A 17-year-old male laborer died, and a co-worker was injured after a wall in the trench they were working in collapsed. The victim was part of a crew installing sewer pipes at an industrial park development (Figure 1).

Sewer Installation Project (Trench pictured
is approximately 200 feet long.)

The crew consisted of five men including the victim and a self-employed excavator operator. The day before the incident, the excavator operator removed the trench shield (Figure 2), so he could pull out old pipes. Once this was done the crew quit work for the day.

Figure 2. Shield (Shield was removed from the trench
with an excavator and placed 20 yards from the trench.)

 When work resumed at approximately 7:30 a.m. the next morning, the excavator operator removed the broken pipe. He did not replace the trench shield before he lowered new sections of pipe into the trench. He then waited nearby with the hydraulic excavator running since his next task, after the line was repaired and properly aligned, would have been to lower a cement manhole into place.

The victim and a co-worker (pipe setter) went into the unprotected trench (11 feet deep x 8 feet wide) to set the two new sections of pipe.

After they had set the pipe, a co-worker, working above them at ground level, handed them a grade pole. While they were placing the grade pole inside the end of the pipe to allow them to check the grade of the sewer line, a section of the unprotected trench wall 30 feet long by 11 feet high and several feet thick caved in (see Figure 3). A portion of this fallen section struck the victim and his co-worker, burying the victim up to his mid-chest and his co-worker up to his knees (see Figure 4).

Figure 3. Cave-In Area (Looking South, cave-in area
is approximately 30 feet long and 11 to 13 feet deep.)

Figure 4. Incident Scene (The victim and his co-worker
were buried near the west end of the trench.)

Within 22 minutes of calling 911 and before protective systems had been placed in the trench by fire fighters, co-workers freed both workers. The injured workers were treated by paramedics and transported via ambulance to a local hospital.

The injured co-worker was admitted in serious condition and subsequently recovered. The victim underwent emergency surgery, experienced a cardiac arrest, and died at 2:03 p.m., approximately 5 hours following the incident. The Medical Examiner listed the cause of death as abdominal trauma.

Final Word

This is a tragic example of a life cut short because safety procedures weren’t followed.

• Employers must know and comply with labor laws. The victim was 17.
  • In the U.S., employers are prohibited from employing persons less than 18 years of age for excavation work, including working in or backfilling trenches 4 feet deep or greater at any point. In Canada, many provinces prohibit such work being done by those 16 and younger.
  • As a young worker, the victim may not have known or understood the gravity of the situation. If he did, he likely didn’t speak up because of his age and lack of experience.
• The excavation had been properly protected by a heavy-duty trench shield during the work leading up to the event. But for some reason, the excavator operator and the foreman, who was also likely the competent person on site, carried on work without putting the shield back in the trench.
  • When work conditions change and necessitate the temporary removal of the protective system in use, employers must ensure that all workers are removed from the trench. Only when an appropriate protective system is again placed in the trench should workers be allowed to reenter the trench.
• All workers should be trained on hazard recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions.
  • Young workers should receive training on prohibited work tasks and settings (activities deemed to be especially dangerous for youths by the employer and/or child labor regulations), as well as hazards and safe work practices that apply to work they are permitted to perform.

Trenching and excavation work is some of the most dangerous work there is. No worker, regardless of their age, should be working in an unprotected excavation.

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/face/In-house/full200003.html

What’s at Stake?

Close to 400,000 healthcare workers a year sustain an injury by used hypodermic needles and other sharp instruments such as a scalpel blade and suture needles.

Such injuries are of concern because they can expose you to foreign, infectious materials. You’re also at risk for injury when handling waste, surgical drapes, or bedding containing improperly discarded needles and sharps.

While there is an increasing number of safer devices, it is still important you know how to use and dispose of them correctly, otherwise they still pose a risk to staff and patients.

What’s the Danger?

Sustaining a needlestick or sharps injury can be painful or cause a wound with the potential for localized infection, scarring, and time off work.

Exposure to bodily fluids can also lead to the healthcare worker developing illnesses such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV/AIDS.

Finally, a needlestick or sharps injury requires blood tests, which can cause stress and anxiety while you wait for the results. If the tests are positive, treatment is required. Depending on the illness, treatment could last several weeks or months, or in some cases be life-long.

How to Protect Yourself

4 easy ways to keep yourself safe around sharps

1. Be trained

• Know how to use specific sharp instruments correctly.
• Know how to safely discard or prepare sharp for reuse, if appropriate.
• Recognize safer needle devices and use according to instructions.

2. Discard correctly and walk away

• Never recap, bend, break or remove needles or other sharps after use.
• Discard in a sharps bin.
  • Have the bin close to where you are using the sharp.
  • Make sure the bin is not overfull.
  • Do not put your fingers into the bin.
  • Do not push or force items into the sharps bin.

3. Be needle free

• Avoid using needles where safe and effective alternatives are available, including:
  • Needleless connectors for IV delivery systems.
  • Sliding needle shields attached to disposable syringes and vacuum tube holders.

1. • • Needles or sharps that automatically retract into the device.
     • Self-blunting needles; and
     • Hinged or sliding shields attached to phlebotomy needles, winged-steel needles, and blood gas needles.

4. Report injury

• Complete necessary documentation.
• Get details and blood samples from patient.
• Give your own samples promptly.
• Attend follow-up sessions.

Final Word

Needlestick and sharps injuries are all too common in healthcare settings. They are a cause of pain and anxiety, though thankfully rarely serious complications. Care needs to be taken when working with sharps, including safe disposal to keep yourself, your colleagues and patients safe.

What’s at Stake?

Consider the following incident…

Recently, a researcher left a lit Bunsen burner inside a BSC, closed the sash and walked away. The type of biological safety cabinet she was using recirculates about 70% of the air with 30% of the air going out of the exhaust. When the sash is closed there is no bypass to allow fresh air into the cabinet. Thus, no exhaust was leaving the cabinet. Heat within the BSC built up quickly. The situation was discovered only after the flame had burned for a few minutes. The BSC was hot to the touch on the outside.  Fortunately, the hazard was caught, and appropriate measures taken, otherwise a fire could have engulfed the lab.

What’s the Danger?

A biosafety cabinet (BSC) is simply an enclosed, ventilated laboratory workspace for safely working with materials contaminated with (or potentially contaminated with) pathogens requiring a defined biosafety level.  Because of this, any dangers associated with a BSC come from the equipment and supplies within the cabinet at the time. In general, hazards include:

• Fire
• Puncture wounds
• Pathological contamination
• Chemical inhalation

How to Protect Yourself

Before using the BSC

• Prepare a written checklist of materials necessary for a particular activity and place only necessary materials in the BSC before beginning work.
• Turn off any overhead room germicidal ultraviolet light (UV) and any BSC UV lights.
• Confirm that the BSC is currently certified for use and confirm that the BSC is operating properly prior to beginning work by checking airflow gauges.
• Adjust the stool height so that armpits are level with the bottom of the view screen or sash.

During use of the BSC

• In addition to the following considerations, always use appropriate PPE when working in BSCs.

Airflow considerations

• Do not use equipment or store supplies inside the BSC that may disrupt the protective BSC airflow pattern.
• Move arms in and out of the cabinet slowly, perpendicular to the face opening, to limit disruption of the air curtain.
• Manipulation of materials inside the cabinet should be delayed for 1 minute after placing hands/arms inside the cabinet to allow the air to stabilize and to “air sweep” arms.
• Do not rest arms on front grille (unless the BSC is specifically equipped with features that permit this action) because doing so allows room air to flow directly into the work area rather than being drawn through the front grille. Instead, work with both arms raised slightly.
• Fire/Flame considerations:
  • Open flames should be avoided because they create turbulence that disrupts the pattern of air supplied to the work surface.
  • All flames must be turned off before disinfectants are used.
• Pathological considerations:
  • Do not work with open containers of infectious or hazardous materials in front of large equipment.
  • Use the aseptic techniques to reduce splatter and aerosol generation – opened bottles or tubes should not be held in a vertical position.
  • Immediately following the use of infectious agents in the BSC, decontaminate surfaces and the BSC contents. Do not allow any potential contamination on the interior surfaces to remain until the end of the work shift as this will reduce the efficiency of decontamination procedures.

After use of BSC

• Before removing any supplies/equipment, surface decontaminate all items that will be brought out of the BSC.
• After removal of these items, the interior walls and the interior surface of the window should be wiped with 70 percent ethanol.
• At the end of the workday, surface decontaminate the BSC with 70 percent ethanol or diluted bleach.

Final Word

Properly maintained biosafety cabinets, when used in conjunction with good microbiological techniques, provide an effective containment system for safe manipulation of moderate- and high-risk infectious agents. BSCs protect laboratory workers and the immediate lab environment from infectious aerosols generated within the cabinet.

One cubic yard of soil can weigh as much as a car. The pressure on a victim’s chest can make it impossible for him or her to breathe, even if his or her head is above the level of the collapsed soil.

• A worker in Westmount, Quebec was buried in a trench next to a house when the wood retaining wall collapsed on him, as did soil and paving stone.
• Colleagues got him out in 90 seconds, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards. https://www.ohscanada.com/features/going-underground-2/

Paul Villeneuve was 20, he was buried up to his waist in soil after heavy machinery nearby caused the trench in which he was working to collapse. Fortunately, he got out alive after his brothers, who were working on the job, dug him out with shovels.

• “When you’re buried up to your chest, you’re dead. There’s too much pressure,” Villeneuve says. https://www.ohscanada.com/features/going-underground-2/

These are just two of the hundreds of examples of excavation deaths and near deaths that occur every year in Canada and the United States.

Here are 12 tips to keep your crews safe during excavation work.

1. No Exceptions – No Excuses

• Use protective systems for every excavation deeper than 1.2 meters (4 feet).
  • Sloping
  • Shoring
  • Trench boxes

2. Inspect Protective Systems

• Hydraulic shoring – check hose and cylinder leaks, bent bases, cracks, other damage.
• Time shoring – check pre-install and remove damaged lumber; post-install for signs of crushing.
• Trench boxes – inspect for structural damage and cracks in welds.

3. Safe Egress – Safe Access

• Ladders must be placed inside protected area – never more than 7.5 meters/25 feet away.
• Ladders must be tied off at top and extend over the shoring or box by at least 1 meter/3 feet.

4. Soil Type

• Competent person must assess soil type.
• Soil conditions change quickly and must be checked regularly – especially after weather change.

5. Vibration

• Machine vibration, even 500 feet away, can impact trench integrity.
• Type 4/Type C soils – especially sensitive.

6. Lone Worker

• Don’t allow a lone worker in a trench– even with protective system.
• Chances of rescue are already low – chance of rescue when alone are zero.

7. STF

• Keep only necessary equipment and materials in excavation.
• Set up barricades and warnings to keep workers and the public away from trench and excavation edges.

8. Falling Objects

• Enforce safe distance requirements and safe parking procedures for inclines and edges (or prohibiting this practice where possible).
• Instruct workers to report materials or equipment and rocks or other debris that are too close to excavation.

9. Overhead and Underground Hazards

• Locate underground utilities prior to start of work – hand dig when possible.
• Follow and enforce distance requirements for equipment near overhead power lines.
• Powerline voltage ratings of:
  • 750 to 150,000 volts – equipment must be minimum distance of 3 meters (10 feet)
  • 150,000 to 250,000 volts – equipment must have minimum safe distance of 4.5 meters (15 feet)
  • 250,000 volts – minimum safe distance of 6 meters (20 feet)

10. PPE and More

• Require standard PPE – hard hats, safety glasses, safety boots, rubber boots when wet/muddy.
• Extra protection when hazards require – safety harness and lifeline.

11. Have a Plan

• Preplan excavation work – determine hazards, equipment needed, training required, permits needed.
• An emergency plan is a must. The odds of rescuing a victim of a collapse are slim and time is very short.
  • Weight of soil collapse is several thousand pounds –only takes about 18 kg/40 pounds of pressure on the chest to prevent someone from breathing.
  • The weight of the soil pushes the air out of the lungs and with each attempt to inhale the soil tightens around the victim – making it impossible to push air out and take air in.
  • The weight of collapse can also cause massive internal injuries.

12. Training

• Train all workers involved in excavations activities.
• Train them on their rights to refuse work they feel or know is dangerous.
• Train supervisors on excavation procedures and educate them on the consequences of not following safety procedures; putting lives in jeopardy; retaliating against workers who refuse to work in dangerous conditions.

There are some obvious hazards in this picture that make it a great tool for training and learning. Share this image with your crew and see how many hazards they spot. Then discuss why they are hazardous, how these hazards can be corrected, and what they would do if they were asked to work in this excavation. Here are six violations found in this scene along with explanations for each.

1. There are no protective systems in place – no shoring, sloping, or use of a trench box.a. Unless trench walls are solid rock, no one should enter a trench deeper than 1.2 meters (4 feet) if it is not properly sloped, shored, or protected by a trench box.
2. The spoil pile should be at least 1 meter (CA) or 2 feet (U.S.) from the edge of the excavation, and farther away for deeper trenches.a. Equipment should also be kept as far from the excavation’s edge as possible.
   b. The weight of the spoil and the weight of equipment puts pressure on the walls of the excavation and can lead to collapse.
3. Vibration from vehicle traffic, heavy equipment, compactions, pile driving, and blasting can also affect trench stability and lead to collapse.
4. Water has been allowed to accumulate in the trench.a. Rain, melting snow, thawing earth, and overflow from adjacent streams, storm drains, and sewers all produce changes in soil conditions. In fact, water from any source can reduce soil cohesion.
   b. The amount of moisture in the soil has a great effect on soil strength. Once a trench is dug, the sides of the open excavation are exposed to the air. Moisture content of the soil begins to change almost immediately, and the strength of the walls may be affected. The longer an excavation is open to the air, the greater the risk of a cave-in.
5. Workers in the trench don’t appear to be wearing head protection or any other form of PPE.a. Whenever there is the potential for falling debris or objects, hard hats must be worn.
   b. Safety glasses are recommended to protect eyes from flying debris.
6. A ladder has been placed in the trench but the lone worker on the far end of the excavation may have trouble reaching it quickly. Whether protected by sloping, boxes, or shoring, trenches must be provided with ladders so that workers can enter and exit safely. Ladders must be:a. Placed within the area protected by the shoring or trench box.
   b. Securely tied off at the top.
   c. Extend above the shoring or box by at least 1 meter (3 feet).
   d. Be inspected regularly for damage.
   e. Placed as close as possible to the area where personnel are working and never more than 7.5 meters (25 feet) away.

In addition to the hazards listed, what other hazards can you identify and what are other excavation hazards in general that should be evaluated and addressed before crews begin work?

https://i.redd.it/q7bjs7ixi8611.jpg

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Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

Housekeeping staff working in healthcare play an important role in keeping the environment safe for patients, staff, and visitors. They may not provide direct clinical care to patients, but they work around patients, and in areas where clinical care has been given.

In this environment there are often body fluids or other potentially infectious and hazardous materials such as chemicals and discarded sharps or needles.

The housekeeping staff are at risk of becoming ill or injured in the healthcare setting without proper care, they may also increase the risk of patients and colleagues developing infections, illnesses or injuries.

What’s the Danger?

Housekeeping staff are at risk of handling items contaminated with body fluids or infectious matter, such as crockery, clothing, clinical equipment, sanitaryware and waste bins.

They are often near patients who may be coughing, sneezing, or worse, and infectious matter can be inadvertently inhaled, ingested or spread onto skin or clothing.

As part of their vital role, housekeepers use various cleaning products that may cause sensitivity or chemical burns. The main form of defense for housekeepers is to wear gloves but this may also lead to latex allergy.

Cleaning floors increases the risk of housekeepers, and other people, slipping on the floor. In order to get to awkward places, housekeepers may be tempted to overreach or stand on furniture to get to these out of reach places, increasing their risk of falling.

How to Protect Yourself

6 easy ways to keep yourself safe as a housekeeper

1. Know what you are doing

• Have your schedule for the day.
• Check any particular policies for the particular area you are working.
• Check if there are any specific risks.

2. Stay on your feet

• If you are cleaning a floor stay off the wet areas:
  • put hazard boards out to warn others;
  • leave them there until floor completely dry;
  • do one side of a corridor first, so people have a dry side to walk on, where possible;
  • advise people not to rush; and
  • advise people to use handrail if they have to walk on wet stairs.
• Take note of any wet floor signs as you go about your work.
• Avoid excessive water splashing when filling buckets, water jugs etc.
• Clear up any spills immediately and put ‘Wet Floor’ signs out.

3. Be aware of chemicals

• Know what you are using.
  • Check label on container.
• Use only the correct cleaning agent for the correct process.
• Check it is in date.
  • Fresh solutions of diluted household bleach need to be made up every 24 hours.
• Never mix different detergents either in containers or on cloth.
• Wear gloves if indicated or if you have broken skin or skin sensitivity.
  • Use non-latex gloves if you are allergic or sensitive to latex.
• Get first aid immediately if:
  • a chemical splashes in or near your eyes;
  • you start having breathing difficulties;
  • you feel nauseous or vomit while using a detergent.

4. Don’t touch

• Wear appropriate PPE.
• Use tools such as mops, dustpan and brush, and tongs, to avoid touching contaminated equipment, materials, or broken glass, even if wearing gloves.
• Equipment and work surfaces need cleaning after contamination.
• The location of contamination and the substance should be clearly labeled to keep others away.
• Grossly contaminated equipment and surfaces need cleaning with soapy water to remove obvious contaminants before disinfecting.
• Protective coverings such as plastic or aluminum foil should be discarded as soon as the equipment is finished with.
• Reusable containers should be checked and cleaned on a schedule.
  • Decontaminate immediately if contamination occurs.
• Broken glass should never be picked up with bare hands.
  • There is a risk of cutting yourself and the glass could be contaminated.

5. Use the laundry

• All laundry items should be bagged and moved to the laundry from the point of use.
• Laundry should not be rinsed in the care setting.
• Laundry should not be carried through the care environment, unless bagged.
• Contaminated laundry should be in melt away bags and suitably marked outer bags to alert laundry staff.

6. Be sharp

• Discarded, used sharps are a risk for all healthcare workers.
• Carefully check for and remove any discarded sharps before sending items to the laundry.
• Only dispose of sharps if you have received training.
• Carefully dispose of any sharps that you use in an appropriate container.
  • Do not push the sharp into the container.
  • Do not overfill the container.
  • Do not put hand or fingers into the container.
  • Do not try and open a closed container.
  • Dispose of full containers correctly.
• Report to your supervisor if you find improperly discarded sharps in your working environment.
  • It is not acceptable for clinical staff to leave them for you to find and clear away.
• If you handle a sharp and it punctures or grazes your skin, complete the relevant injury report.

Final Word

Housekeepers are valuable members of the healthcare team. They are exposed to many of the same risks as other healthcare workers. In many cases they are at higher risk, cleaning up after clinical staff have finished what they were doing and rushed onto their next patient. Housekeepers need to be extra vigilant to keep themselves, their colleagues, patients and visitors safe.

Trenching and excavation work puts workers in mortal danger if the excavation is not inspected and cave-in protections are not in place. Use this daily checklist as a starting point and edit the list as necessary for location specific regulations and work performed. Remember, excavation sites must also be checked by a competent person whenever conditions change.

Project: ______________________________________________________________________________

Weather: ______________________________   Soil Type: _____________________________________

Trench Depth: ____________________Width: _________________________ Length: ______________

Type of Protective System: ______________________________________________________________

Signature of Competent Person:                                                   _____________________________________

Date: _________________________________________________

Use this checklist as a starting point and edit the list as necessary for location specific regulations and work performed.

Signature of Inspector:                                                                       _____________________________________

Location: _____________________________    Date:  _________________________________________

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

A fracture is the medical term for a broken bone. The break can be along the length of the bone or across the bone, so it looks as though the bone has snapped. These are generally clean breaks but sometimes the bone can fracture in several places, especially if the fracture is caused by a fall from a great height or from being crushed.

Fractures are common; the average person has two during a lifetime. They occur when the physical force exerted on the bone is stronger than the bone itself. Children and older people are especially prone.

What’s the Danger?

Sometimes a broken bone can pierce the skin. This is known as an open fracture. This can cause blood loss and increase the chance of developing an infection. Even if a bone does not come through the skin – a closed fracture – the person often suffers blood loss from and around the fracture.  Any delay in getting medical treatment can result in the bone not healing in a straight line.

Swelling or a bone out of place can cause problems with nerves in the area of the injury. Delays in treatment can lead to long-term damage to the nerves. This can cause numbness, reduced function or changed sensation along the line of the nerve.

How to Protect Yourself

First aid for fractures

1. Keep yourself safe

• Call 911 1^st in an emergency.
• Assess the scene.
• Proceed with care only if it’s safe to do so.
• Put on proper personal protective equipment (PPE), especially if there is blood loss or other hazards.

2. Recognize the signs of a fracture

• There is pain.
  • One of the most common signals in any muscle, bone or joint injury is pain.
• The area is bruised or swollen, often quite significantly.
• The area may be twisted or strangely bent or have odd ridges, dents or hollows.
• Difficult or impossible to move the area.
• The person says they can feel bones grating.
• A snap or pop at the time of injury is heard.
• The injured area is cold, numb and tingly.

3. RICE it while you wait

• RICE is a way to remember what you should do if you suspect a fracture
  • Rest: Do not move or straighten the injured area.
  • Immobilize: Keep the patient still and help them support the injured area to keep it still.
    • Only apply a splint if you have been trained to do so.
  • Cold: Cold reduces internal bleeding, pain and swelling.
    • Fill a plastic bag with ice and water or wrap ice with a damp cloth and apply ice to the injured area for periods of about 20 minutes.
      • Place a towel or thin piece of clothing between the ice and bare skin.
    • If 20-minute icing cannot be tolerated, apply ice for periods of 10 minutes.
    • If continued icing is needed, remove the pack for 20 minutes, and then replace it. Do not apply heat.
  • Elevate: Elevate the injured part only if it does not cause more pain.
    • Elevating the injured part may help reduce swelling.

4. Call 911 if:

• The broken bone is the result of major trauma or injury.
• The person is unresponsive, isn’t breathing or isn’t moving.
  • Begin CPR if there’s no breathing or heartbeat.
• There is heavy bleeding.
• Even gentle pressure or movement causes pain.
• The limb or joint appears deformed or the bone has pierced the skin.
• The extremity of the injured arm or leg, such as a toe or finger, is numb or bluish at the tip.
• You suspect a bone is broken in the neck, head or back.

5. Check what else is happening

• Stop any bleeding.
• Apply pressure to the wound with a sterile bandage, a clean cloth or a clean piece of clothing.
• Treat for shock.
• If the person feels faint or is breathing in short, rapid breaths, lay the person down with the head slightly lower than the trunk and, if possible, elevate the legs.

6. Don’t let it happen to others

• Look around for the events leading to the cause of the fracture, for example:
  • Was a safety barrier missing?
  • Was scaffolding insecure?
  • Was safety equipment not working correctly?
  • Was someone not using machinery correctly?

Final Word

Fractures are common and are often not life-threatening, but wrongly managing a fracture in the first few hours can lead to long-term problems. If the fracture is serious, urgent medical attention is required. The area also needs to be checked to find the cause of the accident leading to the fracture to make sure no one else is injured.

What’s at Stake?

Staph is a very common, generally problem free, bacteria that lives in the nose or on the skin of up to 1 in 3 people.  Staph only causes a problem if it gets somewhere it shouldn’t, such as into a wound, or the blood.

Staph can be easily treated with antibiotics but over time some bacteria have developed a resistance. These strains are commonly known as MRSA, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and can cause a variety of problems ranging from skin infections to pneumonia.

What’s the Danger?

If a person has a MRSA infection they need to start treatment quickly, or else they can develop sepsis (blood poisoning) which can be fatal. People with MRSA can be treated with antibiotics.

MRSA can be passed to patients from unclean hands of healthcare workers or visitors, or from contaminated bed linens, bed rails, and medical equipment.

People will not realize they have an infection unless they become ill or have a swab test. It is important to always wash your hands.

How to Protect Yourself

5 easy ways to keep yourself safe from MRSA

1. Clean hands

• Wash your hands often taking extra care to wash them at the critical 5 moments of hand hygiene:
  • before touching a patient;
  • before clean/aseptic procedures;
  • after body fluid exposure/risk;
  • after touching a patient;
  • after touching patient surroundings.
• Help control the potential risk by reminding colleagues and visitors to wash their hands – before and after seeing the patient.

2. Reduce the spread

• Patients with MRSA should be nursed in a single room.
• Follow any contact precautions that are in place, for example, staff and family are required to wear a gown and mask on entering.
• Use alcohol rub upon entry and exit.

3. Clean up

• Ensure the patient’s bed area is cleaned according to protocol; and
• Launder patient clothing and bedding according to protocol.
• Finally, wash work clothes either at work following the laundering process, or at home according to home laundering protocol.

4. Keep it covered

• Cover both your wounds and the patient’s wounds as soon as possible.
• Contain and dispose of any sputum, wound seepage, and blood quickly.

5. Keep yourself MRSA free

• Attend pre-employment and ongoing MRSA screening provided by your employer.
• Report exposure to MRSA that happens at home or work.
• Complete the course of antibiotics you are given – either for Staph or MRSA.

Final Word

MRSA is a serious problem in healthcare settings. It is important that healthcare workers are thorough in their hand hygiene routines as hand contamination is the major cause of infection spread.

What’s at Stake?

Infections are a serious problem in healthcare facilities. Many people develop an infection while using healthcare services. Such infections are known as healthcare associated infections (HAI).  There is extensive research evidence that many HAI’s develop because of infections being transmitted to, and between patients, on the hands of healthcare personnel.

Hand hygiene is the single most important act you can do to reduce the transmission of healthcare-associated infections. For this reason, it is part of Standard Precautions.

What’s the Danger?

Every year an estimated 2 million patients get a hospital-related infection. 90,000 people die from their infections. Since many patients at a hospital or healthcare facility are often not fully healthy, they are more at risk of developing an infection when exposed to certain germs. They are also more likely to be severely ill from the infection.

HAI is often a severe infection, so measures to prevent spread of these infections from patient to patient and between staff and patients is essential.

Hazards

• Infected body fluids (saliva, feces, blood etc.) can transfer between patients, visitors and staff.
• Germs can survive on surfaces.
• Germs can enter a patient’s body from medical devices such as urinary catheters and IVs.

How to Protect Yourself

6 simple ways to keep yourself safe

1. Know the risks

• Attend regular updates and training on hand hygiene and infection control.
• Check if any patients in your area are an infection risk.
• Don’t go to work if you have an infectious illness without first working with the occupational health team.
• Know the 5 moments of hand hygiene.
• Check the environment you work in is cleaned frequently, especially hard surfaces in clinical areas.

2. Use soap and water

• Soap and water can be used for all hand hygiene.
• Liquid soap is better than a bar of soap.
• Always use soap and water if hands are visibly soiled or if Clostridium Difficile (C.Diff) contamination is possible.
  • Rub the solution thoroughly around the nail beds, fingers and thumb bases.
  • Rinse well under running water.
  • Dry thoroughly with a disposable towel.
  • Turn faucet off with towel and discard.
  • The process should take at least 40-60 seconds.
    • Sing a round of ‘Happy Birthday’ to yourself, that should take the full time.

3. Use alcohol rub

• If hands are NOT visibly soiled or there is no Clostridium Difficile contamination risk
• It is quicker
• It is generally easier to use than soap and water, especially at the point of care.
  • Cover hands with hand rub.
  • Rub the hand rub all over, especially around the thumb, base of the thumb and nail beds.
  • Rub hands together until they are dry.
  • The process should take at least 20-30 seconds.

4. 5 key moments when hand hygiene must be done

One: Before you touch a patient – to remove any harmful germs you have come in contact with.

Two: Before a clean/aseptic procedure – to reduce the risk of germs entering the person’s body.

Three: If you have come in contact with body fluids (even if you have gloves on) – to protect yourself and others from germs.

Four: After touching a patient – to remove any germs you have picked up from them.

Five: After touching the patient’s surroundings – to remove any germs from your hands and stop germs spreading.

5. Encourage patients and visitors to carry out hand hygiene regularly.

6. Remind colleagues to carry out the 5 moments of hand hygiene if you see them miss an opportunity to clean their hands.

Final Word

HAI is a serious issue that costs money and lives and causes human suffering. There are many reasons why people develop HAI but the most common cause is poor hand hygiene practice among health professionals.

What’s at Stake?

Sexual harassment is defined as any conduct, comment, gesture, or contact of a sexual nature that is likely to cause offence or humiliation to any employee; or that might, on reasonable grounds, be perceived by that employee as placing a condition of a sexual nature on employment or on any opportunity for training or promotion.

In its subtler forms, sexual harassment may include sexual jokes and innuendo, or unwanted and repetitive gestures of affection. In its more extreme forms, sexual harassment can invade a person’s life and escalate to stalking, physical assault, including attempted and actual rape, and murder.

What You Should Know

Two Types of Sexual Harassment

Quid Pro Quo

The Latin term quid pro quo translates to “something for something.” Quid pro quo harassment occurs in the workplace when a manager or other authority figure offers or merely hints that he or she will give the employee something (a raise or a promotion) in return for that employee’s satisfaction of a sexual demand. Examples include:

1. Sexual coercion which include: threats of demotion; or job loss; and offering job benefits in exchange for sexual favors.
2. Agreeing to go on a date with a supervisor, sexual relations with the supervisor or making any sort of professional decision based on being silent about submission of another employee.
3. Hiring, promotions, salary increases, shift or work assignments, and performance expectations are some of the working benefits that can be made conditional on sexual favors.

Example 1: A professor or teacher makes an unwelcome sexual advance to a student and implies or explicitly makes it known that if she or he does not accept, she or he will likely not pass the course.

Example 2: In a rental housing situation, a building superintendent asks for sexual favors in return for granting a tenant’s request to transfer to a larger unit.

Example 3: One worker demands sexual favors before sharing important job-related information with a colleague.

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-preventing-sexual-and-gender-based-harassment/2-identifying-sexual-harassment#_ftn9

Hostile Work Environment

A hostile or poisoned work environment is one in which unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature creates an uncomfortable work environment for some employees. Examples include:

• Verbal or nonverbal behavior in the workplace that is unwanted, unwelcomed and severe and pervasive enough to affect the person’s work environment.
• It focuses on the sexuality of another person or occurs because of a person’s gender or other protected characteristic. This can include:
  • Electronic communications.
  • Displaying sexualized objects or images.
  • Gender harassment, with behaviors such as: negative remarks, jokes about the opposite sex or about a co-worker’s sexual orientation.
  • Unwelcomed non-verbal sexual advancements such as touching, intentionally getting too close, leering, making sexual gestures, and sexual assault.
  • Verbal sexual attention such as: making sexually derogatory statements, sharing insulting jokes or remarks about a co-worker or group of individuals; asking unwanted questions about a colleague’s sex life; and pestering an employee for sexual favors.

Example 1: An employer’s repetitive use of terms such as “sweetheart,” “little lady,” “hun,” “sweetie” and “dear” to be “terms of diminishment,” and that, within the broader context of his other sexualized overtures, the use of these terms created a poisoned work environment and violated a woman’s right to be free from discrimination in employment.

Example 2: When a co-worker ended a romantic relationship with him, a man showed intimate cell-phone photographs of her to several people in their workplace. His supervisor heard that other people had seen the pictures, but he did not see them himself, and chose not to intervene in what he saw as a personal matter – even though he had a legal duty to do so.

Example 3: A hiring team at a law firm was conducting interviews for articling student positions. A senior partner walking by the room where candidates were waiting to be interviewed, pointed at a young female candidate and said to a female member of the hiring team “hire her, she’s easy on the eyes.” This comment created a poisoned environment for both the potential candidate and the woman on the hiring team.

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-preventing-sexual-and-gender-based-harassment/2-identifying-sexual-harassment#_ftn9

What is NOT Considered Sexual Harassment

In addition to understanding what sexual harassment is, it is also important to understand what sexual harassment is not.

• Consensual relationships between adult co-workers are not regarded as sexual harassment.
• Reciprocal flirting – playful, nonphysical flirting that is engaged in by both parties – is also generally not termed sexual harassment.

Don’t forget that employers have a responsibility for sexual harassment committed by third parties in the workplace. Third parties can include contractors, customers, clients, service, repair, or delivery people. And finally, an employer may also be held liable for sexual harassment involving activities or events that happen outside of normal business hours or off business premises, but are linked to the workplace and employment.

Example 1: An employer was found liable for the sexual harassment of its employees in the workplace by a service technician who was on-site to fix office equipment.

Example 2: A restaurant manager made repeated, explicit, and intimate advances and comments of a sexual nature to a waitress. Some of the comments were made during an after-hours card game with co-workers, and some were communicated in a text message and a voicemail sent while he was at a late-night party attended by other male staff members. The tribunal concluded that while not all the incidents occurred at work or during work hours, they were sufficiently connected to the workplace.

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-preventing-sexual-and-gender-based-harassment/8-preventing-and-responding-sexual-harassment-0

What You Should Do

1. Have and post a written sexual harassment policy that defines sexual harassment, reporting procedures, and disciplinary actions.
2. Communicate to everyone in an organization there is zero tolerance for harassment of any kind.
3. Train workers and supervisors on sexual harassment – what it is, what it is not, examples, reporting procedures, their rights (including the right to a harassment free workplace), and responsibilities.

Final Word

Reported incidents of sexual harassment in the workforce are on the rise, as are demands for employers to do the right thing and protect workers against all forms of harassment.

As “safety people” we spend a good deal of our time consciously or unconsciously trying to persuade others. We try to persuade management to support and fund safety initiatives. We try and persuade supervisors to enforce safety rules. We try and persuade workers to follow those same safety rules.

In his article, Powerful Secrets of Persuasion, speaker, trainer, and coach James Hurford, DTM, he goes over 20 ways to get people to take action.

1. If people don’t trust you, they won’t listen to you — trust underpins everything you say and do. Your reliability, confidence, credence and assurance — without them, you are lost.
2. We like people who are similar to us— people prefer to say ‘yes’ to people they like. That’s why, before getting down to business, it is best to talk about who you are, what you do and, if possible, find some common ground or pay a genuine compliment.
3. Put yourself in their shoes— if you think about yourself and what you want all the time, you’re never going to persuade. Learn how to consistently talk to people about them; do that and you’ll have their attention.
4. Give a little something to get a little something in return— we’re all wired to return favors. The rule of reciprocity is so strong that by giving something, doing a favor, making a concession, providing small gestures of consideration to others, you’ll find that others will feel compelled to return your kindness.
5. What we see is just as important as what we hear— like it or not, people judge you at first glance. Your body language, behavior, character, gestures and the way you are dressed all come into play. They have a lasting impact on your ability to persuade others — make the most of them.
6. Confidence and certainty are compelling — we all have a need for certainty, and confidence is the outward sign of inner certainty. You will always be able to persuade others if you really believe in what you do.
7. Have authority — people listen to experts. They give their trust, and money to them every day. Because our reaction to authority is so powerful and immediate, by having it you can to a get ’yes’ quicker and more often.
8. Knowledge is power— know your stuff.
9. Build your reputation— your reputation is based on your past. Your integrity, accomplishments and character are all important when you are trying to influence. When it comes to influence, your reputation is your biggest asset.
10. Physical attractiveness— there’s no getting away from it, people like to identify with attractive people. While you don’t have to be a model (which can be distracting) you should make the most of how you look.
11. Make it scarce — people want more of the things there are less of. If you want somebody to act, you must make them feel they will lose out if they don’t, even if that object is you.
12. Instill a sense of urgency— persuade people in the present. If they don’t do what you want them to do right away, then they’ll never do it in the future.
13. Establish rapport— when people feel more comfortable with you they are more open to your suggestion. Listen, ask open ended questions, empower people, pay compliments, use humor — you’ll find people will warm to you.
14. Be persistent — if you want to persuade someone, don’t give up. Ultimately, the one who persists will be the most persuasive. Persistence is an essential element of persuasion — both in business and in life.
15. Be flexible with your response— the person with the greatest flexibility of behavior will have the most influence in any situation. Flexibility will enable you to achieve your outcome.
16. Stay calm, keep your emotions in check— people turn to those in control of their emotions, especially in times of conflict, pressure or stress. Would you ever look up to a leader who panics under pressure?
17. Pick your battles— persuasive people understand that most conversations don’t require getting someone to do or accept something. Aggressive pushers put people on the defensive, while truly persuasive people understand their power and use it sparingly.
18. Listen more than you speak — you can’t persuade or convince others, if you don’t know the other side of the argument. Persuasive people are constantly listening to you and not themselves. They’re listening for objections, connections and moments of agreement — common ground they can capitalize on.
19. Engage with people— smile, establish direct eye contact and speak firmly and clearly, at a slow pace — all of this will help them relax and engage with you, which in turn will make them more receptive to you and your ideas.
20. Try to eliminate fear — whether you’re speaking one-to-one, to a group of people or a large audience — people pick up on nervousness. It creates a barrier to persuasion. Stop thinking you’re not good enough or you haven’t got what it takes. We can all get better and no one is perfect.

The type of soil determines the strength and stability of trench walls. In most Canadian Provinces, soil types fall into four categories.

In the U.S. there are also four types of soil, but the naming convention is different.

6 Tips for Avoiding Slips, Trips, and Falls in the Workplace

When people think about dangers in the workplace, they often underestimate the impact of slips, trips, and falls. Not only are these accidents a major cause of injuries leading to missed work, but they can also be deadly.

According to OSHA, slips, trips, and falls are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities, resulting in 15% of all accidental deaths.

1. Wear proper footwear

Be sure to use the right shoes for your working environment. Many varieties of slip-resistant shoes are available, and an easy way to make shoes less slippery is by scuffing the soles before using them. This can be done by rubbing the soles on concrete or by using a knife to score them.

2. Don’t work in the dark

Make sure adequate lighting is available when you are working. Proper lighting will help you to avoid tripping on objects and other slipping hazards.

3. Use the right tool for the job

If you need to grab something out of reach, take the time to find a proper step stool or ladder. Many chairs are not designed to withstand the weight of someone standing directly on them, and they could break. Standing on folding chairs can cause them to collapse, and swivel office chairs can slide out from underneath you.

4. Clean spills before they become slipping hazards

Keep work spaces clean to avoid slipping and tripping hazards. Pick up any fallen objects from the floor, and quickly wipe up spills to avoid slips.

5. Clear paths and walkways when moving large objects

When you need to move a large object, clear a path beforehand. Shuffling around other objects while carrying a load can result in a fall due to decreased mobility and visibility.

6. Be vocal, and let people know when you’re moving

People in a shared workspace can be a tripping hazard to each other, so it’s important to let others know when you’re moving behind them. When opening doors into spaces, it’s a good practice to give warning.

Conclusion

Be sure to keep these safety tips in mind the next time you’re moving around your work space. Most importantly, make sure everyone else in your workplace is also aware of these practices and potential hazards. The more people that know how to avoid slips, trips, and falls in a workplace, the safer that workplace will be.

Written by Zachary O’Dell – SafetyLine

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

Consider the following story…

During a busy shift, an OB technician helped with many crash deliveries and operations. Consequently, surgical instruments and trays that should have been washed, piled up on the sink counter and eventually knocked over a gallon jug of 4% formaldehyde. The employee was in and out of the utility room, doing the dishes between surgeries, and noticed that her throat was sore.

Toward the end of her shift, she discovered the formaldehyde spill. By the end of her shift, she had difficulty breathing and reported to the emergency room. The next day, her throat had swollen nearly closed. She went to two other clinics that day and the day after. The doctors tried to open her throat with medicine, but it irritated her stomach. Eventually, she saw a toxicologist who put her on medical removal from work.

What’s the Danger?

• Formaldehyde is a sensitizing agent that can cause an immune system response upon initial exposure. Sensitization is an allergic reaction to a chemical agent due to previous contact with that material. Once sensitized, the allergic reaction is often more severe than after the initial contact and may not be limited to the site of exposure.
• Typical allergic reactions to formaldehyde include headache, skin rashes, and irritation of the eyes, nose and upper respiratory system.
• Long-term exposure to low levels in the air or on the skin can cause asthma-like respiratory problems and skin irritation such as dermatitis and itching.
• Formaldehyde is a carcinogen – specifically, lung cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer.
• Ingestion of formaldehyde can be fatal.

How to Protect Yourself

Keep yourself in the know:

1. Routes of exposure

• Inhalation of gas or vapor
• Absorb through skin
• Ingestion

2. Signs of exposure

• Watery eyes
• Burning sensations in eyes, nose and throat
• Skin rashes
• Nausea
• Coughing
• Chest tightness

Protect yourself on the job:

1. Check for ventilation – local exhaust, general exhaust.
2. If you can, substitute for less a hazardous chemical or use smaller amounts.
3. Don’t eat or drink, chew gum, use lip balms, or cosmetics in a or area where formaldehyde is used.

4. Pay attention to safety data sheets, signs, and labels.

• Make sure you’ve read the SDS prior to using formaldehyde.
• Label all mixtures, solutions, or materials according to regulations.
• For instance, materials capable of releasing formaldehyde at levels above 0.5 ppm during normal use, must contain the words “potential cancer hazard” on the label.

5. Know the location of emergency equipment

• Locate safety showers, emergency eye wash stations, and spill kits BEFORE an incident.
• Don’t block emergency equipment or emergency exits.

6. Inspect PPE before use, checking for holes, cracks and damage.

• Lab coat or coveralls should be worn.
• Nitrile gloves are the best choice, but neoprene gloves work as well. Be sure to change gloves frequently and wash your hands after you remove your gloves.
• Goggles and face shield are required if there’s a potential splash hazard.
• A respirator may be required.
• Store all PPE away from sources of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde vapors can permeate the lab coat or glove material, reducing its barrier-properties.

Be empowered!  Know your employer’s responsibility.

Employers must:

1. Train all workers exposed to formaldehyde concentrations of 0.1 ppm or greater at the time of initial job assignment, annually, and whenever a new exposure to formaldehyde is introduced into the work area.
2. Identify all workers who may be exposed to formaldehyde at or above the action level or STEL (short-term exposure limit) through monitoring and determine their exposure.
3. Provide medical surveillance for all workers:

• Exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations at or above the action level or exceeding the short-term exposure limit.
• Who develop signs and symptoms of overexposure; and for all
• Workers exposed to formaldehyde in emergencies.

1. Employers must reassign workers who suffer significant adverse effects from formaldehyde exposure. Workers must be assigned to jobs with significantly less or no exposure until their condition improves.
2. Lastly, employers are required to keep medical records and allow access as directed.

• Retain exposure records for 30 years.
• Retain medical records for 30 years after employment ends; and
• Allow access to medical and exposure records to current and former workers or their designated representatives upon request.

Final Word

Although commonly used in many, many industries, work with formaldehyde comes with many potential hazards and should be treated with great care when in use.

What’s at Stake?

Slip, trip, and fall injuries are one of the most common causes of workplace injuries and death. The falls from slips and trips can lead to disabling injuries, traumatic brain injuries, surgeries, and countless hours in rehab. These types of injuries are painful and costly and can put stress on your relationships, lead to depression, anxiety, and in some cases post-traumatic stress disorder, or PSTD.

What’s the Danger?

You can slip, trip, and fall in all kinds of workplaces, from offices to construction sites.

EXAMPLES

A thin layer of water on the sidewalk outside work or on scaffold planks can be enough to send you airborne and landing hard on the ground or falling off the scaffold.

Maybe you’re in a hurry and run down a flight of stairs or walk down a hallway or even cross a busy street while looking down at your phone. Don’t be surprised if you run into someone or something, or if something (a vehicle) runs into you!

Falls can also happen when you trip on something – your feet get caught but your body keeps on going.

How to Protect Yourself

Wear it Well

• Don’t wear shoes with loose or damaged soles.
• When you’re working on slippery surfaces or in icy weather make sure you have on shoes with non-slip soles.

Light the Way

• Report burned-out lights and poorly lit areas.
• Something as simple as turning on the lights before you enter a dark area can make a big impact when it comes to reducing slips, trips, and falls.

Keep it Clear

• If you see something in an aisle such as trash, pallets, boxes, cords, cables, or wires pick them up or report them, so the hazard can be fixed.
• Watch for loose or torn carpeting, mats, or runners.
• Don’t store items on or near stairways.
• Watch out for unexpected hazards such as unguarded floor and wall openings. Report unguarded openings immediately so they can be correctly covered and guarded.

Slick Surfaces

• Obey signs such as “Caution: Wet Floor.”
• Clean up spills immediately.
• On slippery or rough surfaces, take small steps and walk slowly.
  • When you come indoors from rain or snow, your wet footwear slides more easily.
  • Newly waxed and high gloss floors can be super slick.

Walk This Way

• Keep your head up.
• Don’t run or rush.
• Use stairways’ handrails; and
• When carrying a load, make sure you can see over or around it.

Office Space

• Don’t tip back in a chair.
• Don’t use a chair or desk as a stand-in for ladders.
• Keep desk and filing cabinet drawers closed.

Up in the Air

• Always use the required fall protection equipment and all safe procedures when working at heights.
• Many falls from heights are caused by tripping or slipping.

Final Word

Awareness and safe work practices can keep you from becoming a slip, trip, and fall statistic.

An excavation is any man-made cut, cavity, trench, or depression in an earth surface formed by earth removal. Trench is a narrow excavation (in relation to its length) made below the surface of the ground. In general, the depth is greater than the width.

10 Step Workplan for Excavation and Trenching

Cave-ins are the greatest risk to workers in an excavation or trench. Other hazards include falling loads, moving equipment, falls, confined space hazards, and hazardous atmospheric conditions.

Use this workplan as a guide for managing and maintaining safe excavation work.

1.         Regulatory Requirements

All employers must provide a workplace free of recognized hazards that may cause serious injury or death. As a supervisor you must understand and follow regulatory requirements for trenching and excavation work. This includes using protective systems to protect workers from cave-ins. A written plan is also required and must outline excavation safe work practices, definitions of key terms, instructions for testing soil, and inspection guidelines.

2.         Designate Competent Person/Persons

A competent person is someone designated by the employer, who can identify existing and predictable hazards or working conditions which are hazardous or dangerous, and who is authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate them.

The competent person(s) on site is responsible for assessing specific hazards and hazardous conditions including:

• Equipment and vehicle traffic
• Location and condition of structures near the dig site, such as underground and overhead utilities.
• Soil classification and type
• Water sources – surface water and groundwater; water table location
• Overhead and underground utilities
• Weather

3.         Determine Soil Type

Excavation work is dangerous, and a hazard assessment must be done before any excavation or trenching work is started. This assessment begins by determining the type of soil. A competent person must determine the soil type using visual and manual tests.

Visual Tests

The entire excavation site, including soil adjacent to the site, will be checked for tension cracks, indications of layered geologic structuring on the open side of the excavation, signs of bulging, boiling, or sloughing, as well as signs of surface water seeping from the side of the excavation or from the water table.

Manual Tests

1. Thumb penetration test
2. Dry strength test
3. Plasticity or wet thread test
4. Soil compression strength test

Soil Types

The type of soil determines the strength and stability of trench walls. In most Canadian provinces, soil types fall into four categories:

• Type 1
• Type 2
• Type 3
• Type 4

In the U.S. there are also four types of soil, but the naming convention is different.

• Stable Rock
• Type A
• Type B
• Type C

Moisture content also affects soil strength. Once opened, the moisture content of the soil begins to change almost immediately. This can affect the strength of the walls. The longer an excavation is left open the greater the risk is for cave-in.

4.         Identify and Remove Sources of Vibration

Vibrations from nearby equipment, machines, vehicle traffic, and operations such as earth moving, compactions, pile driving, and blasting can all affect the stability of the excavation and contribute to the collapse of excavation and trench walls.

Place barricades to keep unnecessary equipment out of the excavation area. If possible, divert traffic away from the site. Don’t allow workers to be in an excavation when blasting or other similar operations are taking place.

5.         Location of Spoil Piles

Excavated soil, equipment and other material located next to an excavation puts pressure on the excavation’s walls and can lead to cave-in. It can also lead to equipment or soil falling into the excavation and onto workers.

Keep soil and equipment at least 1 meter (2 feet in the US) away from excavation and trench edges.

6.         Access and Egress

Whether protected by sloping, boxes, or shoring, trenches must be provided with ladders so that workers can enter and exit safely. Ladders must:

• Be placed within the area protected by the shoring or trench box.
• Be securely tied off at the top.
• Extend above the shoring or box by at least 1 meter (3 feet).
• Be inspected regularly for damage.

7.         Protective Systems

Designing a protective system requires consideration of many factors, including: soil classification, depth of cut, water content of soil, weather and climate, and other operations in the vicinity. Choose the most practical design that will provide the necessary protections. The most common protective systems are:

• Sloping and benching the sides of the excavation;
• Supporting the sides of the excavation; or
• Placing a shield between the side of the excavation and the work area.

 8.         Preplanning

Waiting until after the work starts to correct mistakes in shoring or sloping slows down the operation, adds to the cost of the project, and makes a cave-in or other excavation failure more likely.

Before preparing a bid, you should know as much as possible about the jobsite and materials needed to perform work safely and in compliance with safety standards. Factors to consider:

• Traffic
• Proximity and physical condition of nearby structures
• Soil classification
• Surface and ground water
• Location of the water table
• Overhead and underground utilities
• Weather
• Quantity of shoring or protective systems that may be required
• Fall protection needs
• Number of ladders that may be needed
• Other equipment needs

You can gather the information through jobsite studies, observations, test borings for soil type or conditions, and consultations with local officials and utility companies. This information will help determine the amount, kind, and cost of safety equipment needed to perform the work safely.

9.         Inspections

A competent person must inspect excavations, adjacent areas, and protective systems daily for possible cave-ins, indications of failures in protective systems and equipment, hazardous atmospheres, and other hazardous conditions.

Inspections must be done prior to the start of work and as needed throughout the shift and are required after natural events, such as rainstorms, or other hazard-increasing occurrences, such as blasting work.

If unsafe conditions are found during an inspection, workers must be moved away from the hazardous area until the necessary safety precautions have been taken.

10.    Training

Any worker who has a part in any excavation work must be trained on the procedures and responsibilities they have for working safely in excavations and trenches. This includes the competent person, supervisors, equipment operators, and the workers down in the excavations. Training must cover hazards, protective measures and PPE required, how to identify potential and existing hazards and report dangerous conditions.

Bottom Line

There are few activities as risky as excavation and trench work. Don’t make your workers choose between putting their lives at risk and doing their job. Train and protect them.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

When you install or remove overhead lines, you must protect yourself and others against hazards that could expose you to shock, electrocution, falls, flying and falling objects, and burns.

What’s the Danger?

Working near high voltage power lines carries considerable risk for anyone in the surrounding area.

When setting, moving, or removing a power pole near any exposed live conductor, the pole could contact the conductor and energize the pole and/or damage the conductor, creating multiple hazards for a work crew.

Electricity can arc out from a point of contact and the area around a conduction point, such as a crane that has touched a live power line, can become electrically charged. This means electrocution can occur even if a worker is not in direct contact with the power line.

Poles, towers, and other elevated structures that aren’t strong enough to withstand the stresses placed on them could collapse.

How to Protect Yourself

5 ways to stay safe when installing or removing overhead power lines

1. Don’t touch

• Have the utility company turn off the electricity if possible.
• Wear PPE, including appropriate rubber gloves, footwear and goggles if working on, or near, live lines.
• Use the tension stringing method, barriers, or other physical measures to prevent conductors and cables from contacting live lines or equipment.

2. Loading and load safety

• Keep the load line attached to a tower section until it is fully secured.
• Use tag lines (or similar devices) to maintain control of pole and tower sections while raising or positioning them.
• Make sure the load stays balanced and manageable within crane load limits.
• If a pole cannot withstand the load, it must be reinforced using devices like bracing poles and guy wires.

3. Use equipment correctly

• To prevent cables from snapping, use reel-handling equipment, including pulling and tensioning devices, with extreme caution.
• Level and align equipment.
• Don’t exceed the ratings of any equipment, e.g. Includes stringing lines, pulling lines, rigging, hoists, conductor grips, and load-bearing hardware and accessories.

4. Keep a look out

• Check that the “drop zone” under any tower or structure that is being moved or worked on, is clear of other workers.
• Keep an eye on the weather:
  • thunderstorm, workers must not begin or resume work for at least thirty minutes after hearing the last thunderclap;
  • high winds that could reduce minimum approach distances;
  • snow, ice and rain storms.
• Stay alert for any failure of the wire or cable that’s being pulled.
• Watch out for failure of any previously installed lines or equipment.

5. Conductors

• Stop conductors from sagging into energized lines by using:
  • tensioning equipment;
  • barriers; and
  • other safe and approved means.
• If the energized lines have reclosing devices, they must be turned off during the pulling operation.
• When pulling over energized lines, activate “one-shot” operation to prevent breakers from automatically reclosing after any fault.
• Newly installed conductors can create a risk of induced voltage so:
  • grounds must be installed on the new conductors so that every point is within 2 miles (3km) of a ground;
  • grounds must remain in place until all other installation work is done.
• Additional working grounds must be installed on the conductors at all terminating ends and at locations where workers are tying in the new conductors.

Final Word

Installing and removing overhead power lines requires a high level of concentration. Workers must be aware of both the risks involved in working with heavy machinery used to move the structures, as well as the risks of working near live power lines.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake

A crane is one of the most versatile and important pieces of equipment usually found on a construction job. It can be used to accomplish a lot of otherwise heavy lifting tasks. It is often one of the largest pieces of equipment on a work site with many different operating functions.  This means the operator must be able to concentrate on the tasks and be aware of their surroundings.

What’s the Danger?

Few experiences may be as frightening as when a crane becomes unbalanced while a load is being lifted or when the crane collapses under the weight of an excessive load. An unbalanced load or crane collapse can cause death to the operator, other construction workers, can cause damage to property or equipment.

A crane operator’s view of the full crane is often limited, putting them at risk of coming too close to people, property or power lines.

Other dangers include the crane’s boom, cable, or load contacting power lines and causing electrocution, or arcing if the crane is too close the power lines. Weather and environmental conditions including:

• Extreme heat or cold;
• Heavy rain and lightning; and
• Snowstorms or heavy snow; and windy conditions.

How to Protect Yourself

Power lines

Before assembling or disassembling:

• Notify owner/utility company – and consider it to be energized until utility company confirms power line has been de-energized and visibly grounded at the work-site;

or

• Ensure that no part of the equipment, load line or load (including rigging and lifting accessories), gets closer than 20 feet to the power line;

or

• Determine the line voltage and the minimum clearance distance permitted.

Weather

Cold/freezing conditions

Cold/Freezing Conditions can add weight to the boom or load; affect the hydraulic system; and can cause the operator’s hands to become cold – making it harder to operate the controls.

Stay Safe and:

1. Never operate a crane when the boom is covered with ice or snow – this increases the weight and can cause collapse.
2. Keep warm, especially hands, so you can carry out the crane movements accurately.

Wind

Winds speeds increase as you go higher in the air. This increases load movement/swing and instability. Power lines may also swing, so increase the safe working distance from the lines.

1. Check the crane’s manufacturer guide to see the safe wind speed conditions.
2. If no guide is available, consider postponing the lift if the wind speed/gust is in the range of 15-20 mph (7-9 m/s). Above 20 mph (11 m/s), the lift must be canceled.

Rain and Water

1.  Heavy rain and water can increase the weight of load and overall weight limits of the crane. Muddy surroundings increase the risk of crane becoming unbalanced and workers have an increased risk of slipping in the mud. And wet weather gear can reduce peripheral vision and hearing.
2. Adjust your load weight because snow and rain increase load weight.
3. Remove mud and water from the load because it can pull it down.
4. Check your base ground is safe because rain, snow and mud can make the support surface unstable.

Poor visibility

1. Double check what your colleagues are doing, because poor visibility makes it hard/impossible to see hand signals.
2. Use radio communications or wait until visibility is better if possible.

General safety

Let’s wrap up with six general rules for crane safety.

1. See and be seen
2. Always be aware of swing radius
3. Never work or walk under a boom or load
4. Never ride the hook
5. Always wear a hard hat and other PPE
6. Stay off and away from the crane

Final word

Cranes are invaluable for moving heavy loads on construction sites. Treat them with respect, stay alert and stay safe.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

Dig a hole in the ground and you have made an excavation. Excavations can be any size: wide, narrow, deep, or shallow.

A trench is an excavation, too, if it isn’t more than 15 feet (4.5 meters) wide at the bottom. And, if you install forms or other structures in an excavation that reduce its width to less than 15 feet, measured at the bottom, the excavation is also considered a trench.

Most regulations require that if you work in an excavation that is five feet deep (or deeper), your employer must protect you trench collapse, cave-ins and other trenching and excavation hazards.  Also, if a competent person determines there is a potential for an excavation to cave-in, you must be protected regardless of its depth.

What’s the Danger?

Trenching and excavation work is inherently dangerous.  In fact, it is one of the most hazardous types of work done in the construction industry. Injuries from excavation work tend to be of a very serious nature and often result in fatalities.

Hazards of trenching and excavation work include:

• Cave-in or collapse
• Falling into the excavation or trench.
• Electrical shock from cable or wire contact.
• Exposure to toxic gases.

How to Protect Yourself

6 easy ways to stay safe working in and around excavations and trenches

1. Check it out

• Dig safely:
  • Dig from firm ground.
  • Move the spoil pile to at least 2 feet (.6m) from the edge, behind a barrier or to another location; in some Canadian provinces, 3 feet (1 m) is the minimum.
  • Keep machinery movement to a minimum to reduce vibration which can increase the soil movement in the trench.
• Daily checks by a competent person – no matter how deep the excavation is.
• Because of weather, site activity and other conditions, some excavations require more frequent checks.
• Knowing the soil type(s) of an excavation is important because some are more likely to collapse than others.
• Check for pipes, cables, power lines etc., and isolate them if possible.

2. Going in

• Trenches over 5 feet (1.5m) must have protective systems. These systems can include:
  • Sloping trench walls.
  • Walls shored up with timber and hydraulic jacks.
  • Prefabricated support systems, such as trench boxes and shields.
• Check protective systems regularly through your shift and report concerns.
• Wear your PPE.
• Do not walk or work under overhanging machinery.

3. Just breathe

• Protect yourself and check that gas and oxygen levels are being monitored and that a ventilation system is in place.
• Know the signs and symptoms of oxygen deprivation and any hazardous gases that could be present in the excavation.
• Speak up and ask questions if you have concerns.

4. Stay dry

• Check water pumps are in place and working if necessary.
• Report any water leaking into the trench.
• Report any leaks in any hydraulic protective support systems.
• Water and leaks can weaken the trench walls and make it more likely to collapse.

5. Getting out

• Keep the exit pathway clear.
• Know your exit routes and method:
  • Ladders must be placed within at least 25 feet (7.6 m) of workers and protected by the support system. Steps and ramps may also be used for entry and exit.
• Know where emergency equipment is.
• Wear a safety harness and lifeline as required.

6. Keep out

• Take note of warning signs, guardrails and barriers around the excavation or trench.
• Stay away from machinery working around the excavation or trench.
• Take note of alarms to evacuate the trench.

Final Word

Trenches and excavations are dangerous places to work. There are several hazards that can develop quickly including, cave-ins and gas build-up. It is essential that all workers take responsibility for checking the area they are working in, reporting any changes or concerns quickly and appropriately and keeping themselves and others safe.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake? 

Hazardous Locations are defined as premises, buildings or parts thereof where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to the presence of flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dusts, or easily ignitable fibers.

What’s the Danger?

• Electrical equipment installed in these atmospheres are a risk for fire and explosion.
• Electric arcs, sparks, and/or heated surfaces can serve as a source of ignition in such environments – and can be found in aircraft hangars, gasoline stations, paint-finishing locations or grain bins (among other locations).
• If not properly handled, these locations pose an extreme risk for not only workers, but for the public too.

How to Protect Yourself

The best way to protect yourself and others is by understanding the risks for various hazardous locations. There are two major systems to classify hazardous location electrical codes and standards. Today, will focus on the “Zone System,” used worldwide, and more recently in North America, to classify specifically gases and vapors.

The Zone System of classification follows the international method of area classification as developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Zones – defines the general nature (or properties) of the hazardous material – if it’s a gas or dust, and the probability of the hazardous material in the surrounding atmosphere.

Groups – defines the type of the hazardous material and (partly) the location of the surrounding atmosphere. Groups are divided into three sub-groups.

Final Word

Classification and understanding the risks posed by various hazardous locations is the first step in preventing accidents and injuries in these locations.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake? 

Hazardous Locations are defined as premises, buildings or parts thereof where fire or explosion hazards may exist due to the presence of flammable gases or vapors, flammable liquids, combustible dusts, or easily ignitable fibers.

What’s the Danger?

• Electrical equipment installed in these atmospheres are a risk for fire and explosion.
• Electric arcs, sparks, and/or heated surfaces can serve as a source of ignition in such environments – and can be found in aircraft hangars, gasoline stations, paint-finishing locations or grain bins (among other locations).
• If not properly handled, these locations pose an extreme risk for not only workers, but for the public too.

How to Protect Yourself

The best way to protect yourself and others is by understanding the risks for various hazardous locations. There are two major systems to classify hazardous location electrical codes and standards. Today, will focus on the “Zone System,” used worldwide, and more recently in North America, to classify specifically gases and vapors.

The Zone System of classification follows the international method of area classification as developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Zones – defines the general nature (or properties) of the hazardous material – if it’s a gas or dust, and the probability of the hazardous material in the surrounding atmosphere.

Groups – defines the type of the hazardous material and (partly) the location of the surrounding atmosphere. Groups are divided into three sub-groups.

Final Word

Classification and understanding the risks posed by various hazardous locations is the first step in preventing accidents and injuries in these locations.

Safety Talk

What’s at Stake?

A 40-year-old worker was killed at a construction site recently in Toronto.  According to police, concrete panels had fallen onto the worker as they were being unloaded, and the man became trapped. The man was rushed to a trauma center before being pronounced dead at the hospital.

Fatalities and injuries like this highlight the very real importance of safety for concrete workers among all the risks and hazards involved in their work.

What’s the Danger?

As seen in the above example, falling and collapsing slabs are two of the main concerns when working with concrete.  These hazards are compounded when bracing and frameworks are improperly installed, not sufficient to support construction, and/or removed too early.  Frameworks and shoring are major components of risk for cast-in-place construction.

How to Protect Yourself

First, consider some general features for safety when working with concrete.

• The structures must be able to support intended loads, and this should be determined by a qualified professional with experience in structural design.
• Reinforcing steel should be used, and capped, to prevent puncturing workers.
• Only essential employees should be granted access to work zones, and signs and barriers must be used to inform non-essential workers to avoid the area.
• All design plans, including revisions and accompanying drawings, must be made available at the jobsite.
• Lastly, but most importantly, appropriate PPE should always be provided and used. Hardhats, safety glasses, gloves, high-visibility clothing, safety shoes, and any other job-specific PPE must be worn as instructed by your employer.  If you ever feel you are not provided with adequate or functional PPE, speak up!

Secondly, think about some specific factors for safety when working with cast-in-place concrete.

• Frameworks must be designed, built, braced, and maintained so they can support the structures without compromising any vertical and lateral loads that are applied to them.
• Shoring equipment must be inspected before, during, and after concrete placement.  Sills must be intact and rigid and must be able to carry the max intended load. All base plates, shore heads, extensions, and adjustment screws must be in firm contact and secured with the foundation and in the form.
• For single-post shores additional requirements are needed.
  • They must be designed and inspected by a structural design engineer.
  • Must be vertically aligned and spliced and braced in two perpendicular directions at the splice level, and each tier must also be diagonally braced.
  • Lastly, any adjustments to raise frameworks must be made before placement of concrete.
• Reshoring must be done when the concrete is required to support loads more than its capacity.  It must not be removed until the concrete being supported has attained adequate strength to support its weight as well as all loads placed on it.
• Vertical slip forms must have scaffolds or platforms for employees to work or pass, and forms must be designed to prevent excessive distortion of the structure during jacking.
  • Steel rods and pipes used for jacking or lifting forms must be appropriately designed and braced.
  • Safety limits, such as rates of lift, or rate capacity of jacks, must never be exceeded.
  • And finally, fail safes such as holding devices like mechanical dogs, must be in place in case of lifting mechanism failure.
• In most cases, forms and shores should only be removed after the concrete has enough strength to support its weight and imposed loads.  Strength can be either pre-determined in construction plans so that certain parameters are met, or strength can be determined by testing with an ASTM method designed to indicate compressive strength.

Final Word

Consideration for the structural integrity and strength of the concrete structure is key for concrete safety.  Frameworks and shoring procedures will ensure safety during cast-in-place construction.