Tag Archives: understanding

Fall Safety, General Safety Issues

PREVENTING FALLS – A VERY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY OF EMPLOYERS

 This just in from OSHA QUIK-TAKES bi-monthly newsletter:  

OSHA has cited Republic Steel for 24 safety violations carrying fines of $1,138,500. The Canton, Ohio-based steel manufacturing plant was inspected after OSHA received a formal complaint alleging inadequate fall protection and other unsafe practices that exposed workers to various hazards in the plant’s melt shop. OSHA discovered during the inspection that two workers had been seriously injured from falls in 2012. The company has a history of failing to address fall hazards and will remain in OSHA’s Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which mandates targeted follow-up inspections to ensure compliance with the law.  

It’s a fact: falls from elevations account for one-third of all construction deaths.  Because of the nature of construction workers, it is not surprising that their job is classified as high-risk.  Everyone has a critical role to play in protecting construction workers.  Beginning with architects who design the building, to equipment designers, and the construction company itself, owe it to their employees to plan ahead to get the job done safely.  They must train all employees in ways to protect themselves with the proper personal protective equipment, how to maintain it, and provide them with the correct equipment to do the most efficient job. 

It is important that workers who speak different languages are trained to understand how important working safely is.  Materials should be provided in English and Spanish on ladder, scaffold, construction falls, and personal fall arrest systems.  Special training should be given to ensure all workers comprehend and follow the precise instructions from the manuals or brochures. 

It may be surprising to some, but many serious injuries are caused by falls from as little as six feet of height.  Requirements from OSHA are that anyone exposed to six feet or more falls need either a guardrail system, safety net system, or personal fall protection.  

Hazards in the construction industry include: 

  •          Unguarded protruding steel rebars;
  •          Improper scaffolding construction;
  •          Misuse of portable ladders;
  •          Unprotected sides or open floor holes.

 
After the building site is surveyed, the first thing to be done once construction has started, is to cover all floor openings and sides of building.  The largest percent of workers reportedly suffering fatal falls came from falls from ladders.  Others were falls from roof, scaffolds, non-moving vehicles/lifts, through openings, through roof surface, and falling to lower levels. 

Laws that pertain to the safety of workers are as important as laws requiring compliance in all other topics.  The people that construct our buildings and homes have the right to work safely and confidently, using their talents to their full extent.  It is the obligation of the company to see that they are kept safe every day.  If employers are responsible they can avoid expensive settlements and fines

Source: OSHA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues

SAFETY FOR TEMPORARY WORKERS

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an initiative to further protect temporary employees from workplace hazards.  A new OSHA memorandum directs field inspectors to assess whether employers who use part-time workers are complying with their responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Inspectors will use a newly created code in their information system to denote when temporary workers are exposed to safety and health violations. Additionally, they will assess whether temporary workers received required training in a language and vocabulary they could understand.

The memo underscores the duty of employers to protect all workers from hazards.  Also,  OSHA said it has begun working with the American Staffing Association and employers that use staffing agencies, to promote best practices ensuring that temporary workers are protected from job hazards.  However, it is the responsibity of the employer to provide the same training full-time employees are given, as they are legally liable for the safety and health of temporary workers. 

In recent months, OSHA said it has received a series of reports about temporary workers suffering fatal injuries – many during their first days on a job. OSHA has issued citations when the employer failed to provide adequate protections, including safety training.  Many of these, as stated above, did not understand instructions given.  They must be trained in construction industries, as well as manufacturing.  They should attend regular safety meetings and understand about fall protection, chemicals, machine guarding, and other hazards, as well as become familiar with PPE
personal protective equipment they should be given.

Data from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries conducted by the Bureau of Labor, reported statistics on workers killed on the job in 2011:  fatal work injuries involving contractors accounted for 542 – or 12 percent – of the 4,693 fatal work injuries reported. Hispanic/Latino contractors accounted for 28 percent of fatal work injuries among contractors, well above their 16 percent share of the overall fatal work injury total for the year. 

A report from the nonprofit Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) details the increasing use of contingent workers to perform dangerous, undesirable jobs in industries like farming, construction, warehousing and hotel services. Noting that the number of contingent workers has doubled in twenty years to more than 2.5 million, the report underscores Bureau of Labor Statistics data that they suffer higher rates of injury and death than other employees. 

The economic and political vulnerability of contingent workers, who are often poor and sometimes undocumented, makes them easy to exploit not only with low wages and long hours, but also with unsafe working conditions. According to the study, because contingent employees rarely have health insurance or even workers’ compensation coverage, employers are able to shift the financial burden of workplace injuries onto the public, and often skimp on safety training of temps.

Most temporary workers are thankful for a paycheck and are willing to do any type of job.  Employers owe it to them to see that they are able to return home at the end of the workday safe and sound.

 

General Safety Issues

THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING CARS (GUEST POST)

By Don Elfrink
The Importance of Understanding Cars

Whether you bought a new car or a used car, that vehicle represents a significant
investment. However, unlike other investments (stocks, bonds, time-shares, etc.),
most people don’t understand much more than the basics about their cars. You know
that it needs oil to run, that there’s antifreeze somewhere under the hood and that you
have to keep gas in the tank to stay on the road. When you consider that the average
investment in an automobile is about five years (and that’s just to pay off the loan, not to
actually get your money’s worth out of the car), it makes sense to know as much about
your vehicle as you can.

Gain an Understanding of How Things Work

The number of people who understand almost nothing about their cars is actually rather
surprising. While you’d think they’d know at least the basics, a considerable number of
drivers know nothing more than that they need to take their car to the mechanic every
few thousand miles for an oil change. This is the most basic type of maintenance, and
your automobile needs more TLC than that, especially if you want to make it actually
last you. The most basic things that you should know include the main components
under the hood, how to check oil, transmission fluid, antifreeze, tire pressure and
change the air filter in your car. Each of these is simple but important for overall
automotive health.

Go Beyond The Basics

While learning the basics is vital, it’s important that you go a bit beyond the basics if
you really want to ensure that you make the most out of your investment. For instance,
you’d never buy into an investment without knowing what kind of interest rate you’d get
on your money and how that interest was calculated. The same thing applies to your
vehicle – you need to know as much about how every system works as possible. That
doesn’t mean you need to get your ASE certification, but it does mean that you need a
working knowledge of most systems and components on your car.

For instance, you need to know which radiator hoses are which (in and out, for
instance). You need to know where your oil pan is, and how to check for a leaking
gasket. You need to know how to check your brake pads and how to ensure that brake
lines aren’t leaking. If this sounds like a lot, don’t let it dissuade you from learning and
then putting your knowledge to work. There are plenty of resources where you can find
information about your car and how it works, including the following:•

How Stuff Works – This is a great website for learning how almost anything
works, including your vehicle. The automotive section is comprehensive and
easy to understand. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/•

Jiffy Lube – One of the leading “quick oil change” chains in the country, Jiffy
Lube also offers a good resource for learning more about your car. http://

Edmunds.com – Edmunds.com is one of the leading websites for anything
automotive, though it’s really geared more for buying or selling a car. However,
they do have a good bit of information about how vehicles work and getting the
most use out of them. http://www.edmunds.com/cars/•

Chilton – If you want something a bit more in-depth, then a repair manual from
Chilton might just do the trick. You’ll find a broad range of information in these
manuals, as well as their online resources. http://www.chilton.cengage.com/

Haynes – When it comes to repair and service information, few resources
compete with Haynes. You can buy a book that details pretty much every
part of your vehicle, or use their online resources. http://www.haynes.com/
repairmanuals
 
 
Don Elfrink is the owner and operator of AutoMatStore, an auto flooring company based
out Columbia, Missouri. Before AutoMatStore, Elfrink was the operator of an automotive
production site. AutoMatStore floor mats come for most makes in models with plenty of styles to choose from.
General Safety Issues

PAY ATTENTION TO SAFETY RULES!

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In the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is concerned with knowing that every employee in the workplace is safe.  Training and practice are the cornerstones of workplace safety.  Management of any business, large or small, must determine how its safety program will be implemented.  There should be a site-specific, employee-specific analysis.  Small businesses must comply with OSHA regulations, although there may be slightly different standards.  By putting good safety training programs into practice, businesses can avoid penalties, improve morale and increase productivity. 

 Having good safety leaders is a major factor in a successful safety program.  They should have excellent communication skills.  They need to be educated in all safety facets of the workplace and familiar with any past issues that have occurred.  Each employee must be taught that safety is foremost.  They should have adequate training before beginning any job where there is risk.  

We all know how difficult it is to learn a new job: the amount of duties each person is responsible for, how to perform the job safely and efficiently, becoming familiar with manuals, and  company policies, such as drug testing, etc.  If the job has risks, such as handling hazardous materials, or exposure to other workplace injuries, the new employee must learn all about what type of personal protective equipment, (i.e., hardhats, gloves, glasses, etc.) how to wear it, and take care of it, and when to replace it if damaged.  

Retention is an important word in safety training.  The leader must determine these things in judging the trainees:

  • Were they really listening?
  • Do they understand the proper ergonomics?  If the job requires twisting, lifting, or awkward positions, will they know what to do?
  • Is the workplace free from trips, slips, and fall hazards?
  • Has the noise factor been taken under consideration?
  • Do they realize the importance of PPE?
  • How well did they really comprehend?
  • Do they know what to watch for?

All workers must respond by giving the instructor the proper attention:

  •          Listen to your safety instructor.  He/she is there to teach you how to be safe.
  •          Pay Attention!  Your training is for your benefit.
  •          Do Not Rush! 
  •          Avoid monotony.  Try to vary your routine or ask to rotate duties.
  •          Be Careful All the Time – You can use caution for years, and then get hurt by not paying attention for only a couple of seconds.
  •          Don’t Take Risks! – A show of bravado won’t help you win the  respect of co-workers.
  •          Don’t Cut Corners on Safety!
  •          Use Common Sense.
  •          Again, listen to your leader and co-workers. 
  •          Look out for your co-workers.
  •          If you see an unsafe act, tell your supervisor.
  •          If in doubt, check it out! 
  •          Don’t hesitate to ask questions about things you don’t clearly understand.

The goal of everyone is to do a day’s work and go home safely at the end of the day.  Follow the rules of safety and everyone wins!  Be a part of your company’s safety TEAM – Together Everyone Accomplishes More!