Safety

With the start of summer and increased temperatures it is important to know what you can do to reduce the risk of a heat related illness and what to do if one of these types of situation was to occur.  Heat related illnesses are progressive conditions caused by overexposure to heat.  If they are recognized in the early stages they can usually be reversed.  If they are not caught early, they may progress to life threatening conditions.

Measures to Prevent Heat Stress`1q2`

• Engineering controls include general ventilation, personal cooling devices or protective clothing.
• Work practice controls include drinking plenty of fluids.  It is recommended that you drink one glass of water (8 ounces) every 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the heat and humidity.
• Alternating work and rest periods with more rest periods in cool areas can help workers avoid heat stress.  If possible, heavy work should be scheduled during the cooler part of the day.
• Acclimatization to the heat through short exposures followed by longer periods of work in the hot environment can reduce heat stress.
• Read medication labels to know how to cause the body to react to the sun and heat.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs, they can increase the effects of heat.
• Employees shall be educated so they are aware of the need to replace fluids and salt lost through sweat and can recognize dehydration, exhaustion, fainting, heat cramps, salt deficiency, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Types of Heat Illness

Heat Cramps – Are severe muscle spasms that often begin suddenly in the hands, calves or feet they are painful and disabling.  The muscles become hard, tense and difficult to relax.  They are caused by salt depletion as sweat losses are replaced by water alone.  Heat cramps result from over exertion and heavy sweating.

Heat Exhaustion – Causes excessive fluid loss form heavy sweating, leading to increased fatigue, weakness, anxiety, drenching sweats, low blood pressure, faintness and sometimes collapse.  Heat exhaustion results from prolonged exposure to extreme heat for many hours.  The over heating is due to the electrolytic fluid loss that reduces blood volume, which lowers blood pressure and the pulse.

Heat Stroke – Is a life-threatening condition is caused by over exertion and over exposure to extreme heat environments.  Heat stroke is imminent when the core body temperature approaches 106 F any higher may result in coma or even death.  The symptoms are dizziness, weakness, emotional instability, nausea/vomiting, confusion, delirium, blurred vision, convulsions, collapse and unconsciousness.  The skin is flushed, hot to the touch, and at first may be covered with sweat that soon dries.  Be aware of these warning signs.

First Aid Measures

Heat Stroke:  Move the victim to a cool place.  Remove heavy clothing; light clothing can be left in place.

Immediately cool the victim by any available means.  This can be accomplished by placing ice packs at areas with abundant blood supply (neck, armpits, and groin).  Wet towels or sheets are also effective.  The cloths should be kept wet with cool water.  Continue to cool the victim until their temperature drops to 102 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent hyperthermia.  Keep the victim’s head and shoulders slightly elevated.  Seek medical attention immediately.  All heat stroke victims need hospitalization.  Care for seizures if they occur.  Do not use aspirin or acetaminophen.

Heat exhaustion:  Move the victim to a cool place.  Keep the victim lying down with legs straight and elevated 8 to 12 inches.  Cool the victim by applying cold packs or wet towels or cloths.  Fan the victim.

Give the victim cold water if he or she is fully conscious.  If no improvement is noted within 30 minutes, seek medical attention.

If any employee shows signs or symptoms of a heat related illness the Safety Department must be notified immediately.

Electricity is something we use on an everyday basis, it is something we cannot see, but can become very dangerous if not handled with the proper respect and care. Even exposure to low voltages can cause severe injury or even death.

The following are a list of safety rules to follow when working with electrical equipment:

• Inspect equipment before use to ensure it is in good working order. If the equipment is defective remove from service, tag it out and report it to your supervisor immediately. Inspect extension cords, power tools and equipment before each use for cuts, exposed wires, missing ground, etc.
• Electrical equipment shall be grounded or double insulated in accordance with subpart K.
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) shall be used at all times at the power source with electrical equipment and power tools. They shall be inspected and tested before each use.
• Extension cords shall not be run through doorways, walkways, windows or roads unless they are protected.
• A minimum clearance of 10 ft must be maintained from any uninsulated overhead power line. No work shall be conducted within 10 ft of an overhead power line unless the line has been de-energized and visibly grounded.
• Never remove the ground prong or use power tools or extension cords with the ground prong missing.
• Never overload electrical receptacles.
• Only employees trained and authorized may repair electrical equipment.
• Appropriate PPE shall be used when it is possible to come in contact with exposed electrical parts. It shall be inspected before each use and if found defective removed from service.
• Non-conductive head protection shall be worn if there is a chance of electrical burns or shock from contact with exposed energized parts. Protective eye or face equipment shall be used if the employee is exposed to electrical arcs/flashes or from flying objects due to electricity.
• All temporary lighting must have cage guards over them to prevent breakage of the bulbs and shall be hung by its insulator. If a bulb is broken the power source must be disconnect and the bulb replace immediately.
• Remember even low voltages can cause severe injury or even death.
• Never mix electricity and water.
• All temporary power panels shall have covers.
• Do not use electrical cords for hoisting or lowing power tools, materials or equipment.
• If work must be done on equipment the equipment must be deenergized and locked and tagged out. The equipment must be verified to be deenergized before work begins. If equipment is locked or tagged out no employee shall attempt to operate the machinery.

OSHA 29 CFR 1926.452(a) requires that any employee accessing a scaffold shall be trained in the nature of any electrical hazards, fall hazards and falling object hazards in the work area, the correct procedures for dealing with electrical hazards and for erecting, maintaining, and disassembling the fall protection systems and falling object protection systems being used, the proper use of the scaffold and the proper handling of materials on the scaffold, the maximum intended load and the load carrying capacities of the scaffolds used.  The five most serious scaffold hazards are falls, access, electrical, collapse and struck by.

Use

• Scaffolds and scaffold components shall not be loaded in excess of their maximum intended loads or rated capacities, whichever is less.  Be sure to know the rated capacity of the scaffold before working from it.  A four to one safety factor is required to be built into all scaffold structures.
• Shore or lean to scaffolds are prohibited.
• Scaffold and scaffold components shall be inspected for visible defects by a competent person before each work shift, and after any occurrence which could affect a scaffold’s structural integrity.  Employees shall also visually inspect the scaffold before gaining access.
• Scaffold shall not be moved horizontally while employee are on them.
• Scaffold shall not be erected, used, dismantled, altered or moved such that they or any conductive material handled on them might come closer to exposed and energized power lines than as follows:  Insulated lines less than 300 volts minimum distance 3 feet, 300 volts to 50 kv minimum distance 10 feet.  IF the voltage is higher than 50kv, additional distance is required. 
• Scaffold shall be erected, moved, dismantled or altered only under the supervision and direction of a competent person.
• Employees are prohibited from working on scaffolds covered with snow, ice or other slippery materials except as necessary for removal of such materials or during storms or high winds.
• Where swinging loads are being hoisted onto or near scaffolds such that loads might contact the scaffold, tag lines or equivalent measures to control the loads shall be used.
• Debris shall not be allowed to accumulate on platforms.  Platforms must be a minimum of 18” wide. 
• Makeshift devices, such as but not limited to boxes and barrels, or ladders shall not be used on scaffold platforms to increase the working level height of employees.
• Scaffold

Fall Protection

• Guardrail – Top rail installed between 38” and 45”, mid rail between platform and top rail.
• Personal Fall Arrest System – Anchor point must be capable of withstanding a force of 5000 lbs per man.

Falling Object Protection

• Hard hats shall always be worn on scaffolding.
• Area below scaffolding shall be barricaded and employees shall not enter or toe boards shall be installed.

Rolling Scaffold

• Height to base ratio greater than 4 to 1 stabilizers are required
• Employees shall not ride on scaffolds and wheels must be locked while in use.

General Requirement

• Base plates must be placed under each leg and secured if potential for lateral movement exists
• Wood planks shall be of 2” x 10” scaffold plank grade wood.
• The bottom rung on attachable ladder shall not be more that 24” off supporting level.

Scaffold Tagging

• Review site requirement before accessing scaffold.  Gribbins Insulation scaffold tagging is as follows:
  • Green Tag – the scaffold is 100% complete with top rail, mid rail and toe boards.  Fall protection is not required while working from scaffold, but may be required when climbing scaffold ladder.
  • Yellow Tag – the scaffold is accessible, but there are hazards.  Read the tag before getting on and follow tagging instructions.
  • Red Tag – the scaffold is not complete, DO NOT USE
• Before getting on the scaffold check the tag to ensure it has been inspected that shift by a competent person.

Ladders are a vital part of our work, but present a major safety hazard when used improperly.   A poorly maintained or improperly used ladder may collapse under the load placed on it and cause the employee to fall.  Reasons for injuries while working from ladders include but are not limited to:  user wasn’t instructed on how to inspect the ladder, ladder involved broke during use, non-self supporting ladder wasn’t secured at top or bottom, ladder didn’t extend 3 feet above landing level, the ladder involved had more than one defect or ladder was used incorrectly.

Type of ladders include:  Stepladder – A self-supporting portable ladder that is non-adjustable in length.  They shall not be longer than 20 feet, shall be equipped with spreaders of sufficient size and strength to securely hold the front and back sections open, shall not be used as straight ladders.  Single Ladder – A non-self supporting portable ladder that is non-adjustable.  They shall not be more than 30 feet   Extension Ladder – A non-self supporting portable ladder adjustable in length.  They shall not be more than 60 feet

General Requirements:

• Ladders shall be placed with a secure footing on an even surface when possible.  If this is not possible they shall be secured at the top and bottom to prevent slipping.
• Ladders shall not be used on slippery surfaces or when hands, shoes or rungs are slippery.
• Ladders placed in any location where they can be displaced by workplace activities or traffic, such as passageways, doorways or driveways, shall be secured to prevent accidental displacement and/or barricades shall be used to keep the activities or traffic away from the ladder.
• Straight ladders must extend 3 feet above the landing level and be secured.  This provides a secure point of support when stepping off the ladder or landing level.
• The ladder shall be angled at a 4 to 1 ratio.  4 feet vertical to 1 foot horizontal. 
• Ladders shall not be used to extend the working height on a scaffold.
• The top step or top of a ladder or cross bracing shall not be used as a step.
• Three points of contact shall be maintained while climbing a ladder.
• Always face the ladder and keep yourself in the center of ladder.  Belt buckle between rails.
• Make sure surfaces are dry and free of slippery substances.
• Metal ladders shall never be used near electrical equipment.
• The area around the top and bottom of the ladder or stairway shall be kept clear of materials, debris, tools, etc.
• Ladders shall not be moved, shifted or extended while occupied.
• Do not twist your body while working from a ladder, adjust your ladders location instead to gain access to work area.
• Always use handrail when ascending or descending stairways.  When carrying materials keep a clear view of the path of travel.
• Do not carry objects, materials, tools or loads up a ladder.
• If a ladder is placed in an area where a fall could propel you over a handrail, 100% fall protection is required.  A rule of thumb 1 ft back from the guardrail for every step you are up on the ladder and then add 2 ft to the distance.

Inspections

Ladders shall be inspected before each use before each use for defects and at least quarterly by a competent person.  If it is found to be defective it shall be tagged out and removed from service.  The inspection should include:  checking rungs, braces and top for bends, splits, cracks or other defects, checking locks and guides to insure they are fully functional, checking all hardware items to insure they are functional, checking all metal components for excessive rust or corrosion, checking rivets to insure head and crimp are intact, checking bolts and nuts to insure they are tight and threads are not stripped, checking crimps and swages for looseness, cracking or other conditions, checking welds for cracks or damage, checking safety shoes to insure shoes and treads are in good condition, checking rope and pulley for damage, checking leveling devices for condition and proper operation and checking hooks, grips and lashes for condition and proper operation.

It is important for you to report all incidents, accidents and near misses immediately.  All near misses, first aids, property damage incidents and injuries should be reported immediately to your foreman.  Once the foreman is aware of the incident they should contact Trevor Atherton at 812-483-8049, Rick Jordan at 812-305-1801, Kent Kafka at 317-480-6252 or Gary Plummer at 618-708-3196 within 30 minutes.  Once the Safety Department has been notified the Area Manager should also be notified.  It is to the employee’s benefit if the employee reports these incidents immediately.   The employee can receive the medical care that is required to prevent increased severity of the injury and decrease pain and suffering. 

One example of this is an eye injury, if an employee feels like they have gotten something in their eye it needs to be reported immediately so they can get the appropriate first aid care to remove the debris.  This is an incident that if not taken care of immediately can cause more damage to the eye by the employee rubbing their eye or the debris becoming imbedded in the eye.  Another example would be lacerations that could become infected.  It is imperative that the laceration be cleaned out and antibiotics applied to prevent infection.  Another reason to report is that worker’s compensation requires the employee report the incident within the work shift that the injury occurs.  Also, when incidents and near misses are reported, procedures or policies can be put in place to keep employees from being injured in the future from the same types of incidents.  If incidents are not reported immediately, disciplinary action will be taken.  Report a slip or trip to the ground even if you don’t believe you are hurt, that way if you wake up the next morning with a bad back or swollen hand, it was reported on the day it happened. 

OSHA requires each contractor to use the OSHA 300 log to record each injury or illness during the year that meet the OSHA definition of a recordable, restricted duty, or lost time accident.  At the end of the year the employer is required to fill out the OSHA 300A log.  This log is required to be posted on each jobsite from February 1^st thru April 30^th of each year.  If OSHA conducts an inspection at your site during this time frame, and the log is not onsite, it results in an OSHA violation and a fine.  As long as you have this log in the back of your safety manual you will be covered.

Report all incidents to your foreman or safety department immediately!