The Safe Shop
From the
Safety First ... and Last
Plan to Start the Workday Right. Finish it the Same Way.
There's a start and a finish to just about everything, including daily job activities. Getting off on the right foot each day is important not only to your personal success, but to your health and safety as well.
When you come to work in the morning, there should be more to starting your job than just routinely turning on a machine or beginning a particular operation. The same goes for the end of the day. A good ending is a key part of the overall safety picture.
Consider this:
Eight out of 10 accidents are the fault of the person involved in the incident.
Unsafe acts cause four times as many accidents and injuries as unsafe conditions.
Remember... Accidents are caused, they don’t “just happen.”
Accidents have causes.
- The LAW OF AVERAGES may be suggested as a factor to consider when it is indicated that weeks have passed since the last injury.
- Construction accident rates are not controlled by the law of averages. Accidents are not “bound to happen” because of the amount of work performed.
- The fact is that accidents are most often caused by NEGLECT, OVERSIGHT, or simple CARELESSNESS on the part of employees and/or employers.
- Most accidents occur when people deviate from established procedures. Best Practices are developed from the combined experience of people working in conditions like yours.
Follow these basic rules for accident prevention:
- Check all work areas DAILY for hazards. Extra precautions need to be taken and noted to safeguard personnel when working with or near moving slabs, overhead power lines, scaffolds, etc.
- Equipment and vehicles should be checked DAILY for defects. Check tires, steering linkage, windshield wipers, rear view mirrors, etc. Cranes should be inspected daily to ensure that safe cables and chokers are used and that the hydraulics are in good condition.
- Check housekeeping DAILY. Poor housekeeping causes accidents. Keep all work areas and walkways clear of debris. Check hand tools and power tools BEFORE EACH USE. Broken or cracked tools cause accidents. Replace or repair all damaged tools.
- Check ladders and scaffolds BEFORE EACH USE. Ladders will not slip when properly tied-off. Tools will not fall from scaffolds when toe boards are properly installed.
- Any deficiencies should be pointed out to your supervisor.
These are only a few of the precautions that can be taken to prevent accidents. Protect the most important machine on the job — the human body.
From the OSHA Files
On the date of inspection, employees were observed:
- working with and around overloaded A-frames and racks which were not secured with straps or any other method;
- operating within the fall shadow of these unsecured slabs;
- working near a large, unsteady and leaning pile of scrap stone slab pieces which were stacked almost 6 feet high; and
- operating forklifts without proper training or certification.
Furthermore, inspectors noted unsecured stone slabs leaning against the shop walls (these slabs can slide or be knocked over).
OSHA issued citation for several serious violations including:
- The employer did not furnish a place of employment which was free from recognized hazards which were likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.
- The employer did not develop and implement a stone slab handling program thereby effectively training employees in safe procedures for transporting, loading and unloading, and storing slabs.
Among other methods, OSHA found one feasible and acceptable abatement method to correct the hazards would be to implement the requirements of the Natural Stone Institute's Safety in the Stone Business technical guide or the OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin, Hazards of Transporting, Unloading, Storing and Handling Granite, Marble and Stone Slabs. Both documents recommend formation of a plan for stone handling and storage and provide methods which can be utilized to safely handle stone.
This case was selected as being representative of injuries caused by improper work practices. No special emphasis or priority is implied nor is the case necessarily a recent occurrence. The legal aspects of the incident have been resolved, and the case is now closed.
Checklist: From Start to End
(This information was developed by the Michigan Department of Labor, Bureau of Safety and Regulations, Safety Education and Training Divisions.) (#42)
- What shape is the area in? Are there slippery spots on the floor or any tripping hazards around?
- How about machines? Were guards left off machinery? Check for potential hazards. It takes just a minute to survey your machine or work area, and it's time well-invested. A minor adjustment at the start may prevent a major problem later on.
- Conditions change quickly and from the time you left the scene the day before, there may have been another shift working in the area, or maintenance or cleaning crews may have altered the conditions you're used to.
- Try to maintain a cool, steady pace during the day.
- Prepare yourself mentally when you arrive at work in the morning and be cautious toward the end of the day when fatigue may take over.
When the workday ends, you still play an important part in the safety cycle. The condition in which you leave your area or equipment will have a bearing on the safety of the people who follow you on the next shift.
- Just don't quit abruptly for the day. This is as poor a practice as starting your job before a brief survey of the situation.
- Make sure your job is really finished – all machines turned off and tools and other items off the floor and in their proper places.
- Always pick up all trash, scrap, and other waste and deposit it in the proper receptacles. Take time to eliminate any slipping hazards by wiping up grease or water, and make sure you communicate to your replacement on the next shift, or to the foreman, any unusual condition that could be hazardous.
- If you're on construction, don't leave nails or sharp objects protruding, and put up the guardrails.
Of course, there's a lot more to job safety than beginnings and endings. There's that important period in-between, too. Nevertheless, a bad start or finish can ruin a whole day.
Remember: Safety doesn't punch a time clock. It must be on the job 24 hours each day.
All Natural Stone Institute safety resources and courses are available free of charge at www.uofstone.org and www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/safety.
The information herein is provided by the Natural Stone Institute as a general summary for use in job site toolbox talks and is provided to augment and not substitute for or replace required training under any applicable local, state or federal workplace statute, law or regulation. It is the user’s responsibility to ensure this content is consistent with job site requirements and applicable statutes, laws or regulations prior to use and make any required additions or changes.