Today's safety topic
Finding today's topic from your date. The full 31-day rotation is below.
How to run a daily topic
A daily topic works when it is short and specific. OSHA's construction recommended practices list daily planning meetings, huddles, toolbox talks and tailgate meetings as ways to involve workers in the safety program. [OSHA] The construction training rule behind all of them is that each worker is instructed in recognizing and avoiding unsafe conditions and in the rules that apply to the work. [OSHA] So:
- Read the three or four points. Say where that hazard is on this site today.
- Ask the question and wait. OSHA's training guidance says adults learn more when they take part and when their own experience is drawn on. [OSHA]
- Write down anything the crew raises that needs fixing, and tell them later what happened to it. Reporting back on concerns is one of OSHA's recommended practices for worker participation. [OSHA]
- If you want a record, print the rotation and have people sign the sheet at the bottom of this page.
The 31-day rotation
Every talk in the rotation, in order. Day 1 falls on January 1 and the cycle repeats every 31 days, so the topic shown above is whichever one your date lands on.
Day 1: Setting up a ladder
- Base out one quarter of the working length: a 12-foot run up the ladder means the feet sit about 3 feet from the wall. [OSHA]
- If the ladder is your way onto a roof or landing, the rails reach at least 3 feet above it, or the top is tied off and a grab rail is fitted. [OSHA]
- Only on a stable, level surface unless it is secured; never on boxes or barrels for extra height. [OSHA]
- Look up for power lines before you carry the ladder anywhere. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Which ladder on this site is set up at the wrong angle right now, and who is going to fix it?
Day 2: Six feet and you are in
- On construction work, an unprotected edge 6 feet or more above the next level means guardrails, a net or a personal fall arrest system. [OSHA]
- Your harness and lanyard get looked over before every use; anything worn or damaged comes out of service. [OSHA]
- Somebody has to be able to get you down fast after a fall: the employer must plan for prompt rescue or make sure you can rescue yourself. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: If someone fell and was hanging in a harness on this job, how would we get them down, and how long would it take?
Day 3: Before you step on a scaffold
- A competent person inspects every scaffold for visible defects before each shift and after anything that could have affected it. [OSHA]
- More than 10 feet up means fall protection for everyone on the platform. [OSHA]
- Climb a ladder, stair tower or ramp onto the platform; crossbraces are not a ladder. [OSHA]
- Toeboards, screens or debris nets protect the people below from dropped tools, and your hard hat is in addition to that, not instead of it. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Who inspected the scaffold this morning, and what did they look at?
Day 4: Cords and GFCIs
- Every 120-volt, 15- or 20-amp outlet on site that is not part of the permanent wiring has GFCI protection. [OSHA]
- A worn or frayed cord is not used, and no cord is stapled up, hung on a nail or hung by wire. [OSHA]
- Tool cords are three-wire and rated for hard or extra-hard use. [OSHA]
- Keep cords out of walkways and work areas where they can trip someone. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Pull the cord you are about to use through your hands. Any cuts, exposed wire, or a missing ground pin?
Day 5: Backing up
- A truck with a blocked rear view backs up only with a reverse alarm louder than the site, or with a spotter signaling. [OSHA]
- Loaders, dozers and rollers need a horn that can be heard over the noise, and it gets used in both directions. [OSHA]
- Brakes, tires, horn, steering, seat belts and controls are checked at the start of every shift, and defects are fixed before the vehicle moves. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Who is the spotter today, and where do they stand so the driver can always see them?
Day 6: Four numbers for a trench
- 5 feet: from this depth a trench needs a protective system unless it is cut entirely in stable rock. [OSHA]
- 4 feet: from this depth there must be a ladder, stairway or ramp within 25 feet of everyone in the trench. [OSHA]
- 2 feet: spoil and equipment stay at least this far back from the edge. [OSHA]
- Every day: a competent person inspects before work and after every rainstorm. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: How deep is today's cut, and where is the ladder?
Day 7: Housekeeping is a safety control
- Scrap lumber with nails sticking out, and any other debris, is kept out of work areas, passageways and stairs. [OSHA]
- Combustible scrap is removed at regular intervals, with a safe way to get it out. [OSHA]
- Oily rags and flammable waste go in covered containers. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Where does scrap pile up on this job, and when was it last cleared?
Day 8: Hard hats and safety glasses
- Hard hats are worn where there is any chance of head injury from impact, falling or flying objects, or electrical shock. [OSHA]
- Eye or face protection is used against flying particles, molten metal, chemicals, gases, vapors and harmful light. [OSHA]
- Where flying objects are the hazard, the glasses must have side protection; clip-on side shields that meet the rule count. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Which task today throws chips or sparks, and does everyone near it have side shields?
Day 9: Hearing you do not get back
- If you have to raise your voice to someone 3 feet away, the noise may be over 85 decibels, loud enough to damage hearing. [OSHA]
- Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent; surgery and medicine cannot fix it. [OSHA]
- On construction sites, when noise is above the Table D-2 levels, controls come first and hearing protection covers the rest. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Who went home last week with ringing ears, and what were they running?
Day 10: Silica dust
- Cutting, grinding, drilling or crushing concrete, brick, block, stone or mortar makes respirable silica dust. [OSHA]
- For each task on Table 1, the listed water or vacuum control and any respirator are used in full, unless exposure is measured instead. [OSHA]
- No dry sweeping or dry brushing where it could add to exposure, unless wet methods or HEPA vacuuming are not feasible. [OSHA]
- The diseases, silicosis, lung cancer, COPD and kidney disease, usually show up after years of exposure. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Which saw or grinder on site today cuts masonry, and is its water or vacuum attachment working?
Day 11: Where the safety data sheets are
- Copies of every SDS are kept on site and readily accessible to you during your shift, on paper or electronically with no barrier. [OSHA]
- Every SDS has 16 sections in the same order: section 2 is the hazards, section 4 first aid, section 8 exposure controls and PPE. [OSHA]
- Training on a chemical happens at first assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard comes to the site. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Where is the SDS binder or link on this site, and which product did we bring in most recently?
Day 12: Five rules for tools
- Keep tools maintained, use the right tool for the job, check each tool before use, follow the manufacturer's instructions, and wear the right PPE. [OSHA]
- If a power tool is designed to take a guard, the guard is on when the tool is in use. [OSHA]
- Air tools are secured to the hose so they cannot blow off, and compressed air is not used for cleaning above 30 psi. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Which tool on this site has had its guard removed or tied back?
Day 13: Lock it out
- The unexpected start-up or release of stored energy while servicing a machine can crush, burn, cut or electrocute. [OSHA]
- The sequence under 1910.147 is fixed: prepare, shut down, isolate, apply the lock or tag, release stored energy, then verify it is dead before you start. [OSHA]
- Your lock comes off by your hand only, unless the employer has a documented procedure for when you are not available. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: What stored energy is in the machine you are servicing today, besides the electricity?
Day 14: Fire extinguishers
- On a construction site, a 2A-rated extinguisher is provided for each 3,000 square feet of protected building, with no more than 100 feet of travel to reach one. [OSHA]
- Multistory buildings have at least one on each floor, next to the stairway. [OSHA]
- In general industry workplaces, extinguishers are visually inspected monthly and maintained annually. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Point to the nearest extinguisher from where you are standing. How long would it take you to reach it?
Day 15: Flammable liquids
- Only approved containers and safety cans are used for flammable liquids in quantities of 5 gallons or less. [OSHA]
- No more than 25 gallons are stored in a room outside an approved storage cabinet. [OSHA]
- Category 1, 2 or 3 flammable liquids are used only where there is no open flame or ignition source within 50 feet. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Where is fuel stored on this site, and what is within 50 feet of it?
Day 16: Welding and cutting fire watch
- Move the work to a safe place if you can; if not, move the fire hazards away or protect them. [OSHA]
- If neither is possible, confine the heat, sparks and slag with positive means. [OSHA]
- Fire extinguishing equipment is immediately available and ready in the work area. [OSHA]
- When normal precautions are not enough, a fire watcher is assigned during the work and long enough afterward to be sure nothing is smoldering. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Who is the fire watch for today's hot work, and how long do they stay after the torch goes off?
Day 17: Compressed gas cylinders
- Valve protection caps are in place and secured. [OSHA]
- Cylinders stay upright and secured, except briefly while being hoisted or carried. [OSHA]
- Stored oxygen is kept 20 feet from fuel gas and from oil or grease, or behind a 5-foot barrier with a half-hour fire rating. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Walk to the cylinder storage. Are the oxygen and acetylene 20 feet apart or separated by a rated wall?
Day 18: Heat: water, rest, shade
- Drink on a schedule, not when you feel thirsty; on jobs over two hours, electrolyte drinks are needed as well as water. [OSHA]
- Breaks get longer and more frequent as the heat rises, and skipping them in hot conditions is not safe. [OSHA]
- Assume anyone who has done this job for less than one to two weeks is not acclimatized. [OSHA]
- Confusion, slurred speech or passing out are heat stroke: call 911 and cool the person with ice or cold water until help arrives. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Who on this crew is in their first two weeks, and who is keeping an eye on them this afternoon?
Day 19: Cold stress
- The four cold injuries are hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot and chilblains. [OSHA]
- Wet feet lose heat 25 times faster than dry feet, so wet boots are the first thing to fix. [OSHA]
- Warm, dry break areas used often, warm sweet drinks and the buddy system are the controls OSHA lists. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Who has a dry spare pair of socks and gloves in their truck today?
Day 20: When thunder roars
- If you hear thunder, even far off, get to a safe place at once: thunder means lightning. [OSHA]
- A fully enclosed building with wiring and plumbing is the shelter of choice; a hard-topped metal vehicle with the windows up is the fallback. [OSHA]
- Stay sheltered for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder. [OSHA]
- Do not start a task you cannot stop quickly when storms are building. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Which building or vehicles are our lightning shelter on this site, and how long does it take to reach them from the far end?
Day 21: Forklifts and people on foot
- Only operators who have completed training and evaluation drive, and every truck is examined at least daily before use. [OSHA]
- Slow down and sound the horn at cross aisles and anywhere vision is blocked; drive with the load trailing if it blocks the view. [OSHA]
- An unattended truck has forks down, controls neutral, power off and brakes set. [OSHA]
- No riders, and never lift a person on the forks. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Where do forklifts and people on foot cross paths in this building, and how is that crossing marked?
Day 22: Aerial lifts
- Feet on the floor of the basket, never on the rails, a plank or a ladder. [OSHA]
- A body belt and lanyard attached to the boom or basket, and never belted off to a pole or structure beside you. [OSHA]
- Treat every overhead power and communication line as live and keep at least 10 feet away. [OSHA]
- Do a pre-start inspection every shift and tag out a lift with any defective component until it is repaired. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: What is overhead where the lift will work today: lines, ducts, beams?
Day 23: Cranes near power lines
- If any part of the crane, line or load could come within 20 feet of a power line, the employer deenergizes it, keeps 20 feet clear, or uses the Table A clearance. [OSHA]
- Other construction equipment keeps at least 10 feet from lines rated 50 kV or below. [OSHA]
- Before work starts, the employer finds out where live circuits are, posts signs and tells the crew. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Where are the overhead lines on this site, and how far is today's lift radius from them?
Day 24: Rigging check
- Rigging is inspected before use on each shift and as needed during the shift; defective gear comes out of service. [OSHA]
- Slings and their fastenings are inspected each day before use by a competent person, and damaged slings are removed at once. [OSHA]
- Suspended machinery is blocked or cribbed before anyone works under or between it. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Who checked the slings this morning, and where do damaged ones go so nobody picks them up again?
Day 25: Is it a confined space?
- Before work starts, a competent person identifies every confined space workers may enter and which ones are permit spaces. [OSHA]
- A permit space can hold a hazardous atmosphere, material that can engulf you, walls or floors that can trap you, or another serious hazard. [OSHA]
- Tanks, vaults, pits, manholes, ductwork and equipment housings are all on OSHA's list of confined spaces. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Which spaces on this job did the competent person identify, and which are permit spaces?
Day 26: Stacking and storing materials
- Material stored in tiers is stacked, racked, blocked or interlocked so it cannot slide, fall or collapse. [OSHA]
- Floors inside a building are not loaded beyond their safe limit. [OSHA]
- Inside a building under construction, nothing is stored within 6 feet of a hoistway or floor opening. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Which stack on this site would you not want to stand next to in a wind?
Day 27: PPE basics
- PPE required by the construction standards is provided by the employer at no cost, with listed exceptions. [OSHA]
- You should know when it is needed, what kind, how to put it on and remove it, its limits, and how to care for it. [OSHA]
- If it does not fit, it does not protect; fit is what makes people wear it. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: What piece of PPE on this site fits badly enough that people take it off?
Day 28: Respirators
- A medical evaluation comes before fit testing or required use. [OSHA]
- Tight-fitting respirators are fit tested before first use, whenever the model changes, and at least yearly. [OSHA]
- Facial hair between the seal and the face means the respirator cannot be worn. [OSHA]
- A user seal check every time it goes on. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: When was your last fit test, and is it the same make and size you are wearing today?
Day 29: First aid on site
- Where no clinic or hospital is reasonably close, someone with a valid first-aid certificate is on site. [OSHA]
- First aid supplies are easily accessible. [OSHA]
- Where eyes or skin could meet corrosive materials, drenching or flushing facilities are in the work area. [OSHA]
- Stuck by a sharp or splashed with blood: flood the area with water, wash any wound with soap, report it and get medical attention. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Who is our first-aid certified person today, and where is the kit?
Day 30: Report it
- The employer must have a reasonable procedure for reporting injuries, tell you what it is, and must not retaliate when you use it. [OSHA]
- OSHA asks employers to give workers a simple way to report close calls and hazards, including anonymously, and to follow up fast. [OSHA]
- A death at work goes to OSHA inside 8 hours; a hospital admission, an amputation or a lost eye inside 24 hours. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: What was the last close call on this job, and did anyone write it down?
Day 31: Tired is a hazard
- OSHA says long work hours may raise the risk of injuries and accidents, and can bring stress and poor health with them. [OSHA]
- OSHA's sleep advice is 7 to 9 hours a day without disruption. [OSHA]
- Employers can look at the workload, staffing and absences behind the overtime, and schedule for real rest breaks. [OSHA]
Ask the crew: Which task today is the worst one to do tired, and who is doing it?