Jobsite Safety
"Safety on the job-site is very important and it is EVERY ONES RESPONSIBILITY to go home safely each day!!!!!!!".
Safety on the job-site is a very important aspect of working with a contractor. There are many ways that accidents can be avoided - you should always ask how your contractor approaches safety. Here are some guidelines that can help you, your employees and your job sites be prepared, Working with a company that has OSHA Trained there employees is the first step to a safe workplace.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
When discussing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) with your contractor, make sure to address the risks and hazards that exist on the job site. This will explain what type of equipment is needed and why. Each employee should be trained when, how, and why to use each piece of protective equipment, especially how to store and maintain the equipment.
Safety Checklists
The following checklists may help you take steps to avoid hazards that cause injuries, illnesses and fatalities. As always, be cautious and seek help if you are concerned about a potential hazard.
Head Protection
Workers shall wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to their heads from fixed objects, or of accidental head contact with electrical hazards.
Hard hats are routinely inspected for dents, cracks or deterioration.
Hard hats are replaced after a heavy blow or electrical shock.
Hard hats are maintained in good condition.
Eye and Face Protection
Safety glasses or face shields are worn anytime work operations can cause foreign objects getting into the eye such as during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing (or when working with concrete and/or harmful chemicals or when exposed to flying particles).
Eye and face protectors are selected based on anticipated hazards.
Safety glasses or face shields are worn when exposed to any electrical hazards including work on energized electrical systems.
Foot Protection
Construction workers should wear work shoes or boots with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles.
Safety-toed footwear is worn to prevent crushed toes when working around heavy equipment or falling objects.
Hand Protection
Gloves should fit snugly.
Workers wear the right gloves for the job (for example, heavy-duty rubber gloves for concrete work, welding gloves for welding, insulated gloves and sleeves when exposed to electrical hazards).
Fall Protection
Hazard: A number of factors are often involved in falls, including unstable working surfaces, misuse or failure to use fall protection equipment and human error. Studies have shown that using guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers and restraint systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls.
Solutions:
Consider using aerial lifts or elevated platforms to provide safer elevated working surfaces;
Cover floor holes; and/or
Use safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems (body harnesses).
Aerial Lifts: If the contractor is using aerial lifts on your job, your contractor should have received in-depth instruction on aerial lift equipment where their employees get hands-on training and classroom instruction about the different types of aerial lifts.
Additionally, the operators must be properly trained to harness themselves while operating the equipment on your property. All employees need to be trained on the proper ways to navigate and communicate on a job-site in order to keep everyone on the property safe.
Scaffolding
Damaged parts that affect the strength of the scaffold are taken out of service.
Scaffolds are not altered.
Scaffolds should be set on sound footing.
All scaffolds should be fully planked.
Scaffolds are not moved horizontally while workers are on them unless they are designed to be mobile and workers have been trained in the proper procedures.
Employees are not permitted to work on scaffolds when covered with snow, ice, or other slippery materials.
Scaffolds are not erected or moved within 10 feet of power lines.
Employees are not permitted to work on scaffolds in bad weather or high winds unless a competent person has determined that it is safe to do so.
Ladders, boxes, barrels, buckets or other makeshift platforms are not used to raise work height.
Extra material is not allowed to build up on scaffold platforms.
Scaffolds should not be loaded with more weight than they were designed to support.
Ladders
Hazard: Ladders and stairways are another simple source of injuries and fatalities among construction workers.
Solutions:
Use the correct ladder for the task.
Have a competent person visually inspect a ladder before use for any defects such as:
Structural damage, split/bent side rails, broken or missing rungs/steps/cleats and missing or damaged safety devices;
Grease, dirt or other contaminants that could cause slips or falls;
Paint or stickers (except warning labels) that could hide possible defects
Make sure that ladders are long enough to safely reach the work area.
Mark or tag ("Do Not Use") damaged or defective ladders for repair or replacement, or destroy them immediately.
Never load ladders beyond the maximum intended load or beyond the manufacturer's rated capacity.
Be sure the load rating can support the weight of the user, including materials and tools.
Avoid using ladders with metallic components near electrical work and overhead power lines.
Stairways
Hazard: Slips, trips and falls on stairways.
Solutions:
Stairway treads and walkways must be free of dangerous objects, debris and materials.
Slippery conditions on stairways and walkways must be corrected immediately.
Make sure that treads cover the entire step and landing.
Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches must have at least one handrail.
“Tool Box Talks”
On-site Safety Meetings at the beginning of each day are commonly referred to as “Tool Box Talks.” These are vital in order to keep safety “top of mind presence” while on the job-site. One common exercise is to have every employee that is a part of the meeting write a “safety practice” and turn it in to the foreman before they leave the meeting with Different work conditions and tasks required to be updated as needed.
Electrical Safety
Work on new and existing energized (hot) electrical circuits is prohibited until all power is shut off and grounds are attached.
An effective Lockout/Tagout system is in place.
Frayed, damaged or worn electrical cords or cables are promptly replaced.
All extension cords have grounding prongs.
Protect flexible cords and cables from damage. Sharp corners and projections should be avoided.
Use extension cord sets used with portable electric tools and appliances that are the three-wire type and designed for hard or extra-hard service. (Look for some of the following letters imprinted on the casing: S, ST, SO, STO.)
All electrical tools and equipment are maintained in safe condition and checked regularly for defects and taken out of service if a defect is found.
Do not bypass any protective system or device designed to protect employees from contact with electrical energy.
Overhead electrical power lines are located and identified.
Ensure that ladders, scaffolds, equipment or materials never come within 10 feet of electrical power lines.
All electrical tools must be properly grounded unless they are of the double insulated type.
Multiple plug adapters are prohibited.
