Fall Safety!

Please do your part to ensure employees maintain their focus in order to reduce the potential for injury. Remember, Safety isn’t a Spectator Sport… we need everyone in the game!

Fall Brings Additional Hazards

Fall is in full swing which means the days are getting shorter, which reduces visibility – remind equipment operators and truck drivers to keep an eye out for ground personnel.

Temperatures will soon be dropping, which means we’ll soon see ice and snow in many parts of the country, increasing the potential for slip and fall hazards. To reduce the likelihood of injury, workers should take smaller, deliberate steps and follow the 3-points of contact rule while walking across the site or mounting & dismounting equipment.

Maintain the Focus

The holidays are rapidly approaching and minds may start to wander as people think about holiday shopping & travel or family commitments. We must remind employees, often, about the importance of focusing on the task at hand. Loss of Focus is one of Four Critical Mental States that can lead to injury or property damage. The other three critical mental states are: Fatigue, Frustration, and Complacency.

These four critical states can also cause problems for employees off the job. Examples include: driver fatigue and texting while driving. DOT reduced the number of hours truckers can drive per day to combat driver fatigue. Now, DOT is partnering with OSHA to consider regulations to combat distracted driving by workers (truckers and carrier service personnel). However, these issues don’t only affect professional drivers; they also affect ‘off the clock’ drivers like our employees and their families. Holiday travelers, including college students, often face fatigue and distractions. Remind employees to maintain their focus even when not at work. Avoid talking on cell phones or texting while driving (or pull over to the side of the road). And remember, on a long drive, taking a 10-15 minute break can enhance mental alertness.

Another fourth quarter, off-the-job concern involves the task of putting up holiday decorations. Many people sustain personal injury while decorating their homes for Halloween and/or Christmas. Some start electrical fires or even burn down their homes due to a loss of focus, complacency or by unknowingly overloading electrical circuits. So remind employees to: Practice Safety 24/7 (at home, at work and at play).

Extension Ladder Safety

A. Select the Ladder

Match the duty rating to job

Choose proper length of ladder for job

(Single-section ladder maximum length: up to 30 feet)

(2 section ladder maximum length: 48 feet)

(3+ section ladder maximum length: 60 feet)

Choose ladder of proper material (aluminum, fiberglass, wood)

Inspect ladder for damage and proper operation; tag damaged ladders: “DO NOT USE”

B. Scan the Work Area

Check for electrical hazards (e.g., overhead power lines)

Check for other overhead obstructions (e.g., tree limbs)

Note clutter and traffic patterns in immediate work area; check for tripping/slipping hazards

Locate stable surface to secure base of ladder

Locate firm and secure surface for top of ladder

Note environmental conditions (wind, rain, snow/ice)

C. Inspect the Ladder

Check that rungs, slip-resistant feet, etc. are secure

Check rungs for mud, paint, oil, or other slick/sticky substance

Check for places on ladder that could cause cuts, punctures, or abrasions (e.g., loose screws, bolts, hinges)

Check for damaged ropes and pulleys

Check that rung locks fasten securely

Tag damaged ladders: “DO NOT USE”

D. Set it Up

Use two people to carry and erect ladder whenever possible

Place bottom of ladder below point selected for top support (near base of structure)

Walk ladder up hand-over-hand

Extend ladder 3 feet above resting point on roof or rest it against wall

Verify minimum overlap of ladder sections and that rung locks are properly engaged:

(Up to 36', minimum overlap: 3 feet per section)

(Over 36', up to 48', minimum overlap: 4 feet per section)

(Over 48', up to 60', minimum overlap: 5 feet per section)

Pull bottom of ladder away from structure to set proper angle (1/4 rule: 1 foot of horizontal distance from top support for every 4 ft of ladder length to top support)

Clear clutter, level the bottom, and make sure footing is stable

Ensure that both rails at the top of ladder are supported

Secure ladder at bottom by appropriate means (e.g., staking, digging in)

Set up traffic barrier (or barricade) on ground around work area

E. Test it

Re-check set-up before or during first climb (e.g., levelness, stability of base, rung locks)

Re-check shoes for mud, paint, oil, or other slick/sticky substances

Use spotter for added security at base during first climb

Check for stability while climbing first couple rungs

Tie-off top of ladder whenever possible

F. General Ladder Handling

Use two people to carry and erect ladder whenever possible

Install a hydraulic or mechanical ladder rack on your vehicle to aid loading/unloading

When repositioning ladder more than a few feet, collapse sections before moving

If ladder becomes unstable while carrying it, drop it and get out of the way

Re-inspect dropped ladder; tag damaged ladder: “DO NOT USE”

Store and lock ladder in covered area, free of contaminants (e.g., mud, water, grease)

When lowering ladder, keep fingers away from moving or sliding parts

Note slipping, tripping, and overhead hazards before moving ladder

Arc Flash

What is Arc Flash? - Arc flash is a short circuit through air that flashes over from one exposed live conductor to another conductor or to ground. Arc flash incidents are common and costly, and the frequency of reported accidents is increasing. This is why arc flash has become a very hot topic within OSHA and the safety industry overall.

What Causes Arc Flash? - Arc flashes can be caused in a variety of ways:

· Just coming close to a high-amp source with a conductive object can cause the electricity to flash over.

· Dropping a tool or otherwise creating a spark can ignite an arc flash.

· Equipment failure due to use of substandard parts, improper installation, or even normal wear and tear.

· Breaks or gaps in insulation.

· Dust, corrosion or other impurities on the surface of the conductor.

How Common Is Arc Flash? - In the past, if someone suffered burns in an electrical accident, people thought the burns were caused by the electrical shock passing through the body. Electrical shocks can cause burns. But what research has shown is that most burns from electrical accidents actually come from arc flash.

The majority of hospital admissions due to electrical accidents are from arc flash burns, not from electrical shocks. (Taken from NFPA 70E-2004 standard) Of the approximately 350 persons killed in the work place by electricity last year, roughly 50% were related to arc flash. A report by Capelli-Schellpfeffer, Inc., estimates that 5-10 arc flash explosions happen in the USA every day, resulting in 1 to 2 deaths per day.

That figure only in takes into account incidents where victims were sent to special burn centers. The number does not include cases sent to regular hospitals or clinics, nor unreported cases or near misses.

Safety Facts

Fact: Almost 8000 electrical contact accidents occur in the U.S. each year.

Fact: At least one worker dies each day from electrical contact.

Fact: Fatalities from electrical accidents with a potential arc flash component have been trending downward since recent mandatory safe work practices have become “law.”

Training

Do you and your employees know the risks? Knowing the level of potential hazard is critical to taking the proper level of precaution.

Fact: Everyone at risk of arc flash needs a basic understanding of:

Risk Analysis; Arc Energy Theory; How to determine safe working distances; and the Required PPE. There are free video clips available on line…just go to Google, click on the video icon and type in arc flash.