Introduction STS Construction Blueprint and Examination Specifications Welcome back. Now it s time for the STS Skills module where we ll get into the ten task areas identified in the STS Construction Blueprint and Examination Specifications. These task areas are displayed in the Safety Trained Supervisor Candidate Handbook published by CCHEST, which you are highly encouraged to obtain and refer to, if you haven t already. We ve provided a link to the CHEST website on your screen if you d like to go there now.
Introduction Task Areas There are ten task areas of focus in the STS Construction Examination. According to the STS Handbook, the STS examination blueprints are based on surveys of what first-line supervisors do in practice. The ten task areas are: 1. Conduct new employee safety and health orientation 2. Perform pre-task safety and health hazard analysis 3. Perform basic safety and health hazard recognition 4. Issue and monitor the use of personal protective equipment 5. Conduct safety and health meetings 6. Plan for safety and hazard prevention 7. Inspect tools and equipment 8. Apply safety and health standards on jobsites 9. Participate in job safety and health inspections 10. Investigate accidents and/or incidents
Introduction Task Areas Click on the icon to display the details of the STS Examination Blueprints. This is reproduced with permission from CCHEST. The top levels, called tasks, represent major functions that supervisors perform. Within each task is a list of knowledge and/or skills required to carry out each task. The percent of the examination devoted to each task is shown next to the task number. We suggest that you print this if you can for reference during the session.
Introduction Task Areas We are now going to address each one of these task areas in the following topics. We ve modified the names slightly for convenience. 1. Safety orientation 2. Hazard analysis and work planning 3. Hazard recognition 4. Personal protective equipment 5. Conducting safety meetings 6. Hazard prevention 7. Tools and equipment 8. Applying standards to the jobsite 9. Jobsite inspections 10. Incident investigation
Introduction STS Construction Knowledge Knowledge Item OSHA regulations Company safety rules & procedures Industry safety requirements Potential hazards Job,craft, and phases of construction Communication at all organizational levels Observation techniques Training methods Job hazard analysis Test equipment usage Enforcement techniques Proper tool and equipment selection Reporting techniques Accident/incident investigation techniques % Allocation 14.6% 14.6% 14.6% 14.6% 11.5% 11.6% 8.3% 1.3% 1.5% 1.2% 1.6% 1.2% 2.4% 1.2%
Safety Orientation Hazard Communication When communicating workplace hazards to employees it is critical that all training materials be accurate, thorough and easily understood. To ensure the highest level of effectiveness, the level of detail in the training material must meet the needs of the audience. For example, a high level overview of procedures that require specific PPE & mandated processes to complete safely, is not enough information. Training employees on tasks that require special skills, knowledge or procedures require very high levels of detail and hands on training to be effective. Giving a quiz at the end of each chapter or training procedure is one method of ensuring the employees have retained the necessary information required to work safely.
Safety Orientation Bi-lingual Training Another critical element to consider when orientating employees is that both the material and instructor are fluent in the languages spoken on the jobsite. Many orientations fall short by not presenting training in all languages spoken by the workers. For example, Spanish speaking workers experience a disproportionately higher level of deaths & serious injuries in the construction industry. Incident investigations have shown a direct correlation between high injury and fatality rates and inadequate training and planning. Ensuring that everyone on your jobsite has the appropriate level of training and safety oversight will enable each of your employees with the basic knowledge necessary to safely complete their tasks.
Safety Orientation 4 Critical Areas for Successful Training The success of your safety orientations will be dependant on 4 critical factors; the material, the instructor, the learning environment and the participation of the students. Instructors that are not proficient in the orientation material, do not have excellent presentation skills and do not effectively engage the students during the class, may actually be causing more harm than good. Your instructor is often the first person a student sees before starting work and they represent the beginning of the safety attitude in the field. The classroom environment is often an overlooked element in the effectiveness of safety orientations. A classroom that is conducive to learning will have a positive effect on the level of retention exhibited by the attendees. The quality of both the material and delivery method will have a direct effect on the overall safety performance of the job. The time and effort you spend in the development and implementation of your safety orientation program sends a loud and clear message to the students about your commitment to safety.
Safety Orientation Weekly Safety Meetings Weekly safety meetings are an integral part of any effective safety program. By ensuring constant reinforcement of safety expectations, policies and general safety information, you enable your employees with the best opportunities to complete their work safely. Complacency in your safety program is something you want to avoid at all cost. When employees begin to take the safety program for granted by taking short cuts and accepting unnecessary risks, the chances for injury and incidents to occur increase dramatically.
Safety Orientation Weekly Safety Meetings By ensuring that an informative, interactive and timely safety meeting is held and attended by all employees, you can help prevent complacency from occurring. Weekly safety meetings should include both site specific and general safety information that will help them recognize and mitigate hazards. In addition, the use of safety bulletins, newsletters, websites, posters, payroll stuffers, bulletin boards and on-the-job positive recognition, will all help you maintain a successful safety program on your worksites.
Safety Orientation Daily Safety Meetings Starting each work day with a short safety meeting is one method that many companies are using to attain world class safety performance. Daily safety refreshers are an excellent way to keep safety in the forefront of everyone's mind. Timely topics of discussion such as changes in field conditions, updates on injuries and incidents, new jobsite hazards, and critical focus areas will keep your employees safe and ahead of the competition.
Safety Orientation Daily Safety Meetings In addition, having a senior supervisor such as a superintendent or General Foreman lead these meetings will send the signal that management is engaged and leading the safety efforts on the jobsite. Always take the time necessary to prepare for every safety meeting. Your staff will be able to detect your commitment to safety by the effort put forth in preparing the materials and the passion you display in delivering the message. We ll talk more about safety meetings later in the course.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Pre Task Planning Effective hazard analysis and Pre-Task Planning are the two most critical tools used today in providing a safe work environment. Ensuring that a Job Safety or Job Hazard Analysis, also known as a JSA or JHA, has been completed and then utilized in the preparation of a Pre-Task Plan, is the best known method available for ensuring the safe completion of work. Supervision, Safety and the work crews should all be engaged in the preparation of each hazard analysis. All work processes should have a formal hazard analysis completed and made readily available to the work crews to help plan their daily activities.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Pre Task Planning Once all of the identifiable hazards have been documented, employees and supervision create a pre-task plan that includes specific and detailed mitigation efforts for each of the hazards identified. When employees are engaged in the planning process, it drives ownership and personnel awareness for everyone involved. Supervisors that use JSA s routinely as part of their work planning routine have documented a decline in overall injuries and incidents on their jobsites. Responsible supervisors should require the use of hazard analysis & pre-task planning by all of their employees in an effort to help send them home safely everyday.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Job Safety Analysis A Job Safety Analysis is a formal process where all tasks are reviewed for hazards by a team of qualified members. Ideally JSA s should be conducted by a team made up of safety, supervision and the trades that will be performing the tasks. Many companies conduct JSA s for all of the routine tasks they perform and keep them in a master file for easy review by the project teams. These high level JSA s are the basis upon which the work planning documents are created. For example, a company that erects steel as their primary business will have a master JSA on file for each of the different types of steel erection they perform. Once a task has been scheduled to be performed in the field, the supervisor and his staff will use the corporate JSA to create their daily work plan in the field. The JSA should identify all of the typical hazards and provide appropriate corrective actions for those tasks. An effective work plan will incorporate all of the applicable mitigations and special hazards or risks associated with that particular task.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Planning for Change Studies have shown that inadequate or failure to effectively plan work activities is the leading contributing factor of injuries & incidents that occur on the jobsite. In addition to helping prevent serious injuries and incidents, Pre-Task Planning has proven to be an excellent tool in improving employee productivity and effectiveness. When you require employees to plan out their work before they start, they are better prepared for the challenges of that task and have thought through the hazards. The key to a good Pre-Task Planning program is to ensure a continuous improvement process is in place. Pre-Task Planning forms should be considered a living document. That means that they are constantly reviewed and updated to ensure effectiveness. When changes occur, new risks or ideas are identified for a particular task, they must be captured into the Pre-Task Planning document and then transferred to the master JSA if applicable.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Pre-Task Planning & Safety Planning work safely and effectively is in everyone's best interest. Ensuring that a pre task work plan is completed that identifies the hazards & mitigations necessary to complete the job safely is the best known method for preventing injuries and incidents on the jobsite. People want to work for supervisors that they feel care about their safety. Supervisors that ensure JSA s are followed and that effective work planning is occurring will be admired as leaders and safety role models by their staff. Engaging your staff in effective safety planning is an excellent method for getting their buy-in of the overall safety program.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning 8 Key Elements There are 8 key elements of an effective work planning program and they include: 1. Understanding the job scope 2. Review applicable JSA s for typical hazard review 3. Identify key tasks to be performed and sequence them 4. Identify risks and mitigations 5. Develop work plan 6. Establish ownership and accountability 7. Review work plan with all team members 8. Execute task to plan Helping employees formally think through the work process will help them work safely and more efficiently. Always remember to stop and re-evaluate the work plan if unplanned changes or events occur. Incident investigations often identify unplanned events or changes in work scope as major contributing factors when serious injuries & incidents occur.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Understanding the Scope Having a clear and concise understanding of the Scope of Work that is being performed is a critical first step in the safe work planning process. Always take the time necessary to walk the work site, with the key individuals that are knowledgeable of the work site or process, to ensure alignment and agreement with the work to be performed. Ensure that all drawings used to perform the work are the latest revision and are representative of the conditions in the field. If field conditions and drawings are not consistent, accuracy should be verified before any work begins. Many serious injuries and incidents occur everyday in the construction industry due to failure to fully understand the scope of work and the associated hazards.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Hazard Analysis Review Engaging your work crews in the safety planning process is a proven method in reducing injuries and incidents. Companies that have established the mandatory use of Pre-Task Planning, or PTP, are among the construction industry s leaders in safety performance. The most successful Pre-Task Planning programs utilize a task specific Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) as the foundation for developing the PTP. To ensure JHA s are readily available, Each jobsite should maintain access to a master library of their company s JHA s. By utilizing the typical hazards and mitigations identified in the JHA as a guide, the foreman and their crew can then assess their specific tasks for additional hazards and risks.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Identify Key Tasks The first step in developing a pre task plan is identifying key tasks that are necessary to perform the work. Taking the time to systematically evaluate the work flow process will help ensure you don t leave out a critical step! One widely used method establishes a list of critical procedures that are developed by the work crew. Once the key task list has been finalized, it is then included in its entirety on the PTP. Your main goal will be to ensure both typical and project specific tasks are included on this list. This key task list now becomes the basis for identifying and mitigating hazards associated with the work to be performed and ultimately how safe your project will be.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Identify Hazards/Develop Mitigations A critical component of any successful safety program is ensuring all employees have received effective training and have demonstrated knowledge in identifying and mitigating workplace hazards. While frontline supervisors such as Superintendents, General Foremen and Foreman are ultimately responsible for identifying and mitigating workplace hazards, everyone must be responsible for safety to achieve desired performance. In a world class safety culture, every individual is responsible for their own safety as well as the safety of their co-workers. To that point, ensuring that every member of a work crew is actively engaged in looking for hazards and implementing corrective actions is paramount for success. In addition, while high hazard activities may pose the greater overall risk, most injuries occur while performing routine tasks and are easily preventable by ensuring proper PPE is worn at all times.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Developing a Pre-Task Plan The key to developing an effective PTP is ensuring that all hazards and risks, large and small, have been identified and entered on the plan. Taking the time to thoroughly walk the jobsite with the work crew and asking them for help in identifying hazards is a best known method for developing a PTP. Any format that is used for developing a Pre Task Plan should be effective, simple to use and easily understood. Many companies use a standardized form that utilizes prompts of typical hazards found in most phases of construction. Examples of a few common prompts are: eye protection, hand protection, respiratory protection, control of hazardous energies, fall protection, and specialized PPE requirements. Effective pre task planning will not only reduce injuries and incidents, it has been proven to improve productivity and reduce rework.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning PTP Review & Accountability Once completed, an effective PTP will include all known hazards and effective preventative measures. However, even the best written PTP will not be effective if it isn't acknowledged and followed by the work crew. The leading cause of incidents and injuries that occurred when an effective PTP was in place, is the failure to execute to the plan. Reviewing and ensuring that the crew fully acknowledges their role and accountability to execute to the plan, is paramount for success. The most effective PTP programs require that the foreman and work crew individually sign their pre task plan. This step establishes that they have all read, understand and are personally accountable to following the plan.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Execute to Plan As a supervisor, it is your role to ensure that your personnel effectively plan and execute their work activities as safely and efficiently as possible. All of the effort put into work planning, hazard identification, evaluation and mitigations cannot have a positive impact if they are not followed. It is imperative that you routinely observe and evaluate your work crews to ensure 100% compliance to the requirements of the PTP. Most successful and respected supervisors openly provide praise and positive recognition to their work crews that embrace the PTP process. By ensuring each of your employees are actively following the details in their Pre Task Plan, you are showing your personal commitment to their safety and the safety of their co-workers.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Planning for Change Another leading cause of serious injury and incidents is the failure to identify new hazards after changes in scope occur. It is very common in construction for changes and unforeseen problems to arise during the course of work. If left unmitigated, the additional hazards associated with these changes can negatively impact your ability to complete the tasks safely. Always ensure that your PTP is updated and addresses any significant changes to the original work plan. By ensuring your crew takes the few extra minutes necessary to reevaluate your PTP, you will greatly improve their chances of completing the work injury and incident free.
Hazard Analysis & Work Planning Improved Safety & Productivity Companies that have effectively implemented Pre Task Planning have documented improvements in both safety and productivity. Studies have shown that the time taken by the work crew to plan out the scope, identify hazards, develop safety measures and follow the PTP, enables the entire crew to be more efficient, organized and profitable. A well thought out and executed PTP allows the team to ensure they have all the necessary permits, tools, materials, PPE and training necessary to safely and efficiently complete the work. By ensuring your work crews are properly trained in using the PTP program as an effective planning tool, you can help eliminate costly delays in construction.
Hazard Recognition Fatality Prevention Having a robust fatality prevention program in place is critical in preventing serious injuries and deaths at your jobsite. Each year, an average of 5 construction workers die every work day in the United States. That equates to over 1,200 fatalities each year in commercial construction. Another alarming statistic is that while construction employs only 6% of the US workforce, it accounts for nearly 22% of all workplace fatalities, with every single death being preventable!
Hazard Recognition Fatality Prevention The 4 leading causes of death and serious injury in the construction industry are: 1. Falls from height 2. Electrocutions 3. Struck by objects 4. Caught in between objects Fatality prevention programs are designed to ensure that all high risk activities are planned, managed and completed safely. Utilizing Safety Professionals to help you evaluate risk and to develop effective fatality prevention programs is the first step in creating a safe workplace.
Hazard Recognition Falls From Elevation Supervisors Responsibility With falls from heights being the leading cause of death in the construction industry, ensuring that your employees are trained and are required to wear proper fall prevention and arrest equipment when working at heights is a minimum requirement as a construction supervisor. Every year in the U.S., over 400 construction workers fall to their deaths due to improper planning, training and/or failure to protect themselves from falls. The majority of these deaths occurred within companies that had a fall protection program in place. So why do falls continue to be the leading cause of death in the construction industry? The answer is lack of compliance and enforcement. By not effectively enforcing your fall prevention program as a zero tolerance policy, many employees will not comply when not being watched. Management and Supervision are responsible to ensure that all policies, programs and procedures are up effective, up to date and are being enforced 100% of the time.
Hazard Recognition Falls From Elevation Supervisors Responsibility While OSHA allows certain job descriptions to work without fall protection up to 30 feet in the air, the majority of owners and your industry leading General Contractors and Construction Management firms all require fall protection when working 6 or higher above ground. However, just requiring fall protection to be worn without ensuring proper training, equipment and approved anchorage points are readily available can be just as dangerous as not wearing any protection at all.
Hazard Recognition Falls From Elevation Supervisors Responsibility All supervisors must take the time and effort necessary to be trained and certified in proper fall prevention & arrest methods. Having the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions is critical when assuming a leadership role in safety. By ensuring that your jobsite has a 100% tie-off mandate, a zero violation tolerance rule for fatality prevention programs that is enforced at all times, and pre-engineered fall protection systems in place, will send a strong message about your dedication to safety.
Hazard Recognition Protecting Against Falls 2 basic types of fall protection: Fall Restraint Fall Arrest Fall restraint is the preferred method. 2 most widely used are: Guardrails Systems Personal Fall Restraint Systems 4 Key elements: Engineered Appropriate equipment Training 100% compliance
Hazard Recognition Fall Restraint Systems Guardrails: Preferred method. Must be able to withstand a 200 pounds of force in a downward or outward direction. Must be between 39 & 45 above the working level. Fall restraint systems: Prevent you from reaching a leading edge. Consist of a: Full body harness or belt Engineered tether system Engineered anchorage point.
Hazard Recognition Fall Arrest Systems Properly engineered, inspected, worn & secured fall arrest systems will save lives! Fall Arrest Systems typically consist of: Full Body Harness (no belts allowed) Shock absorbing or retractable lanyard Connecting device Rated anchorage point. Fall Arrest systems save lives by decelerating the speed of decent and preventing wearers from striking the ground!
Hazard Recognition Fall Arrest Systems Afford protection ONLY when properly inspected, worn and secured. Supervisors MUST ensure workers: Inspect fall arrest equipment before each use. Never use damaged, worn or outdated equipment. Never use unsafe tie-off points (the most noted violation in the field). Have a proper type and length of lanyard. Ensure their tie-off point and total length of lanyard will prevent hitting the surface below. Always tie-off their lanyard(s) when working at heights!
Hazard Recognition Struck By Injuries & Incidents Most construction sites have numerous activities occurring at the same time which can often create an unsafe condition. OSHA reports that being struck by an object is the second highest cause of construction-related deaths. Of these fatalities, approximately 75% involve heavy equipment such as trucks or cranes. The ideal situation to prevent struck by incidents is to separate operating equipment and people by creating designated travel paths and barriers from heavy equipment. Employees should always wear highly reflective vests or clothing when working on or around moving equipment. All moving equipment should be operated by qualified individuals and contain side and rear view mirrors, back up alarms and spotters that help increase the vision and communication with the equipment operators. Employees must be cautioned to stay away from operating equipment and to never walk behind equipment with out first getting the attention of the operator.
Hazard Recognition Preventing Struck By Injuries Research has identified that construction laborers were much more likely to be involved in a "struck-by" injury than any other trade. In order to prevent struck-by incidents, the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, or NIOSH, recommends that employers: 1. Have policies that require workers on foot to maintain a safe clearance from mobile equipment. 2. Have policies that require mobile equipment operators to follow the safety instructions in the equipment operator's manual and provide additional safety training to all mobile equipment operators.
Hazard Recognition Preventing Struck By Injuries 3. Consider conducting pre-work safety meetings each day to discuss the work on tap that day, the potential safety hazards and safe work procedures. 4. Ensure that PPE such as high-visibility clothing is provided and used in accordance with company policy.
Hazard Recognition Caught Between Injuries Caught between or crushing type incidents occur when the body or any part of the body is squeezed between two moving objects or caught between one moving and one stationary object. Even a minor crush type incident can cause serious injuries resulting in severe pain, disability, and time away from work. Major crushing type incidents often result in the loss of life. Caught/crush hazards are not always limited to machinery. Trench cave-ins, vehicles, powered doors and lifts, forklifts and the improper lifting of heavy objects are all examples of activities that may pose a caught between/crush hazard. Supervisors should ensure that adequate work procedures are developed that prohibit employees from placing any body part under or between powered equipment unless it is de-energized and in a neutral energy state.
Hazard Recognition Excavations Excavation cave-ins continue to be a leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry. Over 100 fatalities occur each year during excavation and trenching operations and over 11 times as many workers are injured. These deaths account for nearly 1% of all work related fatalities in the United States. To ensure the safety of your employees, all excavations must be evaluated daily by a competent person. The designated competent person must monitor the condition of the excavations throughout the day and prevent entry if unsafe conditions are found. All excavations 5 in depth or greater will require cave-in protection such as shoring, sloping, or benching. Travel distance to a ladder inside an excavation cannot exceed 25 in any direction and all excavation spoils must be placed a minimum of 2 feet back from the leading edge.
Hazard Recognition Electrocutions Each year an average of 400 construction related deaths are recorded due to unprotected exposure to energized electrical systems. This number does not represent the thousands of injuries and disabilities that occur from not adequately controlling hazardous electrical energy. Proven methods for controlling hazardous electrical energy have been around for decades, but workers continue to place themselves at risk of serious injury and death by not following simple lockout/tagout procedures. OSHA is very clear on the requirements for controlling hazardous energies and places the responsibility on management to ensure effective programs, training, equipment and compliance are taking place. Electricity is not the only hazardous energy that exists on a job site but is usually the most common.
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Electrical Mechanical Chemical Thermal Radiation Stored or Potential
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Electrical Exposure to uncontrolled electrical energy often results in shock, burns and all too often, electrocution. Over 400 electrocutions occur in the United States every year and every one was preventable. Insufficient training and failure to follow lockout/tagout procedures are the leading cause of these deaths. OSHA has recognized for years that employee exposure to electrical hazards are one of the most preventable causes of injuries in the work place, but even with strict regulations, the deaths continue to occur. Your responsibility as a supervisor requires you to read and understand your company s Control of Hazardous Energy Policy and to ensure it is effective and being followed at all times. Ensuring 100% compliance with the control of hazardous energy policy will save lives.
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Mechanical Energy: Any equipment that has an energy source and moving components contain mechanical energy. Mechanical energy is responsible for thousands of severe injuries and hundreds of fatalities each year. Mechanical energy is not always easily detected without equipment specific experience and training. Supervisors must ensure all workers are trained and competent in identifying the hazards associated with each specific type of mechanical equipment that they work on. Failure to adequately control hazardous energies, most often mechanical energy, is the leading cause of amputations in the workplace. Ensuring all energy sources have been locked and tagged out, and that a zero energy state had been verified, is the best known method in preventing serious injuries and incidents from occurring.
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Chemical Energy: All chemicals and gases have unique and specific risks that must be identified and mitigated. As a supervisor you and your staff are required by law to understand the inherent hazardous properties and the manufacturers recommended conditions for use, prior to handling any chemical or gas. Failure to follow proper handling procedures can result in fire, explosion, chemical reaction, displacement of oxygen resulting in asphyxiation, inhalation hazards, sudden pressure release, and chemical burns. Protect yourself and your workforce from chemical hazards by ensuring MSDS s are available, have been read and thoroughly understood before any chemicals are used. Supervisors are responsible to ensure adequate training has occurred and that all employees are taking the appropriate precautions, before work begins.
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Thermal Energy Employees that are exposed to extreme hot and cold temperatures can suffer severe negative health effects if their condition is not recognized and addressed quickly. Heat exhaustion is a heat-related illness which can range in severity from mild heat cramps to potentially life-threatening heatstroke.
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Thermal Energy Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion include: Feeling faint or dizzy Nausea Heavy sweating Rapid, weak heartbeat Low blood pressure Cool, moist, pale skin Low-grade fever Heat cramps Headache Fatigue
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Negative health effects from cold can occur in weather that is not freezing. Wind, humidity and moisture remove body heat, which can eventually lead to frost bite and hypothermia. The cold primarily affects the body's extremities. Hands and feet are further away from the body core and have less blood flow.
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Radiation Energy: Radiation energy is a form of electromagnetic energy and is found in two basic forms, Ionizing and Non-Ionizing. Exposure to ionizing radiation can cause cancer and negatively effect reproductive organs. Non-ionizing radiation includes the spectrum of ultraviolet (UV), visible light, infrared (IR), microwave (MW), radio frequency (RF), and extremely low frequency (ELF). Lasers commonly operate in the UV, visible, and IR frequencies. Non-ionizing radiation is found in a wide range of occupational settings and can cause thermal burns and eye injuries. The lasers typically found on a construction site are a form of non-ionizing radiation. Construction site lasers must have precautions taken to prevent exposure to those working with or nearby these lasers.
Hazard Recognition Hazardous Energies Stored or Potential Energy: Types: Gravity Elastic Hydraulic Pneumatic Springs Electrical capacitors Batteries Severe injuries and death can occur from exposure. Verify and control all energy sources.
Hazard Recognition Spectrum of Hazards The ability to recognize the spectrum of hazards that can exist in and around a construction jobsite is a critical skill that all supervisors should be proficient at. An obvious hazard to one individual may be an acceptable hazard to another, which is why standardized hazard recognition training is necessary. Many people that work around high hazard activities often forget the fear that they once had when they first started working. This loss of fear is also known as complacency. Employees that become complacent working around hazards is often a recipe for disaster. As a supervisor, you will need to evaluate your employees and ensure that they do not accept unnecessary levels of risk in their daily work routines. Studies have shown that employees that assume high levels of risk are prone to injuries and incidents.
Hazard Recognition Hidden & Obvious Hazards Many types of hazards exist on a construction site and they range from minor to severe, obvious to hidden and from easily resolved to a complex mitigation process. Taking the time to become proficient in hazard detection will help protect you and your workers from serious injury and death. A primary method used by most safety professionals to detect job site hazards is the site walk. Taking time out our of every day to walk the site is a critical element in ensuring a safe job site exists for everyone. It is very easy for a supervisor to get over burdened with a heavy work load to the point where they don t spend enough time in the field assessing conditions. Since conditions can change very quickly, the time you spend on safety by walking the project will be among your most valuable efforts in ensuring a safe worksite.
Hazard Recognition Minor Hazards? Focusing on only the high hazard activities on a job site will not prevent all serious injuries and incidents from occurring. Often, seemingly minor hazards have resulted in serious injury and even death. A tripping hazard from a power cord, poor housekeeping or an uneven walking surface could have a range of effects on its unsuspecting victim. A trip from a power cord could result in nothing but a trip, or if it was located next to a leading edge, something far worse could result. Taking the time to assess the conditions that prevail around hazards will allow you to make the right decision, the first time. Statistics show that the majority of injuries experienced on a construction site occur while just walking around. While this may sound odd, the facts are that construction project travel paths are often uneven with many tripping and slipping hazards. Taking the time to evaluate the walking surfaces of your project can and will prevent injuries from occurring.
Hazard Recognition Chemical Hazards Employee exposure to chemicals on today's construction sites are a growing concern. Many new chemicals exist today whose chemical properties are often overlooked or not evaluated effectively before being used. Chemical hazards exist in the form of solids, liquids, vapors, fumes and gases. Industrial coatings, paints, epoxies, curing & releasing agents, flammables & combustibles, acids & bases, cleaners & degreasers are all considered chemicals and are found through out a typical jobsite. Always ensure that every chemical on your site has a Material Safety Data Sheet available and that it is used to determine proper storage, handling, use and disposal requirements. A master chemical inventory should be managed by the General Contractor to ensure that they are aware of the type, quantity and location of each chemical on site.
Hazard Recognition GFCI / Assured Grounding Program A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) or an Assured Grounding Program must be in place for all temporary power systems. A quarterly audit program is required to ensure cords are inspected and replaced if damaged. Extension cords, plugs, and temp power systems are prone to wearing out during typical construction activities so it is important to inspect and test them frequently. Always remove defective equipment from service immediately by red tagging or disposing of the damaged equipment.
Hazard Recognition Cuts & Lacerations Cuts & lacerations continue to be the most common of all injuries in the construction industry. Taking the time to identify typical contributing factors for cut & laceration injuries, and employing proper protective equipment, will help eliminate these type of injuries from occurring. Common hazards that can lead to cuts & lacerations include: sharp edges, pinch points, handling materials such as glass & debris, demolition work, using knifes or razor cutters and cutting operations. By ensuring your employees use the proper tools, are using and maintaining their equipment in good condition, and implementing a 100% hand protection program will help eliminate injuries and incidents.
Personal Protective Equipment PPE It is the responsibility of the supervisor to ensure that the proper PPE is available and being worn correctly and effectively by their employees. Employees must be trained in the use and maintenance of their PPE and all training must be current and updated as necessary. Ensure that employees take good care of their PPE by keeping it clean and in reliable working conditions at all times. Wearing the proper PPE can protect you and your employees from serious injury and illness. PPE, however, is considered the last line of defense. Engineering and administrative controls should be implemented wherever possible to eliminate hazards.
Personal Protective Equipment Standard PPE Requirements Most construction companies today require a minimum level of PPE to be worn at all times. Typically, standard PPE requirements include hard hats, safety glasses with side shields that meet ANSI Z87 standards, and leather, over the ankle sturdy work boots. Depending on your work location and the type of work being performed, additional PPE may be required and include reflective vests, gloves, hearing protection, chemical resistant suits, and respirators. Hardhats are always required to be worn when working in areas where falling objects or overhead power lines are present.
Personal Protective Equipment Respiratory Protection Many jobs round the construction site require respiratory protection to perform them safely. Any time you must wear a respirator, special requirements exist that must be followed at all times. Your employer must authorize any employee to use a respirator before they are allowed to utilize them. The authorization process includes each person to receive medical clearance, proper training and be fit-tested for the particular respirator they will be using. Training will cover identification of airborne hazards, how to select and wear the proper equipment, as well as proper cleaning and storage techniques.
Personal Protective Equipment Hand Protection The majority of injuries that occur in the construction industry are hand injuries. Your goal as a supervisor should be to eliminate all injuries to your employees, especially their hands. A robust hand protection program will eliminate most hand injuries. Requiring employees to wear hand protection at anytime they perform work potentially hazardous to their hands. Examples of work that increases the risk of hand injuries include: handling chemicals, metal materials, cutting, grinding, sawing, using knifes, handling wood, glass or trash, using impact tools, welding operations, handling hot & cold objects or any time the potential for injury is present.
Conducting Safety Meetings Effective Communication Effective communication of safety and health requirements is a critical aspect of any safety program. Unfortunately, many individuals responsible for communicating this message have never received formal training on how to do so effectively. Just holding a safety meeting without taking the time necessary to prepare and deliver an effective meeting, will not produce the results you are looking for. An ill prepared or delivered safety message can cause the workers to lose interest and negatively impact their attitude on safety. Understanding how to effectively plan, prepare and deliver a safety meeting is a critical element in successful safety communications. The first step in developing a successful safety meeting is determining what the message or topic is that you want to convey.
Conducting Safety Meetings Safety Materials In today's electronic age, the internet enables anyone, anywhere, access to an almost endless array of safety related messages, topics, ideas, lessons learned and real life incident reviews. In addition, timely and accurate safety materials, on hundreds of topics, can be obtained on a routine basis from numerous suppliers. Not having safety materials or topics available should never be an excuse for cancelling a safety meeting. All safety meetings should be planned and scheduled well in advance to prevent the appearance of a last minute, ill prepared effort.
Conducting Safety Meetings Delivering the Message The most effective safety meetings, regardless of the message, are those that are planned as a team effort between project supervision and the safety department. When supervisors show sincere engagement and leadership in developing and delivering the safety message, employees get a clear message that safety is a condition of employment. Supervisors must take the time to understand the safety material being presented and actively engage all employees in the training dialogue. People learn faster and retain information longer when they are part of the safety meeting and the best way to engage the classroom is by asking questions and soliciting answers.
Conducting Safety Meetings Presentation Skills The methods used to deliver your safety message is often more important than the material itself. There are 4 basic elements to consider when preparing and delivering a talk on safety. The first element is Expertise. You must have credibility in the eyes of the audience concerning your subject matter. Always take time to enhance your knowledge of the subject area before you speak. Not being able to answer every answer question that arises after a talk is not an issue. Not being able to answer any questions correctly, is a pitfall to avoid. Secondly is your overall Presentation Ability. Work towards developing your speaking skills by including entertaining and informative methods such as humor and audience interaction.
Conducting Safety Meetings Presentation Skills The third critical presentation skill that is often lacking in safety meetings is Captivation. Your ability to captivate the audience is based on the passion and the intensity in your presentation that will draw in and lock the attention of the audience. The ideal state is for the trainees to listen and internalize the message behind your words and to feel like they are a part of something important. The last skill necessary to have a successful safety meeting is Motivation. You must hone your skills and be able to move your audience from being passive listeners to engaged participants. After you present at a safety meeting always ask for feedback on how well the presentation was received from a random assortment of attendees. This information is critical to drive continuous improvement in your presentation skills and overall effectiveness.
Conducting Safety Meetings Supervisor Safety Expectations The main goal of any safety meeting is to motivate employees to take interest and responsibility for their safety and the safety of their co-workers. The commitment and passion you display while presenting safety performance expectations will have a direct effect on the safety results your workforce achieves. The overwhelming majority of your workforce fully understand that they must meet the expectations of their supervisor to remain employed. When supervisors establish their personal commitment to employee safety by placing safety above schedule and budget priorities, safety performance will improve dramatically. As a supervisor you will obtain the level of safety performance that you demonstrate you want to achieve.
Hazard Prevention Lasers Lasers are commonly used in construction for establishing levels and leveling activities. The power level of a laser will determine the level of hazard present. There are 5 classes of lasers, with class 3b and class 4 being the most hazardous. Risk of exposure to lasers include thermal burns, eye damage, and fire. When lasers are used on your site ensure that proper precautions have been taken to protect employees working nearby. Control measures will vary depending on the class of laser being used. The use of protective eyewear, laser curtains or protective barriers and establishing a laser controlled area are all examples of effective control measures.
Hazard Prevention Hot Work Hot work is considered any operation involving an open flame or activities which produce heat or sparks. This includes welding, cutting, brazing, soldering, grinding and the use of propane heaters. When open flames or ignition sources are present, all combustible material must be removed or covered within a 35 foot diameter. The immediate hot work area must be evaluated at all levels to ensure sparks or hot slag cannot leave the containment area. A trained firewatch should be utilized to watch for hot spots and to react quickly if a fire starts. Fire watches must be trained in fire hazard recognition, the use of fire extinguishers and emergency notification procedures. The fire watch should remain at the hot work site for 30 minutes after all hot work has ended to prevent any hot spots from igniting a fire.
Hazard Prevention Confined Spaces There are 2 Types of confined spaces, high and low hazard. High hazard confined spaces require a Permit to enter and many safety requirements that must be met before entry is allowed. Low hazard confined spaces require a checklist be completed before entry is allowed. To be classified as a confined space, any area must meet all of the following criteria: 1. Is large enough for a person to enter and perform work 2. Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit, and 3. Is not designed for continuous human occupancy
Hazard Prevention Ladders There is absolutely no reason for anybody to get injured, disabled or die while using a ladder, yet it happens every single day. It is not uncommon to find someone who is stepping on the safety sticker that says "This is not a step!, or someone who places a rock under one of the legs because the ladder isn t quite stable enough". Falls from ladders are a leading cause of serious injuries and death in the construction industry. In addition, falls from ladders 6 or less are the #1 cause of accidental death in the home. Working off a ladder should always be the last choice, with platforms, MEWP s or scaffolding being the safest choice.
Hazard Prevention Ladder Selection The first step in ladder selection is choosing the right style of ladder for the job. Different styles of ladders are designed to keep you safe and productive when climbing or standing. Using the wrong style of ladder or simply ignoring the limitations of climbing equipment, can result in a fall or serious injury. Many supervisors are only aware of basic step and extension ladders. However, there are many different types available such as platform, twin step, telescoping multi-ladder, multi-purpose, tripods and many others. Taking the time to research and procure the appropriate ladder for the job will help ensure the safe and efficient completion of the task.
Hazard Prevention 10 Steps for Safe Ladder Use The ten steps to teach your employees for safe ladder use are: 1. Inspect ladder before use 2. Use a tall enough ladder for the job 3. Maintain 3 points of contact at all times while climbing up or down 4. Move the ladder to the proper spot--don t over reach 5. Keep your belt-buckle inside the frame of the ladder at all times. 6. Use cones or barricade tape in congested areas & passage ways 7. Never stand on the top step or cap of the ladder 8. Don t climb with tools/equipment in your hand-use a tool belt. 9. Never move a ladder while standing on it. Don t scoot the ladder..move it! 10. Never use an A-frame ladder as a tilt up.
Hazard Prevention Extension Ladders Always enforce the 4:1 rule when employees are using an extension ladder. That means for every 4 vertical feet up, they must have the base 1 foot away from the wall. Standing on the top 3 rungs is always prohibited because the ladder becomes very unstable and can topple easily. Always overlap the top surface by 3 if climbing off the ladder at the top level. Ladders must be secured at the top and bottom to increase stability; if that is not possible an attendant must hold the ladder while working on or climbing the ladder. Taking the time to ensure employees are trained in the proper rules of safe ladder use, and are being held accountable to complying with those rules, will pay dividends everyday in that they go home safely.