Tailgate Topic Review

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1 [PP 08/05/ /18/2018] Scaffold-Ladder Safety Important Scaffolding Safety Tips For Workers Every year in the United States there are thousands of scaffold-related injuries and roughly 40 scaffold-related deaths. Understanding how to work on scaffolds safely can be crucial step towards saving a life. Improper scaffolding practices are the #3 OSHA violation, with 5,423 citations given in Based on OSHA reports, 65% of workers in the construction industry, a whopping 2.3 million, operate on scaffolds frequently. Of these workers, 4,500 get injured every year and approximately 60 experience fatalities. The most shocking statistic of all though is this: 72 percent of these accidents occur as a result of deficient platforms and falling. Get properly trained before using a scaffold. Training must be done by a qualified person and includes identification of electrocution, fall and falling objects hazards and the procedures for dealing with those hazards. Training must also include the proper use of the scaffold, how to handle materials and the load capacities of the scaffold. Get retrained when additional hazards present themselves due to changes at the jobsite or if the type of scaffold, fall protection or falling objects protection changes. You can also be required to receive additional training if your boss feels that your initial training was not adequately retained. Before getting on a scaffold check to make sure that a competent person has inspected the scaffold before the work shift and that it is safe to use and in proper working order. Scaffolds can only be erected, dismantled, altered or moved under the direct supervision of a competent person by trained personnel. If you are ever unsure regarding the safety of a scaffold check with a supervisor before use. Always wear your hard hat when working on, under or around a scaffold. You should also get a good sturdy, non-skid pair of work boots and consider using tool lanyards when working on scaffolds. Be mindful of coworkers working above and below you at all times, as well as others working on the scaffold. If you witness improper use on or around a scaffold you should stop what you are doing and notify a supervisor. TSM Scaffold-Ladder Safety Review.docx Page 1 Created on 3/22/2018 8:51:00 PM

2 When personal fall arrest systems are required for the scaffold you will be working on, thoroughly inspect the equipment for damage and wear. Anchor the system to a safe point that won t allow you to free fall more than six feet before stopping. Below is a chart showing different types of scaffolds and the fall protection systems required by OSHA: Note: Scaffold types with more than one box checked can use either type of fall protection. Leave anything on the scaffold at the end of your shift. This includes any building materials or tools that you may have been using on the scaffold while you were working. These items could potentially be blown off the scaffold or cause tripping hazards for the next person using the scaffold. Overload the scaffold. Proper training includes being informed of the maximum intended load of the scaffold you are working on as well as its load-carrying capacities. In most instances, scaffolds should be capable of supporting at least four times its maximum intended load. Use boxes or ladders to increase your work height. If you can t reach an area you should request that your supervisor has the scaffold platform raised. Don t use stilts unless the guardrails on the scaffold have been extended to a height that is equal to the height of the stilts. Use the scaffold if it appears that it is damaged in any way, has been tampered with or if there are components missing such as planking, guardrails, toeboards, debris nets or protective canopies. Notify a supervisor immediately to get the scaffold in proper working order and inspected by a competent person. Never tamper with or attempt to repair a scaffold unless you have received training in scaffold erection. Walk on scaffold planking covered in ice, snow or mud. Worn wood planking can also be extremely slippery when wet. All snow, ice, mud and other debris such as wet leaves should be thoroughly removed before using the scaffold. You should also avoid using a scaffold during adverse weather such as heavy rain, sleet, ice snow or strong winds. Climb on any portion of the scaffold frame not intended for climbing. Always use a fixed ladder, internal access stairway or built-in ladder to access the working platform. There should always be a handhold above the scaffold platform. Never climb with any materials or tools in your hand, they should be hoisted up to the scaffold separately. TSM Scaffold-Ladder Safety Review.docx Page 2 Created on 3/22/2018 8:51:00 PM

3 Portable Ladder Safety Falls from portable ladders (step, straight, combination and extension) are one of the leading causes of occupational fatalities and injuries. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) took a closer look at workplace falls back in 2011 and discovered that 20% of injuries and 43% of fatal falls involved ladders. Among construction workers, that percentage skyrocketed to 81% of all injuries. Read and follow all labels/markings on the ladder. Avoid electrical hazards! Look for overhead power lines before handling a ladder. Avoid using a metal ladder near power lines or exposed energized electrical equipment. Always inspect the ladder prior to using it. If the ladder is damaged, it must be removed from service and tagged until repaired or discarded. Always maintain a 3-point (two hands and a foot, or two feet and a hand) contact on the ladder when climbing. Keep your body near the middle of the step and always face the ladder while climbing (see diagram). Only use ladders and appropriate accessories (ladder levelers, jacks or hooks) for their designed purposes. Ladders must be free of any slippery material on the rungs, steps or feet. Do not use a self-supporting ladder (e.g., step ladder) as a single ladder or in a partially closed position. Do not use the top step/rung of a ladder as a step/rung unless it was designed for that purpose. Use a ladder only on a stable and level surface, unless it has been secured (top or bottom) to prevent displacement. Do not place a ladder on boxes, barrels or other unstable bases to obtain additional height. Do not move or shift a ladder while a person or equipment is on the ladder. An extension or straight ladder used to access an elevated surface must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support (see diagram). Do not stand on the three top rungs of a straight, single or extension ladder. TSM Scaffold-Ladder Safety Review.docx Page 3 Created on 3/22/2018 8:51:00 PM

4 INJURY & ILLNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM The proper angle for setting up a ladder is to place its base a quarter of the working length of the ladder from the wall or other vertical surface (see diagram). A ladder placed in any location where it can be displaced by other work activities must be secured to prevent displacement or a barricade must be erected to keep traffic away from the ladder. Be sure that all locks on an extension ladder are properly engaged. Do not exceed the maximum load rating of a ladder. Be aware of the ladder s load rating and of the weight it is supporting, including the weight of any tools or equipment. The Step ladder is a self-supporting portable ladder that is nonadjustable in length, with flat steps and a hinged design for ease of storage. It is intended for use by one person. Stepladders range in size from 4 ft. to 20 ft. in length along the side rail. Stepladders shorter than 4 ft. are considered Step Stools. The highest standing level on a step ladder is slightly more than 2 ft. from the top of the ladder. The highest standing level is required to be marked on the specifications label on the side rail of the product. Therefore, when planning your job, the maximum work height is established by adding the user's height and reach to the highest standing level of the stepladder. TSM Scaffold-Ladder Safety Review.docx Page 4 Created on 3/22/2018 8:51:00 PM

5 TSM Scaffold-Ladder Safety Review.docx Page 5 Created on 3/22/2018 8:51:00 PM