Physical & Health Hazards in Construction

Be aware that every chemical substance you handle during the day, whether it is a liquid, solid, vapor, or dust, could cause you great harm if you aren’t protected. Your first line of defense is knowing what each chemical can do to you physically and how it can affect your health. With that knowledge tucked under your tool belt, you can take correct precautions.

Physical Hazards
OSHA found that many chemicals cause fires and explosions. These chemicals are physical hazards. Here are the chemical categories which are considered physical hazards, based on scientific evidence:
•Flammable, combustible, or explosive material.
•Compressed gas.
•Organic peroxide.
•Oxidizer.
•Pyrophoric (spontaneously igniting substance).
•Unstable (reactive) or water-reactive material.

Health Hazards
OSHA found that many chemicals cause health conditions including heart ailments, lung, liver, and kidney damage, cancer, reproductive problems, burns, and dermatitis.
Such health effects can be acute or chronic.
Acute health effects are those which appear rapidly after a brief exposure to the chemical(s).
Chronic health effects are those which appear during and/ or after long-term exposure to a chemical(s).
If there is enough evidence that exposure to a chemical causes acute or chronic health effects, that chemical is a health hazard. Many chemicals are health hazards.

Here are the general chemical categories that are health hazards:
•Carcinogens (cancer-causers) like benzene and formaldehyde.
•Toxic agents like lawn and garden insecticides and arsenic compounds.
•Irritants like bleaches or ammonia.
•Corrosives like battery acid or caustic sodas.
•Sensitizers like creosote or epoxy resins.
•Reproductive toxins like thalidomide or nitrous oxide.
•Organ-specific agents like sulfuric acid (affects skin) or asbestos (affects lungs).

You can determine chemical hazards by looking at the chemical’s label and/or its material safety data sheet (MSDS). To minimize exposure, follow the directions you will find there. Protect yourself by understanding MSDSs and chemical labels, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment like gloves and goggles, following appropriate safe work practices, and knowing proper emergency response. Talk to your safety director about these methods of protection.

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Fire Prevention Plan - On the Job Tool Box Talks

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A fire is one of the costliest accidents a business can have. Even more costly is the death and injury toll from fires and explosions. In one recent year, fires and explosions caused more than 5,000 injuries requiring time off from work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The Fire Prevention Plan

Your company has a written emergency action plan, and as part of that, a fire prevention plan. The reason these plans exist is to help keep workers safe.

You have the right to know about the possible fire hazards in your workplace. The company fire plan should, at a minimum, contain the following:

·          A list of the major workplace fire hazards and their proper handling and storage proce­dures; potential ignition sources and their control procedures; and the type of fire protec­tion equipment or systems which can control a fire involving them.

·           

-        Names or job titles of persons responsible for maintenance of equipment and systems installed to prevent or control ignitions or fires.

·          Names or job titles of persons responsible for control of fuel source hazards.

·          Housekeeping procedures to control accumulations of flammable and combustible waste materials and residues.

·          Procedures for regular maintenance of safeguards installed on heat-producing equipment.

What must my employer do?

The employer is responsible for:

·          Controlling accumulations of flammable and combustible materials through proper housekeeping.

·          Reviewing the fire plan with each employee, and making a written copy available upon request.

·          Reviewing with each employee those parts of the plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency. This shall take place upon initial assignment.

·          Properly maintaining equipment and systems installed on heat producing equipment to prevent fires.

For employers with 10 or more employees, the written fire prevention plan will be in writing and kept in the workplace and made available for employee review.

This information is provided by: Assurance Agency

CSC Classes for May 2015

OSHA 10 Hour for Construction 2 Day Class Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 7:30 am to 4:00 pm  Wednesday, May 6, 2015 - 7:30 am to 1:00 pm OSHA 30 Hour for Construction 4 Day Class  Tuesday, May 5, 2015 Thursday, May 7, 2015 Tuesday, May 12, 2015 Thursday, May 14, 2015 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Signal Person Hazards for Cranes Wednesday, May 6, 2015 7:30 am to 11:30 am Rigging Hazard Awareness Wednesday, May 6, 2015 12 Noon to 4:00 pm AHA First Aid/CPR/AED Friday, May 8, 2015 7:30 am to 1:00 pm Incident Investigations Friday, May 8, 2015 7:30 am to 11:30 am Record keeping Guidelines Friday, May 8, 2015 12 Noon to 4:00 pm OSHA #500 Trainer Course in Occupational Safety and Health for the Construction Industry Monday, May 11, 2015 to Friday, May 15, 2015 7:30 am to 4:00 pm To register contact the National Safety Education Center at 800-656-5317 or online at http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/      Scaffold User and Erector Hazards 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Wednesday, May 13, 2015 40 Hour Hazardous Waster Operations Training (Hazwoper) To register contact the National Safety Education Center at 800-656-5317 or online at http://www.nsec.niu.edu/nsec/ Monday, May 18, 2015 to Friday, May 22, 2015 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Fall Protection Safety for the Competent Person Tuesday, May 26, 2015 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Excavation Safety for the Competent Person Wednesday, May 27, 2015 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Confined Space Entry Thursday, May 28, 2015 7:30 am to 4:00 pm NFPA 70 E Electrical Arc Flash Training and Electrical Safety for Construction. Friday, May 29, 2015 7:30 am to 11:30 am Register Online Print registration form for all classes.     View the Online Calendar

Facts about Noise Tool Box Talks

Measuring Noise

Noise hazard depends on the level (sometimes called intensity) of the noise, its duration, and how often the exposure occurs. The point above which regular exposure to sounds becomes hazardous is a level of about 85 decibels (abbreviated dB, or sometimes dBA which is the value that more closely corresponds to human hearing). Noise is measured using a sound level meter. 

You Don’t Get “Used to Noise”

Noise does not have to be uncomfortably loud, or even painful, to be damaging. You may think your ears are “used to the noise,” but what has probably happened is that your hearing has been temporarily dulled or that hearing loss has already begun. 

A Rule of Thumb

When you feel the need to shout in order to be heard three feet away, the noise levels are probably 85 dBA or more and hearing protectors are recommended. 

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