Chemicals on the Job

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Depending on the trade you work in, you could come into contact with some pretty hazardous chemicals, we’re not just talking dish soap here (which can actually be hazardous in some situations). The chemicals used on sites can be anything from corrosives to cutting fluids. In order to protect yourself, you need to follow these steps.

Know where the MSDS are kept. It should be readily available for all employees. Reading the label and the MSDS will tell you everything you need to know, including: the proper PPE, the first aid to be administered, the safe handling and disposal of the chemical in use. If there is no label or its illegible, do not use it and report it to a supervisor. If a chemical is kept in a secondary container, be sure to label it clearly. Use the required PPE. Regular safety glasses or gloves may not offer the right protection. Always inspect your PPE before use but just in case something fails, make note of eyewash stations and safety showers beforehand.

These chemicals can cause damage by contacting your skin, breathing in, or ingesting. So make sure you follow the MSDS and steer clear of these chemicals.

 

The Right Gloves for the Job

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You would never wear rubber gloves to grind or cotton gloves to work with chemicals would you? Of course not. But sometimes we quickly move from one task to the next without paying attention to our digits. Here is a reminder of what gloves are to be paired with what job.

Leather gloves should be used for handling metal, sharp objects or when using heat. Most commonly used for welding. Cut resistant gloves are great if you’re cleaning out a lathe. Shock dampening and anti vibration gloves are your best options if your working with pneumatic tools. Chemical resistant gloves are offered in various types of coatings to give you the most protection. Rubber gloves may also be an option when working with some chemicals and when worn under other gloves they offer great insulation for electricity. You also have your most common construction site gloves, mostly cotton with leather fingertips. These will protect you against minor cuts, scrapes and most day to day tasks.

This is just the beginning of the types of gloves offered. Every trade and every task has specific gloves. No matter what the job, there’s a glove for that! Be sure to use it.

Fire Extinguisher Maintenance

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Let’s talk Fire Extinguisher Maintenance. On site you can have all the fire safety training in the world but if your extinguisher has not been maintained… What’s the point? Yet, some workers may neglect the monthly, annually or any inspections. Fire extinguishers need to be maintained just like anything else on site. A matter of fact it’s the law in Canada. Here’s some good rules of thumb to go by when a fire extinguisher is needed in your work area.

Even a brand new fire extinguisher must be inspected before it goes onto site for use. These inspections continue…you will need to do an inspection every 30 days. Check the tag to make sure it’s up to date and signed off by a certified technician, make sure the tamper seal is intact, the pin is in place and there are no signs of damage such as corrosion. A trained professional will do an inspection every 12 months along with hydrostatic testing. Depending on the type of extinguisher the hydrostatic testing could be at the 12 year mark. If you’re using the most common extinguisher for work sites (ABC dry chemical) it will need to be recharged every 6 years.

Let your supervisor know if you have an out of date extinguisher. Always have extinguishers available in work areas and do your part to keep them in good working order. Keeping on top of your maintenance and inspections will give you peace of mind that you’re extinguisher will work if ever needed.

When to Report an Incident or Near Miss

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When do you report an incident or near miss? Well the long and short of it is… Immediately. No matter if you were involved or just witnessed the event, you need to report it right away. The only thing you should do before reporting is help or get help if anyone was injured. Make sure to keep the work area where the incident happened the same as you found it.

Accidents don’t “just happen”! So, we need to use these events to understand how to better protect ourselves in the future.

Spills and Leaks

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In order to reduce our footprint, most oil sites will be returned to their natural state once the oil collection is complete. To do this, we need to be careful not to contaminate the environment we are working in. Even a small spill can have a lasting effect on the wildlife and vegetation. So kicking dirt on top of spill and walking away just won’t do. Here are a few things you can do.

Most sites use drip trays for any type of vehicle or equipment. This is a large plastic tray you can put under your truck, EWP, welder or anything else that has the potential to leak fluids. Make sure to use them. Check the fluids in your vehicle and equipment regularly to prevent a leak. Always check that equipment and vehicles have a spill kit close by. Note the inspection date on the kits, and make sure they are up to date. Now if a spill or leak does occur you need to act quickly. Every site has different protocol, make sure you know it. Call the appropriate people. If you don’t know who that is, tell your foreman, they will. If you don’t know the source of the leak… Find it and stop it. You cannot contain a leak if it keeps coming. Make sure you are wearing the proper PPE for the spill at hand. If the spill is flammable, clear all ignition sources. Once safe, begin containing. Your spill kit will tell you which absorbents to use depending on the chemical that has spilled. Most sites will have a spill crew that will come and take over, but if not, make sure to properly dispose of your absorbents that have been soiled with hazardous materials.

Never try and cover up a spill, the damage caused could be irreversible. Not to mention the fines that can come along with it. It’s not just worrying about the environment (which is kind of a big deal), it’s your safety as well. Make sure to do your part!

Burn Prevention

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Even the tiniest of burns are incredibly painful. Could you imagine having a large portion of your body covered in 3rd degree burns? Take extra care to follow the rules to keep your skin in the game (or on your body) and out of hot messes.

Burns fall into 3 categories, thermal, chemical and electrical. The first line of defense for all three, is to remove the hazards. In a perfect world right? But unfortunately, it’s not usually possible, so we need to remedy all hot situations. If working on equipment with a current, always LOTO. Try to put barricades in place to steer workers away from the hot zone, flag it off if needed. Make sure to have a first aid kit close by. Depending on what you’re working with, you may also need an eyewash station. Do your pre work inspections, make sure cords and tools are in safe working order. Go over the hazards on your JHA and with your crew, even if you face burn hazards every day like a welder. And of course, always use your PPE. This is your very last line of defense.

Always take extra precautions when working with hot material, chemicals and electricity. By not doing so, you just might get burnt. Literally, you will end up burnt. Play it safe.

Refusing Unsafe Work

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I remember being asked to take an EWP to the top of a two storey building and hop out and do a quick weld. Just a couple of catches, 1- you don’t “hop out” of a EWP without a permit (it’s not an easy permit to get either). 2- the anchor bars were missing and I was being asked to clip onto the railing of the EWP (this lift was a relic and probably had not had and inspection or maintenance since dinosaurs roamed the Earth). While a supervisor was explaining this task, I simply said NO and it was my right to do so. I would like to think that workers are no longer put in these situations but unfortunately they are. Not all unsafe conditions are as negligent as this, sometimes something has just been overlooked. Either case you have the right to refuse unsafe work. You have the right to do this without the fear of any punishment, loss of time or loss of wages. Now this being said, please be aware that saying no to a task means that there is imminent danger to yourself or others. Not just a task you don’t want to do. You need to first inform your supervisor of the hazard. If the problem is not readily fixable there will generally be an investigation to fix the problem. If you are still unwilling to do the task, a member of OHS will get involved to rectify the situation. The worker may be given a different job to do while this is going on. This is not a punishment, it’s to keep you working and not lose hours.

If you are being asked to break safety protocol or do something that is unusually hazardous, it is not only your right to refuse it but you also owe it to yourself and your family not to take risks with your life or someone else’s just to please your boss or coworkers. Stand your ground and be safe.

First Aid Kits

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Just like anything else on site, a first aid kit needs maintenance too. This insures the items are fully stocked even after supplies are used. How horrible would it be if you were standing there bleeding and all the bandages were missing? While working on some sites you are actually in the middle of nowhere and the first aid kit could be your lifeline, so make sure to follow these quick tips to be ready for anything thrown your way.

First off, everyone should know where the first aid kit is stored which should be in a place readily available. In the box of your foreman’s pick-up will not due. It should be stored in a weatherproof/waterproof container.  They are to be inspected on a regular basis. Usually a first aider will be assigned this task. When inspecting, check that all items are labeled, fully stocked and have not expired. Whenever using the kit, make sure to replace any items you have removed from the kit. There should be a checklist to help you restock.

Hopefully, you only ever need an antacid (because well… too much camp food) but in an emergency, having a fully equipped first aid kit could just save your life.

 

Bear Safety

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Bear attacks rarely happen but when they do, they can be fatal. An incredibly tragic bear mauling happened a few years ago, just outside of Fort McMurray. At the time I was working at a site not too far from where the tragedy happened and we were flooded with bear safety. Unfortunately sometimes as time goes on, people become complacent but it’s important that we never forget the danger and never let our guard down. We need to know what to do in the unlikely event of a bear encounter so maybe another fatality can be avoided.

First off, try and avoid any encounter at all. If working in a heavily wooded area, by a water source or food source, make noise. Lots of it, sing, yell, clap, do whatever it takes to let any bears know you are there. If you see a bear, don’t go near it. Make sure you’re not blocking its path to leave or come between mama and her cubs. At this point you no longer want to make loud noises, calmly talk to the bear and move slowly away. Do not make eye contact with the bear, they think this is a sign of aggression but do keep the bear in your sights. I know saying ” stay calm” and actually doing it in the situation are two different things but it could be the difference between an encounter and an attack. Do not make sudden movements and definitely do not try and run. In the case of an attack, play dead. Lay in the fetal position or on your stomach with hand and arm wrapped around the back of your neck. Do not move and stay put until the bear is out of sight. However, if the bear is predatory, meaning it has been stalking you and attacks you out of the blue, you need to deter it by any means necessary. Yelling, punching, bear spray whatever it takes.

Another site I worked at, we had a lengthy bus ride to site from camp every day. We would see bears weekly if not daily at times. They are amazing to see when you’re safely passing by in a large bus but not if you’re in close proximity to them. Please take all provisions necessary to protect yourself. Carry bear spray, be alert and make noise. Keep your bear sightings from the safety of buses and other vehicles.

Be sure to check out our Bear Safety Awareness course on our website.

Horseplay

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I know you may think some pranks are harmless such as the old switch the polarity on the welder or get the green as grass worker to catch the welding fumes with a garbage bag or mess with someone’s PPE. Even though no one is intended to get injured, it’s still a very real possibility. Now when it comes to more physical pranks such as tripping, pushing or hitting, the outcome is inevitable… Someone will get hurt.

If you see such horseplay taking place please ask the participants to stop or report it. I know you’re thinking you don’t want to “rat” or “tell” on your coworkers, but the truth is you could be saving them from an injury or even death. Make sure not to encourage this behaviour, no laughing or egging on. If you’re engaging in horseplay and someone asks you to stop, listen. They aren’t being a poor sport or boring, they have your best interest in mind. Every company on site will have their own horseplay policy. These policies are in place to protect you, not to make your day mundane. Your safety is no game.