Construction Safety, What You Have To Know? (reference to OSHA)

Nearly 6.5 million people work at approximately 252,000 construction sites across the nation on any given day. The fatal injury rate for the construction industry is higher than the national average in this category for all industries.

Potential hazards for workers in construction include:

• Falls (from heights);
• Trench collapse;
• Scaffold collapse;
• Electric shock and arc flash/arc blast;
• Failure to use proper personal protective equipment; and
• Repetitive motion injuries.

Hazards & Solutions

For construction, the 10 OSHA standards most frequently included in the agency's citations in FY 2004 were:

1. Scaffolding
2. Fall protection (scope, application, definitions)
3. Excavations (general requirements)
4. Ladders
5. Head protection
6. Excavations (requirements for protective systems)
7. Hazard communication
8. Fall protection (training requirements)
9. Construction (general safety and health provisions)
10. Electrical (wiring methods, design, and protection)

Scaffolding

Hazard: When scaffolds are not erected or used properly, fall hazards can occur. About 2.3 million construction workers frequently work on scaffolds. Protecting these workers from scaffold-related accidents would prevent an estimated 4,500 injuries and 50 fatalities each year.

Solutions:

• The scaffold must be sound, rigid, and sufficient to carry its own weight plus four times the maximum intended load without settling or displacement. It must be erected on solid footing.
• Unstable objects, such as barrels, boxes, loose bricks, or concrete blocks, must not be used to support scaffolds or planks.
• Scaffold must not be erected, moved, dismantled, or altered except under the supervision of a competent person.
• Scaffolds must be equipped with guardrails, midrails, and toeboards.
• Scaffold accessories such as braces, brackets, trusses, screw legs, or ladders that are damaged or weakened from any cause must be immediately repaired or replaced.
• Scaffold platforms must be tightly planked with scaffold plank grade material or equivalent.
• A "competent person" must inspect the scaffolding and, at designated intervals, reinspect it.
• Rigging on suspension scaffolds must be inspected by a competent person before each shift and after any occurrence that could affect structural integrity to ensure that all connections are tight and that no damage to the rigging has occurred since its last use.
• The synthetic and natural rope used in suspension scaffolding must be protected from heat-producing sources.
• Employees must be instructed about the hazards of using diagonal braces as fall protection.
• A scaffold can be accessed by using ladders and stairwells.
• Scaffolds must be at least 10 feet from electric power lines at all times.

Fall Protection

Hazard: Each year, falls consistently account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry. Several factors are often involved in falls, including unstable working surfaces, misuse or failure to use fall protection equipment, and human error. Studies have shown that using guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers, and restraint systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls.

Solutions:

• Consider using aerial lifts or elevated platforms to provide safer elevated working surfaces;
• Erect guardrail systems with toe boards and warning lines or install control line systems to protect workers near the edges of floors and roofs;
• Cover floor holes; and/or
• Use safety net systems or personal fall arrest systems (body harnesses).

Ladders

Hazard: Ladders and stairways are other sources of injuries and fatalities among construction workers. OSHA estimates that there are 24,882 injuries and as many as 36 fatalities per year due to falls on stairways and ladders used in construction. Nearly half of these injuries were serious enough to require time off the job.

Solutions:

• Use the correct ladder for the task.
• Have a competent person visually inspect a ladder before use for any defects such as:
• Structural damage, split/bent side rails, broken or missing rungs/steps/cleats, and missing or damaged safety devices;
• Grease, dirt, or other contaminants that could cause slips or falls;
• Paint or stickers (except warning labels) that could hide possible defects
• Make sure that ladders are long enough to reach the work area safely.
• Mark or tag ("Do Not Use") damaged or defective ladders for repair or replacement, or destroy them immediately.
• Never load ladders beyond the maximum intended load or the manufacturer's rated capacity.
• Be sure the load rating can support the weight of the user, including materials and tools.
• Avoid using ladders with metallic components near electrical work and overhead power lines.

Stairways

Hazard: Slips, trips, and falls on stairways are a major source of injuries and fatalities among construction workers.

Solutions:

• Stairway treads and walkways must be free of dangerous objects, debris, and materials.
• Slippery conditions on stairways and walkways must be corrected immediately.
• Make sure that treads cover the entire step and landing.
• Stairways having four or more risers or rising more than 30 inches must have at least one handrail.

Trenching

Hazard: Trench collapses cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year. Trenching deaths rose in 2003.

Solutions:

• Never enter an unprotected trench.
• Always use a protective system for trenches feet deep or greater.
• Employ a registered professional engineer to design a protective system for trenches 20 feet deep or greater.

Protective Systems:

1. Sloping to protect workers by cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation not steeper than a height/depth ratio of 11 2 :1, according to the scoping requirements for the type of soil.
2. Shoring to protect workers by installing supports to prevent soil movement for trenches that do not exceed 20 feet in depth.
3. Shielding to protect workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins.

• Always provide a way to exit a trench--such as a ladder, stairway, or ramp--no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for employees in the trench.
• Keep spoils at least two feet back from the edge of a trench.
• Make sure that a competent person inspects trenches before entry and after any hazard-increasing event such as a rainstorm, vibrations, or excessive surcharge loads.

 Maximum allowable slopes for excavations less than 20 ft. (6.09 m) based on soil type and angle to the horizontal are as follows:

Source: OSHA Technical Manual, Section V, Chap. 2, Excavations: Hazard Recognition in Trenching and Shoring (Jan. 1999).

Cranes

Hazard: Significant and serious injuries may occur if cranes are not inspected before use and if they are not used properly. Often these injuries occur when a worker is struck by an overhead load or caught within the crane's swing radius. Many crane fatalities occur when the boom of a crane or its load line contacts an overhead power line.

Solutions:

• Check all crane controls to ensure proper operation before use.
• Inspect wire rope, chains, and hook for any damage.
• Know the weight of the load that the crane is to lift.
• Ensure that the load does not exceed the crane's rated capacity.
• Raise the load a few inches to verify the balance and effectiveness of the brake system.
• Check all rigging before use; do not wrap hoist ropes or chains around the load.
• Fully extend outriggers.
• Do not move a load over workers.
• Barricade accessible areas within the crane's swing radius.
• Watch for overhead electrical distribution and transmission lines and maintain a safe working clearance of at least 10 feet from energized electrical lines.

Hazard Communication

Hazard: Failure to recognize the hazards associated with chemicals can cause chemical burns, respiratory problems, fires and explosions.

Solutions:

• Maintain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for each chemical in the facility.
• Make this information accessible to employees at all times in a language or formats that are clearly understood by all affected personnel.
• Train employees on how to read and use the MSDS.
• Follow the manufacturer's MSDS instructions for handling hazardous chemicals.
• Train employees about the risks of each hazardous chemical being used.
• Provide spill clean-up kits in areas where chemicals are stored.
• Have a written spill control plan.
• Train employees to clean up spills, protect themselves and properly dispose of used materials.
• Provide proper personal protective equipment and enforce its use.
• Store chemicals safely and securely.

Forklifts

Hazard: Approximately 100 employees are fatally injured, and approximately 95,000 employees are injured every year while operating powered industrial trucks. Forklift turnover accounts for a significant number of these fatalities.

Solutions:

• Train and certify all operators to ensure that they operate forklifts safely.
• Do not allow any employee under 18 years old to operate a forklift.
• Properly maintain haulage equipment, including tires.
• Do not modify or make attachments that affect the capacity and safe operation of the forklift without written approval from the forklift's manufacturer.
• Examine forklift truck for defects before using.
• Follow safe operating procedures for picking up, moving, putting down, and stacking loads.
• Drive safely--never exceed 5 mph and slow down in congested or slippery surface areas.
• Prohibit stunt driving and horseplay.
• Do not handle loads that are heavier than the capacity of the industrial truck.
• Remove unsafe or defective forklift trucks from service.
• Operators shall always wear seatbelts.
• Avoid traveling with elevated loads.
• Assure that the rollover protective structure is in place.
• Make certain that the reverse signal alarm is operational and audible above the surrounding noise level.

Head Protection

Hazard: Serious head injuries can result from blows to the head.

Solution:

• Be sure that workers wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to their heads from fixed objects, or accidental head contact with electrical hazards.

Safety Checklists

The following checklists may help you take steps to avoid hazards that cause injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. As always, be cautious and seek help if you are concerned about a potential hazard.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Eye and Face Protection

• Safety glasses or face shields are worn anytime work operations can cause foreign objects to get into the eye such as during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing (or when working with concrete and/or harmful chemicals or when exposed to flying particles).
• Eye and face protectors are selected based on anticipated hazards.
• Safety glasses or face shields are worn when exposed to any electrical hazards including work on energized electrical systems.

Foot Protection

• Construction workers should wear work shoes or boots with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles.
• Safety-toed footwear is worn to prevent crushed toes when working around heavy equipment or falling objects.

Hand Protection

• Gloves should fit snugly.
• Workers wear the right gloves for the job (for example, heavy-duty rubber gloves for concrete work, welding gloves for welding, insulated gloves, and sleeves when exposed to electrical hazards).

Head Protection

• Workers shall wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to their heads from fixed objects, or accidental head contact with electrical hazards.
• Hard hats are routinely inspected for dents, cracks, or deterioration.
• Hard hats are replaced after a heavy blow or electrical shock.
• Hard hats are maintained in good condition.

Scaffolding

• Scaffolds should be set on a sound footing.
• Damaged parts that affect the strength of the scaffold are taken out of service.
• Scaffolds are not altered.
• All scaffolds should be fully planked.
• Scaffolds are not moved horizontally while workers are on them unless they are designed to be mobile, and workers have been trained in the proper procedures.
• Employees are not permitted to work on scaffolds when covered with snow, ice, or other slippery materials.
• Scaffolds are not erected or moved within 10 feet of power lines.
• Employees are not permitted to work on scaffolds in bad weather or high winds unless a competent person has determined that it is safe to do so.
• Ladders, boxes, barrels, buckets, or other makeshift platforms are not used to raise work height.
• Extra material is not allowed to build up on scaffold platforms.
• Scaffolds should not be loaded with more weight than they were designed to support.

Electrical Safety

• Work on new and existing energized (hot) electrical circuits is prohibited until all power is shut off and grounds are attached.
• An effective Lockout/Tagout system is in place.
• Frayed, damaged, or worn electrical cords or cables are promptly replaced.
• All extension cords have grounding prongs.
• Protect flexible cords and cables from damage. Sharp corners and projections should be avoided.
• Use extension cord sets used with portable electric tools and appliances that are the three-wire type and designed for hard or extra-hard service. (Look for some of the following letters imprinted on the casing: S, ST, SO, STO.)
• All electrical tools and equipment are maintained in a safe condition and checked regularly for defects and taken out of service if a defect is found.
• Do not bypass any protective system or device designed to protect employees from contact with electrical energy.
• Overhead electrical power lines are located and identified.
• Ensure that ladders, scaffolds, equipment, or materials never come within 10 feet of electrical power lines.
• All electrical tools must be properly grounded unless they are of the double insulated type.
• Multiple plug adapters are prohibited.

Floor and Wall Openings

• Floor openings (12 inches or more) are guarded by a secured cover, a guardrail, or equivalent on all sides (except at entrances to stairways).
• Toeboards are installed around the edges of permanent floor openings (where persons may pass below the opening).

Elevated Surfaces

• Signs are posted, when appropriate, showing the elevated surface load capacity.
• Surfaces elevated more than 48 inches above the floor or ground have standard guardrails.
• All elevated surfaces (beneath which people or machinery could be exposed to falling objects) have standard 4-inch toeboards.
• A permanent means of entry and exit with handrails is provided to elevated storage and work surfaces.
• Material is piled, stacked, or racked in a way that prevents it from tipping, falling, collapsing, rolling, or spreading.

Hazard Communication

• A list of hazardous substances used in the workplace is maintained and readily available at the worksite.
• There is a written hazard communication program addressing Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), labeling, and employee training.
• Each container of a hazardous substance (vats, bottles, storage tanks) is labeled with product identity and a hazard warning(s) (communicating the specific health hazards and physical hazards).
• Material Safety Data Sheets are readily available at all times for each hazardous substance used.
• There is an effective employee training program for hazardous substances.

Crane Safety

• Cranes and derricks are restricted from operating within 10 feet of any electrical power line.
• The upper rotating structure supporting the boom and materials being handled is provided with an electrical ground while working near energized transmitter towers.
• Rated load capacities, operating speed, and instructions are posted and visible to the operator.
• Cranes are equipped with a load chart.
• The operator understands and uses the load chart.
• The operator can determine the angle and length of the crane boom at all times.
• Crane machinery and other rigging equipment are inspected daily before use to make sure that it is in good condition.
• Accessible areas within the crane's swing radius are barricaded.
• Tag lines are used to prevent dangerous swing or spin of materials when raised or lowered by a crane or derrick.
• Illustrations of hand signals to crane and derrick operators are posted on the job site.
• The signal person uses correct signals for the crane operator to follow.
• Crane outriggers are extended when required.
• Crane platforms and walkways have antiskid surfaces.
• Broken, worn, or damaged wire rope is removed from service.
• Guardrails, handholds, and steps are provided for safe and easy access to and from all areas of the crane.
• Load testing reports/certifications are available.
• Tower crane mast bolts are properly torqued to the manufacturer's specifications.
• Overload limits are tested and correctly set.
• The maximum acceptable load and the last test results are posted on the crane.
• Initial and annual inspections of all hoisting and rigging equipment are performed, and reports are maintained.
• Only properly trained and qualified operators are allowed to work with hoisting and rigging equipment.

Forklifts

• Forklift truck operators are competent to operate these vehicles safely as demonstrated by their successful completion of training and evaluation.
• No employee under 18 years old is allowed to operate a forklift.
• Forklifts are inspected daily for proper condition of brakes, horns, steering, forks, and tires.
• Powered industrial trucks (forklifts) meet the design and construction requirements established in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for Powered Industrial Trucks, Part II ANSI B56.1-1969.
• Written approval from the truck manufacturer is obtained for any modification or additions which affect the capacity and safe operation of the vehicle.
• Capacity, operation, and maintenance instruction plates, tags, or decals are changed to indicate any modifications or additions to the vehicle.
• Battery charging is conducted in areas specifically designated for that purpose.
• Material handling equipment is provided for handling batteries, including conveyors, overhead hoists, or equivalent devices.
• Reinstalled batteries are properly positioned and secured in the truck.
• Smoking is prohibited in battery charging areas.
• Precautions are taken to prevent open flames, sparks, or electric arcs in battery charging areas.
• Refresher training is provided, and an evaluation is conducted whenever a forklift operator has been observed operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner and when an operator is assigned to drive a different type of truck.
• Load and forks are fully lowered, controls neutralized, power shut off and brakes set when a powered industrial truck is left unattended.
• There is sufficient headroom for the forklift and operator under overhead installations, lights, pipes, sprinkler systems, etc.
• Overhead guards are in place to protect the operator against falling objects.
• Trucks are operated at a safe speed.
• All loads are kept stable, safely arranged, and fit within the rated capacity of the truck.
• Unsafe and defective trucks are removed from service.