Category: Safety Meetings

A power lawn mower can be dangerous and cause serious injuries. A rotary mower blade whirls at 2,000 or 4,000 revolutions per minute, or at 100 to 200 miles per hour. For safety reasons, it is important to know how to quickly disengage the clutch and stop the engine.

To operate a power lawn mower, follow these tips:

– Know and understand the controls of the equipment.
– Before mowing, identify objects and remove debris from lawn.
– Wear protective, close fitting clothing.
– Start mower from a firm stance with feet in a safe position.
– Take self-propelled mowers out of gear before starting.
– Keep both feet on the footrests of a riding mower.
– Keep all guards and safety shields in place.
– Never fill the gasoline tank on the mower if the engine is hot.
– Store gasoline in an approved, properly labeled container.
– Turn off the motor before dismounting or removing a foreign object
– Disconnect the spark or electric plug before repairing mower.
– Never use an electric mower on wet grass.
– Provide routine maintenance.
– No extra riders on self-propelled mowers

Be Aware of Mowing Hazards:

– A mower can tip over easily.
– Push the mower away from the body during a fall.
– Never leave a running mower unattended.
– Take rest periods as needed.
– Foreign objects can fly from the mower, so make sure the mowing area is clear of people and animals.

Proper mowing directions:

– When mowing on a slope with a riding mower, you should mow down the slope.
– When mowing on a slope with a push mower, you should mow across the slope.

Proper dress for mowing:

– Sturdy shoes.
– Long pants and long sleeve shirts.
– Safety glasses or goggles when mowing near solid objects.

Conclusion:

Be aware of your surroundings, know how to use the equipment properly, and walk the area BEFORE mowing to identify and remove debris and objects.

Questions:

1. Why walk the area first?
2. Sturdy shoes, long pants & long sleeved shirt, and safety glasses must be worn while mowing.  True or False?

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Near misses do not result in injuries.  However, not reporting a near miss means you could be paving the way for a serious injury to happen. You must report all near misses so they can be investigated and the hazard removed before someone does get hurt. For every incident that is reported, there are on average hundreds of near misses that have gone unreported.

Near misses are situations in which a worker has a narrow escape from getting hurt. The worker probably feels lucky about getting away uninjured. If we pay attention, these near misses can be lucky in another way: They provide a preview of an injury that could happen, so measures can be taken now to prevent it.

Here’s an example: A carpenter’s assistant picks up a power drill and gets a slight electric shock. He quickly drops the tool, suffering no injury. At this point, he has an important choice to make. If he just forgets the incident, the next person to pick up the tool may have damp hands or may be standing in a puddle of water. That person is bound to get a severe shock. However, if the near miss is reported, the tool will be removed from service, checked over and either repaired by qualified personnel or discarded. There will also be a chance to find out why this tool became defective. Was it poorly designed or manufactured? Has the insulation been allowed to get wet or is the cord frayed? How can problems be avoided in the future – perhaps by buying better tools, taking good care of them and inspecting them regularly?

Here’s another example: A process industry technician starts to turn on the wrong control, almost creating a hazardous mix of chemicals. He catches his error in time, and no harm is done. Again, at this point he has two choices. He can shrug it off, or he can talk to his supervisor about the near miss he just had. He may be able to keep another worker or even himself from making the same mistake and causing a chemical accident. An investigation may disclose a flaw in the design of the controls, making such errors likely or it may show the operators are distracted by fatigue, noise or other factors.

Being aware of near misses off the job can also help prevent accidents. If you have a close call driving in traffic, take the time to review what happened, and why and how you could avoid such problems in the future. If you slip while you are walking, check to see why it happened. A review of the incident might prevent broken bones from a fall in the future.

Conclusion:

If you have a near miss, consider yourself lucky on two counts: You didn’t get hurt, and you have the chance to prevent a future accident for yourself or someone else by immediately reporting it.

Use the Incident Report Form to report ALL Near Misses, no matter how small they are.

Questions:

1.  You must report all near misses, no matter how minor, True or False?
2.  Reporting near misses can prevent what?

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HEAT ILLNESS CAN BE DEADLY. Every year, thousands of workers become sick from exposure to heat, and some even die. Heat illnesses and deaths are preventable. Employers are responsible for providing workplaces that are safe from excessive heat.

Work-related eye injuries, especially those resulting in the loss of sight, cause greater suffering to the injured worker than most other injuries.  Eyes are easily protected from injury by wearing eye protection — yet, the leading cause of eye injury is failure to wear eye protection when it is needed.

A common excuse for not wearing eye protection is that it is uncomfortable, but losing the sight of an eye is a lot more uncomfortable.  Some take the chance of not wearing eye protection because an activity involving eye hazards may last only a few moments and their exposure to injury will be short term.  The odds get shorter with each such gamble until in one unguarded moment a serious eye injury occurs.

No matter where you work, flying or windborne particles, dust, fumes, vapors, hazardous liquids, or harmful rays are apt to expose you to a potential eye injury.  With proper planning, you can protect against these hazards by using appropriate eyewear and the hazards they can guard against are listed below.

Safety Glasses

Regular safety glasses are very similar in appearance to normal prescription glasses, but the safety glasses are designed to protect you from flying particles.  Their lenses are impact-resistant and their frames are far stronger than regular eyeglasses.  Safety glasses can be made with prescription lenses and equipped with side shields or tinted to offer additional protection.

Safety Goggles

Goggles are impact-resistant and are available with tinted lenses.  Goggles provide a secure shield around the entire eye area to protect against hazards coming from any direction.  Goggles may have regular or indirect ventilation.  Indirect ventilation may be required if a splash hazard exists.

Shields and Helmets

Face shields and helmets are not in themselves protective eyewear.  Rather, they are used in conjunction with eye protectors.  Full-face shields are often used when a chemical, heat, or glare exposure exists.  Face shields & eye protection MUST be worn when making casing cuts.  Helmets are used when welding or working with molten materials.

Guard against eye injury by wearing appropriate protective eyewear.  Remember that prescription glasses and sunglasses are not acceptable types of eye protection and should not be substituted for protective eyewear.  Goggles however, can be worn over prescription glasses.

Conclusion:

ALWAYS WEAR APPROPRIATE & APPROVED EYE & FACE PROTECTION.

Questions:

1. What is the leading cause of eye injury?
2. Face shields are the same as safety glasses?  True or False.

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Responsibility

Every person is the architect of their own fortune, good or bad, depends on the individuals acceptance of personal responsibility.

At a young age, we are taught to assume responsibilities. (“Look before you cross the street . . . playing with matches is dangerous . . . be home before dark . . .”) Even today, as adults, we still learn and decide whether to accept certain obligations. Young or old, we make individual choices.

When responsibilities are shunned or rejected, someone must cope with the results. Police officers, judges, juvenile officers, and social workers respond to most of these rejections in our society. In safety, doctors, nurses, and funeral directors deal with the consequences of rejected responsibilities.

There are laws, both federal and state, designed to spell out responsibilities for safety in the workplace, but actual performance of these obligations still belongs to you.

By accepting and practicing safety responsibility, you insure your future both at home and on-the-job. You do the same for your fellow worker as well, because socially and morally you are responsible for preventing accidents to others as well.

If you see an unsafe act, do something about it – point it out so others are aware and can avoid future mistakes.

Point out to other employees when safety isn’t being practiced. (IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE SOMEDAY!) After all, it’s their responsibility to prevent an incident to you as well.

Use good work habits—, don’t be impulsive, and remember that hurry up can hurt!

Develop the attitude that “If I do something wrong, I’m going to get hurt!” Then do the job the right way.

If you are a supervisor – help new employees learn that safety is the rule, not the exception. Teach them proper safety responsibility before you turn them loose.

Practice leaving personal problems and emotional stress away from the job.

Remember that incidents don’t happen – they are caused.

Correct little mistakes before they grow into permanent bad habits.

While attempts may be made to cloud or reject the responsibility for safety, when all is said and done, safety responsibility is up to you. You are the architect of your own fortune.

“Practice safety— – don’t learn it through Incidental Experience.”

Questions:

1. Incidents don’t happen, ___________________?
2. Is safety the rule or the exception?

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Fueling Operations & Static Electricity

The discharge of static electricity while dispensing fuel is a serious hazard that can potentially result in a catastrophic fire or explosion. To help you understand the need for bonding and grounding of fuel dispensing equipment, the following information is offered. It can help you identify conditions and situations that are hazardous and provide you with knowledge to make decisions that you can (literally) live with.

Much of the research on bonding requirements involves dispensing fuel from Service Stations. All piping, tanks, valves and dispensing equipment must be bonded continuously so that all non-current carrying metal parts have the same potential to ground. This is especially important at the dispensing hose and nozzle because fuel passing through a hose creates static electricity. The risk of static electricity discharge is greatest when the nozzle is being removed from the tank being filled.

All dispensing equipment including pumps, hoses and nozzles must be Underwriters Laboratories (UL) listed for the intended usage. This UL listing ensures that the hose and nozzle are designed to provide a continuous bond from equipment to the tank being filled, which allows static electricity to flow to ground. When the hose and nozzle are not bonded to equipment, static electricity dissipates slowly. Under these conditions, when the nozzle is removed, a spark is likely to occur.

To avoid static electricity discharge, all equipment must be bonded. If UL listed equipment is not used, it is necessary to attach a bonding wire from piping to both the nozzle and the tank being filled.

Static electricity is “an accumulation of electric charge on an insulated body.” Don’t set it free to disperse and create havoc in the presence of flammable and combustible fuels.

Questions:

1. All pumps, hoses, and nozzles must have what listing?
2. Static electricity is ___________________________?

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As the temperatures start rising, there are three unwanted guests that you do not want to tangle with, namely bees, snakes & scorpions.

Prevention:

• If possible, avoid areas where they may be hiding, such as under rocks and logs, and if you have to be there watch where you place your feet or hands.
• Do not play with or provoke them as this is when most serious bites or stings occur – generally they will try to leave the area & only bite when surprised or provoked.
• When walking in an area known to have bees, snakes, scorpions, etc… you should wear long pants and boots if possible. Tap ahead of you with a walking stick, or walk heavily – the vibrations caused by this gives them a fair chance of knowing you are coming, which as we mentioned above they will try to avoid you.
• Wear gloves at minimum when moving items
• Flip items up first with a stick to make sure nothing nasty is waiting for you or use a rake instead of your hands when cleaning up mulch or leaves around the property – i.e. don’t put your hands into or where you can’t see first

Around the shop, housing, or on location:

• Look in glasses or containers BEFORE you drink from them.
• Remove any trash, logs, boards, stones, bricks and other objects / junk that would make a good hiding place.
• Keep the grass closely mowed.
• Store garbage cans in a frame that allows them to rest above ground level and gives you enough room to see under them.
• Just like mice, bees, snakes and scorpions can fit into the smallest of holes, so make sure you caulk any small cracks, holes, make sure torn screens are replaced / repaired, and your weather-stripping is in good condition.
• Snakes & scorpions follow their food source, so do not tempt mice, insects, or other unwanted food sources of theirs into or around your work or sleeping area. Keep it clean, don’t leave food out over night (this includes pet food).

In case you are bitten or stung:

For bee stings,  wash the sting site with soap and water. Placing hydrocortisone cream on the sting can help relieve redness, itching, and swelling. If it’s been more than 10 years since your last tetanus booster, get a booster within the next few days.

For snakebites, the most important steps are to first get away from the snake, stay calm, keep it immobilized below the heart, and call 911.  Using a cold compress is no longer valid for snake bites as the evidence shows it makes it worse.

As for scorpions, most people just experience a quick stinging & really do not have a clue what caused it & blame it on a bee that hurts like hell. In most cases, the normal items used for bee stings work well with scorpions like applying Benadryl cream, taking a Tylenol, and even applying a cold compress.  Just like a snakebite, try to stay calm, do not try sucking on it, and keep still with the affected area below your heart. If you start experiencing dizziness, muscle spasms, it starts getting harder to drink or breathe, call 911.

For more information, visit OSHA’s website here.

Questions:

1. When you go to move an item, what should you be wearing?
2. What is the most important thing to do in case of a snakebite?

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Stay Alert – Avoid Slips, Trips, and Falls

Slips and falls occur every day. The extent of injuries and their recurrence can be minimized through proper safety knowledge and attitudes. Practice safety–don’t learn it through experience. There are various ways to suffer slips and falls while working. You can slip and lose your balance, you can trip over objects left in your walkway, or you can simply fall from an elevated position above the ground.  Most industrial accidents involve a fall.

Slips

Slips can be caused by wet surfaces, spills, or weather hazards like ice. Slips are more likely to occur when you hurry or run, or don’t pay attention to where you’re walking.

To avoid slips:

• Be on the lookout for foreign substances on the floors.
• Watch for deposits of water, food, grease, oil, sawdust, soap, or debris. Even small quantities are enough to make you fall.
• When entering a building from the outdoors or from debris areas, clean your footwear thoroughly. Rainy weather requires that you clean off the soles of your shoes.
• Don’t go too fast, walk safely, and avoid changing directions too sharply.

Trips

Trips occur whenever your foot hits an object and you are moving with enough momentum to be thrown off balance. Trash, unused materials, any object left in the aisles or other areas designed for pedestrian traffic invites falls. Extension cords, tools, carts, and other items should be removed or properly barricaded off. Report any equipment or supplies that are left in walkways. Keep passageways clear of debris. Walk where you’re supposed to walk. Short cuts through machine areas invite accidents. Concentrate on where you are going — horseplay and inattention leaves you vulnerable to unsafe conditions.

Falls

The worst falls are from elevated positions like ladders and scaffolding. They result in serious injuries and death. Learn and practice ladder safety. Hold on to handrails when using stairs or ramps. They are there to protect you should a fall occur.

When climbing:

• Use a ladder of proper length that is in good condition.
• Keep it placed on a firm surface.
• Do not climb a ladder placed on machinery, crates, stock or boxes.
• Keep the ladder’s base 1 foot away from the wall for every 4 feet of height.
• Don’t over-reach.
• Always have control of your balance when working from a ladder.
• Never climb a ladder with your hands full, and always carry tools in proper carrying devices.

Questions:

1. The worst falls occur from elevated positions such as _______?
2. Most industrial accidents involve what?

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the latest communicable disease outbreak with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified this illness as a pandemic because of its worldwide spread with no pre-existing immunity. While it may be a novel illness, workplace hygiene best practices remain the same.

What is a Coronavirus?

The term coronavirus describes a broad category of viruses that affect both people and animals. The name is based on the crown-like spikes on the virus’s surface. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these types of viruses were identified in the mid-1960s and are a common cause of colds and upper respiratory infections. Note: Antibiotics have no effect on viruses. Now that we have vaccines available, there is no reason not to take the vaccine and protect your family and your fellow workers.

 

• COVID-19 is a strain of coronavirus. Evidence suggests it began with animal-to-person transmission then shifted to person-to-person spread.
• Symptomatic people are the most frequent source of COVID-19 spread (as is true for the flu and colds).
• The incubation period — the time frame between exposure and having symptoms — ranges from 2 to 14 days for COVID-19.
• COVID-19 data to date suggests that 80% of infections are mild or asymptomatic, 15% are severe, requiring oxygen, and 5% are critical, requiring ventilation.
• The percentage of severe and critical infections are higher for COVID-19 than for influenza.
• There is currently are vaccines for COVID-19.
• People who have already had a coronavirus infection, including COVID-19, may get it again.

Symptoms: COVID-19

• Fever (100.4+ F)
• Cough
• Shortness of Breath
• Phlegm Production
• Fatique
• Sore Throat
• Headache
• Muscle or Joint Pain
• Chills
• Nausea
• Nasal Congestion

How Viruses Spread

Person to Person Contact

• Being in close contact with someone who is sick
• Coming in contact with droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Contaminated Surfaces

• With COVID-19 it may be possible to contract the virus by touching a surface or object that has a live virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

Poor Hygiene

• Not washing your hands long enough or often enough
• Not covering your own coughs or sneezes

Take Precautions to Protect Yourself

The CDC recommends taking the following steps to reduce your risk of contracting viruses, including COVID-19:

• Wash your hands OFTEN with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your own nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick, (staying 6 feet away or more is recommended).
• Avoid touching your face, nose, eyes, etc.
• If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
• Clean and disinfect your home and workplace to remove germs. Wipe down frequently touched surfaces, including tables, doorknobs, light switches, handles, toilets, faucets, sinks and cell phones.
• Avoid crowds and keep your distance from others, especially in poorly ventilated spaces.
• Get the vaccine as soon as possible.

Personal Risk Factors

Aspects of people’s personal health may increase their risk for more severe instances of COVID-19. People with a higher level of risk include:

• Older adults over 65. The highest risk is for ages 80+.
• People who have serious chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, compromised immune systems, etc.

Conclusions

COVID-19 is a serious virus, and we must do everything we can to stop the spread of it. Taking personal precautions is your best line of defense, and will drastically reduce the transmission and contraction of COVID-19

Questions

1. What is the incubation period for COVID-19?
2. There is a vaccine available for COVID-19, True or False?
3. List a precaution to protect yourself?

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The term complacency has several definitions; perhaps the one most suitable (in the context of safety) is as follows, “a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like“. Ironically, this feeling can develop from a perception that you live and work in a safe environment. An environment of few, if any, workplace incidents and when an incident does occur, it is often of a minor nature.

The message here is, never let your guard down. We maintain our safety by doing just that, maintaining it.

The ways we maintain our safety:

• We maintain a safe workplace by following established protocols and procedures.
• We have daily onsite safety meetings to discuss changes and potential hazards that develop from day to day on our worksite location.
• We wear the appropriate PPE for the task at hand.
• We complete and review a JSA before starting a task.
• We take a “Five Second Reset” to stop and think about the safety side of the task we’re about to start.
• We manage our “Zone of Control” on the worksite. Hazards identified, eliminated or controlled. Maintaining housekeeping and organization. Other workers and/or mobile equipment coming into your work area.
• We report any and all perceived or potential hazards on the worksite.
• We report all near misses. When reported, we are able to collect information, identify trends, correct current problems, and prevent future incidents and injuries from happening.
• We coach, mentor and watch out for each other throughout the day.

A level of safety in the workplace where incidents are indeed a rare occurrence, does not guarantee future success, however it is an indication of a strong safety culture. It’s up to all of us to never let our guard down. Continuous safety maintenance is the backbone of a strong safety culture and a truly safe workplace.

Conclusion:

Never, ever let your guard down!

Questions:

1. Why should we report near misses?
2. What should you do before starting a task?

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