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February 10th, 2009 at 3:20 pm

Equipment Safety: OSHA Standards in the Safe Use of Laser

» by debbiedebbie in: Equipment and Vehicles,PPE

The construction industry benefits from the many wonders of laser technology. In construction sites, laser is used in leveling and elevations alignment applications, as well as in precision cutting and grading.

General Safety Measures

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set general requirements for the use of laser. These requirements are under the Nonionizing Radiation standard.

Below are some of the general requirements and safety precautions for laser use.

Warning signs or placards must be posted in areas where lasers are used.

All laser equipment must bear a label that indicates its maximum output.

Laser units used in operation should be set above the heads of employees.

When laser transmission is not required, the laser should be turned off or the beam shutters or caps should be utilized.

The laser must be turned off before leaving it unattended.

The laser beam must never be directed at workers.

Only electronic or mechanical means should be used as detectors for guiding the alignment of the laser.

Workers must be provided with anti-laser eye protection when there is potential exposure to direct or reflected laser light greater than five milliwatts.

Laser operations should be prohibited when it rains or snows or when there is fog or dust in the air.

Harmful Laser Exposures

Workers must never be exposed to non-ionizing radiation light intensities above the following standard values:

Direct Staring – one micro-watt per square centimeter (applies when workers are required to or are likely to look directly into the beam to perform their work)

Incidental Observing – one milliwatt per square centimeter (applies when workers are not required to look directly into the laser or are unlikely to do so)

Diffused Reflected Light – two and one half watts per square centimeter

Microwave Power Densities – ten milliwatts per square centimeter

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February 2nd, 2009 at 1:50 pm

MSHA Update: Fire Prevention in Mining Sites with Better Conveyor Belts

» by debbiedebbie in: Uncategorized

Better selection of conveyor belts may just save a life. As a matter of fact, they can save hundreds of lives in a mining site by preventing fire hazards. That is, if they have an improved flame-resistant quality.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently published a final rule implementing the use of belt air. This is based on a recommendation given by a technical study panel on the properties of belt air.

Besides implementing the use of belt air, the rule covers requirements for the following:

Fire prevention and detection in belt entries
Approval of the use of air from the belt entry to ventilate working conditions
Standardized signals on lifelines

MSHA also reminds mine operators to make sure belts are aligned and rollers are not damaged.

Click HERE for more details about the final rule.

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January 26th, 2009 at 10:09 am

Vehicle Safety Tips: All You Need to Know about Night Driving

» by debbiedebbie in: Equipment and Vehicles,Maintenance and Repairs

I remember how as a child I always loved going on joy rides at night. For me, the cool breeze and bright lights at night are unmatched by the sights and sounds offered by day. Being a passenger on night rides came with this magical feeling I couldn’t explain then.

When I learned how to drive my own car, I found that all that magic is gone. Yes, sometimes I still pretend I’m an artist in a music video or an uptown girl visiting a foreign city. But driving at night time pushes me to reject all my weirdest fantasies. After all, creativity can wait when danger is lurking behind the darkness.

For drivers who have to work at night by delivering goods or traveling from one workplace to another, a wild imagination is not necessary to stay safe on the road. All you need are the following safety measures on night driving.

Maintenance and Inspection

Clean your windows at least once a week to keep them spotless. Immediately replace cracked glass as they can reflect glare from other vehicle lights.

Inspect all your vehicle lights (headlights, taillights, signal lights) to make sure that they’re clean and in good working condition. Do a general cleaning every week.

Broken lenses are a big no-no. Always keep your headlights properly adjusted.

Make sure all headlights are accurately aimed. You can do this by parking your car within 20 feet of a flat wall. Turn your headlights on, get out of the driver’s seat and check from a center position inside the coach if both headlights point straight ahead and if they hit at the same height.

On the Road

Always maintain a longer following distance. Since it’s more challenging to see pedestrians and other vehicles on the road, you should keep a longer distance from the vehicle ahead of you. This is all the more true if you’re driving a truck as it has a longer stopping distance than a regular vehicle.

Keep your headlights dim as you drive. Dim them, too, when you are within 250 feet of a vehicle you want to overtake.

Avoid looking directly at bright lights.

Watch out for animals on the road. Keep in mind that a lot of creatures are more active at night and are harder to see. Yes, vampires are included in the list, so watch out for human-looking creatures in black capes.

Avoid smoking while behind the wheel. In fact, avoid multitasking while driving, more so at night. A six-second phone call could cause you a lifetime injury. And that might mean a severe injury at night time.

Beware of highway hypnosis. You can avoid this night driving hazard by using the radio and taking in cool, fresh air.

Avoid taking medication before driving as this can cause you to become sleepy or impede your judgment.

Responding to Fatigue

Fatigue, as you know, has caused millions of accidents in the past. When your eyelids are getting heavy or you simply feel fatigue setting in, follow these guidelines:

Pull over and rest. It’s best to take a nap, arrive late in your destination than meet an accident along the way.

Take frequent breaks. If you’re on a long trip, stopping every hour and doing some exercise will help you stay alert.

Use your visor to cut down on glare from other traffic.

While the tips above seem simple, your stubborn side could take over once you’re behind the wheel. Remember that whether or not you’re a professional driver, you should be doubly cautious in driving at night than ten times sorry when you meet an accident. And yes, take your imagination cap off in the meantime.

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January 15th, 2009 at 6:38 pm

Winter Safety: 9 Tips on Driving on Icy Slopes or Hills

» by debbiedebbie in: Construction

Driving in snow means facing a multitude of tests. First, there is the test in humility. No matter how good a driver you are, winter driving requires you to slow down. Second is the test in patience. You want so bad to get to where you have to go. But you have no choice but to keep a longer following distance from the vehicle in front of you. Third is the test in colors. If you don’t know the color of black ice, you’re more likely to skid on the road.

These and more make driving on ice- and snow-covered roads a tough ordeal for both rookie and experienced drivers. If you think this is the most challenging driving can get, think again. Nothing could probably match the struggles that come with driving on icy slopes.

Workers who have to go on the road during this season might have experienced navigating icy hills. Without proper know-how and practice, it’s easy to slide back down and meet an injury along the way. Here are some general tips you should apply when driving on icy slopes or hills:

1. Tire for all seasons

…or not. One of the best winter driving precautions is getting winter tires for your vehicle, instead of the ever present all weather tires. While you’re at it, get some snow chains to keep you from skidding.

2. Tomorrow never dies.

It’s always best to postpone your trip when the roads and hills are slippery. This is especially true during winter storms.

3. Slow down.

Just slow down. Keep things slow. Never go fast. How else do you want me to put it?

4. Just say no!

…to icy roads. Avoid driving on icy roads as much as possible.

5. Choosing sides

This is similar to taking the road not taken. By avoiding paths taken by other vehicles, you might have a chance at having better traction. There’s no better way to do this than driving on the sides.

6. Bust a groove!

Always be on the lookout for grooves made by other cars. Just get out of them as much as you can. Remember that grooves are much more slippery than other spots on the road.

7. Look, Ma, sand on the road!

Yes, better look for this, too. This time, you should drive on spots with sand since they have better traction than snow-covered surfaces.

8. From the start

A lot of factors rely on how well you start your driving from the bottom of the hill. Just keep in mind to accelerate at the bottom of the hill. This way, you have extra momentum as you climb up the slope or hill.

9. Spin Doctor

Should you spin along the way, don’t panic. Release the pressure on the accelerator.

Related Links:

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January 14th, 2009 at 10:04 pm

Winter Safety: 7 Tips for Winter Slip and Fall Prevention

» by debbiedebbie in: Uncategorized

If only winter fairy godmothers existed in real life, we could ask for this protective bubble around every worker so that they’d forever be spared the doom of slipping on slippery surfaces. Okay, maybe not forever but only in winter when walkways and steps are more slippery and they’re more than what our regular shoes can handle.

Unfortunately for us poor mortals, the workplace is no room for fairy tales. Employers can do nothing but be the fairy godmothers of themselves and their own employees. By carefully planning the steps to improve snow safety, they can prevent slips and falls during the most slippery time of the year.

If you happen to be an employer or a safety coordinator, you better check out these eight tips that will keep workers safe from winter slips and falls at your workplace:

1. Create your winter dream team.

There is no need to draft basketball players this season. This is not about space jam, alien slavers or super cuddly Looney Toon characters. While winter has been around for quite some time now, you might have yet to appoint some employees to monitor the weather conditions in your area. If that is so, it’s never too late. But you better get those “weather people” now or you risk the lives of all your employees.

Bonus Winter Tip: Time to roll your sleeves up and start a brainstorming session with your dream team. With them, you should review your snow removal plan or snow safety plan for the workplace. Encourage them to make improvements on these plans, especially if they were created last year or before that. Whatever you come up with, make sure you provide each worker of the company with a copy of information about these plans and other related updates.

2. Get regular winter updates.

Pick one person in your dream team to update a specific officer in the management heirarchy about the latest weather conditions. They should immediately relay storm warnings and weather updates to the officer most especially when the conditions become potentially dangerous.

Bonus Winter Tip: Nobody likes winter storms but you can’t just sulk and whine if it blows your way. Should you get stuck at the work site during a blizzard or another winter storm, here are safety measures you should follow.

3. Don anti-slip footwear!

The trouble with cold feet (literally, that is) is that you can’t be safe just by keeping them warm. It’s all about safeguarding the soles. Kidding aside, with all the snow and ice your workers have to tread on, you’d be crazy if at this time of the year, they have yet their own pair of non-skid shoes, anti-slip overshoes, ice walkers or other anti-slip footwear. Make sure you prioritize the needs of employees who frequently come and go from your work site.

Bonus Winter Tip: We know it’s plain common sense, but there’s no harm in mentioning it: no cowboy boots, sneakers, leather shoes and plastic-soled shoes. You know how some employees can be pretty stubborn so implementation should be monitored strictly.

4. Mark potentially “highly vulnerable” areas.

You know them so you better mark them now. Determine walkways and other areas that may be covered up with snow or ice. Then, mark these areas with a highly visible pole or a similar marker.

Bonus Winter Tip: Before you busy yourself with installing markers, check outdoor work areas or walkways for low spots and cracks. By repairing these spots or cracks, you can prevent snow and ice from accumulating in these areas.

5. Get help from floor mats and “Wet Floor” signs.

Caution: Falling is dangerous to your head.

Yes, you already know that. All your employees are aware of this truth that is older than Socrates’s golden nuggets of wisdom. But sometimes it’s just hard to distinguish a slippery floor from a dry one. So make sure you have more than enough floor mats and “Wet Floor” signs.

Such seemingly small things can do a lot to save a life. Just place floor mats at entrances to reduce tracking in of ice and snow. As for “Wet Floor” signs, just place them in areas that may cause slipping or falling.

Bonus Winter Tip: Regularly check mats and immediately replace those that have frayed or have curled-up edges. Stick to non-slip floor mats that have rubber padding. Make sure also to immediately replace or repair loose or damaged flooring to better prevent slips and falls.

6. Let employees do their own sprinkling.

There’s nothing like a good dash of salt to season your meals every day. When it comes to icy walkways, though, you’re going to need more than a dash of this seasoning. By placing drums of rock salt near entrances, employees can conveniently take care of outdoor spots covered with ice or snow. Sand works well, too, that is, in providing traction for slippery surfaces, not on your meals though.

Bonus Winter Tip: You may want to substitute potassium-based de-icers for salt as the latter can damage lawns, concrete, carpets and floors that may get some salt debris when workers walk inside.

7. Ask for certificates.

While it’s always sweet to receive free gift certificates, that’s not exactly what I’m referring to. I mean you should ask for certificates of insurance when you hire private contractors to remove snow in your workplace.

Bonus Winter Tip: Check with your community first if you’re allowed to plow snow into the public roadways since some state laws prohibit this activity. If this activity is illegal in your own state, you should remind your private contractor about this restriction.

Breathing Cold Anticipation

Plan ahead. Plan ahead. Always be very well prepared. Remember that it’s all about anticipation. That’s not to say that you should anticipate the worst. Instead, by anticipating both the simplest and worst slips and falls that could happen to your workers this season, you can best prepare for them. So all I have to say is break a leg or better yet, the best of luck in creating and improving your snow safety plan!

Related Links:

Cold Stress Prevention: 7 Safety Tips to Avoid Hypothermia and Frostbite

January 9th, 2009 at 10:19 pm

Outdoor Safety at the Workplace: 9 Winter Safety Tips You Didn’t Know

» by debbiedebbie in: Uncategorized

Working during winter feels more like survival of the fittest than an everyday challenge. The risks are even tenfold for employees who have to work and drive outdoors. Here are nine tips that should keep you safe during this trying season.

1. Bring out those hands!

Hold it! Don’t remove those gloves or mittens yet. I mean, just think twice before walking outside with your hands in your pockets. Why? Keeping your hands in your pockets increases the risk of you falling or completely losing your balance in case you slip while walking on ice or snow.

2. Mittens VS. Gloves

Gloves sure look fashionable but donning mittens can actually save your life. With your fingers touching each other inside mittens, they generate more body heat than when they’re inside gloves.

3. Warm up before shoveling.

Before you get rid of all the snow and ice at your workplace, do some stretching exercises first. You can also march in place or walk for a couple of minutes. With your muscles all warm, not only will you work more efficiently, you also reduce the risk of injuring yourself.

4. Forget coffee and cigarettes.

Before shoveling or doing any strenuous work, avoid caffeine and nicotine. They increase your heart rate and may cause your blood vessels to constrict.

5. Rock salt + Kitty Litter = Safer walkways

Have some rock salt and kitty litter on hand. Rock salt helps melt the ice on slippery surfaces. Kitty litter can act gives temporary traction.

6. Tin can + Matches + Candle + Paper Cup + Snow = Drinking water

Yes, you read the equation right. Before going on the road, you better prepare a tin can, candle, paper cup, and some matches. Should you get stuck in the middle of the road and run short on water, you can always melt some snow with the supplies above as part of your emergency kit.

7. Warm up before driving off.

While it pays to do some stretching exercises before delivering goods or driving to work, you should warm up your vehicle, too. This helps reduce the moisture condensation on the inside of your car windows. Remember, though, not to warm up your vehicle in a closed garage.

8. Six inches equals danger.

Be wary of floods. Be doubly cautious of running water that is 6 inches deep or more, or you run the risk of getting swept off your feet.

9. Report those damaged lines!

After a winter storm, immediately report any downed power lines or broken gas lines in your area or workplace.

Related Links:

Cold Stress Prevention: 7 Safety Tips to Avoid Hypothermia and Frostbite

Comments (1)

January 8th, 2009 at 11:31 pm

Winter Storm Survival Measures Part 2: What to Do during a Winter Storm

» by debbiedebbie in: PPE

After raving about Storm yesterday, I’m back with a sequel to blizzard or winter storm preparations. Today, I’ll be serving you with a list of safety measures when facing a winter storm while on the job. No mutants in outlandish costumes this time, but just some things to remember and apply in case you get stuck at work while the fatal chills of Mother Nature blow your way.

What to Do during a Winter Storm:

Assign a person to regularly monitor the temperature of the work area.

Conserve as much fuel as possible.

Open all faucets. Pour hot water over the pipes, making sure that you start with the parts most exposed to the cold or where cold may penetrate.

Should the pipes freeze, replace the insulation with rags or layers of newspapers wrapped around the pipes.

Wear loose-fitting, layered, lightweight clothing. Make sure that outer garments are water-resistant and tightly woven. For the middle layer, don wool or down for better sweat absorption. Lastly, for the inner garments, use synthetic material to allow ventilation.

Change wet clothing frequently to prevent loss of body heat.

Don mittens instead of gloves. Fingers actually generate more heat when they touch each other.

Drink up! You’re more at risk to get dehydrated during a winter storm with the extremely low temperature.

Have a portable, battery-operated radio close to you. Stay tuned to it to get the latest information about the winter storm.

Follow a buddy system. Workers should monitor each other to check for signs of hypothermia and other cold-induced illnesses and injuries.

Before going outdoors, devote a few minutes to stretching or warm-up exercises. This is especially true if you have to shovel snow.

While outdoors, cover your mouth to protect your lungs from the cold air. Try not to speak, as much as possible.

Avoid overexertion, especially when shoveling snow or pushing a vehicle to prevent heart attack.

Before going on the road, report your destination, route and expected time of arrival first. This way, should you get stuck along the way, co-workers can send a rescue team along your predetermined route.

Related Links:

Cold Stress Prevention: 7 Safety Tips to Avoid Hypothermia and Frostbite

January 7th, 2009 at 7:33 pm

Winter Safety at the Workplace: What to Do Before a Blizzard and Other Winter Storms

» by debbiedebbie in: Equipment and Vehicles,PPE

If I were to become one of the X-Men, Storm would definitely be my choice. Who else has the power to control all weather conditions in the whole universe? Okay, it might also be because of her gorgeous body, flawless skin, elegant tresses and her unrivaled ability to pick locks. But hey, even without those traits, she’s one of the most powerful mutants in their weird bunch. When I was a little girl, she was the only X-men mutant who never ceased to scare me whenever her white eyes and raging storms flashed on the TV screen.

Well, I guess storms are created exactly that way—fierce and frightening. While we have yet to encounter mutants beating each other up on streets in the real world, we are often at the mercy of weather conditions that make jobs more challenging, if not toxic.

These days, with most states still enjoying a visit from winter, employees are at a higher risk to get injuries and illnesses. Add to this the possibility of a winter storm, and accidents can rise at an alarming rate. That is, unless employers and workers learn to prepare for this fatal phenomenon.

Defining Storm

Before we go into the nitty-gritty of winter storm preparations, let’s get one question answered first: What are the different types of winter storms?

1. Blizzards

The basis of some Marvel Comics supervillains, as well as one of Dairy Queen’s desserts, this snow storm consists of winds with a velocity of 35 mph or more. Such harsh winds are accompanied by snow and blowing snow that reduces visibility to less than ¼ mile for at least 3 hours. If you find it hard to paint a picture of this phenomenon in your mind, just imagine the mutant Storm showing her enemies the peak of her wrath.

2. Snow Showers

When the weather’s this cold, everyone’s excused from taking a shower. Now when we’re talking about snow showers, you better get your bonnets, boots and mittens ready. While you’re at it, grab that shovel as you can expect some snow accumulation with the falling of snow at varying intensities for brief periods. Such accumulation does not always happen during snow showers, but it sure pays to be ready.

3. Snow Squalls

Now with this winter storm, you might need some help shoveling up snow outdoors. While its name calls to mind the eardrum-bursting, high-blood-inducing screams of babies, it actually refers to brief, intense snow showers that come with strong, gusty winds. Hmm…this is probably the mutant Storm in her rookie months.

4. Blowing Snow

Blowing snow is just that, snow blowing with all its might. This alone makes the danger of walking and driving on roads tenfold not only with surfaces being slippery, but also with visibility greatly reduced. Blowing snow is either snow that falls to the ground or one that is on the ground and is picked up by wind.

5. Snow Flurries

No need to sound the workplace alarm with this one. Snow flurries are basically just light snow falling for short periods of time. No shovel alert either with this winter storm as it produces little or snow accumulation.

6. Ice Storms

Just when we thought clouds couldn’t cry solid tears, here comes ice falling from the heavens. With ice storms, you can almost imagine the outdoors as this chunk of meat placed in the freezer with storms usually accompanied by sleet or freezing rain.

Winter Storm Preparations

Without further ado, I now serve you with a list of things to follow in preparation for a snow storm or winter storm.

Store drinking water, one-week supply of food (particularly canned/no cook) and medicine, first aid kit, flashlight, non-electric can opener, portable battery-operated radio, extra batteries, fire extinguisher, and extra blankets and sleeping bags. Make sure you can get these supplies easily even in the dark.

Ensure that vehicles are kept in tiptop shape with enough gas and an emergency kit that should be useful in case a winter storm, particularly a blizzard, traps you in the middle of the road.

Inspect all work areas and make sure that they have sufficient heating fuel, as well as emergency heating equipment. Expect regular fuel sources to be cut off during a winter storm.

The following can serve as emergency heating equipment for your work site:

1. portable space heaters or kerosene heaters (Check your local fire department if kerosene heaters are allowed in your community.)

2. fireplace with more than enough supply of wood

3. small coal, wood or camp stove with ample fuel

Prepare some rock salt so that you can readily melt ice on walkways. While you’re at it, have some kitty litter ready as it can serve as temporary traction on slippery surfaces.

Have storm windows installed. If this is not feasible, cover windows with plastic from the inside.

Caulk and weather-strip all windows and doors.

Make sure all smoke detectors are in perfect condition.

Keep pipes from freezing by:

. . . wrapping pipes in insulation or layers of old newspapers.

. . . covering the newspapers with plastic to keep moisture out.

. . .allowing faucets to drip a little to prevent freezing.

. . .shutting water valves off properly.

All employees must fully understand the emergency action plan (EAP) specifically designed for a snow storm or winter storm. This should come in handy in case illnesses or injuries occur during the storm. Each employee must have at least a copy of the EAP, apart from copies posted in conspicuous areas at the workplace.

Snow Storm VS. Mortals

You need not be a mutant to be shielded from the fatal blows of winter storms. By arming yourself with the guidelines above, and additional ones you’ve concocted on your own for the specific conditions of your workplace, you can get through winter without getting a taste of tragedies borne out of Mother Nature’s chilling rage.

Related Links:

Cold Stress Prevention: 7 Safety Tips to Avoid Hypothermia and Frostbite