The Alaska Contractor - Spring 2011 - Keep Trees

AK Safety
PLUS SAFETY REPORT
Walking and
working surfaces
Construction sites can have many
hazards, ranging from debris,
tools and materials underfoot
to unguarded wall and fl oor openings,
stairs, ladders and uneven surfaces.
Falls are the single largest cause of
injuries in the construction trades, but
falls from height are only part of the
problem. Slips, trips and falls cause 15
to 20 percent of all accidental deaths.
There are more than 3,500 lost time
injuries as a result of slips and falls.
Even an ordinary act such walking can
be dangerous; more than 20 fatalities
per year are reported to OSHA.
OSHA is seeking to fi nalize the
Proposed Rule on Walking/Working
Surfaces and Personal Protective
Equipment (Fall Protection Systems).
The current regulations apply only
to construction and maritime industries;
new regulations would extend
these provisions to all general industry
workers. The proposed rules would
also allow OSHA to fi ne employers
“who jeopardize their workers’ safety
and lives by climbing ladders without
proper fall protection.” The proposed
regulations would also restrict
employers from providing outdated
and dangerous fall protection equipment
such as lanyards and body belts
that are currently allowed (but not
recommended).
The fi rst step in your hazard recognition
and injury prevention program
is to make sure that the behaviors
and actions of your workers are safe.
Because all construction sites are
dynamic—conditions are changing
daily, hourly and sometimes even
more often—it is critical to be sure
that workers are focused and taking
personal responsibility for safety.
Ensure that all workers wear work
boots with slip resistant soles.
Have everyone keep eyes and mind
on task, stay out of the line of fi re and
maintain balance, traction and grip.
These advanced safety skills can be
taught to workers. While they seem
like common sense, these four errors
lead to 95 percent of all injuries.
Ensure that workers are using safe
work practices—e.g. avoiding carrying
loads that prevent them from seeing
obstructions or spills.
Have everyone cover or guard fl oor
holes as soon as they are created.
Use a fall prevention (e.g. guard
rails) or protection (fall arrest device)
system if workers are exposed to a fall
of 6 feet or more.
Survey the work site prior to start
of work, and continually throughout
By Chris Ross, CSP, CPLP,
President, The Engagement Effect
the day to identify and guard any
openings or holes.
Housekeeping is another major
area to tackle in work-site injury
prevention. The condition and level of
housekeeping on a job site tells a lot
about the project. A neat, orderly and
well-maintained site is usually more
productive, organized and is certainly
much safer.
The following checklist should
be used on a regular basis to asses
and control construction work-site
hazards:
Housekeeping
• Is there a documented, functioning
housekeeping program in place?
• Is the work site clean, sanitary and
orderly?
• Are all work surfaces kept dry or
are appropriate means taken to
assure the surfaces are slip-resistant?
Are spills cleaned quickly?
• Is scrap, debris and waste stored
safely and removed from the work
site properly?
• Is every fl oor, working place and
passageway shall be kept free
from protruding nails, splinters,
holes or loose boards to the extent
possible?
Walkways and working surfaces
• Are changes of direction or elevation
readily identifi able?
• Are aisles or walkways that
pass near moving or operating
machinery, welding operations
or similar operations arranged so
employees will not be subjected to
potential hazards?
• Is adequate headroom provided
for the entire length of any aisle or
walkway?
38 The Alaska conTrAcTor Spring 2011