Toolbox Meeting

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Attendees

Carolina Commercial Contractors, LLC. Personnel
- Pedro Jimemez
- Nash Duggins
- Carter Keller
Vendors in Attendance
Others in Attendance

Tool Box Topics

Topic Below was Discussed:
NEW FALL PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS If today follows the usual pattern for a typical day in the construction industry, three workers will be absent today because they are dead, and 16,000 others will not show up because they have been injured on the job, according to Secretary of Labor Robert Reich when he announced revised standards for fall protection. Although construction workers make up only about 5 percent of the U. S. workforce, the industry accounts for 17 percent of all job related fatalities with about 21 percent of those fatalities a result of falls. In 1991, there were at least 158 fatalities and 115,000 injuries to construction workers due to falls according to OSHA. Other studies indicate the actual injury and fatality rates could be as much as two times higher due to differences in the way injuries are recorded. Recognizing the magnitude of this tragedy, OSHA published new requirements for fall protection in August of 1994. These new requirements will become effective on February 6, 1995 and full compliance with these rules are expected to save 79 lives each year and prevent 56,000 other injuries. The requirements of this revised standard apply to all employers in the construction industry including general building, heavy construction, and specialty trade contractors. It should be noted that some states already have enacted stringent fall arrest/fall restraint standards for the construction industry. Other employers are covered by similar requirements included in the General Industry Safety Orders. Some of the highlights of this recently revised OSHA construction standard are: * Sets a uniform threshold height of six feet for providing consistent fall protection. The only permitted exceptions are for employees making an inspection, investigation, or assessment prior to the start of actual construction work, or after all of the construction work has been completed. Protection can generally be provided through the use of guardrails, safety nets, or fall arrest systems. If none of these protection systems is feasible, employers must develop and implement written alternative fall protection plans. * Phases out, then prohibits the use of body belts as part of the fall arrest system in favor of a body harness system after December 31, 1997. This is based on studies indicating persons suspended in body belts often suffer severe internal injuries and cannot tolerate suspension long enough to allow for rescue. The use of non-locking type snap hooks in personal fall arrest systems and positioning systems will be phased out by the same date. * In some cases the establishment of a warning line six feet back from the unprotected edge continues to be permitted if other measures are infeasible or create a greater hazard. However, any work outside of this area is defined as a controlled access zone which requires the presence of a competent safety monitor with no other responsibilities than to warn employees of impending fall hazards, or other unsafe conditions, if fall arrest systems are not employed in the controlled access zone. * Requires a training program for every employee that might be exposed to fall hazards. Required training includes the nature of the fall hazards in the work area, and the correct procedures for inspecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection systems used. Training is also required on the use and operation of guardrail systems, fall arrest systems, the role of safety monitors (if used), the handling and storing of equipment, and a number of other requirements. Written certification of all required training must be maintained by each employer. Retraining is required if any changes occur in the workplace, or if it appears that the employee has not retained the knowledge and skill necessary to properly use fall protection equipment.
Topic Below was Discussed:
CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS THAT ALMOST HAPPENED… Those of us in the safety profession spend a lot of time letting people know what causes accidents and how to avoid them. Sometimes this involves sharing stories of accidents that happened-or almost happened-to others. This Outline is about a couple of "near miss" events that could have been much more serious, or even involved a fatality. As you read about these cases, analyze what went wrong and decide what you should do to avoid a similar exposure. A Rigging Mishap: This incident took place in a remote area of Alaska. An electrical sub contractor was hired by a general contractor to bore under roadways and stream beds, and install construction conduit. Part of the agreement required the general to position the boring machine where these operations were to take place. This required winching a truck and trailer combination up a steep incline on an oil company right of way. The general contractor's crew delivered the truck and trailer, positioned it at the bottom of the right of way, and supplied the bulldozer and all rigging for the job. The lead person on the subcontractor's boring crew stayed in the truck as it was being winched up the incline. This particular incline was located adjacent to a cliff. As the rig was being winched up the hill, the sling between the winch line and the truck parted, and the truck and trailer began free wheeling backwards toward the cliff. The truck driver decided to jack knife the trailer and jump clear of the vehicle in order to avoid going over the edge. The trailer was damaged as a result, but no personal injuries occurred. It could have been a disaster. So, why did this happen? The sling selected for this application was too small to withstand the weight of the truck and trailer combination. Knowing the weight of the load is the first step. Selection of rigging which can withstand that weight--plus a significant safety factor--is the next step. The third step is a thorough inspection of all rigging to assure it is in good working order. If these steps had been taken, the mishap could have been avoided. An Overhead Danger: Another incident happened to this same subcontractor on a different conduit construction project. The conduit, which is spooled off the truck and into the vault, is guided by rollers which prevent the wire from being damaged as it is pulled in. The heavy rollers hang on the side of the manhole and present no danger of being dislodged--usually. On this job, wire for a section of conduit had been pulled in and a worker in the bottom of the vault was preparing it for terminations in the pad mounted transformer. Then, somehow, the roller became dislodged and fell approximately eight feet, glancing off the worker's hard hat and shoulder. He sustained minor injuries to his head and shoulder, but if he had not been wearing a hard hat, the accident would almost certainly have been fatal. The reason construction workers should wear hard hats at all times was made obvious by this incident. If you become accustomed to going without one, you'll often forget to put it on when it is needed. In the "near miss" case described, two things could have prevented this accident: (1) rollers could have been secured in place with rope, and (2) rollers could have been removed once the wire pulling operation was complete. This is hindsight. Avoid accidents with foresight!
Topic Below was Discussed:
Hard Hats The average safety hard hat weighs about 14 ounces. The average man's head weighs 14 pounds. So there's an ounce of safety for every pound of head — provided the head protection is properly worn and maintained. The brain is the control center of the body. The slightest damage to any part of the brain will cause malfunction of some area of the body. The skull, under normal circumstances, protects the brain. But when a possibility of injury from falling or flying objects exists, additional protection is required. Hard hats not only reduce the chances of serious injury resulting from falling objects, but protect you when you bump your head on things — like machinery, ductwork, ceiling tie wires and forms. Non-conductive hard hats protect you from electrical shock and burns. Never wear metal hard hats around electrical work. HOW TO CARE FOR HARD HATS The better care you take of your hard hat, the better care it will take of you. Here are some suggestions: 1. Properly adjust suspension systems to maintain clearance between your head and the shell of the hat. 2. Don't cut holes for ventilation. Don't heat and bend. 3. Don't substitute a "bump cap." They aren't strong enough. 4. Don't paint your hard hat. 5. Don't put anything under it except your head; this includes cigarettes or notebooks. 6. Don't wear it backwards. SOME COMMON COMPLAINTS AND THE REAL TRUTH We sometimes hear the following complaints about hard hats. But is there any real basis for them? "It's too heavy." Hard hats are only a few ounces heavier than a cloth cap, but the extra protection you get is worth the extra weight. "It's too hot." Measurements taken in hot weather show that the temperature under a hard hat is often cooler than it is outside. "It gives me a headache." A thump on the head from something which has fallen two floors will give you a worse one. There is, however, no medical reason why a properly adjusted hard hat should cause a headache. Don't alter the suspension system or the hard hat, because you won't get the designed protection. "It won't stay on." You're right, it won't in a high wind. A chin strap will solve this problem. Otherwise, you will find that a hard hat stays put no matter how much stooping or bending you have to do—if it's fitted properly. "It's noisy." That's your imagination. In fact, tests show that properly worn hard hats will shield your ears from noise to some extent. NO HELP UNLESS YOU WEAR IT The hard hat is a useful piece of safety equipment. But like any other protective device, it must be properly adjusted and worn and kept in good condition to give you maximum protection. Don't be a hard head — get in the hard hat habit.
Topic Below was Discussed:
Electrical Safety The following rules apply only to electrical installations used on the jobsite, both temporary and permanent: 1.Extension cords used with portable electrical tools and appliances shall be of three-wire types. Grounds are never to be removed from the extension cords. 2. Temporary lights shall be equipped with guards to prevent accidental contact with the bulb. Guards are not required when the reflector is constructed in such a way that the bulb is deeply recessed. 3. Temporary lights shall not be suspended by their electric cords unless cords and lights are designed for this means of suspension. 4. Splices shall have insulation equal to that of the cable. 5. Electrical and extension cords or cables are not to be laid on floors, in walkways, etc., unless it is impractical to do otherwise. They should be suspended or secured in such a way as not to block or hang in walkways, doorways or work areas. 6. Panel boxes shall have a cover on them at all times, except when being serviced and when a temporary cover is in place it should be marked "HOT" to denote live current. 7. Explain to the employees which ground fault system is being used, either GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS OR ASSURED EQUIPMENT GROUNDING CONDUCTOR PROGRAM. With electricity we are dealing with something that cannot be seen and is still the most useful power controlled by man. It is useful but can be a very destructive power to both man and material if the proper precautions are not taken. The danger is always there and we must know what means of protection can be used to eliminate the hazards. Portable Power Tools In construction portable power tools with defective wiring cause many injuries. The following safe practices are recommended: 1. Use tools with three wire plug and make sure connections are tight. 2. Check tool, equipment and cables frequently for safe condition. 3 .Disconnect tool before making adjustments or repairs. 4. When using power tools in a wet area, use caution. The shock hazard is increased. ELECTRICAL OUTLETS BEFORE USING - make a safety check for loose cable connections, bare wires, cracked outlets and missing or damaged face plates. WHEN USING - be sure plug fits firmly and check for any signs of heating caused by faulty connections. TO REMOVE CORD - GRAB AT PLUG Yanking a cord from an outlet can: · Break cord insulation and wires · Pull loose wire connections · Bend plug prongs · Spread clips inside outlet ABOUT THE THREE (3) PRONG PLUG Guard it! It is your shock LIFEGUARD. Never cut off the third prong to fit an older two-hole outlet. Never use a two-wire extension cord with this three-prong plug. If using an adapter at a two-hole outlet, be sure the pigtail is attached to face plate screw. (NOTE: Screw must be tested for known "ground source".)
Topic Below was Discussed:
Nail Gun Safety
http://toolboxtopics.com/Construction/Generic/Nail%20Gun%20Safety.htm
Nail Gun Safety Recently, three injury reports described the details of accidents that occurred while employees were using pneumatic nail guns. One injury resulted in an employee shooting himself through the thigh. The nail was a Ring Shank and it embedded itself in the employee's femur (large thigh bone) which was shattered by the impact. Surgery was required to remove the nail. Another case involved an employee who shot himself in the groin area. In the third case, an employee injected a nail into the fleshy part of his thigh. All three investigations revealed that the nail gun safety spring, which holds the nose guard in the extended position, was not in place. This allowed the gun to discharge when the trigger was depressed because the nose guard was easily slid back when the gun was placed against the worker. The nose guard being depressed is like cocking a gun. Pulling the trigger with the gun "cocked" will fire it. A nail gun is not designed for rapid fire. Trying to alter the rate of fire by removing the safety spring or keeping the trigger depressed will eventually end up in a jammed gun, or worse yet, accidents like those described above. General Safety Rules for Nail Gun Use: 1. Never use a nail gun with the nose guard safety spring missing. 2. Be sure that when you carry a nail gun out of the work area, you do not carry it connected to the electrical or air power source. 3. When you are moving about the work area - keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. Make sure you have only placed the nose guard against the material you are going to nail together. 4. Never rest the gun against any part of your body, or try to climb a ladder with the gun cradled against your body. 5. Remember that a nail gun is a labor and time saving tool -- but it cannot save the time lost to an accident. Use it safely!!!
Did you check the following? Protection for...Eye/Face? Head? Foot? Hand? Respiratory? Hearing?
Proper...Fall protection? Equipment? Scaffolding? Extension cords? Power Source? GFCI? Housekeeping?