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.

---

 

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.
  [MORE]
  

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.