 An emergency or disaster can strike at any moment, causing injury and destruction along the way. This is why being prepared for any and all situations is necessary, so a response is effective. Below we will discuss some ways OSHA recommends preparing for an emergency and what you can do to keep your employees safe in a disaster situation.
OSHA Requirements for Emergencies A workplace emergency is a situation that threatens workers, customers, or the public; disrupts or shuts down operations; or causes physical or environmental damage. In the construction industry, OSHA requires plans to be in place for means of egress, fire prevention, and emergency action:
Emergency Action Plan Review Before writing an EAP, a hazard assessment must be completed to analyze any and all physical and chemical hazards present around the building. Once an assessment is completed, each hazard should have a plan on how to address the threat along with any specific workplace layouts or emergency systems that need to be included in remediating the hazard. Once hazards are identified and addressed, your written EAP should include the following information:
Preparing Your Workers The best way to prepare your workers for an emergency is to provide training and practice all emergency responses so workers can act quickly when a disaster strikes. Emergency Preparedness Training should include roles, responsibilities, and any special tasks required by employees during an emergency. Annual training drills should be conducted to practice emergency procedures with emergency responders to keep knowledge fresh in all worker minds. Additionally, emergency systems need to be tested regularly to make sure notifications and alarms will properly alert employees during an emergency. Knowing a disaster can strike at any moment, being prepared is paramount to the safety of yourself and your workers. Creating a proper Emergency Action Plan and preparing your employees will keep you ahead of anything that mother nature may throw your way. To keep the conversation going, download the Emergency Action Plan Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.
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 When it comes to construction projects, your foundation excavation is important and yet the most dangerous aspect of the job. From the utilities underground to the shifting of soils, it’s important to have a competent person available to know these hazards and make sure everyone works safely around them. Let’s look at what it means to be a competent person on an excavation project.
What is a Competent Person? OSHA defines a competent person as “one who is capable of identifying 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.” In short, a competent person has the knowledge and understanding to remove hazards. One can assume this role through experience in the field, proper training by the company, and through their knowledge and understanding of OSHA standards and practices. Once the competent person has been identified for a project, it’s important they review their duties and responsibilities each and every day as the job changes. Duties of a Competent Person Open trenches and excavations are a dangerous operation as they disturb the soil and surrounding areas in new ways each day. That is why the competent person must be prepared for any and all hazards you may see. Some responsibilities the competent person will need to be perform include:
In Case of Emergency Your competent person needs to be on the jobsite every day to assist with the job duties and safety inspections, but this doesn’t mean they can be everywhere all the time. For this reason you need to ensure all workers have proper training around open excavations and have the ability and confidence to stop work if something seems wrong. In the event of a cave-in or collapse, make sure everyone knows to dial emergency services immediately. Excavations and trenching operations are paramount to the beginning of a project. Ensuring the safety of those working means you need to make sure your competent person is prepared and has the authority to keep everyone safe at all times. To keep the conversation going, download the Competent Person Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.  This year, nearly 400,000 new workers entered the construction industry. While this is an increase from the previous year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates there are over 700,000 job openings annually that need filled. With the influx of new employees and need for even more, a proper training program is paramount to make sure employees are safe and competent with their work. Below we will explore some ways to improve your training program and how you can properly implement these changes.
Assess Training Changes As safety and technology continue to advance, new changes should be reviewed and assessed regularly to ensure your training meets the needs of the work at hand. Some changes that can affect your training needs include:
Update Training Plan Once your training updates have been identified, your supervisors need to work on identifying ‘what’ needs changed and ‘how’ to implement these changes in your organization. Some of these examples can include:
Implement Training Changes After your training plan is updated, the implementation process should include tracking training procedures, evaluating employees on their knowledge retention, and continuously monitoring the quality of training and updating as needed. If this training is something that is needed on an annual basis, make sure that your employees and their training are recorded and tracked to make sure they continue to receive their training on a regular basis. This type of training management is something that can easily be handled by STAC and our unique QR codes. When updating your training plan, employers need to make sure that all parts of the organization are included in the assessment, update, and implementation process. When everyone is included, the most effective solution can be implemented. To keep the conversation going, download the Health & Safety Plan Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.  In July 2023, OSHA created a National Emphasis Program on Warehouse and Distribution Centers to evaluate high-risk workplaces. Since this program was enacted, over 600 inspections have been conducted by OSHA with nearly $2.5 million in penalties, most of which involve Powered Industrial Trucks (PIT). Below we will focus on the operation and training procedures of PITs and some hazards to be aware of when in use.
PIT Operation Before operating a PIT some things to remember:
PIT Training Requirements Before operating PITs, you need to be trained by a competent person. Training requirements include:
When it comes to PIT use in and around your workplace, making sure you have been properly trained is paramount to the safety of yourself and your coworkers. To keep the conversation going, download the Forklift Safety Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.  Recently OSHA updated the Hazard Communication (HAZCOM) Standard which controls the rules on how to handle potentially harmful chemicals in the workplace. Effective on July 19th, the intent of the updated standard is to align with international trade partners and make things easier for manufacturers and distributors to transport chemicals. Let's dive into some of the updates to the standard and refresh employers on their responsibilities regarding hazardous chemicals.
What’s New Some of the major changes found between the 2012 and 2024 standards include:
https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/HCS_side-by-side.pdf Employer Responsibilities
Why Does This Matter to You About 3,500 workers are injured and another 1,000 die each week from exposure to hazardous substances and from not understanding the proper protocols in case of a spill or exposure. These updates will assist in providing more information to anyone distributing or working with hazardous chemicals and providing them with safe operating procedures. Familiarize yourself with the pictograms and proper hazards via OSHA's Quick Card and view the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of any chemicals you use in your workplace. To keep the conversation going, download the Hazcom Update Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.  Falls in the workplace continue to be the leading cause of fatal accidents accounting for nearly 900 deaths each year. That’s why fall protection for exposed heights 6ft or greater is an important aspect to any safety plan. One of the simplest yet effective fall protection systems that are frequently used are guardrails. Let’s discuss how these systems are designed and why they are effective among leading edges.
Guardrail Design Guardrails are designed with four different components:
Benefits of a Guardrail Some benefits of a guardrail system include:
While there are many ways to protect yourself from falls, guardrails are one of the most economical and effective when faced with leading edges and open hazards. To keep the conversation going, download the Guardrails Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.  With over 280 million cars traveling on 4 million miles of paved roads, accidents are bound to happen. While there are many factors that contribute to the 2 million accidents each year, a Defensive Driver does their best to identify all hazards and be ready to act on them at any moment. Today we will look into what is a Defensive Driver and discuss the most common hazards to prepare for.
What is a Defensive Driver? A defensive driver is someone who uses safe driving techniques to identify road hazards and reduce the risk of an accident. Safe driving techniques include things such as:
Weather Conditions Varying types of weather conditions will affect the way you and your vehicle can respond to hazards. The best way to prepare for weather related hazards is to make sure your vehicle is properly maintained. Having good tire treads, brake pads, windshield wipers, headlights, and window visibility will allow you to brave the elements regardless of rain or snow. Other Vehicles The biggest risk to you on the roadways is other vehicles. While you can’t control others from being distracted or disobeying traffic laws, you can prepare yourself for these types of drivers. Keeping a safe distance between you and other vehicles, allowing enough room to merge or pass, and checking blind spots and mirrors regularly will allow you to identify all surrounding vehicles and move freely as you travel about. Pedestrians Along many roadways there are sidewalks and crosswalks allowing for foot traffic. One thing to always remember when it comes to pedestrians: they have the right of way. You can communicate with them by using your signals, making eye contact, and by coming to complete stops so that they can safely cross intersections and crosswalks. As you hop into your car and prepare for the next road trip, remember that driving requires your undivided attention. Stay alert, use safe driving techniques, and know how to prepare for hazards you may be driving around. To keep the conversation going, download the Distracted Driving Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.  Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWPs) is the new term for all aerial work platforms and lifts as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) updated its A92 standard in 2021. Now all MEWPs are classified in groups with updated design, use, and training standards. Let’s refresh ourselves on what these groups include, along with the changes in each standard.
MEWP Groups Under the new standard, MEWPs are broken down into two groups:
Design Standard (A92.20) With an updated standard comes new safety features for manufacturers. Some of these new features include:
Safe Operation Standard (A92.22) As new designs are implemented, proper operating techniques must be updated to include these changes. The updated operation procedures now include training regarding the alarm sensors, Safe Use Plans for proper MEWP selection, and written Rescue Plans that include rescues from falls and breakdowns at heights. Training Standard (A92.24) ANSI has said that all MEWP training needs to be updated to reflect the group classifications and the operating standards. Alongside the updated training, all operators, supervisors, and maintenance personnel are required to participate in a two-part training that provides theory (written course) and a hands-on evaluation. While ANSI did not specify an expiration of this training, many will continue to utilize a three-year period before a refresher course is required. As this standard pushes forward new safety and training features, the goal of no accidents in the workplace can hopefully be closer to achieved. To keep the conversation going, download the Aerial Lifts Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below.  While all falls are preventable, they continue to be the leading cause of fatalities in the workplace. As OSHA continues to put an emphasis on fall prevention, one of the best ways to prevent falls is a Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS). Let’s take a look at the parts of a PFAS and some of the safety points of use.
PFAS Components OSHA defines a PFAS as a system used to arrest an employee in a fall from a working level. A PFAS system includes an anchor, connector, body harness, and sometimes additional equipment such as lifelines and shock absorbers. Here is the purpose of each component: Anchor Anchor points are where the PFAS begins and acts as the point to suspend the load during a fall. Anchor points are required to be independent from any other type of support. All anchors must be able to support 5,000lbs per employee, maintain a safety factor of two, or designed and installed by a professional. Connector Connectors link the anchor point to the body harness, usually in the form of a lanyard or self-retracting device. Connectors must be fitted with locking snap hooks or d-rings and need to be limited in length so an employee cannot fall to a lower level or more than 6ft. Body Harness A full body harness is the component that helps distribute the impact of the fall to the lower half of the body. Harnesses need to be fitted for each employee and inspected before each use. Any signs of wear, tears, or faulty clips must be reported and the harness removed from use. Additional Equipment Extra equipment such as lifelines can be helpful by increasing the area of work for employees allowing for more movement. Shock absorbers are a common addition to lanyards and lifelines as they reduce fall loads by up to 50%. Safety Points for Use Before using your PFAS, here are some safety tips to remember and follow:
When it comes to PFAS, inspecting equipment before use, limiting the fall distance, and having a plan in place to rescue a fallen worker are just as important to knowing your components and how to use them properly. To keep the conversation going, download the PFAS toolbox talk (TBT) or comment below.  While the New Year has officially begun, so does the cold weather for most of us. With dropping temperatures and freezing precipitation comes the risk of Cold Stress as you work outdoors. Let’s take a look at what Cold Stress is and some ways to keep you safe this winter season.
What is Cold Stress? Cold Stress is a condition that occurs when your body is no longer able to maintain its’ normal temperature. As your body temperature begins to drop, symptoms such as shivering, rashes, muscle stiffness, drowsiness, and exhaustion can occur. If these symptoms are not treated quickly, the body will begin to shutdown as you lose consciousness and the situation can turn fatal. Here are some tips to keep your body warm as you work: Acclimate Yourself to the Weather Just like in the hot summer months, acclimating your body to cold weather helps prevent the initial shock of the cold. Build up your tolerance to the cold by slowly introducing yourself in short periods. Wear Proper Clothing The best way to stay warm is to wear layers of loose-fitting clothing. Tight fitting clothes can slow blood flow and reduce the ability to stay warm. Don’t forget to swap clothes as they get wet (especially socks). Stay Hydrated Drink plenty of warm fluids such as water and electrolyte drinks to keep hydrated. Stay away from caffeinated drinks and steer clear of alcohol. Take Breaks Make sure to take breaks throughout the day. When taking a break, try to move to a warm area and allow your body to warm itself up. Stay away from large meals as these can drain your energy. As the cold weather moves in, take these tips and apply them to your workday. To keep the conversation going, download the Cold Stress Toolbox Talk (TBT) or comment below. |
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