1. USDA - NRCS Field Construction & Safety 1

2.  Learn to recognize potential hazards and safety violations  Understand how the NRCS deals with safety and field office construction  Understand the role of the OSHA regulations  Understand policy related to safety and field offices  Understand how to do your part to insure that the work is carried out in a safe manner Objectives 2

3. Potential Hazards 3

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5. TSP 5

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10.  Introduction  OSHA  NRCS Policy  Field Construction Safety  Responsibility and Authority Subjects 10

11. Why is NRCS concerned?  Our employees safety and the safety of others  NRCS employees should be competent in recognizing unsafe conditions.  Know what options for action are available in every work situation we may encounter Intro 11

12.  Introduction  OSHA  NRCS Policy  Field Construction Safety  Responsibility and Authority 12 OSHA

13.  OSHA - Occupational Safety and Health Administration  OSHA is charged with making sure that, “No contractor (or employee) shall require any laborer or mechanic employed in the performance of the contract to work in surroundings or under working conditions which are unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to his/her health or safety.” OSHA 13

14. 29 CFR, Labor refers to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations dealing with Labor Part 1910 - Occupational Safety and Health StandardsPart 1926 - Safety and Health Regulations for Construction OSHA 14

15.  Introduction  OSHA  NRCS Policy  Field Office Construction Safety  Responsibility and Authority 15 NRCS Policy

16. General Manual  Title 110 - Management –Part 402 - Safety and Health Standards for Non-NRCS Employees ▪ Subpart A - Policy ▪ Subpart B - Contracts, Projects, and Technical Assistance 16 NRCS Policy

17. 17 “Therefore, whenever NRCS participates in any activity, standards for reasonable conditions of safety and health are to prevail. These standards must be made clear to all participants--the owner, the contractor, and NRCS personnel. Responsible NRCS officials are to be fully informed about actions to take when violations occur, and they are to make certain that other participants are informed.” NRCS Policy

18. 18 “Reasonable standards” are standards that are in accordance with Federal (OSHA), State, and local laws and regulations and other safety and health practices prescribed by the owner. “Significant violations” are conditions that are an immediate threat to the owner, the contractor, or NRCS personnel; for example, equipment working in very close proximity to electric lines or natural gas lines, laborers working in a deep trench without shoring where soil conditions are unstable, or a bulldozer operating on a very steep slope. NRCS Policy

19. General Manual  Title 360 – Human Resources –Part 420 - Safety and Health Management Program ▪ Subpart R – Hazard Communication Program ▪ Subpart W – Radiation Safety Program 19 NRCS Policy

20. 20 Hazard Communication Program information must be provided to NRCS employees so that they can make appropriate use and interpretation of hazard warning labels, safety data sheets, and employee training programs. NRCS Policy

21. 21 Know what is out there before going into a field Consult with the land owner, read the label, and follow precautions

22. 22 Know where the SDS is for items in the workplace

23. 23 Know where the SDS is for items in the workplace

24. 24 Use proper safety equipment when using ATV or UTV Store gasoline and other flammable liquids in proper safety containers

25. 25 This section is labeled “RIGHT TO KNOW LAWS AND YOU” and it discusses the requirements of Manufacturers, NRCS, and NRCS Employees concerning chemical and biological agents. Manufacturers must label agents properly and provide SDS for them NRCS must determine if agents are in the workplace, keep a list, inform employees, provide training, provide protective or safety equipment, and provide SDS for them. Employees assigned to work with agents must receive training, know where SDS are located, and know what to do in emergencies. NRCS Policy

26. 26 This section addresses permitting and training requirements for using nuclear gauges. Department wide permit to own and use radiation emanating equipment. Issued by US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Use permits issued to NRCS individuals (responsible users) by the Radiation Safety Staff which is now part of the Department of Homeland Security. Training requirements for use and transportation NRCS Policy

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28.  Introduction  OSHA  NRCS Policy  Field Office Construction Safety  Responsibility and Authority 28

29. Subpart A – Engineering Activities Affecting Utilities  Deals with both site investigations and construction of engineering practices  Minimize hazards from or damage to overhead and underground utilities  Inform all parties about liabilities  NRCS potential liability during site investigations  Clearly show known utilities on drawings and specify that landowner or contractor is required to contact utility or One Call system 29

30. Subpart A – Engineering Activities Affecting Utilities  Subsurface investigation or construction  NRCS employee must check with owner- operator about underground utilities  Check for utility markers during field inspection or planning 30

31. Example of Field Markers 31

32. Example of Field Markers 32

33. Example of Field Markers 33

34. Example of Field Markers 34

35.  If buried utilities are known to be in the vicinity of the proposed work  NRCS employee must notify owner-operator or sponsor about underground utilities and their responsibilities 35

36.  Owner-operator must:  Notify the utility or Utility Notification Center  Request a locate, both horizontal and vertical  Request a utility representative be on site  Notify contractor of the utility location  Supply to NRCS in writing that the utility company has been notified or supply a ticket number from Utility Notification Center  Failure to notify NRCS will result in termination of assistance 36

37.  Document that notification has occurred  Safety checklist  Assistance notes  Other NRCS must follow State laws, so individual state policy may vary, but must be equivalent to 503.4 37

38. Subpart B – Public Safety at Structure Sites  NRCS designs should incorporate safety measures (warning signs, guard rails, fence, etc)  Maintenance of steep slopes (dams) ▪ Caution on equipment operation ▪ ROPS ▪ Note in O&M plans ▪ Specify safe procedures in O&M plans 38

39. Subpart G - Safety  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)  NRCS will issue a hard hat to employees on a construction site  States will determine the need for other PPE  Employees must comply with safety and health requirements, wear prescribed equipment, report unsafe conditions, prevent avoidable accidents, and work in a safe manner 39

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41.  Introduction  OSHA  NRCS Policy  Field Office Construction Safety  Responsibility and Authority 41 NRCS Policy

42. Construction Safety and Health  Significant safety violations  Procedures vary with type of construction contract  Federal Contract  CLO contract  Owner and Contractor 42

43. Significant Safety Violations  Owner and Contractor  Owner directs work of the Contractor  NRCS personnel inform contractor of safety concerns  Notify owner to take corrective action  Inform owner that Federal assistance can be withdrawn for failure to comply with safety regulations  If serious, can call local law enforcement or OSHA  Document the facts, with photos, in job diary or assistance notes 43

44. Pre-Construction meeting  Discuss safety requirements and possible significant safety violations ▪ OSHA requirements (trenches, equipment, steel reinforcement, etc) ▪ Utility notification, locate, and representative on site ▪ Work on steep slopes 44

45.  Excavations, trenching, and shoring  workers in trenches >5’ deep protected  shoring designed to meet accepted engineering standards  trench supports installed during excavation  ladders provided no more than 25’ apart  refer to 1926.650 Subpart P - Excavations and Appendices OSHA 45

46. OSHA 46

47. 47 Seatbelts, ROPS, and backup alarms required on all off-highway vehicles manufactured after September 1972 ROPS not required on highway vehicles OSHA

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49.  Concrete, concrete forms  excavations sloped or shored  no work above vertical unprotected rebar  no workers under suspended buckets OSHA 49

50. OSHA 50

51. OSHA 51

52. Utility Notification 52

53. Utility Notification 53

54. OSHA 54

55. OSHA 55

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58. 58 Note: PPE does not include PFD or SCUBA gear

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61. 61 Kansas tornado near Salina 4/15/2012

62. OSHA 62

63. 63 Brace yourself before looking at the following image. A pilot at low level lost control of his aircraft. It narrowly missed a crowd gathered for the air show and slammed into four buildings. One can only imagine the horror of the occupants inside those buildings and can only imagine what they might have said in their last moments.

64. 64 Review Be aware of potential hazards Know your responsibilities Communicate Oh &#*!