Windy Conditions and Construction

Windy conditions are a fact of life in this area during many times of the year. The goal is to maintain safety and production while dealing with this issue. Sometimes it is just too windy to work. A collapsed wall, employee injury or other related incident will cost far more than any production gains that can be made in high-wind conditions.

Wall Bracing:
How much bracing is needed? Watching the weather report is a good plan to take. A sunny day can turn into near-tornado conditions by the next day. There is no formula for proper bracing. However, experience is the primary method. Be conservative and brace assuming strong overnight wind.
- The future weather should always be a concern that is monitored.
- Some crews have made California Corner braces to increase the breaking strength of the brace.
- The point of brace contact on the floor needs to be strong. A brace nailed into the flooring needs to be nailed through a floor joist as well.
- The point of brace contact on the wall should not be damaged or split wood. Damaged lumber will not likely hold a substantial wind load without failure.

Standing Walls:
A plan needs to be established when placing walls with regard to wind. (The goal is to take precautionary measures to avoid an incident rather than reacting to a wall tip-over.)
- Make certain the appropriate man-power is available.
- Wall braces may need to be placed prior to standing the wall during windy conditions.
- The bottom of the wall may need to be strapped even on 8 foot 2x4 walls if the winds dictate.
- Determine if it is too windy to lift the walls. This may be your best decision of the day.

Bracing Roof Trusses:
Proper bracing is usually left to the discretion of the roof crew. Keep in mind that a gable truss recently broke a 2 x 4 support causing an injury. The supporting brace may subject to loads that will break a standard 2 x 4 during windy conditions. If it is becoming windy, additional bracing and sway bracing will be needed. When monitoring this on the job, ask the roof crew to support the trusses for substantial wind. Be willing to stop the work.

Roof Sheathing:
Sometimes the best protection is to suspend work. If the work will continue based on the best judgement of the foreman, the following items should be considered:
- Nail down what you place the same day.
- Always walk on the wind-side of the plywood sheet. This way, you can let go of the sheet rather than being blown off the roof. (If it is this windy, you should probably suspend roof work.)
- Storing material on the roof: The top several sheets of plywood need to be secured to prevent them from blowing off the roof. The entire plywood bunk may need to be secured based on wind or anticipated wind.

Other Operations:
- Suspend top plate work if the wind creates an unacceptable hazard.
- Unsecured material stored in a vertical position are at risk at being blown over and should be taken down or secured.
- Ladders should not be stored in a leaning position.
- Caution needs to be paid to cutting operations. Always stand up wind of the cut so the saw dust will not blow in your eyes.

This information was provided by: Assurance Agency

OSHA to delay enforcing crystalline silica standard in the construction industry

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a delay in enforcement of the crystalline silica standard that applies to the construction industry to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employers.

The agency has determined that additional guidance is necessary due to the unique nature of the requirements in the construction standard. Originally scheduled to begin June 23, 2017, enforcement will now begin Sept. 23, 2017.

OSHA expects employers in the construction industry to continue to take steps either to come into compliance with the new permissible exposure limit, or to implement specific dust controls for certain operations as provided in Table 1 of the standard. Construction employers should also continue to prepare to implement the standard’s other requirements, including exposure assessment, medical surveillance and employee training.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

MSDS for Construction

OSHA requires that construction workers who come into contact with hazardous chemicals be provided with thorough and accurate information on each hazardous chemical present at their worksite. The material safety data sheet, or MSDS, is the means used to provide the required information on worksite chemicals and hazards.

MSDSs are easily stored and can be readily accessible to employees. Your safety director should tell you where those MSDSs are located at your site. If you don’t know where they are, find out.

MSDSs come in all kinds of formats. As long as all the prescribed information is presented on the MSDS in English, requirements have been met. Most MSDSs come on paper sheets; however, technology has led some companies to computerize MSDSs. OSHA approves of this method, but only if the information is in English and readily available to workers. Here are the MSDS sections you will find and what information they contain:

Chemical identity — The identity used on the label, except trade secrets.

Physical and chemical characteristics — Vapor pressure, flash point, and other characteristics.

Physical hazards — Including the potential for fire, explosion, and reactivity.

Health hazards — Including signs and symptoms of exposure, and any medical conditions which are generally recognized as being aggravated by exposure to the chemical.

Primary route(s) of entry — Including skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion.

Exposure limits — Exposure limits used or recommended by the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer preparing the MSDS, where available.

Carcinogenic properties — Whether the hazardous chemical is listed in the official lists of carcinogens and potential carcinogens.

Precautions for safe handling and use — Any generally applicable precautions for safe handling and use, including hygienic practices, personal protective measures, and procedures for cleanup of spills and leaks.

Control measures — Any generally applicable control measures, such as appropriate engineering controls, work practices, or PPE.

Emergency and first aid measures — How to treat workers who are exposed.

Date of preparation — The date of preparation of the MSDS or the last change to it.

Manufacturer, importer, or responsible party — The name, address, and telephone number of the chemical manufacturer, importer, employer, or other responsible party preparing or distributing the MSDS, who can provide additional information on the hazardous chemical and appropriate emergency procedures, if necessary.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Classes for April 2017

Our training calendar has been updated, it is more responsive to our members needs and contains more information.

View Classes for April 2017

View the current Training Calendar.

Preventing Repetitive Motion Injury - On the job tool box talks

Repetitive motion injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome result from performing a task or motion repeatedly without giving the body time to rest, recuperate and repair from the activity. These injuries may also be increased by awkward positions or postures, vibration, and using hands to pound or push on things. Other common repetitive motion injuries also include tennis elbow, bursitis of shoulder, hips, and/or knees and tendonitis.

How to apply prevention strategies:

Stretch

You need to warm up muscles before use. Doing a quick five minute exercise can prevent repetitive motion injuries. Almost any stretching regime will help.

BASIC STRETCH EXAMPLE:

Extend and stretch both wrists and fingers acutely as if they are in a hand‐stand position. Hold for a count of 5.

Straighten both wrists and relax fingers.

Make a tight fist with both hands

Then bend both fist done while maintaining the fist. Hold for 5.

Straighten both wrists and relax fingers hold for 5.

Repeat 10 times then relax arms to side and shake out fingers.

Use the right tool
- Handles should be comfortable and fit to the individual. Modifications with foam, tape or other materials can be used to improve comfort of grips. Broken or damaged grips are usually bad from an ergonomic standpoint and should be replaced.

- Keep bladed tools sharp. This will decrease resistance and muscle strain.

Watch the pace
- Mix things up. Try to avoid doing the same repetitive activity for more than 20 minutes or so. Take a break and stretch, clean up scrap, inspect work or other activity to give your muscles a change and/or rest.

- Try not to rush. Pushing speed will increase muscle strain and increase chance of other accidents. Listen to your body

- Muscle pain is a warning. Don’t ignore it.

- Change your position, stretch, modify tool handle or just take a break when your muscles start hurting. You may be preventing a serious accident.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

CSC Classes for April 2017

Our training calendar has been updated, it is more responsive to our members needs and contains more information.

View Classes for April 2017

View the current Training Calendar.

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Falling Object Protection

The OSHA fall protection rule also covers falling object protection. The rule requires your employer to take measures to protect you from falling objects.

Hard hats are the number one defense against overhead hazards including falling objects. However, hard hats are not enough. An additional method of protection must be used when there are employees working or walking below.

Falling object protection alternatives
OSHA provides a number of falling object protection methods to select from, depending on your company’s need. The choices are toeboards and screens, guardrails, canopies, signs, barricades, or simply moving objects away from the edge.

Falling object protection methods
Guardrails — When guardrails are used to prevent materials from falling from one level to another, any openings must be small enough to prevent passage of potential falling objects.

Toeboards — When toeboards are used as protection from falling objects, they must be erected along the edges of the overhead walking/working surface for a distance sufficient to protect persons working below.

To ensure a toeboard can stop falling objects, it must be capable of withstanding a force of at least 50 pounds applied in any downward or outward direction anywhere along the toeboard.

Toeboards must be a minimum of 3.5 inches tall, have no more than 0.25 inches clearance above the surface, and be solid or have openings no larger than one inch.

Where tools, equipment, or materials are piled higher than the top edge of a toeboard, panelling or screening must be erected from the walking/working surface or toeboard to the top of a guardrail’s top rail or midrail, for a distance sufficient to protect employees below.

Materials storage — To prevent tripping hazards, no materials or equipment, except masonry and mortar, can be stored within 4 feet of working edges.

Excess mortar, broken or scattered masonry units, and all other materials and debris must be kept clear of your working area. Remove these materials regularly.

During roofing work, materials and equipment cannot be stored within 6 feet of a roof edge unless guardrails are erected at the edge. Materials near a roof edge must be stable and self-supporting.

Canopies — When used as a protection from falling objects, canopies must be strong enough to prevent collapse or penetration by objects that may fall onto them.

Being hit by falling objects at construction sites is not only possible but probable at some point in your career. Being prepared is the best defense against serious injury.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency