Accident Ownership

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When companies say they are striving for 100% incident free sites… Is that even possible? I know from my own experience on sites, the general consensus is that it’s impossible. Many people have an “accidents just happened” attitude. But that’s just not true. Accidents happen for a reason. We need to start taking ownership of why they happen to prevent them in the future. They happen because of a whole slew of factors being overlooked.

Things like fatigue, complacency, wandering mind, lack of training and straight-up carelessness is what causes 100% of accidents/incidents. When it comes down to it, human error is always the culprit. I know some of you are thinking that not all incidents are because of humans. What about when a machine goes haywire? Okay, is it not our responsibility to do pre-work inspections? To repair damaged equipment or tag it out? Yes it is. So therefore we should be catching anything that could be a hazard. Even “freak accidents” have ways to be minimized. What about someone getting hit by lighting on site? Why is that worker not taking shelter during a lighting storm? The chance of getting hit by lighting while inside a building is one and million. We could do this all day. At the very root of every accident or incident is a worker who wasn’t paying attention, or was exhausted or didn’t have training, or just didn’t give a damn.

Making a personal goal to strive for a 100% accident or incident free work site doesn’t make you a company boot-licker, it makes you in control of your future. If we all did that and dropped the “accidents just happened” attitude, we would all be guaranteed a safe work environment.

Skid Steer Safety

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I know skid steers are considerably smaller than most equipment on site. Compared to heavy equipment like excavators, they look like toys. However these small, little machines can cause a whole lot of damage. Most injuries and deaths that occur with skid steers are caused by workers caught between the bucket and something else. Pinning incidents and other hazards can be avoided, here’s how.

Only operate a skid steer if you are qualified to do so, having a ticket isn’t enough. Make sure you are deemed competent. Always do your pre-work inspection every time you are about to operate the skid steer. Along with the pre-work inspections you should be doing a more in-depth analysis every so many hours that you run the skid steer. This will be in the operator’s manual. Check to make sure the last inspection was done and know when it’s needed again. Read the the manual. Put your seat belt on and start up the machine.

Never leave the skid steer unattended while it’s running. Always put the bucket down to the ground when parking it. Travel with your bucket low to the ground. Watch the weight of your load and counter balance.

If operating with other workers in the area, try and flag off your area or have a spotter to direct workers safely around the moving skid steer. Always make eye contact with workers wishing to cross in front of you. Stop immediately if visual contact is lost with your spotter. And of course no bucket rides and stay seated while driving.  Just because they look like toys compared to the much larger equipment on site, does not mean they they should be treated as such. These machines can cause serious injuries and death. So make sure not to toy around with your safety or that of someone else’s.

Backup Safety

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Some of the heavy equipment on sites can be impossible to backup without a spotter.  Or if you’re like me, a car is just as impossible. (I’m not a bad driver, just parking challenged). Whatever you’re driving you need to follow the right precautions while backing up to save property from being damaged and most importantly prevent injury or death.

Most sites nowadays have a spotter policy while backing up. Meaning any time you backup anything you must have a spotter. I know you may be thinking you don’t need a spotter to backup your company pickup truck, however pickup trucks lead to more injuries on work sites than any other vehicle.

I would recommend following these steps whether you have a spotter or not. Always do a walk around your vehicle before even getting in. Check to make sure your tail lights and back up alarm are in good working order. Also note any hazards. Flag off stationary equipment that could be missed while backing up. You can even use barricades to prevent anything from backing into said equipment. Of course always watch where you are going, whether over your shoulder or via backup camera. If possible drive through a parking spots, this will remove backing up from the equation. I highly recommend always using a spotter. If you are using a spotter make sure they are wearing high res vests to help maintain constant visual contact. Stop the vehicle if visual contact is lost.

These simple steps will make backing up a breeze. It only takes a couple extra minutes to do this, but it could save from days of paperwork or the alternative.

3 Points of Contact

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Whether you’re exiting an excavator, hiking up stairs or climbing to the top of the high line, maintaining 3 points of contact could save you from a nasty spill. Here are some rules to go by.

When exiting equipment or even a worksite pickup don’t jump out or slide down. Maintain contact by using the handles and steps provided. Take a quick look to see the hazards below such as ice or puddles and take appropriate precautions to avoid them. When using stairs, always use the railing. When using ladders, go slow to maintain contact. Have both your hand on the ladder before stepping out. This would be impossible to do while carrying tools, so make sure to use a tool hoist instead of carrying them. Be careful to stay inside the side rails, don’t lean out for any reason. Always check the condition of the ladder, whether fixed or not. Watch for hazards such as ice or mud that could make the climb slippery. Note that a fixed ladder should continue 3 feet past the landing. If not notify your foreman, they can call the right people to fix it. Fixed ladders will also have cages, these are the last line of defense and won’t stop you from falling so do not count on them.

I know maintaining 3 point contact slows things down a bit, but rushing is when accidents happen and hey, you get paid by the hour.. win, win!

Grinding Safety

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Oh man, I have seen it all when it comes to grinding. The no guard, no shield, no handle, one hand, reaching on a ladder worker… Yes, one worker was doing all of that in one shot. There was even a worker that told us how he uses bench saw blades on his grinder at home. He was all bandaged up a few days later. I feel like once workers get confident with their grinding skills, they forget how much damage they really do. Let’s go over some basics to refresh you.

Of course, always do a pre-work inspection, make sure discs have no chips or cracks and the grinder is in good working order. Wear all your PPE, glasses AND a face shield, ear plugs, gloves and a respirator. Make sure your hair is tucked  away and clothing’s not too baggy. No modifications to the grinder. Always have the guard in place and a handle on, no matter how tight your work area is. A good welder or fitter can get in tiny spots and still follow safety protocol… Just sayin. Have a good stance, use two hands and don’t overreach. You never know when you might get kick back and you need to be able to hold the grinder in place, otherwise it’s coming into your chest or face. Properly secure your work piece for this same reason. Use the right discs and accessories. Watch the ratting, some grinders have higher RPM’s than others and therefore take different discs. Only use a cutting disc for cutting. They will explode on an angle with any amount of pressure. It takes 2 seconds to change the disc, go back and forth between grinding and cutting rather than trying to use a cutting for grinding. Make sure to unplug the grinder before changing a disc or doing any repairs. Take note of where your sparks are going and make sure to stay away from ignition sources and other workers. Don’t leave a grinder running when you’re done. Always stall the disc until it’s at a standstill and unplug the cord.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve been using a grinder for 30 years or 30 days, you still need to follow the rules, they are there for a reason, and that’s your safety.

Electrocution

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It’s not just the electrician’s on site that have to worry about electrical shock, everyone needs to take precautions to make sure they don’t get electrocuted. There could be any number of electrical hazards on site, so make sure to follow these tips to keep your hair on your head.

Always do your pre-work inspections, check your cords, power bars and work area for any electrical hazards. Repair any damaged tools or tag them out of service. Take precautions for live circuits with everything. Always use LOTO (lock out, tag out) while working on anything electrical. Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), this is the plugin with the “test” button and “reset” button. They have added protection against electronic shock. Also never wear jewelry on the job, metal is the best conductor of electricity. Make sure to stay dry, change your gloves frequently if needed. Keep all tools and equipment dry. Always use a “C” class fire extinguisher on electrical fires. In the case of someone being electrocuted, always try and disconnect the circuit first or remove the victim with a non conductive object like a broom handle or dry rags. Call for emergency crew and start first aid.

The electrical hazards on site are way more dangerous than just sticking your finger in a socket (which is no fun either… Yeah I was “that kid”). They can cause serious damage or even death. Make sure you take the proper precautions.

Canada Day/ Joyeux Jour Du Canada

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Happy Canada Day to all 36,950,145 of our brothers and sisters. We have a lot to be proud of as Canadians. We may not be perfect but each and every one of us is blessed to live in this great country. So here’s to the war veterans, the law enforcement, the emergency crews, the doctors, the teachers, the newcomers and of course our trades people. This is for all the people that protect this amazing country and continue to build its future. We are the true north, strong and free!

Bad Habits

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We all have bad habits, nail biting, swearing perhaps chewing with an open mouth. These don’t seem too harmful but what about at work? Maybe never using a shield while grinding, or painting without a respirator or forgetting pre-work inspections? These habits won’t be quite as forgiving. Bad habits have been formed over long periods of time and won’t be changed overnight. It takes on average 66 days for a new habit to be automatic; so we better get started now.

First, pinpoint all your dangerous habits, write them down along with when and why you do them. Once you have your list, pick a “punishment” for when you slip up. This isn’t a real punishment like self lashing or something, I mean a swear jar or something similar. Every time you catch yourself without a shield while grinding, throw a dollar in a jar or you don’t get your sweets at break. This is totally up to you. Make some changes. If the grinding shield is on a hook far away, consider moving closer to the grinding area. This will help remind you to put it on. Write on your JHA every morning. This is exactly why you have them, to keep you alert and safe. Set reminders. Maybe you always have grinding after your second break? Set a reminder on your phone, telling yourself to put on your shield first thing. Add some positivity to your thought process. Don’t think “oh this awkward face shield always gets in the way”. Try thinking “wearing this shield will protect my face and eyes to go home in one piece”.

There are a million different ways to change your habits, do what works for you. Put the work in, it will lead to a safer and much happier you.

Dead Tired

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It doesn’t matter if you had a crazy night with friends or were up all night with a sick toddler, being fatigued can lead to serious problems at work. Being super sleepy can cloud your judgement and slow your reflexes, making you a danger to yourself and others. Here are a few things to try to keep you rested and alert.

Always try and get 8 hours of sleep a night.  Set a routine, this will help. If you’re having troubles getting to sleep, seek advice from your doctor. Adding regular exercise and a balanced diet can do wonders for your sleep. And of course stay away from caffeine.

I know that some late nights are impossible to avoid. If you are so fatigued that you shouldn’t be driving, I’d consider taking a sick day. Otherwise being dead tired could leave you just dead instead.

Extension Cord Safety

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The first thing that comes to mind when I think of extension cord safety is Clark Griswold from Christmas vacation. You know the Christmas light scene, where he has probably 3000 Watts running through a single 16 gauge cord with a power bar plugged into another power bar. As funny as that scene was, it’s a movie. In real life while working on site, that kind of negligence would be shocking to see. Here are some pointers to keep you safe.

Always use a cord rated for the job you’re doing, make sure the cord gauge of the extension cord is the same size or larger than what you’re plugging into it. Check the rating. Never jam a three prong plug into a two prong extension cord. Never remove the ground prong. Always inspect a cord before use, if there is any damage, replace the plug with a new one or tag out the whole cord if needed. Always remove by holding the plug, not the cord. Keep out of stairways and high traffic areas. Use drop covers or pull them overhead. Keep away from anything that can expose the wiring, such as welding and grinding.

No matter if you’re pulling cords to the high line to do some cutting or you’re decorating your house for Christmas, make sure you exercise safe extension cord use. The alternative could be jolting.