Safety Meeting

Given By_____________________

Topic #86

Date_________________

IT'S THE SUDDEN STOP THAT HURTS

Each year, falls result in many serious injuries, and approximately 20% of all falls are fatal. This means that for every five persons involved in a falling accident, one dies. Let's spend the next few minutes talking about where falls occur and what we can do to prevent them. HOUSEKEEPING Good footing is the best way to avoid falls and good housekeeping is the best way to ensure good footing. Scrap lumber; trash; wire; and slippery areas caused by water, grease, or oil can cause falls. LADDERS Taking ladders for granted has caused many falls. Many workers believe that they can use any ladder for any job. To be safe, however, select a ladder that suits the purpose. Be sure it's in good condition and that you place it securely. Keep both hands free for climbing and always face the ladder when going up or down. Don't carry tools with you. SCAFFOLDS A scaffold should be solidly constructed like a permanent structure, even if it will be used for only a short time. Be sure uprights are uniformly spaced, plumb, and set on a good foundation. Use mudsills. Use horizontal or diagonal bracing to give stability. Provide guardrails and toe boards to help prevent falls. Inspect planking before installation. It should be overlapped by a minimum of 12 inches or secured from movement. The planks should extend over the end supports by not less than 6 inches not more than 12 inches. Whenever you're on a single-point or a two-point suspended scaffold, wear your safety gear or equipment. Be sure it's tied to a secure independent life line. FLOOR AND WALL OPENINGS Depending on their size, cover floor openings or protect them with standard guard-rails and toe boards. Also, protect wall openings, except for doorways and stair-ways through which persons could fall. This protection should be substantial and secured to prevent displacement. STAIRWAYS Falls on stairways are caused by running, carrying objects that block your view failure to use handrails, or just not paying attention. Watch your step and concentrate on what you are doing. Remember, it's not the fall that hurts. It's the sudden stop.

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com

Safety Meeting
Given By_____________________

Topic #87

Date_________________

SPRAINS AND STRAINS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The days of macho behavior and contests to see who can do the most work or lift the heaviest load are hopefully gone! Companies that allow behavior like this to exist find themselves out of business because accidents and injuries-and worker's compensation insurance costs-skyrocket. The answer is in planning: In the dynamic construction industry, controlling exposures to sprains and strains is difficult at best. With this in mind, anyone who spends a good part of their work day moving materials should learn to work smarter, rather than harder! Manual material handling is common to many industries, especially construction. Many tasks that require handling sheet goods, such as plywood siding or sheet rock, require two people for installation. Experience working together as a team is the best way to assure you know what your partner is doing. When starting with a new partner, take time to discuss how you intend to lift, carry and secure your work. A single wrong move with a heavy sheet can transfer the full load to one of the workers, force an awkward position, and cause a sprain or strain. When working from scaffolding, take time to plan your moves. How will you get the material in place? Will you have to move it around the scaffolding manually? Do you need mechanical help such as a fork lift or a boom truck? Can you place material in several locations to minimize the need to lift and carry? All of these situations should be considered before starting a task. When loading or unloading materials or tools, avoid bending, twisting or carrying long distances. If it's possible, avoid placing materials at heights below knee level or above shoulder level. Never twist with a load!! This is one of the worst things that you can do to your back. If you combine bending and twisting, you are certain to injure yourself. Always allow space for at least two steps between a truck being off loaded and the final stacking site, which helps avoid twisting. Place a couple of pallets under a pallet you are stacking, which avoids bending below knee height. Shoveling: When using a shovel, alternate having your left hand and right hand forward. It may feel awkward at first, but allows muscles on both sides of your body to share the work. Keep in mind that muscles and posture control the shape of your spine. The shape of your spine controls wear and tear on your spinal disks, muscles and ligaments. Repetitive motion: Tasks that require repetitive hand or wrist motion should be examined closely. Steady use of a screw driver means constant twisting of the wrist. Battery operated screw guns are a good answer for this. Driving nails all day can cause pain in both your elbow and wrist. Wooden handles tend to transmit less vibration than steel and fiberglass hammer handles. Consider wearing a tennis elbow support, to limit the effect of vibration on tendons that attach to the elbow. When using vibrating tools, special gloves that "dampen" vibration can also be worn. Problem-solve and plan with others: The first step to avoiding discomfort, pain or injury is to discuss awkward work tasks with your supervisor. Also, share your concerns and possible remedies with co-workers at safety meetings. Remember, the best way to earn a living is to stay healthy. Your employer-and most of all, your family-are depending on YOU!

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com

Safety Meeting
Given By_____________________
SERIOUS INJURIES

Topic #88

Date_________________

At our safety meetings we stress accident prevention. And we try to follow through on the job. But accidents sometimes occur despite all of our efforts. HELPING A VICTIM MAY DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD We all are inclined to lend a helping hand when we see a fellow worker injured and suffering. We want to ease the pain and do what ever else we can to aid in the emergency. And this is to our credit. But in some cases, we can do more harm than good. Often it's better to let an injured person alone until professional or trained help arrives. TRAINED FIRST AIDERS OFTEN CLOSE AT HAND Many persons have taken Red Cross first- aid training courses, and one of them is usually close at hand. If so, follow that person's directions. Maybe some of you have taken a first-aid course. If so, let me know, so that we can call on you for assistance in case of emergency. REMEMBER THIS IMPORTANT RULE For those of you who have had no training in first aid, remember this rule: "Do not move an injured person nor try to get that person to stand." I recall a case in which a laborer suffered a crushed hip. Fellow workers helped him to stand and tried to make him walk. This resulted in intestinal damage, which killed him. In another case, a simple fracture turned into a compound fracture because witnesses persuaded the injured man to get to his feet. GET HELP A good rule to follow when there's an injury is that unless you know what to do, get help. This applies in all cases of serious falls, collisions, crushing injuries, and severe blows by heavy objects or vehicles. Always consider the possibility of injury, even when there's no outward evidence. Curb your natural tendency to try to get injured persons on their feet. Make the victim as comfortable as you can with the least possible movement. Then let that person alone until trained help arrives. Persuade the victim to stay down and not get up. IN CASE OF BLEEDING In case of bleeding you can help by doing something to stop the flow of blood. The best way to stop bleeding is to press a clean handkerchief or cloth tightly over the bleeding area. Pressure causes the flow of blood to slow down or stop and allows clotting to take place. In some instances of severe bleeding, or in those cases where the blood can't be controlled by pressure alone, a tourniquet may be necessary to control excessive blood loss adequately. An improperly used tourniquet, however, may cause permanent injury or lead to amputation. OSHA has published the Blood borne Pathogen Standard, which protects those who might be expected to render first aid. FIRST-AID COURSES AVAILABLE If any of you are interested in learning first aid, the Red Cross will be happy to have you attend its classes. You can find out where these classes are conducted by calling the local Red Cross office. First-aid courses also are provided by the U.S. Bureau of Mines.

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com

Safety Meeting
Given By_____________________

Topic #90

Date_________________

KIDS AND CONSTRUCTION DON'T MIX All of us want to be liked. There's no doubt about that. But it's sometimes difficult to be a good guy when it comes to protecting kids from the hazards of a construction site. DRAWS KIDS LIKE A MAGNET A construction site draws kids like a magnet. Most of them have played with toy trucks or dozers. And, suddenly, there in front of them is the real thing. Many kids are mechanically inclined. I heard of one case where a mechanic tried for hours to get a piece of heavy equipment started, with no success. Then that night a bunch of kids visited the site. They not only got the equipment started, but smashed it into another piece. Fortunately, no one was hurt. VANDALISM Another danger of kids hanging around is that some of them engage in vandalism. And often as they size up our operation, they're scheming about what they can do when no one's around. Like smashing windshields or pouring sand into gas tanks. BE FIRM BUT DIPLOMATIC So, when it comes to kids and construction sites, we sometimes may have to appear like the bad guy. Not only for our own protection, but for that of the kids as well. When dealing with kids, remember: if you give them an inch, they'll take a mile. So forget about saying: "Maybe" or "OK ,but be careful." Let your "no" mean "no." But don't go over- board. Don't be so rough with the kids that they'll come back and get even. No, construction sites aren't playgrounds. And the day may come when you'll have to point this out to local youngsters. Do it diplomatically, but firmly.

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com

Safety Meeting
Given By_____________________

Topic #91

Date_________________

THE ABC'S OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Just as there is a right tool for every job, there is a right extinguisher for every fire. The class of an extinguisher, identified on its nameplate, corresponds to the class or classes of fire the extinguisher controls. On most construction jobs, we are concerned with Class A, B and C fires. Consequently, the best extinguisher to have on a job is a multi-purpose Class ABC extinguisher, which contains a dry, powdered chemical under pressure. The following describes the classes of fire and the kind of extinguisher that can be used on each. CLASS A FIRES Wood, paper, trash, and other materials that have glowing embers when they burn. Extinguisher to Use: For Class A fires, use a Class A or Class ABC extinguisher. Always remember that a Class A extinguisher contains water and should be used only on a Class A fire. Used on gasoline, it can spread the fire; used on electrical fires, it can cause you to be electrocuted. CLASS B FIRES These are fires involving flammable liquids and gases, such things as gasoline, solvents, paint thinners, grease, LPG, and acetylene. Extinguisher to Use: Use Class B or Class ABC extinguishers. CLASS C FIRES These are fires in energized electrical equipment. Extinguisher to Use: Use a Class BC or Class ABC extinguisher. SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER 1. Use the fire extinguisher whose class corresponds to the class of the fire. 2. Never use a Class A extinguisher, which contains water or foam, on a liquid or electrical fire. 3. Know where extinguishers are located and how to use them. Follow the directions printed on the label. 4. Keep the area around the fire extinguisher clear for easy access. 5. Don't hide the extinguisher by hanging coats, rope, or other materials on it. 6. Take care of the extinguishers just as you do your tools. 7. Never remove tags from extinguishers. They indicate the last time the extinguisher was serviced and inspected. Nobody wants afire. But if one starts, know what extinguishers to use and how to use them.

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com