From Spring 2022 of Connected.
The saying, “safety first,” rings true, especially these days. While the goal of safety initiatives on jobsites is preventative in nature, these programs also seek to address and eliminate the physical and financial hardships these events can cause workers, their families and employers. It is the duty of the employer to ensure their workers make it home to their families safely.
HOW CAN YOU ENSURE A COMMITMENT TO SAFETY?
To start, you must understand you can only control what is in your purview. Even as material costs and the costs of fuel rise, worker safety is still well within the control of both the employer and employee. There are numerous resources to create and manage safety expectations, ranging from OSHA safety checklists, personal protective equipment recommendations and tools to work smarter while keeping workers safe.
1.) PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
The best place to start with keeping yourself and coworkers safe is with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Using the right equipment can significantly improve employee safety.
According to OSHA, PPE is worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses. These include potential contact with chemical, radiological, physical, electrical, mechanical or other workplace hazards.
PPE can include gloves, safety glasses, shoes, earplugs or muffs, hard hats, respirators, coveralls, vests and full body suits. It is important that PPE is safely designed, fits properly and is well maintained. Kirby Risk carries a number of PPE products from manufacturers that keep safety top of mind and design.
2.) VOLTAGE TESTERS
A voltage tester is a must for electrical work at a jobsite. Voltage testers look for grounding or if a wire is live. IDEAL® Electrical has a product family of non-contact voltage testers. These testers provide voltage detection through non-contact means to alert workers of potential harm from live current. Many of these testers even include a flashlight feature to help in environments with less than optimal lighting.
3.) LOCKOUT/TAGOUT
If equipment is broken or being repaired on the jobsite, most workers understand not to use it. But, how do you ensure everyone is aware of this fact? That’s where use of lockout/tagout becomes important.
According to Panduit’s blog on the Importance of Lockout/Tagout, “Lockout/Tagout refers to specific practices and procedures to safeguard employees from the unexpected energization or startup of machinery and equipment, or the release of hazardous energy.” The Panduit PSL-PK-EA electrician lockout kit contains a variety of lockout/tagout devices commonly used by electricians that include a padlock, tags and a carrying pouch.
4.) MATERIAL HANDLING
Material handling is another area that has led to the development of products that improve workplace safety. The movement of goods from one location to another poses its own set of potential jobsite hazards. Southwire offers a variety of wire handling carts and jacks that work in conjunction with their SIMpull solutions, and can decrease jobsite injuries.
Southwire’s SIMpull CoilPaks help you work smarter by offering a lower weight solution to traditional spools of circuit wire. Couple the CoilPAKs with Southwire’s SIMpull CoilPAK cart and reduce scrap wire while reducing the required pulling tension and physical strain on your team.
Want to know more about how Southwire’s product solutions can increase safety on your jobsite? Call your Kirby Risk representative today and we can set up a demonstration.
5.) SILICA DUST MANAGEMENT
According to an OSHA Fact Sheet, “workers who are exposed to respirable crystalline silica dust are at increased risk of developing serious silica-related diseases. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can occur during common construction tasks, such as using masonry saws, grinders, drills, jackhammers and handheld powered chipping tools; operating vehicle mounted drilling rigs; milling; operating crushing machines; using heavy equipment for demolition or certain other tasks; and during abrasive blasting and tunneling operations.”
OSHA’s standard (29 CFR 1926.1153) requires employers to take steps to protect workers from exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Milwaukee Tools dust extraction solutions deliver compliance and safety, with products that can integrate directly onto their SDS Plus Rotary Hammers.
We know a safe workplace is sound business. So, put on your PPE, load your tool bag with the right tools, work safely, and go home at the end of the day.