All posts by Gary

Uncategorized

Road Resurfacing Simplified

Critical data collected at highway speed

By Jeff Winke

Traditionally, highway resurfacing projects have been a challenge, not only for the contractor, but the inconvenienced community through which the road passes. To collect the project data needed to perform the resurface, typically required lane closures and a team of surveyors collecting data points from along the side of the road with diverted traffic whizzing past.  It was a slow, cumbersome, and dangerous process, that affected the daily commuter flow and affected the contractor’s project timeline.

But things are better.

Designed to work at the speed of highway traffic, the Topcon SmoothRide resurfacing system is intended to safely assist road resurfacing contractors without the need for road or lane closures. The system is fully automated with GNSS and sonic tracker control. It is designed to deliver accurate thickness boundaries while maintaining projected yield. It eliminates the need for survey strings, averaging skis, and lasers.

“In most situations, it’s inconvenient or impossible, to shut down a road and map its surface using traditional point-to-point surveying methods,” says Murray Lodge, senior vice president and general manager of the Topcon Positioning Group Construction Business Unit. “We’ve developed a way to scan roads at highway speeds with no need for lane closures, crash trucks, escorts or any other typical road survey collection obstacles. With the new RD-M1 scanning unit, the system maps the existing surface elevations — with many more points captured versus what can be expected with traditional tools — providing more accurate data needed to confidently estimate materials, as well as form the basis of the final design surface.”

The SmoothRide system uses a Topcon RD-M1 (Realistic Dimension – Mapping One) Road Resurfacing Scanner that is attached to a vehicle, typically a pick-up truck. The downward facing laser scanner connects to a standard tow hitch or the front of any vehicle with standard tow hooks. With using standard tow hitches and hooks, the scanner is designed to be easy to remove and adapt to any vehicle, thus eliminating the need to have a dedicated vehicle to operate the RD-M1. The unit is designed to collect millions of points at scan rates of up to 100 times per second.

Cruising at normal highways speeds, the 3-D surface scanning can cover miles of road in a short time. The collected data is automatically timestamped and stored for the next step of data management and point cloud generation. The mounted scanner captures millions of data points that are collected safely from the cab of the truck or car. Topcon points out that the driver can begin a road-surface surveying session by simply clicking the start button on their laptop computer and go.

The RD-M1 employs Collect 2.0 graphical collection software, which features an interface status bar that indicates the optimum speed for collecting road information based on the project requirements. Capturing road details at proper speed helps enable SmoothRide to deliver the best possible results.

“I like that we can collect accurate topos while driving 50 miles per hour,” stated Chris Smithson, project manager with Big Creek Construction, Lorena, TX. “We used it recently on a 3.5-mile section of Ranch Road 2838 in Mexai, TX where we were able to give the State more accurate cross sections and dirt quantities on the two-lane road and shoulders project we worked on. It saved us time and money.”

Knowing the surface details in advance allows the contractor to successfully plan for an accurate material calculation, which can help with knowing how much asphalt or milling will be required for the project. SmoothRide is considered to be especially appropriate for mainline paving or milling projects requiring long sections of road that needs resurfacing.

A feature called Memos is designed to allow operators to create balloons with messages on the map. The collected data can also be made visible in the processing software — enabling specific site conditions to be noted for future reference.

A Manage Runs feature is designed to enable operation without necessitating an internet connection. The software display’s large buttons which are intended to make using a tablet or laptop with touch screen easier. Operators can copy data collections to a USB drive, delete them from the hard drive, and add or remove them from the manager.

The RD-M1 Collect 2.0 software has a Plan Route feature that allows for the import of kml files of predetermined routes, designed to help ensure that nothing is missed during the data collection run.

“Using the map downloader, operators can be assured of having all map details visible while collecting data, without the need of an internet connection. Additionally, overlapping locations can be managed by creating areas where predefined overlaps are required for the project,” said Kriss Maas, manager of machine control, Topcon. “The detailed road surface scanning can be used to create and manage large point cloud information with our intuitive ‘Mobile Master Office’ software. The data can then be seamlessly transferred into MAGNET Office software’s ‘Resurfacing’ module to bring out the full array of software features needed to meet smoothness and cross slope requirements, while adhering to any minimum or maximum thickness specified for the job.”

The SmoothRide system can assist contractors with variable depth milling and achieve uniform thickness in paving. The system is said to eliminate the time and costs of survey work and to benefit bid and spec jobs in advance by providing more accurate surface data.

“For rehabilitation and maintenance projects, the system simplifies scanning the existing roadway surface, which we can then use for building the model for automatic machine control of our cold planers,” said Ryan Zenahlik, technology specialist for Pavement Recycling Systems, Inc., Jarupa Valley, CA.

The system is said to reduce the costs and need for survey work, and to benefit bid and spec jobs in advance by providing more accurate surface data.

“We use the 3D scanner part of SmoothRide as a survey tool to safely collect the data we need and eliminate hours of cross-section measurements,” stated John Dowalter, survey and machine control manager for Shelly and Sands, Zanesville, Ohio. “The system’s RD-M1 Scanner is great for capturing bridge approaches that sometimes have a big skew leading up to the bridge surface. That feature helped tremendously on a recent resurfacing section of I-71 between Columbus and Cleveland, which has a number of bridges that could have occupied hours of time for my crew.”

In summary, the Topcon SmoothRide system is designed to offer 3D scanning collected while driving the job-site road, which is said to replace hours of surveyor-obtained cross-section measurements. The system’s software is designed to deliver confidence throughout the paving and milling process by providing the key data needed to complete the job accurately to spec. As Topcon would phrase it, this resurfacing roadwork system fits squarely in the intersection of infrastructure and technology.

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Jeff Winke is a business and construction writer based in Milwaukee, Wis. He can be reached through jeff_winke@yahoo.com.

General Safety Issues

Best Practices for Aerial Lifts in Construction

Written by Brandon Olson

Working on a construction job site is a risky business. The hazards that can lead to injury or death are many and varied. Using an aerial lift on the job increases the risks. That’s why it’s so important to practice safety on the job at all times. Here are five common aerial lift accidents and how to prevent them.

How to Avoid Worker Electrocutions

Electrical shock is a leading cause of aerial lift worker deaths. Electrical safety on a construction job starts with this: always treat overhead lines as live unless told otherwise by a power company rep. Other safety best practices include:

  • When possible, don’t position the lift between overhead power lines
  • Belt off only to the lift’s attachment points; do not use a pole or other structure
  • Keep at least 10 feet away from live power lines at all times
  • Have the power company shut down the power lines in the work zone before starting a job
  • Wear insulated gloves, boots, clothing, and hard hats when working on or near power lines
  • Use insulated buckets near overhead power lines

Make sure all workers wear fall protection equipment . If a worker becomes unconscious after receiving a shock, the equipment can prevent a fall.

How to Prevent Falls from Aerial Lifts

Falls are the leading cause of death for construction workers. They account for one-third of all deaths in the industry. Not all of them are falls from aerial lifts. But there are enough of them to mandate fall protection gear for aerial lift workers.

Preventing falls from aerial lifts starts with walking the work site to identify hazards. These can range from nearby workers or vehicles to unsafe weather or terrain. Nearby objects that could strike the lift are another hazard to be dealt with. These hazards are why OSHA requires all aerial lift workers to wear fall protection equipment. This includes body harnesses, lanyards and fall arrest gear that attach to the platform or basket. Other fall prevention best practices include:

  • Ensuring all access gates or openings are closed before raising the platform of bucket into the air
  • Standing firmly on the floor of the bucket or platform
  • Not climbing or leaning on the guardrails
  • Never using ladders or planks while in the lift bucket or platform
  • Never tying off to structures or poles while in the bucket

All aerial lift workers should be trained in fall protection practices. Managers need to make sure workers follow them.

Avoiding TipOvers and Collapses

Tipovers and collapses lead to some of the deadliest accidents because they can crush people in the bucket and on the ground. Tipovers have many causes. The two most common are improper handling of the lift and careless pre-start inspections. Tipovers can also result from:

  • Exceeding the lift’s max load limit
  • Carrying objects that are too large
  • Driving the lift with the platform raised
  • Exceeding vertical and horizontal height limits
  • Operating the lift during strong winds or severe weather

To practice tipover safety best practices, stay within the lift’s load limit at all times. Never travel to the job site with the bucket or platform raised. Don’t raise the platform while driving on soft, uneven or sloping terrain. Avoid using too much horizontal force when working on scissor lifts. Don’t raise the platform in high-wind conditions.

Collapses most often occur due to mechanical failures. These can be avoided through regular maintenance and detailed pre-start inspections. Training plays a key role in knowing how to conduct a good inspection.

How to Protect Against Objects Falling from Lifts

There’s a reason hard hats are required on construction sites – falling objects.

Even more so when the job involves an aerial lift. Workers on the ground are usually the victims of falling objects. But workers on lift platforms can get injured as well.

Objects fall from aerial lifts for many reasons:

  • Carrying objects larger than the platform
  • Carrying unstable objects or unbalanced loads
  • Failure to close all openings on the bucket or platform
  • Striking a fixed object that causes items on the lift to fall off

Best practices to prevent falling objects involve doing the opposite of these bullet points. Operators should also avoid setting up the lift underneath overhead objects. Ground workers should avoid working underneath or near the lift when it is in the air.

Preventing Ejections from the Lift Platform

Ejections are a type of aerial lift fall that can lead to serious injury and death. They can occur for one of three reasons:

  • The bucket or platform makes forceful contact with another object
  • Falling objects hit workers on the bucket or platform
  • A sudden jerk of the lift causes workers to lose their footing

Avoiding worker ejection begins before the lift even goes up into the air. It starts with making sure the outriggers are set on solid, level ground. If not, they should be set on pads. The operator needs to check that the lift brakes are set. Wheel chocks should be used on sloping surfaces, but only when safe to do so. Warning signs should be placed around the work zone. Once in the air, operating the lift according to OSHA guidelines can also help prevent ejections.

What’s the best safety practice of all? Making sure all aerial lift workers are OSHA trained and certified before they get on the lift. It won’t prevent all accidents. But it will greatly reduce the chances of one happening on your job site.

Tom Wilkerson is CEO of CertifyMeOnline.net (CMO), a national leader in online, OSHA-compliant aerial lift training and certification. CMO has helped thousands of companies throughout the U.S. discover the easy way to self-certify their aerial lift operators in-house.

Resources:

http://www.elcosh.org/document/1596/d000538/Aerial+Lift+Safety+in+Construction.html https://www.certifymeonline.net/blog/safety-tips-for-construction-workers/

Fall Safety

Ensuring the Safety Of Employees Who Work At Heights

Image source: Unsplash.com

Nobody needs reminders that working at great heights can be dangerous. Construction is one area where height is a near-omnipresent danger. Lots of things can go wrong when you’re working with a lot of equipment and machinery. Keeping your employees safe is an absolutely crucial aspect of working on a construction site. To prevent them from falling and injuring themselves, you need to take some special precautions.

  • Make use of railings

Passive protection is the best way to keep your workers safe when they’re working at great heights. Your workers will often tread on walkways and areas that are unprotected and pretty high up. Relying on them to protect themselves when they’re in a rush might not be feasible. Railings take that element of choice away from them. Unless they purposely decide to jump the fence, there’s no way that they are going to fall over the railing.

You can find a railing for every style of rooftop. If the roof has a low slope, you can make use of non-penetrating railing. There are prefabricated railing options that can be affixed permanently or temporarily, which makes them pretty versatile for construction sites.

There are other benefits that come with using sturdy railings. They can be used as a point of stability when the worker is carrying a load in one hand. Many of them make it very difficult to climb outside the protective area, which will provide additional protection from employee negligence.

  • Select proper active protection systems

Personal fall arrest systems can be a great tool to protect from injuries on the worksite. Even when something goes catastrophically wrong, they will make sure that the worker remains unscathed. When you opt for fall arrest systems, make sure you’re getting quality safety technology. A full body harness might perform similarly in a controlled environment, but you should consider other variables. Does it have proper heat and arc protection? How comfortable is the suit for workers in any environment? These are all factors you have to take into account before making your decision.

The fall arrest system has to have all the amenities you need to protect from work accidents. If it meets ANSI standards, it should have every functionality available. Extra D-rings have to be available on the equipment. Remember to select your lanyards properly. Workers should be able to fit snuggly into their harness and adjusting them should be a breeze. Convenience of use is extremely important when you’re talking about safety measures.

  • Understand fall distance

All the active fall protection equipment in the world won’t save you from a miscalculation of distance. If it doesn’t engage by the time an employee hits the ground, it’s going to be completely useless. It might seem like common sense, but a lot of employers don’t take into account the math that goes into lanyard length and fall protection.

For example, if you have an employee working six meters off the ground while wearing a three-meter lanyard with a decelerator, that seems like it should be enough to prevent any kind of fall injury. Unfortunately, the math in question isn’t that simple. First of all, you need to take into consideration the time it takes for the deceleration device to activate. By the time it’s functional, your employee has traversed some distance. This is usually in the range of a meter or so. When you take into account the height of the worker and any sag in the harness. With these additional numbers, the length of the lanyard seems a bit too short for complete safety.

  • Use lifts properly

Lift operators have an enormous responsibility to keep employees safe during the lifting process. Employees need to keep their harness properly tied-off. This means that they need to be secured to the engineered anchor point of the lift in order to prevent any mishaps. Not only does it keep them safe from falling over, but it also prevents them from wrapping their lanyard around the rails

Lift protection extends to safety measures that need to be taken while on the lift. Proper training of employees during lift usage is crucial for preventing injury in the event of machinery failure. Many experts like Sydney Rescue Consultants urge construction managers to train their workers to comply with safety measures when operating lifts.

  • Create an acceptable anchor point

If you visited an average construction site right now, you might be appalled to see the things workers use as anchor points for their harnesses. Not everything is strong enough to take that kind of weight. Many are under the misconception that something that can hold a human body is adequate for use as an anchor point. Unfortunately, this is not true. There are more factors at play in the physics of a fall. You have to take into account the inertia from a moving body, which will create additional tension on the harness and anchor.

A lot of workers will just strap the harness to just about anything in sight. A PVC pipe is completely unacceptable for fall protection systems. Not even steel is safe from accidents. If the steel beam is decorative, it won’t hold the weight of an employee when they fall. Teaching your employees how to anchor their harness is extremely important because without a proper anchor you don’t have any protection whatsoever.

Conclusion

When you work at a great height, you only need one mistake for tragedy to occur. This is why many regulatory agencies make sure to stress the importance of proper fall protection. Without it, you could be looking at hundreds of injuries per year. Fatalities aren’t uncommon on construction sites that don’t follow the safety measures by the book. If you make sure your employees follow the rules set by regulatory agencies, your construction site will be all that much safer from any potential fall injuries.

 

General Safety Issues

Things to do if You are Involved in a Car Accident

Written by Eada Hudes

Car accidents can happen any time and that is why it is a good idea to be prepared in advance – at the least, you need to know what you need to do if you are ever involved in a car accident. Of course, no one wants to be in one but car accidents are unexpected and can take place due to variety of factors. And if you prep in advance, then you could well save a life, the next time you are involved in a car accident or a big pile up on the highway.

  • Have the required numbers on speed dial: If you are involved in a car accident, then the first thing that you need to do is to dial for help. It is a good idea to have the local cops, some important medical centers/ hospitals on speed dial so that you can call in for assistance right away.
  • Check yourself: The next thing that you need to do is to slowly examine your body; granted that you would be in shock, but you need to carefully examine your   body as well as various external parts to ensure that you are not seriously injured or bleeding from anywhere. And if you are bleeding  from some parts of your body, then you need to immediately staunch   the flow and apply first aid to that particular area.
  • Check out the other party: Make sure that you check out the other party and see if they are If they are injured, then carry out an assessment. And if they happen to be unconscious, then you may have to carry out CPR as well, to make sure that they continue breathing.
  • Check the vehicle: You may also want to check out your vehicle and the extent of the damage to the same. If your car is totaled, then you may not have much option other than to search online for agencies that advertise their services as ‘cash for scrap cars’. You can contact these agencies and they would send someone over who   can carry out an on-spot assessment and valuation and they would let you know how much they are willing to pay, to take your totaled car.

Just Google “scrap car removal in Auckland” and that should help list the various agencies that would be more than happy to take your car off your hands.

  • Exchange information: Make sure that the other party is comfortable enough; now, you can exchange contact information as well as insurance details with each other, as you wait for the authorities to arrive.
  • Do not drink: Yes, a car accident would indeed be a sudden shock but that does not mean that you immediately consume alcohol to help deal with the same.   Furthermore, when the authorities arrive and they find you drinking on the scene, they are immediately going to assume that you caused the accident. So make sure that you stay well away from drinks and  other artificial stimulants.
  • Check others: You may also want to check your passengers, as well as the other party’s  passengers to make sure that no one else is hurt as a result of the  accident. You may also want to apply first aid to any cuts and  bruises as well.

These are some of the things that you need to do when you are involved in a car accident. You may want to read over these tips again and again until you feel that you have prepared yourself. It is important that you take all measures to prevent accidents but failing that, you may want to make sure that you know what to do, when you are involved in an accident. Furthermore, it is a good idea to always know CPR, for you never know when you need it and it would help save other lives as well.

General Safety Issues

Safety Tips For Those Who Work Around Conveyor Belts

Written by Eada Hudes

Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/logistics-stock-transport-shipping-852935/

It’s true that conveyor belts and rollers can make the production process easy and smooth but there are certain risks that come along with it too. Just like safety measures in the workplace, there are certain safety measures that you must take while working around conveyor rollers.

Here are some of the safety tips to keep in mind while working around conveyor belts.

  1. Awareness

This is a safety measure that needs to be taken at the managerial level. Inform and make your workers or employees aware of the fact that conveyor belts can be hazardous and dangerous. Tell them that it is important to be careful while working around them. Educate them about the hazards and risks involved.

  1. Signs and Markings

Put up enough signs, warnings and markings so that there is a constant reminder of workplace safety near the belt conveyor. Informing your workers of hazardous zones and dangers with the use of sign boards and markings will ensure that they are aware of the conveyor belt dangers at all times.

  1. No Games

Make sure that everyone is well aware and warned that conveyor belts are no games and it’s completely prohibited to sit, stand or walk on conveyor belts. At times, workers may play games or just have fun with conveyor belts which can actually be very dangerous and hazardous.

  1. Check all operator controls

Assign someone to check the conveyor belt operator controls first thing in the morning before starting work so that the smooth operation of the same is ensured. The emergency stop button must work at all times because that is the first and foremost saviour, in case something goes wrong.

  1. Regular Maintenance

You must ensure regular maintenance of the conveyor belt because irregular and improper care of the conveyor roller can cause multiple problems with the smooth functioning of the conveyor and  result in more accidents.

  1. Workers’ Clothing

Workers have to be careful about the kind of clothing they wear around the conveyor belt and rollers because it can also cause accidents and hazards in the workplace. Advise them to wear tight and fit clothing instead of baggy attires and not to wear jewellery at the time of work. Jewellery like watches, bracelets, rings, earrings can easily get stuck in the conveyor rollers and cause mishaps.

Advise workers who have long hair to keep their hair tied and tucked under a cap. There are always chances of long hair getting stuck in conveyor rollers, so make it compulsory for everyone to wear caps and tie their hair if they are of shoulder length.

  1. Training

All workers who have to work directly with conveyor belts must be trained and educated properly. They must receive regular training to brush up on their operation and safety skills to ensure they are operating the machinery correctly and safely at all times.

  1. Signal At The Start Of The Conveyor Belt

There should be an audible signal that is sounded at the start of the conveyor belt to ensure that everyone becomes aware and knows that now the conveyor rollers are starting. You can also assign a staff member to make an announcement in the local language that everyone understands.

Conclusion

Safety around conveyor belts and rollers is extremely important to ensure that no accidents take place. There are different types of conveyor belts and each type poses a different kind of threat, hence there are certain precautions which are essential in a workplace that has conveyor belts and rollers around it.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

3 Grain-Handling Hazards & How to Prevent Against Them

Written by Ellie Batchiyska

The agricultural industry is one of the most hazardous in the United States. Most people are not as familiar with its hazards as they are with the construction industry’s, making them often overlooked. This contributes to further danger, however.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the fatality rate for workers in the agricultural industry is seven times that of other private industry workers. Even workers who are injured often face permanent impairment, making it extra important to know the primary hazards associated with this kind of work.

Grain-handlers are particularly impacted by agricultural hazards. These are workers in facilities that process, ship, and handle corn, wheat, oats, barley, and other similar commodities.

There are three main hazards grain-handlers face, but the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fortunately offers sustainable solutions to prevent against them.

Engulfment & Suffocation in Grain Bins

Although not dangerous unto themselves, grain bins can be a risky environment. This is where grains are stored in large volumes, and unfortunately, where a vast number of deaths occur. Workers that maintain grain bins can become suddenly buried or trapped by grain while on the job. As a result, they can suffocate.

There are four causes of sudden grain engulfment.

  • Standing on flowing grain. Flowing grain turns into quicksand. This is most common when the auger is operating. The auger drains grain from the bin, causing a steady flow until the bin is emptied. If a worker is standing on flowing grain, they will sink into it, and the constant movement will make it impossible to get out. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) states that a 6-foot tall worker can become enveloped by grain in 11 seconds, and escape becomes impossible after 5 seconds. Workers should never enter grain bins while the auger is in operation.
  • Standing on or below bridging. Bridging refers to moist or moldy clumps of grain that stick together to form a “bridge”, therefore resulting in an empty space underneath them. If a worker steps on one of these, it will break and the walls of grain beside the bridge will begin to cave in.
  • Trying to loosen a pile of grain. Never overestimate a wall of grain’s sturdiness. Trying to loosen or un-clump it will cause a domino effect, and the rest of the grain will begin to avalanche. Clumped grain should be loosened from the outside of the grain bin, by knocking against it with a pole or stick through an access cover.
  • Dangerous atmospheric conditions. Sometimes, oxygen levels in a grain bin can be low, or hazardous gases may be present. The air quality and oxygen levels should be evaluated before any workers enter, or they could suffocate.

Most of these can be prevented by making workers aware of the preventative measures. Workers should avoid walking on grain, always wear a body harness, and have an observer/partner present at all times.

Combustible Dust Explosions

In the last 35 years, there have been more than 500 grain dust explosions in grain handling facilities. These have taken the lives of more than 180 people, and injured approximately 675. Grain dust can easily combust if it becomes airborne or accumulates on a surface. Ignition sources, such as overheated motors, misaligned conveyor belts, and welding surfaces, can serve as sources of danger.

If the accumulation of grain dust occurs in an enclosed space, the pressure will rise, causing an explosion. Usually, there is an initial explosion, which dislodges the dust into the air. If ignited, this dispersed dust will cause a secondary (and far more deadly) explosion.

To prevent this, there should be consistent monitoring and assessment of potential ignition sources and enclosed spaces. Cracks and corners should always be investigated for grain dust particles.

Falls from Heights

Much like in construction, this is a major factor to consider, and one that is continuously overlooked. Grain-handling employees can experience falsl from heights much like any other workers in manual labor: from machinery, unguarded/unlabeled floor openings, platforms, etc.

However, the exterior ladders on grain bins also pose a risk. These ladders are usually used to gain entry to the grain bin. As workers move from the ladder to the roof of the grain bin or grain entrance, one minor misstep can endanger their life.

For this reason, a body harness should always be worn when accessing a grain bin, as previously mentioned. Someone on the ground should also be supervising at all times, and be available to direct the worker into the entrance or onto the roof in case visibility is hindered for any reason.

Other Hazards

Amputations can also occur in grain-handling facilities, though less common. Grain bins contain mechanical equipment, covers, augers, and other fixtures that workers can easily get caught in. Spoiling grains can also release hazardous gases, and pesticides or other fumigants can cause poisoning.

Grain-handlers should not underestimate the dangers of working amongst large volumes of grain. The casualness associated with this profession often makes its employees even more vulnerable to hazards. Frequent housekeeping and assessment of grain bins is essential to the safety of workers in this industry, so managers should ensure this work is well-distributed.

 

Ellie Batchiyska is a writer for Advance Online, the first web-based training provider to be accepted by the OSHA Outreach Program for DOL OSHA completion cards.

 

General Safety Issues

Dangers of Intoxication in the Workplace

Written by Ellie Batchiyska

You’ve started to notice something about your co-worker. Some days they’re fine, cheerful, and on top of their work. On others, they’re slurring their words, seeming out of sorts, and having problems with basic cognitive tasks.

While it’s not unusual for someone to have an off day – maybe they didn’t get enough sleep, are sick, or taking a medication that’s affecting them — the signs of intoxication on the job are usually pretty telling. They include:

  • Lowered inhibitions (doing/saying things they normally wouldn’t)
  • Slurred speech (too loud or too fast)
  • Poor balance (struggling to get their footing)
  • Glazed-over, glossy appearance to the eyes
  • Nausea and/or vomiting

It’s easy to see how these symptoms of drinking can deeply impact work performance. However, it’s still a sensitive issue to address, and one that must be handled gently. It should immediately be taken to a manager or a Human Resources representative.

Risk factors

There are multiple risk factors for alcoholism in the workplace. Some of them can be issues in the individual’s personal life, but others can be direct changes in the work environment. These can include:

  • Extended shifts, and changing work environments
  • Isolation in the work environment; employees who have little contact with other coworkers, clients, or their work space is away from the majority of employees
  • Hostile workplace environment; an employee feeling bullied or harassed may seek out alcohol as a way to dull the feelings of depression or anger they feel at work
  • Lack of proper supervision
  • Changes to job; a change in department, expectations, or structured environment may lead them to feel unneeded or disvalued

In general, male workers between 14-29 years of age have the highest risk of showing up to work inebriated. Even more concerning, it’s more common in tradespeople and manual laborers in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction – fields where inebriation can have detrimental, or even deadly, effects.

Dangers inebriated employees can pose

Drinking can not only harm the employee’s productivity, but it can endanger them and their co-workers. Employees that must operate heavy machinery pose the largest risk. Being struck by an object accounted for 8.2% of construction worker deaths in 2017. This risk is already prevalent where heavy machinery exists, but even more so when that machinery is operated someone who is being cognitively stifled by intoxication.

Falls are the deadliest hazard in construction, accounting for 39.2% of deaths. Lack of balance is one of the biggest side-effects of drinking, meaning intoxicated employees are even more prone to this already widespread hazard.

Inebriated employees will make careless mistakes, especially in manual labor professions. According to the RAND Corporation, employees who drink alcohol at least three times per week are more likely to experience injury at work.

It sounds like common sense, but it is still so heavily overlooked. Many employees are afraid to report this behavior for the sake of workplace camaraderie, but reporting it to a manager or HR could save you (and fellow employees) from immeasurable harm.

Responsible drinking at workplace events

Maybe there’s a holiday or your company is celebrating a major milestone. As such, you may want to bring alcohol into the workplace. Nonetheless, you want to ensure things don’t get out of control and that everyone is drinking responsibly, but how do you do that?

There are a number of preventative measures that ensure responsible drinking in the workplace.

  • Hire a certified bartender. A certified bartender trained in the proper distribution of alcohol, and will remain objective and sober throughout the duration of the event. This means they can take the necessary measures to cut off individuals that have had too much, or contact emergency services if someone gets alcohol poisoning. They’ll also pour more reasonable portions.
  • Set drink limits. Don’t make it an “open bar.” Supply employees with drink tickets, and allow two beverages per employee. Or, have the bartender issue a stamp for each drink an employee buys.
  • Choose the alcohol selection wisely. Forego offering liquor at company events, and keep it at just beer and wine. Also avoid serving fruity, sugary drinks such as fruit punch, which can disillusion employees about the amount of alcohol they’re consuming.
  • Make sure you’re covered legally. Should an incident occur, make sure your company insurance policy will cover it. You might even want employees to sign off on a document before the event that reminds them they are liable for their own behavior and alcohol consumption.

We’ve heard “drink responsibly” on vodka commercials for ages, but some people have a hard time putting that advice into practice. Whether their intoxication on the job is a result of personal hardships or a one-time occurrence, it must be immediately addressed for the welfare of the company, fellow employees, and the worker in question. Although it may be an uncomfortable issue to tackle in the moment, you will be thanked for it by all those concerned later on down the line.

Uncategorized

How To Write A Health And Safety Policy For Your Business

If you are running a business, you have to take care of workplace health and safety. This is not only a legal requirement but also a real-life necessity that is designed with the purpose to protect your employees from all sorts of occupational hazards.

The International Labor Organization estimates that some 2.3 million people around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year. It’s a huge figure that can be reduced easily by following the latest security standards.

The first step in the employee-protection process is to create a solid health and safety policy. If you don’t know how to do it, keep reading to see our step-by-step guide.

Key Segments of the Health and Safety Policy

Health and safety policies don’t have to be the same everywhere, but the vast majority of companies stick to the same structure. The simplest model includes three basic components regulating workplace safety as a whole. The three elements are:

  • A statement of intent

Jake Gardner, a safety officer at EssaysOnTime AU, says that the statement of intent should be a general overview of the organization’s plan to protect employees in the workplace: “This is where you need to explain company’s security objectives and tell workers that you expect compliance with the official procedures.”

  • Organizational structure

The second section describes the individual responsibilities of each person in the chain of command. Your team members need to understand who is in charge of what and who to consult with in case of safety issues. At the same time, you must set up clear security instructions and protocols. The list of other duties mostly depends on the character of your own business, but you should definitely consider details such as the roles and accountabilities, title descriptions, management charts, and so on.

  • Arrangements

The third section determines specific arrangements that help you to implement the health and safety policy. This segment consists of concrete details such as employee training requirements, housekeeping, safety equipment list, machine maintenance, noise reduction, fire prevention, emergency situation protocols, accidents, and reporting.

If necessary, your health and safety policy can contain additional information concerning on-premise risk reduction signs, security guards, lighting improvements, and similar details.

How to Write and Implement a Health and Safety Policy

Now that you know the basic structure of the document, you should focus on creating it. Once again, the process can vary depending on the peculiarities of your business, but we can show you a five-step guide that works well in most cases. Let’s take a look:

  • Appoint a health and safety officer

Each company needs to hire a professional to perform the role of the health and safety officer. It is a person who has the skills, education, and practical experience to manage the process.

  • Write the policy

The next step in the process is to actually write a health and safety policy. The officer you appoint should be able to complete the job on his/her own and cover every segment we mentioned above (statement of intent, organizational structure, and arrangements). If you need external assistance to get the job done, you can always consult with professional writing services such as Australian writing to help you with policy writing.

  • Risk assessment

Writing a policy is one thing, but risk assessment is something different. Mark Hudson, a member of the writing services who specializes in work protection, says a safety manager must identify the risks employees are facing in the workplace and find a way to prevent possible accidents.

  • Employee education and training

Employee education and training are very important for the implementation of the policy. Make sure to organize a sufficient number of training sessions and repeat lessons on a regular basis, especially if you are about to add new elements to your policy.

  • Get liability insurance

Liability insurance is what keeps you protected against injury compensations. Once you’ve taken the necessary steps to ensure workplace safety, you can handle injury-induced compensation requests through employer’s liability insurance.

Now that you’ve completed the entire process, the only thing left is to monitor the implementation. There are all sorts of mechanisms to keep an eye on safety procedures, but we recommend you to pay close attention to the following:

  • See whether your employees really respect safety measures in everyday work.
  • Analyze monthly reports from your health and safety manager.
  • Take an occasional walk through the facility to check for possible safety threats.
  • Talk to your employees to hear their opinion about the current situation in the field or workplace protection. Ask them to give you suggestions on how to improve.

Practical Benefits of Having a Health and Safety Policy

Some entrepreneurs consider it to be a routine job without practical value, but workplace safety is actually very important for every organization. It brings you all sorts of benefits, with the fundamental features being these:

  • It proves professional responsibility and shows that your organization is taking care of health and safety issues.
  • The policy prevents occupational hazards and keeps your employees protected 24/7.
  • The system is designed with the purpose to ensure effortless functioning and allows employees to focus on their work only.
  • It gives instructions in case of emergency.
  • The strategy defines the rules of behavior in your company.
  • The policy saves you time and money because you won’t have to deal with frequent workplace incidents. That way, you won’t have to go through expensive and time-consuming follow-ups.
  • This is also how you diminish sick leave and improve employee retention.
  • Companies with strong health and safety policies are building a professional reputation.

Conclusion

A health and safety policy is extremely important if you want to run a successful business. The system is designed so as to protect workers from getting injured and to prevent possible lawsuits against employers.

In this post, we explained to you how to create a health and safety policy for your organization. Make sure to follow our tips and your employees will stay perfectly safe at all times.

Author Bio

Michael Gorman is a security analyst at the best dissertation writing service and a part-time content creator at https://www.paperwritingpro.com/ and Buy College Essays Online. Michael specializes in cybersecurity, but his portfolio is much broader as he also writes about topics such as self-improvement and personal development. If not working, Michael is probably out jogging or playing basketball with his friends. Feel free to contact him via Facebook or check his Twitter.

 

General Safety Issues

Learn Why Contractor Safety Equals Good Business

When you’ve been in the construction business long enough, you already know all the nuances, subtleties and shortcuts out there. You know dos and dont’s as well as priorities. And you absolutely know that keeping up with all the safety regulations is a must if you are a contractor.

The learning curve tends to get very steep for those who do not comply with these safety regulations. If contractors constantly neglect, ignore or fail to look after safety regulations, they are essentially in danger of running out of business. They are risking their careers greatly by putting the reputation on the line. And these records will not just go away as if nothing has happened if you choose to simply change the name of the firm and try to start over.

We are here to outline some of the consequences of keeping up or not following safety regulations strictly. They are directly connected with the success of you as a contractor or owner.

Everyone Should Be Held Accountable

Being an owner is not an easy task to fulfill, by any means. They carry a lot of responsibilities on their back since they need to concern themselves with potential risks of all sorts. Employees, tenants, property, and contractor all depend on the owner in one way or another, and she or he has to concern herself or himself with all of these things.

That’s why it’s crucial to make sure that the roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities are clearly defined. Demand only the best from the people you’re working with. Make sure to hire only the companies which have proved time and time again that they can carry out the task properly and satisfy the high standards by implementing the safety procedures and following the mandatory laws, among other things.

How Exactly Are You Saving Money By Following Safety Regulations Strictly?

A lot of contractors and owners try to cut costs by not complying with these safety regulations strictly. But what they are actually missing out and not realizing is that they are only losing money with this type of behavior – and not to mention that they are putting employees in great danger.

It is a common misconception that implementing and maintaining safety programs is both expensive and time-consuming. In reality, overhead costs and insurance and hidden costs of accidents are greatly reduced if the contractor implements various safety procedures such as fall protection, confined space entry, respiratory protection, hazard communication, etc.

If you are an owner, you just need to make sure that the contractor is fulfilling these regulations which are already mandated by law.

If You Are An Owner, Choose Only To Deal With ’Safe Contractors’

This is the main reason why you want to choose the so-called ’safe contractors’. They are the ones who put a great deal of time and effort in following all the safety measures and programs out there.

For instance, companies like Jonishan contractors in Sydney are a good example of how to do these things properly. This is something which eventually only works to your benefit as an owner. Be sure to remember that this is not only about your reputation, but also about saving the lives of employees and money.

The Contractor And The Owner Should Work Closely On Safety Issues

It is often said that good communication is the key to success. It’s really no different in this line of business as well. When both the owner and the contractor are working closely together, they should be on the same page all the time.

Make sure to create an environment where safety procedures are a number one priority. Continue to insist on following all OSHA rules and laws throughout the whole time. This really is the only way to maintain the status and reputation for the upcoming tasks. Be sure to remember that no business is really successful without tightly following the safety regulations.

Conclusion

If contractors are not making efforts to fulfill their obligations under OSHA or the rules of civil liability and tort law, they are not just jeopardizing their careers, but they are ultimately risking people’s lives. You simply cannot overly stress the importance of safety work regulations and laws. When fatal injuries at work sites happen as often as they do in this day and age, you simply must pay more attention to this burning issue.

Back Safety

8 Workplace Safety Concepts Everyone Should Understand

With some types of workplace, safety is at the core of it. If you work in a hospital, on a construction site or in a laboratory it’s pretty likely that workplace safety is something you are already extremely experienced with. However, if you work in an office it’s likely that you aren’t as well-informed as to what exactly you should be doing to stay safe, since the risks tend to be far more hidden than in the other environs. In a counter-intuitive sense, there are also things that people in higher risk workplaces could learn about hidden risks and how to mitigate them. So, without further ado, here are eight tips for workplace safety.

  1. Understand Risks

Every office or worksite ought to have a health and safety manager who should be able to give you a thorough understanding of what the risks in that particular area are. Getting familiar with these is a great start since, if you don’t understand what is at stake you can’t act to address it.

  1. Posture

This is a huge one and universal to all careers. “It doesn’t matter where you work or what you do, posture can actually be a n issue which can cause serious life changing damage if not addressed”, says Anthony Allam, marketer at WriteMyx and NextCourseWork. It is particularly important though, if you sit at a desk for long periods of time. So, invest some energy in getting it right.

  1. Monitor Stress

Stress-levels dictate, to some degree, a lot of the way that your body and mind function. Mental safety is just as important, if not more so, than physical safety so it’s worth paying attention to workplace stress levels for that reason alone. However, stress also can affect your body, in your posture, in the way you breathe and move and, across time, can have damaging effects if left unchecked.

  1. Don’t Forgo Procedure

It can often seem painfully dry, but workplace procedure is there for a reason. “Procedures aren’t invented for the sake of torturing you with boring rules. It’s there to ensure that, even with slip-ups, employees will remain safe”, writes Ella Maguire, project manager at BritStudent and Australia2Write. It’s especially important in labs and on construction sites, but it applies in regular offices as well.

  1. Report Accidents And Problems

When something goes wrong, or something breaks or someone gets hurt, the first instinct can be to quickly solve the immediate issue and then try and put the rest of it behind you. Tis is the wrong approach. Incidents have to be reported for your safety and the safety of future employees. If something isn’t working, or there is a dangerous fault in a workplace it must be fixed to ensure safety, which won’t happen if incidents don’t get reported.

 

  1. Emergency Exits

You ought to be able to get out of any workplace with ease and speed. There can be a whole range of reasons why you might want to escape, from a gas leak to a fire drill. Obstructions to an exit are illegal but they are also often difficult to spot, sine it’s not until people are actually hurrying to safety that you realize that there is a problem, by which point it’s too late. That is the benefits of drills and vigilance over this aspect of safety.

  1. Be Careful When Lifting

If you’re on a construction site, then you have already likely done a lot of work on how to lift correctly. If you are in the office, probably not so much. But there are items all around the office which are heavy and can, therefore, damage your back if you lift it incorrectly. So, learn how to lift it well, or leave it to someone else.

  1. Take Breaks

Illness and injury come from over-exertion. Make sure you are always getting enough respite whilst in the workplace.

Conclusion

To conclude, all worksites represent risk and health and safety dangers, and it is your responsibility as someone on the site to establish those risks and do everything you can to ensure that safety is maintained, for yourself and others around you. It can be tough, but with these tips you’re already off to a good start.

Katrina Hatchett, a lifestyle blogger at Academic Brits and writer for Origin Writings, is involved in many business projects. She enjoys identifying project problems and finding solutions for these, and her goal is to improve efficiency of communication within companies. She also writes for the PhDKingdom blog.