Tag Archives: high winds

General Safety Issues

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN DRIVING IN EXTREME WEATHER (GUEST POST)

If it’s not thick snow, it’s heavy rain; not to mention fog or even glaring sunlight. This country seems to throw it all at us – making driving a hazardous occupation all year round.

Don’t let the weather get the better of you this winter.

Here are a few handy hints and things to keep in mind next time the elements try their hardest to make your journey to work even more difficult than it already is.

Driving in Rain

When road surfaces are wet it can take twice as long to stop your vehicle and regular stopping distances go out the window. You should always keep your speed much lower when driving in the rain and keep that extra bit of distance from the vehicle in front.

If you are driving through standing water then make sure drive slowly, using a low gear and trying to keep the engine revving at a high rate. Move forward continuously so that you don’t stall

Should you lose control of your vehicle in the wet – remember – Don’t brake or steer suddenly as you have no control of the steering or brakes when aquaplaning. Try to bring the car to a slow halt by changing down the gears.

  •            Slow down
  •            Don’t brake hard
  •            Use low gears

Driving in Fog

As fog is usually patchy, it’s best not to speed up when the weather seems to have cleared. Keep a steady speed (slower than normal) as there’s a good chance you will run into other patches further up the road.

You also need to keep your headlights dimmed so that other drivers can see you, and in extreme conditions (visibility less than 100m) you should also turn your rear fog lamp on.

  •            Keep a steady speed
  •            Dim headlights
  •            Use fog lamp

Driving in Snow and Ice

Before going anywhere you should always make sure your car is clear of snow. As well as the windscreen you must also clear the roof of your car, as snow that has settled here can slip down when you brake; obscuring your vision.

As obvious as it sounds – you should keep your speed down when driving in snow and ice. This isn’t just to avoid a speeding fine; it gives you more control over the vehicle.

If you do need to stop, try to slow down gradually by using the gears. Braking suddenly could cause your car to slide uncontrollably. Sticking to roads that have already been gritted is a safer option, even if everyone else has the same idea.

  •            Clear windshield and roof
  •            Don’t brake suddenly
  •            Keep to treated roads

Driving in Wind

You may not think so – but driving in windy conditions can be as dangerous as any other inclement weather. If you are driving a van or high-sided vehicle you may need to check ahead for any road or bridge closures.

You also need to be aware of falling objects like trees or branches. If you normally take a back road or short cut to work via country lanes; it may be wise to stick to major roads until the storm has passed.

  •            Plan ahead
  •            Be aware of falling objects
  •            Stick to main roads

 Our thanks to Caddick Davies (Motoring Offence Lawyers)  for sending this helpful driving tip information.  The same applies to the U.S., Canada, and other countries who experience extreme weather conditions.

First Aid Safety, General Safety Issues

“Superstorm Sandy” IS AN UNWELCOME VISITOR TO THE NORTHEASTERN U.S.

Hurricane Sandy is churning off the East Coast and is expected to join up with two other weather systems to create a huge and problematic storm affecting 50 million people. Here’s a snapshot of what is happening or expected, state by state, according to the Associated Press.

CAROLINAS – The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 14 members of a crew forced to abandon a tall ship about 90 miles off the North Carolina coast and continued to search for two other crew members. The storm lashed barrier islands and rendered several homes and businesses nearly inaccessible.

CONNECTICUT -Water from Long Island Sound began spilling into roadways and towns along the Connecticut shoreline in the first signs of flooding from Sandy. Officials say the flooding at high tide overnight could cause more damage than a 1938 New England hurricane, known as the Long Island Express.

DELAWARE – Dover Air Force Base has relocated some aircraft in anticipation of the storm, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has requested that the base be used as a staging area for support and supplies. Some residents of low-lying areas of the base have been ordered to evacuate.

KENTUCKY – Sandy is expected to bring snow to far southeastern Kentucky. A winter storm warning is in effect in Harlan, Letcher and Pike counties through Wednesday morning. Forecasters say snow could accumulate from 4 to 10 inches in high elevations and 1 to 3 inches in lower elevations.

MAINE – Virtually all Maine public schools opened Monday but some were closing early before the heaviest rain and wind from Hurricane Sandy. State officials say the biggest concern is wind, which is expected to cause widespread power outages. The state’s utilities say they have crews poised to deal with expected power outages, including some from Canada.

MARYLAND – Hurricane Sandy inflicted considerable damage overnight to a large, iconic ocean pier in the Maryland beach resort of Ocean City. In mountainous western Maryland, a blizzard warning was issued for sections of Garrett County for Monday night into Tuesday morning.

MASSACHUSETTS – The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is shutting down all service at 2 p.m. Monday due to expected high winds from Sandy. Secretary of Transportation Richard Davey said the order affects all subway, bus and commuter rail service.

NEW HAMPSHIRE – Gov. John Lynch has urged all drivers to be off the roads by 3 p.m. as Hurricane Sandy approaches. Lynch declared a state of emergency and directed that non-essential state workers be released from work Monday afternoon. He urged employers to consider releasing workers early. The governor has put 100 New Hampshire Guard soldiers on active duty.

NEW JERSEY – Officials have closed a larger section of the Garden State Parkway because of flooding. The parkway is closed from Exit 63 in Stafford Township to the southern terminus. Most of Atlantic City is under water, and there’s flooding in other cities up and down the New Jersey shore as the storm approaches for a predicted direct hit to New Jersey.

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city’s public schools will remain closed on Tuesday after being shut down Monday. Earlier, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel and Holland Tunnel will close at 2 p.m. Monday. Airports in the metropolitan New York City area are open, but air carriers are not operating.  A television report recently reported that hundreds of thousands of residents of low-lying areas have been advised to evacuate.

OHIO – Residents of low-lying areas and along Lake Erie were told to watch for flooding; utilities are anticipating high winds that could blow down trees and poles. Snow is forecast in some areas.

PENNSYLVANIA – Officials from the state transit agency and the Pennsylvania Turnpike have instituted speed restrictions over concerns about high winds and ordered certain vehicles, including empty trucks and motorcycles, off some highways. The National Weather Service says southeastern Pennsylvania could get winds reaching 75 mph and rainfall up to 10 inches.

RHODE ISLAND – Officials are concerned about wind driving water north up Narragansett Bay, which could create flooding in low-lying areas of the upper bay, including Providence, Warwick and Cranston. About 2,600 National Grid customers were without power, mostly in Barrington and other parts of Bristol County.

TENNESSEE – Snow is expected in higher elevations, where a freeze warning has been issued. High winds are expected in many areas.

VERMONT – Gov. Peter Shumlin declared a state of emergency to provide access to National Guard troops in a state still recovering from the devastating effects of the remnants of Hurricane Irene. Culverts and storm drainage basins in some spots have been cleared of debris.

VIRGINIA – A curfew is in place on Virginia’s swamped Chincoteague Island. Officials say the entire 37-square-mile island is underwater, and there is no way off the island because a causeway to the mainland has been closed. The 3,500 islanders who decided to tough out Hurricane Sandy have been told to keep off the streets.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Taxis that originate in Washington are authorized to add an emergency flat rate of $15 per trip because of Hurricane Sandy, starting Monday. The price is supposed to expire at noon Tuesday, but can be extended if considered necessary. The capital area’s transit system shut down rail service for the first time since 2003.

WEST VIRGINIA – As much as 2 to 3 feet of snow was forecast in mountainous areas, and flooding was possible in some areas. At least 14 counties are under a blizzard warning Monday as high winds and heavy, wet snow moves through the state.

Weather experts say that the possibility of high waves is their main concern in many areas.  Military personnel are scattered throughout many states, helping those who are trying to move their furnishings, etc. to second story floors of their homes, in order to minimize damage to some of their possessions, and are also assisting in evacuations.  Persons should think first of saving the lives of themselves, their family, and their pets, and taking what they can to safer places.  They should stay in touch with relatives who are watching the progression of Sandy as she moves inland. If you are in any of the Northeastern part of the U.S., play it safe.  Suggestions of preparing for emergencies, such as having plenty of supplies, i.e., fresh water, batteries, flashlights, non-perishable food supplies, pet foods, and medications are found to be very important in times of threatening weather.  It’s also wise to keep a first-aid kit  with those other supplies. Pat

 

Source for state by state report: Associated Press

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

SCISSOR LIFTS SHOULD BE HANDLED WITH CARE!

2 Comments

OSHA describes scissory lifts as machines that are “movable scaffolds.”  They can lift large, heavy loads that are well balanced, as well as employees, and are capable of moving them safely to and from high elevations.  There are several different safety requirements that apply to the maintenance and use of scissor lifts, because they are classified as heavy equipment. 

OSHA issued a hazard alert about the dangers of using scissor lifts to film events and functions.  These machines are commonly used to film events and functions of colleges and high schools, such as athletic and band activities.  High winds or bad weather; overloading the equipment with heavy objects; removing the guardrails during operations; and driving the lift on eneven or unstable gound can cause devestating accidents.  The alert recommends precautions to reduce the risk of these hazards. 

A 20-year old University of Notre Dame student employee was killed during a football practice while filming the football team from a scissor lift that was blown over by high winds.  The worker raised the lift more than 39 feet into the air on a day in which winds exceeded 50 miles per hour.  After investigating the incident, the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the university $77,500, and cited it with the most serious safety violation allowable under Indiana law.  It was reported that the student employee was not trained well enough to properly operate the equipment.  Hazards can be further reduced by training workers on how to operate scissor lifts properly, making sure that the scissor lift has a guardrail system for fall protection, and operating and maintaining the lift according to the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Employers can minimize scissor lift hazards by establishing safe work practices, including inspecting them before use; safely moving, positioning, and stabilizing the lift; selecting safe work locations; and identifying weather conditions that might delay use.  Other key safety practices include putting the scissor lift on a firm level surface, setting brakes and stabilizing the lift before raising it, and maintaining a 10′ clearance from electrical power sources and overhead hazards such as tree branches. 

Although scissor lifts are not enclosed, they are required to obey the same safety standards as scaffolding to ensure that employees do not fall from the lift while in use.  Guard rails should be placed around the perimeter of the lift, slip guards, and a lock must be engaged on the entrance to the lift platform while the lift is in use.  It should also be designed with an emergency stop button, both on the lift platform and with controls at the bottom of the lift.  This will allow either the worker on the platform or the lift operator to stop the lift in case of an emergency.  There should also be emergency brakes on the wheels.

There is more guidance on the hazards and requirements for using scissor lifts on OSHA ‘s Scaffolding eTool and Safety and Health Topics page on Scaffolding.

Source: OSHA; eHow.com