brief toolbox talk about situational awarness

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# Hammer Safety (cont.) ## Remember This (cont.) CPWR TOOLBOX THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING TALK # Hammer Safety - Wear safety glasses to protect your eyes. - Make sure the hammer's handle IS NOT loose or damaged. - Use the right type of hammer for the job. ©2017, CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is the research and training arm of NABTU. Production of this document was supported by cooperative agreement OH 009762 from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIOSH. CPWR [O THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING

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# ARC FLASH HAZARDS Date Posted: 02/08/2024 Based on findings from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it's estimated that between five and ten arc fault incidents occur daily in the United States. The BLS also reported that in one recent year, 1 thousand electrical workers suffered shocks and burns, some fatal. Arc flashes are violent and can cause severe injury or death to any worker exposed to the instantaneous phenomenon. Most of the time, the exposure will result in severe injury or even death. Electrical equipment is designed to withstand up to a certain amount of current. The arc flash occurs when an electrical device suffers a very high current within a fraction of a second. Some factors that can cause an arc flash include failure to de-energize components, dust, dropped tools, corrosion, or reduced insulation. Arc flash temperatures can become exceedingly hot and produce hazardous noise about as loud as a gunshot. ## WHAT IS ARC FLASH? According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), "An arc flash is the sudden release of electrical energy through the air when a high- voltage gap exists, and there is a breakdown between conductors. An arc flash gives off thermal radiation (heat) and bright, intense light that can cause burns. Temperatures have been recorded as high as 35,000 °F." ## WHAT IS AN ARC BLAST? An arc blast is a pressure wave created after an arc fault. Arc blasts can be strong enough to throw a worker to the ground and cause significant equipment damage. Arc blasts can cause damage to a worker's hearing or brain functions. The blast can also cause loose equipment, tools, machinery, and debris to go flying, which can cause further damage or injury. For example, consider the following facts on arc blast: • Air and materials exposed to ARC flash expand to be 67,000 times their normal size. • The violent pressure wave discharged can reach up to 2,000 lbs./sq. foot, causing severe risks, including: • Eardrum…

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## How can we stay safe today? (cont.) Equipment Safety: V Construction Toolbox Talk NIOSH CPWR 【● Getting On and Off - Face the equipment ladder and use both hands when climbing up or down. - Check the handholds and steps for mud or other conditions that could make them slippery. - Keep work areas clean and free of waste such as scraps, extra materials, and garbage to prevent trip and slip hazards. GET INFORMATION CDC/NIOSH INFO: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-[redacted phone]) | TTY: 1-[redacted phone] | cdc.gov/cdc-info | cdc.gov/niosh CPWR: Contact [redacted phone] | [redacted email] | www.cpwr.com/toolbox-talks DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2022-144 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.[redacted postal code]/NIOSHPUB2022144 | August 2022

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# BACK OVER HAZARDS (cont.) ## CAMERAS Some newer models of equipment come equipped with rear-view cameras, and retrofit kits are on the market for installation in older vehicles. These cameras provide the operator/driver with the ability to see the blind spots and can reduce backover incidents. ## PROXIMITY DETECTION SYSTEMS Proximity detection systems are another potential option. They use radar or ultrasonic waves to alert drivers to the presence of personnel or objects behind them. These systems emit signals that bounce off objects in the vicinity and return to a receiver in the vehicle. A sound or image warns the driver about something behind the vehicle that the driver may be unable to see on their own. A tag-based system is also a proximity detection system that can help warn workers and drivers about backover hazards. Workers wear electronic sensing devices that send signals to equipment and vehicle drivers when workers are near or entering a danger zone. The system can also be programmed to warn workers when they need to put more distance between themselves and a vehicle or equipment. ## INTERNAL TRAFFIC CONTROL PLANS (ITCP) An internal traffic control plan (ITCP) is another method to address backover hazards. These are plans that project managers can use to coordinate the flow of moving equipment, workers, and vehicles at a worksite to minimize or eliminate vehicles and employees from crossing paths. These plans can significantly reduce or eliminate vehicles needing to back up on a site. ## REFERENCES WAC [redacted identifier] - Motor Vehicles Mechanized Equipment and Marine Operations Work zone safety | WSDOT (wa.gov) Preventing Backovers - Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov) Construction Equipment Visibility - Diagram Lookup | NIOSH | CDC WorkZoneSafety RoadConstruction.ppsx (live.com) Work Zone Traffic Safety Fact Sheet (osha.gov) - NATIONAL WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK APRIL 17-21, 2023 - Home (nwzaw.org) Con…

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# HEALTH AND SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES Date Posted: 09/09/2016 To provide and maintain a safe and healthy worksite, owners, contractors, employers, supervisors, and workers must accept and follow their own level of responsibility. ## HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS • Understand and follow the safety program and jobsite work procedures. • Wear appropriate clothing and use all required personal protective equipment. • Not take unnecessary risks and not endanger other workers through practicaljokes or horseplay. • Not use any broken tools or unsafe equipment; unsafe tools and equipment must be removed from service. • Stay off the worksite if impaired by drugs (medical or illegal) or alcohol or allow others to do so. • Refuse - to carry out any work activity that could result in harm to themselves or any other employee. • Maintain good housekeeping conditions • Report all injuries immediately to first aid, the supervisor, or the employer. ## LEARN MORE ## SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES • All workers are familiar with and follow the company safety program. • Workers are properly trained and follow safe jobsite work procedures, and the applicable work and safety regulations. • The jobsite is evaluated and hazards are eliminated. If hazards are not controlled, the employer must develop special work procedures to prevent the risk worker injury or disease. of • Workers wear appropriate clothing and the required personal protective equipment. • Appropriate tools, equipment, and materials are available and used. • Emergency jobsite procedures are developed and made known to workers. ## EMPLOYER RESPONSIBILITIES • Develop, implement, and maintain a safety program designed to prevent injuries and disease in the workplace. • Evaluate worksite hazards and take necessary steps to protect workers • Plan the work to be done, ensuring that the right tools, equipment, and materials are available when needed. • Ensure that supervisors train workers in safe work practice…

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CPWR TOOLBOX THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING TALK Fires and burns are the fifth most common cause of accidental injury deaths in the United States. Workers need to be aware of potential fire hazards at the worksite and how to protect themselves. ## Tim's Story Tim was painting the walls of an attic in a three-story house. A fire began in the basement due to bad wiring in a light socket near the ceiling. There was no working smoke detector in the house, and because Tim was in the attic, he did not smell the smoke until it was too late. Tim was not able to make it out and he died. - How could this incident have been avoided? - What are possible fire hazards at your worksite? ## Remember This ➤ Make sure you have a ventilation system, especially where paints, solvents, or other flammable materials are being used. # Fire Safety ➤ Before you begin work, make sure there are working smoke alarms in areas under construction. ➤ Make sure fire extinguishers are available that are the right class for the fire hazards on your job: 。 Class A for wood, paper, cardboard, plastic, etc. 。 Class B for combustible liquid such as gasoline, oil, and kerosene; these contain a dry chemical. - o Class C for electrical fires 。 Combination extinguishers for combustible metal; these contain an inert dry material. - Make sure you have at least one extinguisher of the appropriate class for each type of fire hazard. ➤ Make sure you know where the fire extinguishers are and how to use them. ➤ Keep flammable and combustible materials away from portable heaters and keep the area around them clear. How can we stay safe today? What will we do at the worksite to prevent fires? 1. 2. OSHA Regulation: 29 CFR 1926.1000 ©2017, CPWR-The Center for Construction Research and Training. All rights reserved. CPWR is the research and training arm of NABTU. Production of this document was supported by cooperative agreement OH 009762 from the National Institute for Occu…

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# Asbestos Awareness Toolbox Talk Asbestos has been widely used in thousands of products because of its strength and insulating qualities. However, asbestos is extremely dangerous to workers handling it and to others nearby when it gets into the air and is breathed in. Asbestos can cause fatal diseases like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Asbestos has not been banned and can still be found in new products and materials. Even new buildings can contain asbestos. ## Asbestos can commonly be found in these materials: • Attic firewall paper (nicolite) Attendance: • Cement asbestos board siding (transite) • Dope/putty on natural gas line fittings • Duct insulation • Fireplace walls, floors, and fake logs • Furnace insulation • Gypsum wall board • Insulation on electrical wires • Linoleum or vinyl flooring, backing, and mastic • Pipe insulation - L&I Inspection Photo • Popcorn ceiling or other textured surfaces • Roof systems-shingles, built-up roofing, asphaltic sealant, silver coat • Vinyl tiles and mastic • Wall joint compound • Wall texture or plaster • Window putty • Loose, blown-in insulation (vermiculite) These are just some of the materials asbestos can be found in. It is impossible to tell if a material contains asbestos without having it be tested by an AHERA certified building inspector. ## Good Faith Survey for Asbestos Before doing any renovation, remodeling, demolition, maintenance, or repair work the good faith survey or asbestos report created by an AHERA certified building inspector must be available for you to review. The building owner and contractor must provide this report and must ensure all materials disturbed during the work is sampled. Only certified workers can work with asbestos containing materials. Location where workers can review the good faith survey for asbestos: ## A Workplace Safety and Health Inspection The attached photo shows a demolition job that led to multiple employees being exp…

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# SAFETY AWARENESS F1 Date Posted: 08/28/2016 Safety Awareness is like almost everything else we do, learned and not instinctive. We aren't born with awareness for safety concerns... in fact anyone who has a young child or grandchild knows this as they see them going around doing unsafe things constantly. People learn through various means. Some learn by doing, others by watching, and some by reading. Others learn by their mistakes or the mistakes of others which is one reason we post and talk about near misses and the accidents that we've had. ## SAFE BEHAVIORS • Before you begin a job, you consider how to do it safely. • You make sure you know how and when to use personal protective equipment. • As you work, you check your position to reduce strain on your body. • You ensure other workers and those in the area are not exposed to hazards. • While you are working, you become aware of any changes in the area. • You talk with others about safety. Safety is a way of life and should be thought about so often that it becomes second nature. Recognizing hazards is an important part of keeping you and your co-workers safe ## MAKING HAZARD RECOGNITION SECOND NATURE • Review safety procedures for your job and work area on a daily basis. • Understand how unsafe acts can lead to accidents. • Participate in safety training every opportunity you get. • Use your safety knowledge in all aspects of your job. • Help instruct new workers in identifying potential hazards. ## IDENTIFY UNSAFE ACTS • Be aware of your surroundings. • Many hazards are obvious to those who open their eyes and minds to see them. • Correct Potential Hazards • Hazard recognition is valuable only when corrective action is taken. • Report all potential hazards to your supervisor. • Work with your supervisor to make sure the hazard is corrected and communicate with co-workers so they don't cause any potential hazards. • Be the safety coordinator for your work area and stress the importance…

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# SAFETY PRE-PLANNING Date Published: 05/12/2025 Safe work practices are crucial to ensure that all employees have a standard level of knowledge and perform tasks the same way while prioritizing safety. Ensuring safety at a job site is essential to completing a job successfully. When everyone follows safe practices, the crew will experience fewer accidents, and productivity and efficiency will increase. Safety pre-planning involves planning a task to identify, avoid, prevent, and control hazards to keep our workers safe in their work. Utilizing the S.E.E. process serves as a useful reminder of how to examine a task before starting. S.E.E. stands for: • S-Scan (look at) the equipment, tools, and environment to identify potential hazards. Define the scope of the task and identify if there are any applicable - documents, such as Pre-Task Plan (PTP) requirements, SOPs, permits, or Job Hazard Analysis (JHA), that need review before beginning the task. E - Evaluate the task you intend to complete, break it into steps, associate the hazards with the steps, and plan methods to eliminate or reduce them. Here, teams need to identify situational and inherent hazards or potential hazards. To identify the hazard, each team member should discuss how someone may be injured while performing the task. Examples could include materials, equipment/tools, work locations, worker knowledge, worksite conditions, etc. Develop and implement hazard controls-Once the hazards have been identified, the workers should develop solutions to eliminate the hazards by implementing control measures. Specified methods, tools, and equipment might be used to reduce or eliminate the hazards. When the hazards cannot be eliminated, safeguards must be implemented. Examples include the erection of guardrails if work is performed at elevation or using personal protective equipment. - E - Execute the task. Perform work within hazard controls enacted in the previous step. This step requires workers to dis…

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# MIOSHA Fact Sheet # Situational Awareness MIOSHA Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration Workers must navigate through a vast array of hazards. Amidst all the workers, equipment, and materials, lies a lurking danger: the risk of being struck by, crushed by, or caught in between. A simple way to understand this is to know that when somebody is in the wrong place at the wrong time, they have placed themselves in the zone of danger and lack situational awareness. Zone of danger hazards are taking a high toll on Michigan workers. In 2023, there were 24 fatalities due to zone of danger accidents. There are an infinite number of scenarios that can happen when we put ourselves in the zone of danger: something could fall, a rope or chain under tension can snap and strike someone or something, heavy equipment can suddenly move, or a vehicle could fail to stop when expected. Temporary loss or lack of situational awareness is an identified cause of many accidents. Often there is so much activity in a work environment, or workers become absorbed in their own thoughts, that they fail to spot things that could pose a serious threat to health and safety. In these situations, it is essential to maintain a high level of situational awareness to stop accidents and near misses. ## Tips to Prevent Zone of Danger Incidents and Improve Situational Awareness • Train workers to recognize and avoid hazards continually and never to rush through tasks. • Plan work. Think about what could go wrong and if anyone will be in harm's way. This should be a habit before starting each task performed. • Instruct workers to look in every direction for objects that could strike or crush them. • Do not get between a rock and a hard place. Keep all parts of workers' bodies out of places where something moving could crush them against something else. For example, never stand between a moving vehicle and a wall. • If working near a roadway, never turn your back on traffic and a…