SAFETY ARTICLES

Use the articles below to help with weekly safety meeting topics and in helping meet Cal – OSHA requirements. Articles have been furnished by State Fund Workers Comp and Federated Insurance Company. Just click on the topic you are interested in for a detailed article.

Boiler Safety Cross Contamination Driving Distracted? Electric Equipment Guarding and Workplaces Aggressive Driving Link to Cal-OSHA

Ammonia Safety Cal OSHA Record Keeping and Reporting Backs Safety Videos ToolBoxTopics.com (Great for safety meeting topics)

REMEMBER TO BE SAFE IN THE WORKPLACE

Boiler Safety

Workers that use, maintain, and service boilers know that they can be potentially dangerous. Boilers are gas-fired or electric closed vessels that heat water or other liquid to generate steam. The steam is superheated under pressure and used for power, heating or other industrial purposes. Though boilers are usually equipped with a pressure relief valve, if the boiler fails to contain the expansion pressure, the steam energy is released instantly. This combination of exploding metal and superheated steam can be extremely dangerous.

Only trained and authorized workers should operate a boiler. Workers should be familiar with the boiler manufacturer’s operating manual and instructions. Boiler operators should frequently inspect boilers for leakage, proper combustion, operation of safety devices and gauges, and other functions. Many older boilers and hot water and steam piping may have asbestos insulation coatings, wraps, or “lagging.” Workers should periodically inspect these areas to make sure that the materials are not damaged, flaking, or deteriorating. Damaged materials should be reported and repaired or removed immediately by a certified asbestos contractor. Signs of cracked surfaces, bulges, corrosion or other deformities should be repaired by an authorized technician immediately. Detailed logs of boiler operation and maintenance can help ensure boiler safety.

Boilers should always be brought on line slowly and cold water should never be injected into a hot system. Sudden changes in temperature can warp or rupture the boiler. Because many boilers are fire-operated by natural gas, diesel or fuel oil, special precautions need to be taken. Boiler operators should ensure that the fuel system, including valves, lines, and tanks, is operating properly with no leaks. To prevent furnace explosions, it is imperative that boiler operators purge the boiler before ignition of the burner. Workers should check the fuel to air ratio, the condition of the draft, and the flame to make sure that it is not too high and not smoky. Ventilation systems should also be inspected and maintained to make sure that combustion gases do not build up in the boiler room.

The area around the boiler should be kept clean of dust and debris, and no flammable materials should be stored near any boiler. Floors are often sealed concrete and can be very slippery when wet. Spills should be mopped or cleaned up immediately. Make sure that adequate lighting is provided and that malfunctioning light fixtures are repaired immediately. Because boilers have hot surface areas, there should be plenty of clearance for workers to move around the room. Boiler rooms can be noisy, so the area should be posted and workers should wear hearing protection when working inside the boiler room.

Boiler repairs are allowed only by authorized boiler repair technicians. Repair workers should wear personal protective equipment such as hard hats, heavy-duty work gloves, eye protection and coveralls. When entering a boiler for service or repair, authorized boiler repair workers should treat the vessel as a permit-required confined space. When the boiler is shut down for repair, all sources of energy should be isolated using approved Lock-out / Tag-out procedures and residual pressure in steam, water, and fuel lines should be relieved by following proper bleed and block or capping procedures.

Cross Contamination

Cross contamination occurs when workers spread contaminants around the worksite and into their homes by soiled clothing, shoes, and skin contact. Contaminants can be transferred to the items workers touch, sit on or walk on. Using good personal hygiene at work by hand washing, showering, and changing dirty clothing and shoes can help prevent cross contamination.

Workers that handle chemicals and contaminants in the workplace are aware that the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, safety glasses, respirators, coveralls, and boots, can reduce or eliminate their exposures. PPE can act as a barrier against the contaminants and protect the worker. If, however, a worker does not properly wash, remove or decontaminate soiled PPE and skin after leaving the work area, they can spread the contaminants outside the industrial work zone, to themselves, their coworkers, and to their family, homes, and cars.

The spread of contaminants is hazardous when unprotected workers, coworkers or family members come into contact with dirty surfaces. Skin exposures occur if they touch a soiled surface, and accidental ingestion can occur if they eat or drink something that has been contaminated. The contaminants of concern include chemicals such as solvents, herbicides, and pesticides, and industrial materials such as lead, asbestos and fiberglass. Potentially infectious materials such as blood and other body fluids pose a bloodborne pathogen hazard. Field workers should be aware that they can contact and spread irritating plant oils from poison ivy and poison oak.

When workers hug family members, prepare food, and touch the furniture, bedding, and carpet in the home, they could contaminate them if they have not washed their skin and removed or decontaminated soiled clothing and PPE. Workers can contaminate their coworkers and the worksite when they contact areas such as the break room, restroom, and office areas. Workers can also increase their own exposures if they eat, drink or smoke before washing their hands and removing or cleaning their PPE.

Cross contamination of the workplace can be prevented by removing or decontaminating PPE and washing hands before exiting the work zone. To prevent cross contamination at home, workers should wash their hands and faces at the end of a work shift and change into clean clothes and shoes. Workers can also take a shower and wash their hair before leaving work or as soon as they get home. Work clothes should be washed in hot water, separately from the family clothing, and given two rinse cycles.

Driving Distracted?

Driving down the road is no longer a lonely, quiet experience. With cellular phones, two-way radios, and stereos, the interior of your vehicle no longer offers a quiet place to focus on driving.

These days with everyone’s life so busy, paying attention while driving can be difficult. Have you ever been driving down the road and suddenly you notice you don’t remember the last three miles you traveled? Although your attention may only be diverted for a split second, the ever-changing variables of the road and other vehicles can make you instantly vulnerable to accidents.

The following rules can help you concentrate on what you should be doing...driving.

• Tie up loose ends before you leave the office.
• If you must travel in heavy traffic areas, plan your travel at times other then rush hour.
• Know the condition of the roads on which you are travelling and drive only as fast as those conditions allow.
• Wear your safety belt at all times.
• Set the radio to a station and leave it there until you stop again.
• Stay alert and drive defensively, with caution.
• Watch out for and anticipate other drivers, pedestrians or children on or near the road.
• Stay out of the other vehicle’s blind spot
• Keep a safe distance from other drivers by maintaining a safety cushion around your car.

Safe drivers scan constantly for hazards, predicting how they may be affected by a hazard and pre-determining how to avoid or reduce them. ?

Electric Equipment Guarding and Workplaces

Electrical current is found in power lines, transformers, breaker boxes, and power outlets and switches. Exposure to electric current can cause shock, injury and electrocution. Workers that service electrical sources need to get training on electrical safety, assume electrical equipment and lines are live, and use lock out/tag out procedures. Proper guarding and clearance around electrical equipment can prevent accidental worker exposure to electrical currents.

A shock can occur when a worker’s body becomes part of the flow of an electrical circuit. The severity of injury depends on the voltage and time that the electrical current passes through the body. Low voltage causes pain and slight burns, a large voltage can cause severe burns and stop the heart. A minor shock may cause a large injury if a surprised worker takes a fall.

To avoid the risk of accidental shock, live electrical components operating at 50 volts or more must be guarded with covers or other permanent barriers to prevent accidental contact by workers and their tools. Equipment can also be locked behind an enclosure, in a room, or at an elevated height. These areas should have restricted access and warnings against unauthorized entry. Permanent markings on electrical equipment with the voltage, current or wattage provide power output information for workers.

Electrical boxes and equipment are best stored in areas free from moisture, chemicals, and excessive temperatures. Electric cabinets with ventilation holes need to remain clear to allow air circulation. Electric parts that ordinarily spark or arc require covers and isolation from combustion sources. Equipment should be securely mounted to the surface that it rests on.

There should be adequate working space to allow workers to safely maneuver around electrical equipment. Electrical equipment with a voltage of 0-150 requires 36 inches of clearance. A voltage of 150-600, where there are energized parts on one side, also needs 36 inches of clearance. Equipment with a voltage of 150-600 and exposed energized and grounded parts on either side requires 42 inches clearance; equipment with exposed energized parts on both sides must have 48 inches clearance.

The clearance workspace around electrical equipment is not intended for storage. The area should be kept clear to allow safe movement and to prevent a fire hazard. Electric equipment workspaces require adequate lighting for safe work; light operating switches should not be near live electrical feeds. Enclosures need at least one entrance and enough headroom to work safely.

With adequate clearance and guarding around electrical equipment, workers can avoid accidental exposure to electric shock.

Aggressive Driving

Every year, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports approximately 500,000 collisions with 200,000 injuries and 4,000 fatalities as a result. Unsafe speed, improper turning, failure to yield the right of way, and obey traffic signals were the most frequent causes, which led the Department of Transportation (DOT) to estimate that two-thirds of traffic fatalities may be caused by aggressive driving.

Aggressive driving can be caused by longer commutes, traffic congestion, and other drivers’ behaviors. It can also be caused by your own mood, reactions, and ability to deal with stress on and off the road. Aggressive driving is triggered by anger – yours or another driver’s. Aggressive drivers are more likely to speed, make unsafe lane changes, ignore the right of way, and violate traffic signals. Aggressive driving behavior includes tailgating, unsafe passing, honking your horn, making rude gestures, or swearing at other drivers.

Don’t confuse aggressive driving with road rage. Blaring your horn in traffic or making rude gestures are not illegal, but they can escalate and lead to road rage. Road rage is a criminal act where a driver tries to intentionally injure or kill another driver, passenger, or pedestrian.

Help prevent aggressive driving (and road rage) by first adjusting your attitude. Forget the idea of “winning” on the road. Driving is not a race; it should not be a contest to see who finishes first. Leave plenty of time for a trip so that if traffic or another delay occurs, you can keep your cool. Think of the highway as a conveyor belt – everyone will get to their destination eventually, so there is no need to speed or act impolite to save a few minutes.

Put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. Have you ever made a mistake on the road, been lost, or unsure of your turn-off point? Instead of being angry at another driver making the same mistakes, give them the benefit of the doubt. When you make mistakes, acknowledge them and give the drivers around you a friendly nod or wave. Polite behavior makes driving safer.

Whether on Wall Street, in a casino, or on the highway, there will always be bad actors that want to break the rules. Ignore rude and bad drivers on the road. Unless you are a traffic safety officer, it is not your job to enforce the rules of the road or punish the bad behavior of others behind the wheel. Do not try to teach other drivers “a lesson.”

If you encounter an angry or aggressive driver on the road, don’t engage them. Avoid eye contact and do not make (or return) rude gestures or comments. Give an angry driver a lot of room by putting distance between you. Slow down or exit the roadway if necessary, but do not pull off to the side of the road or try to “reason” with an angry driver. Get help by using your cell phone or driving to a public area such as a police station or shopping center.

If you think you have a problem with anger on the road or aggressive driving, get help. Anger management classes or counseling can help you deal with the stress in your life and in your car that may be contributing to your behavior.

Keep your cool on the road and live to work and play another day.

Ammonia Safety

Ammonia is a commonly used chemical in commercial and household cleaners. In industry, ammonia is used in petroleum refining, to manufacture pharmaceuticals, to disinfect water, and as a refrigerant. In agriculture, ammonia can be used for crop processing, fertilizers, or as an anti-fungal treatment for citrus. Ammonia can also be produced naturally when stored materials such as manure, compost, or other materials break down.

Ammonia can be mixed with water and sold as ammonium hydroxide, or used in compressed gas as anhydrous ammonia (meaning without water). Workers in all industries should know that, despite its common usage, ammonia poses health risks and hazards that require proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and safe use and handling procedures.

The reason ammonia is considered a hazardous chemical is that it is corrosive to the skin, eyes, and lungs. Ammonia has a distinct and irritating odor when it is released, so your nose is usually the first warning of exposure. If you breathe ammonia into your lungs, you may cough, wheeze, or feel shortness of breath.

To prevent overexposure to ammonia, know the amounts, concentrations, and properties of the materials that you work with. Store ammonia in a cool, dry area away from incompatible materials such as chlorine, acids, oxidizers, and metals. Use ammonia products and materials in well-ventilated areas. Never mix ammonia with chlorine (bleach) because the combination creates chloramines, an extremely toxic and irritating gas. Wear the appropriate PPE for the job task and the strength of the ammonia you use.

Wear an air-supplying respirator if you will be entering an area that has high ammonia concentrations. If your workplace stores large amounts of ammonia, make sure that “escape” respirators with supplied air are available to you in case of an accidental release. Know where these respirators are located and how to use them. Inspect and maintain ammonia storage and processing equipment to prevent leaks and exposures.

Swallowing ammonia can cause burns to the mouth, throat, and stomach and can be fatal. Always wash your hands after using ammonia products and before you smoke, eat or drink. Do not store food and beverages near ammonia products.

Skin contact with ammonia can cause redness, pain, irritation, and burns. For housekeeping purposes, wear gloves to protect your skin when using ammonia cleaning products. When using higher concentrations in industrial and laboratory settings, wear gloves and consider a lab coat or coverall with long sleeves to protect your skin. If your clothes are splashed with ammonia, remove the contaminated clothing and flush your skin with water for at least 15 minutes.

An ammonia splash in the eye can cause pain and burns and lead to eye damage and temporary or permanent blindness. If you work with household cleaners, always spray the materials down and away from your face to avoid exposure. If you use or mix concentrated ammonia, wear splash goggles or consider a face shield to protect your eyes. If your eyes are exposed, flush them with water for 15 minutes and get immediate medical attention.

Cal OSHA Record Keeping and Reporting

The California Division of Occupational Health (CalOSHA) requires recordkeeping and reporting about safety in the workplace. Required records include the OSHA 300 Log and documents about safety hazard analysis, inspections, and accident investigations. Hazard-specific regulations such as asbestos, diving, mining, etc. also have additional recordkeeping requirements. Keeping track of recordkeeping requirements is a challenge.

The OSHA 300 log is probably the most familiar to workers and employers. It records all work-related deaths along with injuries and illnesses that require more than first aid treatment. An annual summary of injuries and illnesses is required to be posted in the workplace. Some small businesses (less than 10 employees) and certain industries may have limited exemptions from this recordkeeping requirement. All employers must report deaths and multiple injury incidents to CalOSHA within 8 hours and serious injuries within 24 hours. For instructions on keeping the 300 Log, see the State Fund Loss Control article Required Recordkeeping Procedures at http://www.scif.com/safety/losscontrol/Article.asp?ArticleID=311. For instructions on reporting illnesses and injuries that require treatment beyond first aid, see First Aid Reporting Requirements at http://www.scif.com/safety/losscontrol/Article.asp?ArticleID=301.

CalOSHA also requires employers to keep records on hazard evaluations and the corrective actions taken to reduce or control safety risks in the workplace. Job hazard analysis (JHA) evaluates a worker’s job tasks, tools, equipment, and procedures to determine the level of safety risk and how to control it. Also examine and plan for hazards associated with new tools, equipment, chemicals, tasks, and work environments. Keeping records of these hazard evaluations and risk reduction efforts can document that a business has diligently worked to protect workers. Communicate with employees about these evaluations to make them aware of job hazards and help them work safer.

Periodic workplace safety inspections identify hazards in the workplace. Keep records of the identified hazards and the actions that were taken to correct them. Investigate all employee accidents and near misses to determine the root cause of the accident. Document any corrective actions taken to reduce the risk of further accidents. Take the same steps when investigating employee complaints by recording the investigation process and any necessary corrective actions. Communicate the results of inspections, accident investigations, and complaint response to employees.

Safety training is a key component in making employees aware of the risks and hazards involved with their work tasks along with the appropriate work practices and personal protective equipment that keeps them safe. General safety training may include ergonomics, first aid, CPR, and injury and illness prevention. Specific work task and hazards safety training can target chemical use, fall protection, lockout/tagout, etc. Keep records of all employee safety training.

With all of this recordkeeping, it may be confusing about how long to keep safety records. Storage time requirements range between 1, 3, and 5 years. Check the specific regulations that apply to your industry, but as a best practice, store safety and training records for 5 years. Note that some regulations have separate recordkeeping requirements and timelines. For example, asbestos training records are required to be kept one year past the last date of employment of a worker. Employee medical records need to be kept for the length of employment plus 30 years.

CalOSHA posting requirements ensure that you communicate about safety and hazards in the workplace. Every place of employment should have the Job Safety and Health Protection poster placed in a prominent area. Copies of all CalOSHA citations must be posted for 3 days or until the violations are corrected. Finally, post notices of Cal OSHA investigations, complaints, and the required employer response for 3 days.

Employers must provide their employees access to safety records within a reasonable timeframe (usually 7 days) and must notify employees when monitoring indicates that they have been exposed to a hazard. Employees have a right to information and records about hazardous chemicals in the workplace (Material Safety Data Sheets), hazard exposure monitoring, and their own safety, personnel, and medical records. Employees also have the responsibility to report all workplace hazards, illnesses, injuries, accidents, and near misses so they can be evaluated and prevented in the future.

Comply with the law; go on record and document your safety efforts and statistics.

Backs

Have you ever given much thought to your back? It's there when you need it, but only if you don't abuse it. The back is made up of four major parts, the spine, nerves, muscles, and the spinal cord. There are thirty-three bones in the spine and thirty-one pairs of nerves branching out from the spinal cord. All of them must work together. If they don't, you could end up with anything from a strain to a ruptured disk, fractured vertebrae, and/or a debilitating disease like arthritis. To help prevent a back injury you should exercise, practice good posture, eat the right foods, and watch your weight. Check with your doctor for muscle strengthening exercises for the back. Other things you can do to prevent back injuries include using work-saving devices -- hand trucks, forklifts, wheelbarrows, and dollies can assist you. When you have an object to lift that is too heavy or bulky get help! Ask a co-worker for their assistance. Remember, two backs are stronger than one.'

Now, what can you do when you have to do some lifting? Check out the object to be lifted. Think about how you are going to grasp the load and make sure there is a clear path of travel so you won't stumble. Before you lift, stand close to the object, bend down at the knees and straddle it, get a good grip, and lift with your legs while keeping your back straight. The secret is to let your legs do the work. It doesn't have to be a heavy load -- even a small, very light object lifted incorrectly can trigger a back injury. Back injuries can be painful, disabling, paralyzing, and sometimes even fatal. Protect your back by following the guidelines above. You're here today -- we want you BACK tomorrow.

AVOID THE MISERY OF A SORE BACK THINK BEFORE YOU LIFT--THEN DO IT CORRECTLY

Safety Videos

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