HOW-TO CONDUCT A WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING 1. Hold the meeting on the job, preferably where everyone can sit and relax. 2. Hold the meeting at the beginning of the shift, right after lunch, or after a break. 3. Supervisors do not always have to lead the meeting. Encourage other employees in your group to lead a meeting. Task an experienced employee or someone that just attended training with presenting a topic that week. 4. Encourage as much employee participation as possible, yet keep your meeting short. Ask questions about the topic to generate discussion and get employees involved. Weekly safety meetings have proved their worth by alerting employees to workplace hazards, and by preventing accidents, illnesses and on-the-job injuries. Disclaimer: The information and suggestions contained in these safety talks are believed to be reliable. However, the authors of the topics and the owners of this web site accept no legal responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of such information or suggestions contained within these topics. These guidelines do not super cede local, state, or federal regulations and must not be construed as a substitute for, or legal interpretation of, any OSHA regulations Ergonomics in Construction During 2007 overexertion caused more than 17 percent of construction’s workplace injuries and illnesses, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The definition of ergonomics is applying engineering and scientific c principles when designing a work environment that accommodates the employee in relation to the workplace, product, equipment, tools, workspace and the work’s organization. The objective of ergonomics is to fi t the task to the worker, rather than force the person to adapt to the work environment. The benefits of using proper ergonomics includes:  Fewer injuries and cumulative trauma disorders  Improved productivity  Better performance and quality. How do you reduce common workplace risk factors such as exertions, repetitive motions, awkward postures, and inadequate rest?  Cut down on carrying. To help minimize bending and reaching, deliver materials close to where you will use them.  Try to store materials at waist height.  If you can, raise your work to waist level for heavy work or to elbow height for lighter work. For example, pipefitters use pipe stands. To keep their work at waist height, masons use adjustable scaffolds.  Ensure ﬂoors and walkways are clear and dry. Slips and trips are also a big cause of back injuries.  Use the appropriate tool with the proper thickness, length and shape.  Take rest breaks. When you are tired, the chance of injury increases. Work Site Review: Hazards/Safety Suggestions Company Name: _________________________________________ Work Site Location: ______________________________________ Date: _________ Start Time: __________Finish Time: ___________ Foreman/Supervisor: _____________________________________ Employee Signatures: (continue on back of sheet if necessary) _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ (My signature attests and verifies my understanding of and agreement to comply with, all company safety policies and regulations, and that I have not suffered, experienced , or sustained any recent job-related injury or illness) Manager/Supervisor’s Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________ Disclaimer: The information and suggestions contained in these safety talks are believed to be reliable. However, the authors of the topics and the owners of this web site accept no legal responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of such information or suggestions contained within these topics. These guidelines do not super cede local, state, or federal regulations and must not be construed as a substitute for, or legal interpretation of, any OSHA regulations Green Construction The terms green building and sustainable building are finding more use in construction activities, as well as the news media and trade journals. The terms have come from associations focused on the best use of resources to construct and maintain buildings for the future. The intent is to create and preserve a healthy and safe environment for a facility and its occupants during and after construction, as well as throughout the building’s life. Green Construction goals are to:  Effectively use resources  Create a safe healthy environment for construction workers and building occupants  Promote energy efficiency  Lessen the impact on the local environment Here is a list of common practices that you can use at the construction site to promote green or sustainable principles:  Recycling — Green construction provides opportunities for extensive reuse or recycling of building demolition and construction materials. Contractors may reuse some materials on site, and send other materials to recycling centers  Energy-efficient equipment — Energy star equipment for home or commercial use consumes less energy than non -rated equipment. Successful buildings can use up to 35 percent less energy than standard construction  Low emission adhesives and coatings — After application, these items, also called low volatile organic compounds emitting materials, do not release unpleasant odors or noxious fumes. A recent study found that most construction workers perceived green construction sites to be safer than conventional construction. Work Site Review: Hazards/Safety Suggestions Company Name: _________________________________________ Work Site Location: ______________________________________ Date: _________ Start Time: __________Finish Time: ___________ Foreman/Supervisor: _____________________________________ Employee Signatures: (continue on back of sheet if necessary) _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ (My signature attests and verifies my understanding of and agreement to comply with, all company safety policies and regulations, and that I have not suffered, experienced , or sustained any recent job-related injury or illness) Manager/Supervisor’s Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________ Disclaimer: The information and suggestions contained in these safety talks are believed to be reliable. However, the authors of the topics and the owners of this web site accept no legal responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of such information or suggestions contained within these topics. These guidelines do not super cede local, state, or federal regulations and must not be construed as a substitute for, or legal interpretation of, any OSHA regulations Job Safety Analysis JSAs, which are also known as job hazards analyses, are a useful tool for any workplace. You can use JSAs to investigate accidents, for job training and to evaluate new equipment. JSAs are also great for identifying and minimizing hazards. They can also help bring employees back to work after an injury as part of a transitional work program. How to develop a JSA:  To develop a JSA, you must first determine and document each step in a job. Use operational documents to start.  Next, identify the hazards in each step of the job. Be sure to consider striking objects, falls, burns, exertion, electricity, chemical hazards and vehicles.  Finally, recommend a safe procedure for completing the task. The safe procedure can include engineering or administrative controls as well as personal protective equipment. Once you have developed JSAs, have safety personnel and/or upper management review the documents. En-sure each job step has a corresponding potential hazard and a safe procedure. Ensure the documents are accessible to all employees. Some companies post these documents in the work area or on a machine; some companies include them in operating manuals. Group Activity: Choose a job to focus on and have the group discuss the following items:  Steps of the job  Hazards associated with the job  Steps workers should take to avoid the hazards Work Site Review: Hazards/Safety Suggestions Company Name: _________________________________________ Work Site Location: ______________________________________ Date: _________ Start Time: __________Finish Time: ___________ Foreman/Supervisor: _____________________________________ Employee Signatures: (continue on back of sheet if necessary) _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ (My signature attests and verifies my understanding of and agreement to comply with, all company safety policies and regulations, and that I have not suffered, experienced , or sustained any recent job-related injury or illness) Manager/Supervisor’s Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________ Disclaimer: The information and suggestions contained in these safety talks are believed to be reliable. However, the authors of the topics and the owners of this web site accept no legal responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of such information or suggestions contained within these topics. These guidelines do not super cede local, state, or federal regulations and must not be construed as a substitute for, or legal interpretation of, any OSHA regulations Protecting Older Workers As people age, reaction time frequently decreases. Therefore, older workers may not react as quickly in a hazardous situation; this may include operating machinery, particularly if they are not familiar with the equipment. Here are a few helpful tips to protect older workers:  Encourage older workers to get regular vision exams to identify any problems and the ways to correct them.  Older workers need sufficient lighting. It’s best to have nearly uniform lighting throughout the workplace. Design gradual transition zones between areas of low and high lighting.  Place signage in places easily seen, and avoid distractions and cluttering.  Ensure equipment warning devices are loud, operational and recognizable. Older individuals can suffer from decreased balance due to aging, development of medical conditions or the effect of medications used to treat other conditions. The rate and extent of these changes vary from person to person. With aging, the physiological systems that play a key role in maintaining balance may become impaired (e.g., vision, muscle tone, inner ear and nervous system). We can expect gradual loss of hearing as we age. This loss may be imperceptible, but it does make it more challenging for older workers to discern specific sounds when they are in noisy rooms. Some older workers may have more profound hearing loss, which may place them at risk if they can’t hear warning devices in the workplace. Work Site Review: Hazards/Safety Suggestions Company Name: _________________________________________ Work Site Location: ______________________________________ Date: _________ Start Time: __________Finish Time: ___________ Foreman/Supervisor: _____________________________________ Employee Signatures: (continue on back of sheet if necessary) _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ (My signature attests and verifies my understanding of and agreement to comply with, all company safety policies and regulations, and that I have not suffered, experienced , or sustained any recent job-related injury or illness) Manager/Supervisor’s Signature: _________________________________________________________________________________ Disclaimer: The information and suggestions contained in these safety talks are believed to be reliable. However, the authors of the topics and the owners of this web site accept no legal responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency, or completeness of such information or suggestions contained within these topics. These guidelines do not super cede local, state, or federal regulations and must not be construed as a substitute for, or legal interpretation of, any OSHA regulations