere with the proper alignment of the muscles in your back.

Prevention — Your shoes not only impact your ability to maintain a healthy posture while sitting, standing, and walking, but they can also cause falls that result in back injuries. To prevent the risk of a fall, never wear unsupported shoes. Shoes that have a wedged bottom offer more surface area that can support the foot, making it easier to walk, especially if you are doing so at a quickened pace. Most floor surfaces, like hardwood, marble, or linoleum, provide little traction, so be sure your shoes are broken in before you wear them to work. The other alternative is to buy shoes with non-slip soles.

Planning — A common cause of back pain is a disorganized and cluttered workspace. Reorganize your work area to eliminate repetitive movements. All equipment you use frequently should be easily accessible to limit how far you must reach or twist to retrieve them.

• If you constantly use the phone, try using the speaker feature. If the proximity of the cubicles in your office makes it difficult for others to hear you on a speaker, use a headset or a shoulder rest extension instead. These will prevent neck and back pain that results from staying in one position too long. Never cradle the phone between your shoulder and ear so that you can perform additional tasks while talking on the phone.
• If you spend long periods of time on the computer, be sure that the computer and monitor fit on the desk so that the screen can be read from a comfortable position and computer discs can be inserted without straining.
• Limit the time you spend carrying heavy briefcases, purses and bags. If you’re carrying something heavy, know exactly where you are going to put it down, and whether that space is available.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that approximately 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 workers are injured in highway and street construction accidents every year. Data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reveals that 55% of these fatalities occur within the work zone area itself.

Flaggers and workers on foot face the greatest risk of being struck by vehicles or construction equipment since they are often invisible to motorists or equipment operators. Those workers who operate construction equipment are most likely injured by collision, overturning equipment or being caught in running equipment.

Most highway work zone workers frequently operate in conditions involving low light, reduced visibility, poor weather, or vehicle congested areas.

How Workers Can Protect Themselves from Injury

The following are some of the best safety tips that a worker can adopt to protect themselves from a highway work zone injury or fatality:

• Wear high visibility garments, such as fluorescent or reflective clothing, arm bands, hats or vests.
• Be aware of all potential hazards, especially blind spots relative to moving construction equipment.
• Always look before you move from your position.
• Fully understand the channel lanes where walking is prohibited or is proscribed, where vehicles and equipment enter or exit, and the direction of all traffic in and out the work zone.
• Use spotters while loading and unloading equipment.
• If acting as a spotter, know where you are expected to stand and confirm what hand signals are to be relayed to the driver.
• Before each work shift begins, familiarize yourself with the communication signals to be used between equipment operators and workers on foot.
• Be aware of the swing area for equipment that uses buckets.
• Never stand under any suspended equipment like buckets, booms, or arms.
• Ensure that all parking brakes are applied to any equipment, especially if you have to exit the vehicle temporarily. Additionally, all vehicles parked on inclines should have adequate-sized chocks placed under their tires.
• Do not operate any vehicle, especially rollers, on an incline without wearing a seat belt.
• Never approach any machinery without signaling the operator to shut down the equipment and receiving an acknowledgement in return.
• Avoid riding on any moving equipment like rollers or similar equipment.
• Equipment operators should never move equipment without making positive visual eye contact with all workers on foot in their vicinity.
• Flaggers should understand the traffic flow, work zone set up and the proper placement of traffic channeling devices.
• Flaggers should maintain ample distance from other highway workers so their role can be distinguished by passing motorists.
• Flaggers should ensure they have good sight communication or two-way radios to communicate with their counterpart at the other end the vehicular stream.

Always think safety and be aware of your surroundings. Above all else — never assume that equipment operators or motorists outside the work zone have spotted you and will slow down or stop.

You’ve just taken a new job, and many of your tasks involve lifting heavy objects. If you’ve never done much lifting in the past, you need to remember an important rule. Until you become accustomed to lifting, you should take frequent breaks during the workday to avoid serious injury.

When you are inexperienced at lifting, your back muscles experience fatigue after only a short period of time. When this happens, the body has a natural tendency to become rigid in the area experiencing pain and that muscle group can no longer be used. You try to compensate by lifting with other muscle groups that don’t hurt so that you can complete the task.

Although this seems like the right course of action, it creates a series of negative consequences that could cause you to sustain a major injury. The first of these consequences results from the tensing itself. Tense muscles prevent proper blood flow, which deprives your muscles of the oxygen they need to sustain their repeated action.

The second negative consequence derives from using different muscles to lift. Although this might lessen your pain at first, it increases the stress on the joints and spine. The back muscles begin to fight the abdominal muscles until they both eventually contract. That simultaneous contraction of both sets of muscles creates a kind of “seesaw,” with each muscle group pulling from either end while your spine is caught in the middle. This not only provides an additional source of pain, but also increases risk of serious injury.

When you take a lunch break of a half-hour or more, you give your muscles the time they need to recover from the morning’s exertion. However, once you start working again, the amount of oxygen your muscles need in order to complete the same amount of work increases significantly. That requirement will keep increasing during the afternoon. That’s because your muscles are becoming fatigued much quicker during the afternoon, having already been exerted to complete the morning tasks. Taking breaks throughout the day gives your muscles the opportunity to replenish the oxygen they need, which helps counteract the risk of back injury. This is especially important at the end of the day when muscles are most vulnerable.

The necessity of taking frequent rest breaks can’t be stressed enough because on-the-job back injuries from heavy lifting are widespread. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2002, there were more than 345,000 back injuries requiring employees to take time away from work. A 2004 study by Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital found that back pain results in over 100 million lost workdays per year. But beyond the time lost from work, which could mean trying to manage financially on disability income rather than your regular salary, there is also the possibility of a permanent injury that could end your work career and leave you unable to enjoy activities with family and friends. Why would you risk such a possibility when preventing it so simple?

As if construction work was not hazardous enough, when summer arrives and brings record temperatures, workers must take extra precautions to prevent heat-related illnesses. Although it might be difficult to escape the heat during a hot summer day, preventing heat stress is possible. The key is taking action before it becomes a problem.

Preventing heat stress among your workers starts with proper awareness, and that starts the day an employee is hired. As part of your orientation, educate new hires on the various types of heat stress, including heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke. You should also encourage your workers to look for the warning signs of heat-related illness for themselves and their colleagues, possibly by instituting a formal buddy system.

In addition to being on the lookout for usual signs of heat stress — headaches, dizziness, weakness, mood changes, queasiness, vomiting, pale and clammy skin and fainting — workers should know where to get help when a co-worker is suffering from heat stress.

Education about heat stress must be consistent and continue after orientation, otherwise workers might not remember everything they were taught. Furthermore, everyone on a job site should be knowledgeable about the hazards of heat stress. Training should not be limited to hourly employees, but should also be required for foremen, supervisors and subcontractors.

Many construction workers ignore the seriousness of heat stress. This is why it’s important that supervisors start each day by reminding workers how to protect themselves from the heat.

If at all possible, try to schedule workdays around the sun’s peak times. Start projects early in the day before the sun peaks, and if forced to work into the afternoon, encourage frequent breaks.

Certain types of personal protective equipment can make the summer months more bearable for outdoor workers. For example, dark-colored safety glasses offer more protection from the glare of the sun than do light-colored glasses; full-brimmed hardhats provide better coverage than front-brimmed hats; and light-colored clothes with sleeves and a collar offer additional sun protection. You could also hand out sunscreen and encourage it to be liberally applied throughout the day.

Prevention and awareness are the keys to developing heat stress prevention policies. But the most important thing you can do is to not wait for something to happen before taking action.

Hard hats are easily the most recognizable piece of personal protective equipment (PPE) used in workplace environments such as construction sites. Although its function of protecting the head from trauma is the most important of any, this equipment is rarely inspected, maintained, or replaced.

The rugged appearance of a hard hat can disguise the need for replacement. In fact, many workers unknowingly wear hard hats everyday that are well past their useful life. Although there is standard service life for hard hats, most manufacturers recommend replacing hard hats every five years regardless of appearance. Under extreme work conditions, hard hats should be replaced more often.

The common ANSI Type I hard hat, which provides protection from overhead impact and penetration, consists of two components: The shell and suspension. Because these components work together as a system, if any component is not in good working condition, the hard hat wearer does not have adequate head protection. So, inspecting the helmet before each use is important.

INSPECTING THE SHELL

Shells should be inspected routinely for dents, cracks, gouges, and any damage due to impact, penetration, or other wear that might reduce the level of protection. When the shell becomes stiff, brittle, faded, or exhibits a chalky appearance, the hard hat should be replaced immediately.

Although most manufacturers add an ultraviolet inhibitor to the shell material to protect it from the harmful effects of direct sunlight, all hard hats remain susceptible to ultraviolet light damage. Workers should never store their hard hats in direct sunlight, such as the rear window of a car, as this is the quickest way to degrade the shell material and reduce the useful life of the equipment.

A recommended test for degradation is to compress the shell inward from both sides about one inch and then release the pressure without dropping the shell. It should return to its original shape quickly. If the elasticity is not similar to a new shell, it should be replaced.

INSPECTING THE SUSPENSION

The hard hat suspension is just as important to worker safety as the shell. The suspension helps to absorb the shock of a blow, so it must remain in good condition at all times. Like the shell, the suspension must be inspected regularly and replaced from time to time. Suspensions should be inspected closely for cracks, frayed or cut crown straps, torn headbands or size adjustment slots, loss of pliability, missing components, or other signs of wear.

OTHER GUIDELINES

All new employees should be provided with a new hard hat. Reissuing used hard hats must be avoided, as the cost of a new hard hat is minimal when considering the potential for injury.

If a hard hat has suffered a severe blow, it should be replaced immediately, even if it shows no signs of visible damage. Hard hats should also be replaced if dropped accidentally by the worker from the height of a two story building or higher.

You rely on your company to provide a safe environment while you are on the job. However, your company relies on you to act safely when you are traveling to and from work.

No matter how you travel, every one is vulnerable to the possibility of an accident. However, of all the means of travel, walking probably provides the most risk. That’s because pedestrians are vulnerable to every form of moving vehicle. The American College of Emergency Physicians reports that 68,000 pedestrians were injured in traffic crashes in 2004. On average, a pedestrian is injured every eight minutes in the United States. That’s why it is imperative that if you walk to work, you follow the American College of Emergency Physicians’ recommendations for pedestrian safety:

• Use sidewalks.
• Know and obey safety rules (e.g., if a “don’t walk” signal starts blinking when you’re halfway across an intersection, continue walking).
• Cross only at intersections and crosswalks.
• Look left, right and left again for traffic before stepping off the curb.
• Be sure you are seen by oncoming traffic.

Of course, pedestrians aren’t the only travelers who are vulnerable when commuting to work. Drivers also face a number of risks because they travel during rush hours when traffic is at its peak. In fact, InjuryBoard.com says that your commute home from work could actually be the most dangerous time to drive. The site goes on to note that although 12:00 a.m. – 3:00 a.m. Saturday and Sunday mornings are considered the two most deadly times to drive during the week, the deadliest time period overall is actually from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. More drivers are on the road in the afternoons, and these drivers are generally tired from working, distracted by the problems that occurred during the day, and in a hurry to pick up their children or get them to an activity or event.

Even though afternoons pose a greater safety threat, all rush hour driving makes it necessary for you to practice extreme caution:

• Leave early enough to get to work on time without having to speed.
• Travel at a speed that is suited to the road conditions.
• Obey traffic signs and signals.
• Yield the right-of-way at intersections.
• Don’t swerve from lane to lane.
• Signal before you make a turn.
• Stay in the right lane while driving so that cars can pass you on the left where you can see them.

Keep these tips in mind so that you can arrive at and return home from work safely, every day.

Good housekeeping at work means keeping both the facility itself and your own workspace clean, neat, and orderly. The reason housekeeping should be a priority is because it is the first line of defense in any company’s accident prevention strategy.

If housekeeping is to be effective, it has to be ongoing, not an activity that’s performed before management inspects the premises. Failure to keep up with necessary housekeeping tasks can result in employees:

• Tripping over loose objects on floors, stairs and platforms
• Being struck by falling objects
• Slipping on greasy, wet or dirty surfaces
• Hitting against projecting, or poorly stacked items
• Cutting, puncturing, or tearing the skin of hands or other parts of the body

To maintain the facility properly, materials, supplies and parts must be stored in their designated storage areas when not in use, tools and equipment must be arranged in an orderly manner and placed away from traffic areas, scraps or debris in the department must be removed on a daily basis, and stairways and platforms must be kept clear. Attention should also be paid to keeping the aisles and passageways clear. Never store or stack materials in aisles.

When you keep the facility clean, you lessen the chances of both employee and visitor accidents because you will have removed the things that cause slipping, tripping, and falling. You have also lessened the likelihood that people will be involved in “struck by,” “striking against,” and “caught-between” accidents.

If your work area is in disarray because of a project you are working on, or if you cannot immediately clean your workstation, make people aware of the danger by posting signs that alert them to the potential risk.

In addition to accident prevention, there are other benefits to maintaining good housekeeping:

• There is an easier flow of materials, which reduces handling and saves time.
• Clutter-free and spill-free work areas expedite movement, again saving time.
• There is a decrease in the number of fire hazards.
• Exposures to hazardous substances are reduced.
• There is a better control over tools and materials because you know where to find them.
• Without obstacles in the way, it is easier to clean and maintain equipment.
• The environment is more hygienic, which improves health.
• There is a more effective use of space.
• The likelihood of materials and equipment being damaged is reduced.