Safety Tidbit 2.46 - Fireworks Safety Tips

Safety Tidbit 2.46 – Fireworks Safety Tips

Reference:       Safety Tips – National Council on Fireworks Safety

                       

Tis the season for cookouts, campfires, and fireworks. I figured I’d get into the mood.  According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), eleven people died in 2015 using fireworks and an estimated 11,900 people were taken to the hospital with fireworks-related injuries. About 67 percent of those injuries occurred in the 30 days before and after July Fourth celebrations, a sobering reminder as this year's holiday approaches

The National Council on Fireworks Safety has some very practical tips when handling or being around fireworks. Pay attention to the few at the very end.

• Obey all local laws regarding the use of fireworks.
• Know your fireworks; read the cautionary labels and performance descriptions before igniting. (I know – where’s the fun in that!!!)
• A responsible adult SHOULD supervise all firework activities.  Never give fireworks to children. (Dad may not be a very “responsible” adult)
• Alcohol and fireworks do not mix.  Save your alcohol for after the show. (Enough said!)
• Wear safety glasses when shooting fireworks.
• Light one firework at a time and then quickly move away.
• Use fireworks OUTDOORS in a clear area; away from buildings and vehicles.
• Never relight a “dud” firework.  Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
• Always have a bucket of water and charged water hose nearby. (A hose may help too!)
• Never carry fireworks in your POCKET or shoot them into METAL or GLASS containers.
• Do not experiment with homemade fireworks.

And most importantly…

• Don’t bring your pets to a fireworks display, even a small one.
• If fireworks are being used near your home, put your pet in a safe, interior room to avoid exposure to the sound.
• Make sure your pet has an identification tag, in case it runs off during a fireworks display.
• Never shoot fireworks of any kind (consumer fireworks, sparklers, fountains, etc.) near pets.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a burning safety or health question please let me know.

Safety Tidbit 2.45 - Portable Ladder Safety

Safety Tidbit 2.45 – Portable Ladder Safety

Reference:        OSHA’s Portable Ladder Safety Quick Card

                       

Last week I was at a construction job site and unfortunately witnessed an imminent danger hazard. As the superintendent and I walked the site, we saw in the distance a worker on a portable ladder using a pneumatic chisel removing mortar around bricks.  They were making access into the structure to put in temporary I-beams so they could brace the corner of the building while they rebuilt the foundation underneath. As we neared the worker, he looked a bit odd. He was pushing on the pneumatic chisel with both hands against the wall. His body was twisted to work to the side of the ladder as the ladder was facing perpendicular to the building. He also seemed to angle away from the building as if he was about to fall off the ladder. When I looked at the base of the portable ladder, the front leg closest to the building was off the ground approximately six inches. Furthermore, the concrete sidewalk that the ladder was on was at a grade to allow handicapped access and was not in the best of repair. 

Well, I think most all of you know that I don’t like ladders and the example above shows a few issues why I don’t like them.  OSHA has an informative Quick Card that you can use as a checklist. I have reproduced most of their items below:

o   Read and follow all labels/markings on the ladder.

o   Avoid electrical hazards! – Look for overhead power lines before handling a ladder. Avoid using a metal ladder near power lines or exposed energized electrical equipment.

o   Always inspect the ladder before using it. If the ladder is damaged, it must be removed from service and tagged until repaired or discarded.

o   Always maintain a 3-point (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) contact on the ladder when climbing. Keep your body near the middle of the step and always face the ladder while climbing.

o   Ladders must be free of any slippery material on the rungs, steps or feet.

o   Do not use a self-supporting ladder (e.g., step ladder) as a single ladder or in a partially closed position.

o   Use a ladder only on a stable and level surface, unless it has been secured (top or bottom) to prevent displacement.

o   Do not place a ladder on boxes, barrels or other unstable bases to obtain additional height.

o   A ladder placed in any location where it can be displaced by other work activities must be secured to prevent displacement, or a barricade must be erected to keep traffic away from the ladder.

o   Be sure that all locks on an extension ladder are properly engaged.

o   Do not exceed the maximum load rating of a ladder. Be aware of the ladder’s load rating and of the weight it is supporting, including the weight of any tools or equipment.

o    

I think everyone can see there were several problems with the situation. To further degrade the problem, this worker was the “competent person” for the subcontractor. Two other workers were standing around watching him precariously standing on the ladder. Lastly, there were both boom lifts and scaffolding readily available on the site.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a burning safety or health question please let me know.

Safety Tidbit 2.44 - Silica Exposure Assessment

Safety Tidbit 2.44 – Silica Exposure Assessment

Reference: OSHA’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica

The silica standard has not been rescinded (yet). Actually, I don’t think it will be. However, only time will tell.  I have been conducting some classes on how to complete the Exposure Control Plan required by new standard. Mostly, my talks have been to folks in the construction trades (e.g., masons, hardscapers, etc.) but next week, I have been asked to give the same basic presentation to ready-mix folks and others that will be governed by OSHA’s General Industry standards. Which begged the question: How does my presentation change?  Really, not too much.

OSHA’s 1926.1153 states, in paragraph (c)

“for each employee engaged in a task identified on Table 1, the employer shall fully and properly implement the engineering controls, work practices, and respiratory protection specified for the task on Table 1, unless the employer assesses and limits the exposure of the employee to respirable crystalline silica in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section.”

Paragraph (d)(2) states:

“The employer shall assess the exposure of each employee who is or may reasonably be expected to be exposed to respirable crystalline silica at or above the action …”

In the General Industry Standard, paragraph (a)(3) states:

“This section does not apply if the employer complies with 29CFR1926.1153 and (i) the task performed is indistinguishable from a construction task listed on Table 1 of paragraph (c) of 29CFR1926.1153.”

Meaning if a task, identified by a company that typically falls under the general industry standard, is the same as a task performed in construction and the employer follows OSHA’s requirements in Table 1 for that task, they are in compliance with the standard.  For instance, a pre-cast concrete manufacturer making drainage culverts to be installed during road repairs, must grind the forms using handheld grinders.  This sounds remarkable like item (xii) on Table 1, Handheld grinders for uses other than mortar removal. The company may opt to follow the requirements on Table 1. 

However, if the company performs the task differently than the table, say, they go inside the pre-cast culvert to grind, or their task is not among those listed in the table then they must follow the General Industry standard’s requirements of 1910.1153(d)(2):

“The employer shall assess the 8-hour TWA exposure for each employee on the basis of any combination of air monitoring data or objective data sufficient to accurately characterize employee exposures to respirable crystalline silica.”

Or, in other words, air monitoring must be performed.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a burning safety or health question please let me know.

Safety Tidbit 2.43 - Bicycline Safety Tips

Safety Tidbit 2.43 – Bicycling Safety Tips

Reference:        BicycleSafe.com

The League of American Bicyclists

                        Adventure Cycling Association

Ok, is there something in the cosmos that is making people act stupid??? I was finishing my bicycle ride yesterday and as I came down the road to turn left into my housing development, a driver at the stop sign at the corner of the street opposite my development was making a left out of their development. She's turning left and I'm turning left, she had a stop sign, I did not. I had my hand out as my turn signal but put it back on the handlebars as I needed both hands to hit the brakes as the driver pulled out so slowly I nearly had to come to a complete stop before I could turn. But wait, it gets better, the driver had the nerve to put her window down and yell at me for not having my turn signal on to let her know that I was turning left. Oh, but I did have my signal “on” however, my hands can’t do two things at once and brakes seemed to me to be more important. And yes, I was wearing a bright orange shirt with reflective lettering on it although this was at lunchtime. REALLY!!! I'm in the middle of the stupid road on a bicycle!!! Hello!! Where do you think I'm going?? And, besides, I had the right of way.  Not that that matters with the law of gross tonnage

Since it’s finally getting to be bicycling weather again, I thought maybe a few tips might be in order.

1. Avoid busy streets – I live in a suburb so not always possible.

2. Light up – Going to buy a daylight blinking light for front and rear.

3. Take the whole lane when appropriate – I was in the middle of the street.

4. Signal your Turns – I did but I can’t keep it “on” when I have to brake.

5. Re-think music players and mobile phones – I never ride with headphones or music playing.

6. Ride as if you were invisible – I think this is the only thing that has kept me alive this long!

My biggest investment this year will be a set of blinking LED lights for the front and back of my bicycle.  LED technology makes it quite easy for cyclist to be seen even on bright sunny days.  I have been riding my whole life. I believe it is the easiest way for just about anyone to exercise. Also, it’s a nice alternative to driving a car. Besides, it’s fairly inexpensive.  For about $1,000 from a bicycle shop you can get a very nice, properly fitted bicycle that will last for many years with general care and maintenance. I have had my bicycle for 11 years now and put between 1000-2000 miles each summer on it and it still is going strong.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a burning safety or health question please let me know.

Safety Tidbit 2.42 - Camping and Ticks

Safety Tidbit 2.42 – Camping and Ticks

Reference:        CDC Tickborne Diseases of the United States

            CDC Powassan Virus

SHAPE Magazine - Powassan Is a Tick-Borne Virus More Dangerous Than Lyme

Over Memorial Day, my wife and I went camping with friends. Unfortunately, one of our crew had a serious reaction to some poison ivy and paid a visit to the local emergency room facility. While there with the doctor he treated for Lyme’s Disease as our party member said about having noticed a tick earlier in the weekend.  The doctor said that Lyme’s Disease is being carried by other ticks and not just the deer ticks. I decided to do a little research.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there are 15 different diseases born by ticks in the United States. With the mild winter tick populations are growing. Interestingly, I found that there was a new disease making the scene this year, Powassan Virus.

The CDC reports, Powassan (POW) virus is transmitted to humans by infected ticks. Approximately 75 cases of POW virus disease were reported in the United States over the past 10 years. Most cases have occurred in the Northeast and Great Lakes region. Signs and symptoms of infection can include fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures, and memory loss. Long-term neurologic problems may occur. There is no specific treatment, but people with severe POW virus illnesses often need to be hospitalized to receive respiratory support, intravenous fluids, or medications to reduce swelling in the brain.

You can reduce your risk of being infected with POW virus by using tick repellents, wearing long sleeves and pants, avoiding bushy and wooded areas, and doing thorough tick checks after spending time outdoors.  Check your whole body, including the place ticks like best like—your scalp, your groin, and between your toes.

I would add here that treating your pet with flea and tick repellents is a great mechanism to reduce your dog from being affected. However, you need to be vigilant with checking your pets if they are outdoors as the ticks drop onto them and then the pet brings them into your tent or home. The tick may not be able to bite the dog or cat then goes looking for their next meal.

Hope this was helpful and thanks for reading my Safety Tidbits! Comments and questions are always welcome. ~ Bryan

P.S. If you have a burning safety or health question please let me know.