Monthly Archives: March 2019

General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

4 Important Reasons for having a Fire Extinguisher in the Home

Did you know that there’s been 355,400 home fires between 2012 and 2016? These fires caused 11,670   injuries, 2,560 deaths, and $6.5 billion in damages. Only 75% of homes own a fire extinguisher, that when used correctly, could make the difference between a small flare-up or extensive damage and injuries.

Now, let’s look at 4 important reasons for having a fire extinguisher in the home.

1. Cooking Fires are a Large Cause of Injuries
About 65% of home fires were from home cooking. More than half of cooking fire injuries happened when people tried to fight the fire themselves.

The type of fire extinguisher for the kitchen are either a combined A-B-C Class, or a specific one like K Class for grease and oil fires. These are best stored on a wall or under the sink for easy and quick access. Don’t mount it next to the stove, you don’t want to reach through the flames to grab it.

2. The Garage is Where the Majority of Fires Start
The garage can hold some pretty flammable material – paint, gasoline, solvents and other hazardous items. For many homes the garage is where the washer and dryer are located as well. Over 93% of home fires started in the garage and accountsfor an average of 30 deaths a year and are the most destructive.

The best type of extinguisher to keep in the garage is again a combination A-B-C class. Get the largest size you can handle easily to help extinguish larger fires or in a bigger space. Remember to store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources.

3. You need Clear Escape Routes
You and your family should have an escape route plan in place for any time there’s a fire.  It’s best to have several alternate routes in case of fire obstruction.

Next, you should have one extinguisher on each floor of your home to help clear your escape path. Remember to keep the extinguisher free of clutter, you don’t want to be moving stuff in order to reach it. Don’t try and fight large spreading fires – a good rule of thumb is if the fire is taller than you, it’s best to get out another way.

4. Sources of Heat are High Risk Areas
What do I mean by “sources of heat”? Here’s a few:
⦁ Fireplace
⦁ Wood or Pellet stove
⦁ Laundry room (dryer)
⦁ Electrical Panels
⦁ Furnace
The combination of electrical parts and heat is a sure opportunity of a fire happening. Again, do not store them right next to the heat source, at least 30 feet away is a good gauge for safety.

Conclusion
Everyone should learn how to use a fire extinguisher properly and efficiently, otherwise you defeat the purpose of owning one.

Remember though, these fire extinguishers work best on contained fires – a cooking pot, a wastebasket, an appliance, and such. Fires spread quickly, so if a fire is spreading quickly in your home, it’s best to get out quickly and wait for the fire department.

For more information on fire extinguishers or fire safety contact us – All Florida Fire Equipment.

About the Author:
Tracy Stine is a freelance writer, an online sign language tutor, and a disability advocate.

For more information on fire extinguishers or fire safety contact – All Florida Fire Equipment.
Fall Safety

Ensuring Tree Care & Landscape Worker Safety

Tree care and landscaping workers are especially vulnerable to the Fatal Four, also known as construction’s four deadliest hazards. There are five main safety considerations they have to take into account, consisting of:
⦁ Drop Zone Safety: Determining where large tree limbs can fall without risk to other workers.
⦁ Aerial Lift & Climbing Safety: Ensuring aerial lifts, scaffolding, and ladders are secure and durable, as well as situated well away from power lines.
⦁ Chipper Safety: Using wood chippers efficiently so as to avoid being struck by materials thrown from the machine, or getting body parts caught in the feed.
⦁ Traffic Control Safety: Effectively setting up a traffic barrier to redirect vehicles on the road and inform them of work up ahead.

There are various ways landscape and tree care workers can address these safety standards and ensure they are put into place.

Drop Zone Safety

Trimming trees leads to falling tree branches and limbs. Even smaller branches have the ability of seriously injuring workers on the ground at the high speeds they fall. For this reason, establishing a “drop zone” essential. This refers to an area designated for falling tree limbs, which other workers should not cross into.

It can be difficult to establish an accurate drop zone radius, since different sized tree limbs fall at different angles. For this reason, OSHA recommends establishing a work area equivalent to two tree lengths of the tree being trimmed or felled.

Drop zones should be appropriately demarcated. This is done with cones, caution barrier tape, and reflectors if the work is being done in low-visibility weather. Additionally, all workers on the site should be equipped with hard hats and eye protection.

Most importantly, however, is that workers establish an effective communication system amongst themselves. Tree cutters should issue verbal cues to notify ground workers of an upcoming drop. These verbal cues can include “stand clear” or “incoming”. In turn, the tree cutter should wait to receive an affirmative cue from the ground workers below, notifying them that they’re all clear.

Aerial Lift & Climbing Safety

Falls are the deadliest work site hazard. In 2017, they accounted for 39.2% of all construction deaths. That’s why it’s important for scaffolding, ladders, and aerial lifts to be secure prior to use. Aerial lift buckets should be carefully inspected and tested, as tip overs can otherwise occur.

Similarly, ladders and scaffolding should be inspected. Scaffolds should have stable planks, guard rails, and durable cross bracing. Meanwhile, ladders should be kept dry, positioned at a reliable angle, and supported/supervised by a worker at the bottom.

Workers that are aloft should also be equipped with body harnesses at all times, so that they remain attached to the aerial lift bucket and will be aided even in the event of a slip. They should also not reach too far past the edge of the bucket, but rather ask the aerial lift operator to readjust their positioning.

Aerial lifts and climbing devices also pose electrocution risks. They should always be kept away from power lines, particularly if they are made of metal or aluminum. There should be at least 10 feet between power lines and aerial equipment at all times.

Chipper Safety

With proper distance and equipment, placing wood and other organic material into a chipper is fairly safe. However, dangers can arise when workers are manually pushing material into the chipper or leaning too far toward it.

Workers should stand off to the side when inserting material into the wood chipper. Additionally, they should always wear tight-fitting clothing so as to avoid getting caught in the chipper. Hard hats and safety googles should also be worn, as chippers have the tendency to spit small fragments back out at high speeds.

Lastly, the end of the tree or branch that was cut should be fed first into the chipper. This will prevent jams and material kickback.

Traffic Control Safety

Most tree care and landscape workers work near roads and thoroughfares. To avoid being struck by moving vehicles, traffic zones should be established. Cones, barricades, and flaggers should be used to redirect vehicles away from the work site.

In areas of low-visibility, flaggers should always wear reflective vests. Pedestrians should also be reminded to keep a safe distance from falling tree branches. At night, lights should be used to increase the visibility of the work site. All of these precautions are just as important for the safety of workers as for the safety of motorists.

With the above four safety considerations in mind, tree care and landscape workers can significantly decrease the likelihood of injuries and fatalities on the work site. Not only are the solutions to these problems fairly simple, but they rely more on effective communication than anything else. Cooperation and collaboration are crucial to the success and safety of workers in this industry.

Ellie Batchiyska is a writer for Scaffold Store, a trusted scaffold supplier for home renovators and contractors.
General Safety Issues

How to Improve Transport Efficiency – 5 Truck Safety Tips

Purchased Image (Deposit Photos)
    Australia’s transport industry is one of the most important to our economy.
    But for it to operate at its peak, efficiency and truck safety are priorities.
    Although fatal truck crashes  have reduced in recent times, improving truck safety is still an important goal. Whether you’re an everyday road user, heavy vehicle driver or transport company, here’s what you can do to boost road safety.
    Product breakthroughs such as air tabs, automation and fuel saving technologies can increase driver safety and truck performance. Air tabs, for example, can minimise driver fatigue, reduce fuel consumption and increase truck stability.
    Fleet performance and driver safety can also be improved through truck driving training  and fuel saving initiatives. Practice responsible driving, like slowing down and using cruise control, invest in your truck’s aerodynamics and be conscious of traffic conditions to encourage better safety on the roads. Performance can also be logged using Electronic Logging Devices (ELD).
    2. Follow Driver Fatigue Laws

    Driver behaviour and fatigue should be properly managed to comply with the latest laws in your state. Fatigue management should include work and rest requirements, how to manage work and rest times, electronic work diary records and top safety hazards for the road transport industry. Drivers may also participate in fatigue monitoring trials or risk management training.
    To be exempted from any legislation, truck drivers need to apply for a permit or notice. This can be done through The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR). However, there is a strict approval criteria for such applications.
    3. Take Advantage of Vehicle Telematics

      Such data provides drivers and fleet companies with valuable information about the safety of their trucks, including preventative maintenance issues. It’s also effective for programming the best and most efficient route for drivers to take which can save time and helps reduce driving hours.
    4. Truck Safety Laws and Road Transport Policies

      There are safety laws and transport policies in place to support heavy vehicle road safety in every state.
    Truck drivers and transport companies need to keep their fingers on the pulse when it comes to vehicle classes and safety, maximum driving hours, height clearances and limits, driving tired and wearing seatbelts. Other initiatives in place to assist drivers in abiding by the latest laws include truck stops and rest areas, rollover prevention programs and bus and truck driver handbooks with the latest road safety requirements for drivers.
    5. Car Drivers and Pedestrians Need to be Educated Too

      It’s not only up to truck drivers and the transport industry to be educated, other drivers and pedestrians must also be truck aware.
    Truck drivers are less likely to see you and because of their weight and size, heavy vehicles can’t stop as quickly as cars. Drivers should avoid merging in front of trucks and make sure the driver can see you before you pull out in front of them as trucks have larger blind spots. If you’re on a bike, avoid lane filtering near trucks, make eye contact so they can see you, don’t pass on the inside of the truck to turn and avoid overtaking when they’re turning.
    Keeping up-to-date with safety shouldn’t be challenging. Heavy vehicle drivers, the transport industry and everyday members of the public can all benefit from improving transport efficiency and truck safety.
    Author Bio 
    This article is written by Jayde Ferguson, who recommends Bee Jays Canvas – specialised manufacturers of canvass products designed to assist with truck safety. You can catch her on LinkedIn.
General Safety Issues

Material Handling Safety Tips that Increase Productivity

Written by Liam Smith

When it comes to the issue of safety, most entrepreneurs focus on its effect on the wellbeing of their employees or the fear of a potential lawsuit that would come from an accident. What they fail to realize is the fact that safety tips and productivity tips end up being one and the same. With that in mind and without further ado, here are seven reasons why this is usually the case.

  • Ensuring that the load is secure

This simple safety tip is there to ensure that there’s no fall risk when it comes to materials that you’re handling, however, it also comes with a hidden productivity perk, as well. You see, if the material falls down to ground you’ll have to pick it back up and chances are that this won’t be as easy. Usually, materials come in containers or are on pallets that are supposed to make their picking up (for instance, with a lift fork) a lot easier. Picking it up from the ground may take more work and more time, thus causing a decline in productivity. Also, there’s the risk of damaging the material in question which causes a massive problem on its own. Therefore, the security of the load makes all the difference.

  • Compare the weight of the cargo to the carrying capacity of the equipment

One of the biggest losses of productivity comes from your plans to cut corners. In theory, the more you pack on the forklift, tow tug or a trolley, the quicker you’ll get done, however, what happens if the equipment crumbles under all that burden. In that case, you would either have to repair it or replace it, both of which take time and money. Other than this, the risk of a serious injury drastically increases this way, which means that, once again, safety and productivity go hand in hand.

  • The safest speed

Previously, we discussed the urge to wrap things up as quickly as possible. Now, there are scenarios in which this manifests in overburdening the carrying equipment and those in which people speed up in order to get things done. Rushing is one of the essential ingredients in a recipe for disaster. Even on foot, a person is less stable, less focused and less careful when they’re in a rush. Imagine just how much more dangerous it all is when a person is behind dangerous machinery.

  • Restricting access to hazardous materials

Another tip you need to keep in mind is that restricting access to some parts of your production facility with the help of useful safety barriers may also influence productivity. First of all, it creates optimal pathways within the complex, meaning that there’s no loss in downtime caused by an inefficient itinerary. Second, it eliminates the risk of an injury in a scenario where such a thing would increase with proximity to poorly stacked, mishandled or overall loosely fastened materials. Finally, it reduces the chance that someone who is undertrained will tamper with items that should be off-limits to them. Sure, this barrier is not an impassable obstacle yet it might dissuade your staff from accessing restricted areas.

  • Making sure that the person is trained for the job

Perhaps the most important safety/productivity tip of them all is to ensure that the person is trained for the job at hand. You see, an employee who failed to undergo a basic training lacks the knowledge to handle these materials properly. This means that other than being a risk for themselves and others, they also lack the knowledge on how to handle these materials with the greatest efficiency. By increasing the efforts that you put into your training process, you can make your workplace more efficient as well as make sure that the place is a lot safer for work.

  • Clear visibility

One of the main reasons why accidents happen is due to the limited field of vision of the person operating the machinery/handling the materials. The problem with this lies in the fact that a person might also injure others and cause damage to your assets. This is why you need to carefully examine the entire material-handling process and create an ideal scenario in which this leads to a productivity increase. Overall, what you need to do is make sure that the person operating the equipment has clear visibility of their surroundings. The way in which this affects productivity is more than obvious.

  • Make sure you leave everything in its place

The last thing you need to understand is the fact that if everything is not in its place it’s A) harder for you to find it and B) a safety risk. Think about it, ideally, everyone would look where they’re going all the time but chances are that people will sometimes govern themselves by their instinct and act as if they know where everything is, even when not watching. While this is unsafe, it’s something that you’ll never be able to completely root out.

In conclusion

    At the end of the day, an injury will also cause an employee to be absent from work, which will cause a substitute to fill in for them. Keep in mind that this substitute is, most likely, not skilled and experienced enough for the job at hand, which causes additional problems further down the line. Overall, handling materials in a safe and proper way are the optimal course both when it comes to safety and productivity.

Author Bio 

Liam Smith is a young and aspiring Australian blogger with a passion for everything related to home, and offline business He has a B.Sc. in Interior design and is an avid reader.
https://twitter.com/LiamSmith2034
https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamsmith2034

General Safety Issues

Workplace Hazards: What to Look For and How to Mitigate Them

Ian Brough, Managing Director at Building Interiors highlights some of the potential risks and how businesses can better protect employees

If you look around your office right now, can you identify any hazards? If you answered no, you are no different to the majority of employers and employees.

In reality, however, all work spaces have the potential to present risks to health and safety, from slips and trips to fire hazards and even the computers you work at.

Below, I highlight some of the main threats to employers and employees, how you can spot them and what you can do to improve workplace safety.

1) Slips and trips

This is one of the most common factors in workplace injuries and they are usually caused by human error. Some of the things that cause slips and trips include:
  • WW
  • Floors left wet from cleaning
  • Loose doormats, rugs and carpets
  • Electrical cables
  • Uneven surfaces
  • Objects left in doorways
To overcome these hazards, consider employing cleaners out of work hours or, if not possible, ensure they leave out “wet floor” signs to warn employees.

Doormats, rugs and carpets must be secure and trailing electrical cables tied together and, if crossing over a doorway, placed under a tidy.

Uneven surfaces should be clearly marked, and a bit of good housekeeping ensures that items are not left in doorways or places where they present a trip hazard.

2) Fire safety

A fire inside any business can be catastrophic, let alone deadly, so it is important to ensure that you have the correct safety procedures in place.

These are some of the key hazards to be aware of:
  • Overheated electrical equipment
  • Gas hobs, matches and lighters
  • Smoking
  • Sources of fuel (paper, packaging, etc)
The most effective way of preventing electrical equipment from overheating is to ensure that is it turned off at the end of the day. This also helps your business be more energy efficient.

Be mindful of gas hobs being left on and ensure that matches and lighters are stored safely and are not left near flammable materials.
Smoking should be banned from inside any workspace and, again, good housekeeping ensures that sources of fuel (paper, cardboard, packaging) are properly disposed of.

It goes without saying that fire exits should not be blocked at any time, and you should hold regular drills to ensure employees know how to evacuate the building in the event of fire.

3) Electrical hazards

Electricity presents one of the greatest risks to employees, and while you may not work with it directly the chances are the equipment you need to carry out your job is powered by it.

To ensure employees are protected, be mindful of the following:
  • Damaged cables
  • Overloaded sockets
  • Electrical equipment near water
  • Equipment being used incorrectly
Of course, any office space in the UK should undertake regular portable appliance testing (PAT) to ensure that all electrical equipment is safe to use.

4) Display screen equipment
Falls, fires and electrical faults may seem like common health and safety issues, but a less obvious workplace hazard is the computers, smartphones and screens used by staff.

Potential issues presented by employees spending excessive amounts of time working from screens include:
  • Repetitive movement
  • Screen glare
  • Poor posture
  • Long periods of inactivity
To overcome this, it is important to educate employees on good posture and how to set up their desk, chair and computer so that they adopt the best position.

Employees should also be allowed to take regular breaks and perhaps even encourage staff to exercise from their desks.
These are just some of the main workplace hazards, but by undertaking the solutions suggested above you can greatly mitigate risks to employees.
General Safety Issues

10 Essential Restaurant Safety Tips for Food Service Workers

Hospitality workers dedicate their lives to the comfort and convenience of their patrons. As a result, however, this often means sacrificing their own health and safety. Despite the seemingly sheltered work of restaurant employees, there are countless hazards to look out for in the food service industry.

Unlike with construction, restaurant workers are required to account for their own safety, as well as the safety of the people they’re serving. In restaurants, safety has as much to do with physical hazards as illness-related ones. That’s why diligence and proper training are absolutely essential in the food service industry.

There are ten approaches to ensuring a well-oiled and well-maintained restaurant environment.

Wear the right attire

The number of ways one can injure themselves in a restaurant are countless. Burns, cuts, and slips occur on a regular basis in food service – whether your work is in the kitchen or in the front of the house. For this reason, all restaurant workers should wear non-slip shoes at all times. Spills occur far too regularly.

Non-slip shoes should be closed toe. Falling knives and spraying oil can pose a serious danger. Meanwhile, kitchen staff should wear “cut gloves”, an industry coined term for cut-resistant gloves, and some sort of eyewear to prevent against splashes of oil or grease.

Get your contamination education

Microbes love to travel, and contaminated restaurant surfaces are one of the leading causes of foodborne illness. It’s crucial that you clean food prep surfaces regularly, and that surfaces used for meat and poultry are kept separate from those used for produce.

Employees should be aware of how to avoid being the instigators of food-borne illness. For this reason, kitchen employees should wear hairnets and latex gloves when preparing and cooking food. Furthermore, management should enforce hand-washing between activities, before and after breaks, after using the restroom, and so on.

Take fire safety precautions

It’s no surprise that kitchens attract grease fires. While a fire alarm and sprinkler system are useful, a fire suppression system is the best solution. This is a system that connects the range hood and gas line, so that the fuel source is immediately cut in the event that the system is tripped.

Furthermore, all staff members should be aware of the nearest fire extinguishers and emergency exits. Since they will be responsible for the well-being of the customers also when the time comes, preparedness will be absolutely necessary.

Invest in the proper signage

Wet floors are a permanent fixture in most restaurants. Spills are commonplace and floors are regularly mopped, which means wood, tile, and linoleum surfaces become slippery. Wet floor signs will protect workers and customers against slips and falls.

Learn correct carrying techniques

Especially for servers, correct carrying techniques are important. Heavy trays can cause irreversible back and muscle strain if not carried correctly. For starters, avoid awkward postures. Many servers carry trays at shoulder height on the tips of their fingers, but this places excessive strain on your arms and back. Trays should be carried lower, about waist-level, and supported by the forearm.

Large boxes and storage containers should also be dealt with delicately, and workers should always request help from their peers when possible. Many restaurants buy food products in bulk, which come in heavy crates and boxes.

Know the limitations for young workers

The food industry is filled with minors – and while restaurant work is great experience for teens, there are limitations to what they can do. For starters, teens that are 14-15 years of age cannot cook, bake, operate cooking machinery (blenders, food processers, etc), or go into freezers and meat coolers.

Individuals under the age of 18 also are not allowed to serve alcohol, and in general should stick to serving only already prepared foods (baked goods, packaged goods) and beverages.

Understand storage & stacking standards

In general, OSHA classifies falling objects as one of the biggest workplace hazards. For this reason, heavy items in restaurant storage areas should be stored at the bottom of shelves, lightest objects on top, and most frequently used items in the middle for easy access.

Furthermore, to prevent the risk of using expired products, older products should be stored up front and newer products toward the back.

Use proper cleaning techniques

Abrasive, chemically-laden cleaners should be avoided for cleaning food prep and cooking surfaces. These kinds of cleaners often leave a chemical film that transfers to the food itself. Restaurant workers should clean surfaces with simple soap and hot water, saving chemical cleaners for floors and exteriors.

Use degreaser sprays to clean stovetops at the end of each workday, so as to lower the risk of a grease fire. For commercial ovens, baking soda and vinegar is all that’s needed. Commercial oven cleaners are toxic, and food residue must be removed to prevent build-up and fire danger.

Keep ventilation & refrigeration in check

Kitchens that quickly become hot and smoky may be suffering from poor ventilation. Poor ventilation in restaurants can cause severe health consequences in employees. Overheating and heat stroke are one major result, as OSHA recommends an optimal workplace temperature of 68-76 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum productivity.

Poor ventilation also increases the likelihood of fires, however, and a warm and humid environment only increases the growth of bacteria – and the attraction to pests. Vent hoods and functional HVAC systems are a must in restaurants, and employees should operate them at all times when cooking.

Refrigeration is also a major factor in food safety, as improperly stored raw meats and perishables can transmit diseases. In restaurants, all refrigerators should be kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal food storage.

Take the certification courses

The ServSafe food service certification course, and alcohol certification courses, are required by most restaurants of their employees. These courses go into the aforementioned points in depth, and even address additional risks you may have not thought of.

As new viruses and strains come into play, these courses keep employees updated on how to prevent their spread. Furthermore, they delve into the basics of pest control and Department of Public Health requirements for managers.

On the outside, it may not seem like restaurants carry abundant safety hazards, but they do. The dangers of improperly handled food and slippery surfaces are equally devastating, so training for all levels of food service employment (from managers to kitchen staff) is fundamental to a restaurant’s success.

Ellie Batchiyska is a writer for TIPS, an online alcohol certification program used by bartenders and servers to ensure the proper service, sale, and consumption of alcohol.
General Safety Issues, Home Safety Products

Minimising Risk to Hotel Housekeepers

Written by Lucy Atkinson

Housekeeping is often underappreciated and the role considered to be ‘entry level’, but housekeepers have one of the higher risk jobs in the hospitality sector and there are many things they need to consider while carrying out their duties.

Overlooking these risks can lead to poor training and health and safety management, leaving businesses vulnerable to the consequences of accidents in the workplace. Staff shortages and fines levied as a result of breaches of health and safety legislation are just two potential outcomes that could cause havoc within your organisation.

Hazards to Consider

Housekeepers generally perform the same tasks as we do when keeping our own houses, and perhaps that’s why we mistakenly believe housekeeping is a low risk role. However, if we look at the challenges faced by many housekeepers daily, we start to appreciate why they need a comprehensive health and safety system in place.

Listed below are some of the risks that housekeepers face each day. We’ve gone into greater detail regarding the use of chemicals, manual handling, language barriers and contamination.

  • Spillages
  • Asbestos
  • Lifts
  • Uneven surfaces
  • Working at heights
  • Vehicle movement
  • Lone working
  • Electrics
  • Violence
  • Confined spaces
  • Window safety
  • Legionella

Chemicals – cleaning requires the use of various chemicals, exposing housekeepers to the risk of chemical burns or the ill-effects of exposure to harmful fumes. Furthermore, in a hospitality environment bathrooms are rarely well ventilated, with little in the way of fresh airflow. As such, products must be selected with care to ensure the best standards of hygiene whilst mitigating risk. Housekeepers should have the chemicals safety data sheet to hand to ensure they have access to relevant information regarding proper use, and should be equipped with the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). They should also have access to up-to-date emergency contacts and procedures.

Manual handling – with many hotels now switching to heavier mattresses, each bed change is one closer to an injury, as each corner of a mattress must be lifted to change a sheet or tuck in a cover. Housekeepers must receive proper manual handling training to prevent injury, as such injuries can leave hotels short-staffed in an area where staffing levels are critical. Manual handling also comes into play when cleaning detached accommodation with stairs, where cleaning equipment may need to be carried between rooms.

Language barriers – employers are now engaging a more diverse workforce and are attracting many different nationalities. This leaves room for planned methods to get lost in translation. When employees move away from company procedures, the risk of an accident or incident increases significantly. To overcome language barriers employers must put in place a universal system, for example using colour coding equipment, adopting pictograms and showing training videos to employees. Software solutions often provide translation tools to increase understanding in the workplace for all staff.

Contamination – we don’t like to think about it but a housekeeper may be exposed to various bodily fluids whilst cleaning bathrooms and bedrooms, and they should be properly trained to observe appropriate handwashing techniques and ensure that they use gloves when required.

It’s the Law!

Workplace safety in developed nations such as the United States, Canada, and much of the European Union is more deep-rooted than in other regions of the world. The rest of the world can be divided into three additional categories:

  • Developing nations
  • Third World nations
  • Those countries that have regions or companies that span all three categories

Health and safety laws of some kind are in place in most countries, and these laws typically set out a framework for the duty of care which employers have towards employees and members of the public, and employees have to themselves and to each other.

The common global approach to management of health and safety at work frequently adopts the following steps to review workplace risks:

  • Step 1: Identify the hazards
  • Step 2: Decide who might be harmed and how
  • Step 3: Evaluate the risks and decide on control measures
  • Step 4: Record your findings
  • Step 5: Review your assessment and update as and when necessary

Using Risk Assessments

Engage your staff, involve them, empower them! Unfortunately, too many people waste hours creating and maintaining perfectly compliant risk assessments before putting them back in a folder to sit and wait until the next review date.

Your employees need to have seen and understood the risk assessments you have in place. They need to be able to access the control measures the risk assessment identifies for them, whether that’s a one-week training course in Dubai or providing them with access to a pair of latex gloves. Creating a risk assessment document alone will not protect you should your methods come under scrutiny by your health and safety governing bodies.

More Staff Training

In most developed countries an employer has a legal duty to provide a safe working environment for their employees, and they are responsible for ensuring that each staff member is adequately trained to carry out their role in a safe and competent manner.  The best way to manage risks within the workplace will always be effective training; ensuring employees know what they are supposed to be doing, how they should be doing it and who to inform if there is an issue. Trained staff are more efficient and consistent, they protect your brand by adhering to standards and they are less likely to have an accident in the workplace.  Evidence shows that having well-trained staff not only increases performance but also decreases staff attrition by empowering staff and making them feel valued.

Introducing a Competent Person (CP)

Nominate people as CPs for housekeepers to go to if they are unsure about something, and ensure your CPs are frequently trained and have access to tools and information to keep their knowledge current. Encourage your staff to give and receive feedback on methods and hazards in the workplace. Have an anonymous comments box and encourage staff to report anything that they feel could compromise safety.

Keep on Top of It!

Create deadlines and expiry dates, assign teams to review relevant documents and have one competent person sign off documents before distributing them to your team – consider using software to manage your health and safety, so you don’t have to manually manage your H&S updates. It may cost money, however it’s very likely that whichever solution you pick, it will cost less than any settlement of fine for breaches of health and safety regulations.

Think, Plan, Action

With forethought and careful planning you can turn housekeeping into a low-risk profession. If you don’t adopt this approach you risk facing the consequences of accidents in the workplace, which can include heavy fines, potentially damaging media coverage and potentially even the closure of your business.

Author Bio: 

Lucy Atkinson is a Business Support Analyst at CRAMS, where she is able to apply her passion for positive client and team engagement. A keen blogger through her teens, Lucy is delighted to now be able to blog professionally and considers this one of her favourite parts of her role.

CRAMS (Comprehensive Risk Assessed Method Statements), is a fully inclusive, cloud-based software solution for all things health and safety. It is the only solution to link risk assessed method statements to your people, places, events and training, providing a fully auditable and protective solution. The software also tracks staff training course completion and provides access to over 50 certified e-learning courses at no extra charge! CRAMS clients have a better H&S culture within the workplace, having been given the tools to be proactive in improving their own safety.

General Safety Issues

Most Important OSHA Safety Guidelines on a Construction Site

Written by Michael Tobias

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) publishes and enforces standards to ensure safety and health in the workplace. OSHA has existed since 1970, and it is part of the US Department of Labor. The organization also conducts training and public outreach, to implement workplace safety standards more effectively.

 

The construction industry involves work at height, direct exposure to weather conditions, and heavy equipment. Considering these conditions, it should come as no surprise that construction is among the business sectors with the most accidents.

 

When risk management is given high priority in construction administration, the chance of workplace accidents is reduced. According to OSHA, most workplace accidents in the construction industry involve the risk factors listed below.
  • Falls
  • Excavation collapses
  • Electrical accidents, such as electric shock or arc flash
  • Lack of personal protection equipment, or incorrect use
  • Accidents caused by machinery, especially cranes and forklifts
This article provides an overview of several construction hazards, along with OSHA recommendations to manage them. The content is informative, and not intended to be used instead of the corresponding OSHA standards.

 

Fall Prevention

 

Falls can be considered the main workplace risk in construction, accounting for the largest share of injuries and fatalities reported each year by OSHA. Having reliable work platforms is critical to prevent falls, combined with additional safety measures such as body harnesses.

 

Many falls in construction sites are related with improper use of scaffolding and ladders, and OSHA provides the following recommendations when working with them:
  • Scaffolds must be capable of bearing their own weight plus four times the intended load, without displacement or deformation. They must also be assembled on a stable surface, avoiding unreliable supports like bricks or barrels.
  • Scaffolds must not be used if any of their safety accessories are missing, and damaged parts should be replaced immediately. If synthetic or natural ropes are used, they must be kept away from heat sources.
  • In general, scaffolds should only be handled under the supervision of a qualified person, and they should never be used less than 10 feet away from power lines.
  • Ladders must have an adequate length for the task and should not be used under any circumstances if they are damaged or unstable.
  • The load bearing capacity of ladders must never be exceeded, and the use of metallic ladders should be avoided close to live conductors or power lines.
Partially built stairways can also be dangerous for construction personnel. The risk of falls is increased when stairs are wet or covered with debris, and also if their handrails have not been installed yet.

 

Trench Collapse Prevention

 

Material collapse is the main risk when working in excavations or trenches, since it can bury construction workers and equipment. OSHA provides several safety guidelines to prevents accidents of this type:
  • Trenches at least 5 feet deep must have a protective system, unless the excavation work is being performed on stable rock.
    If the trench depth is at least 20 feet, the protective system must follow be designed by a registered professional engineer.
  • Construction workers should never enter an unprotected trench.
    Personnel inside the trench must always have an exit available less than 25 feet away.
  • OSHA specifies a minimum slope angle for each soil material.

Materials and equipment should never be placed at the edge of an excavation, since they can cause an accident by falling into the trench.

Preventing Electric Shock and Arc Flashes

When working with electricity at a construction site, there are two main hazards. Energized conductors represent a risk of electric shock by themselves, and arc flashes can also cause injuries due to the force of the explosion. To prevent these types of accidents, OSHA provides the following recommendations:

  • Using Lockout/Tagout properly and avoiding any work that involves live conductors or energized equipment parts.
  • Technical personnel should never use electrical cords that are damaged, or without a grounding prong. Tools and equipment that show electrical faults should be removed from service and repaired or replaced.
  • Temporary power supplies should be clearly indicated, and multiple plug adapters should be avoided.
As previously mentioned, construction equipment and materials should never be placed or used less than 10 feet away from power lines. Note that OSHA specifies even greater clearances as the rated voltage of power lines increases.

 

Adequate Use of Personal Protection Equipment

 

Many accidents in construction sites can be prevented with personal protection equipment. Hard hats should be used at all times, since the risk of falling objects or bumping into fixed objects is present in all project sites. Hard hats should be checked at regular intervals, and replaced if they can no longer offer protection due to damage.

 

Hard hats should be complemented with safety footwear, and personnel should also wear adequate gloves and face protection when required for a specific task. High-visibility clothing should also be worn, so that construction workers can be easily distinguished from the background.

 

Operating Heavy Equipment Safely

 

Heavy equipment can easily injure construction workers due to its sheer weight, and most equipment accidents are associated with cranes and forklifts, according to OSHA.

 

Cranes should only be operated by qualified personnel, staying away from power lines at all times. A crane should never exceed its rated load capacity, and a load chart should be displayed where it can be easily seen by the operator. Crane operation should adhere to strict guidelines, and construction workers must stay outside of the swing radius when the crane is operating.

 

Forklifts may seem less threatening than cranes due to their compact size, but they also cause many accidents. Forklifts should only be used by qualified operators and for project activities, never for stunts or playing. The load should never exceed the rated capacity, and the vehicle should not be modified in ways that are not approved by the manufacturer. Forklifts should always use adequate battery chargers, avoiding improvised connections.

 

The Importance of Effective Communication

 

Construction risks are present even when prevention measures are in place, and communication is very important to ensure safe practices. Project managers can mitigate risks drastically when construction workers are well informed and trained.

 

The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) dedicates a whole chapter to risk management, considering its importance for project success. Risk prevention has a much lower cost than repairing the damage caused by construction accidents, and it protects the life and health of construction personnel.

 

Michael Tobias is the founder and principal of Chicago Engineers. He is a graduate of Georgia Tech class of 2004, with a Bachelors of Mechanical Engineering with honors. His innovative approach to MEP engineering comes from graduating GE’s Engineering Leadership Program, where he designed wind turbines and biofuel power plant engines. Michael’s passion within design is energy efficiency and green technology.
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Michael Tobias PE, LEED AP, CEM
Principal
New York Engineers
135 W 41st Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10036
212.575.5300