Construction Self-Inspection Guide This presentation covers some of the most frequently cited safety and health violations which cause a majority of fatalities and injuries in construction. For specific information, refer to safety and health standards – Chapters 155, 24, 62 and 800(the Core Rules)

Most commonly cited hazards Written programs Accident prevention Fall protection work plan Hazardous chemical communication Respirators Lockout/tagout Direct hazards Fall protection Personal protective equipment Excavation and shoring Eye/body wash Live electrical parts Noise exposure Machine guarding This short list of “Direct Hazards” are items that should be found on you Safety Inspection Checklist. This is not a complete list, ONLY a start.

Minimum 10 foot clearance Power Lines Minimum 10 foot clearance

Electric power lines Equipment & persons Under 50 kv Over 50 kv 10’ distance Over 50 kv 0.4” per kv above 50 kv Access by qualified electrical utility workers only 10’ Min This is one of the items on the Construction Attitudes Checklist.

Electrical Hazards No cage around bulb Improper Grounding Normally, the ground pin doesn’t carry current. When a fault develops in the tool such that a power lead touches the body of the tool, then current can flow through an employee who touches the tool. A ground wire attached to the body of the tool will cause a short circuit and trip the breaker shutting off power when 15-20 amps are passing through the circuit. GFCI is better. It senses the current flow through the hot and neutral. If it detects a 5 ma difference between the two, it will shut off the power. On construction sites, where moisture is frequently present and cords are easily subjected to damage, employers are required to implement an assured grounding program that tests the ground on cords and tools periodically and color codes the cords. Alternatively, GFCIs can be used on the construction site. Some tools are “double insulated” so that there is no possibility of touching energized metal parts in a malfunctioning tool. These tools specifically state that they are double insulated or have a double insulated symbol: No cage around bulb Improper Grounding Exposed live circuits

Electrical Hazards All temporary power must be GFCI-protected All electrical circuits and connections must be approved

Trenching/Excavation Any trench four feet deep or more must be protected. Example of shoring and a trench box Needs a trench box

Openings with a drop of four feet or more must be guarded Guardrails Openings with a drop of four feet or more must be guarded

Standard Guardrail Specification Top rail 39–45 inches with mid-rail 200 pound load requirement No mid-rail and very risky behavior

Scaffolding Fully planked and with guardrails

Stairways Four or more risers must have handrails No handrails or guardrails

Fall Protection Fall protection must be provided at elevations of ten feet or greater. Fall Restraint prevents you from leaving the roof. Includes either a belt, harness or guardrails. Belt or harness anchorage point must be rated for 4 times intended load. Fall Arrest catches you in a fall and means a full body harness. A maximum 6’ fall is allowed. Includes a 5000 pound lanyard, lifeline and anchorage strength, or 3000 pound strength when deceleration devices are used and fall distance is limited to 2 feet.

Fall Protection Workplan A complete work plan This work plan is too sketchy

Augers, Pulleys, Chains & Sprockets properly guarded cement mixer auger Unguarded nip points The most common offenders on a construction site are: - Table saw - Belt and pulley on the motor. - Air compressor - Belt and pulley on the motor. - Cement mixer - Chain and sprocket and auger.

All Power Saws Must be Guarded Needs a blade guard Properly guarded

Incomplete guard Front Blade periphery Right side Left side The standard requires the the point of operation be guarded against contact from all directions. This guard has a missing component. Some manufacturers do make inadequate guards. The standard requires the point of operation be guarded against contact from all directions. This guard has a missing component.

Incomplete Guard Radial arm saw Requirements Upper and lower blade guard Gentle return upon release Blade cannot extend beyond edge of table Remember that BOTH side of the blade MUST be guarded. Blade guards bust be checked regularly to ensure that they are operating as designed and NOT pinned up. Radial saw doesn’t have lower guard on blade Standard guard is not always convenient for production use. Clear Lexan guard extends 8” from blade in all directions. Adjusted to ride above stock. Fabricated guard. Gentle return upon release Saw must not travel beyond the end of the table. Lower guard is missing Remember that BOTH side of the blade MUST be guarded. Blade guards must be checked regularly to ensure that they are operating as designed and NOT pinned up. Standard guard is not always convenient for production use. Note: Non-skid surface must be on floor in front of dangerous power tools.

Angle Grinders - 180° Guard Required

Ladders Must extend 36 inches above landing Secure to prevent displacement Yes No!!

Articulating Boomlift Full body harness required at all times

Floor & roof holes/openings Covered and secured with no tripping hazards. A fatality occurred here!!

Minimum Clothing At least a short-sleeve shirt, long pants and substantial footwear required Yes No!!

Hard Hats Readily accessible Must be worn whenever overhead hazards exist

Compressed Gas Cylinders Must be stored properly Chained, but can’t store acetylene next to oxygen No chains

Vehicular Traffic Hazards Employees must wear high-visibility apparel on road projects

Housekeeping During construction, continuous cleanup is required to eliminate tripping hazards This needs cleanup!

First Aid Kits & Training First-aid supplies must be readily available

Accident Prevention Program Written in outline format Tailored to the particular operation Weekly leader/crew safety meetings Weekly walk-around safety inspections

Crew-leader Meetings Document meetings and attendance

Personal Protective Equipment Deficiencies in PPE include: Failure to use Improper use Lack of maintenance Not replaced when worn out Out of date hardhat weakened by UV rays

Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention Construction is a noisy activity and many construction workers suffer mild to severe hearing loss. There is really no such thing as “tough ears” or “getting used to it”. The best protection is earmuffs or earplugs worn at all times when working with or around noisy equipment.

Chemical Hazard Communication For chemicals used at the worksite, be sure to have: Container labels Material safety data sheets (MSDS) Employee training Of the special programs we’ve talked about, the hazard chemical communication program is the most commonly needed. If you use a coded system of labeling such as shown in the slide, your program must contain an explanation of the system or include explanatory material from the manufacturer of a commercial system.

Use emergency washing equipment for: Corrosives - that destroy tissue and eyes include acids and caustics includes chemicals with pH less than 2.5 or more than 11 Strong Irritants - that cause an inflammatory effect at point of contact Toxic Chemicals - that are absorbed through the skin and cause ill health effects

WISHA Consultation Services Safety & health program review and worksite evaluation is available: By employer invitation only Free and confidential No citations or penalties Letter explains findings Follow-up all serious hazards A comprehensive consultation visit will lower but not remove your business’s name from the current cycle of scheduled compliance inspections but will not exempt you from imminent danger fatality accident complaint/referral inspections by compliance Comprehensive consultation means a review of injury data, all written safety programs, physical walk through of the entire workplace, written report to the employer and confirmation of correction of all serious hazards identified. For additional assistance, you can call one of our consultants. Click below for local L & I office locations: http://www.lni.wa.gov/wisha/consultation/regional_consultants.htm