Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health (IDLH).

A work environment that poses an immediate threat to an employee’s life and health are called Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health (IDLH).

An IDLH condition is one that poses an immediate or delayed threat to life or that would cause irreversible adverse health effects or that would interfere with an individual's ability to escape unaided from a space.

NOTE: Some materials may produce immediate transient effects that, even if severe, may pass without medical attention, but are followed by sudden, possibly fatal collapse 12-72 hours after exposure. The victim "feels normal" from recovery from transient effects until collapse. Such materials in hazardous quantities are considered to be "immediately" dangerous to life or health.

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Potential IDLH Environments in Construction

Because of their potential to contain hazardous atmospheres, confined or enclosed spaces are suspect IDLH environments.

Confined & Enclosed Spaces:

• Storage Tanks
• Process Vessels
• Bins
• Boilers
• Ventilation or Exhaust Ducts
• Sewers & Manholes
• Underground Utility Vaults
• Tunnels
• Pipelines
• Open top spaces more than 4 feet in depth
• Temporary Enclosures (heating enclosures for break)
• Dumpsters
• Stair-wells
• Elevator Shafts

• Basements
• Attics
• Trenches & Excavations
  
• Hazardous atmospheres may exist in trenches. When a trench reaches a depth of 4 feet, they must be evaluated for IDLH conditions by a competent person.
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145 Hour Construction Safety Administrator Course-Graduation

Graduates Honored at Dinner in Oak Brook

On May 16 at the Volare Ristorante Italiano in Oak Brook, seventeen jubilant people graduated and received their diplomas, hazard awareness certificates and other completion cards at the conclusion of the 145 Hour Construction Safety Administrator Course, a six month course that covered almost every aspect of construction safety.  Students of the class attended sessions each Tuesday and Thursday evening from December 4, 2012 through May 16, 2013 learning safety concepts taught by a variety of instructors that included safety professionals and construction-related industry experts and consultants.      

 Pictured from left to right:

Tom Carter (Local 501 – Pipefitters), John Brennan (Bear Construction), Dan Kenevan (Advent Solutions), Jeff Huckaby (Walsh Construction ), Ryan McGinnis (Kenny Construction), Rachael Dolecki (McHugh Construction), LaToyia Huggins (Riteway-Huggins Construction),  Joe Payne (McHugh Construction), Jared Baker (Kenny Construction), Jim Hanke, Keith Collins (Local 1- Ironworkers), Greg Pestine (Robson Forensic), Matt Dooper (Michels Corp.),  Doran Durling (HBK Engineering), Matt Golden (Berger Excavating), Mike Wogronic (Brandenburg Demolition), Randal Geesey (Solutions Mechanical).

The 145 Hour Construction Safety Administrator Course is offered once annually, and is designed for serious working professionals who are looking either to begin a career in construction safety or broaden and update their existing knowledge of construction safety.  The content and field trip experiences of three integrated learning modules take place within 145 contact hours.  The knowledge and experiences gained from the course enable safety personnel to initiate and maintain a top-notch safety program.  Topics such as safety program development, orientation and training, electrical hazards, excavation hazards, scaffold safety, rigging and signaling in and around cranes, recordkeeping, hazard communication, legal implications of safety and many more are included. 

Module 1 topics include Physical Hazards in Construction

Module 2 topics include Health Hazards and Emergency Preparedness

Module 3 topics include Administrative programs and OSHA Compliance.

The next class will begin on December 3, 2013.  Information will be available on the website on June 1, 2013, or call 708-544-2082, ext. 202.

Stay Safe on Portable Ladders - Tool Box Safety Talks

Overview

Your ladder can be a great help on the job. It is uncomplicated and simple to use. But don't be fooled; you shouldn't take ladder safety for granted. As with any other workplace task, care is required on ladders to maintain your safety. The following points serve as guidelines for portable ladder use. 

 1. Use the ladder only for its intended purpose. Don't use step ladders as single ladders or when partially closed. Likewise, don't climb the back sections of combination ladders, when used as step ladders. 

2. Don't use a ladder as a brace, skid, lever, guy or gin pole, gangway, platform, scaffold, plank, material hoist, or any other use for which it was not intended.  

3. Don't build makeshift ladders out of chairs, benches, or boxes. If the job calls for a ladder, take the time to find one. 

4. Don't set up a ladder on a scaffold to gain extra height.  

5. Make sure there's only one person on a ladder at a time. 

6. Don't move a ladder while anyone is on it.  

7. Check the ladder's condition before climbing. Don't use a ladder with broken or cracked rails or rungs or with rungs made slippery by grease or oil. The ladder should have safety feet and sit on a firm, level surface. 

8. Don't use ladders on ice, snow, or other slippery surfaces.  

9. Don't place a ladder on boxes or blocks to make it taller. 

10. Face front and use both hands as you climb.

11. Don't overreach from a ladder. If your waist reaches past the uprights, you've gone too far—move the ladder. 

12. Set ladders up properly by using the 4 to 1 rule. The distance from the wall to the base of the ladder should be one-fourth the distance from the base of the ladder to where it touches the wall.  

13. Set up ladders so that the tops of the rails are supported equally. Avoid supporting the top of the ladder at a window or wall opening, but when you must, attach a support across the back of the ladder that is wider than the window opening. 

14. Don't set up a ladder in front of a door, unless the door is locked or kept from opening.  

15. Fully open stepladders so that spreaders are locked and the feet are level and firmly supported. 

16. Set up extension ladders so that the top section rests on the base section, with the rung locks engaged.  

17. Hoist tools or materials up to you after you reach the top of the ladder. You need both hands for climbing. 

18. Don't stand on top of a step ladder. Also be careful not to get too close to the top of an extension or straight ladder.  

 19. Be careful when using ladders around electrical circuits. Keep the ladder from getting too near or hitting any energized circuit or conductor. 

20. When you use a ladder to climb onto a roof: 

a. Make sure it extends 3 feet above the point of support at the roof line.

b. Tie the ladder down to prevent slipping before climbing up.

c. Take care not to tip the ladder sideways and avoid having the base slide.

[MORE]

Provided by: Safety 360 Assurance

 

Seven Common Causes of Incidents - On the Job Safety Talks

Consider this statistic: 80 out of every 100 incidents are the fault of the person involved in the incident. Unsafe Acts cause four times as many incidents & injuries as unsafe conditions. 



Incidents occur for many reasons. In most industries people tend to look for "things" to blame when an incident happens, because it's easier than looking for "root causes," such as those listed below. Consider the
underlying incident causes described. Have you been guilty of any of these attitudes or behaviors? If so, you may have not been injured-but next time you may not be so lucky.

Taking Shortcuts: Every day we make decisions we hope will make the job faster and more efficient. But do time savers ever risk your own safety, or that of other crew members? Short cuts that reduce your safety on the job are not shortcuts, but an increased chance for injury.

Being Over Confident: Confidence is a good thing. Overconfidence is too much of a good thing. "It'll never happen to me" is an attitude that can lead to improper procedures, tools, or methods in your work. Any of these can lead to an injury. 

Starting a Task with Incomplete Instructions: To do the job safely and right the first time you need complete information. Have you ever seen a worker sent to do a job, having been given only a part of the job's instructions? Don't be shy about asking for explanations about work procedures and safety precautions. It isn't dumb to ask questions; it's dumb not to. 

Poor Housekeeping: When clients, managers or safety professionals walk through your work site, housekeeping is an accurate indicator of everyone's attitude about quality, production and safety. Poor housekeeping creates hazards of all types. A well maintained area sets a standard for others to follow. Good housekeeping involves both pride and safety

Ignoring Safety Procedures: Purposely failing to observe safety procedures can endanger you and your co-workers. You are being paid to follow the company safety policies-not to make your own rules. Being "casual" about safety can lead to a casualty!

Mental Distractions from Work: Having a bad day at home and worrying about it at work is a hazardous combination. Dropping your 'mental' guard can pull your focus away from safe work procedures. You can also be distracted when you're busy working and a friend comes by to talk while you are trying to work. Don't become a statistic because you took your eyes off the machine "just for
a minute." 

Failure to Pre-Plan the Work: There is a lot of talk today about Job Hazard Analysis. JHA's are an effective way to figure out the smartest ways to work safely and effectively. Being hasty in starting a task, or not thinking through the process can put you in harm’s way. Instead, Plan Your Work and then Work Your Plan! 

"It is better to be careful 100 times than to get killed once." (Mark Twain)
 
Safety 360 Assurance