Blog Archives

1/30/2015

Shop Safety ~ ACP Safety Meeting

Read Now

Perform a self-inspection prior to making a shop safety presentation. Look for anything that is out of place. Check against the Guide for Discussion for items to point out.

Introduction: The safe work practices we do in our shop are often the same practices we take out of our shop and into our homes. What we want to talk about today is what makes shop safety a little different than what we normally do.

Guide for Discussion

Discuss in-shop procedures initiated to ensure that frequent and regular inspections are conducted to identify potential hazards in materials and equipment in the shop by:

Individuals Supervisors Safety Committee

Based on self-inspection, identify and point out slip, trip hazards on walking/working surfaces; overhead dangers (like cranes), moving equipment (like forklifts), and general good housekeeping (like slip, trip or fall hazards).

Discuss location of key information including emergency medical plan, hazard communications (MSDS binder), fire extinguishers, fire evacuation signs and routes. Employer posters, Safety Committee meeting minutes posted.

Discuss power operated tools and equipment machine guarding, anti-kickback devices, personal protective equipment that is required to be worn when operating machinery.

Employee qualification program to operate machines requirements (if any). Self-inspection checklists

Remember: The safe work practices we bring into the shop are often the same safe work practices we take out of the shop onto the job and then into our homes. For example: Just as you wouldn’t want a slipping/tripping hazard on a set of stairs, you don’t want the same hazard on our shop floor. Think safety.

1 Comment

1/23/2015

Recognizing Unsafe Conditions ~ ACP Safety Meeting

0 Comments

Read Now

Recognizing unsafe conditions, or hazards in the workplace, is not just a Safety Committee responsibility. It is everyone’s responsibility from the most junior employee to the company president to identify hazards and make suggestions on how to fix the problem.

Guide for Discussion

Causes of unsafe conditions or actions:

Poor housekeeping.
Horseplay.
Confused material storage.
Careless handling of materials.
Improper or defective tools
Lack of machine guarding; failure to install warning systems. Lack of or failure to wear proper personal protection equipment. Weather.

Worker not dressing for the job to be done. Failure to follow instructions.

Steps to take once an unsafe condition is found:

If possible, correct the condition yourself immediately.
Report any major unsafe condition or action to the appropriate company authority. Follow-up – report the condition again if it is not corrected.

Remember: There are three steps to follow in recognizing unsafe conditions. Look for trouble (the unsafe condition), report it, and act to prevent it from happening again.

0 Comments

1/16/2015

Why Accidents Occur ~ ACP Safety Meeting

0 Comments

Read Now

Every accident is caused by a breakdown in one of four areas: the worker, the tools used, the materials used, or the methods used. Often there is a breakdown in at least two areas; one being the worker and the other coming from one of the three other areas. The accident’s cause usually results from an unsafe act or an unsafe condition. Today we will review some types of unsafe acts, the results from, and unsafe conditions.

Guide for Discussion

Types of Unsafe Acts:

Operating a tool or some equipment without authority.
Working at an unsafe speed.
Using unsafe or defective equipment or using equipment in an unsafe manner. Disconnecting safety devices.
Unsafe unloading, placing or mixing materials.
Assuming an unsafe position or posture.
Working on moving equipment.
Horseplay or distractions; taking shortcuts.
Failure to wear and use personal protective equipment.

Unsafe Acts Result From:

An improper attitude.
Lack of knowledge or skills.
Reduced mental or physical capacities.

Unsafe Conditions:

Improper guarding.
Defective equipment or materials.
Unsafe working procedures.
Improper housekeeping.
Poor lighting or ventilation.
Improper personal attire (Poor dress).
No or improper evaluation of site conditions.

Remember: With the issuance of WISHA citations, many of the routine hazards on job sites thirty years ago have been corrected. For example, machines are now significantly protected with guards. However, the bottom line is still the use by each worker of their common sense by avoiding contact with unsafe conditions and by avoiding unsafe acts.

0 Comments

1/9/2015

The Deadly Dozen ~ ACP Safety Meeting

0 Comments

Read Now

We all know that there must be a cause for an accident to happen. In order to avoid accidents, we must remove the cause. Every cause is a result of an unsafe act or unsafe condition. By recognizing the unsafe act or condition, we can effectively remove the exposure to them. The following “deadly dozen” are reminders to help you recognize unsafe acts or conditions.

Guide for Discussion

Unsafe Acts

Unauthorized use or operation of equipment.
Failure to secure or tie down materials to prevent unexpected movement.
Working or operating equipment too fast.
Failure to issue warnings or signals as required.
Using defective tools or equipment.
Removing guards.
Improperly using tools or equipment.
Standing in an unsafe place or assuming an improper posture (as in lifting).
Servicing moving equipment.
Riding equipment not designed for passengers.
Horseplay.
Failure to wear the proper personal protective equipment.

Unsafe Conditions

Lack of proper guards.
Lack of a proper warning system.
Fire and explosion hazards.
Poor housekeeping.
Unexpectedmovements.
Protruding objects such as nails, wire, or other metals.
Improper clearance or congestion at aisles or passageways.
Poor placement, storage or arrangement of materials.
Hazardous tools, equipment or materials.
Poor lighting, high noise levels.
Hazardous atmospheric conditions.
Improper personal attire.

Remember: Be able to recognize the conditions or acts we just discussed, you can effectively correct or avoid them and reduce your personal exposure to the general causes of accidents.

0 Comments

1/2/2015

Safety Meetings at ACP

0 Comments

Read Now

Joist safety is front and center on more projects as OSHA becomes more involved on sites. ACP has a safety meeting each week for its workers.

Whose Responsibility Is It?

After an accident has occurred, it is not unusual for those who were around the injured worker to feel guilty. This guilt is part of each person’s inner awareness that there was possibly something they could or should have done to prevent the accident. Sometimes the accident is the result of someone else’s mistakes. But who causes the accident is not as important as who is responsible for the accident, and what steps will be taken to correct future similar accidents from happening. The following is a partial list of responsibilities for safety on the job.

Guide for Discussion

Who’s Responsible? (Discussion Points)

Senior company management? Crew supervisor?
Each person on the job? Trained safety professionals? Company safety committee?

Some Responsibility Rules for Everyone

If it’s unsafe for you then it’s unsafe for the next person and the hazard should be corrected.

Safety doesn’t belong to any one construction craft; rather it is part of every construction craft to be responsible.

If safety doesn’t begin with you, it won’t begin at all.

An Individual’s Responsibility

To yourself
To your family
To your co-workers
To your company

Remember: Workers’ compensation checks won’t pay all the bills nor will they replace the self- esteem one has from being a good provider to their families. Without complete cooperation from everyone on the worksite, it just will not be as safe as it should be.

0 Comments

ACP News

Shop Safety ~ ACP Safety Meeting

Recognizing Unsafe Conditions ~ ACP Safety Meeting

Why Accidents Occur ~ ACP Safety Meeting

The Deadly Dozen ~ ACP Safety Meeting

Safety Meetings at ACP

Categories

Archives