Safety Articles

Ensuring the safety of workers is of extreme importance for the construction industry. Employers should prioritize safety training to mitigate potential risks. Here, we’ll outline how training your workers offers both the workers and the business are critical factors to consider, along with the overall importance of safety training.

Why Do You Need To Train Your Workers?

Investing in effective safety training demonstrates genuine concern for your workers’ safety and well-being while also valuing their contributions. This fosters a sense of belonging and inspires employees to go above and beyond. Maintaining a positive safety culture is vital on construction sites and achieved through effective safety training.

Why is Effective Safety Training So Necessary?

By implementing effective safety training, the workplace becomes safer. This training assists employees in comprehending the associated risks related to tasks, equipment, or the environment. Moreover, they learn essential safety practices, including the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe handling of tools and equipment, and reporting damage, accidents, and near misses. As a direct outcome of these measures, accidents at the construction site can be notably reduced.

Effective safety training not only increases efficiency but also standardizes work practices, reducing time spent on uncertainty and minimizing poor decision-making. Also, proper cleaning and maintenance training can extend the service life of tools, equipment, and PPE, reducing downtime for repairs and replacements. This ultimately saves the business money on replacement parts and installation costs.

Legal compliance is another reason why effective safety training is important. Employers have a duty to provide meticulous information, instruction, training, and supervision. Failure to provide proper safety training can lead to increased prosecution if an accident or incident occurs. Ensuring that workers, contractors, and visitors are fully aware of the risks they may face and how to work safely helps keep the business legally compliant.

Benefits of Effective Safety Training

Effective safety training offers numerous benefits to both workers and businesses. Not only does it minimize the occurrence of accidents and incidents, thus ensuring the safety of workers and saving companies money in the long run, but it also enhances worker engagement and productivity by fostering a secure work environment.

Effective safety training also plays a pivotal role in shaping the reputation of a business within the community. Businesses with commendable safety records are more likely to attract clients and seize additional business opportunities.

Construction Safety Training Experts

Effective safety training is crucial in the construction industry. It offers numerous benefits for workers and businesses, including enhanced safety, efficiency, legal compliance, and reputation. As an employer, investing in safety training demonstrates your care for your workers and your appreciation for their contribution, fostering a positive safety culture on the construction site.

Do you need assistance from an accredited safety coordinator to design construction safety training programs for your employees? Get in touch with Construction Safety Experts today! Call us at (919) 463-0669 or visit our website to get started.

When we think about workplace safety, we usually think about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations that exist to protect workers. However, did you know that each state can have its own unique OSHA standards on top of the federal ones? If you’re not careful, you could be non-compliant in one state while following all regulations in another. Here’s what you need to know about to avoid being caught off guard.

North Carolina

In North Carolina, firms employing more than 11 workers and with an experience rate modifier of 1.5 or above are mandated to have an employee safety and health committee on their premises. This requirement, outlined in 13 NCAC 07A .0601 (b), is specific to North Carolina; interestingly, there are no requirements for workplace safety committees in Federal OSHA.

Kentucky

Kentucky employees engaged in residential construction activities need to stay protected by safety net systems, personal fall arrest systems, guardrail systems, or any other measure provided in that section when working ten (10) or more feet above a lower level near unprotected sides and edges, leading edges, on formwork and reinforcing steel, a hoist area,  or working on roof slopes three (3) in twelve (12) or less.

Washington

In Washington, any four (4) feet excavation or deeper requires a protective system such as shoring, trench box, sloping, or benching. It’s important to highlight that the threshold for this requirement in the Federal OSHA excavation safety rule (as well as most other state regulations) is at five (5) feet.

Utah

To ensure employee safety, Utah mandates the use of approved safety harnesses that are securely tied above the material level before entering any storage that contains any material that could run or cave. Federal OSHA doesn’t have a standard for this specific situation (but they do have a general confined space entry standard).

Arizona

In Arizona, employers must comply with ADOSH regulations concerning the use of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) piping. Unlike federal OSHA, Arizona prohibits the use of PVC for above-ground installations, specifically for transportation or distribution of compressed air or gasses.

California

California’s Cal-OSHA regulations have an interesting requirement for their steel erection standard. While Federal OSHA regulations demand connectors to use a fall-arrest system when exposed to falls higher than two stories or 30 feet, California allows connectors to “coon” (straddle) the beam. This means they can move between work points or loosen slings at fall distances greater than 30 feet or two stories, while walking with their feet on the lower flanges and sliding their hands across the top flanges.

New Mexico

In New Mexico, the use of a hoe, knife, or fork less than four feet in length for weeding and thinning crops is prohibited. This requirement is not found in Federal OSHA regulations. While this rule may sound peculiar, it’s still needed to follow all state-level regulations to avoid penalties.

Michigan

Employers in Michigan working with aerial lift operators must issue their operators with specific permits for the type of lift they use. These permits are only valid while performing work for the issuing employer and expire after three years, after which they must be re-issued. 

Minnesota

In Minnesota, all affected workers must undergo annual Refresher Hazard communication training. This is unlike Federal OSHA’s Hazcom standard, which doesn’t have an annual refresher training requirement.

Louisiana

According to Louisiana’s regulations, scaffolding must be tagged with a minimum of two tags. One tag is designated by the site foreman, while the other is marked with a sign or color indicating when it should be moved or dismantled.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, employers should maintain written records of hazard communication training conducted for their employees as part of the OSHA Rollout training. The Federal Haz-Com standard doesn’t have a specific documentation requirement for employee training.

Nevada

Nevada’s OSHA program mandates that anyone performing physical work on a construction site must complete an OSHA 10-hour construction course. Supervisors at construction sites, on the other hand, must complete the OSHA 30-hour construction course. Remember, these courses must be retaken every five years, as they are mandatory in Nevada but voluntary under Federal OSHA regulations.

Stay Informed and Compliant of Your State’s OSHA Regulations

Staying up-to-date with both Federal and state OSHA regulations is a must if you wish to avoid any legal or safety hazards. Non-compliance with state-specific safety rules can lead to potential business closure, litigation, unnecessary expenses, or possible injuries at the workplace. So, while you might be following all federal rules, ensure that your business complies with all of your state’s OSHA regulations.

For this reason, it’s always wise to consult with a professional who keeps up with the latest safety requirements to ensure that your business meets or exceeds them every time. If you need help with OSHA compliance or other safety measures for your business, don’t hesitate to contact Construction Safety Experts! Call us at (919) 463-0669 or visit our website to get started.

Risk management is a top priority for any business that handles hazardous chemicals and substances. Unfortunately, it’s also a complex process that requires a deep understanding of safety protocols, regulations, and the inherent dangers of these materials.

Complete a Chemical Risk Assessment

The first step in managing chemical hazards is to conduct a chemical risk assessment. A risk assessment aims to identify the types of chemical hazards at the workplace, identify the safety effects wrought by their exposure, measure the extent of exposure, and assign hazard characterization. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) provide all the necessary information for a complete chemical risk assessment.

Hierarchy of Controls

Once you have completed a chemical risk assessment, the next step is to use the hierarchy of controls. The hierarchy of controls protects workers from chemicals and toxic substances that stresses physical removal of hazards wherever feasible.

Engineering controls sit at the top of the hierarchy and include such measures as installing correct general ventilation and local exhaust ventilation, automating processes to remove operator exposure, enclosure processes to reduce the area of exposure, eliminating sources of ignition from the site, and building a chemical storage system based on inventory storage requirements.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment is the final line of defense in protecting workers who cannot avoid hazardous chemical exposures. It offers front-line protection to workers when used correctly and when workers are trained to use them to handle the chemical. PPE includes overalls and aprons, gloves, chemical-resistant glasses, respiratory protection, and properly-fitted respirators. The PPE must be appropriate for the chemical hazard, and the SDS should include the minimum PPE required for safe handling. Ensure the inspection of all PPE before and after use, and in the event of an incident, remember to treat or replace PPE as needed.

Elimination vs. Substitution

Eliminating hazardous chemicals that aren’t necessary at the workplace is the most effective way to manage chemical hazards. However, elimination is only sometimes simple, so substitution can be considered. Substitution replaces a hazardous material with another less hazardous one. However, it’s crucial to ensure you don’t swap one high-risk hazard for another with lesser-known effects. Implement a change by running a Change Risk Assessment template to understand the potential impact of swapping hazardous chemicals or toxic substances.

Administrative Controls

Administrative controls are supplementary measures that mitigate the impact of chemical hazards in case all other controls fail.

Some examples include creating a written chemical safety program that includes handling procedures, training requirements, etc., reducing chemical inventory to store only the quantities needed, ensuring quick disposal of spent hazardous chemicals, marketing and labeling all containers with chemical names, manufacturer’s name and contact info, and potential hazards associated, exceeding the minimum OSHA chemical training requirements and reducing the number of employees on-site to be exposed to chemicals.

Safety Protocols to Prevent Risk

Proper management of chemical hazards is crucial in ensuring workplace safety. You can achieve this by completing a chemical risk assessment, using the hierarchy of controls to manage chemicals and toxic substances, using personal protective equipment as the final line of defense, eliminating or substituting hazardous chemicals, and implementing administrative controls as supplementary measures.

Failure to manage chemical hazards poses a significant risk to workers, visitors, and the local community. If you need assistance setting-up appropriate workplace safety protocols, contact Construction Safety Experts today at (919) 463-0669, and we’ll help you design a safer working environment.

Ensuring a safe workplace is both a practical necessity and a legal responsibility. Although you may not consider paperwork a central part of your safety plan, following OSHA’s guidelines for recording incidents is not optional. Staying on top of your OSHA record keeping obligations is usually straightforward. More importantly, it’s good for both your employees and your business.

OSHA Records and Reports Required for Your Business

Assuming your company is not too small or in a special low-risk category, you must complete and maintain records of three OSHA forms when a worker is injured.

•   OSHA Form 300. This form names, describes and classifies each workplace injury or illness using standard OSHA criteria and classifications. Required information includes the identity and job of the injured worker, the location and time of the incident and a broad categorization of the injury. The Form 300 incident log provides a top-level survey of your site’s safety performance for the year.
•   OSHA Form 301. The Form 301 Incident Report must always be completed when a worker suffers an illness or injury that you have added to your Form 300 injury log. OSHA Form 301 collects many of the same basic facts about the injury or illness that has occurred, but also includes further details about the incident’s causes and effects. For example, the Incident Report allows you to record any medical treatment the worker received in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
•   OSHA Form 300A. This form is the Summary of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses. You complete a Form 300A report every year, based on the records in your Form 300 log. Form 300A sums up all of the recordable events your workers experienced during the year, with final totals for each significant injury type. Form 300A also collects the annual total of injury-related effects, such as missed work or job duty changes. Your Form 300A summary report must be posted publicly at your workplace and should be submitted via the OSHA Injury Tracking Application if you have at least 20 employees.

What Workplace Events Should Be Reported?

All illnesses and injuries are not equal, and only certain types of injuries belong in the Form 300 log. A minor cut or scrape that only needs an adhesive bandage from your first aid kit is not a recordable event. Conversely, a laceration that requires stitches must be recorded. The usual test is whether the injury or illness requires treatment by a physician or whether it causes lost time from work. Obviously, injuries that result in hospitalization or death must be recorded. In fact, fatalities that follow a workplace accident must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours of the worker’s death. Hospitalizations must be reported within 24 hours.

Proper OSHA record keeping not only protects your company from penalties, but it also provides you with priceless data for building and improving your workplace safety protocols. With a few simple forms, you can meet your regulatory requirements as well as your responsibility to maximize safety for your employees. For more details on safety procedures and OSHA requirements, contact Construction Safety Experts at (919) 463-0669 today.

Electrical hazards on work sites present real dangers to people. There are complex rules and regulations in place to ensure that people who work in construction and related fields have the information and protective gear they need to stay safe. Not everyone has time to become an expert in electrical safety, so here is a brief guide on comprehensive arc flash protection from head to toe.

Understanding Arc Flash Dangers

The first part of building electricity safety knowledge around arc flashes is understanding the dangers of these electrical events. An arc flash happens when an electrical current escapes into the air, or jumps, and either passes into the ground or back into another existing current. Some industries, such as welding, use controlled arc flashes. Some of the most common causes of arc flashes are:

•   Human error
•   Equipment failure
•   Environmental factors
•   Damaged equipment
•   Dropping a conductive tool
•   Using uninsulated tools

Arc flashes release an explosive amount of heat and energy in just microseconds, which is what makes them so dangerous, and they occur in both high and low-voltage situations. Arc flashes can cause serious injury and even death. The best way to deal with arc flashes is to prevent them and provide thorough training to workers. It’s also crucial that everyone working around electrical systems wears appropriate protective equipment.

Suiting Up With the Right PPE

Choosing the right personal protective equipment for the situation can mean the difference between serious injury and safety. Different electrical systems and setups require different levels of protection. Most projects need to begin with an arc flash analysis to determine how much Arc Thermal Protective Value the PPE needs to be rated for as well as what the Energy Break-Open Threshold needs to be. When these factors are clear, then it’s time to stock up on the following protective equipment:

•   Hard hats
•   Arc flash hoods
•   Arc flash face shields
•   Rubber insulating gloves
•   Arc flash coveralls
•   Insulated footwear

Workers need all of these individual pieces of equipment to stay safe when working with and around electricity. People can also choose to purchase an equipment set that includes a hood, coat, and overalls. Sets are usually rated fairly high in terms of electrical protection. In other instances, workers might also need unique items for their industry or for the situation, including things such as hair and beard nets and fall protection.

Saving Lives With Proper Preparation

Since human error plays a major role in most arc flash incidents, project leaders can save lives by making sure their crew members are properly trained in electrical safety. OSHA sets minimum training requirements so that anyone working around or with an electrical system will understand the safety procedures and practices needed for that specific job. Project management should enforce all rules and regulations regarding training and safety equipment on the job, but it’s also every individual’s responsibility to recognize electrical hazards and bring attention to dangerous working conditions.

Ensure the safety and security of your job sites with Construction Safety Experts! Electrical safety is paramount and can save lives while creating a more comfortable work environment for your employees. Take advantage of our comprehensive one-day electrical safety training course to get all your staff on the same page. Don’t wait, call us today at (919) 463-0669 for a consultation quote and take the first step towards a safer workplace!