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Top 5 best practices from the SEAA archive
ere’s a look back at the most popular safety topics SEAA members shared in 2019. Contributed by members of SEAA in cooperation with SEAA’s Safety Committee, they are a reflection of the issues commonly faced by steel erection contractors. Suggested best practices are gathered from a variety of sources. Refer to full length Safety Flash articles archived at seaa.net/news for more information. Sign up to receive bi-monthly Safety Flash emails by clicking Subscribe under the News tab.
#5 New Worker Risks, by Tim Eldridge, Educational Services Unlimited and SEAA’s Craft Training and Assessment Administrator The first 100 days of employment is critical. An independent study by Nicholas Morgan, President Patriot Insurance Agency, shows after looking at $20 million in claims over a ten-year period, 83% of the claims can be attributed to injuries that occurred in the first 100 days of employment. Risk can be reduced by employing training and/or apprenticeship programs and opportunities for workers to learn in a controlled situation. But even experienced workers need training, cross-training, or retraining.
#4 Wire Rope Sling Inspection and Removal Criteria, by Ed Valencia, MEMCO LLC Wire rope slings are one of the most abused pieces of equipment on the jobsite. ASME volume B30.9-2018: Slings revises the 2014 edition, and contains changes pertaining to wire-rope slings, starting with a new section on “Rigger Responsibilities". Wire rope slings must be visually inspected before each day’s use. During inspection, you must know and understand what to look for to determine whether you should continue to use or discard the sling. The goal of a sling inspection is to evaluate remaining strength in a previously used sling to determine its suitability for continued use.
#3 Guidelines for Exiting a Boom Lift Platform, by Bryan McClure, Trivent Safety Consulting It is not uncommon that a construction worker needs to access an upper elevation using a boom lift, but does not know if in this particular situation it is safe and legal to do. There are legitimate reasons for exiting the platform at height. Sometimes exiting the platform when elevated is simply the safest way to carry out temporary work at height. Federal OSHA does not prohibit exiting a platform onto a structure, but OSHA and ANSI do require authorization by the manufacturer. There are several requirements and best practices associated with exiting the platform at elevation, but perhaps the most important reminder is that the operator must ensure 100% tie-off using two lanyards when entering/exiting the platform. One lanyard must be attached to the platform with the second lanyard attached to the structure. The lanyard connected to the platform must not be disconnected until such time as the transfer to the structure is safe and complete. 24 | THE STEEL ERECTORS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA