Hazard Elimination And Recognition Training (HEART)™ OSHA Segues™

lexander the Great stood in front of one of the most complex problems in the history of the world. An oracle prophesied that The Gordian Knot – an unsolvable knot that had baffled heroes for hundreds of years – would be solved by the future ruler of the world. This Gordian Knot stood between Alexander and his destiny. He raised his sword and lowered it with swift precision. In an instant, the problem was solved.

These Segues™ are written in plain language, are personal to the reader, will build a respectful, productive team, and should be considered the first level of safety for all of your employees.

3:1 A Personal Fall Arrest System ("PFAS") is used to stop you during a fall from a working level. It usually is made up of an anchorage, connectors, and body harness, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, or lifeline. 1926.500(b)

3:2 An anchorage is a secure point of attachment for lifelines, lanyards, or deceleration devices. 1926.500(b)

3:3 A body harness consists of straps you wear to distribute forces from a fall over different areas of your body to minimize possible injury. 1926.500(b)

3:4 A connector connects parts of your PFAS and positioning device systems together, such as carabiners, buckles, dee-rings, snap-hooks, etc. 1926.500(b)

3:5 Failure is a load refusal, breakage, or separation of component parts. "Load refusal" is the point at which the ultimate strength is exceeded. 1926.500(b)

3:6 Free-fall distance is the vertical distance between the fall arrest attachment point on your body belt or harness at the start of your fall and the point the system starts to apply force to stop the fall. 1926.500(b)

3:7 A positioning device system is a body harness system rigged to support you on an elevated vertical surface, such as a wall, allowing you to work with both hands free while leaning. 1926.500(b)

3:10 Supervisors will ensure that all PFAS comply with OSHA regulations. 1926.502(d)

3:11 Body belts are no longer allowed for a PFAS. 1926.502(d)

3:12 Connectors used for your PFAS must have a corrosionresistant finish and smooth surfaces to prevent damage to any other part of the system. 1926.502(d)(2)

Construction Segues

5:28 In trenches deeper than 4 feet, tell your supervisor if you have to travel more than 25 feet to exit it. 1926.651(c)(2)

5:29 Report loose rock or soil near the trench to your supervisor. 1926.651(j)(1)

5:30 Get out of any trench immediately if it looks unsafe and report to your supervisor. 1926.651(k)(2)

5:31 When mobile equipment is operating near a trench, stay clear if you are in the trench, even if there is a barricade or warning system. 1926.651(f)

5:32 Do not enter an excavation if it looks unsafe and report to your supervisor. 1926.652(a)(1)

5:33 If you are at the edge of an excavation that is at least 6 feet deep and cannot be easily seen because of plant growth or some other blockage, you must be protected from falls by the use of guardrails, fences, or barricades.

1926.501(b)(7)(i)

5:34 Any damaged trench protective systems should be reported to your supervisor. 1926.652(d)(1)

5:35 If the shield system keeping you safe in a trench appears like they are holding more than they are meant to, tell your supervisor. 1926.652(g)(1)(i)

5:36 Do not engage in site clearing unless you are protected from poisonous plants and instructed in proper first aid. 1926.604(a)(1)

5:40 Suspended loads and other overhead hazards

5:41 Never go under loads handled by lifting or digging equipment and stay a safe distance from the loads when they are being loaded or unloaded. 1926.651(e)

5:42 Do not work under concrete buckets while they are being lifted or lowered into position. 1926.701(e)(1)

Basic Safety Awareness

5:43 Do not handle rigging equipment unless in use, and then only for its intended purpose. 1926.251(a)(3)

5:44 Do not stand, walk or work underneath suspended loads. 1926.753(d)(1)

5:45 Do not stand, walk or work under steel erection operations unless overhead protection from falling objects is provided. 1926.759(b)

5:46 All hoisted materials must be rigged. 1926.1425(c)(1)

5:47 Do not handle rigging unless you are qualified and authorized. 1926.1425(c)(3)

5:48 You will be trained and authorized on proper signaling before you are designated as a signaler. 1926.1428(a)

5:49 Any protruding, reinforcing steel must be guarded if it creates any kind of impalement hazard for you or anyone else. 1926.701(b)

5:50 For your protection, hazard areas will have barriers or high visibility warning signs. 1926.1424(a)(2)(ii)

5:51 You will be trained to understand any barrier markings. 1926.1424(a)(2)(ii)

6 Electrical Hazards

6:1 You must use electrical equipment according to the instructions provided in listings, labels, or certifications. 1926.403(b)(2)

6:2 Do not use any electrical equipment unless the manufacturer's information is on the equipment and voltage, current, wattage, and other important ratings are visible. 1926.403(g)

6:3 You will be provided with either a ground-fault circuit interrupter or an assured equipment grounding conductor program to protect you from electric shock injuries. 1926.404(b)(1)(i)

6:4 You will be provided with ground-fault circuit interrupters for use with all 120-volt receptacle outlets on construction sites, which are not part of the permanent wiring of the building or structure. 1926.404(b)(1)(ii)

6:5 Do not hang temporary lights by their cords unless they are made for that purpose. 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)[F]

6:6 Do not operate portable electric lighting in wet or conductive locations, such as drums, tanks, or vessels, at more than 12 volts, unless your lights are 120 volts and are protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter. 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)[G]

6:10 Extension cord basics

6:11 When working with portable electric tools, use extension cords that have three wires and three prongs on the plug. 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)[J]

6:12 Flexible cords used with temporary and portable lights must be made for hard or extra-hard usage. 1926.405(a)(2)(ii)[J]

Electrical Hazards

6:13 When using flexible cords, you must connect them to devices and fittings that will prevent strain on joints or terminal screws. 1926.405(g)(2)(iv)

VIOLATION

Damaged cords must be removed immediately.

Ref. 6:14

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6:14 Do not use electric cords or cables that are damaged or frayed. 1926.416(e)(1)

6:15 Do not fasten extension cords with staples, hang them from nails, or suspend them by wires. 1926.416(e)(2)

6:16 Keep working spaces and walkways clear of cords. 1926.416(b)(2)

6:17 If you are using jack-hammers, bars, or other hand tools in an area where the location of underground power lines is unknown, you will be provided insulated protective gloves in case you accidentally come into contact with a power line. 1926.416(a)(2)

6:20 Working around energized equipment and circuits

6:21Before you start working, your supervisor will determine if any energized electric power circuit will be a danger to you or others who might accidentally come into contact with it. 1926.416(a)(3)

General Safety & Health

8:1 Access to exposure and medical records

8:2 Your employer will provide access to employee exposure and medical records regarding anytime you were exposed to toxic substances or harmful physical agents at work. 1910.1020(b)(1)

8:3 Any former employer will give you access to your employee exposure and medical records. 1910.1020(c)(4)

8:4 Your employee exposure and medical records will be provided if you ask for them. 1910.1020(e)(1)(i)

8:10 Hazard communication (HazCom) basics:

8:11 Pictograms on container labels and on Safety Data Sheets ("SDS") provide quick recognition of the hazard or precaution for each chemical. 1910.1200 App. C.2.3.2.

General Safety & Health

Pictograms

Flame

Flammables

Pyrophorics

Self Reactives

Self-Heating Emits Flammable Gas Organic Peroxides

Flame Over Circle

Oxidizers Exclamation Mark

Irritant

Acute Toxicity (harmful)

Respiratory Tract Irritation

Exploding Bomb

Explosives

Organic Peroxides

Corrosion Corrosives

Gas Cylinder

Gases Under Pressure

Dermal Sensitizer

Narcotic Effects

Self Reactives

Health Hazard

Carcinogen

Reproductive Toxicity

Mutagenicity

Skull and Crossbones

Acute Toxicity (severe)

Respiratory Sensitizer

Target Organ Toxicity

Aspiration Toxicity

Construction Segues

8:16 Your employer will have a written hazard communication program for your work to help you recognize and avoid exposure to dangerous substances. 1910.1200(e)(1)

8:17 You may ask to see the SDS for any hazardous substance on your job site, even if it is from another employer on the same job site. 1910.1200(e)(2)(i)-(iii)

8:18 Your supervisor has SDS for every hazardous chemical on the job site to provide you with information you need to stay safe while working around the chemicals.

1910.1200(g)(1)

8:19 Each SDS contains information you can use, like the chemical's name, hazard identification, exposure controls, PPE, stability, toxicity, etc. 1910.1200(g)(2)(i)-(xvi)

8:20 SDS contains the chemical's hazards. 1910.1200(g)(2)(ii)

8:21 SDS contains first aid measures. 1910.1200(g)(2)(iv)

8:22 Your employer's hazard communication program will be written to inform all employees, including any that are employed by other employers, about precautions that employees must take to stay safe at your job site. 1910.1200(e)(2)(ii)

8:23 Your employer's hazard communication program will include the labeling system used in the workplace to inform all employees, including any that are employed by other employers. 1910.1200(e)(2)(iii)

8:24 Your employer's hazard communication program will be made available to you if you want to see it. 1910.1200(e)(4)

10

Fire Prevention & Protection

10:1 All your job sites will have fire extinguishers. 1926.150(c)(1)(i)

10:2 Do not tamper with fire extinguishers or firefighting equipment. 1926.150(a)(1)

10:3 There must be continual access to firefighting equipment for immediate use by trained and authorized personnel. 1926.150(a)(2)

10:4 You must obey posted "no smoking" signs. 1926.152(g)(9)

10:5 Do not smoke around work operations that are a fire hazard and obey all "No Smoking or Open Flame" signs.

1926.151(a)(3)

10:6 Keep flammable liquid containers closed when not using them. 1926.152(f)(1)-(3)

10:7 If you leak or spill any flammable liquids, you must clean them up quickly and safely. 1926.152(f)(2)

10:8 If you are using air, gas, or steam hoses to clean tanks with hazardous concentrations of flammable gas or vapors, make sure you bond the hose nozzle to the tank.

1926.151(a)(5)

10:9 If you use internal combustion engine powered equipment at the job site, make sure that the exhaust is pointed away from any material that could catch fire.

1926.151(a)(2)

10:10 Do not use Category 1, 2, or 3 flammable liquids around any open flames or other sources of ignition within 50 feet of the operation, unless greater distance is called for. 1926.152(f)(3)

10:11 Do not smoke or have open flames in any areas used for fueling, servicing of fuel systems, or transfer of flammable liquids. 1926.152(g)(8)

10:12 Do not attach or detach bonding devices in hazardous concentrations of flammable vapor. 1926.151(a)(5)

Fire Prevention & Protection

10:13 When using temporary heating devices, you must be provided with plenty of ventilation and fresh air.

1926.154(a)(1)

10:14 You must shut off all equipment motors while refueling.

1926.152(g)(10)

10:15 When using a Liquified Petroleum Gas ("LPG") system, each system must have approved components.

1926.153(a)(1)

10:16 Do not use solid fuel salamanders in buildings or on scaffolds. 1926.154(d)

VIOLATION

Improper oily rag disposal.

Ref. 10:28

Are there other issues in this photo?

10:20 Flammable and combustible materials:

10:21 Use only approved containers and portable tanks when you handle and store 5 gallons or less of flammable liquids. 1926.152(a)(1)

10:22 Do not pile combustible materials higher than 20 feet.

1926.151(c)(1)

10:23 Make sure all combustible material piles are stable.

1926.151(c)(1)

Construction Segues

10:24 Make combustible storage piles orderly and regular when possible and never place combustible materials within 10 feet of a building or structure. 1926.151(c)(5)

VIOLATION

Improper flammable liquid storage.

Ref. 10:29

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10:25 When you store materials indoors, do not block any exits. 1926.151(d)(1)

10:26 To safely store, handle, and pile materials, you must take their fire characteristics into consideration. 1926.151(d)(2)

10:27 Do not store flammable liquids around exits, stairways, or areas that people normally use as a pathway.

1926.152(a)(2)

10:28 Solvent waste, oily rags, and flammable liquids to be disposed of must be kept in fire resistant, covered containers. 1926.252(e)

10:29 No more than 25 gallons of flammable liquids shall be stored in a room outside an approved storage cabinet. For storage of liquified petroleum, see §1926.153. 1926.152(b)(1)

10:30 Flammable liquids in quantities of 25 gallons or more must be stored in approved cabinets. 1926.152(b)(2)(i)-(iii)

Scaffolds

13:1 Midrails, screens, mesh, or similar structural members must be installed between the top edge of the guardrail system and the scaffold platform. 1926.451(g)(4)(iii)

13:2 If midrails are used on a scaffold, they must be installed half way between the top edge of the guardrail system and the platform surface. 1926.451(g)(4)(iv)

13:3 If screens and mesh are used on a scaffold, they must go from the top edge of the guardrail system to the scaffold platform and cover the entire opening between the supports. 1926.451(g)(4)(v)

VIOLATION

Crossbracing may be substituted for the toprail or the midrail but not both.

Ref. 13:4

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13:4 Crossbracing may be used instead of a toprail or midrail (not both) and must meet specific requirements.

1926.451(g)(4)(xv)

13:10 Important scaffold-related definitions

13:11 A competent person is capable of identifying existing and potential hazards in the work environment that are hazardous, unsanitary, or dangerous to employees, and who has the authority to take corrective measures. 1926.450(b)

Scaffolds

13:12 Exposed power lines are electrical power lines that are accessible to employees and not shielded from contact, not including extension cords or power tool cords.

1926.450(b)

13:13 A fabricated frame scaffold is a scaffold consisting of a platform supported on fabricated end frames with integral posts, horizontal bearers, and intermediate members. 1926.450(b)

13:14 A failure is a load refusal, breakage, or separation of component parts. A load refusal is the point where the ultimate strength is exceeded. 1926.450(b)

13:15 A guardrail system is a vertical barrier, consisting mainly of toprails, midrails, and posts, put up to prevent employees from falling off a platform to lower levels.

1926.450(b)

13:16 Lower levels are areas below the level an employee is located and to which he or she can fall, including ground levels, floors, roofs, ramps, runways, excavations, pits, tanks, materials, water, and equipment. 1926.450(b)

13:17 Maximum intended load is the total load of all persons, equipment, tools, materials, and other loads reasonably intended to be applied to a scaffold or scaffold component at any one time. 1926.450(b)

13:18 Open sides and edges are the edges of a platform that are more than 14 inches away horizontally from a sturdy, continuous vertical surface, such as a building wall, or a sturdy, continuous horizontal surface, such as a floor, or a point of access. An 18-inch horizontal threshold is allowed for plastering and lathing work. 1926.450(b)

Construction Segues

13:19 A personal fall arrest system ("PFAS") is a system used to stop an employee's fall. It is made up of an anchorage, connectors, a body harness, and may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline, or a combination of these. 1926.450(b)

13:20

CORRECT

Platforms must be complete on each working level.

Ref. 13:20

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A platform is a work surface elevated above lower levels. These can be made of individual wood planks, fabricated planks, fabricated decks, and fabricated platforms. 1926.450(b)

13:21 A scaffold is any temporary elevated platform, supported or suspended, and its supporting structure used for supporting employees and materials. 1926.450(b)

13:22 A self-contained adjustable scaffold is a combination supported and suspension scaffold made up of an adjustable platform mounted on an independent supporting frame that is not part of the object being worked on, and which is equipped with a means to permit the raising and lowering of the platform. 1926.450(b)

Scaffolds

13:23 Self-contained adjustable scaffold systems include rolling roof rigs, rolling outrigger systems, and some masons' adjustable supported scaffolds. 1926.450(b)

13:24 Stilts means a pair of poles or similar supports with raised footrests that permits walking above the ground or working surface. 1926.450(b)

13:25 A system scaffold is a scaffold made up of posts with fixed connection points that accept runners, bearers, and diagonals that can be interconnected at predetermined levels. 1926.450(b)

13:26 Unstable objects are items whose strength, configuration, or lack of stability may allow them to become dislocated and shift, and therefore may not properly support the loads imposed on them. 1926.450(b)

13:27 Unstable objects do not provide a safe base support for scaffolds, platforms, or employees, including barrels, boxes, loose brick, and concrete blocks. 1926.450(b)

VIOLATION

Unstable objects, such as concrete blocks, may not be used for gaining access.

Ref. 13:27

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13:28 A walkway is a portion of a scaffold platform used only for access, and not as a work level. 1926.450(b)

Construction Segues

13:35 Any scaffold you work on must be able to support, without failure, its own weight and at least 4 times the maximum intended load. 1926.451(a)(1)

13:36 Each platform of scaffolds that you work on must be fully planked or decked at all working levels. 1926.451(b)(1)

13:37 Each ladder jack, top plate bracket, roof bracket, and pump jack scaffold that you use must be at least 12 inches wide. 1926.451(b)(2)(i)

13:38 When scaffolds are used in areas too narrow to allow at least 18-inch wide platforms, they must be as wide as possible and you must be protected from fall hazards by guardrails and PFASs. 1926.451(b)(2)(ii)

13:39 When a scaffold platform is more than 2 feet above or below a point of access, you must use a ladder, ramp, walkway, or direct access from another scaffold, structure, personnel hoist, or similar surface. 1926.451(e)(1)

13:40 You can only go directly from one surface to another if the scaffold is no more than 14 inches away horizontally and no more than 24 inches above or below the other surface. 1926.451(e)(8)

13:41 Do not load scaffolds with more than their maximum intended load or rated capacity, whichever is less. 1926.451(f)(1)

13:42 Check your scaffold for a signed green inspection tag when you start your shift. 1926.451(f)(3)

13:43 Report damaged or weakened scaffolds to your supervisor immediately. 1926.451(f)(4)

13:44 Scaffolds or materials and people on them must not come any closer than 10 feet to overhead power lines. 1926.451(f)(6)

13:45 Do not put up, take down, change, or move scaffolds unless you are working under the direct supervision of a qualified competent person. 1926.451(f)(7)

Scaffolds

13:46 You will be trained and authorized by the competent person to work with scaffolding. 1926.451(f)(7)

13:47 Do not go on scaffolds during high winds, unless the competent person authorizes it. 1926.451(f)(12)

13:48 When working on platforms, do not deflect the platform more than 1/60 of the span when loaded. 1926.451(f)(16)

13:49 If you are working on a scaffold more than 10 feet above a lower level, you will be provided with fall protection. 1926.451(g)(1)

13:50 You must be protected by a PFAS if you use a boatswains' chair or a catenary, float, needle beam, or ladder jack scaffold. 1926.451(g)(1)(i)

13:51 If you use a single or two-point adjustable suspension scaffold, you must be protected from falls by guardrails and a PFAS. 1926.451(g)(1)(ii)

13:52 Do not pile up scrap or materials on the scaffold. 1926.451(f)(13)

VIOLATION

You must use guardrails and a PFAS when using a suspension scaffold.

Ref. 13:51

Are there other issues in this photo?