“What is your occupation?”

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noxious gases…noxious gases…

……dustsdustsor fromor from

disorderly motionsdisorderly motions

&&

improper postures improper postures of the bodyof the body

A General Contractor is responsible for:

•Hiring skilled, knowledgeable workers with training in workplace safety•Ensuring the use of safe tools by workers•Ensuring proper safety equipment is worn at all times on site•Creating a safe work environment

Skilled Workers

• An educated worker is more aware of workplace hazards

• Injuries can be avoided when workers are aware of the risks and how to avoid them

• Safety training increases likelihood of taking precautions to avoid workplace injury

OSHA standards for PPE

• “Employer shall provide a training program for each employee who might be exposed to hazards.”

• Employer shall ensure that each employee has been trained by a competent, qualified expert in the following areas:– The nature of fall hazards– Correct procedures for erecting, maintaining, disassembling

and inspecting the protection systems to be used

• This expert should be a qualified occupational health and safety professional

Education

• Undergrad or graduate degree programs in building construction technology, construction management, architecture or engineering programs include safety training

• WHMIS and MSDS training is essential for all hired workers

Safety Tools and Maintenance

• Cordless power tools – Eliminate risk of electrical burns & shock– Eliminate tripping hazards & injuries

• Quality tools– Ergonomic design to reduce vibration– Lifts/cranes should be used for heavy lifting

• Proper maintenance of tools– Ensure proper function of tools before

beginning any job

OSH Division • “Musculoskeletal (muscle joint and bone) injuries

are the most common injury problem in the construction industry.”

• They account for over 1/3 of all lost workday injuries and produce about 1/2 of all compensation claims

• Ergonomics means – finding ways to make work easier so workers can work

smarter, not harder!– Asking experienced workers for their ideas on how to do

the work– More productive workers since workers are less often

fatigued or hurt

Ergonomics• Better, ergonomically designed tools are

– Lighter weight– Require less force to operate– Fit the hand better– More comfortable to use

• Use carts or dollies, handles when carrying loads

• Wear protective equipment (knee/shoulder pads) to reduce contact stresses of kneeling work or carrying materials

• Stretching programs before beginning work

Proper Safety Equipment

• Hard hats (risk of head injury from falling objects)

• Gloves (risk of chemical burns,cuts etc.)• Safety boots and jacket• Masks/respirators (inhalable/respirable

dust)• Ear plugs/ear muffs (noise exposure)• Eye protection/goggles• Harnesses (meeting Regulatory

standards)

OSHA Standards Respiratory Protection

• “All PPE shall be of safe design and construction for the work to be performed.”

• “A respirator shall be provided where there is exposure to harmful dusts, fogs, fumes, gases, mists, smokes, sprays or vapours”– Use of respirators should be secondary to the

primary objective, which is to prevent atmospheric contamination

– e.g., Air purifying respirator to remove specific air contaminants by passing ambient air through air purifying element

Safe Work Environment

• Use of rails (meeting regulatory standards) to prevent falls

• Safe working/weather conditions• Noise exposure does not exceed safe levels• Fume and dusts levels as low as possible

(proper ventilation)• Work site free of hazards and spills (proper

clean-up procedures)• Access to Material Safety Data Sheets• First aid kits

OSHA

• “Wherever it is not feasible to reduce noise levels or exposures, ear protective devices shall be provided and used.”

• Ear protective devices inserted in ear should be properly fitted

OSH

• Maintain safe noise environment»e.g., lubrication of equipment

to reduce grinding noises»Buy quieter machines,

increased cost worth increased worker safety

Take Home Messages• There is literature available on proper

procedures and there are colleges that teach proper safety procedures

• Hard physical labour cannot fully be eliminated with proper equipment, but risks can be minimized

• Noise and inhalation exposures still a concern, despite the best precautionary measures

• The combined efforts of employer and workers contribute to better work satisfaction and productivity

References

• http://63.234.130/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10664

• http://education-portal.com/general_contractor_training.html

• http://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm?obejectid=02DED4E6-D56F-E6FA-9515002F1E9492F