Material Storage Proper material storage is a vital part to every construction site and to good site housekeeping. This is especially true with finish hardware since it can take so long to receive the materials from the supplier after the order is placed. It also makes good sense, since materials have to be stacked and placed properly, to do it so you can access the materials easily and safely. Guide for Discussion Poorly stacked materials are dangerous to anyone around the jobsite. Keep aisles and passageways clear; never store materials in such a way as to block either. Never store materials within...

Common Sense And Accident Prevention Generally speaking, we are not born with common sense, we acquire it throughout life. Actually, common sense is really common experience--we learn about life from others' experiences as well as our own. Awareness of your environment, self-preservation and concern for your fellow workers are all factors in good common sense. Contrary to popular opinion, all workers can prevent themselves from getting hurt. The easy way to avoid pain is to observe how others have taken risks and been injured, rather than learning the hard way--from your own injury. That's common sense! The experts say at least 80%...

The Spotter With the high level of material delivery on a construction project and with delivery trucks generally required to back on the site, it becomes very important for the safety of workers and the project to provide spotters. Today we will review what the spotter should be doing and looking out for. Guide for Discussion A spotter should always be used any time a vehicle with restricted view is on-site. A spotter should always: Look out for themselves. Look out for others. Make sure the delivery vehicle is not damaged. Make sure the project and project materials are not damaged. Give clear...

Stairs And Walkways Stairs and walkways in all businesses can be the cause of injury accidents. These passageways do not typically get the maintenance they need since they are "only" access ways and not production areas. Here are ten safety tips to help eliminate exposures at your company. Always keep one hand free to use the handrails, both up and down the stairways. Keep all stairs and walkways clear of debris and potentially slippery substances such as; ice, snow, water, oil, or grease. Keep passageways free of tools, equipment and other materials. Always practice good housekeeping in these non-production areas. When...

Safety With Pneumatic Tools Pneumatic tools present many of the same hazards as their electrically powered counterparts, plus hazards you may not have considered. Here are things to remember when using air tools: Air pressure: Electrical tools are powered from a source that provides a well-regulated standard current. However, with air powered tools, air may be delivered at varying pressures and flows. If the pressure/flow exceeds the manufacturer's rating, the tool itself could over-speed, delivering too much torque or other excessive force. This is hazardous due to the increased possibility of tool or workpiece breakage. Inadequate pressure or flow could also result...

Short Cuts Question: (Yes/No answer) Nearly everyone we know uses short cuts to get the job done? Answer: Generally yes. However, there are some reasons not to use short cuts. As we all know, a project is completed by use of certain construction methods. Short cuts usually modify methods and as a result, decrease the safety built into proven methods. Guide for Discussion What are some ideas to keep in mind when doing short cuts? Everyone uses short cuts They can be dangerous Sometimes they are deadly Our company is willing to take the time necessary to do a job properly Heights increase...

Hard Hats Your head is the most important part of your body. It contains the matter that controls your ability to think, speak, and move. So, it’s head from injury on the job. Wearing your hard hat is the first line of defense against head injury. A hard hat is meant to protect your head from the impact of falling material and accidental bumping. The hat’s suspension components act as a shock absorber and are designed to absorb or deflect a blow and distribute the impact over a large area. Even if the hat dents or shatters, it can still take some force...

Accidents Are Avoidable Each time someone is injured, we need to ask ourselves “how did it happen?” Accidents just don’t happen, they are caused. Accidents are usually a result of someone not paying attention or not knowing how to recognize a job (or home or automobile) safety hazard. Jobs with effective safety attitudes have about a fifth as many injuries compared to those without the safety attitude. Today we will discuss some general rules to follow and the four hazard avoidance rules. Guide for Discussion General Rules Learn the safe way to do your job. Don’t jump from one elevation to another. Don’t work under...

Floor Buffer Safety Floor buffer machines come in many styles and power levels from the standard electric stick model to battery and propane - powered walk-behinds and ride-ons. They use different pad types and abrasive factors to clean, wax, buff, and strip hard surface floors. Because floor maintenance involves using powered machinery and concentrated chemicals, it is important to keep safety in mind. Get training and read the manufacturer’s instructions for your floor machine. Read the safety data sheets (SDS) for all floor maintenance chemicals and get training on the use and proper mix ratios. Because these chemicals are sold in concentrated...

Machine Guards If a machine has a part, function or process, which can cause injury, it needs a safeguard. Guards are installed on machinery to protect you and others from injury. This means that when a machine is in operation, its guards must be in place. A guard must never be bypassed or removed during use. If a guard is removed for machine cleaning or repairing, it must be put back into place before reuse or storage. Before beginning any work on a machine, check its moving parts to make sure that all guards are properly functioning and securely in place. Checking...