December 2024

2024-12-02 Winter Weather Tips

Winter weather presents hazards including slippery roads/surfaces, strong winds and environmental cold. Employers must prevent illnesses, injuries, or fatalities, by controlling these hazards in workplaces impacted by winter weather.

OSHA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are working together on a public education effort aimed at improving the way people prepare for and respond to severe weather. This page is designed to help businesses, and their workers prepare for winter weather, and to provide information about hazards that workers may face during and after winter storms.


Preventing Slips on Snow and Ice

To prevent slips, trips, and falls, employers should clear snow and ice from walking surfaces, and spread deicer, as quickly as possible after a winter storm. When walking on snow or ice is unavoidable workers should be trained to:


Preventing Falls When Removing Snow from Rooftops and Other Elevated Surfaces

OSHA’s Hazard AlertSnow Removal: Know the Hazards Pamplet, and winter weather webpages provide guidance to employers on how to prevent serious injuries and fatalities. Employers should consider options to avoid working on roofs or elevated heights, plan ahead for safe snow removal and must:

 

Working Safely in Cold Weather Winter weather can expose outdoor workers to frostbite, hypothermia, and cold stress, all of which can be fatal. It is important to know the wind chill temperature to better prepare and perform the work safely. Follow these work practices to stay safe in cold weather: • Know the symptoms of cold stress; reddening skin, tingling, pain, swelling, leg cramps, numbness, and blisters. • Dress properly; wear at least three layers of loose-fitting clothing, insulated gloves and boots, and cover your head. • Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers. • Stay dry and pack extra clothes; moisture can increase heat loss from the body. • Take frequent breaks in warm, dry areas. • Drink warm liquids. For more safety tips, visit OSHA’s Winter Weather page.

 

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2024-12-09 TBT Warning Lines

This toolbox talk explains construction-industry best practices for using a warning line to alert workers that they are approaching an unprotected edge of a roof, floor, or other work surface.

This information applies to all trades except those that do roofing work – roofing work means “hoisting, storing, applying, and removing roofing materials and equipment.” When doing roofing work, you can use a warning line for fall protection only if you follow the requirements in 1926.502(f), Warning Line Systems, and WAC 296-155-24615 (4), Warning line systems.

What is a warning line?
A warning line is a barrier such as rope, wire, or chain that warns workers they are approaching an unprotected roof, floor, or other work surface edge.

How do you set up a warning line?
Set up the warning line so that it keeps workers at least 15 feet back from the unprotected edge. This “setback” distance must eliminate the exposure and the risk that a worker could fall over the edge. You may need to increase the distance to eliminate the risk in some situations. Factors such as weather, visibility, the slope and condition of the work surface, the work performed, materials handled, and the experience and supervision of the workers can increase the risk of a fall – even at a 15-foot setback. The correct setback distance eliminates the exposure and the risk of a fall.

Never use a warning line as a substitute for a guardrail. Use a guardrail or another fall protection system described in WAC 296-155-24615, Fall Restraint Specifications.

Industry (all trades) best practices include the following:

Where can you learn more about warning lines?

Federal OSHA rules:

 

 

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2024-12-16 TBT Housekeeping

Importance of Good Housekeeping On Jobsites

It helps in preventing accidents, improving productivity, and ensuring the well-being of all personnel on site.

A clean and organized workplace is less likely to contribute to slip, trip, and fall hazards, which are among the most common causes of workplace injuries in the construction industry.

Common Hazards Due to Poor Housekeeping

Slips, Trips, and Falls

These can occur when materials, tools, and debris are left lying around. Imagine walking through the site and tripping over a piece of lumber or slipping on spilled oil.

Such incidents can lead to severe injuries, ranging from minor bruises to serious fractures or even worse.

Fire Hazards

Accumulation of flammable materials, like wood shavings, packaging materials, and solvents, can significantly increase the risk of a fire breakout.

A small spark can lead to a major incident if proper housekeeping practices are not followed.

Obstructed Pathways

Blocked aisles, stairs, and exits not only make it difficult to move materials and equipment around but also pose a significant risk during emergencies.

In the event of a fire or other emergency, clear pathways can mean the difference between a safe evacuation and a tragic outcome.

Falling Objects

Poorly stacked materials can become unstable and fall, posing a risk to anyone working below or around the stacked items. Proper storage and organization can prevent these accidents.

 

By Clicking "Mark as Read" - you are acknowledging you have read this entire (opened appropriate attachments) Toolbox Talk and understand this is company policy and will abide by regulations outlined in this safety policy. Please complete your acknowledgement within 24 hours of release. If you receive this notice, you are REQUIRED to read this content.

 

2024-12-23- TBT Holiday Safety Tips

🚧🎄Safety First: Holiday Season Safety Tips for Construction Sites 🚧🎄

As the holiday season approaches, construction sites continue bustling with activity. However, this festive time also brings unique challenges to job sites, from harsh winter weather to holiday-related distractions. It’s crucial for contractors, site managers, and workers to prioritize safety. Here are essential tips to ensure everyone stays safe and productive during this holiday season.

1. Enhanced Weather Precautions 🛠️❄️

The winter months often bring extreme weather conditions such as snow, ice, and strong winds, which can significantly impact construction sites. These conditions not only make work more challenging but also increase the risk of accidents and injuries.

Key Tips:

2. Adjusted Work Schedules and Fatigue Management 📊

The holiday season often leads to altered work schedules, with some workers putting in extra hours to meet year-end deadlines. This can lead to increased fatigue, which is a major safety concern.

Managing the Strain:

3. Mental Health and Stress Awareness 💚

The holiday season can be emotionally taxing, contributing to stress and mental health issues among workers. Stress can distract workers from safety protocols, increasing the risk of accidents.

Supporting Worker Well-being:

4. Site Security During Off-Days 🏗️During the holidays, construction sites may be left unattended for extended periods. This can make them targets for theft or vandalism. Security Measures:

5. Fire Safety and Decorations 🎉

While decorations can boost morale, they can also pose fire risks, especially on construction sites with various flammable materials.

Safe Decorating:

6. Ensure Adequate Lighting

With shorter days and longer nights during the holiday season, ensuring adequate lighting on construction sites becomes crucial for worker safety and productivity. Proper lighting is not only a matter of convenience but a critical safety measure to prevent accidents and ensure tasks are completed effectively. Key Strategies:


Improve Visibility with Additional Lighting: Install bright, durable lights around the site, especially high-traffic areas where precision work is carried out. Focus on entry and exit points, walkways, and machinery operating zones.

Mobile Light Towers: Employ mobile light towers for flexibility. These can be moved around to different areas of the site as needed, providing essential lighting wherever it's required.

Personal Lighting for Workers: Encourage workers to wear headlamps. This hands-free option ensures personal safety and helps in performing tasks with precision. Wearable lights are a good option as they can be attached to safety vests or helmets. These can increase personal visibility and hence reduce the risk of accidents.  Safety should always be the top priority on construction sites, and this becomes even more pertinent during the holiday season. By implementing these tips, construction managers can help ensure that their sites remain safe, secure, and productive during this festive time. Remember, a safe site is a productive and happy one, especially during the holidays.

 

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2024-12-30 TBT Safe Driving

Safe Driving

There will be 42 million Americans that are expected to take a holiday road trip this year, from Thanksgiving through the upcoming New Years Celebration! Driving can be convenient and less costly than air travel, but it can also be quite stressful, with traffic, weather conditions, and fellow holiday drivers to contend with.

S.C. Swiderski LLC wishes you the best during this holiday season, and cautions safety on the road. Please see these safe driving tips for staying safe during holiday driving:

 

By Clicking "Mark as Read" - you are acknowledging you have read this entire (opened appropriate attachments) Toolbox Talk and understand this is company policy and will abide by regulations outlined in this safety policy. Please complete your acknowledgement within 24 hours of release. If you receive this notice, you are REQUIRED to read this content.