Summer Heat and Sun - Tool Box Talks

Hot  summer  months  pose  special  hazards  for  outdoor  workers  who  must  protect  themselves  against  heat, sun  exposure,  and  other  hazards.  Employers  and  employees  should  know  the  potential  hazards  in  their workplaces and how to manage them.

Sun

Sunlight  contains  ultraviolet  (UV)  radiation,  which  causes  premature  aging  of  the  skin,  wrinkles,  cataracts, and  skin  cancer.  There  are  no  safe  UV  rays  or  safe  suntans.  Be  especially  careful  in  the  sun  if  you  burn  easily, spend  a  lot  of  time  outdoors,  or  have  any  of  the  following  physical  features:  numerous,  irregular,  or  large moles; freckles; fair skin; or blond, red,  or  light  brown  hair.  Here’s  how  to  block  those  harmful  rays:

• Cover  up.  Wear  tightly  woven  clothing  that  you  can’t  see  through.

• Use  sunscreen.  A  sun  protection  factor  (SPF)  of  at  least  15  blocks  93  percent  of  UV  rays.  Be  sure  to  follow  application  directions  on  the  bottle  or  tube.

• Wear  a  hat.  A  wide  brim  hat,  not  a  baseball  cap,  works  best  because  it  protects  the  neck,  ears,  eyes,  forehead,  nose,  and  scalp.  

• Wear  UV-absorbent  shades.  Sunglasses don’t have to be expensive, but they should block 99 to 100 percent  of  UVA  and  UVB  radiation.  Before  you  buy,  read  the  product  tag  or  label.  

• Limit  exposure.  UV  rays  are  most  intense  between  10  a.m.  and  4  p.m.

Heat

The combination of heat and humidity  can  be  a  serious  health  threat  during  the  summer  months.  If  you work  at  a  beach  resort,  on  a  farm,  or  in  a  kitchen,  laundry,  or  bakery,  for  example,  you  may  be  at  risk  for heat-related  illness.  So,  take  precautions.  Here’s  how:

• Drink  plenty  of  water before  you  get  thirsty.  

• Wear  light,  loose-fitting, breathable clothing— cotton  is  good.

• Take  frequent  short  breaks  in  cool  shade.

• Eat  smaller  meals  before  work  activity.

• Avoid  caffeine  and  alcohol  or  large  amounts  of  sugar.

• Find out from your health-care provider  if  your  medications  and  heat  don’t  mix.

• Know  that  equipment  such  as  respirators  or  work  suits  can  increase  heat  stress.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency
 

Workplace Violence On the job Tool Box Talks

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What is workplace violence?

Workplace violence ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and even homicide. It can affect and involve employees, clients, customers and visitors. Workplace violence includes but is not limited to:

·        Physical violence

·        Harassment

·        Intimidation

·        Other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site 

 How can workplace violence hazards be reduced?

Behaviors of concern can help workers recognize potential problems with fellow employees. If a coworker begins acting differently, determining the frequency, duration, and intensity of the new, and possibly troubling, behavior can prove helpful. Specific behaviors of concern that should increase vigilance for coworkers and supervisors include:

·        Sadness or depression
·        Threats
·        Menacing or erratic behavior	·
·        Aggressive outbursts	·
·        References to weaponry        Verbal Abuse        Inability to handle criticism        Hypersensitivity to perceived slight          Offensive commentary or jokes referring to violence  These behaviors—when observed in clusters and coupled with diminished work performance (as manifested by increased tardiness or absences, poor coworker relations, and decreased productivity)—may suggest a heightened violence potential. It must be pointed out, however, that no single behavior is more suggestive of violence than another. All actions have to be judged in the proper context and in totality to determine the potential for violence. Care must be taken when dealing with what can be highly charged situations. Certain signs that may help determine if a coworker is experiencing such difficulties include: ·        Disruptive phone calls and e-mails ·         ·        Anxiety ·        Poor concentration ·        Unexplained bruises or injuries          Frequent absences and tardiness         Use of unplanned personal time           Disruptive visit from current or former partners Remember that all incidents are different and must be viewed on their own individual merits. What is the process if I witness or experience workplace violence? Report concerns regarding workplace violence to your supervisors or Human Resources Department. Your employer will investigate all threats, incidents of actual violence, and suspicious individuals or activities. The identity of the individual making a report will be protected as much as possible. Your employer will not retaliate against employees making good-faith reports of threats, violence, or suspicious individuals or activities. Following an investigation, disciplinary action may be taken, up to and including termination of employment.  This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Noise? What Noise? Tool Box Talks

Construction sites are noisy places, especially during certain phases of a project. However, you don't have to accept hearing loss as a cost of working at construction sites. Noise is now recognized by OSHA as a hazard that can cause:
• Temporary or permanent hearing loss.
• Drowsiness, irritability, & loss of concentration.
• Decreased morale and stress.
• High blood pressure, ulcers, headaches, and sleeping disorders.

 There is no cure for noise-induced hearing loss, so preventing exposure to excessive noise is the only way to avoid hearing damage and other hazards. Noise is unwanted sound measured by its frequency (high or low pitch and its intensity (loudness measured in decibels (dB)). High frequencies are most damaging. Construction workers may not be exposed to more than an average of 85 dB over an eight-hour period without hearing protection being provided.

Hearing protection devices (HPDs) do not block out sound completely, but they give some protection by reducing the amount of sound reaching your ear. At the same time, you will be able to hear speech and important machinery sounds.

Keep in mind, though, that HPDs are provided only after your employer assesses the noise, attempts to reduce it using engineering and administrative controls (like having you work far from noisy equipment, limiting the amount of time you spend in noisy environments, and installing antivibration machine mountings or acoustical enclosures), and then finds that hazardous noise remains. The various HPDs that your company may provide to you include ear plugs, ear muffs, or canal caps.

Ultimately, you are responsible for protecting your own hearing. Here are some points to remember about protecting your sense of hearing:
• Have an annual hearing test.
• Make sure your hearing protection fits.
• Don't use homemade hearing protection devices; they don't work.
• Keep hearing protection devices in good condition.
• Wear hearing protection devices at work as required and at home when working on noisy projects.

Download this article.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

Fire Protection & Prevention - Tool Box Talks

Under construction fire.

Fire threatens the construction work site, and you, the construction worker. Fire can destroy materials, structures, and even life. Protect yourself and the job site from the danger of fire.

How To Avoid Starting Fires
The best way to deal with fire is to avoid starting a fire in the first place. The following pointers will help you do just that:

1. Help keep the jobsite neat and clean, avoiding the accumulation of debris, dust, rags, or other materials that could start or feed a fire.

2. If working with gasoline or other flammable types of substances, use extra caution and be aware of proper work procedures with
these substances.

3. If working with electricity on the job site, be careful and make sure it is wired correctly.

4. Use electrically-powered tools only in approved areas away from flammables or combustibles.

5. Know the location of and how to use extinguishers and other fire-fighting equipment and supplies on the job site.

6. Don’t smoke anywhere on the job site where it could constitute a fire hazard.

What To Do In Case Of Fire
Even if you are safe, you may eventually find yourself in a fire situation on the job site. The following points are suggested responses and steps to take in the event of a fire:

1. Be aware of smoke and noxious fumes, and avoid them in the following ways. Fumes can enter the lungs and leave a person unconscious and at the mercy of flames. All fires consume oxygen to burn. Most victims of a fire suffocate from lack of oxygen. They are unconscious or dead before flames consume them. Do the following: Inside a building that is in flames, shut all doors within your reach. Outside, get away from the direction of the flames and smoke to avoid inhaling smoke and fumes.

2. Avoid panic. Although fire is a panic situation, when one panics, dangerous mistakes can be made. Stay calm, assess the extent of the blaze, call the fire department, and acts quickly to contain or extinguish the blaze.

3. Take the proper steps as quickly as possible. Time is of the essence in fire fighting. The smaller the fire, the easier it is to extinguish. Be prepared to respond quickly: Know your company’s emergency procedures, the location of fire alarms and extinguishers and how to use them, and your nearest fire exit and proceed to it in an orderly fashion.

4. Use a shield. In any fire situation inside a building, anything you can use-any type of shield, heavy blankets or tarps-will help you get out of the building with less risk of injury. A wet cloth or handkerchief over your nose will help cut down the smoke intake.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

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Construction company owner indicted for manslaughter.

Construction company owner indicted for manslaughter after failure to heed multiple safety warnings leads to worker's death.

Salvatore Schirripa, a Bensonhurst, N.Y., construction company owner, has been indicted on manslaughter and other charges following the April 2015 death of Vidal Sanchez-Ramon, his employee at a Coney Island work site. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Sanchez-Ramon was smoothing concrete on the sixth floor of the work site when he reached the edge and fell to his death. He was not wearing a harness, nor was fall protection installed as required by OSHA and the New York City Building Code. This fatal incident followed multiple warnings and citations to Schirripa since 2011 from OSHA and the New York City Department of Buildings for failing to provide effective fall protection.

It is alleged that several days prior to Sanchez-Ramon’s death, Schirripa visited the worksite and saw that the wire cable fence was positioned several feet in from the edge, along one side of the floor. Nevertheless, Schirripa directed that his workers pour and smooth the concrete outside the wire cable fence without harnesses, ultimately leading to Sanchez-Ramon's death.

"The deaths of Mr. Sanchez and the seven other New York City construction workers in falls in 2015 were all needless and preventable," said OSHA Regional Administrator Robert Kulick. "This indictment sends a strong message to those employers who would neglect their legal responsibility to provide their employees with safe workplaces and working conditions."

For more, see the Brooklyn District Attorney Office’s news release.

An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

CSC's Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction Event-June 24, 2016

This year the Construction Safety Council (CSC), National Safety Education Center (NSEC) and American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) have teamed up to provide a day full of fall protection safety training plus a hands-on demonstration provided by Bob Turner with Capital Safety in support of  OSHA's National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction.

NSEC will provide a #7405 Fall Hazard Awareness in Construction class for only $25 per person. This class is limited to 30 participants.

For those who cannot attend the 7 hour class, feel free to stop by for the hands-on fall protection demonstration starting at 1:00pm. Registration is not required for the demonstration. 

Participants will be able to provide feedback about their Stand-Down experience and download a Certificate of Participation signed by Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez following the Stand-Down.

Friday,  June 24th from 7:30 am - 2pm.

Register for this class. 

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Summer heat safety campaign begins.

OSHA has kicked off its summer campaign to inform employers and employees about the dangers of working in the heat. The campaign will continue its annual outreach to highlight how heat-related worker fatalities are entirely preventable. In 2014 alone, 2,630 workers suffered from heat illness and 18 died from heat stroke and related causes on the job.

On May 26, Kelly Schnapp, who directs OSHA's Office of Science and Technology Assessment, joined four other experts on a White House webinar highlighting the risks of extreme heat to four vulnerable populations: the elderly, athletes, emergency responders, and outdoor workers. Schnapp noted that a majority of recent heat-related deaths investigated by OSHA involved workers on the job for three days or less – highlighting the need for employers to ensure that new workers become acclimated to the heat when starting or returning to work.

OSHA also provided heat safety tips for workers in a blog, Twitter posts, and an updated heat campaign webpage that now includes illustrations of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, an animated video, training resources, and links to an updated heat safety phone app. #WaterRestShade is the official hashtag of the campaign, encouraging employers to provide their workers with drinking water, ample breaks, and a shaded area while working outdoors. OSHA also continues to partner with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to raise awareness on the dangers of working in the heat through its Weather-Ready Nation campaign.

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