Tag Archives: harness

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues, Head Protection

HOW TO ENSURE SAFETY IN SCAFFOLDING (GUEST POST)

Safety of workers is the primary concern in any kind of construction or maintenance work. There are basically three areas in which these issues take importance. They are:

  •          The work practices of workers
  •          Protective gear in use and
  •          The scaffold system being used

Scaffold System

The structure and the design of this support are very important to ensure that workers using it are safe. This can be ensured by a thorough inspection by the team and its leader. When inspecting following points should be kept in mind:

  •        Check footings since it is the foundation on which the entire support tower is standing. Footings must be sturdy enough to withstand weight of workers and equipment needed to be carried up.
  •          Toe boards, ladders, cross braces and guardrails are the other things to be sure about in terms of scaffolding safety.
  •          Guardrails should have some very minimum measurements; they should be 4 inches wide and 3.5 inches in height. 10 feet of spacing between them should be maintained. If these measurements are not adhered to then the scaffolding will not be very sturdy and can prove dangerous too.
  •          Now, when a building is being painted, cleaned or any other maintenance work  is done; there are bound to be passersby who may need to go underneath the scaffold. Their protection is also the responsibility of the contractor. This is where toe boards come in. These boards ensure that equipment or any other material does not fall down and cause injury to incent passersby.
  •          When workers need to get down or climb up they will be using ladders and cross braces; therefore easy access to them is necessary. Moreover they should be securely tied to the entire support tower.
  •          Poles should also be thoroughly inspected for any wear and tear.

Protective Gear

These cannot be emphasized enough. However, it is often seen that contractors are relaxed on this matter to save cost. This is highly unethical since people’s lives are at stake.

  •          Such protective gears include hard hats which should not only be worn by those working but also those people who may just be visiting the site for any reason.
  •          Non-skid shoes are another way to remain safe. These ensure that workers have a good grip in their upward or downward movement.
  •          Safety belts are another compulsory item on the list; this is especially important if the scaffolds are of the swinging type. These belts needless to say must be attached to something that is secure and reliable.

Work practices

There are some very important guidelines to be followed by all construction sites, their contractors and the workers there. These have been specified by the government.

As a logical thing to do; there should not be too much equipment or tools offloaded or put up on the support tower. Only the amount that will be used on the day should be taken and not the next day’s supplies too!

Author Bio

Matt Arthur – an expert and talented author, he involves in writing on creative and engaging content about various types of scaffolding, crane truck and temporary fencing.

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

‘TIS THE SEASON FOR SAFETY! (GUEST POST)

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year—children are on their best behavior, feasting is an accepted pastime, and Christmas lights twinkle down every street.  Out of all of the holiday preparation that goes into making the magic of the season, hanging outdoor Christmas lights is perhaps the most precarious (unless, of course, you are frying a turkey for Christmas dinner—but that’s another topic entirely).  Whether you are creating your own LED masterpiece a-la Clark Griswold, or assisting an aging loved one, it is imperative to follow a few simple (yet crucial) steps to make sure that you spend your holidays at home (not in the hospital).

Subscribe to the Buddy System

There is safety in numbers, and silly though it may sound, hanging Christmas lights is no exception to this rule.  Having just one other person makes a monumental difference in installation safety, time, and effort.  For example–when using a ladder to reach the gutters, it is beyond beneficial to have another person there to hand you clips, lights, etc.  The buddy system will eliminate your up-and-down the ladder trips, and thus decrease your odds of falling off of the ladder due to reaching, fatigue, or haste.  If you can’t immediately get at least one other person to help, it is advisable to wait.  Should you insist on going it alone, make sure to work within your means, and consider investing in a harness.

Asses your Materials

It is crucial to check the integrity of your light strings and extension cords; if any are broken, cracked, or frayed, do NOT use them.  While you’re checking on the condition of the materials, make sure that all of the bulbs are fully functioning.  If any are broken or dead, replace them now while it’s convenient.  Follow the instructions on the manufacturer’s boxes regarding light connections and maximum string attachments in order to avoid blowing the circuit.  Measure the area(s) you want to cover to make sure that you have enough lights; this isn’t a deficit you want to discover hours into the project.  If you are doing this solo and in regards to the harness suggestion above, think about investing in a full body harness, vertical lifeline, or roof anchor.

Let there be Light

Once you have a buddy (or harness), the right amount of properly functioning materials, and a precipitation-free day, proceed with operation Christmas-lights.  When climbing the ladder to hang lights off of the gutter, don’t lift an uncomfortable or awkward amount of weight.  Jerking and straining your back half-way up a ladder is nobody’s idea of a good time.  Do not staple lights to the roof; rather, use hooks to either hang them from the gutter or the shingles.  Make sure that the ground where you are resting the ladder is flat and solid—otherwise don’t risk it.  If the home you are decorating has multiple stories, consider hanging wreathes or lighted displays in the windows rather than attempting to hang lights off of the second/third story.  If you start to run out of daylight, find a stopping point and continue the project the next day.

It is important to remember that no decorative project is worth jeopardizing your health.  Your loved ones and neighbors alike will understand if you can’t safely attempt to totally light up your home.  If, however, you plan on successfully installing outdoor Christmas lights this year, just keep these simple tips in mind in order to have a happy (and safe!) holiday season.

 

Madison Hill  is a Seattle-based mother of two who takes pride is still being able to embarrass her children despite their ages.  She spends her free time deciphering petroglyphs and pictographs.  When she’s not pruning her bonsai tree or baking homemade shoofly pie, you can find her writing about home care.

 

Fall Safety

UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF FALL PROTECTION

In an article from OSHA’s “Quicktakes” December newsletter, here’s an interesting report regarding fall protection.  OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer, Tony Nozzi, was doing a November inspection of an Illinois worksite as part of a Local Emphasis Program on Falls, when he noticed a roofing contractor’s employees and a building restoration employee working on a church roof without any fall protection.  Before leaving the worksite, Nozzi made sure that all employees put on harnesses and lanyards and secured themselves with rope grabs before he left the worksite. 

Shortly after he was gone, an employee who worked for the building restoration company was assigned to power wash the church steeple.  Soon after he started his work, he slipped and slid down the church’s pitched roof.  Thankfully, the lifeline became tight on the lanyard, stopping him right before the edge of the roof.  The fall protection equipment prevented serious and potentially fatal injuries, and the employee was then able to walk back up the roof  toward the steeple and safely complete his work. 

This is a classic example of why those who work at heights should always use fall protection.  Companies should have a good fall protection plan in place.  If we knew we were going to fall, we would be sure to wear the proper equipment at the time, but because we don’t know, we should be inclined to do all we can to keep from getting hurt.  There are three elements included in fall protection that are equally important, and if one of these elements fails or are neglected, the system will fail, and serious injury or death can happen.  The three elements include: safety harness, lanyard and the anchor point. 

Years ago, a positioning belt, fitting around a person’s waist, was thought to be adequate fall protection; however, now, a full body harness is required.  The harness should be worn snugly against the body without slack in any part.  A person could fall out of the harness if worn too loosely.  Safety leaders should ensure that the proper length lanyard is used with the harness.  Height and height of the work platform should be considered when calculating lanyard length.  A three-foot safety margin should be figured in the selection of the lanyard.  

Foremost, rapid rescue should be a major portion of the fall protection system.  If rescue does not begin within 7 or 8 minutes of the fall, consequences could be deadly.  If a person is suspended in an upright position after a fall, it is very dangerous.  The restrictions of the safety harness can alter blood flow.  A person could pass out in as little as 5 minutes and the situation could become grave in as few as 15 minutes. 

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that falls at work are one of the leading causes of death caused by trauma.  OSHA requires fall protection for anyone in industrial environments working four feet above ground, and in maritime occupations, the requirement is 5 feet.  Construction workers must use fall protection if they are working at least 6 feet off the ground.  Last, but not least, the harness, D-rings, snaps, should be inspected regularly and replaced when necessary.  The equipment should meet OSHA standards.  So, save lives by providing the right equipment, and ensuring that it is used. 

Source: OSHA, DOL, ehow.com

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

FALL PREVENTION

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In the United States Construction industry, falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities.  An average of between 150-200 workers each year are killed and more than 100,000 injuries are the result of falls at construction sites.  Accidental falls are complex events resulting from either equipment-related or human issues.  Therefore, the standards for protection deal with both matters for success in preventing fall hazards.  Fall protection systems should be carefully designed for appropriate work situations.  Proper installation of safety systems, safe work procedures, training and supervision are necessary to ensure workers’ security, as well as the required Personal Protective Equipment.

Listed is a short glossary of fall prevention equipment that is appropriate for most endeavors:

  • Anchorage – Secure point of attachment for lanyards, lifelines or deceleration devices.
  • Body Harness – Straps secured about the person that distribute fall-arrest forces over thighs, pelvis, waist, chest and shoulders, which is attached to other parts of fall-arrest system.
  • Deceleration Device – Any mechanism: rope, grab, forms of lanyards, auto retracting lanyards that dissipate a substantial amount of energy during fall arrest.
  • Lanyard – Flexible line of rope or strap that has connectors to a deceleration device, lifeline, or anchorage.

Along with the proper use of fall-arrest devices, ladder safety is of prime importance.  Some tips from the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission include:

  • Always make sure weight does not exceed the maximum load, consider user weight plus material.
  • Be sure the ladder is the proper length: 3 feet minimum extending over working surface or roofline.
  • Use wooden or fiberglass ladders in the vicinity of power lines or electric equipment.
  • Don’t place ladder in front of door that is not guarded, blocked, or locked.
  • Follow instruction labels on ladders.
  • Don’t stand on the three top rungs of ladder.
  • Set the ladder up at a 75° angle.
  • Be sure locks on extension ladders are properly engaged.

Sources:
OSHA
CPSC