Working in the Wind

/in , , /by

When we think of hazards due to high winds, we think of cranes and lifts. They are obviously more affected by high winds and shut down at certain speeds. But what about the rest of site? There are still hazards for everyone else on site when it come to those gusty days.

Most hazards are from working at heights. In extreme winds, tools and debris can easily be blown from heights. Make sure to have everything secured tightly. Try using tool lanyards and only bring what you need. Never leave tools and equipment unattended. When you come down, so do your tools. If you’re working in a hoarding (ugh welding on crazy windy days… every welders dream😬) cut tiny slits up high on the hoarding to let the wind go through, otherwise you will end up losing the whole thing.  I would suggest using a chin strap or lanyard on your hard hat… A windy day is not the day you want your lid taking off. Just because you are diligent about securing tools, doesn’t mean everyone else is. If your lid blows off, you are vulnerable to being struck by blowing debris. This is also the time to be over cautious about eye protection. Even dirt being blown around can cause serious problems if it gets into your eye. If you need to throw some goggles over your safety glasses, do so. Stay down wind from any loads being moved and from any fumes. Watch out for things laying around.  Slips, trips and falls are very common during wind storms. You may trip on items blown around by the wind; or in extreme cases, the wind may push you over. Believe it or not, you can get injured just by trying to open or close a vehicle door in the wind. So try and avoid it and park the vehicle so the wind is coming on the other side.

Working in the wind is the worst… especially for us welders. In extreme cases, most sites will halt work till it calms down. However; if you have to work through it, take extra precautions, secure and tie down everything, stay out of the line of fire, work slowly and carefully. Maybe try clicking your heels together 3 times like Dorothy. 🤷

Treating Cuts and Scrapes

/in , , /by

Lots of times when a trades person gets a minor cut or scrape they throw electrical tape over it and keep working. I’m not sure if this is because they are worried about getting into trouble, if they are trying to act tough or they are just that hard of a worker that they don’t want to slow down. No matter what the reason is… It’s not a good one. Some of the tiniest cuts and scrapes can lead to much larger injuries later on, if not treated. I had a co-worker that walked into a pile of metal on the ground. It ripped though his coveralls and cut his leg. It seemed like a very insignificant cut. The worker wiped away his blood and carried on. I can’t remember how long after, but he ended up getting a blood infection and had a lengthy stint in the hospital. Think of how dirty our work sites are! The amount of germs kicking around! Every cut or scrap needs to be treated right away, by cleaning it and covering it. Better safe than sorry.

Anti Safety

/in , , /by

I know so many people still roll their eyes when they see the white hats approaching… And it’s common thought that safety people have no idea how to do your job but they still tell you how to do it. Here’s the thing though, they don’t need to know how to weld, fit or pull cable, to know if you’re doing it safely….because they may not know your trade but they know safety. If you’re an electrician you wouldn’t be giving a welder tips… but you definitely know your stuff when it comes to electrical, right? Same with safety officers, they aren’t trying to tell you how to do your job… They just want you to do it safely. In all my time in the field, I have never had a safety worker tell me how to run a bead. So, I’m not sure where this misconception came from. I’m just throwing this out there… But if you trust that you know your stuff, you should trust that your safety crew knows theirs. So, I know you all love your cracks at safety and your safety memes and I’m all for a good laugh, but please do not buy into any anti safety rhetoric. Your life actually depends on it.

News No One Ever Wants to Hear.

/in , , /by

Over the holidays we heard some heartbreaking news. Sadly in Nisku a horrific explosion took place, taking the life of one welder and injuring two other workers. An investigation is still under way. Sadly no matter what the investigation brings to light, it won’t bring this welder back to his family. Our deepest condolences go out to the families affected by this tragic event. Please, everyone be safe out there.

New Year New Me

/in , , /by

Alright truth be told, for the most part I’m horrible at New year’s resolutions. Maybe it’s because I usually only make it a few days without treats🤷 and then I break. A treat free life is not something I truly believe in. But I do believe this is a great time to reflect and try to be better and safer at work… That is something I can definitely get behind (especially because I can still have treats at break). Seriously, all jokes and treats aside… This is a great time to mentally go over any near misses, close calls or scares you had last year. Pick these incidences apart, what could you have done differently, what did you learn and what will you do next time? Take some time to ensure this year is even safer than last… so you’re still around to indulge in treats.

Back to Work

/in , , /by

The dreaded day back to work is finally here for all of us. Most of us are a few pounds heavier, ready for bankruptcy and definitely feeling the back to work blues. So how do we focus and safely get back into the swing of things? Here are a few things I try to do.

Try to arrive at work a bit early, get caught up with co-workers before your shift starts. After your morning safety meeting, take a walk around your work area. Do a thorough check of where things are, if they have been moved, if they’re still safe. Take note of the locations for the first aid kits, eye washing stations, emergency off switches and other important areas. I know you already know, but trust me, it’s a great idea to give yourself a good refresher. Go over all hazard or warning signs in your work area, again it’s great for you to visually see them. Do a very detailed JHA/FLRA. Get co-workers involved, make sure you’re all on the same page. Take micro breaks during the day to check that you’re focused on the task at hand. Ease yourself back into work… This doesn’t mean slacking, it means working at a slightly slower speed till you can safely kick up the pace. If you show up guns blazing the first day back, an injury is sure to follow.

Everyone hates the first few days or even weeks back to work after the holidays. But we have to work off that holiday weight and debt somehow. Just be sure to stay focused and stay safe, the alternative could be an extended holiday… And not the fun kind.

Drinking and Driving

/in , , /by

The holidays are definitely the best part of the year. It’s socially acceptable to over indulge in almost everything. The food, the gifts, the drinks and the parties, it truly is a wonderful life. However, if you are partaking in a few glasses of holiday cheer, be sure you have a safe ride home. It’s hard to believe this still needs to be said in 2018. There is absolutely no excuse to drive if you are impaired. You can call a friend or family member, call a taxi or Uber or use the many services available during the holiday season such as Keys Please. If you know you’ll be drinking, plan ahead and leave your vehicle at home and try and plan a designated driver. If you accidentally have one too many (no judgement… we’ve all been there) wait for a cab or Uber. If you think you may be tempted to drive while you wait, give your keys to a friend. No matter what safe way you use to get home, it’s the right way. Otherwise you could be ending your night in jail or worse. Fatalities involving alcohol jump up around 30% this time of year. Don’t be a part of this statistic. Make sure you find a safe way home to continue celebrating the holidays… all those cookies aren’t going to eat themselves. Have fun and be safe. 🍾💃🍷🕺🥂🎄

Excavation

/in , , /by

Unsafe trenching and excavation have caused a huge amount of injuries and deaths over the years. These incidents happen incredibly fast. Can you imagine one second working away, and the next you are buried alive? That is terrifying on every level. Thankfully, excavation injuries and deaths are also very preventable. Here are some things to go over before you even begin.

Be familiar with the laws and legislation in your area. Contact the proper overseeing officials in your area to be sure. Have an emergency plan in place, have all emergency contacts readily available. Know what services are buried and where they are. Also know where the overhead lines are and what the safe distance is from them or how to have them de-energized. Know what kind of soil you are working with, there could be many kinds in the area you are about to dig up and you need to know them all. Be aware of close by buildings or other work sites that could affect the trench. Before any workers enter the trench, it needs to be tested for oxygen levels and hazardous gases. These tests need to continue while work is being done.  Ensure necessary shoring is in place. The proper means need to be taken to prevent a worker from falling into the trench and an above ground spotter is required. And or course a readily available exit for each worker.

Please keep in mind this is just a list of key points. There is so much more that goes into excavation. It’s a lot of permits, planning, safety tickets, PPE and safety red tape, all for a very good reason. If you’re going to be involved in trenching and excavation please go to our website and take one of the trenching, excavation and shoring courses we offer.

All I Want for Christmas

/in , , /by

(Please read the following with the voice over from a infomercial) Have that hard to buy for person? Maybe pulled the most impossible name for the work secret Santa? What says “I’m wishing you a merry and safe Christmas” more than giving PPE for a gift. The list is endless, gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, ear plugs and respirators. But wait… there’s more! This is the gift that keeps on giving! Your friend or loved one can count on you to be safe in the New year! Okay, the voice over can stop now. All jokes aside, depending on the company or site your friends or family work for, PPE may not be provided. Many workers are responsible to bring their own personal protective equipment. This can lead to them running out of something or making due with what they have, which can lead to injuries. So in all, actuality it’s not a horrible idea to put a few pairs of gloves or ear plugs under the tree this year for that worker you want to see come home safely every day.

Shortcuts

/in , , /by

We all take shortcuts. Maybe it’s not putting on our seat belt when we are just driving to the wash cart, or not tying off when you’re quickly taking the EWP back up to grab something, or walking through a red tape area because it’s faster. The thing is; shortcuts, both at work and at home, only seem like shortcuts for a while. Eventually, your luck will run out and you’ll get injured or cause somebody else to be. Most of the time, you’re only saving a second or two. I mean how long does it take to click on your seat belt, or gear up and tie off on your lift? ….or walk around a red zone? Think about the alternative… an injury could slow you down for months, or even years, or even be potentially fatal. Are those 5 seconds worth it? If you find yourself taking shortcuts, you need to break that habit. Even if you’re just cutting the corner and walking on your neighbors grass instead of the sidewalk, break the shortcut habit. Make a mental note to do things the correct way. I promise, for the most part you won’t even notice the little bit of extra time it takes. Sometimes the safe way will take a bit longer… and that’s okay, you get paid by the hour right?