Safety in Operations and Maintenance

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Safety in Operations and Maintenance

• General Policy Guidelines

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Safety ResponsibilitiesTo maintain Safe job
performance, each employee should

• Be familiar with all safety rules, regulations,
  and standards
• Be familiar with job hazards and safety
  guidelines
• Maintain required physical condition
• Inform supervisors of unsafe conditions and
  injuries
• Visually inspect all work areas and equipment
  and
• Take prudent action to prevent accidents.

3
Supervisors should

• Ensure that employees are properly trained
• Ensure accountability
• Implement and supplement applicable safety
  directives and
• Advise supervisors and safety officers concerning
  safety matters.

4
Upper Managers should

• Give priority to accident prevention
• Ensure that supervisors and managers accept
  appropriate safety accountability
• Consider safety aspects of all operations
• Integrate safety into all management functions.

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Fundamentals of Safety

• Accident prevention requires the wholehearted
  cooperation of all employees.
• A capable, mentally alert employee will avoid
  accidents.
• Unsafe workers are a danger to themselves,
  co-workers, and the public.
• An unsafe worker is always inefficient.
• Accidents do not just happen. They are the
  result of unsafe acts or unsafe conditions or a
  combination of both.

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Examples of Unsafe Conditions

• Unguardedunshielded moving parts of machines,
  saws, etc. unenclosed live circuits or high
  voltage equipment.
• Inadequately GuardedInsufficient warning signs,
  guards, or makeshift barriers.
• Defective Material or Equipmentsplit handles,
  mushroomed chisels, weak equipment, etc.
• Hazardous Arrangementspoor housekeeping, unsafe
  planning, inadequate working space, etc.

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• Unsafe clothingWearing neckties or jewelry when
  working near machinery failure to use goggles,
  respiratory protection, proper shoes, rubber
  gloves, etc.
• Improper IlluminationInsufficient light, glare,
  objectionable shadows, etc.
• Unsafe Design and Construction
• Improper VentilationInsufficient change of air,
  harmful vapor, dust or gas, etc.
• High noise level areas and equipment

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Unsafe Acts which may cause accidents

• Operating without Guards or Warningoperating
  hoists and trucks without warning, failure to
  block or place warning signs where needed, etc.
• Operating or Working at Unsafe Speed driving too
  fast, throwing material or tools to another
  worker, jumping from vehicles or platforms

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• Making Safety Devices Inoperativeremoving
  guards, using oversize fuses, blocking safety
  valves, etc.
• Using Unsafe Equipment or improperly dull
  cutting tools, mushroom head chisels, pipe
  extensions on wrenches, wrong tool for the job.
• Unsafe Loading, Placing or Mixingoverloading
  cranes and winches, carrying too heavy a load,
  leaving objects where they may cause a fall,
  mixing chemicals to form a dangerous mixture, etc.

10

• Taking Unsafe Position or Posturewalking under
  suspended loads, lifting from awkward positions,
  passing on hills or curves, riding in bed of
  pickup truck, etc.
• Working on Dangerous Equipmentcleaning, oiling
  or adjusting moving machinery working on live
  electrical equipment, etc.
• Distracting, teasing, startling, practical
  joking, horseplay, quarreling, or annoying
• Failure to use safe clothing or protective
  equipment.

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Essentials of Accident Prevention

• Safety Training of Employees
• Providing workers with safe working conditions
• Inspection of work habits and equipment
• Enforcement of safe practices
• Thorough investigation and complete report of all
  accidents.
• Posting of safety posters and bulletins for all
  employees to read

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Accident Reports and Records

• Analysis of accident records is essential to the
  prevention of accidents.
• What are the most frequently encountered types of
  accidents?
• Where did they occur?
• How severe were they?
• What factors were involved?
• You need accurate and complete records!

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General Guidelines for Accident Reporting

• Every employee injury should be promptly reported
  to his/her supervisor.
• Any employee injury occurring during work and
  requiring the service of a physician should be
  reported in writing.
• Accidents (or near misses) which do not result
  in personal injury should also be reported in
  writing and investigated.

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• If an injury results in loss of time beyond that
  of the day of the injury, then the employee
  should have clearance from a physician before
  returning to duty.
• If an accident results in damage to agency or
  organization property, it should be reported to
  the supervisor along with pertinent details.
• Injuries to persons other than employees, or
  damage to non-agency property, must be reported
  immediately

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• If an accident results in injury to a person or
  equipment not owned by the agency, the employee
  should obtain pertinent information, including
  names and addresses of witnesses and details
  relating to the accident. Evidence should be
  preserved until investigation is complete.
• Employees should make no statement whatsoever
  concerning the settlement of claims, promises for
  injuries or damages, or any statement as to who
  was at fault.

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• The supervisor is responsible for seeing that the
  employees comply with the regulations and
  procedures relating to accident reporting.
• The supervisor should investigate every accident
  or near miss to determine the cause and what
  action is needed to prevent a reoccurrence

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Employee Responsibilities

• Employees must remain alert at all times.
• Employees must inspect all tools, equipment, and
  areas and remedy any potentially unsafe
  conditions before commencing any work.
• Employees must use all protective equipment
  provided by the employer.
• Employees must never be so busy that they neglect
  safety in the interest of saving time.
• Employees must warn each other about hazards and
  unsafe practices.

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• No employee should ever work any live
  electrical equipment of machinery for which
  he/she has not been thoroughly trained and
  properly qualified unless it is under the direct
  supervision of a properly qualified person.
• If an employee is physically or mentally unable
  to perform his/her duties safely, he/she must
  report this promptly to his/her supervisor.

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Supervisory Responsibilities

• If two or more workers are on the same job, one
  should be designated in charge of the project.
• Supervisors must see that there is strict
  compliance with all safety rules and regulations.
• Supervisors must determine that employees
  assigned to a job are competent and proficient
  and that they are wearing appropriate clothing
  and protective gear.

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• Supervisors are responsible for the proper
  inspection, use and maintenance of all tools,
  equipment and protective devices, and for
  correcting defects in any equipment or apparatus.
• Supervisors are responsible for good
  housekeeping in their work areas.
• Supervisors are responsible for maintaining fire
  extinguishing equipment and first aid kits in
  their areas.

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• Both supervisors and employees are responsible
  for protecting the publicfor regular inspection
  of the premises for any dangerous conditions.
• Supervisors should supervise rather than engage
  in the actual work in dangerous situations
  (working around live wires, etc.) so that they
  may oversee safety and summon assistance if
  needed.

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Housekeeping

• Housekeeping refers to the maintenance of a
  neat and orderly work place.
• Much of this is common sensekeeping stairways,
  aisles and fire escapes clear of obstructions
  placing tools and materials where they do not
  cause tripping or stumbling hazards cleaning up
  oil or water spills storing oily rags in metal
  containers taking care of disposal of broken
  glass keeping truck cabs and beds neat and safe,
  etc.

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Fire Prevention

• Good housekeepingdo not accumulate waste paper,
  rags and combustibles.
• Store flammable liquids in appropriate locations
  and safe containers, label them, store them away
  from open flames or sources of ignition.
• Be certain employees know the location of and
  proper use of fire extinguishers.
• Remove weeds/vegetation from around storage yards
  and structures.
• Prohibit smoking/open flames where necessary.

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Fire Extinguishing Equipment

• Class Aordinary combustible materials (paper,
  wood, etc.)use foam, dry chemical, or water type
  extinguishers.
• Class B(flammable liquids, gases, greases)use
  carbon dioxide, dry chemical, foam extinguishers
  (not water!)
• Class Cenergized electrical equipmentuse carbon
  dioxide or dry chemical extinguishers (but not
  water!)
• Class Dcombustible metals (magnesium, sodium,
  etc.)dont even mess with this.

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Protecting the Public

• Employees must inspect for dangerous conditions
  and either make them safe or warn the public
  about the danger.
• For work in progress, erect signs, barricades or
  other warnings.
• Place barriers around open manholes, exposed open
  ditches and excavations. Board over excavations
  to prevent accidental falls.
• Place red lights or reflectors around
  obstructions/excavations, etc. at night.

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Eye Protection

• Use goggles or other approved eye protection
  devices where there is a danger from flying
  particles, acids, caustic substances, harmful
  light rays, etc.
• Eye protection should be mandated for any
  welding chipping, grinding or buffing drilling,
  cutting or breaking masonry handling acids or
  caustics power tool operation chain saw
  operation, or using lawn equipment.

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Cleaning Solvents

• Flammable solvents such as gasoline should not be
  used for cleaning.
• Some solvents may not be particularly flammable,
  but may be caustic or corrosive. In such cases,
  use goggles and rubber gloves.
• Alcohol and other solvents can be used to clean
  brushes, etc., but the area should be
  well-ventilated and free of open flames.
• Certain solvents such as carbon tetra-chloride
  are toxic and should not be used.

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Material Storage

• Stored materials should be arranged so that they
  are not top heavy and weights should be
  distributed evenly.
• Sand, gravel, stone, etc. is heavy and should not
  be stored inside buildings not designed to
  support that weight.
• Poles, pipes, lumber, etc. should be stored in
  racks designed to safely contain them.
• Bricks should be stacked and banded or cross-tied.

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Lifting and Carrying

• Use back belts when lifting heavy objects,
  keeping your back close to vertical and lifting
  with your leg muscles.
• Bulky loads should never obstruct the view ahead.
• Heavy timbers, steel girders, pipes, etc. should
  be lowered into place, never dropped.
• Use blocks and tackles, jacks, etc. when
  practical.

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Hazardous Substances

• Noise is a hazardlevels should be at or less
  than 90 dB. There should be no exposure at over
  115 dB, and no more than 15 minutes per day at
  the 115 dB level. Earplugs or muffs should be
  used in all noisy environments.
• Batteries, and battery charging can be dangerous.
  Short circuits and incorrectly connected jumper
  cables can result in explosions and severe acid
  burns

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• Carbon monoxide gas is colorless, odorless,
  non-irritating and tasteless, and can be fatal or
  result in severe brain damage. Do not run
  gasoline engines in enclosed buildings.
• Employees handling lime or cement should wear
  protective clothing, including goggles, dust
  respirators and gloves.
• Paint fumes should not be inhaledhave adequate
  ventilation.

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• Pesticides, herbicides, and chemical sprays
  should not be inhaled or come in contact with
  skin. Do not spray while smoking or in the
  presence of open flames.
• When using weed killers, stand upwind to avoid
  inhaling spray, wear a face shield when mixing
  and applying wear protective gloves and long
  sleeve shirts as well as rubber boots.
• Never mix Roundup in a galvanized containera
  combustible mixture can result.

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OperationsSOPStandard Operating Procedure

• Standard Operating Procedures should be developed
  for all normal operations and should include a
  listing of required safety equipment and
  procedures.
• OSHA prescribes certain safety measures which
  must be undertaken and which, if not applied, can
  result in fines and exposure to lawsuits. OSHA
  1926.100 prescribes that hard hats are to be worn
  at outdoor worksites and in some other areas.

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Sample SOP Machetes5 Steps

• Be sure that other personnel are clear of your
  swing.
• Watch for overhead vines or brush that may
  deflect your blow.
• The path of the blade should never be directed at
  your legs or any other part of your body.
• Keep machetes sharp and sheathed when not in use.
• Personal protection to be used Eye protection
  and gloves.

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Sample SOP Ladders11 Steps

• All new ladders should be inspected for defects
  upon receipt.
• Ladders should not be painted, and they should be
  kept clean so that any defects will be visible.
• Short ladders should not be spliced to make
  longer ladders.
• If it is necessary to use ladders in strong winds
  or on unstable ground they should be securely
  lashed and guarded at the base by another
  workman. A solid footing should be provided for
  all ladders.

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• When using a ladder for access to high places, it
  should be secured to prevent slipping.
• Conventional ladders should never be placed or
  used on moveable objects.
• Under normal conditions, ladders should be placed
  so that the distance from the supporting surface
  to the base of the ladder is approximately
  one-fourth of the length of the ladder.
• Be sure shoes are not greasy, muddy, or slippery
  before climbing ladders.

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• Keep both hands free and grasp side rails while
  climbing. Hoist materials or tools with a hand
  line.
• Metal ladders are electrical conductors and shall
  not be used in electrical work or around
  electrical equipment.
• When using stepladders, be sure cross braces are
  securely locked

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Sample SOPChain Saws25 steps

• Because of safety and ease in handling, a small,
  light-weight saw should be used when the size of
  the timber being cut permits.
• Carry the saw by the handle with the blade to the
  rear.
• Care should be exercised in footing and in
  refraining from awkward positions both when
  working and when carrying chain saws.
• Lift with your legs, not your back.

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• Saws shall be securely lashed or tied while being
  transported in trucks.
• Keep a firm grip on the saw. If it kicks back
  and falls from any cause while running, it may
  cause a severe injury.
• Watch out for falling wood from overhead due to
  vibration of the tree.
• Do not inhale exhaust gases.
• Eye protection, ear protection, gloves and chaps,
  and helmet shall be worn to protect from sawdust,
  twigs, noise, and falling debris.

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• Do not touch the muffler or hot cylinder head.
• Choose your workplace so you will not be struck
  by the branch or log you are cutting or by other
  branches it may dislodge.
• Clear away stones, earth, and bark so chain
  cannot throw them in your direction.
• Know the manufacturers handbook for the saw you
  are using.
• Swing the saw so that you do not cut yourself or
  others.

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• Before you start the motor, make sure the saw is
  not touching anything.
• Do not smoke while filling gasoline tanks.
• Stop the motor while filling gasoline tanks and
  do not spill gasoline on hot cylinder head.
• Use a gasoline can with a spout or use a funnel
  to fill the gasoline tank.
• Fill the tank only on an area of bare ground.
• Use proper gasoline and oil mixture to minimize
  carbonization.

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• Do not start the motor where the tank is filled.
• Keep the entire saw clear of gasoline, oil, and
  sawdust.
• A fire extinguisher should be readily available.
• The chain should be checked for tension
  frequently during use.
• Avoid working alone when using a chain saw. If
  you do work alone, have someone check on you
  often.

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Sample SOP Electrical Hazard 9 Steps

• All wire and apparatus should be of a type
  approved by the Underwriters Laboratories
  Incorporated.
• Loose wires hanging from buildings, poles, or
  across roads should not be touched. A safe
  practice is to assume all wires are LIVE.
• Insulation on wire should not be completely
  trusted.

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• Double-insulated portable electric tools should
  be used or the frame on the tools shall be
  grounded by a grounding plug.
• Switches should not be located where there are
  flammable vapors unless they are the special
  sparkproof type.
• Cords with defective or broken insulation shall
  not be used.
• Non-metallic tools shall be used in electrical
  work whenever possible.
• Only authorized personnel will perform electrical
  work.

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• Main power disconnect switches shall be locked in
  the OFF position when maintenance and repairs are
  made on electrically powered equipment or
  machinery.

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Links

• OSHA http//www.osha.gov
• Public Playground Safety Checklist
  http//www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/327.html

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Credits

• Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Park
  Operations Division, Public Lands Safety Manual,
  1993