Toolbox Talk

As backwards as it sounds, working in the cold in many ways is similar to working in the heat: you have to be prepared.  You have to be equipment with the proper tools, clothing, and eventually get accustomed to it.  Many of you do not realize you begin preparing for this the night before, and early mornings.  You gather layers of clothes, start your vehicle, and possibly prepare a warmer meal.

Here are some reminders about staying healthy, safe, and dressing for winter weather:

• Hypothermia
  • The average body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. When your body drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit, it is considered hypothermia.
  • Signs and symptoms of hypothermia include: Shivering, exhaustion or feelings tired, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech, and drowsiness.
    • Severe hypothermia
      • Signs and Symptoms: Shivering stops, extreme confusion, decline in consciousness, a weak/irregular pulse, slow and shallow breathing, or coma that can result in death.
    • Contact plant emergency or local emergency if employee begins to have these signs and symptoms.
• Proper clothing
  • Wear three layers of loose-fitting clothing, which provides better insulation.
    • Inner layer: Wool, silk or synthetic material, to keep moisture away from the body.
    • Middle layer: Wool or synthetic to provide insulation if wet
    • Outer layer: Water and rain proof that is breathable, to ventilation.
  •  Wear the right gloves, with proper insulation to keep warm and prevent frostbite.
  •  Wear a hat to prevent heat from escaping through your head.
  •  Proper footwear that has adequate tread to prevent slips or trips, and waterproof to keep your feet dry.
•  Get plenty of rest and Eat healthy
  • Performing work in the cold, and driving to/from work burns a lot of energy.
  • Eat a meal with enough calories and nutrients which provides you with the energy needed to perform your work. Start your day with a hearty breakfast.

One of the most hazardous parts of our jobs is driving to work every day. We often talk about distracted driving when talking about driving safety, but there are so many more aspects to staying safe while on the road.

Inspect your car/ truck before you leave every day.

• • Make sure ties are inflated properly, and there is enough tread on your tires for proper traction.
  • The vehicle isn’t leaking any fluids.
  • After you start the vehicle does it make any strange noises.
  • Does your car/ truck need to have the oil changed.

If you find anything wrong with your car / truck especially if it is a company vehicle make sure you report it and get if fixed immediately.

Driving in adverse weather conditions.

• • As with any hazard if you can eliminate driving during bad weather this should always be your first choice, but if not, there are several things you can do to improve your safety on the road.
  • Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination, this means slow down.
  • Always plan for the worst. Make sure you have a blanket and some water in the car if you’re going to be traveling in remote areas during the winter.
  • Give other drivers more space on the road than you would on a normal dry sunny day.
  • If you’re driving in the fog make sure you only use your low beam head lights, hi beams will only make it more difficult to see.

Drive Defensively.

The four basic principles:

• • Seeing and being seen– Even though you may think that you’re in plain sight of everyone else on the road assume they can’t see you, this means always using your turn signals and braking in a timely manner so that someone behind or beside you have enough time to react.
  • Having heightened awareness– Constantly scan your surroundings and checking your mirrors, always be on the lookout for potential hazards in front of you, this could be for road debris, accidents, and anything that could potentially become a problem.
  • Managing your speed and space– Have a good safety cushion around your vehicle at all times so you have time to respond to hazards. Always obey posted speed limits, unless traffic or weather conditions demand that you drive slower than what’s posted. Understand how much stopping distance you’ll need based on conditions. If you are being followed too closely, get in the right lane and allow tailgaters to get past you.
  • Having the right attitude– Attitude is everything when you drive. You can’t avoid sharing the road with motorists no matter how badly you think their driving may be, and remember they may be thinking the same thing. However, if you have the right attitude about it, and follow safe driving rules yourself, at least you can control the situation.

As this year comes to an end and begin the holiday seasons, it’s important to remember to get enough rest. 2020 has been challenging for everyone and it seems like we are all tired and ready to get through the holidays, and onto a new year. However, we must remember to manage our mental and physical fatigue as best as possible to ensure that we complete our work and daily tasks safely, and without an incident.

What is fatigue?

Fatigue is the state of feeling very tired, exhausted, weary, or sleepy. Fatigue results from a lack of sleep and can be heightened from prolonged mental activity or long periods of stress or anxiety. Boring or repetitive tasks can also increase feelings of tiredness. We can also be fatigued from information overload, which has been a constant aspect of our lives in the past year. This is why we all need to look out for each other, and ensure that we do our best to manage our risk and fatigue.

How can we manage our fatigue?

Under regular circumstances, adults need 7–9 hours of sleep per night, along with opportunities for rest while awake, optimal health, and well-being. Long work hours and shift work, combined with stressful or physically demanding work, can lead to poor sleep and extreme fatigue. Fatigue increases the risk for injury and deteriorating health (infections, illnesses, and mental health disorders).

Some things that we can do while we are at work include:

•  Using a buddy system. Check in with each other to ensure everyone is coping with work hours and demands.
• Watch yourself and your coworkers for signs of fatigue — like yawning, difficulty keeping your eyes open, and difficulty concentrating. When you see something, say something to your coworkers so you can prevent workplace injuries and errors.
• Report any fatigue-related events or near misses to your foreman or safety to help prevent future incidents, injuries, and errors.
• Do not work if your fatigue threatens the safety of yourself or others. Report to a manager when you feel too tired to work safely.

Priorities we can work on outside of work:

• Make sleep a priority
• Improve the quality and quantity of your sleep; have a regular bed time routine, make sure your bedroom is dark, cool and comfortable, and seek treatment for sleep disorders
• Choose what you eat and drink carefully: eat light nutritious meals (heavy meals make you drowsy); drink plenty of water; minimize your caffeine and alcohol intake
• Learn the warning signs of fatigue and try to recognize them in yourself so that you can take a break or have a powernap
• Finally remember to continue ensuring you and your family are taking all precautions necessary to limit the spread of COVID -19 during the holidays.

What is Silica Dust and Where is it Found?

Crystalline silica is an important industrial material found abundantly in the earth’s crust. Quartz, the most common form of silica, is a component of sand, stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. Materials containing quartz are found in a wide variety of workplaces. Common industries and operation where crystalline silica is found include: construction, glass products, concrete products, foundries, cut stone products, fire-proofing, abrasive blasting, and many more. Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica occurs when cutting, sawing, drilling or abrading occurs on materials that contain crystalline silica such as crushing of concrete, sweeping, mixing, or pouring of materials. When controls are not in place during any of these operations, they could release large amounts of crystalline silica, which has very fine particles that can travel deep into your lungs.

Health Effects and Illnesses Caused by Silica Dust

Breathing in these very small (“respirable”) crystalline silica particles, can cause multiple diseases, including silicosis, an incurable lung disease that leads to disability and death. Respirable crystalline silica also causes lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and kidney disease. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica is related to the development of autoimmune disorders and cardiovascular impairment. These occupational diseases are life-altering and debilitating disorders that annually affect thousands of workers across the United States

How do we protect ourselves from Crystalline Silica?

The most recent ruling by OSHA requires employers to protect workers from exposure to Silica with their standard 1926.1153. The standard provides flexible alternatives, which OSHA expects will be especially useful for small employers. Employers can either use the control methods laid out in Table 1 of the construction standard, or they can measure workers’ exposure to silica and independently decide which dust controls work best to limit exposures to the PEL in their workplaces.

Regardless of which exposure control method is used, all construction employers covered by the standard are required to:

• Establish and implement a written exposure control plan that identifies tasks that involve exposure and methods used to protect workers, including procedures to restrict access to work areas where high exposures may occur.
• Restrict housekeeping practices that expose workers to silica where feasible alternatives are available.
• Offer medical exams-including chest X-rays and lung function tests-every three years for workers who are required by the standard to wear a respirator for 30 or more days per year.
• Train workers on work operations that result in silica exposure and ways to limit exposure.
• Keep records of exposure measurements, objective data, and medical exams.

Some Simpler ways to make this happen are:

• Eliminate the source of the dust whether that is through engineering controls or a change in work processes.
• Use collection or vacuum systems to collect dust at the point of operation.
• Use wet methods when cutting or breaking any concrete or similar materials.
• Use water as a means of suppression for the dust on roadways or in work areas.
• Use proper respirators when engineering controls are not enough to protect you.