Chapter 6: Safety & Equipment

Transcription

1 Chapter 6: Safety & Equipment Manual of Bridge Inspection 2014 Safety The importance of keeping both the public vehicular traffic safe and the inspector team safe in and around the bridge site is of the utmost importance. Inspectors shall refer to the procedures outlined by their own employers healthy and safety policies (For ODOT inspectors refer to the Office of Health and Safety and discuss with their safety coordinator) for the minimum safety and health requirements. Entities, employers and employees are expected to follow the standards applicable to their employment: Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), published in the U.S. code of Federal Regulation primarily in title 29 Part 1926 Public Employment Risk Reduction Program (PERRP) or the American National Standards (ANSI) Ensuring safety is a collaborative effort among the employer, supervisor and inspector. Accidents can cause pain, suffering or even death. Additional concerns such as family hardship, equipment damage, lost production and medical expenses should also be considered. Employers are responsible for the safety and health of their employees and the employees shall comply with the applicable rules and regulations. Team Leaders shall take the lead in supervising and ensuring the safety of the inspection team at the bridge site. Bridge Inspection Safety Precautions The inspector should have an awareness of potential hazards and exhibit a serious attitude toward safety precautions while inspecting bridges around traffic, at height and in isolated environments. The inspector must approach each task critically and with the proper motivation to do a good job. The inspector is relied upon to guarantee public safety and to protect public investment with respect to bridges. They have to avoid highway traffic, handle adverse weather, wade through deep water, work in confined space, work at height or near powerlines, handle heavy tools, regularly climb fences and slopes, enter dark areas and use ladders to reach bridge elements. Therefore they should have general good health, moderate agility or strength, adequate color perception and good hearing. When possible, it is always best to work in at least two person teams for promote safety and the integrity of the inspection. Bridge inspectors who require prescription bifocals for driving or operating machinery shall Page 97

2 use bifocals when performing bridge inspections. Any medical issues that could affect your safety should be communicated with your team (allergy to bees, asthma, diabetes etc.). Vegetation such as poison ivy, poison oak thistles and thorns should be identified. Insects and animals such as ticks, snakes, alligators, dogs, falcons and raccoons may also present a threat to the safety of the inspector. More complex inspections may require coordination with the movable bridge operator, local Police, local Sheriff and/or Coast Guard. When coordinating with the Railroad contact the Railroad WELL IN ADVANCE. Do not underestimate the time needed to coordinate RR inspection activities. Avoid the railroad tracks and surrounding area until you have the proper permitting and flagman. Even with a flagman do not foul tracks until authorized to do so. Figure 49 Vegetation May Threaten Safety Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Inspectors may need to gain access to bridge elements that require a temporary lane closure. Lane closures should provide minimum disruption to traffic, effectively communicate vehicle direction according to the MUTCD and ensure inspector and public safety. Refer to the Office of Roadway Engineering s TTC Manual Page 98

3 and the Office of Roadway Engineering Standards Maintaining Traffic Construction Drawings MT SCD s for specific TTC. tmaintainingtraffic(mt)scds.aspx On State Routes Truck Mounted Attenuators are required when utilizing the Snooper operations, refer to the Snooper Operations Manual in the Appendix for specific operations. Truck mounted attenuators shall be energy absorbing devices attached to the rear of shadow trailers or trucks and they should be used in accordance with the manufacturer s specifications. If used, they shall be located in advance of the work area, workers or equipment to reduce the severity of rear end crashes from errant vehicles. For more detail see AASHTO Roadside Design Guide (see Section ) and Section and the L&D Manual Volume One, Section Figure 50 Temporary Traffic Control, from MUTCD Page 99

4 Figure 51 Temporary Traffic Control, Flagger, from MUTCD Page 100

5 TTC plans and devices shall be the responsibility of the authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for guiding road users. There shall be adequate statutory authority for the implementation and Component Parts of a Temporary Traffic Control Zone (Figure 6C 1, MUTCD2009, 6C.04) enforcement of needed road user regulations, parking controls, speed zoning, and the management of traffic incidents. Such statutes shall provide sufficient flexibility in the application of TTC to meet the needs of changing conditions in the TTC zone. MUTCD2009, 6A.01 Before any new detour or temporary route is opened to traffic, all necessary signs shall be in place. All TTC devices shall be removed as soon as practical when they are no longer needed. When work is suspended for short periods of time, TTC devices that are no longer appropriate shall be removed or covered. MUTCD2009, 6B.01. Personal Protective Equipment and High Visibility Apparel The protection chosen should fit the specific task, be of good repair and be worn properly. Additional equipment may be required than the ones discussed herein (ex. Life Jacket, Ring Bouys, AED, Snake Bite Protector). Head Protection must be able to withstand penetration and absorb the shock of a blow. Recognized standards have been established by the American National Standards Institute, Z or later. Hard Hats have a service life of five (5) years from the date of manufacture. You can determine the date of manufacture by looking at the inside of the bill where it will be imprinted. The photo to the right is an example of what you might see. The 04 on the inside is 2004 and the arrow pointing to 9 is September. So, the hard hat above was manufactured in September, 2004 and expired in September, High Visibility Clothing Garments that inspectors wear at all times when outside the vehicle shall be in good condition and conform to ANSI/ISEA standards. In the State R.O.W, at a minimum, Class II garments shall be worn at all times while outside vehicle. At a minimum ANSI Class III garments shall be worn from dusk until dawn and for working around high speed traffic. Eye Protection Shall be used according to ANSI Z or later. Protection should be based on kind and degree of hazard present and should be reasonably Figure 52 Hard hat Expiration comfortable, fit properly, be durable, be cleanable, be sanitary and be in good Figure 53 Class 2 Safety Vest Page 101

6 condition. Typical applications for eye protection include hammer sounding, chipping, scraping, using magnetic particles etc. Hand Protection Worn, at a minimum, when disturbing debris. A wide assortment of gloves is available. Respiratory Protection Shall be used, at a minimum, when performing Figure 54 Safety Gloves destructive paint tests or vigorously disturbing debris. Bird and bat dung, once disturbed, produce a dust that can cause Darlings Disease triggered by the fungus Histoplasma Capsulatum. Indicators vary greatly, but the disease primarily affects the lungs and the acute phases are characterized by non specific respiratory cough or flu like symptoms that occur 3 to 17 days after exposure. To minimize disturbing a bleach/water solution (~10% bleach) should be applied a few hours in advance to allow penetration and kill the living organisms and then sprayed again before handling. In addition to a respirator a Tyvek full suit and eye protection should be worn to protect the inspector. Figure 55 Biology of Histoplasmosis, Courtesy Center for Disease Control Page 102

7 Safety Belts, Lifelines and Lanyards Under OSHA standards safety belts are to be used only as positioning devices. Lifelines, anchorage systems and lanyards are designed for use as fall arrest and should not be loaded with weight during normal use. When deployed, the arrest system must prevent the worker from falling no more than six feet. Such devices shall be properly used when personnel are within an unprotected 6 ledge with a 6 drop off or in a bucket truck, manlift or snooper. Electrical Safety When an inspector is performing work near overhead power lines they must stay at least twelve feet away and for voltages above 50kV the clearance must be increased four inches for each additional 10kV. Team members standing on the ground may not contact the equipment unless it is located so that the required clearance cannot be violated even at the maximum reach of the equipment. A ground person shall be used as a spotter when the inspector is working near overhead wires. Confined Spaces Entry of some bridge components (hollow piers, steel pier caps, box type superstructures, culverts, vaults etc.) may pose OSHA requirements with regard to confined spaces. Therefore, entry of these items may include additional challenges with requirements for personal protective equipment. Employees must follow the protocols established by their employer when working in and around confined spaces. Figure 56 Breathing Masks Depending on their size and configuration, bridge components or culverts may meet the definition of being considered a confined space per OSHA (29CFR ). Therefore, inspection procedures will vary with regard to the safety measures used. All structures classified as confined space by OSHA (29CFR ) shall have documentation on entry types, dates, noted changes from last inspection, and atmospheric conditions. The Control Authority is responsible for maintaining a list of structures designated as confined space or Figure 57 Confined Space components designated as confined space. Bridge files shall include all data of past entries and visual survey conducted by the inspector noting atmospheric conditions and physical hazards. Any inspector entering a confined space using Alternate Page 103

8 Entry Procedures or the Confined Space Entry Procedures must have successfully completed a Confined Space training course. Some culverts qualify as Alternate Entry or Permit Required Confined Spaces, see Appendix. Confined Space Flowchart and Alternate Entry Form for qualification flow chart. Due to their stable nature, culverts generally do not contain physical threats such as the potential to trap or engulf an entrant; however, this must be determined on a case by case basis. A bridge inspection report will be required on an annual basis. The inspection report shall document the last time the confined space was entered. Structures that are fully or partially collapsed or have significant infiltration of backfill material or water pose an additional physical threat and should not be entered. All others, shall receive a visual inspection not to exceed 72 months. Inspection Tools and Equipment Figure 58 Hammer In order to effectively perform a bridge inspection, it is important for the inspection team to be properly equipped for both data collection and safety. As such, the Department developed a standard list of inspection tools to assist the Districts, bridge owners, and consultants to properly prepare for field inspections. Inspectors should not be limited to the equipment on the checklist at the end of this chapter as special circumstances may necessitate the use of non standard tools. Note that there may be situations where more specialized equipment and training are required. Equipment will vary depending on the type of structure being inspected, the type of inspection being performed, the method of inspection, special access requirements and when the inspection is being performed. It is important that inspection teams are outfitted with the proper equipment to: Facilitate personal and public safety during inspection of the structure Perform an efficient and accurate inspection of the structure Perform the proper level of inspection intensity Correctly record the conditions of the structure Page 104

9 Figure 59 Inspection Equipment and Vehicle Once the equipment and method of inspection have been determined, they should become part of the bridge inspection file for future use. Bucket Operation Bucket equipment and vehicles have safety considerations. In addition to the manufacturer s recommendations moving the bucket left right or back/forward when between beams is dangerous. It is better to come down below the beams, including the inspectors head, before making these movements. Also, it is better to maneuver the bucket from the bucket than from the ground. Page 105

10 The following checklist may be used to inventory inspection and inventory tools, these items should be available for bridge inspectors: Y/N General Access Y/N Inspection Y/N Measuring Hip Wader Hammer 6 Foot Rule/ Ruler Chest Wader Camera Probing Rod Brush Hook Sickel Scraper 2 Foot/4 Foot Level Extension Ladder Flashlight/Headlamp 100 Foot Tape Boat Wire Brush Thermometer Snooper Binoculars Plumb Bob/Protractor Bucket Truck Inspection Mirror Vertical Clearance Device Manlift Shovel Laser Machete Screwdriver Survey Rod Pliers Optical Crack Gauge Magnifying Glass Crack Comparator Sounding Chain Calipers Incremental Borer Feeler Gauge Probing Rod Angle Finder Compass Y/N Note Taking Y/N Personal Protection Y/N Miscellaneous Inspection Forms Hard Hat, ANSI Drinking Water Extra Paper Safety Vests, ANSI Class II Sunblock Laptop Computer with SMS Offline Version or Wireless Card/Hotspot Safety Glasses, Face shield Insect Repellant Field Binder First Aid Kit Knee Pads Clip Board Safety Shoes Extra Batteries Calculator Gloves Utility Belt or Tool Belt Writing Instruments Ear Protection Utility Bag Keel Dust Mask Eye Wash Bottle Sharpie/Paint Stick Radio Chargers Spray Paint Air Monitor Cell Phone As Built Plans Harness/Lanyard Camera Life Jackets Laptop Respirator Reference Manuals Phone Numbers Table 33 Inspection Equipment Checklist Page 106