Are Workers Receiving Safety Orientation?
Problems in Residential Construction
Residential construction poses special problems for contractors. In fact, OSHA has currently looking at the fall protection rule to make changes that better fit the issues institute at residential sites. In the meantime, OSHA has enforced an OSHA Instruction Standard 3.1-Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for Residential Construction until the rule can be modified. Also, OSHA has also teamed up with the National Association of Home-builders (NAHB) to produce a instruction guide that contractors need to use to meet OSHA requirements for residential construction . This talk will briefly highlight each issue found in that handbook . The instruction guide stresses that if there is ever any differences between it and the OSHA regulations, the OSHA rules will always reign. The instruction guide information should never be considered a substitute for any provisions of any regulation .
Orientation & training
- Do employees in your company receive safety training orientation and training on applicative OSHA standards, company safety requirements, and/or have enough experience to do their work safely?
Personal protective equipment
– Do your workers use all required and provided personal protective products ?
Housekeeping & access around site
– Is all walkways and stairways kept clear of trash/debris/cans and other materials such as tools and supplies to prevent fall hazards ? Are boxes, scrap lumber, and other materials cleaned up and gotten rid of to prevent fire and fall hazards?
Stairs & ladders
– Is the products and job-specific ladders in good condition and have no defects? Is the ladders secured near and around the top or at the bottom to prevent them from slipping and causation falls?
Scaffolds & other work platforms
- Is all erecting and dismantling operations under the direct supervision of your competent personal ? Do you ensure all scaffolds are inspected by your competent personal before every use?
Fall protection
- Do you use other fall protection systems like slide guards, roof anchors, or alternate safe work practices when a guardrail system cannot be used?
Workers on Roofs
- When working on a roof with a pitch over 4:12 up to 6:12, are slide guards installed along the roof eave after the starting line three rows of roofing material are installed?
Excavations and trenching
- Do you find and mark the location of all underground utilities by contacting the local utility locating service before excavation begins ? Do you keep the horizontal width of the foundation trench at least two feet wide? Always make sure there is no earth vibration while workers are in the trench.
Tools & equipment
- Do you inspect tools always to ensure they are safe fi=or use and working condition ? Do you tag and remove broken or damaged tools from the work location ?
Vehicles & mobile equipment
- Do you maintain back-up alarms for equipment with limited rear view or have someone to help guidethem back ?
Electrical
- Do you remove broken or damaged tools and equipment from the job site ?
Fire prevention
- Do you keep fire extinguishers at all welding or soldering projects , or other sources of ignition?
Worker Training Tips
The OSHA rules require you to train all workers to recognize and void unsafe conditions and the rules applicable to his job environment to control or eliminate the hazards (1926.21(b)(2)). Job site safety training covers a large number of work spaces . Use this time to implore your employees to be always on the alert for job site hazards , do not take chances with them, and alert fellow worker and their immediate manager .
Where to go for more information:
Safety Training Works, Inc. 17325 SW TV Highway, Beaverton, OR 97007 Oregon Office Phone: (503)356-0403 Ext 210 Washington Office Phone: (425) 531-2246 Office Fax: (503)356-0401 Website: www.safetytrainingworks.com Website Blog : www.safetytrainingworks.net
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