Health and Safety Policy It is Penmac s policy to conduct all operations in a safe and healthful manner. The health and safety of every employee is a fundamental consideration in every business decision and plan, and all reasonable precautions will be taken to protect employees from injury and illness. We are equally committed to protect the public, company property, and our customers from events, which could cause harm or economic losses due to our operations. Our goal is to prevent the occurrence of all work-related injuries, illnesses and property losses. It is our philosophy that by striving to eliminate unsafe conditions and actions, we will eventually achieve this goal. The Health and Safety Program Manual contains specific requirements which are based on the following principles in providing an effective safety program: 1) A safe work environment will be provided by eliminating or controlling hazards with appropriately designed equipment and facilities, safe operating procedures, and personal protective equipment where called for. 2) All applicable safety regulations, codes and accepted work practices will be followed. Specific rules and procedures will be established and followed at every operation. 3) Each employee or temporary associate working in operations will be informed of any hazards associated with his or her job and trained in safe work procedures, the use of personal protective equipment and other means intended to provide required protection. 4) All Penmac employees are responsible for performing their job activities in a safe and reasonable manner and in accordance with local safety rules, any safety related instructions given to them, and the training they have received. 5) All unsafe acts, conditions and incidents must be reported to supervisors and investigated and corrected immediately. All employees are expected to support and participate in the Penmac Health and Safety Program. Together, with teamwork, we believe we can eliminate all workplace injuries and illnesses. 1.0 Safety Rules 1. All injuries, no matter how minor, must be reported to your site supervisor and Penmac office within 24 hours. 2. Weapons are prohibited on Property. 3. All workers should learn the hazards of their job by discussing them in detail with their supervisor and or administrator of the company s safety policies. 4. Each worker should learn to anticipate new hazards and plan their avoidance. When job conditions change, so do the hazards. 5. All defective tools, equipment, and / or dangerous work conditions must be brought to the attention of your supervisor or lead person immediately.
6. When lifting heavy objects, employees should seek assistance and perform heavy lifts with two persons. Always use the stronger muscles of your legs when lifting heavy objects rather then the muscles of your back. 7. Wash hands thoroughly before taking breaks and after using the restroom. 8. Always use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when working with hazardous chemicals. If a chemical is splashed onto your bare skin, through your clothing or into your eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse the contaminated area with water for 15 minutes and notify your supervisor if medical treatment is needed. 9. All hazardous chemicals must be properly labeled and stored. 10. This is a drug free workplace. Anyone found to be under the influence of drugs or intoxicating substances will not be allowed to work in that condition. 11. Keep your workstations / offices clean. 12. Horseplay is strictly forbidden. 13. Know the location of the nearest fire evacuation route and storm shelter. 14. All emergency equipment such as fire alarms, extinguishers, eye wash stations, and exit doors are to be kept clear of obstructions. 15. Safety glasses are required in all production areas. 16. Steel toed shoes are required in production areas by employees working in those areas. 17. Hearing protection must be worn in designated hearing conservation areas. 18. All trucks being loaded or unloaded in the shipping / receiving areas must be chocked. It is the forklift operator s responsibility to ensure that chocks are properly placed at the wheels before loading / unloading begins. 19. Bottled gas must be properly secured at all times and turned off at the end of each workday. 20. Only trained and licensed personnel will be allowed to operate the forklift on company premises. 21. Only licensed and approved personnel will be allowed to drive company vehicles. 22. Fall protection is required for any work activity being conducted four (4) feet or more above the floor level. Fall protection may be in the form of a guard rail or personal fall arrest system, whichever is more practical for the given task. 2.0 Incident and Injury Reporting Procedure At Penmac, all work-related injuries, illnesses and other significant incidents are to be reported to your supervisor and your Penmac branch office immediately. In all instances it is required that injuries be reported prior to the end of the work shift in which the incident occurred. In the case of occupational illnesses (e.g., repetitive motion injuries, signs or symptoms of exposure to hazardous substances, hearing related problems, etc.), where an exact time / date of the injury or illness is difficult to determine, employees must file a report at the initial onset of symptoms ALL WORK RELATED INJURIES/ILLNESSES MUST BE REPORTED DURING THE WORK SHIFT IN WHICH THEY OCCURRED. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
3.0 Hazard Communication Hazard Communication is a term used by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which refers to employee awareness of safety and health hazards associated with chemical substances. Hazard Communication essentially covers the following elements of safe work practices with hazardous chemicals: Hazardous chemical list Container labeling Material Safety Data Sheets Employee training Trade secrets Contractors A brief description of each of the elements and how they affect your job will follow. Hazardous Chemical List OSHA requires all business to maintain a list of hazardous chemicals at each work site. New employees will be shown the location of the Hazardous Chemical list and MSDSs during their on-the-job training. Identifying Hazardous Substances Every container of hazardous substance must bear a label showing the chemical name and the Chemical Abstract Service number (CAS #) or the manufacturer's label. In addition, many containers will have pictorial labels suggesting the protective measures required in handling the substance. Other labels and placards will utilize a numbering system of 0-4 to determine the seriousness or the hazard of the substance in the three categories of Health, Flammability, and Reactivity. In all cases, a 0 means the least threat while a rating of 4 means the greatest danger. How to Determine Which Substances Are in Your Place The client you are assigned to will provide site-specific training on the Chemical Information List (CIL). In addition, train and explain the extent of the hazard of each substance on the CIL, and protective measures required in using the chemical, locate the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each substance. The MSDS will provide an in-depth analysis of the substance along with all precautions necessary to handle the substance safely.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Material Safety Data Sheets must be kept on file for any hazardous chemical in the work environment. Each department supervisor will keep a list of hazardous chemicals used in their department and a current MSDS for each chemical on the list. A master copy of all chemical lists and MSDSs will be kept on site. 4.0 Bloodborne Pathogens The bloodborne pathogen exposure control program (SPM-7) is designed to promote and provide the best practices to limit the exposure of blood and other body fluids that may result in the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. Bloodborne pathogens include (but are not limited to): Hepatitis B (HBV) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) When a medical emergency or other workplace injury / illness involving blood or other bodily fluids are encountered, non-trained employees must avoid contact with blood or other bodily fluids. In the event of an emergency, untrained employees should locate a medical first responder and direct them to the emergency area. 5.0 Material Handling and Industrial Truck Operation Policy Industrial truck operators (e.g., forklifts, powered pallet jacks, cherry pickers) must be licensed through training and approval of client before they can operate an industrial truck at any facility. Licensing includes classroom training, passing a written test and a hands-on operational test. Supervisors must schedule this training for employees before they allow them to operate powered industrial trucks. All employees must be aware of the following basic rules of operation: The maximum allowable speed limit within the building and on the docks for all powered industrial trucks is 5 mph (walking speed). Forklifts will not be used to elevate personnel unless the forklift uses an approved cage. When lifting is authorized, the truck will not be moved horizontally with a person in the basket. During a lift, the person lifted will face away from the mast and remain clear of the hoisting mechanism. Personnel are not allowed to walk, stand, or work underneath the forks when the forklift has the mast elevated. No riding is permitted on forklifts, or pallet jacks (manual or powered). Operators must slow down and honk the horn at all cross aisles and other passageways. When entering or leaving buildings or warehouses, the operator must come to a complete stop at the entrance, use the horn, and proceed with caution only when the way is clear.
Forklifts must not travel with the forks elevated above 6 inches. When stopped, the forks must be lowered completely where they are resting on the floor. Powered industrial truck operators must complete an inspection of their equipment prior to use. Any defects must be reported to their immediate supervisor. Safety related functions (e.g., brakes, horn, warning alarms, seatbelts, etc.) must be working properly or the forklift will be removed from service until the safety related function is working. 6.0 Lockout / Tagout Program Lockout / tagout (LOTO) is the common name for the OSHA standard for the Control of Hazardous Energy during maintenance and servicing activities on equipment. The entire standard can be found in 29 CFR 1910.147. The standard outlines measures for controlling hazardous energies electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and other energy sources. Additionally, 29 CFR 1910.333 sets forth requirements to protect employees working on electrical circuits and equipment. This section requires workers to use safe work practices including LOTO. Employees servicing or maintaining machines or equipment may be exposed to serious physical harm or death if hazardous energy is not properly controlled. The OSHA standard defines three levels of employees that need to be trained on the Control of Hazardous Energy. These employee levels and required training are listed below: 1. Authorized a person who applies a lock or tag to equipment in order to perform servicing or maintenance. Each authorized employee shall receive training in the recognition of applicable hazardous energy sources, the type and magnitude of the energy available in the workplace and the methods and means necessary for energy isolation and control. 2. Affected an employee whose job requires him/her to operate or use equipment on which servicing or maintenance is being performed under LOTO or whose job requires him/her to work in an area in which such servicing or maintenance is being performed. Each affected employee shall be instructed in the purpose and use of energy control procedures. 3. All other employees whose work operations are or may be in an area where energy control procedures may be utilized, shall be instructed about the procedure, and about the prohibition relating to attempts to restart or reenergize machines or equipment which are locked out or tagged out. The assigned client will conduct training for authorized and affected employees annually. If a new employee is an affected employee and / or an authorized employee, additional training will be scheduled by the Supervisor with the Safety Department.
Hazardous Energy Control (LOTO) Procedures are available in departmental LOTO books). LOTO procedures are required when: An employee is required to remove or bypass a guard. An employee is required to place part of his / her body in the machine. A danger zone exists during normal operating procedures. Employees without the proper training and authority are NOT to conduct any of the above listed operations. Other definitions associated with the Control of Hazardous Energy are: Lockout Procedure the placement of a lockout device on an energy isolating device in accordance with Customer s established lockout procedure, ensuring that the energy isolating device and equipment being controlled cannot be operated until the lockout device is removed. Lockout Device A device utilizing a positive means, such as a lock to hold an energy isolating device in a safe position and prevent the energization of equipment. Tagout the placement of an approved warning tag on an energy isolating device and / or lockout device with approved cable ties in a manner that will secure the warning tag. The tagout device will indicate that the equipment being controlled may not be operated until the tagout device is removed. Machinery and Equipment Always notify your Penmac office immediately if you believe the machinery or equipment you are asked to operate is unsafe. Always wear required personal protective equipment. Never operate any equipment or machinery until you have received specific instructions on safe operating procedures, safety devices, and equipment guards from your on-site supervisor. Never attempt to tamper with or bypass any machine safety device or guard. Never operate any machinery that has broken or defective safety devices or guards. Notify your client supervisor immediately if such a condition exists. Never Assume the power is turned off to any piece of equipment. Your onsite client supervisor will inform you of your restrictions as an affected employee under the customer s Lockout/Tagout Program. Never place any part of your body into the point of operation of any machine. Never attempt to perform maintenance or service on any of the client s equipment. Never wear loose clothing, rings, and jewelry or allow hair to dangle when operating machinery.
6.0 Confined Space Entry All employees must be able to identify what a confined space is, its restrictions to entry and the dangers associated with entry. New employees are not allowed to enter confined spaces until proper training has been completed in addition to this orientation. A Confined Space is defined by OSHA as any space that meets the following three criteria: Is large enough and so configured that an employee can bodily enter and perform assigned work; and Has limited or restricted means for entry or exit (for example, tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hopers, vaults, and pits are spaces that may have limited means of entry); and Is not designated for continuous employee occupancy. A Permit-required Confined Space is defined by OSHA as any space that meets the definition of a confined space, plus has one or more of the following characteristics: Contains or has a potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere; Contains a material that has the potential for engulfing an entrant; Has an internal configuration such that an entrant could be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor which slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross-section; or Contains any other recognized serious safety or health hazard 7.0 Emergency Evacuation and Shelter Procedures Evacuation Procedure for Fire When a fire alarm sound or evacuation instructions are given over the intercom, follow the procedures listed below: Shut down your production equipment, Leave the building immediately, Use the closest safe exit to you, Report to the assigned meeting area, Report in for head count with your supervisor, Remain in the assembly area, and Do not re-enter the plant until authorized by your supervisor There is an evacuation route map posted at each client work site. Please make sure you are familiar with where they are. Do not go back into the building for any reason until your supervisor gives the return to work instructions to you.
Tornado Emergencies When a severe weather warning is issued by the alarm, intercom, other means, seek inside shelter. Stay away from outside walls and windows. Assume the tornado safety position using your arms to protect head and neck. Remain sheltered until the tornado threat is announced to be over. Do not return to your work area until instructed by your supervisor to do so. Chemical Spills Report all chemical spills to your supervisor immediately. Never attempt to clean up a chemical spill when: The chemical is reacting with a known or unknown substance. You don t have information for safe cleanup of the chemical (e.g., MSDS or contacting the chemical supplier) The spill is of a large quantity or is a hazardous material You don t have the right personal protective equipment to protect yourself during spill clean up You are not able to identify the chemical that has been spilled The chemical is flammable and potential ignition sources exist (never use metal shovels for clean up) When a Large Chemical Spill has occurred: Immediately notify your supervisor Evacuate the area of the spill. If trained to do so*, contain the spill with available equipment (e.g., pads, booms, absorbent powder, etc.). Secure the area and alert other site personnel. Do not attempt to clean the spill unless trained to do so. Attend to injured personnel and call the medical emergency number, if required. Evacuate building as necessary When a Small, or Non-hazardous Chemical Spill has occurred: Immediately notify your supervisor. If toxic fumes are present, secure the area (with caution tapes or cones) to prevent other personnel from entering. Make sure you are wearing appropriate PPE. Deal with the spill in accordance with the instructions described in the MSDS. Small spills must be handled in a safe manner, while wearing the proper PPE. Review the MSDS for instructions for proper disposal of spilled materials.
Other Emergencies In any workplace there is the opportunity for a variety of emergency situations that you may be involved in. It s not feasible to try to cover every possible emergency scenario in this orientation training document; therefore, the following guidelines have been established and should be followed in the event of an emergency. Emergency notification will be given via alarm and / or verbal instruction over the intercom system or by your supervisor. Pay close attention to emergency messages and follow the instructions exactly. Some emergencies will require evacuation of the building while emergencies will require sheltering in place. Make sure you understand the instructions before you take action. If you did not understand the instructions, seek clarification immediately. Never return to your work area until it has been determined safe and authorized by your immediate supervisor. Make sure you have been accounted for during roll call. If you don t, it s possible that an emergency responder may put his / her life in danger trying to locate you. Take all emergency warnings and instructions seriously, even if you think it is just a drill. When evacuating or finding shelter, walk, don t run. When emergency instructions are given, visually sweep your work area for other employees that may not have heard the instructions as you re leaving the area. 8.0 Personal Protective Equipment Each client site shall assure that personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to site conditions is available and used by employees and workers assigned to the site. Industrial and construction assignments frequently require the use of personal safety equipment. When these conditions exist at your job assignment, you will be informed of the type of equipment required and how to use and care for it. The on-site client supervisor will provide the equipment. It is your responsibility to use it as instructed without exception. Failure to wear required safety equipment may result in termination of employment. Examples of safety equipment you may be required to wear are as follows: Hard hats protection from overhead hazards. Safety Glasses/Goggles protection from airborne particles, sparks, and some splashes. Safety Shoes (to be provided by employee) protection from objects falling on feet and sharp objects penetrating shoe soles. Hearing Protection protection from high-level noise exposure.
Gloves depending on type of glove, protection from harmful liquids, heat, or surface contact hazards. Boots and Aprons protection from wet environments. Dust Masks Full Steam Staffing employees are not permitted to do tasks which require respirators. Dust masks or particle masks are permissible and recommended only for nuisance dust exposures. Welding Hoods only ANSI approved welding hoods that meet eye tint requirements will be accepted. PPE Training - Hearing Protection Our hearing is a valuable resource and we should take precautions to protect ourselves from noise exposure that could potentially cause us to lose even a portion of that resource. Hearing protection devices are a common item of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Here are some types of hearing protectors that you may see at your worksite: Foam Ear Plugs: These come in a variety of sizes and types as shown below. Normally, these plugs are compressed with the fingers and then inserted directly into the ear canal, and then they expand and form a sound reduction barrier to reduce the affects of the surrounding noise. Since there are such a wide variety of these plugs, you should always read the directions on the package to assure that you insert them correctly and they are suitable for use in your work environment. Remember to always wash your hands before inserting the plugs. Handling the plugs with dirty hands can result in ear infection. Ear Muffs: These are used in many industrial applications, especially where the exposures are for short periods and employees want protection that can be put on and taken off easily. Ear Muffs are only effective when they are adjusted to fit snugly around your ears. There are muffs that are specifically designed for use with hard hats and other types of PPE that may be needed on your job site. Always consult with your supervisor if you have questions about the use and care of your PPE. Eye Protection Eye injuries are tragic. They often leave the victim in pain and can even result in a total loss of sight! One of the most tragic things about eye injuries is that most are preventable. Using eye protection is just good sense. Do not take a chance on losing one of your greatest assets and blessings, the ability to see. Safety Glasses are the most commonly used form of eye protection and they come in a variety of tints, styles, and sizes. Glasses should be equipped with side-shields to improve the level of protection from flying objects. Never alter a set of safety glasses, such as removing the side-shields, because this may affect their ability to protect your eyes as they are intended. Remember not all glasses are safety glasses. Make sure that the glasses you use are rated as safety glasses by looking for the symbol Z-87 that indicates that the glasses meet the ANSI standard for eye protection.
If safety glasses do not provide enough protection, ask for a pair of goggles. These work best when handling liquids or working in dust, since they provide a tighter seal around your eyes. Since goggles form a seal, they may be prone to fog up when the temperature changes or if you sweat heavily. Try applying an anti-fog agent to the inside surface of the goggles to prevent this problem. These anti-fog agents are available at most safety supply stores. There are times when you may need some additional protection. Use face shields along with your glasses or goggles to add another layer of protection from splashes or other hazards that endanger your eyes. If you have questions about which eye protection is correct for your assignment, always ask your supervisor. Hand Protection Hand and finger injuries are among the most common injury types in industry. These injuries often result when workers handle materials. Chemical burns, cuts and abrasions, and splinters are common hand injuries. Using the right type of gloves can help to reduce your chances of suffering a hand/finger injury. Here are some types of gloves that may be useful in the injury prevention effort: For handling chemicals, always consult the MSDS sheet for the chemical product to assure that you are using the correct glove. Just because the gloves appear to be rubber or plastic and seem to be leak proof, that does not mean that they will provide protection against the hazards associated with the chemical you are using. If you have any doubts, consult with your supervisor. For handling metal and wood where splinters or sharp edges may be present, leather or Kevlar gloves are often used. These gloves are cut resistant and come in a variety of sizes and styles. For light material handling and to protect against cold temperatures, cotton gloves may be suitable. Consult with your supervisor to assure that you have the type of glove that is best suited to provide protection from the hazards at your job location. 9.0 Ergonomics Ergonomics is the science that studies the physical effects of workstations, tools, and equipment on the human body. Ergonomic principles are designed to achieve maximum efficiency of the human body while minimizing the risk of cumulative stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and muscular strains. Most cumulative stress injuries occur when the physical requirements of a task exceed the physical capabilities of an employee. The greater the demands of a task, the greater the risk of injury. Applying ergonomic principles in as many aspects of the workplace as possible will help minimize the risk. Ergonomic design, training programs and injury prevention programs play important roles in keeping cumulative stress injuries under control.
Repetitive motion injuries can be caused by activities at home or at work that involve repeated: Lifting Twisting Squeezing Hammering Finger and hand movements Pushing and pulling Certain factors increase the risk of injury. These ergonomic risk factors are listed below: Force Repetition Awkward postures Vibration Contact stress Prevention of Repetitive Motion Injuries: 1. In a new job, increase work gradually when possible. Your body needs to get used to new movements. Begin slowly and gradually build your speed and workload. 2. Adjust your work surface and any objects so that you can reach the most frequently used objects the easiest. 3. Reduce repetitions, especially those made in combination with one of the ergonomic risk factors listed above. 4. Change positions. Frequent changes in posture help reduce stress in a single area of the body. In highly repetitive jobs, it is especially beneficial if you can train yourself to do the job with either hand or foot. This will allow you to alternate between the use of hands or feet, thereby providing a rest break for other hand or foot as it grows tired. 5. Pace yourself. Take breaks to give your body time to recover. Adjust your pace to prevent extreme tiredness. If possible, stretch your muscles from time to time. 6. Keep your elbow at a right angle. Adjust your chair or work surface so elbows form a 90 degree angle. This produces less stress on tendons and nerves. 7. Keep your wrists as straight as possible. This is known as the neutral wrist position. A bent wrist, especially when combined with pressure, increases stress on the wrist tendons. 8. Pad corners and cushion tools or other devices. Softening the contact between body tissue and hard surfaces helps make your work more comfortable. 9. Suggest changes that can improve comfort and safety. Your suggestions could make a big difference in your health and ability to do your job. 10. Report symptoms of possible RMIs to your supervisor immediately. The sooner you get help, the quicker the recovery.