Table of Contents
Lesson 1
Introduction to OSHA
09
Worker Rights Under OSHA
11
Employer Responsibilities Under OSHA
12
OSHA Inspections
13
Worker Resources
14
Lesson 2
Construction Focus Four: Fall Hazards
16
Types of Fall Hazards
18
Unprotected Edges
19
Scaffolds
20
Portable Ladders
21
Protecting Yourself from Fall Hazards
22
Guardrails
23
Personal Fall Arrest System
24
Employer Responsibilities
25
Preventing Fall Hazards
26
Worksite Maintenance
27
Lesson 3
Construction Focus Four: Electrocution Hazards
30
Types of Electrocution Hazards
33
Real Examples of Electrocution Hazards
34
Power Lines
35
A Real-Life Power Line Hazard
36
Energized Sources
37
Power Cords
38
A Real-Life Power Cord Hazard
39
Power Tools
40
GFCI
41
Lockout/Tagout
42
Employer Responsibilities
43
Lesson 4
Construction Focus Four: Struck-By Hazards
46
Protecting Yourself
48
A Real-Life Struck-By Hazard
49
Types of Struck-By Hazards
50
Flying Objects
51
Falling Objects
52
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Table of Contents
Swinging Objects
53
Rolling Objects
54
Heavy Equipment
55
Motor Vehicles
56
Examples of Motor Vehicle Struck-By Hazards
57
Flaggers
58
Road Signs and Barricades
59
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
60
High-Visibility Clothing
61
Head Protection
62
Eye and Face Protection
63
Power Tools
64
Employer Responsibilities
65
Lesson 5
Construction Focus Four: Caught-In or -Between Hazards
69
Caught-In Hazards in Construction
71
Machinery with Unguarded Moving Parts
72
Buried-In or -By Hazards
73
Pinned-Between Hazards
74
Protecting Yourself
75
Safeguarding Machines
76
Excavation Sites
77
Employer Responsibilities
78
Lesson 6
Health Hazards in Construction
81
Types of Health Hazards
83
Air Contaminants
84
Chemical Hazards
85
Biological Hazards
86
Physical Hazards
87
Noise
88
Ergonomic Hazards
89
Controlling Ergonomic Hazards
90
Specific Construction Hazards
91
Asbestos
92
Lead
93
Silica Dust
94
Wood Preservative Chemicals
95
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Table of Contents
Heat
96
Hazard Communication
97
Hazard Classification
98
Health Hazards
99
Written Hazard Communication Program
102
3 Steps to Hazard Communication Programs
103
Hazard Communication Program: Planning
104
Hazard Communication Program: Checklist
105
Labels and Other Forms of Warning
107
Label Elements
108
Safety Data Sheets
110
Employer Responsibilities
111
Employee Training
112
Lesson 7
Materials Handling
115
General Requirements for Material Storage
117
Storing Special Materials
118
Manual Materials Handling
119
Disposal of Waste Materials
120
Rigging Equipment
121
Materials Handling Equipment
124
Employer Responsibilities
125
Employer-Provided Training
126
Ergonomics
127
Lesson 8
Tools – Hand & Power
130
Tool Safety
132
Guarding
133
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
134
Hand Tools & Power Operated Tools
135
Hand Tools
136
Pneumatic Tools
137
Hydraulic Tools
138
Abrasive Wheels
139
Use of Abrasive Wheels
140
Woodworking Tools
141
Use of Woodworking Tools
142
Jacks
143
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Table of Contents
Lesson 9
Safety Programs & Subpart C
146
Rules of Construction
148
Contractor Responsibilities
149
Multi-Employer Policy
150
General Safety and Health Provisions
151
Safety Training and Education
152
Employer Responsibilities
153
Specific Categories
154
Creating Safety and Health Programs
155
Training and Education
156
First Aid and Medical Attention
157
Housekeeping
158
Recordkeeping
159
Employee Involvement
160
State Regulations
161
Lesson 10
Stairways and Ladders
164
General Requirements
166
Stairways
167
Types of Stairways and Components
168
Midrails and Handrails
169
Ladders
170
Ladder Requirements
171
Portable Ladders
172
Fixed Ladders
173
Employer Responsibilities
174
Lesson 11
Fire Protection & Prevention
177
Fire Tetrahedron
179
Fire Protection
180
Fire Extinguishers
181
Fire Alarms and Fire Cutoffs
182
Fire Prevention
183
Storage
184
Safe Product Use and Hazard Avoidance
185
Common Fire Hazards
187
Preventing Fire Hazards
188
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Table of Contents
Lesson 12
Welding and Cutting
191
Welding Equipment
193
Fuel Gas and Oxygen Manifolds
194
Transportation and Storage
195
Arc Welding and Cutting
196
Ground Returns and Machine Grounding
197
Fire Prevention
198
Ventilation and Protection
199
Metals of Toxic Significance
200
Preservative Coatings
201
Common Welding Hazards
202
Physical Hazards
203
Chemical Hazards
204
Lesson 13
Scaffolds
209
Scaffolding Types
211
Supported Scaffolds
212
Responsible Persons
215
Fall Protection
216
Aerial Lift Requirements
217
Training
218
Lesson 14
Cranes, Derrick, Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors
221
Cranes and Derricks
223
Regulations for Specific Types of Cranes
224
Personnel Platforms
225
Safety Requirements
226
Helicopter Cranes
227
Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors
228
Hoists
229
Hand Signals
230
Lesson 15
Excavations
233
Excavation and Trenching Operations
235
Specific Requirements
236
Soil Classification
237
Soil Types
238
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Table of Contents
Protective Systems
239
Sloping and Benching
240
Shoring & Shielding
241
Excavation Hazards
243
Hazard Protection
244
OSHA’s Top 5 Most Violated Excavation Regulations
245
Lesson 16
Concrete and Masonry Construction
248
Definitions
250
Subpart Q - Concrete & Masonry Construction
251
General Requirements
252
Equipment and Tools
253
Concrete
254
Masonry Construction
255
Common Hazards of Concrete Placement
256
Protecting Yourself
257
Lesson 17
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
260
Types of PPE and How to Protect Yourself
262
Eye and Face Protection
263
Head Protection
264
Leg and Foot Protection
265
Hand and Arm Protection
266
Hearing Protection
267
Body Protection
268
Respirators
269
Employer Responsibilities
270
Lesson 18
Confined Space Entry
273
Types of Confined Spaces
275
Hazardous Atmospheres
276
Hazardous Atmosphere Precautions
277
Other Hazards
278
Inherent and Induced Hazards
279
Entry and Exit
280
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Table of Contents
Lesson 19
Signs, Signals and Barricades
282
Types of Accident Prevention Signs
284
Temporary Traffic Control Signs
285
Types of Temporary Traffic Control Signs
286
Traffic Signaling & Flaggers
287
Barricades
288
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Introduction to OSHA
Introduction to OSHA
Lesson 1 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Explain the importance of OSHA to workers.
Explain worker rights under OSHA.
Discuss employer responsibilities under OSHA.
Discuss the use and importance of OSHA
standards.
Explain how OSHA inspections are conducted.
Explain the worker safety and health resources
available.
9
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Introduction to OSHA
OSHA works to save lives, prevent injuries, and
protect the health of America's workers.
About OSHA
OSHA is the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration.
OSHA's mission is to protect the
safety and health of America's
workers.
OSHA accomplishes this by doing the following:
yy Setting and enforcing standards.
yy Providing training, outreach, and education.
yy Establishing partnerships.
yy Encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and
health.
Hazard Prevention
Hazard prevention is OSHA's priority. Lives
are saved when workers know their rights
and employers meet their responsibilities.
Training
Training is an essential part of preventing hazards. One of the main responsibilities employers have under OSHA is to provide training on
the basics of occupational safety and health
issues. This training must meet OSHA standards.
Employers
OSHA holds employers responsible for safety
and health conditions in the workplace.
Employees
The OSH Act points out that employees shall
comply with occupational safety and health
standards that are applicable to their actions
and conduct.
The OSHA standards for Construction and General Industry are also
known as Part 1926 and Part 1910.
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Introduction to OSHA
Worker Rights Under OSHA
Workers should know their rights under OSHA.
OSHA requires employers to take certain actions to keep workers safe.
Workers should also be aware of their rights under OSHA.
The United States Congress created OSHA
under the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970, known as the OSH Act.
yy
yy
OSHA’s creation provided workers
with the right to a safe and
healthful workplace.
yy
yy
Worker Rights
yy
It’s important to know your rights as a
worker. Worker rights are spelled out under
Section 11(c) of the OSH Act. They include
the following:
yy Right to seek safety and health on the
job without fear of punishment.
yy Right to a safe and healthful workplace.
yy Right to know about hazardous
chemicals through access to training,
yy
labeling, and an MSDS.*
Right to complain or request hazard
correction from your employer.
Right to refuse work due to dangerous
conditions.
Right to file a complaint with OSHA.
Right to be free from retaliation for
exercising safety and health rights.
Right to participate in an OSHA inspection.**
Right to information about workplace
injuries and illnesses.***
* A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) gives information
about hazardous chemicals.
** During an OSHA inspection, you have the right to talk
to the inspector privately.
*** This includes the right to access and review the OSHA
300 Log and the OSHA 300A Summary.
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Introduction to OSHA
Employer Responsibilities Under OSHA
Employers must comply with OSHA standards and provide a workplace that is
free from recognized hazards.
OSHA requires employers to do the following:
yy Adopt practices and maintain conditions to protect workers on the job.
yy Be familiar with and comply with the
standards that apply to their workplaces.
yy Ensure that workers are provided with
(and use) PPE when needed.
Worker Training
Employers must provide
training to employees.
yy Train workers in the specific safety
and health aspects of their workplace.
yy Certain job assignments should be
limited to specialized personnel.
yy Keep records of injuries and illnesses on
the worksite.
PPE
Employers must provide
personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees.
yy Train workers in the use of PPE.
yy Pay for most required PPE, including
hard hats.
Recordkeeping
Giving access to records is
an important part of maintaining OSHA compliance.
Employers are required to provide workers with training, PPE,
and worksite records.
yy Keep and maintain an OSHA 300 Log,
OSHA 301 Form, and OSHA Form 300A
Summary.
yy Make these records available to employees for review.
REMEMBER
Where no specific standard applies,
employers must comply with the
“General Duty Clause.”
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Introduction to OSHA
OSHA Inspections
OSHA enforces job safety and health standards through worksite inspections.
OSHA compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) are
authorized to conduct workplace inspections at reasonable
times.
Priorities
OSHA has a system of inspection priorities.
Employers are required to provide workers
with training, PPE, and worksite records.
Stages
The four major stages of an OSHA inspection are:
1. Presenting Credentials
2. The Opening Conference
3. The Walkaround
REMEMBER
If an employer receives an OSHA
citation, it must be posted for three
days or until the violation is fixed.
4. The Closing Conference
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Introduction to OSHA
Worker Resources
Part of knowing your rights means knowing where to go for help.
Workers and employers should
work together to reduce hazards.
If possible, communicate and
discuss safety and health problems with your employer.
However, if you feel that an
OSHA inspection is needed to
get hazards corrected at your
workplace, submit a written,
signed complaint with specific
hazard information.
There are several ways to file a
complaint:
yy Download a complaint form
from the OSHA website.
Complete it and mail or fax
it to OSHA.
yy Contact the local area office and file a complaint.
The OSHA website has safety and health information and
links to resources that can help workers.
For more safety and health information, as well as links to resources for
workers, visit the OSHA website at
www.osha.gov.
yy File a complaint online.
REMEMBER
Be specific and accurate when
completing an OSHA complaint
form. The CSHO will use this
information to research, plan, and
begin the investigation.
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Introduction to OSHA
NOTES:
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Fall Hazards
Construction Focus Four: Fall Hazards
Lesson 2 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify fall hazards.
Describe construction hazards that require a fall
protection system.
List the different types of fall protection systems
and their requirements.
Explain the training requirements and common
hazards associated with fall protection.
16
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Fall Hazards
Learn how to recognize and eliminate major fall
hazards on construction worksites.
“
Fall Hazards Defined
Fall Hazard Examples
OSHA defines fall hazards:
The following are examples of fall hazards:
A fall hazard is anything at your
worksite that could cause you to
lose your balance or lose bodily
support and result in a fall.
Any walking or working surfaces can be a
potential fall hazard.
When to Use PPE
”
Use personal protective equipment when engineering, work practice, and administrative
controls are not possible or do not provide
workers with sufficient protection.
yy Falling down from one floor to another.
yy Falling through a hole in the floor or
roof.
yy Dropping through the floor or roof when
the surface collapses.
yy Falling off a ladder or other apparatus.
yy Jumping from structures and
equipment on the worksite, such as
from one scaffolding to another.
REMEMBER
Fall protection must be provided
regardless of distance when
employees are working over
dangerous equipment and
machinery.
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Fall Hazards
Types of Fall Hazards
You’ll face a variety of fall hazards while working on construction sites.
OSHA states that employees must
be provided with fall protection at
certain elevations and in certain
circumstances:
yy When working 6 feet above a
lower level in construction.
yy When working 10 feet above a
lower level on a scaffold.
yy When working 15 feet above a
lower level steel erection.
Types of Hazards
Be aware of the major types of fall hazards
in construction.
yy Unprotected edges.
Unprotected sides and edges are one of the most frequently
cited serious OSHA violations.
yy Roof and floor openings.
yy Scaffolds.
yy Portable ladders.
Certain working conditions can
contribute to fall hazards. Be aware of the
following:
yy Unprotected roof edges (roof edges
without guards or barriers).
yy Roof and floor openings (skylights,
floor holes, or other openings to the
level below).
yy Structural steel and leading edges
(edges of steel structures).
yy Improper scaffold construction (badly-erected scaffolds).
Falls to lower levels are a major
cause of injuries and fatalities in the
construction industry.
Falls, struck-by object, caught-in or -between,
and electrocution are referred to by OSHA as
“Focus Four” Hazards.
To protect employees in the workplace, all sides, edges, and openings must be protected. This reduces the exposure to fall hazards.
yy Unsafe portable ladders (unstable
ladder placement).
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Fall Hazards
Unprotected Edges
Unprotected edges are a type of fall hazard commonly found
on construction sites.
Unprotected roof edges are sides or
building edges that are unprotected by
either a personal fall arrest system or
guardrail.
Examples of unprotected edges include
the following:
yy
Roof edges
yy
Floor openings
yy
Structural steel
yy
Leading edges
Roof and Floor Openings
Exposed holes in the floor or roof of a
working surface is a potential fall hazard
to all workers in the area. Openings in
the floor or roof of a building should be
labeled. They should also be covered with
a sturdy material.
Unprotected edges are a major type of fall hazard on
construction sites.
REMEMBER
The material used to cover a floor
or roof opening should be able
to support twice the weight of
any employees, equipment, and
materials that might be on the cover
at any given time.
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Fall Hazards
Scaffolds
Scaffolds are a major type of fall hazard on construction sites.
Working on scaffolds can be dangerous.
It’s made even more difficult when heavy
equipment and building materials are
located on a limited space.
Scaffold accidents are usually
attributed to planking or
support giving way, and lack of
guardrails or fall protection.
Make sure to protect yourself from these
and other hazards.
To ensure your protection for scaffold and
fall hazards, remember the following:
Scaffolding is used while building or repairing a structure.
yy The planking or support must be
solid and sturdy.
yy Only use aerial lifts with body belts
and lanyards.
yy You must be able to access the
scaffold safely.
Employers must ensure that all scaffolds are constructed per manufacturer instructions. A competent
person must be authorized to
supervise and inspect the erection,
movement, or changing of a scaffold.
REMEMBER
When you’re working on platforms
of 10 feet or higher, guardrails or
personal fall arrest systems for
fall prevention and protection are
required.
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Fall Hazards
Portable Ladders
Protect yourself from fall hazards that result from the use of portable ladders.
On construction sites, portable ladders are a
common source of fall hazards.
A portable ladder can move, slip,
and cause a worker to lose
balance.
Factors that contribute to ladder fall hazards
include:
yy
Slipping downward on
the rungs or steps.
yy
Overreaching.
yy
yy
Defective equipment.
Using the wrong type
of ladder for the job.
Protect yourself from fall hazards by practicing the following:
yy Properly position ladders
before use.
yy Properly secure ladders
before use.
yy Remove defective or damaged equipment from
service.
Portable ladders pose a serious risk due to
lack of stability.
REMEMBER
To prevent a fall when using a
portable ladder:
•
Choose the right ladder for
the job.
•
Secure the ladder and confirm
it’s in good working condition.
•
Make sure the top of the
ladder extends at least three
feet above the surface you’re
climbing onto.
•
Be trained in the proper use of
the ladder.
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Fall Hazards
Protecting Yourself from Fall Hazards
You’ll face a variety of fall hazards while working in construction.
More ironworkers are killed from falls than
in any other construction application. There
are many ways for workers to protect themselves from injury.
When fall hazards are present, use
one of three main methods of fall
protection.
The three main methods of fall protection
include guardrails, safety net systems, and
personal fall arrest systems.
Guardrails
These are considered a fall prevention system. They’re designed to prevent workers
from falling in the first place.
Safety Net Systems
These are designed to catch and break a
worker’s descent in the event of a fall. Never
place safety nets more than 30 feet below
the working surface.
Personal Fall Arrest Systems
These are designed to break a worker’s
descent in the event of a fall. The systems
consist of an anchorage, lanyard and connectors, and a full-body harness worn by
individual workers.
Protect yourself from anything at your worksite that might
cause you to lose your balance or lose bodily support, which
can result in a fall.
Employers are required to provide
personal fall arrest systems to
employees working near potential fall hazards.
REMEMBER
Always make sure fall protection
equipment is in good condition.
Also, it must be appropriate for
the type of work involved.
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Fall Hazards
Guardrails
Use guardrails to protect yourself from fall hazards
While some fall protection methods are designed to protect workers who have fallen,
guardrails are designed to prevent falls from
happening in the first place.
Guardrails are considered a fall
prevention system.
Guardrails that are put in place for fall protection must adhere to the following requirements:
yy There are no openings more than 19
inches.
yy Toprails are able to withstand at least
200 pounds of force, and are 42 inches (plus or minus 3 inches) above the
working surface.
yy Midrails are able to withstand 150
pounds of force.
Safety Net Systems
Safety nets are designed to catch and break a
worker’s descent in the event of a fall.
Never place safety nets more than
30 feet below the working surface.
The following requirements apply when employers use safety nets for protection.
yy Safety nets must be as close as practically able under the working surface.
yy They must never be more than 30 feet
below the working surface.
yy Inspect safety nets for damage on a
weekly basis.
yy Each safety net must have a border
rope with a minimum strength of 5,000
pounds.
yy Guardrail systems must be smooth.
This prevents cuts and clothing
snags.
yy Safety nets must extend outward a
sufficient distance per OSHA requirements. This varies depending on how
far the net is from the working surface.
yy When guardrails are used around
holes that include a point of access
(such as a ladderway), use a gate.
yy Safety nets must absorb the force of a
400-pound bag of sand dropping onto
the net.
Guardrails are required when
workers perform work on a
scaffold platform of 10 feet or
higher.
yy Any dangerous items in a safety net
must be removed as quickly as possible.
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Fall Hazards
Personal Fall Arrest System
Use a personal fall arrest system to protect yourself from fall hazards.
Personal fall arrest systems are an important part of reducing injury and death that
can result from a fall.
In the event of a fall, a personal
fall arrest system breaks a
worker’s descent.
Workers are required to use a full-body harness in the following scenarios:
yy When working on a suspending
scaffold more than 10 feet above the
working surface.
yy When working at 10 feet or more
when in a bucket truck or aerial lift.
To keep yourself and others safe, remember
the following requirements regarding personal fall arrest systems:
Each personal fall arrest system consists of an anchorage,
connectors, and a full-body harness.
yy The anchorage must be able to support
5,000 pounds per worker.
yy Inspect them for damage before each
use.
yy Webbing used for lifeline, lanyard, and
harness ropes and straps must be made
of synthetic fibers.
yy The anchorage must be independent
from any anchorage used to support
or suspend the platform.
yy Safety nets must absorb the force of a
400-pound bag of sand dropping onto the
net. This is referred to as a “drop test.”
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Fall Hazards
Employer Responsibilities
Employers have a responsibility to provide a safe workplace.
Employers and employees must cooperate
in order to establish and maintain a safe
working environment.
Employers must provide appropriate fall protection to employees. Employers must also
provide for the prompt rescue
of employees in the event of a
fall.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers must take certain steps to keep
workers safe from potential fall hazards. In
general, employers are responsible for the
following:
yy Providing appropriate fall protection
to employees.
yy Making sure scaffolds are properly
constructed.
yy Making sure ladders are safe and in
good condition.
yy Ensuring the worksite is cleared and
maintained.
yy Providing appropriate training, including a written fall protection plan.
Make sure your workplace is compliant with
OSHA standards.
REMEMBER
OSHA requires employers to keep
all walking and working surfaces
free of fall or trip hazards.
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Fall Hazards
Preventing Fall Hazards
There are many ways to prevent fall hazards on construction sites.
Employers must work to protect employees
from fall hazards. The following list provides
general requirements employers need to
meet:
Develop a written
1
fall protection
plan.
Rescue Procedures
Having rescue procedures in place is an important part of keeping workers safe in construction.
OSHA requires employers to have
rescue procedures in place in the
event of a fall.
Identify fall
2
hazards before
each project.
Attempt to
3
eliminate the
need for fall protection.
Per this requirement, employers must be able
to provide prompt rescue of any employees
involved, or they must ensure that the employees involved can rescue themselves.
Make sure safety
equipment is in good
condition before use.
Part of this responsibility involves addressing
the risk of suspension trauma or orthostatic
intolerance.
4
Conduct fall
protection training
on a regular basis.
5
Train workers on
6
specific fall hazards on the worksite.
7
Conduct regular
inspections.
Symptoms of suspension trauma include the
following:
yy Lightheadedness.
yy Palpitations.
yy Tremulousness.
yy Poor concentration.
yy Fatigue.
8
Emphasize fall
hazards.
yy Nausea.
yy Dizziness.
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Fall Hazards
Worksite Maintenance
Worksite maintenance helps prevent fall hazards on the worksite.
Training
OSHA requires employers to instruct their
employees on the recognition and avoidance
of unsafe working conditions.
As part of training, employers should do the
following:
yy Describe applicable regulations to
workers.
yy Control or eliminate any hazards or
other exposures to illness or injury.
Employers have a responsibility to prevent
potential fall hazards. An important way to
do this is through worksite maintenance.
Failure to maintain a worksite can
cause clutter and debris, which
creates fall hazards.
yy Describe required personal protective
equipment (PPE).
yy Encourage employees to contact supervisors if there are any questions about
fall prevention.
REMEMBER
Employers are required to keep
worksites free from waste,
trash, form and scrap lumber
with protruding nails, and combustible debris.
Workers should not operate on a
worksite until unsafe conditions
have been corrected. If an unsafe
condition is not corrected,
employees may file a complaint
with OSHA.
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Fall Hazards
NOTES:
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Fall Hazards
NOTES:
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Electrocution Hazards
Construction Focus Four: Electrocution Hazards
Lesson 3 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify major types of electrocution hazards on
construction sites.
Describe types of electrocution hazards on
construction sites.
List ways to protect yourself from electrocution
hazards.
Explain employer requirements for protecting
workers from electrocution hazards.
30
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Electrocution Hazards
Learn how to recognize and eliminate electrocution
hazards on construction sites.
Electrical hazards are serious workplace hazards that expose workers to the following:
Electrocution Hazards Defined
OSHA defines electrocution:
“
Electrocution occurs when a
person is exposed to a lethal
amount of electrical energy.
yy
”
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
B URNS
E LECTROCUTION
S HOCK
A RC FLASH/ARC BLAST
F IRE
E XPLOSIONS
Note the first letter of these hazards. Together, they spell “Be Safe.” Workers can “Be Safe”
on the worksite by recognizing, avoiding, and
protecting against electrical hazards.
Always remember to B.E. S.A.F.E.
on the worksite.
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Electrocution Hazards
Burns. Burns are the most common shock-related injury. Three types of burns
can occur:
yy Electrical burns can result when a worker touches electrical wiring.
yy Arc/flash burns result from electric arcs or explosions. These are hightemperature burns.
yy Thermal contact burns can result when a worker touches overheated electric
equipment.
Electrocution. Electrocution is fatal. It results when a person is exposed to a
lethal amount of electrical energy. Workers face a variety of electrocution hazards
on the worksite. It’s up to employers and employees to work together to reduce the
risk of injury and death.
MEDICAL ALERT
Electrocution was cited as being the second leading cause of
death in construction in 2011, after falls.
Shock. Electrical shock is defined as a “reflex response to the passage of elec-
tric current through the body.” This means that shock occurs when a human body
becomes part of an electrical circuit. When this happens, electrical current enters
the body at one point and leaves at another.
Arc Flash/Blast. An arc flash is the sudden release of electrical energy
through the air when a high-voltage gap exists and there is a breakdown between
conductors. This can happen when a worker drops a tool, or when dust or corrosion
build up on tools. An arc flash gives off thermal radiation (heat) and bright, intense
light that can cause burns.
Fire. Most electrical fires result from “fixed wiring” problems such as faulty elec-
trical outlets and old wiring. Another source of electrical fires includes problems
with cords (such as extension and appliance cords), plugs, receptacles, and switches.
Explosions. An explosion can occur when electricity ignites an explosive mix-
ture of material in the air. In an atmosphere that contains explosive gases, vapors,
or combustible dust, even low levels of electricity can lead to violent explosions on
the worksite.
Although electricity is the source of all these hazards, and all are of equal
importance, this lesson will focus on electrocution hazards.
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Electrocution Hazards
Types of Electrocution Hazards
Learn how to protect yourself from many types of electrocution hazards you’ll
face on the worksite.
When working in construction, you’ll be exposed to a variety of electrocution hazards.
Power Lines
To keep yourself and others safe from hazards, remember the following:
yy Overhead and buried power lines carry
extremely high voltage.
yy Keep a safe distance from overhead
power lines.
yy De-energize power lines around workers.
Energized Sources
To keep yourself and others safe from hazards, remember the following:
yy The body becomes part of the electric
circuit.
yy Water is a great conductor of electricity.
yy Hazards include electrical shocks and
burns.
Power Cords
To keep yourself and others safe from hazards, remember the following:
yy Wear and tear can cause loose or exposed wires.
yy Cords are more susceptible to damage
than fixed wiring due to exposure and
flexibility.
Electrocution is fatal. Protect yourself by using
nonconductive equipment and keeping a safe distance
from overhead power lines.
Power Tools
To keep yourself and others safe from hazards, remember the following:
yy Only use power tools and equipment
for their intended purpose.
yy Make sure power tools are kept in safe
conditions.
yy Make sure power tools are safely maintained and grounded.
GFCI
To keep yourself and others safe from hazards, remember the following:
yy Inspect all cords before use.
yy A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)
protects from severe and fatal shocks.
yy Do not use cords with worn insulation.
yy GFCIs interrupt current.
yy Types include receptacle GFCIs, temporary GFCIs, and circuit breaker GFCIs.
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Electrocution Hazards
Real Examples of Electrocution Hazards
Learn from these real-life examples of electrocution hazards on
construction sites.
Two workers were moving an
aluminum ladder. When the ladder
came in contact with overhead
power lines, one of the workers
was electrocuted.
Keep a safe distance from overhead
power lines.
A worker was raising a water well
drilling truck mast when it came
into contact with high-voltage overhead lines. The worker was electrocuted.
Overhead and buried power lines
carry extremely high voltage.
A worker was on an eight-foot fiberglass step ladder while changing
an energized ballast on a two-bulb
fluorescent light fixture, which was
located twelve feet off the ground. The worker
was fatally injured when he was electrocuted
and fell to the concrete floor.
Electric shock occurs when the
human body becomes part of an
electrical circuit.
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Electrocution Hazards
Power Lines
Learn how to protect yourself from the serious risk posed by power lines on or
near the worksite.
Contact with power lines is dangerous because they carry extremely high voltage.
Always be aware of the location of power
lines on your worksite.
Fatalities due to electrocution are
the most severe risk involving
power lines.
Burns and falls from elevation are also
hazards that exist while working near high
voltage power lines.
To keep yourself and others safe from hazards, remember the following:
yy It is always best to keep a safe distance away from overhead power
lines.
yy When working with or near power lines,
de-energize and visibly ground them, or
make sure the power lines have installed
insulated sleeves in place.
Employers must ensure overhead
power line safety by doing the
following:
yy Keeping employees at a safe
distance.
yy Making sure power lines are
de-energized and grounded.
yy Providing the proper PPE such
as rubber insulating gloves,
hoods, and sleeves, which prevent electrocution.
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Electrocution Hazards
A Real-Life Power Line Hazard
Learn from this real-life example of an electrocution hazard on the worksite.
Consider this example of a power
line hazard on a worksite. Think
about how you can better protect
yourself and others in similar
situations.
Two workers were installing aluminum siding
on a farmhouse. During the course of work, it
became necessary to remove a 36-foot-high
antenna. One worker stood on a metal pick
board between two ladders and unfastened
the antenna at the top of the house.
The other worker, who was standing on the
ground, took the antenna to lay it down in the
yard. The antenna made electrical contact
with a transmission line over 30 feet away
from the house. The worker handling the antenna received a fatal shock. The other worker
received a minor shock.
To prevent the accident from occurring, the
workers should have been aware of overhead
power lines. In addition, the workers should
have received proper safety training from
their employer.
In this real-life example, the antenna made electrical
contact with a 7200-volt power transmission line 30 feet
away from the house and 23 feet above the ground.
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Electrocution Hazards
Energized Sources
Learn how to protect yourself from the risks posed by energized sources
on the worksite.
You’ll encounter a variety of hazards associated with energized sources on a construction site.
Energized sources create hazards
including electrical shocks and
burns.
Electrical shock takes place when the
human body becomes part of the electrical
circuit. This can occur when a worker comes
into contact with both wires of an electrical
circuit, with one wire of an energized circuit
and the ground, or with a metallic part that
has become energized by contact with an
electrical conductor.
Contact with energized sources can include
incidents with the following:
yy Live parts.
yy Damaged or bare wires.
yy Defective equipment.
yy Tools.
The severity of electrical shocks and burns
depends on a variety of factors, including
the following:
yy The pathway through the body.
Protect yourself from live parts, damaged or bare wires,
and defective equipment.
REMEMBER
Wet or damp conditions make
all hazards even worse. Water is
a great conductor of electricity;
current flows more easily in wet
conditions and through wet skin.
Employers are responsible for the
following:
yy The amount of current.
yy Isolating electrical parts.
yy The length of time of exposure.
yy Placing covers on all pull
boxes, junction boxes, and
fittings.
yy Whether the skin is wet or dry.
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Electrocution Hazards
Power Cords
Learn how to protect yourself from the risks posed by power cords
on the worksite.
You’ll often use power cords, including extension cords and flexible cords, with power
tools. This makes power cords a frequent
necessity on construction sites.
Normal wear and tear on cords
can loosen or expose wires, causing potential danger.
Extension and flexible cords are more susceptible to damage than fixed wiring because of their exposure, flexibility, and lack
of security. They can be damaged by any of
the following, which are commonly found on
construction sites:
yy Door or window edges.
yy Staples and fastenings.
yy Abrasion from adjacent materials.
They can also be damaged by simple aging
and normal wear and tear.
There are two types of power cords often found in
construction: extension cords and flexible cords.
Protecting Yourself
Before putting extension cords to use, inspect
them for cuts and abrasions.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that flexible cords are used
properly.
Power Cord Hazards
Any time an electrical conductor becomes
exposed, there is a danger of shocks, burns,
or fire.
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Electrocution Hazards
A Real-Life Power Cord Hazard
Learn from this real-life example of an electrocution hazard on the worksite.
Don’t underestimate the hazards caused by power cords.
A worker needed ventilation in his
work area, so he used an extension cord to connect a fan to a
120-volt electrical system. At the
time, the worker was performing a chipping
operation from an aluminum stepladder.
Several factors contributed to the electrocution
of the worker. These factors include the following:
The insulation on the extension cord was
worn through, exposing the bare, energized
conductor, which made contact with the
ladder. The ground wire was not attached
on the male end of the cord’s plug. When
the energized conductor made contact with
the ladder, the path to the ground included
the worker’s body, resulting in the worker’s
death.
yy The fact that there was a short in the
receptacle.
yy The use of known faulty equipment.
yy The lack of grounding.
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Electrocution Hazards
Power Tools
Learn how to protect yourself from the risks posed by power tools
on the worksite.
The use of power tools is a common occurrence on construction sites.
Protect yourself from electrocution hazards by using power tools
and equipment as intended.
To protect yourself and others, always adhere to the following safe practices:
yy Never carry a tool by the cord.
yy Never yank the cord to disconnect it.
yy Keep cords away from heat, oil, and
sharp edges.
yy Disconnect tools when not in use and
when changing accessories such as
blades and bits.
yy Avoid accidental starting. Do not hold
fingers on the switch button while
carrying a tool that’s plugged in.
yy Use gloves and appropriate footwear
when using power tools.
yy Before using a tool, inspect it for
faulty or exposed wiring.
yy Store tools in a dry place when they’re
not in use.
yy Don’t use tools in wet or damp environments.
yy Keep working areas well-lit.
yy Make sure cords don’t present a tripping hazard.
yy Remove damaged tools from use.
yy Use double-insulated tools.
Practice proper safety procedures when using power
tools on the worksite.
Examples of Misused Equipment
These are examples of incorrect (and unsafe)
ways to use equipment:
yy Using multi-receptacle boxes that are
designed to be mounted by fitting them
with a power cord and placing them on
the floor.
yy Fabricating extension cords with ROMEX
wire.
yy Taking equipment that’s labeled for use
only in dry, indoor locations and using it
outdoors.
yy Attaching ungrounded, two-prong adapter
plugs to three-prong cords and tools.
yy Using modified cords or tools.
yy Using cords or tools with worn insulation
or exposed wires.
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Electrocution Hazards
GFCI
A GFCI detects ground faults and interrupts the flow of electric current.
GFCI stands for “ground fault circuit interrupter.”
Types of GFCIs
GFCIs protect people from severe and even
fatal electrical shocks.
Receptacle GFCI – These are typically found
on construction worksites, outdoor areas, and
other locations where damp environments
may exist.
This protects the worker by limiting the
duration of an electric shock.
Real-Life Example
In this scenario, a worker is
using an old drill that has
a loose base wire inside it
that touches the drill’s outer
metal housing. When the
worker plugs in the drill,
the housing becomes charged with electricity. If the worker uses the tool outside
in the rain and is standing on the ground,
there is a path from the hot wire inside the
drill, through the worker, all the way to the
ground. If electricity flows from the hot wire,
through the worker, to the ground, it could be
fatal. A GFCI can sense the current flowing
through you because not all of the current is
flowing from hot to neutral as it expects.
Employers are responsible for:
yy Providing GFCIs on
construction sites.
yy Fits into the standard outlet box.
yy Protects users against ground faults
when an electrical product is connected
to a GFCI-protected outlet.
yy Must be tested after installation and at
least once a month.
Temporary/Portable GFCI – This is a combination of an extension cord and a GFCI.
yy Has flexibility in using receptacles that
aren’t GFCI-protected.
yy Use when a permanent solution is unavailable.
yy Must be tested before each use.
Circuit Breaker GFCI – This controls an entire
circuit and is installed as a replacement for a
circuit breaker on the main circuit board.
yy One circuit breaker GFCI can protect
the entire circuit.
yy Might be installed in a panel box to
protect selected circuits.
yy Must be tested monthly. (This test will
disconnect power to everything on the
circuit.)
yy Providing a scheduled
and recorded equipment
grounding conductor
program.
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Electrocution Hazards
Lockout/Tagout
Learn how to use lockout/tagout procedures to protect yourself and others.
Properly follow lockout/tagout
procedures when working on or near
electrical circuits and equipment.
Lockout/tagout procedures
prevent the release of
hazardous gases, fluids, or
solid matter into areas where
employees are located.
This equipment has been locked/tagged out.
yy Deplete stored energy.
By following these procedures, you’re
helping to prevent accidental contact with
operating equipment parts including blades,
gears, and shafts.
Follow these lockout/tagout procedures to
protect yourself from electrocution hazards:
yy Identify sources of electrical energy
for the equipment or circuits.
yy Disable backup energy sources such
as generators and batteries.
yy Identify all shut-offs for each energy
source.
yy Shut off energy sources and lock
switchgears in the “OFF” position.
yy Each worker should apply his or her
individual lock and keys.
yy A qualified individual must test and
de-energize equipment and circuitry.
yy Apply a lock or tag to alert other workers of locked/tagged out equipment.
yy Make sure all workers are safe before
unlocking and turning equipment back
on.
REMEMBER
yy Notify all personnel that
equipment and circuitry must
be shut off, locked out, and
tagged out. Simply turning a
switch off is not enough.
yy Only a qualified person may
determine when it is safe to
re-energize circuits.
Employers are responsible for
training workers in proper lockout/tagout practices. They’re also
responsible for enforcing these
practices.
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Electrocution Hazards
Employer Responsibilities
Employers must take certain steps to ensure the safety of workers.
AEGCP
One of the ways employers must protect
their employees on the job site is by establishing and enacting an assured equipment
ground conductor program (AEGCP).
The AEGCP details procedures
for required equipment tests and
inspections. It also includes a test
schedule.
Employers and employees must cooperate in order to
maintain a safe working environment.
Training
The following are requirements regarding
AEGCPs:
yy A written description is available on
the job site.
yy The employer must assign at least
one person to implement the program.
yy The program covers all necessary
cord sets, receptacles, and equipment.
yy Tests are recorded.
yy Test records are available to OSHA
and any employees who request
them.
Employers must provide training so that workers are familiar with safety practices on their
job sites. Employers must make sure workers
always know what work practices relate to the
work they’ll do.
When workers will use electrical equipment,
these are important topics in employer-provided training:
yy De-energize equipment before inspections or repairs are made.
yy Use cords, cables, and tools that are in
good repair.
yy Ensure that lockout/tagout procedures
are followed.
yy Use appropriate personal protective
equipment (PPE).
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Electrocution Hazards
NOTES:
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Electrocution Hazards
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Struck-By Hazards
Construction Focus Four: Struck-By Hazards
Lesson 4 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify common struck-by hazards.
Describe types of struck-by hazards.
List different types of protection against struck-by
hazards and their requirements.
Explain the training requirements and common
hazards associated with fall protection.
46
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Struck-By Hazards
Learn how to recognize and protect yourself from
struck-by hazards on construction sites.
Struck-By Hazards Defined
OSHA defines struck-by hazards:
“
A struck-by hazard and the resulting injuries are produced by
forcible contact and/or impact
between a person and an object
or piece of equipment.
REMEMBER
”
Don’t confuse struck-by hazards
with caught-in hazards.
yy In struck-by events, the
impact alone causes injury.
yy In caught-in events, a worker
is crushed between objects.
In other words, a struck-by hazard is when a
worker is hit by a falling, swinging, flying, or
rolling object.
Examples of Hazards
Common struck-by hazards in construction
include the following:
yy Pieces of material separating from a
tool and striking a worker.
yy Trees falling on equipment.
yy Tools falling from elevated work
stations.
yy Being struck by a swinging object.
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Struck-By Hazards
Protecting Yourself
Protect yourself and others from struck-by hazards on the worksite.
There are two key ways to minimize struckby hazards:
yy Maintain high visibility.
yy Pay attention to all types of traffic
within the construction environment.
Struck-by hazards must be taken seriously. Awareness
is a key aspect of minimizing risks.
When to Use PPE
Different types of personal protective
equipment (PPE) can protect workers from
struck-by hazards.
PPE includes the following:
yy High-visibility clothing.
yy Head protection.
yy Eye and face protection.
Use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect
yourself from struck-by hazards.
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Struck-By Hazards
A Real-Life Struck-By Hazard
Learn how to protect yourself from the risk posed by struck-by
hazards in construction.
Two workers were removing a
tree on a residential lot. Worker
#1 was cutting the tree trunk into
sections from an aerial bucket
truck. The worker then dropped the log so it
could be moved to the area near the chipper.
The chipper was about 20 feet away.
Worker #2 was operating the chipper. Worker #1 dropped the log, which struck Worker
#2, who had not evacuated the area. Worker
#2 sustained a concussion and died from
the accident.
The employer and employees could have
worked together to prevent this accident.
These are the steps that should be taken to
prevent an accident like the one described
above:
yy Employers should create duties to remove or minimize struck-by hazards.
yy Workers should be attentive to potential struck-by hazards.
yy Workers should be trained on struckby hazards.
yy Workers should wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Think about how you would protect yourself and others if
you were in this scenario.
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Struck-By Hazards
Types of Struck-By Hazards
You’ll face many struck-by hazards while working in construction.
Be aware of the different types of struck-by
hazards in construction.
Flying Objects
yy Something is propelled, hurled, or
thrown.
yy Hazards are created when using
compressed air to clean surfaces and
power tools.
Struck-by hazards can lead to severe
injury or even death.
Falling Objects
yy Something falls from
an elevation to a lower level.
yy Check for employees under where
you are working.
yy Wear hard hats when overhead work
is performed.
Rolling Objects
yy An object is moving, sliding, or rolling at
worker level.
yy Workers are struck or run over by moving vehicles without being caught.
yy Workers are struck by sliding pieces of
equipment on same level.
Swinging Objects
Heavy Equipment
yy Materials being lifted
can swing and strike
workers.
yy Loads swing, turn, or twist, which
catches workers by surprise.
yy Mechanically lifted loads can slip
from riggings and strike workers.
yy It creates deadly struckby hazards to an unsuspecting worker.
yy Stay away from heavy equipment while
it is in use.
yy Be aware of the swinging radius of
equipment like cranes and backhoes.
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Struck-By Hazards
Flying Objects
You’ll face a variety of struck-by flying object hazards while
working in construction.
Be aware of struck-by flying object hazards
on the worksite.
Struck-by flying object hazards
exist when something is being
propelled, hurled, or thrown.
Grinding or striking materials can create
flying object hazards.
Use of tools is a common source of
flying object hazards.
Examples of Hazards
Examples of struck-by flying hazards include
the following:
yy An object is ejected using a power
tool or equipment designed for that
purpose (such as a nail from a nail
gun).
yy A nail is discharged from a nail gun by
force and hits the user.
These are real-world examples of struck-by
flying object hazards:
yy Flying Bolt – A bolt had frozen in the
track of a caterpillar front end loader.
As the worker was removing the bolt,
the worker was struck by the bolt in
his forehead.
yy Pump Impalement – While freeing a
pump component under pressure, a
worker was impaled by the pump component.
yy Clearing Pipeline – A blast of compressed air from a gas pipeline struck
and killed a worker.
REMEMBER
Never point a nail gun at anyone.
Always check for people behind
the surface you are nailing to
ensure it is safe to fire.
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Struck-By Hazards
Falling Objects
You’ll face a variety of struck-by falling object hazards
while working in construction.
Be aware of struck-by falling object hazards
on the worksite.
Struck-by falling object hazards
exist when something falls from
an elevation to a lower level.
This includes when an injured person is
crushed, pinned, or caught under a falling
object.
Examples of Hazards
Hazards exist when objects are dropped to a lower level.
REMEMBER
yy No Head Protection – Signs, barricades, and the use of hard hats can
prevent injury or fatality if a worker
accidentally drops something.
yy When working at heights,
reduce falling object hazards
and wear the required safety
equipment.
yy Heavy Equipment – It can tip over or
fall onto workers.
yy Always check for employees
under where you are working.
yy Implement falling object
protection.
MEDICAL ALERT
You’re at risk of being injured
by falling objects when you are
beneath cranes, scaffolds, or
an area where overhead work is
being performed.
yy Barricade the area to stop
workers from entering the area.
yy Always wear hard hats when
working beneath places
where overhead work is being
performed.
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Struck-By Hazards
Swinging Objects
You’ll face a variety of struck-by swinging object hazards
while working in construction.
Be aware of struck-by swinging object hazards on the worksite.
Materials are often lifted using cranes,
hoists, or other mechanical devices.
When materials are lifted, they
can swing, turn, or twist.
Do not overload rigging equipment.
Protecting Yourself
This creates a potential hazard, because
these movements can catch workers by
surprise and result in a struck-by injury or
fatality. Loads being mechanically lifted can
also slip from their riggings.
Examples of Hazards
Examples of swinging object hazards include the following:
yy Wrecking Ball – It is attached to an
arm, which can come loose and strike
the operator’s cab.
yy Swinging Objects – They may be held
by a worker or attached to a structure
and include a swinging motion. This
can create a hinge-like action, which
can swing or slam into a worker.
Minimize hazards by doing the following:
yy Make sure rigging equipment is not
overloaded.
yy Follow manufacturers’ load recommendations.
yy Inspect rigging equipment prior to each
lift.
REMEMBER
yy A worker may be struck and
fall to a lower level or the
ground from varying heights.
yy Weather conditions such
as wind can also make a
swinging object especially
hazardous.
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Struck-By Hazards
Rolling Objects
You’ll face a variety of struck-by rolling object hazards
while working in construction.
Be aware of struck-by rolling object hazards
on the worksite.
Objects can move, slide, or roll at
the same level as a worker.
This creates a potential hazard to strike a
worker.
Examples of Hazards
Objects and equipment can roll and strike a worker.
The following are real examples of rolling
object hazards on construction sites:
yy Tractor Trailer - A security guard was
struck by a tractor trailer and dragged.
yy Unloading Freight – While loading
and unloading freight, a worker suffered fatal injuries after being struck
by a moving semi-truck.
yy Truck – A worker was performing
repair operations on an impact attenuator, and was struck by a truck.
yy Moving Vehicle – A worker was
struck and run over by a moving vehicle without being caught underneath
it.
yy Sliding Objects – A worker was struck
by a sliding piece of equipment that
was on the same level as he was.
REMEMBER
yy Workers can be struck by
objects, vehicles, and pieces
of equipment.
yy Protect yourself and others
by maintaining awareness of
your surroundings.
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Struck-By Hazards
Heavy Equipment
You’ll face a variety of struck-by hazards involving heavy equipment while
working in construction.
Be aware of the risks posed by heavy equipment on the worksite.
Heavy equipment such as cranes
and excavators can create deadly
struck-by hazards.
To reduce hazards, be aware of the location
of heavy equipment on the worksite, as well
as the danger they may pose to workers.
Protecting Yourself
The following are real examples of rolling
object hazards on construction sites:
yy When near heavy equipment, stay
away from it and be alert.
yy Know the location of all heavy equipment, whether it is in use or not.
Struck-by hazards include heavy equipment
that can tip over.
yy As loads are being lifted, stay clear of
and never work under them.
yy All workers should be cleared from the
area when dumping or lifting devices
are used.
yy Be aware of loads that are unbalanced.
Employers must provide personal
protective equipment (PPE) such
as hard hats and safety glasses.
yy When working around heavy equipment, confirm and receive acknowledgement from the operator that he
or she can see you.
REMEMBER
yy Be aware of the swing radius of
equipment like cranes and backhoes.
Do not enter that radius.
Hoisting equipment has the potential to tip over and become a
struck-by hazard.
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Struck-By Hazards
Motor Vehicles
Struck-by motor vehicle hazards is the number one cause of
highway worker fatalities.
Be aware of the struck-by hazards posed by
motor vehicles on the worksite.
The most common cause of operator fatality is equipment roll-over.
When working with motor vehicles, be aware
of the following:
yy Falling or overturning vehicles.
yy Being struck by trucks or cars.
yy Avoiding swinging backhoes.
Take precautions when working near public roads.
Protecting Yourself
Avoid motor vehicle struck-by hazards in the
following ways:
yy Sit in a proper seat while riding in a
vehicle.
yy Chock the wheels if the vehicle is
parked on an incline.
yy Make sure your vehicle has safety devices and sufficient braking systems.
yy Warn oncoming drivers of workers.
yy Use flaggers, traffic signs, and barricades as warnings.
Minimizing Hazards
Reduce hazards in the following ways:
yy Make sure your vehicle has an audible reverse alarm.
yy When reversing, make sure there is
adequate clearance to the rear.
yy Set parking brakes when the vehicle
is parked.
REMEMBER
yy Most workers are killed by
equipment backing up. Some
are killed by equipment tipover or failure.
yy Non-construction vehicles
entering work areas
happens due to driver error
or improperly erected work
zones.
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Struck-By Hazards
Examples of Motor Vehicle Struck-By Hazards
Learn how to protect yourself from the risk of struck-by hazards
posed by motor vehicles.
The following scenario shows examples of the hazards posed by motor vehicles on construction
sites.
Work Environment Four workers were on a bridge
section of a highway, installing signs.
Struck-By Hazard –
Suddenly, a vehicle on the
road changed several lanes.
The vehicle entered the area
where the workers were located.
Incident –
The truck hit one of the workers. The strike knocked the
worker off the road and over
the side of the bridge. He fell
approximately 18 feet and
died.
Protecting Yourself
Protect yourself and others in the following
ways:
yy When working near public roadways
and around moving construction
equipment, all workers must be highly
visible regardless of the time of day.
yy High-visibility clothing is red or orange and contains reflective material.
Take precautions when working near public roads.
yy At night or in low light, always wear
high-visibility clothing.
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Struck-By Hazards
Flaggers
Flaggers control the flow of traffic at a construction zone.
Flaggers play a vital role in keeping workers,
as well as motorists, safe on and around the
worksite.
Do not direct traffic unless you are
a flagger.
Flaggers do the following:
yy Recognize dangerous traffic situations.
yy Warn workers of errant vehicles in
sufficient time to avoid danger.
Protecting Yourself
Flaggers and other workers who are on foot
are at risk of being struck.
yy Make sure you’re visible to equipment
operators.
yy Make sure you’re visible to passing
vehicles.
This worker is wearing bright, reflective clothing for
safety.
REMEMBER
When working on or near construction zones with motor vehicles,
always wear high-visibility reflective clothing.
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Struck-By Hazards
Road Signs and Barricades
Use road signs and barricades to keep yourself and others safe when working
near public roads.
Place warning signs along the roadway, and
on the worksite as applicable to the work
being done.
Post traffic signs at hazard points
around construction areas.
Examples of warning signs that can be used
include the following:
yy SHOULDER WORK
Road signs and barricades alert other motorists of
worker activity.
yy ROAD WORK AHEAD
yy FLAGGER AHEAD
REMEMBER
All necessary signs must be posted in accordance with OSHA requirements to direct
traffic safely through or around the construction zone.
In the absence of other warning
devices, use a WORKERS symbol
sign to alert road users of workers
on or near the roadway.
Flagger Signs
Barricades
Place a FLAGGER symbol sign ahead of any
point where a flagger is stationed.
Remove, cover, or turn the sign away from
road users when flaggers are not operating.
Barricades must conform to the Manual on
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
For more information on the MUTCD, visit the
OSHA website at www.osha.gov.
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Struck-By Hazards
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Use PPE to protect yourself from struck-by hazards on the worksite.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is
designed to protect you from workplace
hazards that cause injuries and illnesses.
If you’re wearing multiple types of
PPE, make sure they’re
compatible.
If PPE doesn’t fit properly, it can make the
difference between being safely covered or
dangerously exposed.
Several types of PPE protect you from struck-by hazards.
Eye and Face Protection
Types of PPE
There are several types of PPE that protect
workers from stuck-by hazards.
High Visibility Clothing
yy Wear high visibility clothing when
working on or near the roadway.
yy PPE must be worn when working with
concrete or when exposed to flying
particles.
yy PPE should provide unrestricted vision
and movement.
Power Tools
yy Inspect the tool before each use.
yy Make sure all guards are in place.
Head Protection
yy Hard hats protect your head from falling hazards and bumps to the head.
yy You must be trained in the tool’s operation.
yy Hard hats must be routinely inspected
for cracks and dents.
REMEMBER
yy Protective helmets absorb shocks
and blows and are water resistant.
If a hard hat sustains a heavy
blow from a falling or flying object,
replace it immediately.
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Struck-By Hazards
High-Visibility Clothing
Wear high-visibility clothing to protect yourself on the worksite.
These workers are easily visible on a construction site.
yy Retro reflective material is orange,
yellow, white, silver, yellow-green, or a
fluorescent version of these colors.
yy Retro reflective material must be visible
at a minimum distance of 1,000 feet.
High-visibility reflective clothing is a great
way workers can protect themselves when
working on or near any construction zone.
High-visibility clothing protects
workers from struck-by hazards
on the construction site.
High-visibility clothing has the following
characteristics:
Working at Night
Always wear high-visibility clothing when
working at night or in low light. Garments for
nighttime work must be retro reflective. Other
than that, nighttime garments should be similar to daylight garments.
Employers must provide employees with high-visibility traffic vests
when employees will work on or
near roadways.
yy It’s red or orange in color.
yy It’s made with reflective material.
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Struck-By Hazards
Head Protection
Use head protection to protect yourself from struck-by hazards on the job.
Head protection is a crucial type of PPE.
Use it when there is a potential for certain
types of struck-by hazards.
Hard hats protect you from falling or flying struck-by hazards
and bumps to the head from fixed
objects.
Fixed objects commonly found on construction sites include exposed beams and sharp
edges from pipes.
About Hard Hats
Protective helmets or hard hats must be
able to do the following:
yy Resist penetration.
yy Absorb the shock of a blow.
They should also be water-resistant and
slow-burning.
Hard hats are a type of PPE.
Finally, hard hats should have clear instructions explaining the proper usage and replacement of the suspension and headband.
Maintaining Hard Hats
Protect yourself by doing the following:
yy Make sure hard hats are maintained
and in good condition.
yy Routinely inspect hard hats for cracks,
dents, or deterioration.
yy Immediately replace any hard hat that
has sustained a heavy blow.
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Struck-By Hazards
Eye and Face Protection
Use eye and face protection to protect yourself from struck-by
hazards on the job.
Eye and face protection is a crucial type
of PPE. Use it when there is a potential for
certain types of struck-by hazards.
Use eye and face protection when
you might be exposed to flying
objects.
You’ll face a variety of hazards on the construction site, so make sure you use PPE to
protect yourself.
Eye and face protection minimizes struck-by hazards.
Flying Object Hazards
Impact Hazards
The following activities can create potential
flying object hazards:
If you’ll work in a hazardous area, you may
be exposed to impact hazards including the
following:
yy Grinding.
yy Flying particles.
yy Cutting.
yy Fragments.
yy Welding.
yy Large chips.
yy Nailing.
yy Working with concrete.
yy Being exposed to flying particles.
In the above situations, you must wear safety glasses or goggles.
yy Other flying objects.
When the above hazards exist, you must wear
safety spectacles with side shields or goggles
in conjunction with face shields.
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Struck-By Hazards
Power Tools
Use of power tools can create struck-by hazards on construction sites.
Types of Power Tools
Types of power tools commonly found on
construction sites include the following:
yy Grinders.
yy Table saws.
yy Drills.
When using these tools, you must be trained
on the safe operation of the specific tool.
Use of power tools like this one can create struck-by
hazards.
REMEMBER
Always operate power tools
according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.
Protecting Yourself
Protect yourself and others from hazards by
doing the following:
yy Always inspect a tool before you use
it.
yy Wear PPE such as safety goggles.
yy Make sure that all guards are in place
and in good condition.
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Struck-By Hazards
Employer Responsibilities
Employers must take certain steps to ensure the safety of workers.
These are general requirements employers
must follow to protect workers from struckby hazards.
yy Provide PPE.
yy Ensure the safe use of hand tools.
PPE
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a
crucial part of keeping workers safe on the
worksite. When workers use PPE properly, the risk of injury caused by a variety of
hazards is reduced. Employers have requirements in regards to PPE.
yy Pay for PPE, such as hard hats and
safety glasses, as required by OSHA.
Employers and employees must cooperate in order to
maintain a safe working environment.
yy Ensure that PPE is properly maintained and sanitized.
REMEMBER
Tools
Workers will use a wide variety of tools on
the construction site. When workers use
tools properly, the risk of injury caused by
hazards is reduced. Employers have requirements in regards to employees’ use of hand
tools on construction sites.
yy Ensure that all hand tools are in good
working condition.
yy Do not permit the use of unsafe hand
tools.
yy Saws must have guards
equipped.
yy Saws must have constant
pressure switches.
yy Abrasive wheel bench and
stand grinders must have
safety guards.
yy Providing proper training is a
crucial part of keeping employees safe on the worksite.
yy Remove unsafe hand tools from service.
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Struck-By Hazards
NOTES:
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Struck-By Hazards
NOTES:
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Caught-In Hazard
Construction Focus Four: Caught-In
or -Between Hazards
Lesson 5 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify caught-in or -between hazards.
Describe types of caught-in or -between hazards.
List different types of protection against specific
caught-in or -between hazards and their requirements.
Explain employer requirements to protect workers
from caught-in or -between hazards.
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Caught-In Hazard
Learn how to recognize and protect yourself from
caught-in hazards on construction sites.
REMEMBER
Caught-In Hazards Defined
Don’t confuse struck-by hazards
with caught-in hazards.
OSHA defines caught-in and caught-between hazards:
“
Crushing injuries can occur when
caught-in or -between objects.
A caught-in or -between hazard can result
in serious crushing injuries. This happens
when a person is :
”
yy In caught-in events, a worker
is crushed between objects.
yy In struck-by events, the
impact alone causes injury.
Types of Hazards
Caught-in hazards include the following:
yy Squeezed,
yy Being crushed in equipment.
yy Caught,
yy Being crushed between mashing objects.
yy Crushed,
yy Pinched, or
yy Compressed between two or more
objects.
yy Being crushed between a moving and a
stationary object.
yy Being crushed between two or more
moving objects.
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Caught-In Hazard
Caught-In Hazards in Construction
You’ll be exposed to a variety of caught-in hazards on the construction site.
Be aware of caught-in hazards, and take
steps to protect yourself and others.
Examples of Hazards
Examples of caught-in or -between hazards
on construction worksites include:
yy Cave-ins during trenching or excavations (this is considered to be the
greatest risk).
yy Clothing becoming caught in running
equipment and pulling the operator
into machinery or equipment.
yy Being struck and then compressed by
heavy equipment such as a lift.
yy Being crushed between a truck and a
wall.
yy Being crushed between a truck and a
forklift.
Working Conditions
Examples of caught-in or -between hazards
on construction worksites include:
yy Machinery with unguarded moving
parts can snag clothes or body parts.
yy Unprotected excavations and trenches can cave in and bury workers.
Caught-in hazards can pose a serious risk of injury or
even death.
yy Heavy equipment can tip over and
crush or pin workers.
yy Unstable or collapsing walls can bury
or pin workers.
yy Workers can become pinned between
moving objects and stationary structures.
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Caught-In Hazard
Machinery with Unguarded Moving Parts
Be aware of the hazards posed by machinery with unguarded moving parts.
Machinery with Unguarded
Moving Parts
Buried-In or -By Hazards
Protect yourself and others from caught-in
hazards caused by machinery with unguarded moving parts.
Machinery with unguarded moving parts can cause your clothing
or body to become caught in the
machine.
This can also happen with machinery that is
not properly locked out. Avoid using machinery or equipment that hasn’t been locked
out.
Protecting Yourself
Pinned-Between Hazards
yy If a moving part can physically contact
workers, it must be guarded.
yy When using power tools, guards are
required.
yy Lockout/tagout procedures ensure
equipment doesn’t become reenergized
when it’s being repaired or worked on.
Employer Responsibilities:
yy Ensure that hand-held power tools are equipped with
guards and safety switches.
yy Guards and safety switches
must be appropriate to the
tool’s power source.
yy Equipment that may cause
hazards must be made safe.
Keep the following in mind:
yy During maintenance, guard or de-energize machines.
yy Provide lockout/tagout procedures.
yy Improperly de-energized machines
may start up and cause either injury
or death.
yy Require that blades be lowered or blocked before repairs.
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Caught-In Hazard
Buried-In or -By Hazards
Be aware of the potential for buried-in or buried-by hazards on the worksite.
Machinery with Unguarded
Moving Parts
Buried-In or -By Hazards
Buried-in or -by hazards are types of caughtin or -between hazards.
Buried-in hazards generally occur
in trench and excavation cave-ins.
Be aware of buried-in hazards and learn
how to protect yourself and others on the
worksite.
Examples of buried-in or -by hazards include
the following:
yy Cave-ins of trenches or excavation
areas can suffocate and/or crush
workers.
yy Hazardous atmospheres (such as
sewage, water, chemicals, or underwater utilities) in a trench or exca-
Pinned-Between Hazards
vation area can drown, electrocute, or
burn workers.
yy Unstable scaffolding can collapse and
bury those working underneath.
yy Walls that collapse during demolition
can crush or bury workers.
REMEMBER
If a worksite contains any of the
above hazards, workers should
immediately leave the worksite.
If the above buried-in or buried-by
hazards exist in the workplace,
employers should immediately
work to eliminate these hazards.
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Caught-In Hazard
Pinned-Between Hazards
Be aware of the potential for pinned-between hazards on the worksite.
Machinery with Unguarded
Moving Parts
Buried-In or -By Hazards
Pinned-between hazards are types of
caught-in or -between hazards.
Pinned-between hazards happen
when a worker becomes pinned
between two solid objects.
Solid objects that often contribute to
pinned-between hazards on construction
sites include:
yy Equipment.
Pinned-Between Hazards
yy A wall and a piece of mechanical equipment.
yy Materials being stacked or stored and a
solid object.
yy Shoring and construction materials in a
trench.
yy A collapsing wall and the floor.
MEDICAL ALERT
Pinned-between hazards can lead
to the following:
yy Walls.
Examples of Hazards
• Broken bones.
Common examples of hazards on the
construction site include becoming pinned
between:
• Asphyxiation.
• Death.
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Caught-In Hazard
Protecting Yourself
You’ll face a variety of hazards on the construction site. Learn how to protect
yourself and others.
REMEMBER
There are several ways to protect yourself
from caught-in or -between hazards.
Examples of Hazards
To keep yourself and others safe, practice
the following:
yy Avoid placing yourself
between moving vehicles
and an immovable structure,
vehicle, or stacked material.
yy Equipment must have safety
belts and rollover structures
as required.
yy Use properly guarded machinery.
yy Use methods to support, secure, and
make every machine safe.
yy Before work, make sure workers are
protected from becoming pinned
between equipment, materials, and
other objects.
yy Be aware of surrounding materials.
yy Make sure materials are properly
stacked to avoid deadly crushing
injuries.
Employers must take steps to
ensure the safety of workers.
Employer responsibilities include
the following:
yy Protect workers from being
crushed by heavy equipment.
yy Make sure the work area is
stable.
yy Be aware of dangers when on excavation sites.
yy Make sure equipment isn’t
loaded beyond capacity.
yy Know how to identify hazardous
situations and prevent injuries on the
job site.
yy Conduct proper inspections
of operations.
yy Complete training and retraining as
needed.
yy Provide worker training on
the safe use of the equipment being operated.
yy Don’t wear loose clothes or jewelry
near moving equipment or machinery.
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Caught-In Hazard
Safeguarding Machines
Minimize caught-in hazards by making sure workplace machinery is safe to use.
There are several practices that should be
used to make workplace machinery safe.
This includes the following:
yy Disconnect and de-energize tools that
are not in use, before servicing, and
when changing accessories such as
blades and bits.
yy Turn vehicles off before working on
them.
yy Perform lockout procedures before
repairs or when machines are not in
use.
Train employers in using
worksite machinery and in the
knowledge of worksite hazards.
yy Make sure all hand-held
power tools and equipment with moving parts
have guards and safety
switches.
yy Points of operation and
in-running nip points
must be guarded.
Safeguard machinery to minimize caught-in hazards.
Protecting Yourself
Workers can prevent themselves from becoming pinned between equipment and objects.
Always practice the following:
yy Maintain awareness of surrounding
equipment.
yy Never place yourself between moving
equipment and unmoving material.
yy Make sure loads are stable and secured.
yy Stay out of reach of the swinging radius
of equipment.
yy Always wear a seatbelt if required.
REMEMBER
Wearing seatbelts in vehicles
prevents you from being thrown or
crushed in the event of a tipover.
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Caught-In Hazard
Excavation Sites
Take extra precautions to minimize hazards on excavation sites.
Employer Responsibilities:
yy Provide appropriate training
for equipment.
yy Provide a competent person
to inspect the area.
Workers can protect themselves on excavation sites by using the following practices:
yy Protect excavations 5 feet
to 20 feet with sloping or
benching.
yy Do not work in unprotected sites 5
feet or deeper.
yy Use a protective system
designed by a professional
engineer in excavations 20
feet or deeper.
yy Make sure trenches are protected
with sloping/benching, a trench box
or shield, or shoring.
yy Only enter or exit trenches by properly
placed ladders, ramps, and stairways.
yy Always work within the confines of a
protection system.
yy Use barricades, signals, and stop logs
as warning systems when mobile
equipment is operating near excavations.
yy Do not work underneath earthmoving
equipment.
Protecting Yourself
All workers should be properly trained in using equipment and in the knowledge of job
hazards. Employers also have responsibilities in protecting workers during trenching
and excavation work.
yy Require engineer-designed
protective systems for deep
excavations and trenches.
yy Provide protection from
equipment/materials that
could fall into excavations.
Job Safety Training
Job safety training must be provided to all
employees. Training programs must empower
workers to:
yy Identify unsafe conditions.
yy Know regulations that help them control hazards, injuries, and illnesses.
yy Operate equipment safely.
yy Know OSHA standards and regulations
for the specific construction environment and activities.
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Caught-In Hazard
Employer Responsibilities
Employers and employees must cooperate in order to reduce
hazards on the worksite.
Preventing Pinned-Between
Hazards
Take measures to prevent workers from
being pinned between a solid object and
equipment.
yy Only allow necessary workers in job
areas.
yy Provide proper bracing for shoring
trenches.
yy Keep travel paths clear of caught-in or
-between hazards.
Avoiding Collapsing Structures
Structures with unstable or improper support have the potential to collapse and bury
workers underneath them.
Employers must protect workers from being
buried by collapsing scaffolds or walls using
the following methods:
yy Provide means to avoid the collapse
of scaffolds, including proper training
and the assignment of a competent
person to inspect and supervise.
yy Avoid the collapse of walls through
lateral bracing for standalone walls
that aren't self-supporting, as well as
blocking or cribbing jacks.
REMEMBER
yy Certain construction activities, such as training in
scaffold erection, conducting excavation inspections,
performing engineering surveys before demolition, and
conducting ongoing inspections during a job must be
performed by a competent
person.
yy A competent person is one
who is capable of identifying existing and predictable
hazards in the surroundings
and who has authorization
to take prompt corrective
measures to eliminate them.
Providing Worker
Training
Per OSHA’s general training requirement, the
employer must instruct each employee in how
to recognize and avoid unsafe working conditions on a construction worksite. Employers
must also instruct their employees about the
specific safety regulations that apply to their
work environment, including floor openings,
equipment operation, and hazard control.
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Health Hazards
Health Hazards in Construction
Lesson 6 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify new requirements for the OSHA Hazard
Communication Standard.
Describe different types of job hazards.
List the different types of job hazards that may
require engineering, workplace, and administrative
controls.
Explain employer requirements for health and
environmental hazard control.
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Health Hazards
Learn how to protect yourself and others from health
hazards on construction sites.
Health Hazards Defined
Protecting Yourself
Health hazards can be defined as follows:
“
Health hazards are anything at
your worksite that may cause
measurable changes in the body.
”
This may include a range of changes.
MEDICAL ALERT
Health hazards that cause body
changes may include:
• Carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Decreased pulmonary
function.
• Disease.
• Death.
On construction sites, an industrial
hygienist must identify and evaluate
hazards by performing a worksite analysis.
An OSHA industrial hygienist has the
following responsibilities:
yy Analyze, identify, and measure
workplace hazards or stressors that
can cause sickness.
yy Analyze, identify, and measure
impaired health or significant
discomfort in workers through
chemical, physical, ergonomic, or
biological exposures.
yy Determine the extent of employee
exposure to hazards.
yy Decide what is needed to control
work hazards.
yy Provide technical assistance and
support to the agency’s national and
regional offices.
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Health Hazards
Types of Health Hazards
While working in construction, you’ll be exposed to a variety of health hazards.
Be aware of different types of health hazards you may encounter.
Employer Responsibilities:
There are five categories of health hazards
that workers can expect to face on a construction worksite.
yy Train employees in the
identification and control of
health hazards.
yy The best way to control or
prevent hazards in the event
of an emergency is through
emergency preparation.
Types of Health Hazards
Air
Contaminants
Biological
Hazards
Chemical
Hazards
Physical
Hazards
Ergonomic
Hazards
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Health Hazards
Air Contaminants
While working in construction, you may be exposed to a variety of air
contaminants.
Air contaminants are a type of health hazard.
Gas and Vapor Contaminants – Gases are formless fluids that expand to occupy the space or
enclosure in which they are confined.
These commonly fall into one of two classifications.
yy Welding gases such as acetylene, nitrogen,
helium, argon, and carbon monoxide.
Particulate (Particles) – This is physical
solid or liquid matter that is small and fine
enough to be suspended in the air.
yy Vapors result from liquid mixing with the
surrounding atmosphere through evaporation.
yy Gas and vapor contaminants can result
from welding, cleaning, or painting.
Types of Particle Hazards
Dusts
Fumes
Aerosols
Mists
Fibers
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Health Hazards
Chemical Hazards
While working in construction, you may be exposed to variety
of chemical hazards.
Chemical hazards are a type of health hazard.
Examples may include harmful substances
in several forms.
MEDICAL ALERT
The toxic effects of chemical
hazards occur through:
• Direct inhalation of a
substance.
yy Solid.
yy Liquid.
• Irritation on direct skin
contact with a substance.
yy Gas.
• Absorption of a substance
through the skin.
yy Mist.
yy Dust.
• Ingestion of a substance.
yy Fumes.
yy Vapors.
Chemical hazards can exert a toxic effect,
and can include airborne chemicals that
exist as concentrations of mists, vapors,
gases, fumes, or solids.
How Hazards Occur
The risk of exposure to chemical hazards
depends on the nature and potency of a toxic effect. It also depends on the magnitude
and duration of exposure.
• Corrosion through contact
between a substance and
living tissue.
REMEMBER
OSHA'S updated Hazard
Communication Standard
requires information on chemical
risks to be made available to
workers through a Safety Data
Sheet. The SDS is a summary
of the important health, safety,
and toxicological information
on the chemical or the mixture's
ingredients.
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Health Hazards
Biological Hazards
While working in construction, you may be exposed to variety
of biological hazards.
Biological hazards are a type of health hazard.
There are several biological hazards to be
aware of on the worksite.
Types of Biological Hazards
MEDICAL ALERT
• Biological hazards cause
acute and chronic infections.
• They enter the body directly
or through breaks in the skin.
• These hazards are not
always noticeable, and can
cause illness or injury to
exposed workers.
Viruses
Bacteria
Protecting Yourself
Be aware of occupations or tasks that may
put you or other workers at risk of exposure to
biological hazards. Such activities include:
yy Working with plants or animals.
yy Working with food or food processing.
yy Working in healthcare.
Other Living
Organisms
Fungi
yy Any occupation with potential exposure
to bodily fluids.
When applicable, use personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect
yourself from biological and other health hazards on the worksite.
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Health Hazards
Physical Hazards
While working in construction, you’ll be exposed to variety of physical hazards.
Lesson 2 discusses Fall Hazards, which
comprise many common physical construction safety hazards. However, subtler physical hazards discussed in this lesson are
also harmful to employees on a worksite.
Examples of such physical hazards include:
yy Ionizing and nonionizing radiation.
yy Noise.
yy Temperature.
Noise is one example of a physical hazard.
Ionizing and Nonionizing Radiation
Note the following on worksites exposed to
ionizing radiation:
yy Time.
yy Distance.
yy Shielding.
These are important considerations for
worker safety.
Reducing Hazards
An industrial hygienist performs a worksite
analysis to help identify hazards. The basic
worksite analysis includes the following:
Time – The danger from radiation increases
with the amount of time exposed to it. Limiting exposure time lessens the danger from
radiation.
Distance – Radiation levels from some
sources can be estimated by comparing the
squares of the distances between the worker
and the source.
Shielding – The greater the protective mass
between the source and the worker, the lower
the radiation exposure.
yy Inspection of all jobs, operations, and
work activities.
yy Research on how physical hazards at
the worksite affect worker health.
yy Recommendations for any necessary,
appropriate corrective actions.
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Health Hazards
Noise
Noise is one example of a physical hazard commonly found
on construction sites.
Temperature
Temperature is another physical hazard on
construction sites.
Physical hazards relating to temperature
include radiant heat exposure in factories like
steel mills.
Employers can control these hazards by taking the following steps:
Use PPE to protect yourself from loud noises.
Noise is a significant physical hazard that
can be controlled by various workplace measures.
yy Install reflective shields.
yy Providing protective clothing.
OSHA requires that workers in noisy surroundings be periodically tested to protect
against hearing loss.
Reduce noise by doing the following:
yy Install equipment and systems that
have been engineered, designed, and
built to operate quietly.
yy Enclose or shield noisy equipment.
yy Make certain that equipment is in
good repair.
yy Properly maintain equipment.
You may be exposed to physical hazards related to
temperatures on your worksite
yy Replace all worn or unbalanced parts.
yy Reduce vibration by mounting noisy
equipment on special mounts.
yy Install silencers, mufflers, or baffles.
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Health Hazards
Ergonomic Hazards
While working in construction, you’ll be exposed to a variety
of ergonomic hazards.
The topic of ergonomics covers a full range
of activities.
Ergonomics studies is the science
of lifting, holding, pushing, walking, and reaching.
A wide range of conditions can cause ergonomic hazards.
Types of Hazards
There are many types of ergonomic hazards,
including the following:
yy Vibration
yy Noise
yy Eye Strain
yy Repetitive Motion Injuries
yy Heavy Lifting Problems
Heavy lifting is an example of an ergonomic hazard.
MEDICAL ALERT
yy Carpal tunnel syndrome is
irritation and inflammation
of the tendon sheath of the
hands and arms.
yy This condition can develop
through repetitive motion
or repeated shocks over
prolonged periods of time.
Many ergonomic hazards result from technological changes including the following:
yy Increased assembly line speeds.
yy Adding specialized tasks.
yy Increased repetition.
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Health Hazards
Controlling Ergonomic Hazards
There are many ways to reduce ergonomic hazards in the workplace.
A well-designed work environment reduces
ergonomic hazards. An ergonomic environment achieves the following:
yy Increased efficiency.
yy Fewer accidents.
yy Lower operating costs.
yy More effective use of personnel.
Employer Responsibilities
Employers can set up procedures to correct
or control ergonomic hazards.
Employer policies should control ergonomic hazards.
Administrative Controls
yy This means any other measures that
reduce employee exposure to hazards.
Engineering Controls
yy This is the first and best strategy for
controlling hazards at their source.
yy Focus on the work environment and
the job itself.
yy The job and environment are designed to eliminate or reduce exposure to hazards.
yy This includes additional relief workers,
exercise breaks, and worker rotations.
Use personal protective equipment
(PPE) if these measure don’t provide enough protection.
Work Practice Controls
yy These include the company’s general
workplace rules.
REMEMBER
yy They include other operation-specific
rules.
Even in an ergonomic
environment, correctional
programs such as medical
programs, preventative
maintenance systems, and
emergency preparation may
still be necessary.
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Health Hazards
Specific Construction Hazards
Learn how to protect yourself from specific health hazards you may
encounter on construction sites.
There are several common health hazards
found on construction sites.
Asbestos –
You may encounter asbestos in certain construction
environments. Inhalation
of asbestos can lead to
serious illness.
Lead –
Exposure to lead can have
toxic effects on the human
body. You may encounter
lead during certain construction activities.
Silica Dust –
Silica dust is found in sand
and rock particles. Lung
disease can develop over
years of exposure.
Wood Preservative
Chemicals –
These are widely-used
chemicals that are added
to lumber to prevent it from
rotting.
Certain hazards can have a take-home effect, which
means they may cause illness in those who come into
contact with you.
MEDICAL ALERT
yy The presence of asbestos,
lead, silica dust, and wood
preservative chemicals can
have a take-home effect.
yy This means it may cause
illness in family members
and friends who come into
contact with workers.
Heat –
Heat stress is a serious
health hazard. It can lead to
heat exhaustion and heat
stroke.
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Health Hazards
Asbestos
Follow safe practices when removing or working with asbestos.
Asbestos was once a common building
material. Now, its use is heavy regulated by
OSHA due to health hazards.
MEDICAL ALERT
Inhalation of asbestos can lead
to serious illness.
yy Malignant Lung Cancer.
yy Mesothelioma.
yy Asbestosis.
Use PPE to protect yourself.
Asbestos Removal
Use these work practices when working with
or removing Asbestos-Containing Construction Materials (ACCM):
Common Locations
Be aware of these common locations of
asbestos:
yy Excavations where asbestos bearing
rocks are present.
yy Fireproofing for steel-frame high-rise
buildings.
yy Pipe and boiler insulation.
yy Insulators of electrical conductors,
plaster, cement, drywall, and taping
compounds.
yy Floor tile and tile adhesives.
yy Prompt cleanup and disposal in leaktight containers.
yy The wet method (wetting and containing asbestos during removal).
yy Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters (this
is required for any ACCM cleanup).
The following practices are prohibited:
yy Spraying of any substance containing
any amount of asbestos.
yy Disc saw cutting of ACCM without exhaust or ventilation.
yy Acoustical ceilings.
yy Using compressed air to remove asbestos or ACCM.
yy Asbestos cement piping, shingles,
and panels.
yy Dry sweeping, shoveling, or other dry
cleaning of ACCM dust or debris.
yy Roofing felt and sealing compounds.
yy Rotating employee duties as a means
of reducing exposure.
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Health Hazards
Lead
Lead exposure has toxic effects on the human body.
Exposure to lead can occur during construction activities including the following:
yy Plumbing system retrofits.
yy Spraying, removal, or heating of paint
with lead.
yy Welding, cutting, and grinding construction materials that contain lead.
MEDICAL ALERT
Lead exposure can cause the
following:
yy Kidney damage.
yy Brain damage.
yy Sterility.
yy Decreased fertility.
yy Birth defects and mental
retardation in offspring.
Protecting Yourself
“Lead Trigger Tasks” are highly hazardous
tasks. These carry the presumption of airborne exposure to lead above Permissible
Exposure Limits.
When a Trigger Task is performed, minimum
respirator requirements apply.
Level 1:
Trigger Tasksyy Spray painting.
yy Manual demolition.
yy Manual scraping or sanding.
yy Using a heat gun.
yy Cleaning power tools w/ dust collection
system.
Minimum Respirator Requirementsyy Half-mask respirator with N-100, R-100,
or P-100 filters.
Level 2:
Trigger Tasksyy Using lead containing mortar.
yy Burning lead.
yy Rivet busting.
yy Cleaning power tolls without dust collection system.
yy Using dry, expendable abrasives for
clean-up procedures.
yy Moving or removing an abrasive blasting enclosure.
Minimum Respirator Requirements (Either)yy Full-face mask respirator with N-100,
R-100, or P-100 filters.
yy Supplied-air hood or helmet.
yy Loose-fitting hood or helmet with a
powered air purifying respirator with
N-100, R-100, or P-100 filters.
Level 3:
Trigger Tasksyy Abrasive blasting, welding, cutting, or
torch burning on structures.
Minimum Respirator Requirementsyy Half-mask, supplied air respirator operated in a postive pressure mode.
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Health Hazards
Silica Dust
Take precautions when you may be exposed to silica dust.
Silica dust is present in the airborne particles of sand and rock.
MEDICAL ALERT
yy Exposure to silica dust can
cause a lung disease called
silicosis.
yy This can develop over years
of exposure.
yy It can cause illness and
death in just a few weeks
after exposure to extremely
high levels of dust.
Limit your exposure to respirable silica.
Employer Responsibilities
If workers have the potential to be exposed
to silica dust, employers must do the following:
yy Measure and control employee exposure to airborne contaminants.
yy Train employees in the hazards of
crystalline silica exposure.
yy Train employees in the measures to
control risk, including proper use of
respirators.
yy Employ a qualified industrial hygienist to evaluate employees who are
repeatedly exposed to rock dust or
sand.
Some activities can cause a visible and toxic
cloud of silica dust. This includes the following:
yy Abrasive blasting with sand.
yy Loading, dumping, chipping, hammering, cutting, and drilling of rock, sand, or
concrete.
REMEMBER
The permissible exposure levels
for silica dust can be exceeded
even when there is no visible
cloud.
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Health Hazards
Wood Preservative Chemicals
You may be exposed to hazardous wood preservative chemicals
on construction sites.
Chemicals are often added to lumber to
prevent it from rotting.
Widely-used chemicals that can be carcinogenic include:
yy Creosote.
yy Pentachlorophenol.
yy Inorganic arsenic.
MEDICAL ALERT
Carcinogenic wood preservative
chemicals have the potential
to harm the body through
absorption and inhalation.
Proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is
an important way to protect yourself from carcinogenic
chemicals.
Protecting Yourself
Wear the appropriate personal protective
equipment (PPE) to protect yourself. This
may include:
yy Coveralls.
Provide workers with the appropriate PPE when hazards are
present.
yy Gloves.
yy Shoes.
yy Face Shields.
yy Resistant Clothing.
yy NIOSH Approved Respirators.
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Health Hazards
Heat
You may be exposed to heat hazards on construction sites.
Heat stress is a serious health
hazard. It can cause heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Supervisors and foremen should constantly
monitor workers who are exposed to heat
hazards.
Don’t underestimate the seriousness of heat hazards.
MEDICAL ALERT
MEDICAL ALERT
Symptoms of heat exhaustion
include:
Symptoms of heatstroke
include:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Weakness.
Fatigue.
Blurred vision.
Dizziness.
Headache.
Signs of heat exhaustion
include:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
High pulse rate.
Extreme sweating.
Pale face.
Insecure gait.
Slightly-elevated
temperature.
yy Chills.
yy Restlessness.
yy Irritability.
Signs of heatstroke include:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Red face.
Hot, dry skin.
Disorientation.
High body temperature.
Erratic behavior.
Shivering.
Collapse.
Convulsions.
Unconsciousness.
First Aid
Heat Exhaustion – Lay the worker down flat in a cool environment. Loosen the worker’s clothing
and give him or her plenty of water to drink.
Heatstroke – Immediately begin aggressively cooling the worker and get him or her to a hospital.
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Hazard Communication
Use hazard communication practices to protect yourself and others from health
hazards on the worksite.
Section 1910.1200 of the OSHA Regulations, Subpart Z - Hazard Communications,
provides an overview for general hazard
classification and communication for all
employers.
Hazard Communication Standard
Workers must understand and have access to information about the identities
and hazards of chemicals. OSHA’s Hazard
Communication Standard (HCS) requires
the development and dissemination of this
information.
Manufacturing and Importing
Chemical manufacturers and importers must
do the following:
yy Evaluate the hazards of chemicals they
produce or import.
yy Prepare labels and safety data sheets.
Example
The image below shows an example of a
simple label.
The creation of labels and safety data sheets must convey hazard information to customers.
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Health Hazards
Hazard Classification
Hazard classification helps ensure chemical safety in the workplace.
The term "hazard classification" indicates
that only the intrinsic hazardous properties
of chemicals are considered.
Hazard classification incorporates three
steps:
1. Identification of relevant data regarding a chemical’s hazard.
2. Subsequent review of those data to
ascertain the hazards associated
with the chemical.
3. Determination of whether the chemical will be classified as hazardous
and the degree of hazard.
REMEMBER
In many cases, only an expert
may interpret the data for
hazard classification purposes.
GHS
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
provides a set of criterial for identifying
chemicals.
yy Chemicals are identified per their
physical and health hazards.
yy There are specific hazard communication elements for both labelling and
safety data sheets.
Use the GHS classification and labeling system for
chemicals.
Employers are not required to
classify chemicals unless they
choose not to rely on the classification performed by the chemical
manufacturer.
Chemical Hazard Classes
Hazardous chemicals are classified by the
effect they cause. Also, some chemicals are
assigned a category number, which indicates
the severity of the harmful effect. Familiarize
yourself with the following:
yy Health classification.
yy Physical classification.
yy Mixture classification.
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Health Hazards
Health Hazards
In construction, you may be exposed to chemicals that pose health hazards.
Chemicals may be classified as posing
hazardous effects relating to your health.
The following are examples of hazardous
effects:
yy Acute toxicity.
MEDICAL ALERT
Reactions to chemicals causing
skin corrosion include the
following:
yy Skin corrosion or irritation.
yy Ulcers.
yy Serious eye damage or eye irritation.
yy Bleeding.
yy Respiratory or skin sensitization.
yy Bloody Scabs.
yy Discoloration.
yy Areas of alopecia (no
body hair).
Acute Toxicity
Acute toxicity is an example of a hazard
class. It is assigned to chemicals that cause
adverse effects when the chemical is:
yy Ingested.
yy Transferred through the skin.
yy Inhaled.
yy Scars.
Reactions to chemicals causing
skin irritation include the
following:
yy Lesions.
yy Rashes.
Skin Corrosion/Irritation
Skin corrosion/irritation is a hazard class
assigned to chemicals that are hazardous to
the skin.
yy Skin Corrosion – This class identifies
chemicals that cause irreversible
damage to the skin.
yy Skin Irritation – This class identifies
chemicals that cause reversible damage to the skin.
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Health Hazards
Health Hazards
Use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as
safety goggles or face shields when you may be
exposed to chemicals that may cause serious eye
damage/irritation.
Use PPE such as respirators or hand and arm protection
when you may be exposed to chemicals that may cause
respiratory or skin sensitization.
Serious Eye Damage/Eye Irritation
Respiratory or Skin Sensitization
Serious eye damage/eye irritation is a
hazard class assigned to chemicals that are
hazardous to the eyes.
Respiratory or skin sensitization is a hazard
class assigned to chemicals that irritate the
airways or skin.
yy Serious Eye Damage – This class
identifies chemicals that damage
eye tissue or cause serious physical
decay of vision.
yy Respiratory Sensitization – This hazard
class identifies chemicals that, when
inhaled, lead to hypersensitivity of the
airways.
yy Eye Irritation – This class identifies
chemicals that cause reversible damage to the eyes, such as burning or
temporary loss of sight.
yy Skin Sensitization – This hazard class
identifies chemicals that lead to an
allergic response after making contact
with skin.
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Health Hazards
This container’s label alerts workers to the chemical’s
potential hazards.
Physical Hazards
In construction, you may be exposed to
chemicals that pose physical hazards. If a
chemical is assigned a physical hazard classification, it poses one of various hazardous
effects. These include the following:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Explosive.
Flammable.
Self-reactive.
Self-heating.
Corrosive to metal.
Gas under pressure.
Explosive – This is a class assigned to solid
or liquid chemicals that are capable, by
chemical reaction, of producing gas at such
a temperature and pressure that they rapidly
damage the surrounding environment.
SDS information must reflect the scientific evidence used
in making the hazard classification.
Mixtures
OSHA defines a mixture as “a combination or
a solution composed of two or more substances in which they do not react.”
When classifying mixtures, those who manufacture chemicals or import mixtures may rely
on the information provided on the current
safety data sheets of the individual ingredients, except when manufacturers and importers know or should know that the safety data
sheet misstates or omits required information.
Pyrotechnic – The explosive class also
includes pyrotechnic chemicals, which are
designed to produce heat, light, sound, gas,
or smoke.
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Written Hazard Communication Program
If employees will be exposed to hazardous chemicals, your workplace
must have a written plan.
Planning and communication helps reduce
risks on the worksite.
An effective hazard communication program reduces the risks
involved in working with hazardous materials.
It achieves this by doing the following:
yy Communicating vital information to
employees.
yy Educating employees on the real and
potential hazards of substances in
the workplace.
yy Reducing the incidence and cost of
illness and injury caused by hazardous substances.
REMEMBER
Your workplace’s written plan
must describe how OSHA’s
hazard communication
standard will be implemented.
Employer Responsibilities
At each workplace, employers must develop, implement, and maintain a written
hazard communication program.
Written hazard communication programs must be
available to employees, their designated representatives,
and OSHA.
The written communication program must describe how the criteria for specific labels and
other forms of warning, safety data sheets,
and employee information and training will be
met.
Employers should follow specific steps when
implementing hazard programs:
1. Identify responsible staff.
2. Identify hazardous chemicals.
3. Prepare and implement the hazard
program.
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3 Steps to Hazard Communication Programs
Employers should follow three key steps to successfully implement a hazard
communication program.
When putting a hazard communication
program into place, employers should follow
these three steps:
1. Identify responsible staff.
Success depends on commitment at every
level of the organization. Employers must
understand the program, and they must be
committed to its success.
REMEMBER
Use a broad perspective when
surveying the workplace for
hazardous chemicals.
3. Prepare and implement the
hazard program.
After identifying responsible staff and hazardous chemicals, you’ll need to prepare and
implement the program.
REMEMBER
Employees are motivated by
the people presenting the
information.
2. Identify hazardous chemicals.
Survey the worksite to prepare a comprehensive list of hazardous chemicals.
REMEMBER
The program should include
label requirements, SDS
locations, and employee
training.
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Hazard Communication Program: Planning
Review the following items when preparing a hazard communication program.
Check off each item as it is completed. Make notes of how it applies to your worksite.
‰‰ There is a list of hazardous substances in your workplace.
‰‰ There is a written hazard communication program dealing with safety data sheets, labeling,
and employee training.
‰‰ Each container (such as vats, bottles, and tanks) for a hazardous substance is labeled with
the product identity and a hazard warning.
‰‰ There is a safety data sheet readily available for each hazardous substance used.
‰‰ There is an employer training program for hazardous substances.
REMEMBER
The hazard warning communicates the specific health hazards and physical
hazards.
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Hazard Communication Program: Checklist
Include the following items in your workplace’s hazard communication program.
Check off each item as it is included into the program. Make note of how it applies to your worksite.
‰‰ An explanation of what a safety data sheet is and how to use and obtain one.
‰‰ Safety data sheet contents for each hazardous substance or class of substances.
‰‰ Identification of where an employee can see the employer's written hazard communication
program and where hazardous substances are present in their work areas.
‰‰ The physical and health hazards of substances in the work area, and specific protective
measures to be used.
‰‰ Details of the hazard communication program, including how to use the labeling system
and safety data sheets.
‰‰ A list of the hazardous chemicals known to be present using a product identifier that is
referenced on the appropriate safety data sheet (SDS).
‰‰ The methods the employer will use to inform employees of the hazards of non-routine
tasks, and the hazards associated with chemicals contained in unlabeled pipes in their work
areas.
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Employee Training: Checklist
Make sure employers are trained in the following topics.
Take notes on how these topics apply to your worksite. Check off each item as it becomes apart of
employee training.
‰‰ How to recognize tasks that might result in occupational exposure.
‰‰ How to use work practice and engineering controls, and how to use personal protective
equipment and to know their limitations.
‰‰ How to obtain information on the type selection, proper use, location, removal handling,
decontamination, and disposal of personal protective equipment.
‰‰ Who to contact and what to do in an emergency.
Additional Notes:
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Labels and Other Forms of Warning
Labels and other forms of warning must meet OSHA requirements.
Containers of hazardous chemicals must be
labeled, tagged, or marked with the following:
yy Identity of the material.
yy Appropriate hazard warnings.
Work Place Labeling
Instead of a label, employers may use the
following:
yy Signs.
yy Placards.
yy Process sheets.
yy Batch tickets.
yy Operating procedures.
yy Other written warning materials.
This alternative warning method may be
used if the written materials:
This container is marked with important information that
communicates how a worker can protect him- or herself
from hazards.
yy Identify the containers of hazardous
chemicals.
OSHA Requirements
yy Provide information about the associated hazards.
Chemical manufacturers, importers, or distributors must ensure proper labeling of chemicals leaving the workplace. Labeling, tagging,
or marking must include the following information:
yy Are readily accessible to the employees in their work area throughout
each work shift.
REMEMBER
A product identifier is the name
or number used for a hazardous
product on a label or in the
safety data sheet (SDS).
A. Product identifier.
B. Signal word.
C. Hazard statement(s).
D. Pictogram(s).
E. Precautionary statement(s).
F. Name, address, and phone number.
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Label Elements
Review this sample label to better understand its required elements.
A. Product Identifier
D. Pictogram(s)
This is how the hazard is identified. Examples include the chemical name, batch
number, or code number.
These graphic symbols communicate specific
information about a chemical’s hazard.
B. Signal Word
This indicates a hazard’s severity. The only
two words used as signal warnings are
“Danger” and “Warning.”
C. Hazard Statement(s)
These describe the nature and degree of the
hazard.
E. Precautionary Statement(s)
These describe the measures you should take
to prevent or minimize hazardous effects.
F. Name, Address, and Phone
Number
This is the chemical manufacturer, importer,
or other responsible party’s information.
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Label Elements
Labels must include pictograms that alert workers to the chemical hazards they
may be exposed to.
Health Hazards
yy Carcinogen
yy Mutagenicity
Exclamation Mark
yy Irritant (Skin and
Eye)
Gas Cylinder
yy Gas Under
Pressure
Flame
yy Flammables
yy Pyrophoric
yy Reproductive
Toxicity
yy Skin Sensitizer
yy Self-Heating
yy Acute Toxicity
yy Respiratory
Sensitizer
yy Narcotic Effects
yy Emits Flammable Gas
yy Target Organ
Toxicity
yy Aspiration
Toxicity
Corrosion
yy Skin Corrosion
or Burns
yy Self-Reactive
yy Respiratory Tract
Irritant
yy Hazardous to
Ozone Layer
(Non-Mandatory
Warning)
Flame Over Circle
yy Oxidizer
yy Organic Peroxides
Skull & Crossbones
yy Acute Toxicity
(Fatal or Toxic)
Environment
yy Aquatic Toxicity
Exploding Bomb
yy Explosive
yy Self-Reactive
yy Eye Damage
yy Organic
Peroxide
yy Corrosive to
Metals
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Health Hazards
Safety Data Sheets
Safety data sheets (SDSs) communicate the hazards associated with chemicals.
Safety data sheets must be made readily
available when designated representatives,
the Assistant Secretary, and the Director
request them.
Safety data sheets:
yy May be kept in any form.
yy May be designed to cover groups of
hazardous chemicals in a work area.
yy Must be readily accessible during
each work shift to employees.
yy Must contain 16 specific sections.*
For complex mixtures that have similar
hazards and contents, the chemical manufacturer, importer, or employer may prepare
one safety data sheet to apply to similar
mixtures.
Responsibilities
Chemical Manufacturers or Importers –
They must provide SDSs with the shipped
containers. Or, they must send SDSs to the
distributor or employer before or at the time
of shipment.
Employers – They must make sure the
required information is provided for each
hazardous chemical.
NOTICE
SAFETY DATA
SHEETS
LOCATED HERE
Safety data sheets must be readily available upon
request.
If employers, chemical manufacturers, or
importers have significant new information about a chemical’s hazards (or ways to
protect against hazards), they must add this
information to the SDS within three months.
REMEMBER
“Safety data sheets” (SDSs) are
formerly known as “material
safety data sheets” (MSDSs).
MSDSs may still be used
during the transition period
for compliance with updated
Hazard Communication
Standard (HCS) requirements.
*Inclusion of the 16 sections ensures consistency in
how information is presented. For more information on
the 16 sections of safety data sheets, visit the OSHA
website.
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Health Hazards
Employer Responsibilities
Employers and employees must work together to reduce health
hazards on the worksite.
Preventing Heat Hazards
Employers must prevent heat illness by doing the following:
yy Provide cool, potable water.
yy Provide frequent cool-down breaks.
yy Schedule the heaviest work load
during the coolest part of the day.
yy Encourage workers to drink water and
cool down.
yy Look for signs and symptoms of heat
stress.
yy Provide training on heat stress including prevention, recognition, and first
aid.
yy Prohibit use of the common drinking
cup.
Hazard Classification
yy Train all employees in label elements.
yy Train employees in the 16 sections of
safety data sheets.
yy Hazard classification under the GHS
provides specific criteria to address
health and physical hazards as well
as classification of chemical mixtures.
yy Chemical manufacturers and importers must provide a label that
includes a signal word, pictogram,
hazard statement, and precautionary
statement for each hazard class and
category.
Good recordkeeping is an important responsibility.
Employers must inform employees
of the following:
yy Employer requirements for
chemical hazard training.
yy Employer requirements for
sharing of information with
employees.
yy Operations in employee
work areas where hazardous
chemicals are present.
yy Locations and availability of
the written hazard communication program.
REMEMBER
The written hazard
communication program should
include the required lists of
hazardous chemicals and
safety data sheets.
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Health Hazards
Employee Training
Employers are responsible for providing proper training to employees.
Employers must provide employees with
effective information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area.
yy Provide training at the time of an employee’s initial assignment.
yy Provide additional training when a
new chemical hazard is introduced.
yy Training must include a statement of
conditions.
Effective training programs are:
yy Observable.
yy Measurable.
Training of temporary workers is a joint responsibility of
the employer and the temp agency.
REMEMBER
Training is meant to inform
employees prior to exposure.
Do not delay training until after
the work has begun.
Training Requirements
Employer-provided training should cover the
following:
yy The measures employees can take to
protect themselves from hazards.
yy Work practices, emergency procedures,
and other procedures that protect
employees from exposure to hazardous
chemicals.
yy Details of the hazard communication
program developed by the employer.
yy Explanations of labels received on
shipped containers.
yy Explanations on the employer’s workplace labeling system.
yy Information of the safety data sheet,
including the order of information.
yy Information on how employees can
obtain and use appropriate hazard
information.
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Health Hazards
NOTES:
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Health Hazards
NOTES:
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Materials Handling
Materials Handling
Lesson 7 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify material handling and rigging hazards.
Describe the basic types of slings and material
handling equipment.
List the requirements for material storage.
Explain the process for developing a materials
handling safety program.
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Materials Handling
Handle and store all materials
properly and efficiently.
Materials Handling
Protecting Yourself
Efficient handling and storing of materials is
essential in maintaining a safe and productive worksite. Proper materials handling
practices allow a continuous flow of parts
and assemblies. It also ensures that materials are available when they’re needed.
Don’t underestimate the hazards posed by
materials handling on the worksite. Make sure
you’re taking steps to protect yourself and those
around you.
REMEMBER
When handling materials, keep the
following in mind:
• Handle and store all materials
efficiently.
• Improper handling and storage can
lead to costly injuries.
• Maintain awareness of handling
operations and the continuous flow
of parts and assemblies.
yy Follow general requirements for material
storage.
yy Maintain good housekeeping in storage
areas.
yy Store special materials properly.
yy Take extra precautions when storing
lumber.
yy Follow proper procedures for waste disposal.
yy Ensure proper use of rigging equipment.
yy Properly use equipment such as forklifts.
First-line supervisors are accountable for employee training. Employers must provide safety and health
programs in addition to training
programs.
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Materials Handling
General Requirements for Material Storage
Follow general requirements when storing materials in a designated storage area.
General Material Storage
When storing materials inside, employers
and employees must cooperate to ensure
the following:
yy Maximum safe loads on floors must
not be exceeded.
yy Materials stored in tiers must be
stacked, racked, blocked, or interlocked.
yy All aisles and passageways must be
kept clear and in good repair.
Properly stacking prevents sliding, falling, or
collapsing. Take extra steps to make sure
items are securely stored, especially when
stacking certain materials such as:
Proper stacking and good housekeeping are essential
in minimizing hazards.
Housekeeping
yy
Bagged material
yy
Bricks
yy
Lumber
yy
Steel
Keep storage areas free from accumulated
materials. This prevents tripping, fires, and
explosions. Good housekeeping also prevents
problems with rats and other pests.
REMEMBER
The floor’s maximum safe load
limit must be posted within the
building or structure.
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Materials Handling
Storing Special Materials
Storage requirements for certain materials may be different from general storage requirements.
Pay special attention when storing certain
materials. Remember the following special
material storage standards:
yy Noncompatible materials must be
segregated in storage.
yy To properly stack bagged materials,
step the layers and cross-key the
bags.
yy Do not store materials on scaffolds or
runways.
yy Do not stack bricks more than seven
feet high.
Lumber Material Storage
Pay special attention when storing or
stacking lumber. Remember the following
standards:
yy Before stacking used lumber, make
sure all nails are removed.
yy Stack lumber on level and solidly-supported sills.
yy Lumber stacks must be stable and
self-supporting.
yy Lumber piles must not exceed 20 feet
in height, provided that the lumber
to be handled manually must not be
stacked more than 16 feet high.
A stack of bricks must not exceed seven feet.
REMEMBER
Structural steel, poles, pipe,
bar stock, and other cylindrical
materials (unless racked) must
be stacked and blocked. This
prevents spreading and tilting.
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Materials Handling
Manual Materials Handling
Use proper lifting procedures when handling materials without the aid of equipment.
These workers must take care to use safe lifting procedures.
Safe Lifting Procedures
When handling materials manually, employees must ensure proper safe lifting procedures. Make sure to practice the following
when lifting materials:
By providing formal training to employees, employers can help reduce materials handling hazards.
Safe lift training should cover the
following topics:
yy General principles of ergonomics.
yy Break loads into parts.
yy Health risks related to improper
lifting.
yy Ask for help when lifting heavy or
bulky items.
yy Methods and procedures for reporting hazardous conditions.
yy Lift with your legs, keep your back
straight, and do not twist while lifting.
yy Use handling aids including steps,
trestles, shoulder pads, handles, and
wheels.
yy Avoid lifting above shoulder level.
REMEMBER
Manual materials handling is the
principle source of compensable
injuries in the American workforce.
Take special precautions to help
avoid injuries to the feet, hands,
back, and other parts of the body.
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Materials Handling
Disposal of Waste Materials
Employers must require certain practices when employees
are disposing of waste materials.
Dropping Materials
When disposing of waste materials, keep in
mind the following:
yy Employees must use an enclosed
chute when materials will be dropped
more than 20 feet to any point lying
outside the building’s exterior walls.
yy The enclosed chute must be made of
wood or equivalent material.
yy When not using a chute, the material
must be dropped into a completely
enclosed and barricaded area.
This ensures the safe disposal of waste
materials.
REMEMBER
When disposing of waste
materials, use personal protective
equipment (PPE), such as gloves
and steel-toed boots, to prevent
potential hazards and protect
yourself from injury.
Always comply with local fire regulations
when burning materials.
Burning Materials
Some waste materials are disposed of
through burning. In these cases, employers
and workers must comply with local fire regulations.
In order to safely dispose of waste material or
debris by burning them, remember the following:
yy All solvent waste, oily rags, and flammable liquids must be kept in fire-resistant covered containers until they’re
removed from the worksite.
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Materials Handling
Rigging Equipment
Rigging equipment allows workers to lift, roll, and slide heavy objects.
When installing and using rigging equipment, remember the following:
yy Rigging equipment must not exceed
its recommended safe working load.
yy Prior to each shift, inspect rigging
equipment to ensure safety.
yy When rigging equipment is not in use,
remove it from the immediate work
area.
yy Properly store unused rigging equipment in a designated area.
This prevents rigging equipment from
becoming a hazard on the worksite.
REMEMBER
These general requirements also
apply to slings that are used in
conjunction with other materials
handling equipment for the
purpose of moving materials by
hoisting.
Types of Rigging Equipment
There are several types of rigging equipment that are commonly used on a construction site.
Natural Rope and Synthetic Fiber
yy Eye splices must contain at
least four full tucks.
yy Strand end tails must not be
trimmed short.
Rigging equipment is often used with cranes.
Wire Rope
yy The type and size of rope must be sufficient for the load it will carry.
yy Ropes can fail when they develop cracks
or make radius bends.
yy Wire abuse can cause serious structural
damage such as kinking or bird caging.
yy Rope failure can happen after repeated
use.
Shackles and Hooks
yy Employers must determine the safe working loads of shackles.
yy Higher safe working loads are permissible when standards are met.
yy Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for safe working loads.
yy Test hooks before putting them to use.
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Materials Handling
Rigging Equipment
Rigging equipment allows workers to lift, roll, and slide heavy objects.
Wire Rope
The wire’s size, grade, and construction must
be able to accommodate the maximum load
that will be applied to it. Use a multiplier
to determine the maximum load limit. The
multiplier is the number by which the ultimate
strength of a wire rope is divided.
EXAMPLE
A wire rope sling with a strength
of 10,000 pounds and a total
working load of 2,000 pounds has
a design factor (multiplier) of 5.
Wire rope must be able to withstand repeated
bending. Failure results when small cracks
develop after repeated application of bending
loads. This happens when ropes make small
radius bends. To prevent this, use blocking or
padding to increase the radius of the bend.
Abusing a wire rope sling can cause serious
structural damage to a wire rope. Damage can
include kinking or bird caging, which reduces
the rope’s strength. Abuse will cause a wire
rope sling to become unsafe long before any
other factor.
To prolong the life of the
sling and protect the lives of
employees, always adhere to
the manufacturer’s suggestion
for safe and proper use of wire
rope slings.
Natural Rope and
Synthetic Fiber
In layered synthetic fiber rope, eye splices
must contain at least four full tucks. Short
splices must contain at least eight full tucks.
That means four on each side of the center
line of the splice.
REMEMBER
When using synthetic webbing
labels, include the following:
•
The name and trademark of
manufacturer.
•
Rated capacities for the type
of hitch.
•
Types of materials.
Also, you must not trim strand end tails short.
This applies to both eye and short splices, as
well as all types of fiber rope.
For fiber ropes under one inch in diameter, the
tails must provide at least six rope diameters
beyond the last full tuck.
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Materials Handling
Rigging Equipment
Rigging equipment allows workers to lift, roll, and slide heavy objects.
Shackles and Hooks
Always adhere to the safe working loads of
rigging equipment. Employers must use the
following table to determine the safe working loads of various sizes of shackles.
REMEMBER
Manufacturers sometimes
recommended higher safe
working loads for specific and
identifiable products. In these
cases, higher safe working
loads are permissible provided
you maintain a safety factor of
not less than 5.
Regardless, you must always
follow the manufacturer’s
recommendations in
determining the safe working
loads of various sizes
and types of specific and
identifiable hooks.
When the manufacturer’s
recommendations are not
available, hooks must be
tested to twice the intended
safe working load. Testing
must be done before the
hooks are initially put to use.
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Materials Handling
Materials Handling Equipment
Be aware of the hazards caused by materials handling equipment, such as forklifts.
Forklifts are commonly used for handling
materials on the worksite. Employees
should be properly trained in the safe use of
forklifts and other materials handling equipment.
Forklifts
yy Add loads to the center of the forks
and close to the mast.
yy Never overload the forklift.
yy The load must be at the lowest position when traveling.
MEDICAL ALERT
Industrial trucks, such as
forklifts, cause approximately
100 fatalities and 36,340
injuries per year. An estimated
20-25% of those are caused by
inadequate training.
Forklift operators must be properly trained.
on the rear of a counterbalanced forklift. This
offsets the load.
Stacking
Loading
When loading a forklift, the load must be
centered on the forks and as close to the
mast as possible. This minimizes the risk of
the forklift tipping or the load falling.
Never overload the truck. Overloaded trucks
are difficult to control, and they can easily
tip over. When there is extra weight, place it
When stacking a load, materials must be correctly piled and cross-tiered where possible.
Travel
When the forklift is travelling, keep the load at
the lowest possible position for travel. Follow
the truck manufacturer’s operational requirements.
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Materials Handling
Employer Responsibilities
Employers and employees must work together to reduce materials handling
hazards on construction sites.
Employees must be trained in the proper
handling and storing of materials. This is
an essential part of any safety and health
training program.
Employers are responsible for
developing training programs
for employees.
Training
yy Formal training reduces material handling hazards.
yy Training should emphasize factors
that contribute to reducing workplace
hazards.
Employers must provide training to employees.
Ergonomics
Safety and Health
Programs
yy Managers must take an active role in
developing safety and health programs.
yy To ensure continued safety, plans
should be ongoing.
yy The job should fit the person, rather
than the person fitting the job.
yy Changing workplace conditions makes
the job easier and reduces stressors.
yy Practices include reducing the size or
weight of objects being lifted.
yy Follow the four main elements of
safety and health programs.
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Materials Handling
Employer-Provided Training
Formal training is an essential part of reducing material handling hazards.
Training Programs
OSHA recommends using
a formal training program
to reduce material handling
hazards on construction
sites. Instructors should be well-versed in a
variety of topics that relate to safety engineering and materials handling and storing.
Training programs should emphasize ways to reduce workplace
hazards.
Employer-provided training should achieve
the following:
yy Alert employees to the dangers of lifting materials without proper training.
yy Show employees how to avoid unnecessary physical stress and strain.
yy Teach workers to recognize potential
hazards.
yy Teach workers how to prevent and
correct hazards.
Safety and Health
Programs
Managers must take an
active role in developing safety and health
programs. This ensures effective materials
handling and storing on the worksite, while reducing the potential for hazards and injuries.
The four main elements of an effective occupational safety and health program include
the following:
yy Commitment from management and
employee involvement.
yy Worksite analysis.
yy Hazard prevention and control.
yy Safety and health training.
First-line supervisors must understand the
importance of controlling potential hazards.
Use ongoing safety and health programs to
motivate employees to use protective gear
and observe proper job procedures on an
ongoing basis.
First-line supervisors must be held
accountable for employee training.
Supervisors should establish and communicate safety goals, conduct worksite examinations, design job sites effectively, and provide
training that addresses safety and health
responsibilities of both management and
employees.
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Materials Handling
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is an important part of providing a safe working environment.
Definition
Ergonomics is defined as
the study of work, and it’s
based on an important
principle:
“
The job should be adapted to the
person, rather than forcing the person to fit the job.
”
Ergonomics focuses on the work environment. It covers a variety of items, including
the following:
yy The design and function of
workstations.
yy Controls.
yy Displays.
yy Safety devices.
yy Tools and lighting to fit employees’
physical requirements.
yy Ensuring workers’ health and
well-being.
Adapt the job to the worker—not the other way around.
REMEMBER
In material handling and
storing, ergonomic principles
may require controls such as
reducing the size or weight
of the objects lifted, installing
a mechanical lifting aid, or
changing the height of a
pallet or shelf.
MEDICAL ALERT
Ergonomics includes
restructuring or changing
workplace conditions to make
the job easier. It also involves
reducing stressors that cause
cumulative trauma disorders
and repetitive motion injuries.
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Materials Handling
NOTES:
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Materials Handling
NOTES:
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Tools
Tools – Hand & Power
Lesson 8 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify basic tool hazards.
Describe basic tool safety.
List ways to protect yourself against hand and
power tool hazards.
Explain the proper uses and practices for
electrical and woodworking tools and jacks.
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Tools
Learn how to recognize and protect yourself
from hazards posed by hand and power tools on
construction sites.
Hazards Defined
Workers using hand and power tools may
be exposed to several hazards that can lead
to injury or even death. OSHA explains the
common causes of hand and power tool
hazards:
“
Hazards are commonly caused
by misuse and improper
maintenance.
”
To remove and avoid hazards,
workers must learn about different
types of tools and the safety precautions needed for prevention.
Tools Defined
Jack – An appliance for
lifting and lowering or moving a load horizontally by
the application of a pushing
force. Types of jacks include
lever and ratchet, screw, and
hydraulic.
Abrasive Wheel – A cutting
tool consisting of abrasive
grains held together by
organic or inorganic bonds.
This includes diamond and
reinforced wheels.
Guard – A barrier that prevents entry of the operator’s
hands or fingers into the
point of operation.
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Tools
Tool Safety
To protect yourself from hazards, make sure you’re using tools safely.
OSHA requirements for tool safety will vary
depending on the tool used. However, there
are general requirements you can apply to
most tools.
Tool Safety
Guarding
yy All power tools must have guards.
yy The point of operation on a machine
must be guarded.
Personal Protective Equipment
yy All PPE must meet OSHA regulations.
yy Employees must be provided with
personal protective equipment (PPE).
Switches
yy Power tools have several types of
switches.
ßß Positive on-off.
ßß Contact on-off.
ßß Constant pressure switches.
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Tools
Guarding
Machine guarding protects the operator and other employees from hazards.
If a power-operated tool is designed to
accommodate guards, it must be equipped
with a guard when in use.
Tools must be properly guarded when
employees will be exposed to contact with
reciprocating, rotating, or moving parts.
Guards are also necessary when the tool
may otherwise create a hazard. Examples
of tools that often create these hazards
include the following:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Belts.
Gears.
Shafts.
Pulleys.
Sprockets.
Spindles.
Drums.
Fly wheels.
Chains.
Proper machine guarding ensures the safety of the
operator.
Point of Operation Guarding
The point of operation is the area on a machine where work is performed. The point
of operation must be guarded if it exposes
an employee to injury.
The operator must be able to easily place,
remove, and handle materials without having to place a hand in the danger zone.
Use point of operation guards on tools such
as:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Guillotine cutters.
Shears.
Alligator shears.
Powered presses.
Milling machines.
Power saws.
Jointers.
Portable power tools.
Forming rolls and calendars.
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Tools
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Use PPE to protect yourself from a range of hazards on the worksite.
Employees must be provided with necessary PPE.
PPE protects you from the following:
yy Hazards associated with using hand
a power tools.
yy Exposure to falling, flying, abrasive,
and splashing objects.
yy Exposure to harmful dusts, fumes,
mists, vapors, and gases.
REMEMBER
Use the proper PPE when working with hand and power
tools.
All PPE must meet OSHA
regulations.
Switches
Switches are another important aspect of
basic tool safety.
The following tools may be equipped with only
a positive on/off control:
yy Hand-held powered platen sanders.
yy Grinders with wheels two inches in
diameter or less.
yy Routers.
yy Planers.
yy Laminate trimmers.
yy Nibblers.
yy Shears.
yy Scroll saws.
Use different types of PPE to protect you from
applicable hazards.
yy Jigsaw with blade shanks one-fourth of
an inch wide or less.
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Tools
Hand Tools & Power Operated Tools
Manual hand and power-operated tools have a wide variety of uses on construction sites.
Hand and power tools are the most versatile
instruments in construction. There are many
different types of tools that can be used
safely without extensive training.
Some types of tools pose a greater risk of injury, and require extra
precautions and training.
Tools may be power-operated or manually operated.
Make note of the following:
Hand Tools
Liquid Fuel
yy Hazards are mostly caused by misuse and improper maintenance.
yy Loose wooden handles on a hammer
or axe may cause the head to fly off.
yy Some tools mostly run off gasoline.
yy Gasoline can explode or burn.
yy Gasoline use can lead up to a build-up
of fumes.
Hydraulic
Employer Regulations
yy Do not issue or permit the use of
unsafe hand tools.
yy Keep wooden handles of tools free of
splinters or cracks.
yy Never use cheater bars.
yy You must use fire-resistant fluids.
yy The fluid must retain its characteristics
at extreme temperatures.
yy Do not exceed the manufacturer’s safe
operating pressures.
Powder-Actuated Tools
Pneumatic Tools
yy These are powered by an air compressor through a hose.
yy Common hazards include workers
getting hit by a tool attachment.
yy Powder-actuated tools drive nails with
a powder load.
yy Additional precautions must be taken
to ensure the safety of workers.
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Tools
Hand Tools
The use of hand tools can pose hazards on a construction site.
Hand tool hazards are most commonly
caused by misuse and improper maintenance.
Examples of misuse or improper maintenance of hand tools include the following:
yy Using a screwdriver as a chisel may
cause the tip of the screwdriver to
break and fly, hitting the user or other
employees.
yy Impact tools such as chisels, wedges, or drift pins are unsafe if they
have mushroomed heads. The heads
might shatter on impact, sending
sharp fragments flying.
REMEMBER
yy Around flammable
substances, sparks
produced by iron and
steel hand tools can be a
dangerous ignition source.
yy To stay safe around this
hazard, use spark-resistant
tools made from brass,
plastic, aluminum, or
wood.
Use, maintain, and store hand tools properly.
yy If a wooden handle on a tool such as a
hammer or axe is loose, splintered, or
cracked, the tool’s head may fly off and
strike the user or another worker.
yy Workers must not use a wrench if its
jaws are sprung, because it might slip.
Employer Responsibilities:
yy Do not issue or permit the
use of unsafe hand tools.
yy Keep tools in good
condition. For example,
make sure the wooden
handles of tools are free
of cracks and splinters,
and that the handles are
kept tight on the tool.
yy Never use cheater bars.
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Tools
Pneumatic Tools
Pneumatic tools can be a source of hazards on construction sites.
Pneumatic tools are powered by an air compressor that connects to the tool through a
hose.
Examples of pneumatic tools include:
yy Nailers.
Different types of tools can pose different
types of hazards.
yy Staplers.
yy Chippers.
Liquid Fuel
yy Drills.
yy Sanders.
Workers can get hit by a pneumatic tool’s
attachment, or by a fastener being used
with the tool. This is the most common hazard associated with pneumatic tools.
Noise is another hazard typically associated with tools such as jackhammers. When
using such tools, protect yourself with PPE
such as hearing protection.
REMEMBER
Do not use compressed air
for cleaning purposes, except
when reduced to less than
30 psi. In that case, you must
use effective chip guarding
and PPE.
Most tools that run on liquid fuel are powered
by gasoline. The main hazard associated with
such tools comes from the fuel vapors that
can burn or explode. They can also give off
dangerous exhaust fumes.
Follow these regulations to prevent hazards:
yy Fuel-powered tools must be stopped
while being maintained.
yy Use only approved fuel containers.
yy Be aware that carbon monoxide generated can displace or deplete oxygen.
yy Mechanical ventilation and testing
needs to be done to prevent hazards.
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Tools
Hydraulic Tools
Hydraulic tools can be a source of hazards on construction sites.
Use of hydraulic tools comes with the following requirements:
yy The fluid used in hydraulic powered tools must
be fire-resistant fluids
approved under Schedule 30 of the
U.S. Bureau of Mines, Department of
the Interior.
yy It must also retain its operating characteristics at the most extreme temperatures to which it will be exposed.
yy The manufacturer's safe operating
pressures for hoses, valves, pipes,
filters, and other fittings must not be
exceeded.
Powder-Actuated Tools
Powder-actuated tools drive nails with a
powder load.
These tools can be very dangerous—even
deadly. For this reason, take extra precautions to ensure the safety of workers using
the tool, as well as the other workers in the
area.
Examples of powder-actuated tools include
Hilti and Ramset guns.
REMEMBER
Before pulling the trigger, place
the tool against the work surface
with a small amount of pressure.
This practice prevents powderactuated tools from firing
accidentally.
In the case of a misfire, do the following:
1. Hold the tool in the operating position
for at least 30 seconds before trying to
fire it again.
2. If it still will not fire, hold the tool in the
same position for another 30 seconds,
then carefully remove the loaded fasteners.
3. Place the removed cartridge in water
immediately.
REMEMBER
Never use powder-actuated tools
to drive fasteners through brittle
or easily-penetrated material
without backing.
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Tools
Abrasive Wheels
Abrasive wheels can be a source of hazards on construction sites.
Abrasive wheels are used most frequently in
grinding applications or for cutting metal or
concrete.
Hazards
The most common hazards associated with
the use of abrasive wheels are struck-by
hazards caused by flying objects.
Another frequent struck-by hazard involves
improper testing and/or maintenance of
abrasive wheels.
Protecting Yourself
There are several ways to protect yourself
from hazards when using abrasive wheels.
Protection Hoods – These must be provided
for floor stand and bench mounted abrasive
wheels used for external grinding.
Guards – Safety guards protect the tool’s
operator.
Work Rests – These must be provided for
floor and bench-mounted grinders.
Abrasive wheels can be dangerous when
not used properly.
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Tools
Use of Abrasive Wheels
Follow safe practices when using abrasive wheels.
There are several other things to keep in
mind regarding the use and guarding of
abrasive wheels.
Use
yy The maximum angular exposure of
the grinding wheel periphery and
sides must be not more than 90
degrees.
yy All abrasive wheels must be closely
inspected before mounting by using
the ring test to ensure that they are
free from cracks or defects.
Guards
Guards must maintain proper alignment
with the wheel.
Work Rests
yy These must be provided for floor stand
and bench-mounted grinders.
yy Guards must cover the spindle end,
nut, and flange projections.
yy A guard must be mounted so that it
maintains proper alignment with the
wheel.
yy A guard should not exceed the
strength of the fastenings.
yy Safety guards must be strong enough
to withstand the effect of a bursting
wheel.
yy When the work entirely covers the
side of the wheel, side covers of the
guard may be omitted.
yy Work rests must be of rigid construction. They must be designed to be adjustable to compensate for wheel wear.
yy Work rests must be kept adjusted
closely to the wheel. The distance is
not to exceed one-eighth of an inch
from the surface of the wheel, and the
adjustment may not be made with the
wheel in motion.
yy The work rest must be securely
clamped after each adjustment.
yy On offhand grinding machines, work
rests must be used to support the work.
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Tools
Woodworking Tools
The use of woodworking tools can pose hazards on a construction site.
Woodworking tools come in many different
varieties and sizes to help accommodate all
types of woodworking projects.
Protecting Yourself
Take steps to protect yourself when using
woodworking tools.
Switches, Speeds, and Guarding
yy Disconnect switches that can either
be locked or tagged in the off position.
yy The operating speed must be etched
or permanently marked on all circular
saws.
Self-Feed & Hand-Fed Saws
Workers must be aware of the hazards posed by
woodworking tools.
Radial Saws
yy Automatic feeding devices must be
installed on machines.
yy Cover guards must be located above
and below the base plate or shoe.
yy Feeder attachments must have feed
rolls or other moving parts.
yy The lower exposed portion of blade
must be guarded to the full diameter.
yy Tools must be equipped with a hood
guard.
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Tools
Use of Woodworking Tools
Make sure to use woodworking tools safely.
Switches, Speeds, and Guarding
yy All fixed, power-driven woodworking
tools must be provided with a disconnect switch that can either be locked
or tagged in the off position.
yy Momentary contact on/off switches are appropriate switches for belt
sanders.
yy The operating speed must be etched
or otherwise permanently marked
on all circular saws over 20 inches in
diameter or operating at over 10,000
peripheral feet per minute.
Self-Feed & Hand-Fed Saws
yy Automatic feeding devices must be
installed on machines whenever the
nature of the work will permit it.
yy Feeder attachments must have the
feed rolls or other moving parts covered or guarded to protect the operator from hazardous points.
yy A hood guard completely encloses
the portion of the saw above the
table.
yy The hood and mounting must be arranged so that the hood will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of
and remain in contact with the material being cut.
Use PPE when applicable.
Radial Saws
yy The upper hood must completely
enclose the upper portion of the blade
down to a point that will include the end
of the saw arbor.
yy The upper hood must be constructed
so that it will protect the operator from
flying splinters, broken saw teeth, and
similar hazards.
yy The upper hood must be constructed
so that it will deflect sawdust away
from the operator.
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Tools
Jacks
The use of jacks can pose hazards on a construction site.
Jacks are used for the following purposes
on construction sites:
yy Lift and hold heavy loads.
yy Allow heavy loads to travel.
yy Improve load stability.
yy Allow employees to work on raised
objects.
Keep yourself and other workers safe by
using safe practices and maintaining awareness when working with jacks.
General Capacity
Improper use of jacks can be extremely dangerous.
yy The manufacturer’s capacity rating
will be marked on all jacks.
yy All jacks must have a positive stop to
prevent overtravel.
When blocking is required in jacking operations:
yy Immediately block the load.
yy Place a block under the base of the
jack when a firm foundation is necessary.
yy Place a wood block between the metal cap and the load when the possibility of slippage is present.
Operation & Maintenance
yy Inspect jacks once every six months,
when they’re sent and returned from
repair, and before and after use when
subjected to abnormal loads.
yy When hydraulic jacks are exposed to
freezing temperatures, use an adequate
amount of antifreeze liquid.
Follow these guidelines to set up a jack in
compliance with OSHA regulations:
yy Set the base on a firm, level surface.
yy Make sure the base is centered.
REMEMBER
If a jack is out of order, tag it
accordingly and don’t use it until
it’s repaired.
yy Place the jack head against a level
surface.
yy Apply the lift force evenly to raise the
load.
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Tools
NOTES:
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Tools
NOTES:
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Managing Safety and Health
Safety Programs & Subpart C
Lesson 9 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify specific categories of hazards on the
worksite.
Explain Part 1926, Rules of Construction and how
it applies to contractors and subcontractors.
List regulations concerning safety and health
programs, as well as how to implement a program.
Describe and apply OSHA General Safety and
Health Provisions to avoid hazardous job sites.
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Managing Safety and Health
Effective safety and health programs help to reduce
worker injuries and illness.
Once you understand OSHA inspection procedures, learn about OSHA Safety Programs
and Subpart C requirements.
by another entity and make it an enforceable part of the agency's rule without reprinting the entire text in its rule.
Definitions
Focus on the following:
yy 1926.16, Rules of Construction –
These are legal principles applied to
the interpretation of a contract or law.
yy 1926.20, General Safety and Health
Provisions – These standards discuss OSHA construction regulations
for reducing hazards, preventing accidents, and maintaining safe job sites.
yy 1926.21, Safety Training and Education – In this section, OSHA describes
its safety training and education
responsibilities.
yy 1926.31, Incorporation by Reference
– This is a legal tool that enables an
agency to take a standard published
To understand safety programs and requirements, you must also recognize these terms:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Competent Person
Construction Work
Employee
Employer
Qualified Person
REMEMBER
On construction sites, a competent
person is defined as a person with
authorization to take corrective
action and who is able to recognize
existing and predictable hazards.
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Managing Safety and Health
Rules of Construction
Learn how Rules of Construction affect employers and contractors.
Rules of Construction are legal principles
that are applied to the interpretation or
construction of the terms of a contract law.
In other words:
It is the manner in which the legal
meaning or intent of a contract or
law is derived.
The Rules of Construction are composed of
the following four areas:
yy Prime contractor and any subcontractors’ responsibilities.
yy Prime contractor obligations.
yy Multi-employer policy.
yy Where joint responsibility exists.
Responsibilities
Prime contractors and subcontractors have
different responsibilities for completing
work and complying with OSHA regulations.
yy Prime contractor - Has overall responsibility for compliance with OSHA
regulations
yy Subcontractor - Assumes responsibility for his or her portion of work.
yy Both prime contractor and subcontractor - Have responsibilities for
complying with OSHA regulations.
yy Either prime contractor or subcontractor - Can enter into an agreement
to fulfill specific OSHA obligations on
a job site basis.
Prime contractors and subcontractors have different
responsibilities for completing work.
REMEMBER
yy The prime contractor assumes
entire responsibility for all
work.
yy Subcontractors are responsible
for their portion(s) of
subcontracted work.
yy Under multi-employer policies,
contractors and subcontractors
assume mutual responsibility
for contracted work.
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Managing Safety and Health
Contractor Responsibilities
To better understand Rules of Construction, imagine a top-down view of two worksites.
In this scenario, the Prime Contractor has
contracted work out to three entities. These
are Subcontractor 1, Subcontractor 2, and
Subcontractor 3. Subcontractors may be
businesses or individuals.
Subcontractor 1 is assigned to the work on
Job Site 1. Subcontractor 2 is assigned to
the work on Job Site 2. Subcontractor 3 is
assigned to work on Job Site 1 and Job Site
2.
REMEMBER
A prime contractor is responsible
for “employer obligations” in 1926
Subpart B if a prime contractor
subcontracts some of the work on a
construction project to another firm,
unless specified in the contract.
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Managing Safety and Health
Multi-Employer Policy
The Multi-Employer Policy is an important part of the Rules of Construction.
In situations where the prime contractor contracts with subcontractors, both the prime contractor
and all subcontractors are subject to the enforcement provisions of the Standards Act.
In this scenario, the prime contractor
has overall responsibility for both Job
Site 1 and Job Site 2.
Subcontractor 1 is only contracted to
work on Job Site 1. His responsibility
is limited only to his area within that
job site.
REMEMBER
The contractor will be
held responsible for all
employer obligations
even if he or she
subcontracts all portions
of work involved.
Subcontractor 2 has equal responsibility in Job Site 2.
Subcontractor 3 is contracted to work
on both Job Site 1 and Job Site 2.
Her responsibility extends to both job
sites.
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Managing Safety and Health
General Safety and Health Provisions
The standards in Section 1926.20, General Safety and Health Provisions lay the groundwork for
OSHA construction regulations.
These standards are rooted in the principle
of preventing hazards and accidents, as well
as maintaining safe job sites.
Note the following:
yy No employer shall require any employee to work under conditions that
are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to health or safety.
yy Incompliant tools should be tagged,
locked, or removed from job sites.
yy Standards specific to a condition,
practice, method, or process overrule
general standards.
Accident Prevention
yy Employers must start and maintain
Safety Programs in compliance with
Part 1926 requirements.
yy Safety programs must provide for frequent and regular inspections of the
job sites, materials, and equipment
to be made by competent persons*
designated by the employers.
yy Employers are prohibited from using any machinery, tool, material, or
equipment that is not in compliance
with any applicable requirement.
*A competent person is defined as a person who
can identify existing and predictable hazards in
the surroundings or working conditions which are
unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees,
and who has authorization to take prompt corrective
measures to eliminate them.
This worker is using PPE effectively.
Incompliant Tools
Incompliant tools must be:
yy Identified as unsafe by tagging the
item.
yy Rendered inoperable by locking the
item’s controls.
yy Physically removed from the item’s
place of operation.
Only allow qualified employees
to operate equipment and
machinery. Employees are
qualified through training or
experience.
REMEMBER
General OSHA standards always take
precedence over particular standards
that apply specifically to a given
condition, practice, mean, method,
operation, or process.
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Managing Safety and Health
Safety Training and Education
Employer-provided training is an important part of keeping workers safe.
Section 1926.21, Safety Training and Education, states the following:
OSHA must create programs that
apply to both employers and employees.
Section 107(f) determines OSHA’s safety
training and educational responsibilities, as
well as employers’ responsibilities.
OSHA Responsibilities
The Secretary must establish and supervise employee
training and education programs.
OSHA must do the following:
yy Establish and supervise programs for
education and training.
yy Create programs that apply to both
employers and employees.
yy Create training and education.
Employer Training
Employers are required to provide safety training and education.
Employers must:
yy Create safety and health programs.
yy Create job site inspection procedures.
OSHA Training
yy Prepare safety expense allocations.
The training and education OSHA creates
must cover the following:
yy Recognition of unsafe conditions.
yy Avoidance of unsafe conditions.
yy Prevention of unsafe conditions.
Employers are required to provide
safety training and education.
Employers must:
yy Create safety and health
programs.
yy Create job site inspection
procedures.
yy Prepare safety expense
allocations.
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Managing Safety and Health
Employer Responsibilities
Under OSHA, employers have responsibilities for providing training and education to employees.
Section 107(f) determines employers’ responsibilities for safety training and education.
Training
Employers must provide training to employees. This training must instruct employees
in:
yy How to recognize and avoid unsafe
conditions.
yy Regulations that apply to work environments.
By training employees in the applicable
regulations, employers and employees can
work together to control or eliminate any
hazard or other exposure to illness or injury.
Safety Programs
OSHA requires employers to provide safety
training and education. Employers must:
yy Understand and fulfill OSHA’s required safety and health programs.
yy Revise programs annually.
yy Make sure safety rules and procedures are incorporated into site
operations.
yy Participate in safety meetings.
Train employees in the recognition, avoidance, and
prevention of hazards
REMEMBER
Safety and health programs must
cover many different aspects of job
site safety.
Additional Requirements
Employers must also meet requirements for
specific categories.
yy Poisons
yy Harmful Plants and Animals
yy Flammable Liquids
yy Confined/Enclosed Spaces
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Managing Safety and Health
Specific Categories
Employers must understand and meet the requirements for specific categories.
Poisons
Employees who are required to handle or
use poisons, caustics, and other harmful
substances must:
yy Be instructed in safe handling and
use.
yy Be alerted to any potential hazards,
personal hygiene, and/or necessary
personal protective measures as
required.
Harmful Plants and
Animals
Employees who may be exposed to harmful
plants or animals in their job sites must:
yy Be trained in potential hazards.
yy Be instructed on how to avoid injury.
yy Be taught the correct first aid procedures in case of emergency.
Flammable Liquids
Employees who are required to handle or
use flammable liquids, gases, or toxic materials must:
Gasoline is a flammable liquid, which has specific
requirements for safe use.
yy Be taught the safe handling and use of
materials.
yy Be made aware of the specific requirements contained in Part 1926, including
Subparts D and F.
Confined/Enclosed Spaces
Confined or enclosed spaces are any space
that has a limited means of egress, is subject
to the accumulation of toxic or flammable
contaminants, or has an oxygen-deficient
atmosphere.
Employees who are required to enter confined
or enclosed spaces must:
yy Be instructed on potential hazards.
yy Be taught any necessary precautions.
yy Be educated in the use of required protective and emergency equipment.
REMEMBER
Management does not need to instruct all employees about confined spaces if it is not
a part of their duties.
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Managing Safety and Health
Creating Safety and Health Programs
Employers have several requirements regarding safety and health programs.
Employers must create, maintain, and
improve their safety and health programs.
Programs should include:
yy Comprehensive baseline worksite
surveys for safety and health.
yy Routine job hazard analyses.
yy Assessment of ergonomics risk
factors.
yy Regular site safety and health inspections.
yy Systems for employees to notify management about hazardous conditions.
According to OSHA, an effective safety and
health program depends on:
yy Credible involvement from management.
yy Employees being included in safety
and health decisions.
yy Worksite analysis that identifies hazards.
yy Stringent prevention and control
measures.
yy Thorough training.
Incorporate preventative controls into the
job site. These include:
yy Engineering techniques.
yy Safe work practices.
yy Personal protective equipment (PPE).
yy Maintenance and administrative
controls.
Regular site inspections are an important part of
safety and health programs.
Evaluation Criteria
Evaluate programs by the following criteria:
yy Management Commitment and Leadership – Review management’s commitment to safety and health activities.
Detail your commitment in a written
policy statement.
yy Assignment of Responsibility –
Demonstrate responsibility of the
employer, the management team, and
employees.
yy Identification and Control of Hazards –
Conduct worksite analysis and periodic
safety inspection programs that involve
supervisors.
yy Training and Education – Make sure all
employees are aware of hazards and
hazard avoidance.
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Managing Safety and Health
Training and Education
When employees are properly trained, hazards on the worksite are reduced.
Employers must provide training and education to employees. Training should cover the
following:
yy All hazards they may be exposed to in
the workplace.
yy Proper measures for avoiding those
hazards.
REMEMBER
Safety and health programs
must apply to both employers
and employees.
Ongoing improvement of safety and health programs
ensures ongoing worker safety.
yy Emergency drill procedures and critiques.
yy Health surveillance and monitoring
records.
Avoiding Hazards
yy OSHA 300 logs.
Employee measures for avoiding hazards
include:
yy Maintaining physical protection in
work areas.
yy Understanding safety and health
responsibilities.
Hazard Prevention and Control
The Hazard Prevention and Control element
of training should include:
yy Preventive maintenance schedules.
yy Disciplinary program and results.
yy Site rules.
yy OSHA mandated written programs.
yy Maintenance records.
Emergency Action Plans
Employers must create written emergency action plans that ensure employee safety from
fire and other emergencies. Also, evacuation
plans must include types of evacuation to be
used in emergency circumstances.
Before an emergency action plan can be
implemented, employers must designate and
train employees who can assist in the safe
and orderly emergency evacuation of employees.
REMEMBER
Employers are required to have an
alarm system.
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Managing Safety and Health
First Aid and Medical Attention
1926 Subpart D details requirements for first aid and medical attention.
MEDICAL ALERT
Employers must:
yy Make medical personnel
available for advice and
consultation on occupational
health issues.
yy Prepare a plan before site
work begins. This plan
addresses how prompt
medical attention is provided
in case of serious injury.
Employers must maintain good medical
recordkeeping.
Common construction hazards and OSHA
safety standards are detailed in Part 1926.
Note the following requirements for employers:
yy Provide first aid provisions for medical attention and emergency facilities.
yy Maintain a clean, safe work environment.
yy Make employee exposure and medical records available to OSHA and to
all employees.
Access to Medical Records
OSHA regulations give employees and
OSHA a right of access to relevant exposure
and medical records. This enables employees and OSHA to improve how they detect,
treat, and prevent occupational diseases.
yy Employ a person with a valid
certificate in first aid training
(if a medical facility is not
reasonably accessible).
yy Provide the proper equipment
needed to promptly transfer
injured employees, or provide
a communication system for
calling an ambulance.
yy Post telephone numbers
for medical and emergency
services in areas where 911 is
not available.
yy Provide a means for the quick
drenching or flushing of the
eyes and body on applicable
job sites.
REMEMBER
Make first aid supplies easily
accessible and kept in a
weatherproof, sealed container.
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Managing Safety and Health
Housekeeping
Good housekeeping means maintaining a clean and safe work environment.
Employer Responsibilities
OSHA lists housekeeping regulations for employers:
yy Keep work areas, passageways, and stairways free of debris.
yy Safely remove combustible scrap and debris at regular intervals during construction (Subpart C).
yy Provide containers for the collection and separation of waste, trash, oily and used rags, and
other refuse.
yy Provide covers for containers used for garbage or waste.
yy Dispose of garbage and other waste at regular and frequent intervals.
Use this checklist to create and maintain a tidy construction site. Make note of any improvements needed.
‰‰ The worksite is free of debris.
‰‰ Chutes are used to remove rubbish from various levels of the project(s).
‰‰ Nails that protruded from lumber have been removed or bent.
‰‰ All loose materials on roofs or open floors are secure.
‰‰ Stairways and passageways are free of materials and obstructions.
‰‰ Specific waste areas are designated to keep workspaces neat and in order.
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Managing Safety and Health
Recordkeeping
Employers and employees should be aware of various recordkeeping requirements.
Annual Summary
You have two goals for your Annual Summary report: completeness and correctness. Follow
these steps for implementing the Annual Summary task.
1.
Perform the annual review of OSHA 300* log entries.
The Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses in also referred to as form number OSHA 300.
Review these extensively. Make sure you don’t overlook information. Even a single missed
detail leads to inaccuracy.
2. Complete the Annual Summary.
Sum up the total columns on OSHA 300 Log. If there are no recordable cases, put
zeroes in every column.
3.
Include the penalty statements of employer and employee access in the
OSHA 300-A summary form.
As an alternative, penalty statements can go in any equivalent form that’s
legally allowed under Section 1904.6(b)(4).
Certification
Before posting the Annual Summary, the accuracy and completeness of its details should be
certified. The OSHA Annual Summary must be posted between February 1 and April 30 of the next
year.
* 300 Log – Known as the Annual Summary OSHA 300 Log.
300-A Log – Known as the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses.
301 Log – Known as the Incident Report.
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Employee Involvement
Familiarize yourself with the basic requirements for Section 1904.35, Subpart D – Other OSHA
Injury and Illness Recordkeeping Requirements.
Reporting
Employers must make sure there are ways
to promptly report work-related injuries and
illness.
All employees must know the
process for reporting injury and
illness cases.
With some limitations, the following individuals have the right to access OSHA injury
and illness records:
yy All employees.
yy Former employees.
yy Personal representatives.
yy Authorized employee representatives.*
Employees
A successful safety and health program requires employee involvement. This is especially true in recordkeeping.
Free and frank reporting by employees is the cornerstone of the
system.
Employers should involve employees and their
representatives in the recordkeeping process.
Employers are required to let employees know
how and when to report work-related injuries
and illnesses. Do that by:
yy Establishing a procedure for reporting
of work-related injuries and illnesses.
yy Training employees in how to use that
procedure.
REMEMBER
Under OSHA, employees are
protected from discrimination when
reporting a work-related injury,
illness, or fatality.
*An authorized employee representative is an authorized
collective bargaining agent of employees.
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Managing Safety and Health
State Regulations
State Plans provide programs of standards, regulations, and enforcement.
Once State Plans are approved, they operate
under authority of State law. They provide
programs of:
yy Standards.
yy Regulations.
yy Enforcement.
These programs must be at least as effective as the Federal program.
Requirements
State-Plan State requirements may be more
stringent than the Federal requirements.
However, because of the unique nature of
the national recordkeeping program, States
must consult with and obtain approval of
any such requirement.
Records
State Plans must have recording and reporting regulations that impose identical
requirements for the recordability of occupational injuries and illnesses. These requirements must be the same for employers
in all the States, whether under Federal or
State Plan jurisdiction. This ensures that:
Work places located in a state that operates an OSHAapproved state plan should follow the regulations of
the State.
Coverage
State and local government employers are
covered under the equivalent State Rule that
operate under OSHA-approved State Plans.
State Rules must cover these workplaces and
require the recording and reporting of work-related injuries and illnesses.
A State Plan could also require
employers to:
yy Occupational injury and illness data
for the entire nation are uniform and
consistent.
yy Keep additional
supplementary injury and
illness information.
yy Statistics that allow comparisons
between the States and between
employers located in different States
are created.
yy Require employers to report
fatality.
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Managing Safety and Health
NOTES:
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NOTES:
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Stairways and Ladders
Stairways and Ladders
Lesson 10 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify hazards associated with stairway and
ladder usage in construction.
Describe elements of training requirements and
common violations associated with stairways
and ladders.
List the different types of ladders used in
construction and the specific standards that
apply to them.
Explain the common hazards associated with
stairways and ladders.
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Stairways and Ladders
Learn how to protect yourself from hazards caused by
stairways and ladders on construction sites.
Common Hazards
OSHA estimates there are 24,822 injuries
each year due to falls from stairways and
ladders in construction.
To stay safe and minimize hazards, workers must use stairways
and ladders correctly.
Prevent major and minor injuries by complying with OSHA standards. These are the
most commonly-violated standards regarding ladder and stairway usage in construction:
yy Lack of a handrail or stair system on
stairs with four or more steps.
yy Lack of a safe means to gain access
to a vertical rise in elevation of 19
inches or more.
yy Not marking or tagging a defective
ladder so that it won’t be used before
it’s been repaired.
yy Not securing a ladder or portable ladder at least three feet above the upper
landing before workers use it to reach
an upper level.
MEDICAL ALERT
OSHA estimates there are 36
annual fatalities caused by
accidents or falls on stairways and
ladders.
Protect Yourself
Follow OSHA regulations that apply to all
stairways and ladders involved in construction. These include general requirements, as
well as regulations for specific types of stairs.
REMEMBER
Follow general safety
requirements. These apply to all
stairways and ladders involved
in the construction, alteration,
repair, painting, decorating, and
demolition of worksites.
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Stairways and Ladders
General Requirements
Follow general requirements for ladders and stairways used on construction sites.
All stairways and ladders used in the construction, alteration, repair, painting, decorating, and demolition of worksites are regulated by OSHA's construction safety and
health standards.
General requirements for safe use
apply to both stairways and
ladders.
These general requirements include the
following:
yy A stairway or ladder is required at all
access points to another work area
where a break in elevation of 19 inches or more exists, and where no ramp,
runway, embankment, or personnel
hoist is provided.
yy Any duties required by the stairway
and ladder rules must be performed
before employees begin work that
requires them to use stairways or ladders and their respective fall protection systems.
yy Where there are more than two access points between levels, a stairway or ladder must have at least one
point of access kept clear.
yy All stairway and ladder fall protection
systems required by OSHA rules must
be installed prior to operation.
General requirements for safe use apply to all types of
ladders and stairways.
Exception
The OSHA construction safety and health
standards covering stairways and ladders do
not apply to ladders designed for scaffold
entry or exit.
However, those standards do apply to jobmade or manufactured portable ladders that
are intended for general use, but that are then
used for scaffold entry and exit.
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Stairways
Protect yourself and others from common hazards on construction sites.
Always use stairways safely.
Stairway Requirements
Follow specific requirements for how and
when to use stairways.
Safe use also includes stairway
components.
These general requirements apply to all
stairways:
yy Stairways on a construction worksite
intended to be a temporary part of a
structure must have landings at least
30 inches deep and 22 inches wide at
every 12 feet or less of vertical rise.
yy Stairways must be installed along
every unprotected side or edge. They
must be at least 30 degrees (but
no more than 50 degrees) from the
horizontal.
yy The unprotected sides and edges of
stairway landings must have standard
42-inch guardrail systems.
yy Stairways with four or more risers or
that rise more than 30 inches high
(whichever is less) must have at least
one handrail.
Stairways may or may not be a permanent part of a
structure. In either case, safety requirements apply.
Types of Stairways and Components
Specific types of stairs found on construction
sites—along with their various components—
may have additional OSHA requirements.
Types of stairways and their components
include:
yy Temporary stairs.
REMEMBER
Stairrails installed after March
15, 1991 must be no less than 36
inches in height.
yy Midrails.
yy Handrails.
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Types of Stairways and Components
There are different types of stairways and stairway components found on construction sites.
Learn how to use them safely.
While general requirements apply to all staircases, there are specific types of stairs with
additional requirements for safe use.
Temporary Stairs
Temporary stairs help with worker mobility.
When temporary stairs are implemented
into a worksite, the following OSHA requirements apply:
yy Using stairways with metal pan landings and treads is prohibited if the
tread and/or landing is not filled with
concrete or other materials.
yy Treads and landings must be replaced when worn below the top edge
of the pan.
yy Unless the stairs are fitted with
secured temporary treads and landings, the use of skeleton metal frame
structures and steps is prohibited.
yy Temporary treads must be made
of wood or other solid material and
installed in the full width and depth of
the stair.
REMEMBER
Any stairway of four steps or
more requires the installation of a
handrail.
Stairways may have midrails and handrails.
Midrails & Handrails
Follow these requirements regarding installation of midrails and handrails:
yy Midrails must be installed midway between the top rail and stairway steps of
a stairrail system.
yy Handrails should be installed on stairways being used by workers on a construction worksite.
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Stairways and Ladders
Midrails and Handrails
Follow these OSHA requirements for midrails and handrails.
Any screen or mesh used in place
of a midrail should extend from the
top rail to the stairway step and
along the opening between the top
rail supports.
Handrails must provide sufficient handholds for workers
to grab and prevent
a fall, and must be
surfaced to prevent
injuries or snagging
onto clothing.
A handrail should be capable of
handling at least 200 pounds of
weight applied within two inches
of the top edge in any downward
or outward direction.
200
Pounds
30-37
Inches
Handrails should be no
more than 37 inches and
no less than 30 inches
away from the upper surface of the handrail to
the surface of the tread.
The ends of both handrails
and stairrail systems should
be free of dangerous projections or protrusions.
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Stairways and Ladders
Ladders
Protect yourself and others from common hazards on construction sites.
Always use ladders safely.
Ladder Safety
There are several topics you should learn
about in order to protect yourself while using ladders on the worksite. They include:
yy General requirements.
yy Cages and wells.
yy Safety devices.
yy Structural defects on a ladder.
Understanding these topics will help you
minimize the risk of injury while using ladders.
Ladder Requirements
General Requirements - General requirements apply when using ladders. All workers on a construction worksite should follow
these rules.
Portable Ladders – Portable ladders are
designed to be moved around on a worksite.
OSHA details specific requirements for the
use of portable ladders. These can include
self-supporting and non-self-supporting
portable ladders.
Fixed Ladders – Fixed ladders cannot be
moved; they’re attached to buildings or
structures. OSHA details specific requirements for the use of fixed ladders.
Types of ladders include portable ladders, like this one,
and fixed ladders.
Cages, Wells, and Safety Devices – OSHA
also details safe use of cages, wells, and safety devices, which are important components
of ladder safety.
Assign a competent person to do
the following:
yy Regularly inspect ladders for
visible defects.
yy Thoroughly inspect ladders
after any incident that could
affect a ladder’s safe use.
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Ladder Requirements
OSHA lists general requirements that apply to all ladders.
All workers on a construction site should follow general requirements for safe use of
ladders.
- Ladder components must be surfaced to prevent punctures and lacerations,
and to prevent the ladder from snagging clothing.
- Do not coat wooden ladders with an opaque covering, except for identifying or
warning labels. In this case, only place them on one face of a side rail.
- When using multiple ladders to reach an elevated work area, offset the ladders
with a platform or landing between them (except when using portable ladders
to reach fixed ladders).
- Ladder rungs, cleats, and steps must be parallel, level, and evenly spaced
when the ladder is in use.
- Ladders should never be tied or fastened together to create longer sections
unless they were specifically designed to do so.
- If a ladder is to be used where a worker has the potential to be exposed to
energized electrical equipment, it is a requirement that the ladder be
equipped with non-conductive siderails and placed in a position to avoid the
possible electrical hazard.
- Keep ladders free of oil, grease, and other slipping hazards.
- Areas around the tops and bottoms of ladders must be kept clear.
- Before it’s returned to use after repair, a ladder must be restored to a
condition that meets its original design criteria.
REMEMBER
Prevent accidental movement of ladders.
yy Secure ladders that are placed in passageways,
doorways, driveways, and areas where workplace
activities or traffic might move them.
yy Only use ladders on stable and level surfaces unless
they’re secured.
yy Do not use ladders on slippery surfaces unless they’re
secure or they have slip-resistant feet.
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Portable Ladders
Follow OSHA requirements for safe use of portable ladders.
Construction workers use portable ladders
to reach different areas on a worksite.
Portable ladders are designed to
be moved, carried, or repositioned
on a worksite.
Because of their portability, this type of
ladder can lead to hazards on construction
sites.
Protect Yourself
In addition to general requirements for safe
use of ladders, take specific precautions
when using portable ladders.
These OSHA requirements apply to both
self-supporting and non-self-supporting
portable ladders:
yy When using a portable ladder, the top
end must extend above the upper
landing level by three feet. Or, it must
be tied off to a secure point at the
top. This prevents the ladder from
losing its position.
yy The rungs and steps of portable
metal ladders should be corrugated,
knurled, dimpled, coated with skid-resistant material, or treated to minimize slipping.
yy Tag defective portable ladders with a
“Do Not Use” sign and withdraw them
from use until repairs are done.
Employer Responsibility:
yy If ladders are the only way to
enter or exit a work area with
more than 25 employees,
or if the ladder will serve
simultaneous two-way traffic,
double-cleated ladders or
multiple ladders must be
provided on the worksite.
yy For stepladders, a metal
spreader or similar locking
device must be provided.
This holds the front and back
sections in an open position
when the ladder is in use.
Load Testing
Before using self-supporting and non-self-supporting ladders, test their ability to handle a
load.
yy Place a load in a downward vertical direction on the ladder.
yy For non-self-supporting ladders, the
ladder should be at a horizontal angle of
75.5 degrees.
REMEMBER
Both self-supporting and nonself-supporting portable ladders
should be capable of supporting
at least four times their maximum
intended load.
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Fixed Ladders
Follow OSHA requirements for safe use of fixed ladders.
Unlike portable ladders, fixed ladders cannot
be moved or carried.
Fixed ladders are attached to or
part of a building or structure.
For this reason, using fixed ladders can lead
to hazards on construction sites.
Protect Yourself
In addition to general requirements for safe
use of ladders, take specific precautions
when using fixed ladders.
OSHA requirements cover the general requirements of fixed ladders, as well as specific requirements regarding cages, wells,
and safety devices.
yy Each step or rung must be able to
support at least two loads of 250
pounds.
yy Fixed ladders must be able to support
additional anticipated loads caused
by ice build-up, winds, rigging, and
impact loads from ladder safety
devices.
yy When building a cage into a fixed
ladder, the inside of the cage must be
clear of projections.
yy The top of the cage must be a minimum of 42 inches above the top of
the platform or the point of access at
the top of the ladder.
yy The bottom of the cage must be between seven and eight feet above the
This ladder is securely attached to a structure.
access point to the bottom of the ladder.
yy When using a fixed ladder in conjunction
with a well, the well should completely
encircle the ladder and should be free of
projections.
yy When using a safety device on a ladder, the maximum clearance distance
between side rail extensions must not
exceed 36 inches.
yy Fixed ladders without cages or wells
must have at least a 15-inch clear width
to the nearest permanent object on each
side of the centerline of the ladder.
yy If the total length of the climb on a fixed
ladder equals or exceeds 24 inches, it
must be equipped with ladder safety
devices.
yy Defective fixed ladders should be withdrawn from service, tagged with a “Do
Not Use” sign, and blocked from use until
repairs are done.
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Employer Responsibilities
Employers and employees must cooperate in order to reduce hazards on the worksite.
The use of stairways and ladders on a
worksite comes with many fall hazards associated with misuse, improper installation,
and overloading of a ladder or stairway.
To minimize these hazards, employers must
provide proper training to employees.
Training
Each employee must be trained on the use
of stairways and ladders. Training must
cover the following topics:
yy Proper use of stairways and ladders.
yy Fall protection.
Employers must provide proper training and fall
protection to workers who will use ladders.
Fall Protection
Proper Use
Employees must be trained on the following
topics:
yy How to properly use stairways and
ladders.
yy How to properly construct stairways
and ladders.
yy How to properly place stairways and
ladders.
yy How to properly care for stairways
and ladders.
yy The maximum intended load-carrying
capabilities of ladders used.
Employees must be trained on the following
topics:
yy The nature of all hazards in the work area
near stairways and ladders.
yy The correct procedures for erecting,
maintaining, and disassembling required
fall protection.
MEDICAL ALERT
Proper training in the correct
procedures and fall protection
can protect workers from injury
or fatality.
REMEMBER
Training must be provided by a competent person. This ensures that each employee
can recognize and minimize hazards related to the use of stairways and ladders.
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Fire Prevention
Fire Protection & Prevention
Lesson 11 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify potential fire hazards on construction sites.
Describe the potential for fire hazards on
construction sites.
List the necessary steps for fire protection.
Explain the implementation of a fire safety
program to avoid potential hazards.
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Fire Prevention
The Fire Protection and Prevention section of the
OSHA regulations describes worksite practices for
fire safety, protection, and prevention.
Definition
A fire is a chemical reaction caused by the
rapid oxidation of a flammable or combustible material, which is accompanied by
intense heat and light.
Causes in Construction
A fire begins when a given material reaches
its flash point and continues until all the
material has been burnt or the fire has been
extinguished.
Construction site fires are commonly caused by careless use of
material or equipment.
Common fire-causing sources of heat include:
yy A spark.
yy Another fire (such as an explosion,
a fire in the oven or fireplace, or a lit
match, lighter, or cigarette).
yy Sources of intense thermal radiation
(such as sunlight, a flue, an incandescent light bulb, or a radiant heater).
REMEMBER
When equipment is used improperly or safety regulations are not
adhered to, the risk of a fire hazard
greatly increases.
Employers must implement a fire
safety program within their workplace. Some employers choose
to further reduce dangers by implementing non-mandatory safety
procedures. These may include:
yy Hot-work permits
yy Fire watch.
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Fire Prevention
Fire Tetrahedron
The fire tetrahedron is a four-sided geometric representation that illustrates
the necessary elements of a fire.
Fuel –Any substance that can undergo combustion.
Heat –Heat energy sufficient to release vapor from the fuel and cause ignition.
Oxidizing Agent - Air containing oxygen.
Uninhibited Chemical Chain Reaction – Sufficient exothermic reaction energy to produce ignition.
A fire can be extinguished when any of the elements of the fire tetrahedron—heat, oxygen, or fuel—
are removed.
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Fire Prevention
Fire Protection
OSHA describes requirements for fire protection on the worksite.
In Part 1926.150, Fire protection, OSHA
describes requirements for fire protection.
This includes:
yy Employer Responsibilities - Employers must ensure proper fire protection
for all employees.
yy Water Supply – To properly operate
firefighting equipment, you need a
temporary or permanent water supply
with sufficient volume, duration, and
pressure.
yy Firefighting Equipment – Equipment
is divided into two categories: portable firefighting equipment and fixed
firefighting equipment.
yy Fire Alarms and Fire Cutoffs – Employers must establish an alarm
system that alerts employees and the
fire department.
yy Fire Protection Checklist – Following
a fire protection checklist ensures
that you are implemented proper fire
protection practices.
Fire Protection Program
Employers are responsible for the development of a fire protection program. Follow
this program throughout all phases of construction and demolition work.
Employers must make PPE available to employees.
Employers are required to:
yy Ensure proper fire protection
for all employees.
yy Provide adequate fire protection equipment and alert
systems.
yy Comply with any regulations
specific to working in dangerous or potentially dangerous
work areas.
REMEMBER
All firefighting equipment must be
provided by the employer, conspicuously located, and inspected on a
regular basis.
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Fire Prevention
Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers are an important part of fire protection and prevention.
Classes
Extinguishers are given a class (A-D) based
on the type of fire they can put out.
A - Wood, paper, trash.
B - Flammable liquids.
C - Electrical equipment.
D - Combustible metals.
Proper Use
When using a fire extinguisher, always use
the "PASS" system:
yy PULL the pin.
yy AIM the extinguisher at the base of
the fire.
To keep yourself and others safe, know how to properly
use and store fire extinguishers.
yy SQUEEZE the handle.
yy SWEEP the extinguisher from side to
side until the fire is out.
Placement
On the construction site, place fire extinguishers no more than 100 feet from any given
point.
There should be at least one extinguisher
present for every 3,000 square feet of floor
space.
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Fire Prevention
Fire Alarms and Fire Cutoffs
Fire alarms and fire cutoffs are important parts of fire protection and prevention.
Fire Alarms
OSHA requirements state the following:
yy Employers must establish an alarm
system that alerts employees and the
fire department.
Fire alarms should consist of multiple parts that work
together to warn of danger.
yy Fire alarms can consist of telephones, sirens, radios, and air horns.
yy Alarm code and reporting instructions
must be posted at phones and job
entrances.
Fire Cutoffs
Standards for fire cutoffs are:
Sprinkler Systems
Install permanent firefighting equipment,
such as an overhead sprinkler system, as
soon as reasonably necessary.
yy Installation and use of sprinklers
must be maintained while the building is erect. Do not remove a sprinkler
system from a demolition site until it
is no longer feasible.
yy Fire walls and exit stairways must be
given construction priority.
yy Fire doors must be hung on openings
as soon as practical.
yy Fire cutoffs must be retained in buildings undergoing alterations or demolition until operations require their
removal.
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Fire Prevention
Fire Prevention
Employers and employees must work together to prevent fires on the construction site.
Sources of Hazards
To practice proper fire prevention, employers must be conscious of potential ignition
hazards from:
yy Electrical wiring.
yy Exhaust on internal combustion
engines.
yy Smoking.
Protecting Yourself
These standards decrease the hazard of fire
and combustion:
yy Driveways must be at least 15 feet
wide around combustible storage
piles.
yy Do not store combustible material
more than 20 feet high.
yy Weeds and grass must be kept down.
yy Keep the entire storage site free from
unnecessary combustible materials.
Smoking is one of several potential ignition hazards on
construction sites.
REMEMBER
yy Electrical wiring and equipment
for light, heat, or power must
be properly installed and maintained.
yy Exhausts on internal combustion engines must be kept away
from combustible material.
yy Smoking should be prohibited
in areas of potential hazard and
these areas should be properly marked with "No Smoking"
signs.
yy The nozzle of air hoses (or similar devices used in the cleaning
of vessels or tanks containing
hazardous material) must be
bonded to that vessel or tank.
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Fire Prevention
Storage
Proper storage of combustible materials reduces the risk of fire hazards.
Approach the storage of potentially hazardous material with care and caution. Understand proper prevention and storage standards, including:
yy Outdoor storage.
yy Indoor storage.
yy Open yard storage.
Outdoor Storage
When storing such material outside, the
area must be equipped with proper firefighting equipment. Keep the area clear and free
of debris.
Indoor Storage
When storing material inside a building, incompatible material must be kept separate.
Allow proper clearance for ceilings, doors,
and pathways.
REMEMBER
The indoor storage of flammable
material requires:
yy At least 36 inches of clearance between material and
fire sprinklers.
yy Separation of incompatible
materials.
yy Clearance around lights and
heating elements.
Follow requirements for safe storage of combustible
materials.
Open Yard Storage Driveways
The following requirements apply:
yy No combustible material may be stored
more than 20 feet high.
yy Combustible material must not be
stored on land that may pose a danger
of underground fire.
yy Materials stored outside must not be
within 10 feet of any building or structure.
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Fire Prevention
Safe Product Use and Hazard Avoidance
Maintain awareness of common materials that pose fire hazards on the worksite.
Products and materials that are commonly
used in the workplace may pose fire hazards. These products are divided into three
categories:
yy Flammable and Combustible Liquids
yy Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LP-Gas)
yy Temporary Heating Devices
The three categories of potential hazardous material and equipment have specific
requirements in terms of:
yy Handling.
yy Usage.
yy Storage.
Flammable and Combustible
Liquids
Only approved containers and portable
tanks can be used for the storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids.
yy Do not store flammable or combustible liquids in areas used for exits,
stairways, or other areas normally
used for the safe passage of people.
yy Transfer of flammable liquids from
one container to another must be
done only when containers are electrically interconnected.
Understand the requirements for proper storage of
flammable liquids in cabinets.
The proper methods for storing flammable
and combustible liquids inside are:
yy No more than 25 gallons can be stored
outside of an approved storage cabinet.
yy No more than 60 gallons of flammable
or 120 gallons of combustible liquid
may be stored in a cabinet.
yy No more than 3 storage cabinets may
be kept in each storage area.
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Fire Prevention
Safe Product Use and Hazard Avoidance
Maintain awareness of common materials that pose fire hazards on the worksite.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LP-Gas)
To prevent hazards, LP-Gas containers must
be used inside with excess flow valves, regulators, and portable heaters.
Connections to LP-Gas containers must:
yy Have shutoff valves located as close
to the container as practicable.
yy Be provided with at least one safety
relief valve.
yy Include shutoff valves that must not
be installed between the safety relief
valve and the container.
When LP-Gas and one or more other gases
are stored or used in the same area, the
containers must be marked to identify their
content. Marking must be compliant with
American National Standard Z48.1-1954,
"Method of Marking Portable Compressed
Gas Containers to Identify the Material Contained."
Temporary Heating Devices
When using temporary heating devices, sufficient quantities of fresh air or mechanical
ventilation must be provided for the health
and safety of workers.
LP-Gas and other common materials require special
safety measures to prevent hazards.
yy When heaters are used near tarps,
canvas, or similar coverings, they must
be located at least 10 feet from the
coverings.
yy When flammable liquid-fired heaters
are used, they must be equipped with a
primary safety control to stop the flow
of fuel in the event of flame failure.
yy Heaters that are specifically designed
and approved for use with separate
supply tanks may be directly connected
for gravity feed or an automatic pump
from a supply tank.
REMEMBER
Transferring by means of air pressure on the container of portable
tanks is prohibited.
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Fire Prevention
Common Fire Hazards
Learn about fire hazards on construction sites to protect yourself and others.
Non-compliance with OSHA regulations can
mean a citation. More importantly, it can
mean a potential disaster.
Workplace fires and explosions
kill 200 workers and injure more
than 5,000 each year.
Awareness of common fire hazards and
complying with OSHA regulations can save
lives.
Frequently Cited Violations
The following are the most frequently cited
fire hazard violations:
yy Transporting or handling flammable
liquids in non-approved containers.
yy Failure to have an appropriate class
fire extinguisher within 100 feet of a
hazard.
yy Not having at least one fire extinguisher on each floor of a multistory
building located near the stairway.
yy Failure of the employer to develop
and implement a fire protection program.
There are an estimated 4,800 construction site fires
per year, causing more than $35 million in property
loss.
yy Failure to inspect and maintain portable
fire extinguishers.
yy Lack of posting of "no smoking" signs
where operations that constitute a fire
hazard are conducted.
Prevention
REMEMBER
The distance from any point of a fire
protected area to the nearest fire
extinguisher must not exceed 100
feet.
The following are ways employers and employees can prevent fire hazards.
yy Maintain awareness of ignition sources.
yy Implement hot-work permits.
yy Make use of a fire watch.
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Fire Prevention
Preventing Fire Hazards
Learn how to prevent common fire hazards on construction sites.
Ignition Sources
Controlling fires on the construction site
starts by controlling the source of a fire.
The top sources of heat ignition include:
yy Matches.
yy Cutting torch.
yy Open fire.
yy Cigarette.
The top factors influencing fire ignition
include:
yy Cutting/welding too close to combustibles.
yy Abandoned/discarded material.
yy Inadequate control of open fire.
REMEMBER
Some employers choose to implement non-mandatory precautions
including fire watch and hot-work
permits to help further decrease the
likelihood of a fire hazard.
Hot work involves burning, welding, or using tools that
produce a source of ignition.
yy Permits require management authorization before hot-work begins.
Fire Watch
A fire watch is the use of a standby employee
equipped with a fire extinguisher.
yy His or her sole job is to monitor for
sparks or flames.
Hot-Work
Though it’s not an OSHA standard, many
companies require a hot-work permit.
yy Hot-work permits are for any operations that use flames or produce
sparks.
yy Fire watch employees should remain
in the area for at least 30 minutes after
hot-work is complete to continue monitoring.
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Fire Prevention
NOTES:
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NOTES:
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Welding and Cutting
Lesson 12 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
List common hazards associated with welding
and how to avoid them.
Describe examples of proper fire protection during
welding and cutting tasks.
List the necessary provisions for special case
welding and cutting applications.
Explain the proper procedures for arc and gas
welding.
191
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Welding and Cutting
Learn how to protect yourself from welding and
cutting hazards in construction.
Constructions workers need to be aware of
the hazards posed by:
yy Welding.
yy Cutting.
yy Brazing.
These activities pose a unique combination
of hazards. Learn to recognize and reduce
the most common hazards associated with
these activities.
MEDICAL ALERT
Health hazards associated with
welding can often be attributed
to the chemical and physical
agents.
Definitions
To minimize hazards on the worksite, start
by understanding the following terms:
yy Welding - An act that unites metallic
parts by heating and allowing the
metals to flow together. Metals can
also be hammered or compressed together with/without previous heating.
yy Cutting - An act that divides into parts.
yy Brazing - An act that solders metals.
yy Soldering - An act that joins metals
together.
yy Fuel Gas - This produces the heat needed to melt metal in gas welding and
cutting.
yy Fume - A smoke or gas produced by
welding or cutting.
yy Manifold - This describes combined
cylinders used in welding.
yy Check Valve - A valve that permits flow
in only one direction.
yy Flashback Arrester - Protects cylinders
from flashbacks and backfires.
The following pertain to welding, cutting, and
brazing:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Gas Welding & Cutting
Arc Welding & Cutting
Fire Prevention
Ventilation & Protection
Preservative Coatings
Common Welding Health Hazards
To prevent injury or death, follow OSHA regulations for tools, practices, and procedures of
these tasks.
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Welding and Cutting
Welding Equipment
Follow OSHA regulations for the safe use of welding equipment.
All workers involved in welding, cutting, and
brazing operations must know how to properly use the following:
yy Hoses.
yy Torches.
yy Regulators.
Proper practices when using these types of
welding equipment include the following:
yy Hoses must be inspected at the
beginning of every work shift and
removed from service if found to be
defective.
yy Fuel gas and oxygen hoses must be
readily distinguishable from each
other, and not interchangeable.
yy Clogged torch tip openings must be
cleaned with suitable devices and
inspected at the beginning of every
work shift.
yy Only light a torch with a friction lighter or other approved device, and not
by matches or other unapproved hot
surfaces.
yy Oxygen and fuel gas regulators
should all be in proper working order
while in use.
Gas Welding and Cutting
When using fuel gas during welding and
cutting operations, follow OSHA regulations
that are specific to these operations. Follow
regulations for:
Welding equipment can create a fire hazard, so make
sure to use it safely.
yy Safe use.
yy Safe transportation.
yy Safe storage.
Construction workers must understand the
similarities and differences between fuel gas
and oxygen manifolds.
REMEMBER
yy Fuel gas produces the heat
needed to melt metal.
yy A manifold describes combined
cylinders used in welding.
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Welding and Cutting
Fuel Gas and Oxygen Manifolds
Follow OSHA requirements for fuel gas and oxygen manifolds.
Fuel Gas
When welding and cutting, follow OSHA regulations for the active use of fuel gas.
yy An appropriate regulator must be
used to reduce pressure when using
cylinders for devices with shutoff
valves.
yy “Cracking” (opening a valve slightly
and closing immediately) must be
done on the valve to clear any dust or
dirt that might enter the regulator.
yy For quickly closing, the valves of a
fuel gas cylinder should not be open
for more than 1 1/2 turns.
yy If there is a leak around the valve
stem when the valve on a fuel gas
cylinder is opened, the valve must be
closed, and the gland nut tightened.
Oxygen Manifolds
Welding equipment can create a fire hazard, so make
sure to use it safely.
The name’s lettering must be at least
one inch high.
Equipment for fuel gas and oxygen manifolds are similar in appearance and use.
OSHA requirements for their handling and
maintenance are also similar.
However, their parts are not interchangeable. They should be marked and differentiated to avoid confusion.
OSHA Requirements
These requirements apply to fuel gas and
oxygen manifolds:
yy Manifolds must be labelled with the
name of the substance contained.
yy Manifolds must be placed in safe, well
ventilated, and accessible locations.
yy Manifolds cannot be located within
enclosed spaces.
yy Manifold and header hose connections
must be capped when not in use.
yy Manifolds must not have items placed
upon them when in use.
yy Fuel gas and oxygen manifold hoses
must be easily distinguishable via color
or touch.
yy Fuel gas and oxygen manifold hose
connections must be kept free of
grease and oil.
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Welding and Cutting
Transportation and Storage
Follow OSHA regulations for transporting and storage of gas cylinders.
Transporting Gas Cylinders
Take proper care when transporting and
storing compressed gas cylinders. This
includes transportation to and from gas
welding operations.
OSHA requires the following procedures:
yy Valve protection caps must be in
place and secured prior to transportation.
yy Valve protection must always be in
place during transportation.
yy When hoisted, cylinders must be
secured on cradles, slingboards, or
pallets.
yy Cylinders should be secured in an
upright and vertical position when
transported by powered vehicles.
yy Cylinders cannot be hoisted or transported by magnets or choker slings.
yy Cylinders must be moved by hand
by tilting and rolling them on their bottom edges.
yy Cylinders cannot be intentionally
dropped, struck, or permitted to strike
each other violently.
yy Unless secured on a special transport carrier, all regulators must be
removed.
Storing Gas Cylinders
OSHA requirements for storing compressed
gas cylinders include the following:
Always position cylinders vertically.
from incompatible oxygen cylinders.
yy Gas cylinders kept in buildings should
be stored in a well-protected, well-ventilated, dry locations, and away from
combustible materials.
yy During actual operations, gas cylinders
should be kept out of reach of sparks,
hot slag, and flames.
yy Store gas cylinders where they cannot
become part of an electrical circuit.
yy Never use either full or empty gas cylinders as rollers or supports.
REMEMBER
Cylinders must never be stored,
kept, or otherwise positioned in any
manner other than vertically.
yy Gas cylinders must be kept separate
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Welding and Cutting
Arc Welding and Cutting
Follow OSHA regulations for arc welding and cutting.
OSHA regulations include safe practices for:
yy Manual electrode holders.
yy Welding cables and connectors.
yy Ground returns.
yy Machine grounding.
Manual Electrode Holders
Only use manual electrode holders that:
yy Are specifically designed for arc
welding.
yy Have a capacity that can safely
handle the maximum rated current
required by the electrodes.
The current-carrying parts passing through
the outer surfaces of a manual electrode
holder’s jaws must:
yy Be fully insulated against the maximum voltage encountered to ground.
yy Be specifically designed for arc welding and cutting.
yy Safely handle the maximum rated
current required by the electrodes.
yy Protect employees from electrical
hazards.
Part 1926.351, Arc Welding and Cutting discusses
OSHA standards for safe arc welding and cutting.
Welding Cables and Connectors
Only use cable that is free from repair needs
or splices for a minimum distance of 10 feet
from the cable end that the electrode is connected to.
yy Cables and connectors must be completely insulated and flexible.
yy All cables and connectors should be capable of handling the maximum current
requirements.
yy Any cables in need of repair should not
be used.
yy Worn cables with exposed bare conductors should be protected by rubber and
friction tape.
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Welding and Cutting
Ground Returns and Machine Grounding
Follow OSHA guidelines that apply to manual ground return cables and machine
grounding under the context of welding and cutting operations.
Ground Return Cables
Ground return cables must have safe current-carrying capacities equal to or exceeding the specified maximum output capacity
of the arc welding or cutting unit it services.
When a single ground return cable services
more than one unit, its safe current-carrying
capacity must exceed the total specified
maximum output capacities of all the units
it services.
OSHA Regulations
These OSHA guidelines apply:
yy The safe current-carrying capacity of
a single ground return cable servicing
multiple units must exceed the total
maximum output capacities of all the
units it services.
Part 1926.351 discusses safe practices for ground
returns, machine grounding, and more.
Pipelines
Pipelines containing gases or flammable liquids, or conduits containing electrical circuits,
must not be used as a ground return.
yy All ground connections must be
inspected to ensure that they are
mechanically strong and electrically
adequate for the required current.
yy When a structure or pipeline is employed as a ground return circuit, the
required electrical contact must exist at
all joints.
yy Machine frames must be grounded
through a third wire in the cable or
through a separate wire grounded at
the current’s source.
yy The generation of an arc, sparks, or
heat at any point must cause rejection
of the structures as a ground circuit.
REMEMBER
Ground return cables must have
safe current-carrying capacities that
are equal to or exceed the specified
maximum output capacity of the arc
welding or cutting unit it services.
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Welding and Cutting
Fire Prevention
When performing welding and cutting operations, follow OSHA requirements for fire prevention.
OSHA Regulations
Fire hazards are a serious issue to consider
when performing any welding or cutting operation. OSHA regulations for fire prevention
include the following:
yy When welding or cutting is being
performed, it must be done in a safe
location.
yy If the object cannot be moved, all
potential fire hazards within the area
must be removed or otherwise protected.
yy Fire extinguishing equipment must be
provided and readily available within
the area.
yy No welding, cutting, or heating can
be done where there are flammable
compounds or other heavy dust concentrations that can create a hazard.
Employer Responsibilities:
yy Employers are required
to implement a fire safety
program within the
workplace.
yy When fire prevention
precautions are insufficient
for welding, cutting, or
heating operations, assign
fire watchers to guard
against fire hazards.
Perform all welding operations away from flammable
compounds that can create hazards.
Fire Watchers
Fire watchers are additional personnel assigned to a work area when normal fire prevention precautions are not sufficient.
Fire watchers have the following responsibilities:
yy Guard the operation area throughout
the work period.
yy Guard the operation area for a period
after the operation is completed.
Fire watchers must also be properly trained in
the following areas:
yy Recognize and anticipate fire hazards.
yy Know how to use the provided firefighting equipment.
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Welding and Cutting
Ventilation and Protection
Use ventilation strategies to remove air contaminants in welding, cutting, and heating operations.
Air contaminants and fumes can be a serious hazard on the construction worksite.
Workers may need to use several
different ventilation strategies to
remove hazards.
Ventilation strategies depend on the:
yy Location.
yy Circumstances.
yy Tools.
yy Types of welding in place.
Mechanical Ventilation
This is a strategy used to remove air contaminants during a welding or cutting operation. The following OSHA requirements
apply:
yy Mechanical ventilation must consist
of either general mechanical ventilation systems or local exhaust systems.
yy Contaminated air exhausted from a
working space must be discharged
clear of the source of intake air.
yy Mechanical ventilation is adequate if
it removes fumes and smoke at the
source, and all air that replaces the
withdrawn air is clean and breathable.
Use different ventilation strategies depending on the
type of welding in place.
Confined Spaces
Welding, cutting, or heating operations performed in a confined space must have adequate mechanical ventilation. The following
specific requirements also apply:
yy An employee on the outside of the confined space must be assigned to communicate with workers and to provide
aid in the event of an emergency.
yy When welders must enter a confined
space, means must be provided for
quickly removing them in the event of
an emergency.
yy When ventilation in a confined space
is unattainable, employees must be
protected by airline respirators.
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Welding and Cutting
Metals of Toxic Significance
Ensure adequate ventilation when welding, cutting, or heating metals of toxic significance.
Adequate mechanical ventilation must be
provided when an operation involves any of
the following metals:
yy Zinc-bearing base, filler metals, or
metals coated with zinc-bearing materials.
yy Lead base metals.
yy Cadmium-bearing filler materials.
yy Chromium-bearing metals or metals
coated with chromium-bearing materials.
In some cases, either adequate local exhaust ventilation must be provided or air
line respirators must be equipped on all
operators. This applies when working on
any of the following metals in an enclosed
space:
yy Metals containing lead (other than
as an impurity) or metals coated with
lead-bearing materials.
yy Cadmium-bearing or cadmium-coated base metals.
yy Metal coated with mercury-bearing
metals.
yy Beryllium-containing base or filler
metals.
Take special precautions when working with certain
metals.
MEDICAL ALERT
Beryllium is highly toxic.
Work involving beryllium
must be done with both local
exhaust ventilation and air line
respirators.
REMEMBER
Other employees exposed to the
same atmosphere as the welders
or burners must be protected in
the same manner as the welder or
burner.
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Welding and Cutting
Preservative Coatings
Follow OSHA regulations for welding, cutting, and heating of objects with preservative coatings.
Preservative coatings help prevent corrosion and water damage.
However, new hazards may arise
when welding, cutting, or heating
a coated surface.
Take the necessary precautions as discussed in Part 1926.354, welding, cutting,
and heating in way of preservative coatings.
Flammability
Prior to any operation, a competent person
must test the surface and determine its
flammability.
yy Coatings are considered to be highly
flammable when scrapings burn with
extreme rapidity.
yy When coatings are determined to be
highly flammable, strip them of the
area to be heated.
If fire prevention precautions are
insufficient for welding, cutting,
or heating operations, then
additional workers known as
fire watchers must be assigned to
the operation to guard against fire
hazards.
Welders must understand OSHA requirements for
welding objects with preservative coatings.
Toxic Coatings
Protect yourself and others against toxic preservative coatings.
yy In open air, employees must be protected by a respirator.
yy In enclosed spaces, all surfaces covered with toxic preservatives must be
stripped of all toxic coatings for a distance of at least four inches from the
area of heat application.
yy Alternately, employees must be protected by air line respirators.
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Common Welding Hazards
To protect yourself and others, be aware of the common hazards associated with welding.
There are several common hazards associated with welding, including the following:
yy Physical agents.
yy Chemical agents.
yy Additional hazards.
Physical Agents
Common hazard-causing physical agents
associated with welding include:
yy Ultraviolet radiation (UV).
yy Infrared radiation (IR).
yy Intense visible light.
Chemical Agents
Exposure to chemicals is a common hazard
associated with welding. Common hazard-causing chemical agents associated
with welding include:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Zinc.
Cadmium.
Beryllium.
Iron oxide.
Mercury.
Lead.
Fluorides.
Chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents.
Phosgene.
Carbon monoxide.
Ozone.
Nitrogen oxides.
Additional Hazards
In addition to chemical and physical agents,
Follow safety standards to prevent common hazards
and maintain a safe jobsite.
hazards commonly found in welding and cutting operations include:
yy Improperly storing gas cylinders.
yy Moving gas cylinders in an unsafe
manner.
yy Failing to maintain welding and cutting
equipment.
yy Improperly training employees.
yy Poorly training supervisors.
yy Failure to properly implement safety
programs.
MEDICAL ALERT
Side effects of chemical
exposure range in severity, and
can include:
yy Mild irritation.
yy Sort throat.
yy Pulmonary edema (fluid in
the lungs).
yy Death.
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Physical Hazards
Physical agents associated with welding are a common source of health hazards.
Welding produces light and heat, which can
create physical hazards that damage the
eyes and skin. Common physical hazards
include:
yy Ultraviolet radiation (UV).
yy Infrared radiation (IR).
yy Intense visible light.
Ultraviolet Radiation (UV)
This is generated by the electric arc in the
welding process. Exposure can result in
severe burns to the skin, and damage to the
eyes.
MEDICAL ALERT
Many arc welders are aware
of a condition known as “arceye,” which gives a sensation of
sand in the eye. This is caused
by excessive eye exposure to
UV.
Infrared Radiation (IR)
This is produced by the electric arc and
other flame cutting equipment. It can heat
the skin’s surface, as well as tissues immediately below the surface. This can lead to
thermal burns.
Welding operations produce light and heat, which can
be hazardous.
REMEMBER
Protect yourself from IR (and UV)
with personal protective equipment
(PPE) including a welder’s helmet
and protective clothing.
Intense Visible Light
Eye exposure to intense visible light can produce adaptation, pupillary reflex, and shading
of the eyes. These are protective mechanisms
that prevent excessive light from being focused on the retina. For the most part, use of
a welder’s helmet prevents eye exposure to
intense visible light.
MEDICAL ALERT
Some welders have sustained
retinal damage due to careless
“viewing” of the arc. Never observe the arc without eye protection.
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Chemical Hazards
Be aware of potential chemical hazards during construction work.
Zinc
Zinc is used in large quantities
in the manufacture of brass,
galvanized metals, and other
alloys.
Cadmium
Cadmium is used frequently as
a rust-preventative coating on
steel.
MEDICAL ALERT
MEDICAL ALERT
Cadmium is a potential carcinogen. Depending on the duration and concentration, exposure can result in emphysema,
kidney damage, severe lung
irritation, pulmonary edema,
and death.
Inhalation of zinc oxide
fumes is known to cause
metal fume fever. Symptoms
are similar to those of the flu,
and usually last less than a
day.
Lead
Lead oxide fumes are generated when welding and cutting
lead-bearing alloys or metals
whose surfaces are painted
with lead-based paint.
MEDICAL ALERT
Lead adversely affects the
brain, central nervous system, circulatory system,
reproductive system, kidneys,
and muscles. Symptoms of
lead poisoning include metallic taste in the mouth, loss of
appetite, nausea, abdominal
cramps, and insomnia.
Mercury
Mercury compounds are used
to coat metals to prevent rust
or inhibit foliage growth (marine paints). Mercury vapors
are produced under the intense
heat of the arc or gas flame.
MEDICAL ALERT
Exposure to mercury vapors
may produce stomach pain,
diarrhea, kidney damage, or
respiratory failure. Long-term
exposure may produce tremors, emotional instability, and
hearing damage.
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Chemical Hazards
Be aware of potential chemical hazards during construction work.
Beryllium
Beryllium is sometimes used
as an alloying element with
copper and other base metals.
Fluorides
Fluoride compounds are found
in the coatings of several types
of fluxes used in welding.
MEDICAL ALERT
MEDICAL ALERT
Acute exposure to high concentrations of beryllium can
result in chemical pneumonia. Long-term exposure can
lead to shortness of breath,
chronic cough, significant
weight loss, and general fatigue and weakness.
Exposure to these fluxes may
irritate the eyes, nose, and
throat. Repeated and longterm exposure to high concentrations of fluorides in the air
may cause pulmonary edema
and bone damage.
Chlorinated
Hydrocarbon Solvents
Iron Oxide
Iron is the principal alloying
element in steel manufacture.
When welding, fumes arise
from the base metal and the
electrode.
MEDICAL ALERT
Acute exposure can irritate
the nasal passages, throat,
and lungs.
Various chlorinated hydrocarbons are used in degreasing or other cleaning operations. Keep chlorinated solvents at least
200 feet away from any welding or cutting
operation.
MEDICAL ALERT
Heat and ultraviolet radiation
from the arc will decompose
the vapors and form highly
toxic and irritating phosgene
gas.
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Welding and Cutting
Chemical Hazards
Be aware of potential chemical hazards during construction work.
Phosgene
Ozone
Phosgene is formed by
decomposition of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents by
ultraviolet radiation.
Ozone (O3) is produced by
ultraviolet light from the
welding arc. It’s a highly
active form of oxygen.
MEDICAL ALERT
MEDICAL ALERT
Phosgene reacts with moisture in the lungs to produce
hydrogen chloride, which
destroys lung tissue.
Ozone can cause great irritation to all mucus membranes.
Symptoms of exposure include headache, chest pain,
and dryness of the upper
respiratory tract. Excessive
exposure can cause fluid in
the lungs.
Carbon Monoxide
This gas usually forms by
the incomplete combustion
of various fuels. Welding and
cutting may produce significant amounts of carbon monoxide.
MEDICAL ALERT
Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
Common symptoms of overexposure include pounding
of the heart, a dull headache,
flashes before the eyes,
dizziness, ringing in the ears,
and nausea.
Nitrogen Oxides
The arc’s UV light can produce nitrogen oxides from
the nitrogen and oxygen in
the air.
MEDICAL ALERT
The gas is irritating to the
eyes, nose, and throat. High
concentrations can cause
shortness of breath, chest
pain, and pulmonary edema.
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Scaffolds
Scaffolds
Lesson 13 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify and recognize hazards as they apply to
scaffolding use and construction.
Describe the requirements for training employees
on scaffold use and construction.
List specific requirements associated with
scaffold types.
Explain the roles of the scaffold competent
person, qualified person, and engineer in
scaffold design and use.
209
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Scaffolds
Learn how to protect yourself from the hazards
associated with scaffolding use in construction.
An estimated 2.3 million construction workers frequently operate on scaffolds. This
statistic makes up 65% of the construction
industry.
About 50 deaths and 4,500 injuries occur every year because of
scaffold use.
Additionally, $90 million is spent every year
paying for medical expenses or damages.
For these reasons, OSHA requirements
under Subpart L are designed to reduce the
risk of accidents related to construction
scaffolding.
OSHA Standards
OSHA standards for the proper use of scaffolds include:
yy Before a scaffold is moved, each employee on the scaffold must be made
aware of the move.
yy When scaffolds are erected, dismantled, or moved, it must be supervised
by a competent person.
yy The use of repaired wire rope as suspension rope is prohibited.
yy Scaffolds cannot be loaded in excess
of their maximum intended rated capacity.
General Requirements
Employees on a construction worksite should
be adept at identifying and recognizing hazards related to scaffolding use.
yy Each scaffold and its components
must be capable of supporting, without failure, its own weight and at least
four times the maximum intended load
applied to it.
yy Access to scaffolds must be provided
for any platform that does not have
existing access within two feet above
or below the platform.
yy Acceptable means of access include
portable or attachable ladders, stairway
ladders, stair towers, ramps, or walkways.
yy Each platform must be fully planked
and at least 18 inches wide.
Employers should make every effort
to train their workers on both the
use and construction of different
types of scaffolding.
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Scaffolds
Scaffolding Types
To protect yourself and others from hazards, start by understanding the different
types of scaffolding found on construction sites.
There are two different types of scaffolds:
yy Supported scaffolds.
yy Suspended scaffolds.
Supported Scaffolds
Supported scaffolds consist of one or more
platforms supported by:
yy Outrigger beams,
yy Brackets,
yy Poles,
yy Legs,
yy Uprights,
yy Posts,
yy Frames, or
yy Similar rigid support.
The following are examples of supported
scaffolds:
yy Fabricated frames.
Different types of scaffolding may pose different types
of hazards.
yy Ladder jacks.
yy Pump jacks.
yy Mobile.
Examples include:
yy Tube and coupler.
yy Two-point adjustable.
Suspended Scaffolds
yy Single-point adjustable.
Suspended scaffolds are platforms suspended by ropes, or other non-rigid means,
from an overhead structure.
yy Multi-point adjustable.
yy Catenary.
yy Interior hung, needle beam, floating
interior hung.
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Scaffolds
Supported Scaffolds
Learn how to properly and safely use supported scaffolds on the construction site.
OSHA Requirements
The following are OSHA requirements that
should be applied to all pole, leg, post,
frame, or upright scaffolding in addition to
any specific requirements for that scaffold
type:
yy Must be restrained from tipping with
the use of guys, ties, or braces.
yy Must be on base plates and mud sills
or other firm foundation.
yy Must be plumb and braced to prevent
swaying and displacement.
Fabricated Frames
These are the most common type of scaffolds. Fabricated frames are versatile, economical, and easy to use.
yy Fabricated frames are often used in
one or two tiers by residential contractors, painters, and others.
yy Their modular frames can be stacked
several stories high for use on largescale construction jobs.
The following are OSHA requirements for
fabricated frame scaffolding:
yy Frames and panels must be connected by cross, horizontal, or diagonal
braces that secure vertical members
together.
Safe use of support scaffolds is crucial in protecting
workers.
yy As frames are stacked, cross braces
must be of such length that they will
automatically keep the scaffold plumb,
level, and square.
yy All brace connections must be secured
to prevent dislodging.
yy Frames and panels must be joined
together vertically by coupling, stacking
pins, or equivalent means.
yy Frames and panels must be locked
together to prevent uplift (where uplift
can occur).
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Scaffolds
Supported Scaffolds
Learn how to properly and safely use supported scaffolds on the construction site.
Ladder Jacks
A ladder jack scaffold is a simple device
consisting of a platform resting on brackets
attached to a ladder.
yy Ladder jacks are primarily used in
light applications because of their
portability and cost-effectiveness.
Pump Jacks
These are uniquely-designed scaffolds consisting of a platform supported by moveable
brackets on vertical poles.
yy The brackets are designed to be raised
and lowered in a manner like an automobile jack.
REMEMBER
Pump jacks are appealing for certain applications because they are
easily adjusted to variable heights
and are relatively inexpensive.
Proper use of supported scaffolds is crucial in keeping
workers safe.
Mobile
Tube and Coupler
This is a type of supported scaffold set on
wheels or casters.
These are so-named because they are built
from tubing connected by coupling devices.
yy They are designed to be easily moved
and are commonly used for things
like painting and plastering, where
workers must frequently change
position.
yy Due to their strength, they are frequently used where heavy loads need to be
carried or where multiple platforms
must reach several stories high.
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Scaffolds
Suspended Scaffolds
Learn how to properly and safely use supported scaffolds on the construction site.
Two-Point Adjustable
Multi-Point Adjustable
Known as swing-stage scaffolds, these
are the most common type of suspended
scaffold.
These consist of one or more platforms suspended by more than two ropes from overhead supports and equipped with means to
raise and lower the platforms to desired work
levels.
yy Hung by ropes or cables connected to
stirrups at each end of the platform,
they are typically used by window
washers on skyscrapers.
yy They also play a prominent role in
high-rise construction.
Single-Point Adjustable
This scaffold consists of a platform suspended by one rope from an overhead support and equipped with means to permit the
movement of the platform to desired work
levels.
yy The most common among these is
the scaffold used by window washers
to clean the outside of a skyscraper.
Catenary
REMEMBER
An example of this type of scaffold
is a chimney hoist, which is used in
chimney-cleansing operations.
Interior Hung, Needle Beam, Float
Interior Hung
An Interior Hung suspension scaffold consists
of a platform suspended from the ceiling or
roof structure by fixed-length supports.
OSHA regulations for this type of scaffold are:
This is a scaffold consisting of a platform
supported by two essentially horizontal and
parallel ropes attached to structural members of a building or other structure.
yy Platforms supported by wire rope
must have hook-shaped stops on
each of the platforms to prevent them
from slipping off the wire ropes.
yy Scaffolds must be suspended from roof
structures.
yy Roof structures must be inspected for
strength before scaffolds are erected.
yy Suspension ropes or cables must be
connected to overhead supports by
shackles, clips, thimbles, or equivalent
means.
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Scaffolds
Responsible Persons
Learn about the different responsibilities of the scaffold competent
person, qualified person, and engineer.
Proper design, erection, and use of scaffolding are overseen by the scaffold competent
person, qualified person, and engineer.
Qualified Person
The Scaffold Qualified Person does the
following:
yy Designs scaffolds.
yy Loads scaffolds.
yy Trains employees on scaffold hazards.
Competent Person
Make sure to use fall protection equipment effectively.
The Scaffold Competent Person does the
following:
yy Directs employees.
yy Determines safe conditions.
yy Inspects scaffolds.
Scaffold Engineer
The Scaffold Engineer does the following:
REMEMBER
It is important to inspect scaffolds
and scaffold components for visible
defects. Do this before each work
shift and after any occurrence that
could affect a scaffold’s integrity.
yy Designs mobile scaffolds.
yy Designs other scaffolds that exceed
usual dimensions.
All employees who work on a
scaffold must be trained by a
person qualified to recognize the
hazards associated with the type of
scaffold used and to understand the
procedures to control and minimize
those hazards.
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Scaffolds
Fall Protection
Use fall protection to protect yourself and others while working on or
around scaffolding equipment.
Use this chart to determine the required fall protection for a given scaffold type.
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Scaffolds
Aerial Lift Requirements
Learn how to properly and safely use aerial lifts.
An aerial lift is any vehicle-mounted lift
device that has an extensible boom used to
position personnel.
OSHA Requirements
OSHA requirements for aerial lifts include
the following:
yy Test lift controls daily.
yy Allow only authorized personnel on
the lift.
yy Require the use of body belts during
use.
Proper Use
When using aerial lifts, the following OSHA
requirements must be met:
yy Aerial ladders must be secured in the
lower traveling position by the locking
device on top of the truck cab and
the manually operated device at the
base of the ladder before the truck is
moved for highway travel.
yy Lift controls must be tested each day
prior to use to ensure that controls
are in safe working conditions.
yy Only authorized persons may operate
aerial lifts.
OSHA requirements protect workers from hazards.
yy Belting off to an adjacent pole, structure, or equipment while working on an
aerial lift is prohibited.
yy Employees are not permitted to sit or
climb on the edge of the basket or use
planks, ladders, or other devices for a
work position.
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Scaffolds
Training
Employer-provided training helps minimize hazards and prevent worker injury.
Requirements
Proper training must be provided to all
employees who will work from a scaffold or
perform work on a scaffold during:
yy Erection.
yy Disassembly.
yy Movement
yy Operation.
yy Repair.
yy Inspection.
yy Maintenance.
Employees must receive the following training:
yy Proper use of scaffold and handling
of materials on the scaffold.
yy Maximum intended load and load-carrying capacities of the scaffolds
used.
yy Any electrical hazards present.
yy Other pertinent information regarding
the type of scaffold used.
Retraining
In the following circumstances, employees
must be retrained:
Employees must be trained in the proper use of
scaffolding equipment.
Employees who use scaffolds
should be trained on:
yy Whenever changes occur with scaffolding use.
yy Electrical hazards.
yy If an employee is caught improperly
working on a scaffold.
yy Falling object hazards.
yy Fall hazards.
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Scaffolds
NOTES:
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Scaffolds
NOTES:
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Cranes
Cranes, Derrick, Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors
Lesson 14 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify a crane inspection plan.
Describe OSHA regulations applying to crane safety.
List the proper installation procedures for cranes,
hoists, and similar equipment.
Explain the use of signaling during crane
operations.
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Cranes
Learn how to protect yourself from hazards caused by
cranes on construction sites.
In construction, cranes and similar equipment are used during erection, to transport
materials and personnel, and to allow for
work in difficult-to-reach locations.
When used incorrectly, cranes
pose significant hazards to both
operators and nearby workers.
To help prevent crane hazards, learn how to
safely use the following:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Overloading hazards.
Struck-by hazards.
Inadequate inspections.
Inadequate cribbing.
Improper rigging.
Electrical hazards.
Regulations
OSHA standards apply to power-operated
equipment that can hoist, lower, and horizontally move a suspended load.
REMEMBER
Cranes.
Derricks.
Hoists.
Elevators.
Conveyors.
Common Hazards
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Hazards related to cranes may include:
If a city or state has its own licensing or certification programs for
crane operations, OSHA mandates
compliance with those requirements only if they meet the minimum criteria set forth by OSHA.
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Cranes
Cranes and Derricks
Follow equipment regulations for all cranes and derricks used on a construction worksite.
Equipment Regulations
Crane operations must comply with manufacturer specifications and limitations.
When manufacturer specs are not available,
limitations must be determined by an engineer qualified in the field of cranes. Also,
cranes cannot be modified without the written approval of the crane's manufacturer.
Inspection
A crane or derrick inspection must be carried out prior to each use. Check for:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Air pressure.
Clearance for tail swing.
Rope wear.
Lost or missing hardware.
Fluid leaks.
Any other physical damage to the
crane.
Inspections must be done before equipment is used.
Rated Load Capacity
The following must be posted on all equipment:
yy
yy
yy
yy
Rated load capacities.
Recommended operating speeds.
Special hazards or instructions.
The operator must be able to view
these warnings while at the control
station.
REMEMBER
The minimum clearance between a
crane and any power line rated at 50
kV or below must be 10 feet.
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Cranes
Regulations for Specific Types of Cranes
Specific types of cranes have additional requirements.
These regulations apply to specific types
of cranes or derricks, which have additional
requirements for safe operation.
The following types of cranes and derricks
have additional requirements:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Crawler.
Locomotive.
Truck.
Hammerhead.
Gantry.
Floating.
Workers must meet additional requirements
including those set forth by the American
National Standards Institute.
Crawler, Locomotive, and Truck Cranes - All
jibs must have positive stops to prevent
their movement of more than five degrees
above the straight line of the jib and boom
on conventional type crane booms.
Hammerhead Tower Cranes - Adequate
clearance must be maintained between the
moving and rotating structures of the crane
and fixed objects to allow the passage of
employees without harm.
Overhead and Gantry Cranes - The rated
load of the crane must be plainly marked
on each side of the crane. If the crane has
more than one hoisting unit, each hoist
should have its rated load marked on it or its
load block. This marking should be clearly
legible from the ground or floor.
Follow regulations for specific types of cranes.
Floating Cranes and Derricks - When a mobile
crane is mounted on a barge, the rated load of
the crane must not exceed the original capacity specified by the manufacturer. A load
rating chart, with clearly legible letters and
figures, must be provided with each crane and
securely fixed at a location easily visible to the
operator.
REMEMBER
A gong or other effective audible
warning signal must be provided for
Gantry cranes.
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Cranes
Personnel Platforms
Crane or derrick personnel platforms help employees reach a work area.
Follow all OSHA regulations for safe use.
Use of equipment to hoist employees is prohibited except in certain circumstances.
Using a crane or derrick to hoist workers on
personnel platforms is allowed when the
erection, use, and dismantling of conventional means of reaching the worksite is
more hazardous or impossible.
Conventional means can include:
yy Personnel hoists.
yy Ladders.
Crane and derrick inspections must be carried out prior
to each use.
yy Stairways.
yy Aerial lifts.
yy Elevating work platforms.
yy Scaffolding.
Trial Lift
Before hoisting employees, crane or derrick operators must conduct a trial lift of
an unoccupied personnel platform. Do this
immediately before placing personnel on it.
REMEMBER
When using a suspended personnel
platform, the combined weight of
the load, platform, and its rigging
must not exceed 50% of the rated
capacity of the crane or derrick for
its radius and configuration.
Design Specifications
Platforms used for lifting personnel should be
designed by a qualified engineer or a person
competent in structural design.
Platforms must:
yy Support the platform weight and at
least five times the maximum intended
load.
yy Have an appropriate suspension system to minimize tipping caused by
personnel movement.
Keep tools, materials, and equipment from
falling below by having a standard guardrail
system that is enclosed from the toeboard to
the mid-rail.
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Cranes
Safety Requirements
Take precautions when using personnel platforms.
Using a crane to hoist employees on a platform is only permissible when conventional
means are less desirable. When using a
personnel platform, make sure to follow the
requirements for safe use.
Employees must:
yy Use tag lines unless their use creates
an unsafe condition.
yy Keep all body parts inside the platform during raising, lowering, and
positioning.
yy Keep clear of the load.
yy Wear a personal fall arrest system.
In addition, make sure a platform is secured
to the structure where work is to be performed. Do this before entering or exiting
the platform, unless such securing would
create an unsafe condition.
REMEMBER
The loaded platform and its rigging
must not exceed 50% of the rated
capacity for the crane when using
a crane to suspend workers on a
personnel platform.
Personal protect equipment (PPE) such as hard hats
can protect you from falling object hazards.
PPE
Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
yy When exposed to falling objects, all personnel must wear hard hats and have
overhead protection on the platform.
yy The personal fall arrest system of a
worker on a personnel platform must
be attached to the lower load block, the
overhaul ball, or a structural member
within the platform.
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Cranes
Helicopter Cranes
With their lifting capacities, helicopter cranes can lift basically anything.
Helicopter cranes are typically used to:
yy Lift loads onto shopping centers.
yy Work after natural disasters to assist
in cleanup.
yy Carry large buckets of water to help
put out wildfires.
Prior to each day's crane operation, a briefing must be conducted. The briefing sets
forth the plan of operation for the pilot and
ground personnel.
Helicopter cranes are versatile in construction.
Special Precautions
Take special precautions to protect yourself
and others.
yy All employees who are approaching
or leaving a helicopter must remain
in full view of the pilot and keep in a
crouched position.
yy When visibility is reduced by dust or
other conditions, ground personnel
must exercise special caution to keep
clear of main and stabilizing rotors.
Every practical precaution must
be taken to protect employees
from flying objects in the rotor
downwash.
yy Employees must not wear loose-fitting
clothing likely to flap in the downwash.
This clothing can be snagged on a hoist
line.
yy All loose gear within 100 feet of the
place of lifting the load, depositing the
load, and all other areas susceptible to
rotor downwash must be secured or
removed.
REMEMBER
In addition to OSHA regulations,
helicopter cranes must comply with
regulations of the Federal Aviation
Administration.
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Cranes
Hoists, Elevators, and Conveyors
When using these types of equipment, take precautions to avoid hazards.
Protecting Yourself
Keep the following in mind:
yy Wire rope must be removed from
service when physical damage that
could jeopardize the rope's integrity
becomes apparent.
yy The installation of live booms on
hoists is prohibited and the use of
endless belt-type man lifts on construction should be prohibited.
Electrical Hazards
Use precautions to protect yourself from electrical
hazards.
To avoid common electrical hazards, employers must ensure that:
yy Required distances are kept between
cranes and power lines.
yy ANSI requirements for working
around power lines are met.
REMEMBER
Employ the use of an observer when
it is difficult for an operator to determine power line clearance by visual
means.
yy Preventative measures for avoiding
power line contacts are in place.
yy Potential hazards are planned for and
power line emergencies are dealt with
immediately.
Types of Equipment
Follow OSHA regulations for safe use of
hoists. This includes the following:
yy Material hoists.
yy Personnel hoist cars.
yy Overhead hoists.
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Cranes
Hoists
Learn how to safely use hoists and prevent hazards on the worksite.
Material Hoists
yy Rules for material hoists include
signal systems and allowable line
speeds for various loads.
yy Post rules and notices on the car
frame or crosshead in a conspicuous
location, and they should include the
statement "No Riders Allowed."
yy Inspect personnel hoists after installation but prior to use.
Hoist Towers
To prevent hazards, learn how to properly use and
maintain equipment.
yy All material hoist towers must be
designed by a licensed professional
engineer.
yy When a hoist tower is enclosed, it
must be enclosed on all sides for its
entire height.
yy When a hoist tower is not enclosed,
the hoist platforms or car must be
totally enclosed (caged) on all sides
for the full height.
Personnel Hoist Cars
yy Doors and gates must be equipped
with electric contact that does not
allow movement when the door or
gate is open.
Overhead Hoists
yy The safe working load must be indicated on the hoist and it must not be
exceeded.
yy The supporting structure the hoist is
attached to must have a safe working
load equal to that of the hoist.
yy The support must be arranged to allow
the hoist to move freely and must not
restrict the hoist from lining itself up
with the load.
yy Safeties must be provided and capable of stopping and holding the
car and rated load when travelling at
governor tripping speed.
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Cranes
Hand Signals
Use of hand signals is essential on high-traffic worksites.
Workers use hand signals to assist crane operators. Hand signals must be those prescribed for
the given operation.
Hoist
Lower
Stop
With upper arm extended to
the side, forearm and index finger pointing straight up, hand
and finger make small circles.
With arm and index finger
pointing down, hand and finger
make small circles.
With arm extended horizontally
to the side, palm down, arm is
swung back and forth.
Swing
Raise Boom
Lower Boom
With arm extended horizontally, index finger points in direction that boom is to swing.
With arm extended horizontally
to the side, thumb points up
with other fingers closed.
With arm extended horizontally
to the side, thumb points down
with other fingers closed.
Travel/Tower Travel
Move Slowly
Emergency Stop
With all fingers pointing up,
arm is extended horizontally
out and back to make a pushing motion in the direction of
travel.
A hand is placed in front of the
hand that is giving the action
signal.
With both arms extended
horizontally to the side, palms
down, arms are swung back
and forth.
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Cranes
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Excavations
Excavations
Lesson 15 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify factors that expose workers to excavation
hazards.
Describe the different types of soils and basic
procedures on how to determine soil type.
List the three main methods for protecting
employees from cave-ins.
Explain employer and worker responsibilities
when performing excavation work.
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Excavations
Learn how to protect yourself from hazards caused by
excavations on construction sites.
Excavations Defined
OSHA defines an excavation as:
“
Any man-made cut, cavity, trench,
or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal.
”
Excavation operations expose construction
workers to many potential dangers, including:
yy Safety precautions minimize hazards
on the worksite, and require different
techniques to protect workers.
yy Safety precautions may need to be
adapted to fit the unique geological
properties of an excavation site.
To further protect yourself and others, become familiar with the following:
yy OSHA 1926 Subpart P.
yy Specific excavation requirements.
yy Cave-ins.
yy Soil classification.
yy Suffocation.
yy Protective systems for workers.
yy Fall hazards.
yy Sloping and benching techniques.
Protecting Yourself
yy Shoring and shielding techniques.
OSHA regulations are designed to prevent
the numerous potential dangers of excavation operations.
yy Excavation hazards.
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Excavations
Excavation and Trenching Operations
OSHA 1926 Subpart P – Excavations covers OSHA requirements for
excavation and trenching operations.
The fatality rate for excavation work is 112%
higher than the rate for general construction.
For this reason, excavating is recognized as one of the most hazardous construction operations.
Because of the continuing incidence of
trench/excavation collapses and the accompanying loss of life, OSHA determined
that an increased enforcement presence is
warranted at excavation sites.
Subpart P
Excavation work involves removal of earth to create a
cut, cavity, trench, or depression.
Sloping and Shoring
OSHA regulations for excavations cover
trenches and all open excavations made in
the earth's surface. They also include:
yy A standardized method of soil classification.
yy Sloping and benching requirements.
yy Shoring and shielding devices.
yy Timber tables.
yy Hydraulic shoring tables.
yy A graphic summary of the requirements contained in the standard.
Subpart P does not apply to house foundation/basement excavations.
yy Sloping is a technique that employs a
specific angle of incline on the sides of
the excavation.
yy Shoring is a technique that supports
the sides of an excavation and protects
against cave-ins.
REMEMBER
A competent person is capable of
identifying existing and predictable
hazards in surroundings or working
conditions that are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees.
He or she has authorization to take
prompt corrective measures.
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Excavations
Specific Requirements
Follow specific requirements and safety regulations for excavation and trenching operations.
Excavation Requirements
yy Ladders, stairways, or ramps are required every 25 feet in trenches 4 feet
or deeper.
yy Underground utilities must be located
before excavation work can begin.
yy When excavation operations approach the estimated location of the
underground installations, the exact
location of the installations must be
determined by safe and acceptable
means.
yy If the excavation is open, the employer must make sure the underground
utilities are protected, supported, or
removed to safeguard workers.
Barricades are an example of a warning system.
Warning Systems
A warning system is required when mobile
equipment is operated around excavations
and the operator does not have a clear and
direct view of the edge of the excavation.
Acceptable warning systems include:
Employee Safety
yy Take precautions to prevent employee exposure to hazardous atmospheres.
yy Employees exposed to public vehicular traffic must wear high-visibility
reflective vests or other suitable
garments.
yy Employees must not work under
equipment used for moving loads or
digging.
yy Unless precautions are taken, employees must not work in excavations
where water is present or accumulating.
yy Barricades.
yy Hand or mechanical signals.
yy Stop logs.
Spoils
Spoils are excavated materials at excavation
sites. They become hazardous when set too
close to the edge of a trench or excavation.
yy Protection must be provided to employees who work near spoils.
yy Set spoils and equipment piles at least
two feet back from the excavation.
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Excavations
Soil Classification
Protect yourself from hazards by learning about soil classification.
An open excavation is an unnatural situation. The soil involved usually varies greatly
in its consistency and stability.
Soil or dirt is a heavy material.
Classifying soil type is important
to excavation construction.
It should be completed with appropriate
tests performed by a competent person.
Soil Classification and Testing
Soil classification describes the method of
categorizing soil and rock deposits.
yy Classifications are based on conditions of the site and environment.
yy They’re also based on the structure
and composition of the earth deposits.
All rock and soil deposits must be classified
by a competent person as one of the following:
yy
yy
yy
yy
Stable Rock
Type A
Type B
Type C
Soil classification is an important part of preventing
excavation hazards.
These classifications must be made based on
at least one visual test and one manual test.
yy Visual Test –Particle size, spalling and
fissures, and water presence.
yy Manual Test – Pocket penetrometer,
roll test (cohesiveness), sedimentation
test.
REMEMBER
It is prohibited to enter an excavation to get a soil sample.
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Excavations
Soil Types
Protect yourself from hazards by learning about soil classification.
Classifications for all rock and soil deposits
must be listed as:
yy Stable Rock
yy Type A
yy Type B
yy Type C
Type A Soil
This is the most stable soil.
Type A means cohesive soils (it sticks
together) with an unconfined, compressive
strength of 1.5 ton per square foot (tsf) (144
kPa) or greater.
Different types of soil can pose different hazards when
performing excavation operations.
Examples include:
yy Silt.
Examples include:
yy Silt loam.
yy Clay.
yy Sandy loam.
yy Clay loam.
yy Silty clay loam
yy Caliche.
yy Sandy clay loam.
yy Hardpan.
Type C Soil
REMEMBER
Soil cannot be Type A if it is unstable dry rock, previously disturbed
soil, and fissured.
This is the least stable soil.
Type C has cohesive soil with an unconfined
compressive strength of 0.5 tsf (48 kPa) or
less.
Examples include:
Type B Soil
This has medium stability.
yy Gravel.
Type B soil has cohesive soil with an unconfined compressive strength greater than 0.5
tsf (48 kPa) but less than 1.5 tsf (144 kPa).
yy Loamy sand.
yy Sand.
REMEMBER
Type C soil cannot be benched.
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Excavations
Protective Systems
Protective systems are essential in protecting employees from cave-ins.
Trenching and excavation work presents
serious hazards to all workers involved,
especially with the threat of cave-ins.
OSHA standards require protective systems in place around all
excavation sites that pose the
threat of cave-ins.
Protective systems are selected and constructed by the employer, but the system
must meet OSHA required performance
criteria.
Design Factors
Because of the potential for serious hazards,
protective systems must meet OSHA requirements.
Types of Protective Systems
These are the four primary types of protective
systems.
Factors to consider in the design of a protective system are:
yy Soil classification.
yy Depth of cut.
yy Water content of soil.
yy Changes due to weather.
yy Climate or other operations in the
vicinity.
REMEMBER
All excavations over 20 feet in depth
must be designed by a registered
P.E.
yy Shielding - This can be permanent or
portable, also known as trench box or
trench shield.
yy Shoring - This can include a metal hydraulic, mechanical, or timber shoring
system that supports the sides.
yy Sloping - This involves forming sides
of an excavation that are inclined away
from the excavation.
yy Benching - This involves excavating the
sides of an excavation to form one or
a series of horizontal levels or steps,
usually with vertical or near-vertical
surfaces between levels.
Protective systems are selected and
constructed by the employer, but
the system must meet the required
performance criteria.
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Sloping and Benching
OSHA regulations contain specifications for sloping and benching when used as methods of protecting employees working in excavations from cave-ins.
Sloping
Sloping is a method of protecting employees from cave-ins by excavating to form
sides of an excavation.
yy The sides are inclined away from the
excavation to prevent cave-ins.
The angle of incline required to prevent
a cave-in varies with differences in these
factors:
yy Soil type.
yy Environmental conditions of exposure.
yy Application of surcharge loads.
Sloping and benching help protect workers
from cave-ins.
There are two basic types of benching:
yy Single.
REMEMBER
Maximum allowable slope means
the steepest incline of an excavation face acceptable for the most
favorable site conditions as protection against cave-ins.
yy Multiple.
Benching
Benching protects employees from cave-ins
by excavating the sides of an excavation to
form one or a series of horizontal levels or
steps.
REMEMBER
Benching can be used in conjunction with sloping to protect employees.
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Shoring & Shielding
Learn how shoring and shielding are used as a method of protecting employees
working in excavations.
Shoring or shielding is used when location
or depth of the cut makes sloping back to
the maximum allowable slope impractical.
The two basic types of shoring are:
yy Timber.
yy Aluminum hydraulic.
Due to the cost and effort of using lumber,
aluminum hydraulic is the preferred method.
Hydraulic Shoring
Workers do not have to enter the trench to
install hydraulic shoring. This is a critical
safety advantage over timber.
In addition, hydraulic shoring is:
yy Light enough to be installed by one
worker.
yy Gauge-related, ensuring even distribution of pressure along the trench line.
yy Easily adapted to various trench
depths and widths.
Always take appropriate measures to prevent cave-ins
during excavation operations.
yy Once in place, hydraulic pressure
should be increased to keep the forms
in position.
yy Trench pins must be installed in case of
hydraulic failure.
Shield Systems
Keep the following in mind regarding shield
systems:
yy Shields may not be subjected to loads
exceeding those which the system was
designed to withstand.
yy Shields may be used in combination
with sloping and benching.
Hydraulic Jacks
Keep the following in mind when using hydraulic jacks:
yy When using hydraulic jacks, the operator should be able to easily drop the
shoring system into the hole.
yy Shields must extend at least 18 inches
above the surrounding area if there is
sloping toward the excavation. This
can be accomplished by providing a
benched area adjacent to the shield.
yy Shields may be used in combination
with benching and shoring.
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Excavations
Shoring & Shielding
Learn how shoring and shielding are used as a method of protecting employees
working in excavations.
Trench Boxes
Keep the following in mind regarding trench
boxes:
yy Trench boxes (shields) are different
from shoring in that instead of supporting the trench face, they mostly
serve to protect workers from caveins.
yy The excavated area between the outside of the trench box and the face
of the trench should be as small as
possible.
yy The space between the trench box
and the excavation side may be backfilled (or other means may be used)
to prevent lateral movement of the
box.
Removal of Protective Systems
To properly remove protective systems,
practice the following:
yy After the excavation is cleared, the
protective system must be removed
from the bottom up with caution.
yy As soon as work is completed, the
excavation must be backfilled when
the protective system is dismantled.
If equipment used for protective systems is damaged,
a competent person must examine it to see if it is
suitable for continued use.
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Excavation Hazards
Excavating is one of the most hazardous construction operations. Learn how to protect
yourself and others by maintaining awareness of these potentially deadly hazards.
Cave-Ins
Cave-ins, considered the deadliest excavation hazard, pose the greatest risk of worker
fatalities during excavation operations.
A cave-in can occur when the sides of an
excavation:
yy Are not sloped or benched.
yy Are not adequately supported.
yy Do not have the proper shield or shoring system.
Note the following regarding possible caveins during excavation operations:
yy Excavating is one of the most hazardous construction operations, and
most accidents occur in trenches 5 to
15 feet deep.
yy There is usually no warning before a
cave-in.
yy When water is present in an excavation, it creates a serious cave-in
hazard.
yy When there is no safe means of
egress, it creates a serious risk to
workers within the excavation.
REMEMBER
Cave -ins are the deadliest excavation hazards.
Employers and employees must work together to
protect workers from potentially deadly excavation
hazards.
Hazardous Atmospheres
An excavation can form a confined or enclosed space.
yy The build-up of toxic fumes or depletion
of oxygen creates a serious hazard.
yy Adequate precautions must be taken to
prevent employee exposure to potentially hazardous atmospheres. Precautions include using personal protective
equipment and respiratory protection.
yy Adequate protection must include providing ventilation to prevent employees
from exposure to flammable gas.
Fire is also a significant hazard associated
with excavation. The threat of fire from combustible gases and materials can also pose a
danger to workers inside the excavation.
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Excavations
Hazard Protection
Learn about additional excavation hazards, as well as how to protect yourself.
Equipment
Emergency rescue equipment must be readily available in the following scenarios:
yy Where hazardous atmospheric conditions exist.
yy Where hazardous atmospheric conditions may reasonably be expected to
develop during work in an excavation.
Examples of emergency rescue equipment
include:
yy Breathing apparatus.
yy Safety harness and line.
yy Basket stretcher.
Additional Hazards
Excavation operations can expose workers to a variety
of hazards. Take precautions appropriate to the
specific hazards.
The following conditions can contribute to
these hazards:
In addition to cave-ins and hazardous atmospheres, workers involved in excavation
work also are exposed to hazards involving:
yy Materials or equipment close to the
edge of the excavation that might fall or
roll into the excavation.
yy Inadequate warning systems to alert
operators to the edge of an excavation.
yy Falls.
yy Falling loads.
yy Underground utility lines.
yy Mobile equipment.
yy No barricades, signals, or fence to protect vehicles from excavation.
yy Loose rock or soil with no protective
barricades.
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OSHA’s Top 5 Most Violated Excavation Regulations
To keep workers safe, employers must meet and exceed OSHA standards on the worksite.
Below are OSHA’s top five most
violated excavation regulations.
Evaluate your own worksite,
and take the necessary steps to
minimize hazards and comply with
OSHA standards.
1. 652(a)(1 - Protection from cave-ins.
Employers must protect employees from
cave-ins. Provide employers with an adequate protective system.
2. 651(c)(2) - Means of egress provided.
Provide a means of egress from trench
excavations. This may include a stairway,
ladder, ramp, or other safe means of getting
out of a trench.
3. 651(k)(1) - Daily inspections by a competent person.
Daily, a competent person must inspect
excavations, areas adjacent to excavations,
and protective systems. Look for evidence
of a potential cave-in, indication of protective system failure, and hazardous conditions such as hazardous atmospheres.
4. 651(j)(2) - Protection from material or
equipment falling into excavations.
Protect employees from materials or equipment that could fall or roll into excavations.
Keep materials or equipment at least two feet
from the edge of the excavation, and/or use
retaining devices.
5. 651(k)(2) - Competent person inspection
– Employees removed from hazard.
When the competent person finds evidence of
a possible cave-in, protective system failure,
or hazardous conditions, remove employees
from the hazardous area. Take precautions to
ensure worker safety.
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Excavations
NOTES:
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NOTES:
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Concrete and Masonry
Concrete and Masonry Construction
Lesson 16 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify different types of concrete construction
methods.
Describe OSHA regulations applying to concrete
and masonry construction.
List the common hazards of concrete placement.
Explain the use of equipment and tools for
concrete and masonry construction.
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Concrete and Masonry
Learn to safely navigate around the common hazards
associated with concrete and masonry construction.
OSHA requirements for concrete and
masonry construction define the general
requirements, equipment, and tools needed
for work operations.
Common Hazards
Common hazards you may face during concrete and masonry construction include:
yy Impalement by unguarded rebar.
yy Struck-by and caught-in hazards from
materials or equipment.
yy Silica dust exposure.
concrete and masonry construction and
how they should then apply to employer
and employee safety practices.
yy Identify and avoid hazards associated
with concrete and masonry construction equipment and tools, cast-in-place
concrete, formwork, precast concrete,
lift-slab operations, and masonry construction.
Definitions
Understand the following terms:
yy Bull float.
Protecting Yourself
To protect yourself and others, know how to:
yy Recognize and describe the common
hazards of concrete and masonry
construction, and know the appropriate safety measures to minimize
these hazards.
yy Explain OSHA standards pertaining to
yy Formwork.
yy Lift slab.
yy Limited access zone.
yy Precast concrete.
yy Reshoring.
yy Shore.
yy Vertical slip forms.
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Concrete and Masonry
Definitions
To protect yourself from concrete and masonry hazards, familiarize yourself with these terms.
Bull float - A tool used to spread out and
smooth concrete.
Formwork - The total system of support
for freshly placed or partially cured concrete, including the mold or sheeting that
is in contact with the concrete, as well as
all supporting members including shores,
reshores, hardware, braces, and related
hardware.
Lift slab - A method of concrete construction in which floor and roof slabs are cast
on or at ground level and lifted into position
using jacks.
Limited access zone - An area alongside a
masonry wall that is under construction and
is clearly marked to limit access by employees.
Reshoring - The construction operation
in which shoring equipment (also called
reshores or reshoring equipment) is placed as
the original forms and shores are removed in
order. This practice supports partially cured
concrete and construction loads.
Shore - A supporting member that resists a
compressive force imposed by a load.
Vertical slip forms - Forms that are jacked
vertically during the placement of concrete.
Jacking operation - The task of lifting a slab
(or a group of slabs) vertically from one location to another during the construction of a
building or structure where the lift-slab process is being used.
Precast concrete - Concrete members, such
as walls, panels, slabs, columns, and beams
that have been formed, cast, and cured prior
to final placement in a structure.
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Concrete and Masonry
Subpart Q - Concrete & Masonry Construction
Subpart Q describes the requirements that protect construction workers from
concrete and masonry construction hazards.
OSHA specific regulations for concrete and
masonry construction are covered under
Part 1926 of Subpart Q.
They serve to define the regulations for both employers and
employees.
Subpart Q describes the requirements that
help protect workers from concrete and
masonry construction hazards.
OSHA regulations address the following
topics:
yy Construction Loads.
Masonry and concrete construction work requires
special safety measures.
yy Reinforcing Steel.
yy Post-Tensioning Operations.
yy Concrete Buckets.
yy Working Under Loads.
yy Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The regulations stated in Subpart Q are
intended to help protect workers from accidents and injuries stemming from dangerous work practices such as:
yy Premature removal of formwork.
yy Failure to brace masonry walls.
yy Failure to support precast panels.
yy Inadvertent operation of equipment.
These regulations must apply to all work sites
where concrete and masonry construction
hazards may exist, and should be used in conjunction with other OSHA requirements.
REMEMBER
According to Subpart Q, head and
face personal protective equipment
is required when an employee applies a cement/sand/water mixture
through a hose.
yy Failure to guard reinforcing steel.
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General Requirements
Follow OSHA regulations for concrete and masonry construction projects.
Construction Loads
Employers must not place construction
loads on concrete structures or portions of
concrete structures unless a qualified person determines that the structure or portion
of the structure is capable of supporting the
loads.
Reinforcing Steel
Reinforcing steel, which includes protruding
rebar, must be guarded to prevent employees from falling onto the steel and becoming impaled.
Post-Tensioning Operations
To reduce hazards during post-tensioning
operations, employees should not be permitted behind the jacks during tensioning
operations. Employers should post signs
and barriers to limit access during post tensioning operations.
Concrete Buckets and Working
Under Loads
Cranes and hoists are often used to move
and position concrete buckets on a construction site. These can pose dangerous
hazards to workers if the following regulations are not followed:
yy Buckets should be routed away from
employees in case of a potential fall
or drop.
yy No employee should be riding a concrete bucket.
yy No employee should stand in a bucket moving vertically up or down.
General requirements apply to concrete and masonry
work on construction sites.
Equipment
OSHA regulations provide specific requirements for the following equipment and tools:
yy Bulk cement storage.
yy Concrete mixers.
yy Concrete buggies and pumping systems.
yy Concrete buckets.
yy Tremies.
yy Bull floats.
REMEMBER
Before maintenance or repair is begun on any of the equipment listed
above, all items should be locked
and tagged at their starting points.
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Concrete and Masonry
Equipment and Tools
Follow all OSHA requirements for equipment and tools.
Bulk Cement Storage
Bulk storage bins, containers, or silos
should have conical or tapered bottoms,
and a mechanical or pneumatic method of
starting the flow of materials. Employees
should be prohibited from entering storage
facilities unless the ejection system has
been shut down, locked out, and tagged.
Concrete Mixers
Concrete mixers with one cubic yard or
larger loading skips must have a mechanical device to clear the skip of materials, and
have guardrails placed on every side of the
skip.
Concrete Buggies and Pumping
Systems
The handles of a concrete buggy should not
extend past the wheels on either side of the
buggy. Concrete pumping systems using
discharge pipes should have pipe supports
built to 100 percent overload, and compressed air hoses should include a positive
fail-safe joint connector to avoid separation
of sections when pressurized.
Concrete Buckets
Proper use of concrete and masonry equipment
prevents hazards on construction sites.
Tremies
Sections of tremies and similar concrete
conveyance tools must be secured with wire
rope or similar materials in addition to regular
couplings or connections.
Bull Floats
Bull float handles should be constructed from
nonconductive materials where they run the
risk of touching energized electrical conductors.
Concrete buckets with hydraulic or pneumatic gates require positive safety latches
or similar safety devices.
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Concrete
There are multiple methods of placing and erecting concrete for construction purposes.
Cast-in-Place Concrete
Cast-in-place is the most common method
of placing concrete during construction.
This method of placing concrete requires a
five-step process listed below:
1. Building and placing the forms complete with reinforcing steel.
2. Mixing the concrete.
3. Placing the concrete.
Use proper PPE while working with concrete.
4. Curing and finishing the concrete.
5. Stripping the forms.
When placing concrete with the cast-inplace method, the listed requirements must
be followed:
yy The formwork must be designed and
built to support all vertical and lateral
loads without fail.
yy Formwork may not be removed until
the employer determines that the
concrete has achieved sufficient
strength to support its own weight
and any superimposed loads.
yy Drawings and plans, including all
revisions for the jack layout, formwork (including shoring equipment),
REMEMBER
Support for precast concrete
can be removed when permanent connections are completed.
working decks, and scaffolds must be
available at the jobsite.
yy Shoring/reshoring equipment must be
inspected to determine it meets the
requirements specified in the formwork
drawings, and if found damaged or
weakened, it should be immediately
reinforced.
Precast Concrete
Precast concrete structures are another
common form of concrete placement. They
are more economical and structurally lighter
than cast-in-place concrete structures. Precast structures are separated into two types
of products:
yy Standard - This constitutes structures
that are shaped in one specific way to
be placed multiple times and includes
beams, decks, and railroad ties.
yy Specialty - Unique precast designs for a
specific building, bridge, or structure.
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Masonry Construction
Learn how to distinguish and minimize hazards when working with masonry.
Masonry typically consists of hollow or solid
blocks of concrete or clay laid in mortar. It
is a common form of concrete construction
most commonly used in home building. It is
also used in:
yy Retaining walls.
yy Chimneys.
yy Fireplaces.
yy Fire-safe enclosures of stairwells,
elevator shafts, and storage vaults.
Masonry construction systems can be divided into two different categories: mortared
and mortarless.
yy Mortared - Mortar is placed between
concrete blocks to form a tight seal
preventing air or moisture from getting through.
yy Mortarless - Concrete blocks are
stacked atop one another, and then
bonded with materials either troweled
onto or poured inside the wall.
REMEMBER
yy Masonry saws must be
guarded with a semicircular
enclosure over the blade.
yy Always properly use, inspect, and maintain masonry and concrete construction equipment.
Masonry involves building a structure from individual
units.
Limited Access Zones
Prior to masonry wall construction, employers
must establish a limited access zone, which
must have restricted access to only allow entry to employees actively engaged in the wall
construction.
Limited access zones must:
yy Run the entire length of the wall.
yy Be equal to the height of the wall to be
constructed plus four feet.
yy Be established on the side of the wall
that will not be scaffolded.
yy Be restricted to entry only by employees
actively engaged in constructing the
wall.
yy Be kept in place until the wall is adequately supported to prevent overturning and collapse.
yy Be braced if the wall is more than eight
feet tall.
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Concrete and Masonry
Common Hazards of Concrete Placement
Follow OSHA regulations to avoid common construction hazards arising
from concrete and masonry projects.
Common hazards that an employee might
face during concrete and masonry construction include:
yy Impalement by unguarded rebar.
ßß Impalement can result in serious
internal injuries or death.
yy Struck-by and caught-in hazards from
materials or equipment.
ßß Struck-by hazards can cut, lacerate, amputate limbs, impale, or kill
workers.
yy Silica dust exposure.
ßß Silica exposure in the form of dust
particles is only harmful if the worker is exposed to it for long periods
of time.
MEDICAL ALERT
• Short-term exposure to silica
dust can irritate the nose
and throat, causing difficulty
breathing and choking.
• Prolonged or repeated exposure
can disable workers and cause
the lung disease silicosis.
REMEMBER
The use of power tools can generate hazardous levels
of silica dust from concrete. Use PPE to protect
yourself.
These hazards can be avoided by practicing
the following OSHA regulations:
yy Guard all protruding ends of steel rebar
with caps or wooden troughs, or bend
rebar so exposed ends are no longer
upright.
yy Control access and exposure to hazardous masonry conditions.
yy Employ lockout/tagout procedures.
yy Guard equipment and never remove
them unless performing maintenance
and following established lockout/
tagout procedures.
yy Wear respirators and masks when in
danger of heavy silica exposure.
According to Subpart Q, head and
face personal protective equipment
is required when an employee applies a cement/sand/water mixture
through a hose.
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Concrete and Masonry
Protecting Yourself
Learn how to protect yourself from concrete and masonry hazards on construction sites.
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)
The following list describes several PPE
best practices that should be followed by
construction workers working with concrete
and masonry:
yy Always wear a hard hat for protection.
yy Protective clothing such as waterproof gloves, long-sleeved shirts,
and long pants should be worn when
handling wet cement.
yy Rubber boots should be worn when
standing in fresh concrete.
yy Waterproof pads should be worn to
protect the knees, elbows, or hands.
yy Wear full-cover goggles or safety
glasses with side shields to protect
the eyes.
yy Wear protective head and face equipment while applying a cement, sand,
and water mixture through a pneumatic hose.
Precast Structures
OSHA requires the following practices when
working with precast structures:
yy Precast concrete wall units, structural
framing, and tilt-up wall panels must
be supported to prevent collapse.
yy Lifting inserts embedded or attached
to a tilt-up precast concrete member
should support at least twice the
maximum load applied to them.
yy When lifting inserts are embedded to
Use PPE effectively to protect yourself from hazards.
precast concrete members, they must
support at least four times the maximum load.
yy Lifting hardware or equipment must
support at least five times the maximum load transmitted to the lifting
hardware.
Frequently Cited Concrete &
Masonry Violations
The following list highlights OSHA’s top four
most frequently cited violations of the concrete and masonry construction standards:
1. Failure to protect employees from
impalement (rebar not capped or covered).
2. Failure to brace an unsupported section of masonry wall over eight feet in
height.
3. Failure of formwork capability in supporting loads.
4. Failure to establish a limited access
zone to limit the number of workers in
the danger zone where a masonry wall
is under construction.
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Concrete and Masonry
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Personal Protective Equipment
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Lesson 17 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify types of PPE.
Describe major types of PPE.
List different ways to protect yourself using PPE.
Explain employer requirements for providing PPE.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Use personal protective equipment (PPE)
to minimize your exposure to hazards.
“
PPE Defined
Types of PPE
OSHA defines personal protective
equipment:
Examples of personal protective
equipment generally fall into the following
categories:
Personal Protective Equipment
is equipment worn to minimize
exposure to a variety of hazards.
”
yy Eye and Face Protection.
yy Head Protection.
yy Leg and Foot Protection.
yy Hand and Arm Protection.
yy Hearing Protection.
When to Use PPE
Use personal protective equipment
when engineering, work practice, and
administrative controls are not possible
or do not provide workers with sufficient
protection.
yy Body Protection.
yy Respirators.
PPE must be appropriate to your job site,
tasks, and potential hazards.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Types of PPE and How to Protect Yourself
Hand and Arm Protection
yy Protect yourself from harmful
substances coming into contact with
your skin.
yy PPE must be specific to the hazards
present.
yy Inspect PPE prior to each use.
yy Make sure PPE fits properly.
Hearing Protection
yy Protect yourself against hearing loss.
Remember the basics about different types
of PPE.
Eye and Face Protection
yy Protect yourself from eye and face
injuries.
yy PPE should be fitted by a trained
professional.
yy Check the equipment’s Noise Reduction
Rating.
yy Protection is mandatory if you already
suffer from hearing loss.
Body Protection
yy Protect yourself from bodily injury.
yy Select appropriate body protection
based on the hazard assessment.
yy Make sure the type of material is
appropriate for the job.
Head Protection
yy Protect yourself from serious or fatal
head injuries.
yy You must use head protection if there is
danger of falling objects.
yy PPE must meet ANSI standards.
Leg and Foot Protection
yy Ensure a proper fit and coverage to
protect yourself from the specific
hazard.
Respirators
yy Protect yourself from insufficient oxygen
environments.
yy Use and clean respirators properly.
yy Protect yourself from foot and leg
injuries.
yy Do not wear a respirator in an
atmosphere it was not designed for.
yy Check PPE for wear and tear before
using it.
yy If employees will use respirators,
employers must have a written
respiratory program.
yy PPE must meet ANSI standards.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Eye and Face Protection
Use PPE to protect your eyes and face from hazards such as chemical splashes
and flying particles.
When working on a construction
site, you’ll be exposed to many
different hazards that can
damage your eyes and face.
Potential eye and face
injury hazards include
flying particles and
chemical splashes.
Use PPE to protect yourself
from these and other hazards.
Note that eye and face protection
selected for employee use must
clearly identify the manufacturer.
Examples of PPE that protects your eyes
and face include the following:
Safety Spectacles – These are protective
eyeglasses with impact-resistant lenses.
They may also have side shields.
Goggles – These provide protection
that completely covers the eyes. They
provide protection from impact, dust, and
splashes. Goggles should fit over your
eyeglasses.
Face Shields – These are transparent
sheets of plastic that cover you from chin
to head. They protect against splashes or
sprays from liquids.
A face shield and goggles help protect
your eyes and face from hazards.
REMEMBER
• Your goggles and safety spectacles
should be fitted by someone skilled
in the procedure.
• Fit adjustable features on an
individual basis.
• If you wear corrective lenses such
as eyeglasses, your PPE should fit
over them, or otherwise incorporate
your existing lenses as applicable.
• Wear eye protection over contact
lenses if required.
• Replace scratched lenses and
ineffective headbands when
necessary.
• Clean and disinfect your eye and
face protection regularly and
thoroughly. Do not share protective
eyewear.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Head Protection
Use PPE to protect yourself from head injuries that can cause impairment or may be fatal.
When working on a construction site, you’ll
be exposed to many different hazards that
can result in serious or fatal head injuries.
Potential head injury hazards
include impact, penetration,
electrical shock, and burns.
Examples of PPE that provides head
protection include safety helmets and
hard hats.
You might need to wear head protection in addition to other
types of PPE, such as safety goggles or ear plugs.
REMEMBER
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hard hats must meet ANSI standards* and be appropriate for the job site.
Wear head protection when there is danger of falling objects from above.
Use the appropriate Class of hard hat for your job.**
Clean and inspect your headgear.
Replace hard hats that are compromised.
Always replace a hard hat that has sustained an impact, even if you don’t see any
damage.
MEDICAL ALERT
Examples of head injuries include:
• Being struck on the head by falling objects.
• Bumping the head against fixed objects
such as exposed pipes or beams.
• Suffering from contact with electrical
hazards.
* * OSHA requires hard hats to meet standards set
by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Hard hats must be shown to provide protection that’s
equivalent to or better than the standard.
** Class A, Class B, and Class C hard hats are ANSI
approved. Bump hats are not ANSI approved, and they
only protect against head bumps and lacerations.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Leg and Foot Protection
Use PPE to protect yourself against leg and foot injuries.
When working on a construction
site, you’ll be exposed to many
different hazards that can injure
your legs and feet.
Potential hazards include:
falling or rolling objects;
materials that can crush
or penetrate the legs and
feet; and exposure to hot
substances and corrosive
or poisonous materials.
Safety footwear must meet ANSI minimum compression and impact
performance standards.*
Examples of PPE that protects your
legs and feet include the following:
Leggings – These protect the lower legs and
feet from heat hazards such as molten metal
or welding sparks.
Metatarsal Guards – These protect the instep
area from impact and compression.
Toe Guards – These fit over the toes of
regular shoes, protecting the toes from
impact and compression hazards.
Combination Foot and Shin Guards – These
protect the lower legs and feet.
Safety Shoes – These protect the feet from
hot work surfaces. By design, they may be
electrically conductive or non-conductive.
REMEMBER
• Protect your legs and feet from
exposure to hot substances and
corrosive or poisonous materials.
• Wear non-conductive footwear
if your feet will be exposed to
electrical hazards.
• Wear conductive footwear if you’ll
be exposed to static electricity.
• Safety footwear must meet ANSI
minimum compression and impact
performance standards.*
• Inspect footwear prior to each use.
• Make sure PPE fits properly.
* Protective footwear must be compliant with standards
set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
PPE must be shown to provide protection that is equal to
or better than the standard.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Hand and Arm Protection
Use PPE to protect your hands and arms from injury.
When working on a construction site, you’ll
be exposed to many different hazards that
can injure your hands and arms.
Potential hazards include
absorption of harmful substances.
Examples of PPE that protects your hands
and arms include gloves, finger guards, arm
coverings, and elbow-length gloves.
Selecting PPE
Consider the following factors when
selecting gloves for hand and arm protection:
yy Type of chemicals handled.
yy Nature of contact (total immersion,
splash, etc.).
yy Duration of contact.
yy Area requiring protection (hand,
forearm, and/or arm).
Note that neoprene gloves offer good
pliability, and protect against harmful
elements such as hydraulic fluids, gasoline,
and alcohol.
Employers should work to
eliminate hazards using
engineering and work
practice controls. Use
PPE for extra protection
against hazards that
cannot be eliminated.
Select the right kind of gloves for the job.
REMEMBER
• Prior to each use, inspect PPE
for rips, cracks, separation of
materials, worn grip, or worn
abrasion resistance.
• Make sure gloves and guards
fit properly.
• Neoprene gloves offer good
pliability, and protect against
harmful elements such as
hydraulic fluids, gasoline, and
alcohol.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Hearing Protection
Use PPE to prevent hearing loss.
When working on a
construction site, you’ll be
exposed to many different
hazards that can damage
your hearing.
Potential hazards
include exposure to
loud noises.
Examples of PPE that
protects your hearing include
the following:
The protective value of earmuffs can be reduced by glasses, long hair,
facial hair, and facial movements such as chewing.
Single-Use Earplugs – These are self-forming and are made of waxed cotton, foam, silicone
rubber, or fiberglass wool.
Pre-Formed or Molded Earplugs – These must be individually fitted by a professional. They
may be disposable or reusable.
Earmuffs – These require a perfect seal around the ear.
REMEMBER
• Ensure a proper fit and form of earmuffs and earplugs, especially when PPE is
being used over corrective lenses or with long hair or facial hair.
• Inspect PPE prior to each use.
• Check the Noise Reduction Rating, which is identified on the product package, and
confirm that it provides adequate hearing protection for the nature and duration of
the job.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Body Protection
Use PPE to protect yourself from bodily injury.
When working on a construction site, you’ll
be exposed to many different hazards. Body
protection is required when workers are exposed
to the following hazards:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Cuts.
Radiation.
Extreme Temperatures.
Hot Splashes.
Impacts from Tools.
Machinery and Materials.
Hazardous Chemicals.
Examples of PPE that provides body protection
include the following:
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
yy
Laboratory coats.
Coveralls.
Vests.
Jackets.
Aprons.
Surgical gowns.
Full body suits.
Protective Material
Select appropriate body protection based on the hazard assessment and tasks associated
with the job. Protective clothing comes in a variety of materials, including the following:
yy
yy
yy
yy
Paper-like fiber.
Treated wool and cotton.
Duck.
Leather.
yy
yy
yy
yy
Rubber.
Rubberized fabric.
Neoprene.
Plastic.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Respirators
Use PPE to protect yourself from hazardous environments.
When working on a construction site, you may
be exposed to a variety of atmospheres and
environments.
Potential hazards include exposure to
insufficient oxygen environments and
harmful dust, fog, smoke, mist, gas,
vapors, and sprays.
Types of respirators include the following:
Particulate Respirators – These filter out
airborne particles.
Air-Purifying Respirators with Cartridges or
Canisters – These remove contaminants from
the air.
Atmosphere Supplying Respirators – These
supply clean air from another source to the
user.
MEDICAL ALERT
Health risks associated with
respiratory hazards include:
•
•
•
•
Cancer.
Lung Impairment.
Disease.
Death.
All respiratory equipment must be National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) certified and approved.
REMEMBER
• Use and clean respirators
properly.
• Chose a respirator that’s
certified for use to protect
against the specific
contaminant(s) you’ll be
exposed to.
• Do not wear a respirator in
an atmosphere that contains
contaminants the respirator
was not designed for.
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Personal Protective Equipment
Employer Responsibilities
Employers and employees must cooperate in order to establish and maintain a
safe and healthful working environment.
Employer Requirements for PPE
In general, employers are responsible for
the following:
yy Performing a hazard assessment of
the workplace.
yy Identifying and providing appropriate
PPE for employees.
yy Maintaining PPE, including replacing
worn or damaged PPE.
yy Periodically reviewing, updating, and
evaluating the effectiveness of the
PPE program.
Performing a hazard assessment is the first
step towards developing a comprehensive
safety and health program.
During the hazard assessment, the
employer determines the potential
physical or health-related hazards
on the job site.
Physical hazards can include the following:
yy Moving objects.
yy Changing temperatures.
yy High-intensity lighting.
yy Rolling or pinching objects.
yy Electrical hazards.
yy Sharp edges.
Health hazards can include overexposure
to the following:
yy Harmful dusts.
yy Chemicals.
yy Radiation.
Performing a hazard assessment is the first step
towards developing a comprehensive safety and
health program.
Training
Employers are required to provide effective
training to employees who use PPE. The
training must be comprehensive and understandable, and it must include the following
information:
yy
yy
yy
yy
When and how to use and wear PPE.
Which type of PPE to use.
Proper fit and maintenance of PPE.
PPE limitations.
Employers must provide PPE to
employees, and employers are
responsible for all protective
equipment. Employer-provided
PPE must protect employees from
injuries and hazards.
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Confined Space Entry
Confined Space Entry
Lesson 18 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify confined space hazards in construction.
Describe the different types of hazardous
atmospheres associated with confined spaces.
List the different types of confined spaces, their
hazards, and training and education requirements.
Explain the general hazard classifications for
confined space entry.
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Confined Space Entry
Learn how to protect yourself from hazards caused by
confined spaces on construction sites.
REMEMBER
Common Hazards
Confined spaces have a limited means of
egress, which leads to the accumulation
of toxic, flammable contaminants and an
oxygen deficient atmosphere.
If the area meets the criteria for
a confined space, all ventilation
and other requirements must be
enforced.
Construction sites will often require workers to enter and operate within a confined
space, yet unfortunately, duties in these
spaces create hazards for workers that may
not be otherwise present.
For a safe workplace, it is
important to understand when
entry into a permit-required
confined space is permitted and
what the appropriate procedures
for operating in such a space are.
Protect Yourself
Being knowledgeable about a potentially
life-threatening situation on a construction
site is vital to worker safety. Common confined spaces on a construction site include:
yy Tunnels.
yy Manholes.
yy Vents.
yy Sewers.
yy Storage tanks.
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Confined Space Entry
Types of Confined Spaces
Recognizing that confined spaces contain potential hazards is critical to
construction site safety.
Before a construction worker is permitted
entry to a confined space, they should be fully
instructed on the nature of hazards involved,
safety precautions to mitigate these hazards,
and the use of both required protective and
emergency equipment.
Major Hazards Within Confined
Spaces
Major hazards include:
yy Oxygen-deficient atmosphere from the
enclosed space.
yy Fall hazards from work materials,
equipment, or elevation.
yy Purging agents such as nitrogen and
argon, which can displace oxygen and
rapidly asphyxiate workers.
yy Electrical shock hazards when operating power tools in a moist and enclosed
environment.
Confined spaces exist throughout a construction site.
yy Sumps.
yy Containment Cavities.
yy Electrical Transformers.
yy Heat Sinks.
yy Storage tanks.
yy Process vessels.
yy Bins.
yy Boilers.
yy Poor illumination.
yy Ventilation or exhaust ducts.
yy Heat exhaustion from poorly ventilated
spaces.
yy Sewers.
yy Underground utility vaults.
yy Toxic atmospheres created by equipment or dust.
yy Tunnels.
Examples Confined Spaces
These are some examples of where confined
spaces can exist on a construction site:
yy Vaults.
yy Condenser Pits.
yy Manholes.
yy Pipe Assemblies.
yy Ventilation Ducts.
yy Tanks.
yy Pipelines.
yy Open top spaces more than 4 feet in
depth.
REMEMBER
Confined spaces exist in a
multitude of different forms and
examples, such as manholes
leading into a deeper tunnel
system or tanks used to store
water or chemicals.
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Confined Space Entry
Hazardous Atmospheres
While atmospheres can be inherently hazardous, some can be even more
hazardous when encountered while working in a confined space.
Types of Hazardous Atmospheres
OSHA recognizes the following as the main
types of hazardous atmospheres that can
pose a threat to construction site workers:
yy Flammable Atmospheres arise when
the ratio of oxygen to combustible
material in the air is neither too rich
nor too lean for combustion to occur.
yy Toxic Atmospheres contain substances considered toxic, which includes
the entire spectrum of gases, vapors,
and finely-divided airborne dust.
yy Irritant/Corrosive Atmospheres consist of irritants that exert no systemic
toxic effects on the body or irritants
that may produce toxic effects on the
body, in addition to surface irritation.
yy Asphyxiating Atmospheres involve
the reduction of oxygen in a confined
space, which may be the result of
either consumption or displacement.
Workers in confined spaces should be
knowledgeable about the different types of
hazardous atmospheres so they can protect
themselves.
MEDICAL ALERT
Hazardous atmospheres
become much more dangerous
within a confined space.
Hazardous atmospheres in a confined space are
extremely dangerous to construction site workers.
Before a construction worker is permitted entry to a confined space,
they should be fully instructed on
the nature of hazards involved,
safety precautions to mitigate these
hazards, and the use of both required
protective and emergency equipment.
MEDICAL ALERT
Fatalities and injuries
repeatedly occur among
construction workers who
are required to enter confined
spaces during their jobs. Upon
entry, anything from explosions,
poisoning, and asphyxiation can
be a threat to the worker.
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Confined Space Entry
Hazardous Atmosphere Precautions
Adequate precautions must be followed to prevent employee
exposure to atmospheric hazards.
Oxygen Levels
It is ideal to maintain the atmospheric oxygen level at around 21% by volume, though
the body can tolerate some deviation. Oxygen deficient atmospheres are considered
atmospheres containing less than 19.5%
oxygen. Things to remember when working
in a potentially oxygen deficient confined
space include:
yy If the atmosphere drops to below
19.5% oxygen, then adequate precautions such as respiratory equipment
or ventilation in accordance to OSHA
regulations should be provided.
yy Precautions should be taken to prevent employee exposure to an atmosphere containing a concentration of
a flammable gas.
yy When controls are used to reduce the
level of atmospheric contaminants,
testing must be conducted as often
as necessary to ensure that the atmosphere remains safe.
yy If sufficient ventilation of a confined
space cannot be achieved without
blocking access, then all employees
should be equipped with air line respirators.
Employers must implement and
communicate adequate protocol
to protect employees from the
dangers of hazardous atmospheres.
The internal atmosphere of a confined space should be
tested prior to entry.
Emergency Rescue Equipment
Adhere to these guidelines when handling
emergency rescue equipment:
yy Emergency rescue equipment should
be readily available where hazardous
atmospheres may exist.
yy When a welder enters a confined space
through a small opening, they should
be provided a way for quickly removing
them in case of emergency.
yy Lifelines should be separate from
any line used to handle materials and
must be individually attended while the
employee wearing the lifeline is in the
excavation.
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Confined Space Entry
Other Hazards
Atmospheric contaminants are not the only hazard found in confined spaces.
Hazards Specific to Confined Space
There are other forms of hazards other
than atmospheric dangers that may crop
up when operating within a confined space.
Examples of dangers can include:
yy Mechanical hazards from tools or
equipment.
yy Noise hazards from equipment or the
environment, which can damage an
employee’s hearing.
yy Thermal effects, including both increased heat or cold.
yy Physical hazards such as surface residues, which can cause slips or falls
and lead to bodily injury.
yy Structural hazards caused by the
shape and design of a confined
space.
Classifications of Hazardous
Conditions
Material stored or used in the confined
space.
For example, damp activated carbon in a
filtration tank will absorb oxygen, and then
create an oxygen deficient atmosphere.
The internal atmosphere of a confined space should be
tested prior to entry.
Activity carried out within the space.
For example, the fermentation of molasses
that creates ethyl alcohol vapors and decreases the oxygen content of the atmosphere.
External environment.
For example, environments may be affected
by high tides, heavier than air gases or flash
floods.
REMEMBER
Communication between the
worker inside and the standby
person outside of the confined
space is of the highest importance.
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Confined Space Entry
Inherent and Induced Hazards
Atmospheric contaminants are not the only hazard found in confined spaces.
Inherent Hazards
Inherent hazards are hazards that are associated with specific types of equipment
and their interaction with other equipment.
Examples of inherent hazards include:
yy High-voltage shock.
yy Equipment radiation.
yy Defective design.
yy No protective features.
yy High or low temperatures.
yy High noise levels.
Induced Hazards
Induced hazards are hazards that arise from
incorrect decisions or actions taken during
the construction process. Examples of induced hazards include:
yy Omission of protective features.
yy Physical arrangements that may
cause unintentional worker contact
with electrical energy sources.
Atmospheric contaminants are one hazards found in
confined spaces, but they’re not the only one.
yy Oxygen-deficient atmospheres created
at the bottom of pits or shafts.
yy Lack of safety factors in structural
strength.
yy Flammable atmospheres.
REMEMBER
Inherent hazards cannot typically
be removed without downgrading
the system or equipment, and rely
upon hazard control methods to
minimize risks.
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Confined Space Entry
Entry and Exit
Entry and exit procedures must be well planned before initial entry is made.
Entry and exit times can be a significant physical limitation, and is
also directly related to the potential hazard of a confined space.
Consider the following when entering and
exiting a confined space:
yy Type of confined space to be entered.
yy Access to the entrance.
yy Number and size of openings.
yy Barriers within the space.
yy The occupancy load.
yy The time requirement for exiting in
the event of fire or vapor incursion.
yy The time required.
REMEMBER
The extent of precautions taken
and the standby equipment
needed to maintain a safe work
area will be determined by the
means of access and rescue.
Hazards must be thoroughly reviewed before worker
entry is permitted.
Confined Space Within a Confined
Space
Under these conditions, workers face potential hazards with the outer confined space and
well as with the inner confined space. Make
sure to properly evaluate both the outer and
inner confined space.
One of the most hazardous confined spaces
is a confined space within a confined space.
Examples of this include tanks within pits,
and pipe assemblies within pits.
Workers entering the pit and/or the vessel
should do so only after both spaces have
been evaluated and proper control measures
have been established.
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Signs, Signals and Barricades
Signs, Signals and Barricades
Lesson 19 Study Guide
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Identify road sign types and when they should
be used.
Describe OSHA standards for signs, signals, and
barricades that can help to prevent worksite injuries.
List the duties and requirements of flaggers
during temporary traffic control.
Explain the distinguishing factors for barricade
types and the use for each.
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Signs, Signals and Barricades
Learn about the OSHA regulations for signs, signals,
and barricades used for accident prevention and
temporary traffic control.
To help prevent worksite injuries, OSHA has
developed standards for signs, signals, and
barricades that are used to warn workers of
dangers present.
Signs and symbols must always
be visible to prevent accidents.
Accident Prevention Tags
If a temporary hazard emerges, such as a
defective piece of equipment, accident prevention tags must be used to warn employees
of the danger.
OSHA specifications for signage is illustrated
in the table below.
Common Types of Accident
Prevention Signs
Common accident prevention signs include
Danger Signs, Caution Signs, Exit Signs,
and Safety Instruction Signs.
REMEMBER
Accident prevention tags are
a temporary means of warning
employees of an existing hazard and
should never be used as a substitute
for accident prevention signs.
Accident prevention signs and symbols must be removed or covered
when the hazard no longer exists.
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Signs, Signals and Barricades
Types of Accident Prevention Signs
Learn how to identify the different types of signs needed to
stay protected on a construction site.
Accident Prevention Sign
Standards
Exit Signs are sometimes required to indicate
the available exit points.
Danger Signs must be used only where immediate hazards exist.
yy Red as the predominating color for
the upper panel.
yy Black outline on the borders.
yy White lower panel for additional sign
wording.
yy Lettered in legible red letters, not less
than 6 inches high.
yy On a white field.
yy Principal stroke of the letters must be
at least ¾ inches wide.
yy Black lettering used for additional
wording.
Caution Signs must only be used to warn
against potential hazards or unsafe practices.
yy Yellow as the predominating color.
yy Black upper panel and border.
yy Yellow lettering of "caution" on the
black panel and the lower yellow panel for additional sign wording.
yy Black lettering used for additional
wording.
Safety Instruction Signs, when used, convey
important safety information to employees.
yy White background.
yy Green upper panel with white letters
that convey principal message.
yy Additional wording must be black
against the white background.
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Temporary Traffic Control Signs
Traffic signs help to keep the public and workers safe during
temporary traffic control situations.
The primary function of traffic control signs
is to provide for the safe and efficient movement of vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians
through or around temporary traffic control
zones while reasonably protecting workers
and equipment.
The three categories of traffic
control signs are Regulatory,
Warning, and Guide.
Regulatory Signs
Regulatory signs inform road users of traffic
laws or regulations. They also indicate the
applicability of legal requirements that
would not otherwise be apparent.
REMEMBER
When standard orange flags, or
flashing warning lights, are used
in conjunction with signs, they
must not block the sign face.
It is critical to make drivers aware of potential dangers
on the road.
Sign Maintenance
Signs must be properly maintained for cleanliness, visibility, and correct positioning. They
must be replaced promptly when significant
legibility is lost.
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Types of Temporary Traffic Control Signs
Learn about the specific types of signs used in temporary traffic control
situations to prevent roadway incidents.
Functions of Sign Types
Road Closed Signs are used when roadways
are closed to everyone, except contractors'
equipment or authorized vehicles.
Road Work Signs give warning to roadway users of upcoming obstructions or restrictions on
the road.
Detour Signs communicate different roadways
or routes that should be taken by road users.
Local Traffic Only Signs are used where
road user flow is detoured to avoid a closure
beyond the sign, but the closed roads are
still open to local road users.
Weight Limit Signs display the gross weight
or axle permitted on a roadway or bridge.
Sidewalk Closed Signs are used when
pedestrian flow is restricted or rerouted by
work activities.
Flagger Signs indicate that a flagger is stationed on the roadway ahead to control road
users.
Worker Signs alert road users of workers in or
near the roadway.
End Road Work Signs are placed about 500 feet
beyond the temporary traffic control zone to make
road users aware that normal traffic can resume.
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Traffic Signaling & Flaggers
Flaggers are responsible for public safety. Therefore, they must be trained in safe
traffic control practices and public contact techniques.
Flaggers are responsible for providing temporary traffic controls
and public safety.
Flaggers must be able to perform the following tasks:
yy Receive and communicate instructions clearly, firmly, and courteously.
yy Maneuver quickly to avoid danger
from errant vehicles.
yy Control signaling devices that provide
clear guidance to drivers approaching
a temporary traffic control zone.
MEDICAL ALERT
Workers must wear highvisibility clothing and use
proper hand-signaling devices
to stay protected while
working in a temporary traffic
control area.
To protect employees, flagger
stations must be illuminated at
night.
Flaggers must follow standard procedure to stop
traffic, allow regular traffic flow, and alert and slow
traffic when necessary.
Flagger Stations
OSHA standards for flaggers and safe flagger
stations include:
yy Flaggers should stand on the shoulder
adjacent to the road user being controlled or in the closed lane, prior to
stopping road users.
yy Flaggers should only stand in the lane
being used by moving road users after
road users have stopped.
yy Flaggers should always be clearly visible to the first approaching road user.
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Barricades
Barricades are used during road construction, and can be used along with
appropriate signage to alert and direct traffic.
Barricades are portable or fixed devices
used to control road users by closing, restricting, or delineating the right of way.
Type I:
yy Can be used on conventional roads or
urban streets.
yy Intended for use where road user flow
is maintained through the temporary
traffic control zone.
Type II:
yy Can be used on expressways, freeways or other high-speed roadways.
yy Intended for use where road user flow
is maintained through the temporary
traffic control zone.
Type III:
yy Can be used on expressways, freeways, or other high-speed roadways.
yy Should be used to close or partially
close a road.
REMEMBER
Because of their proximity to the
normal flow of traffic, barricades
must be crashworthy.
These are examples of traffic control devices.
yy May be placed completely across a
roadway or from curb to curb when
used at a road closure.
Direction Indicator Barricades
Direction indicator barricades tell road users
where to pass. These barricades must include
the following:
yy A retroreflective horizontal arrow top
panel.
yy A stripped retroreflective bottom panel.
yy Both panels mounted horizontally to
the ground.
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