Industrial Safety and Health for Goods and Materials Services - Chapter 23 pptx

23 Other Hazards The retail, wholesale, and warehousing sectors are the sectors that handle, store, and disperse the largest quantities of goods and materials in the United States. Since all the potential hazards faced by these three sectors cannot be addressed in detail in one book it may be necessary to use Industrial Safety and Health for Infrastructure Services, Industrial Safety and Health for Administrative Services, and Industrial Safety and Health for People-Oriente d Services to address other hazards. This chapter provides summaries regarding some of the other common hazards that confront workers in these sectors. Some of these hazards are also covered in some detail in the other three books mentioned above. Some of the hazards that were not covered extensively in this book are as follows: . Compressed air . Lockout=tagout . Dockboards . Electrical . Fueling . Powered tool s . Scaffolds . Tire inflation . Workplace violence Tire inflation and repair can be deadly. (Courtesy of Mine Safety and Health Administration.) ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. 23.1 COMPRESSORS AND COMPRESSED AIR (29 CFR 1910.242) A compressor supplies compressed air. Great care must be taken to ensure such types of equipment are operating safely. Safety devices for a compressed air system should be checked frequently. Compressors should be equipped with pressure relief valves and pressure gauges. The air intakes must be installed and equipped so as to ensure that only clean uncontaminated air enters the compressor. This is facilitated by the installation of air filters on the compressor intake. Before any repair work is done on the pressure system of a compressor, the pressure is to be bled off and the system locked out. All compressors must be operated and lubricated in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Signs are to be posted to warn of the automatic starting featu re of compressors. The belt drive system is to be totally enclosed to provide protection from any contact. No worker should direct compressed air toward a person, and employees are prohibited from using highly compressed air for cleaning purposes. If compressed air is used for cleaning clothes, the pressure is to be reduced to less than 10 psi. When using compressed air for cleaning, employees should wear protective chip guarding eyewear and personal protective equipment. Safety chains or other suitable locking devices are to be used at couplings of high pressure hose lines where a connection failure would create a hazard. Before compressed air is used to empty containers of liquid, the safe working pressure of the container is to be checked. When compressed air is used with abrasive blast cleaning equipment, the operat- ing valve type must be held open manually. When compressed air is used to inflate auto tires, a clip-on chuck and an inline regulator preset to 40 psi are required. Compressed air should not be used to clean up or move combustible dust because such action could cause the dust to be suspended in the air and cause a fire or explosion hazard. 23.2 CONTROL OF HAZARDOUS ENERGY SOURCES (LOCKOUT=TAGOUT) (29 CFR 1910.147) Lockout=tagout deals with the preventing of the release of energy from machines, equipment, and electrical circuits which are perceived to be de-energized. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates compliance with the lockout=tagout standard will prevent about 120 fatalities and approximately 28,000 serious and 32,000 minor injuries every year. About 39 million general industry workers will be protected from accidents during maintenance and servicing of equipment under this ruling. The standard for the control of hazardous energy sources (lockout=tagout) covers servicing and maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or startup of the machines or equipment or release of stored energy could cause injury to employees. The rule generally requires that energy sources for equipment be turned off or disconnected and that the switch either be locked or labeled with a warning tag. About 3 million workers actually servicing equipment face the greatest risk. These include craft workers, machine operators, and laborers. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. OSHA’s data show that packaging and wrapping equipment, printing presses, and conveyors account for a high proportion of the accidents associated with lock- out=tagout failures. Typical injuries include fractures, lacerations, contusions, amputations, and puncture wounds with the average lost time for injuries running 24 days. Agriculture, maritime, and construction employers are not covered under standard 29 CFR 1910.147. Also, the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric power by utilities and work on electric conductors and equipment are excluded. The general requirements for the ruling require employers to . Develop an energy control program. . Use locks when equipment can be locked out (Figure 23.1). . Ensure that new equipment or overhauled equipment can accommodate locks. . Employ additional means to ensure safety, when tags rather than locks are used by using an effective tagout program. . Identify and imp lement specific procedures (generally in writing) for the control of hazardous energy including preparation for shutdown, shutdown, FIGURE 23.1 Locking out a plug on a saw. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. equipment isolation, lockout=tagout application, release of stored energy, and verificati on of isolation. . Institute procedures for release of lockout=tagout including machine inspec- tion, notification and safe positioning of employees, and removal of the lockout=tagout device. . Obtain standardized locks and tags which indicate the identity of the employee using them and which are of suf ficient quality and durability to ensure their effectiveness. . Require that each lockout=tagout device be removed by the employee who applied the device. . Conduct inspections of energy control procedures at least once a year. . Train employees in the specific energy control procedures with training reminders a s part of the annual inspections of the control procedures. . Adopt procedures to ensure safety when equipment must be tested during servicing, when outside contractors are working at the site, when a multiple lockout is needed for a crew servicing equipment, and when shifts or personnel change. Excluded from coverage are normal production operations including repetitive, routine minor adjustments which would be covered under OSHA’s machine guard- ing standards. Work on cord and plug connected electric equipment when it is unplugged, and the employee working on the equipment has complete control of the plug. Hot tap operations involving gas, steam, water, or petroleum products when the employer shows that continuity of service is essential, shutdown is impractical, and documented procedures are followed to provide proven effective protection for employees. In summary all machinery or equipment capable of movement is required to be de-energized or disengaged and locked out during cleaning, servicing, adjusting, or setting up operations, whenever required. Where the power disconnecting means for equipment does not also disconnect the electrical control circuit, the appropriate electrical enclosures must be identified. A means should be provided to assure the control circuit can also be disconnected and locked out. The locking out of control circuits in lieu of locking out main power disconnects must be prohibited. All equipment control valve handles are to be provided with a means for locking out. Lock-out procedures require that stored energy (mechanical, hydraulic, air, etc.) be released or blocked before equipment is locked out for repairs. Appropriate employees must be provided with individually keyed personal safety locks and are expected to keep personal control of their keys while they use safety locks. Only the employee exposed to the hazard should place or remove the safety lock. Employees must check the safety of the lock out by attempting a startup after making sure no one is exposed. Employees need to be instructed to always push the control circuit stop button immediately after checking the safety of the lock out. A means is to be provided to identify any or all employees who are working on locked-out equipment by their locks or accompanying tags. A sufficient number of accident preventive signs or tags and safety padlocks need to be provided for any reasonably foreseeable repair emergency. When machine operations, configuration, or size requires the ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. operator to leave his=her contr ol station to install tools or perfor m other operations , and that part of the machine could move if accide ntally activated, that element is required to be separa ted, locked, or blocke d out. In the event that equipm ent or lines cannot be shut down , locked out, and tagged , a safe job procedu re is to be estab lished and rigidly followed. 23.3 DOCKBOARDS (29 CFR 1910.30) Dockboards are to be strong enough to carry the load imp osed up on them (See Figure 23.2). Portab le dockboar ds a re to be anchore d or equipped wi th device s that will prevent their slipping . Handholds shoul d exist on dockboa rds which provide a safe and effect ive means of handlin g. Railr oad cars shoul d be provided with a mechanism that would prevent movem ent while dockboar ds a re being used. 23.4 ELECTRICAL (29 CFR 1910.303, .304, .305, .331, AND .333) Electrici ty is accepted as a source of powe r without much though t to the hazards encountered. So me empl oyees work with electrici ty direc tly, as is the case with engineers, elect ricians, or p eople who do wiring , such as overhea d lines, cable harnesses, or circuit assemblies. Others, such as office workers and salespeople, work with it indirectly. Approximately 700 workers are electrocuted every year with many wor kers suffe ring injuries such as burns, cuts, etc. (Figur e 23.3). FIGURE 23.2 Example of dockboards or plates for loading a trailer at a dock. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. OSHA’s electrical standards address the government’s concern that electricity has long been recognized as a serious workplace hazard, exposing employees to such dangers as electric shock, electrocution, fires, and explosions. The objective of the standards is to minimize such potential hazards by specifying design characteristics of safety in use of electrical equipment and systems. Electrical equipment must be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees. Flexi ble cords and cables (extension cords) should be protected from accidental damage. Unless specifically permitted flexibl e cords and cables shoul d not be used as a substitute for the fixed wiring of a structure, where attached to building surfaces, where concealed or where they run through holes in walls, ceilings, or floors, or where they run through doorways, windows, or similar openings. Flexible cords are to be connected to devices and fittings so that strain relief is provided that wi ll prevent pull from being directly transmitted to joints or terminal screws. A grounding electrode conductor is to be used for a grounding system to connect both the equipment grounding conductor and the grounded circuit conductor to the grounding electrode. Both the equipment grounding conductor and the grounding electrode conductor are to be connected to the ground circuit conduct or on the supply side of the service disconnecting means or on the supply side of the system disconnect- ing means or overcurrent devices if the system is separately deriv ed. For ungrounded service-supplied systems, the equipment grounding conductor should be connected to the grounding electrode conductor at the service equipment. The path to ground from circuits, equipment, and enclosures should be permanent and continuous. Electrical equipment should be free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Eac h disconnecting means should be legibly FIGURE 23.3 Electrical exposure is common in most service sector businesses. (Courtesy of Mine Safety and Health Administration.) ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. marked to indicate its purpose, unless the purpose is evident. Listed or labeled equipment should be used or installed in accordance with any instructions included in the listing or labeling. Unused openings in cabinets, boxes, a nd fittings must be effectively closed. Safety-related work practices are to be employed to prevent electric shock or other related injuries resulting from either direct or indirect electrical contacts, when work is performed near or on e quipment of circuits that are or may be energized. Electrical safety-related work practices cover both qualified persons (those who have training in avoiding the electrical hazards of working on or near exposed energized parts) and unqualified persons (those with little or no such training). There must be written lockout and=or tagout procedures. Overhead power lines must be de-energized and grounded by the owner or operator of the lines, or other protective measures must be provided before starting work. Protective measures, such as guarding or insulating the lines, must be designed to prevent employees from contacting the lines. Unqualified employees and mechanical equipment must be at least 10 ft away from overhead power lines. If the voltage exceeds 50,000 V, the clearance distance should be increased 4 in. for each 10,000 V. OSHA requires portable ladders to have nonconductive side rails if used by employees who would be working where they might contact exposed energized circuit parts. Conductors are to be spliced or joined with devices identified for such use or by brazing, welding, or soldering with a fusible alloy or metal. All splices, joints, and free ends of conductors should be covered with an insulation equivalent to that of the conductor or with an insulating device suitable for the purpose. All employees should immediately report any obvious hazard to life or property observed in connection with electrical equipment or lines. Employees need to be instructed to make preliminary inspections and=or appropriate tests to determine what condition s exist before starting work on electrical equipment or lines. All portable electrical tools and equipment are to be grounded or of double insulated type. Electrical appliances such as vacuum cleaners, polishers, and vending machines must be grounded. Extension cords being used are to have a grounding conductor and multiple plug adapters are prohibited. Ground-fault circuit interrupters should be installed on each temporary 15 or 20 A, 120 V AC circuit at locations where construction, demolition, modifications, alterations, or excavations are being performed. All temporary circuits are to be protected by suitable disconnecting switches or plug connectors at the junction with permanent wiring. If electrical installations in hazardous dust or vapor areas exist, they need to meet the National Electrical Code (NEC) for hazardous locations. In wet or damp locations, the electrical tools and equipment must be appropriate for this use or all location or otherwise protected. The location of electrical power lines and cables (overhead, underground, under the floor, other side of walls) are to be determined before digging, drilling, or similar work is begun. All energized parts of electrical circuits and equipment are to be guarded against accidental contact by approved cabinets or enclosures, and sufficient access and ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. working space must be provided and maintained about all electrical equipment to permit ready and safe operations and maintenance. Low-voltage protection is to be provided in the control device of motors driving machines or equipment which could cause probable injury from inadvertent starting. Each motor disconnecting switch or circuit breaker should be located within sight of the motor control device and each motor located within sight of its controller. Employees who regularly work on or around energized electrical equipment or lines should be instructed in the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) methods. 23.5 FUELING An internal combustion engine should not be fueled with a flammable liquid while the engine is running. Fueling operations are to be done in such a manner that likelihood of spillage will be minimal. When spillage occurs during fueling operations, the spilled fuel is to be washed away completely, evaporated, or other measures taken to control vapors before restarting the engine. Fuel tank caps are to be replaced and secured before starting the engine. Fueling hoses are to be of a type designed to handle the specific type of fuel. It is prohibited to handle or transfer gasoline in open containers. No open lights, open flames, sparking, or arcing equipment are allowed during fueling or transfer of fuel operations and no smoking should be permitted. 23.6 PORTABLE (POWER-OPERATED) TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT (29 CFR 1910.243) Tools are such a common part of our lives that it is difficult to remember that they may pose hazards. All tools are manufactured with safety in mind but, tragically, a serious accident often occurs before steps are taken to search out and avoid or eliminate tool-related hazards. In the process of removing or avoiding the hazards , workers must learn to recognize the hazards associated with the different types of tools and the safety precautions necessary to prevent those hazards. All hazards involved in the use of powered tools can be prevent ed by following five basic safety rules: . Keep all tools in good condition wi th regular maintenance. . Use the right tool for the job. . Examine each tool for damage before use. . Operate according to the manufacturer’s instructions. . Provide and use the proper protective equipment. Employees and employers have a responsibility to work together to establish safe working procedures. If a hazardous situation is encountered, it should be brought to the attention of the proper individual immediately. ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Powered tools can be hazardous when improperly used. There are several types of powered tools, based on the power source they use: electric, pneumatic, liquid fuel, hydraulic, and powder-actuated. Employees should be trained in the use of all tools—not just powered tools. They should understand the potential hazards as well as the safety precautions to prevent those hazards from occurring. The following general precautions should be observed by powered tool users: . Never carry a tool by the cord or hose. . Never yank the cord or the hose to disconnect it from the receptacle. . Keep cords and hoses away from heat, oil, and sharp edges. . Disconnect tools when n ot in use, before servicing, and when changing accessories such as blades, bits, and cutters. . All observers should be kept at a safe distance away from the work area. . Secure work with clamps or a vise, freeing both hands to operate the tool. . Avoid accidental starting. The worker shoul d not hold a finger on the switch button while carrying a plugged-in tool. . Tools should be maintained with care. They should be kept sharp and clean for the best performance. Follow instructions in the user’s manual for lubricating and changing accessories. . Be sure to keep good footing and maintain good balance. . The proper apparel should be worn. Loose clothing, ties, or jewelry can get entangled in moving parts. . All portable electric tools that are damaged should be removed from use and tagged ‘‘Do Not Use.’’ Hazardous moving parts of a powered tool need to be safeguarded. For example, belts, gears, shafts, pulleys, sprockets, spindles, drums, flywheels, chains, or other reciprocating, rotating, or moving parts of eq uipment must be guarded if such parts are exposed to contact by employees. Guards, as necessary, should be provided to protect the operator and others from the following: . Point of operation . In-running nip points . Rotating parts . Flying chips and sparks Safety guards must never be removed when a tool is being used. For example, portable circular saws must be equipped with guards. An upper guard must cover the entire blade of the saw. A retractable lower guard must cover the teeth of the saw, except when it makes contact with the work material. The lower guard must automatically return to the covering posit ion when the tool is not being used. The following handheld powered tools must be equipped with a momentary contact ‘‘on–off’’ control switch: drills, tappers, fastener drivers, horizontal, vertical and angle grinders with wheels larger than 2 in. in diameter, disk and belt sanders, reciprocating saws, saber saws, and other similar tools. These tools may also be ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. equipped with a lock-on control provided so that turnoff can be accomplished by a single motion of the same finger or fingers that turn it on. The following handheld powe red tools may be equipped with only a positive ‘‘on–off’’ control switch: platen sanders, disk sanders with disks 2 in. or less in diameter, grinders with wheels 2 in. or less in diameter, routers, planers, laminate trimmers, nibblers, shears, scroll saws, and jigsaws with blade shanks 0.25 in. wide or less. Other handheld powered tools such as circular saws having a blade diameter greater than 2 in., chain saws, and percussion tools without positive accessory holding means must be equipped with a constant pressure switch that will shut off the power when the pressure is released. Employees using electric tools must be aware of several dangers; the most serious being the possibility of electrocution. Among the chief hazards of electric- powered tools are burns and slight shocks which can lead to injuries or even heart failure. Under certain conditions, even a small amount of current can result in fibrillation of the heart and eventual death. A shock also can cause the user to fall off a ladder or other elevated work surfaces. To protect the user from shock, tools must either be grounded, double insu- lated, or powered by a low-voltage isolation transformer. Three-wire cords contain two current-carrying conductors and a grounding conductor. One end of the grounding conductor connects to the tool’s metal housing. The other end is grounded through a prong on the plug. Anytime an adapter is used to accommodate a two-hole receptacle, the adapter wire must be attached to a known ground. The third prong should never be removed from the plug. Double insulation is more convenient. The user and the tools are protected in two ways: by normal insulation on the wires inside, and by a housing that cannot conduct electricity to the operator in the event of a malfunction. These general practices should be followed when using electric tools: . Electric tools should be operated within their design limitations. . Gloves and safety footwear are recommended during use of electric tools. . When not in use, tools should be stored in a dry place. . Electric tools should not be used in damp or wet conditions. . Work areas should be well lighted. Powered abrasive grinding, cutting, polishing, and wire buffing wheels create special safety problems because they may throw off flying fragments. Before an abrasive wheel is mounted, it should be inspected closely and sound- or ring-tested to be sure that it is free from cracks or defects. To test, wheels should be tapped gently with a light nonmetallic instrument. If the wheel sounds cracked or dead, it could fly apart in operation and so must not be used. A sound and undamaged wheel will give a clear metallic tone or ‘‘ring.’’ To prevent the wheel from cracking, the user should be sure it fits freely on the spindle. The spindle nut must be tight enough to hold the wheel in place, without distorting the flange. Follow the manufacturer’s recom- mendations. It must be ensured that the spindle wheel does not exceed the abrasive wheel specifications. Due to the possibility of a wheel disintegrating (exploding) ß 2008 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. [...]... (ft) 10 8 6 8 6 N=A must have a safe practice procedure posted and enforced When tires are mounted and= or inflated on wheels with split rims and= or retainer rings, a safe practice procedure is to be posted and enforced Each tire inflation hose should have a clipon chuck with at least 24 in of hose between the chuck and an in-line hand valve and gauge The tire inflation control valve must be of automatically... published Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments The guidelines and recommendations are based on OSHA’s Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines and contain four basic elements: Management commitment and employee involvement May include simply clear goals for worker security in smaller sites or a written program for larger organizations... Involves identifying high-risk situations through employee surveys, workplace walkthroughs, and reviews of injury=illness data Hazard prevention and control Calls for designing engineering and administrative and work practice controls to prevent or limit violent incidents Training and education Ensures that employees know about potential security hazards and ways to protect themselves and their coworkers... high-crime areas Guarding valuable property or possessions Working in community-based settings OSHA’s response to the problem of workplace violence in certain industries has been the production of OSHA’s guidelines and recommendations to those industries for implementing workplace violence prevention programs In 1996, OSHA published Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social... cause All scaffolds and their supports must be capable of supporting the load they are designed to carry with safety factor of at least four All planking is to be of scaffold grade, as recognized by grading rules for the type of wood used The maximum permissible spans for 2 in by 9 in or wider planks are shown in Table 23. 1 The maximum permissible span for l.25 in by 9-in or wider plank for full thickness... for workplace assault, as identified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), are as follows: Contact with the public Exchange of money Delivery of passengers, goods, or services Having a mobile workplace such as a taxicab or police cruiser Working with unstable or volatile persons in health care, social services, or criminal justice settings Working alone or in small... exhaustive, OSHA’s guidelines and recommendations include policies, procedures, and corrective methods to help prevent and mitigate the effects of workplace violence Engineering controls remove the hazard from the workplace or create a barrier between the worker and the hazard Administrative and work practice controls affect the way jobs or tasks are performed Some recommended engineering and administrative controls... Training in identifying hazardous situations and appropriate responses in emergencies Video surveillance equipment and closed circuit TV (Figure 23. 4) Liaison with local police Post-incident response and evaluation are essential to an effective violence prevention program All workplace violence programs should provide treatment for victimized employees and employees who may be traumatized by witnessing... circumstances For example, a gas station may find pass-through windows with bullet-resistant glass, increased lighting inside the station and over the pumps, and clearing windows of signs to permit an unobstructed view for police officers in the street to be useful measures A convenience store might use video surveillance equipment, combined with an alarm system, convex mirrors in the store, and drop safes... Group, LLC Physical barriers such as bullet-resistant enclosures, pass-through windows, or deep service counters Alarm systems, panic buttons Convex mirrors, elevated vantage points, clear visibility of service and cash register areas Bright and effective lighting Adequate staffing Furniture positioning to prevent entrapment Cash-handling controls, use of drop safes Height markers on exit . necessary to use Industrial Safety and Health for Infrastructure Services, Industrial Safety and Health for Administrative Services, and Industrial Safety and Health for People-Oriente d Services to. ommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments. The guidelines and recom mendations are based on OSHA’s Safety and Health Program Manage- ment Guidelines and. guidelines and recommendations to those industries for implementing workplace violence prevention programs. In 1996, OSHA pub- lished Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and