Write a toolbox talk on Falling objects

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# SUPPORTED SCAFFOLDS: REQUIREMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY (cont.) ## Cross bracing (cont.) SUPPORTED SCAFFOLDS: REQUIREMENTS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ## Falling objects If you're exposed to falling objects (such as tools, materials, or equipment), you must wear a hard hat and ensure that you're protected from above by toe boards, screens, guardrail systems, debris nets, catch platforms, or canopies. Your hard hat can't be the only means of protecting you from falling objects. If people below you are exposed to falling objects, you must barricade the area below your scaffold or place a toe board along the edge of the scaffold platform. Use panels or screens to protect people below when tools, materials, or equipment are piled higher than the top edge of the toe board. NIOSH/John Rekus A toeboard can provide falling object protection in addition to the use of hardhats. 16

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# Toolbox Talks Equipment and Falling Objects Being Struck by Falling Objects is a leading source of construction fatalities. Even a small object falling from a height can cause serious or fatal injuries. Incident: In May 2021, a laborer was picking up debris at a construction site. A rough terrain vehicle was lifting a pile of lumber to the second floor next to him. The lumber was not secured and fell two stories from the rough terrain vehicle. Several boards struck an employee in the head. He was wearing a hard hat, but the incident left him with a concussion and other injuries. 1. What could have been done to prevent this incident? 2. Are materials regularly being lifted by heavy equipment to upper levels on your worksite? 3. If so, what do you do to protect yourself when walking through the site? What do you do to protect others? ## Prevent Being Struck by Equipment or Objects • Loads should not be hoisted or allowed to pass over people. • Loads need to be secured when lifted by rough terrain vehicles, forklifts, cranes, or any sort of material mover. • Hard hats can help minimize injuries to the head and therefore also protect your spine. • Toe boards need to be placed on all scaffolding, unprotected sides or edges, and open elevations to protect workers below from falling materials such as lumber, brick, tools, etc. • Materials should be stacked and secured appropriately and not leaning or ready to topple over. • Tools in elevated working areas need to be secured if close to any change in elevation. There are new and improved tool lanyards available. • Even when taking all of the above cautions, items can shift, so listen and watch as you walk on the site. ## Discussion: Let's talk about this jobsite. Record notes and share appropriate parties. - 1.Are elevated loading areas or zones on this project and cordoned off to restrict entry? 2. Is there any area on this site that the Controlling Contractor should be told about to eliminate a pote…

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CPWR TOOLBOX RESEARCH AND TRAINING THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION TALK Being struck by falling objects is a leading cause of construction fatalities. Even a small object, falling from a height, can cause serious or fatal injuries. ## Ted's Story Ted was picking up debris at a construction site. A forklift was lifting a pile of lumber to the second floor next to him. The lumber was not secure and fell from the forklift. One board struck Ted in the head. He was wearing a hard hat, but the incident left him with a concussion. - What could have been done to prevent this incident? * Have you or someone you know ever been injured by a falling object on a job site? # Equipment: Falling Objects ## Remember This ➤ Do not hoist loads or allow them to pass over people. ➤ Secure loads before lifting them by forklifts. ➤ Secure all tools in elevated work areas if they are close to leading edges. ➤ Always wear a hard hat. ➤ Ask your employer to place toe boards on all scaffolding and open elevations to protect workers below from falling materials. ➤ Stack materials neatly to keep them from toppling over. How can we stay safe today? What will we do at the worksite to prevent workers from being struck and injured by falling objects? 1. 2. OSHA Standard: 1926.250 ©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 【● THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING

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# Conducting Toolbox Talks ## Who should conduct the Toolbox Talks? • Supervisors, foremen, and union stewards are the best people to help plan and deliver Toolbox Talks. • At times, others with a particular expertise or interest, like the company safety officer, project staff, insurance representative, or industrial hygienist may be recruited to lead a talk. Use the completed worksheet for the talk. Read it directly or use the high- lighted points as discussion starters. It's a matter of style. Some people are more comfortable reading the sheet and others like to use their own words. Use the filled in worksheet for a handout and encourage workers to participate. Be prepared to follow up on issues that arise. See the Toolbox Talk Tips below. ## Toolbox Talks Tips • Adults learn best when the topic: - relates to what they do 。 gives them a chance to discuss the issues. • allows them to use what they have learned. • Back up the Toolbox Talk with questions. Ask the group questions about the topic and conditions at the site. Give people a chance to answer. • Ask about personal experience. What are the conditions at this site? Has this issue come up at other sites? How were any problems fixed? • Encourage participation from the group but don't let a single person dominate. Wait till he/she catches their breath, say "Thank You" and move on. • Never make fun of any one and treat all comments seriously. • Respond to all legitimate complaints and make a point to follow up. • If you don't know an answer - say so - make a note of the question and follow up. • Allow a little time for general discussion, e.g. accidents or near misses. This is not a gripe session. SECTION 2 Toolbox Talks for Lead Hazards F-5

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# Falling-object hazards ## Explain dangers The most common injuries workers suffer from falling objects are bruises, fractures, strains, and sprains. The objects that commonly fall range from large items such as roof trusses and steel beams to small items such as fasteners and small hand tools. ## Identify controls There are two types of controls you can use to prevent falling objects from hurting workers: 1. Physical controls physically stop the object from falling (or from falling very far). 2. Procedural controls refer to changing the way you work so that objects can't fall. ## PHYSICAL CONTROLS ## Guardrails Toeboards must be installed on all guardrails. They stop objects from falling down to the level below. Toeboards must be a minimum of 89 mm (3.5 in) high and installed flush with the surface. If you pile material higher than 89 mm (3.5 in) high, put plywood panels or screening on the guardrails. This will prevent materials from falling down to the level below and stop small objects from falling through the openings between rails. ## Open grating covers If you are performing work on open grating, place non-slip plywood or a similar product on top of the grating to prevent small objects from falling through it. ## Barricades and overhead protective structures Use barricades to block off exclusion zones- areas where workers are not allowed-below the work area. Combine barricades with signs that indicate it is an exclusion zone and entry is prohibited. This includes hoisting areas. When barricades are not practical, use overhead protective structures. ## Tool lanyards and tethers These attach tools directly to the worker's harness or tool belt. If used properly, they will prevent tools from dropping to a lower level. ## Carts with sides When moving equipment, tools, or material, always use a cart that is an appropriate size for what you are moving and make sure the cart has sides. If you need to extend something over the sides of the cart, you…

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# Table of Contents (cont.) ## How to use Toolbox Talks (cont.) To provide this training, you will be leading a discussion in which you give an example of a fatality related to the topic, discuss how it could have been prevented, ask questions, and encourage participation. ## How Toolbox Talks are formatted • Each Toolbox Talk begins with an example of the types of incidents that are possible if workers do not follow the fall prevention guidelines outlined in the training. • Following the job site example, the Toolbox Talk lists guidelines for preventing falls related to the topic (e.g., ladders). • Finally, each training sheet includes blank lines for workers to include ways that the topic is applicable to their job site. ## Preparing to teach the training sessions 1. Spend about 15 minutes to become familiar with the Toolbox Talk. 2. Print a copy of a relevant Toolbox Talk and think about how the topic relates to your specific worksite. 3. Look through the educational materials and resources listed at the end of the training guide, along with other materials on OSHA's web site, to find materials to supplement the Toolbox Talk. ## Advice for trainers Safety meetings work best if the whole crew actively participates. This makes it more interesting and more likely that people will remember the information you've given them. Here are some ways to encourage everyone to get involved: • Ask questions instead of simply giving them the information. After you ask a question, wait a short time to let people think. Then, call on volunteers to answer. • Ask about personal experience. This can help the group see how the topic is relevant to them. You could ask: Has anyone here fallen off a ladder? What happened? • Make sure everyone has a chance to talk. If a crew member is talking too much, invite someone else to speak. • Never make fun of anyone or put anyone down, especially for asking questions. Fall Prevention Training Guide: A Lesson Plan for Employers 3

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# OSHA FactSheet ## Personal Protective Equipment Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is designed to protect workers from serious workplace injuries or illnesses resulting from contact with chemical, radiological, physi- cal, electrical, mechanical, or other workplace hazards. Besides face shields, safety glasses, hard hats, and safety shoes, protective equipment includes a variety of devices and garments such as goggles,coveralls, gloves, vests, earplugs, and respirators. ## Employer Responsibilities OSHA's primary personal protective equip- ment standards are in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1910 Subpart I, and equivalent regulations in states with OSHA- approved state plans, but you can find protec- tive equipment requirements elsewhere in the General Industry Standards. For example, 29 CFR 1910.156, OSHA's Fire Brigades Standard, has requirements for firefighting gear. In addi- tion, 29 CFR 1926.95-106 covers the construc- tion industry. OSHA's general personal protec- tive equipment requirements mandate that employers conduct a hazard assessment of their workplaces to determine what hazards are present that require the use of protective equipment, provide workers with appropriate protective equipment, and require them to use and maintain it in sanitary and reliable condition. Using personal protective equipment is often essential, but it is generally the last line of defense after engineering controls, work prac- tices, and administrative controls. Engineering controls involve physically changing a machine or work environment. Administrative controls involve changing how or when workers do their jobs, such as scheduling work and rotat- ing workers to reduce exposures. Work prac- tices involve training workers how to perform tasks in ways that reduce their exposure to workplace hazards. As an employer, you must assess your work- place to determine if hazards are present that require the use of personal protective equipment. If …

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# OSHA QUICK CARD™ ## Protect Yourself Construction Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ## Eye and Face Protection - Safety glasses or face shields are worn any time work operations can cause foreign objects to get in the eye. For example, during welding, cutting, grinding, nailing (or when working with concrete and/or harmful chemi- cals or when exposed to flying particles). Wear when exposed to any electrical hazards, including working on energized electrical systems. - Eye and face protectors - select based on anticipated hazards. ## Foot Protection - Construction workers should wear work shoes or boots with slip-resistant and puncture-resistant soles. • Safety-toed footwear is worn to prevent crushed toes when working around heavy equipment or falling objects. - Hand Protection - Gloves should fit snugly. - Workers should wear the right gloves for the job (examples: heavy-duty rubber gloves for concrete work; welding gloves for welding; insulated gloves and sleeves when exposed to electrical hazards). - Head Protection • Wear hard hats where there is a potential for objects falling from above, bumps to the head from fixed objects, or of accidental head contact with electrical hazards. - Hard hats - routinely inspect them for dents, cracks or deterioration; replace after a heavy blow or electrical shock; maintain in good condition. - Hearing Protection - Use earplugs/earmuffs in high noise work areas where chainsaws or heavy equipment are used; clean or replace earplugs regularly. For more complete information: Occupational OSHA Safety and Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor www.osha.gov (800) 321-OSHA OSHA 3260-09N-05

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MIOSHA Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration ## Special points of interest: • Wear Hard Hats, Safety Glasses, and Work Boots on job sites. • Use face shields and goggles when safety glasses are not enough • Wear safety toe foot- wear when feet can be crushed by heavy objects # Tool Box Talk Personal Protective Equipment MIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 6. Personal Protective Equipment Employer: Shall provide, at no expense to the employee, the initial issue of personal protective equipment (PPE) and replacement equipment necessary due to reasonable wear and tear required, unless specifically indicated otherwise or other employer/employee agreement specifically requires employees to provide such equipment. Employee: An employee shall wear PPE when prescribed by the MIOSHA rules. ## Head protection (Hard Hat): . Class A hard hat shall be used where a hazard from falling or flying objects or particles or from other harmful contacts or exposures may be present • physically altered, painted, or damaged hard hats shall not be worn • Wear hard hat brim forward • Do not ware baseball hats underneath ## Eye and face protection: - Z87.1 safety glasses shall be used where a hazard exists from flying objects or particles, harmful contacts, such as when using power tools, hammers, and working over head. • An employee who needs corrective lenses where eye protection is required shall be protected by 1 of the following: (a) Spectacles whose protective lenses provide optical correction. (b) Goggles that can be worn over the corrective lenses without disturbing the adjustment of the spectacles. - Use goggles when working around dust, chemicals - Use face shields to protect face from particles, chemicals Face shields do not protect eyes from flying object high impacts, must use Z87.1 safety glasses underneath ## Foot protection: • Employee Provided / Employer must require • ANSI Z41-1999 or ASTM 2412 & 2413 certified footwear mu…

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FOCUS TOOLBOX TALKS FOUR Module 2, Struck-by, Talk Number 2 # How can we protect ourselves from falling objects? [Ask the following questions and give time for answers.]' What are the hazards? Trees falling on equipment, loads dropping on workers, heavy equipment tipping over or rolling onto workers, tools falling from elevated work stations What are the results? Broken bones, head injuries, death What should we look for? Elevated work areas, toeboards missing from scaffolds over 10 feet high, objects not secured in overhead storage, canopies missing under scaffolding, cranes making lifts, equipment operating close to trenches, embankments, and debris piles [Relate this incident or, better, one you know.] Actual Incident: October 8, 1997, a 56-year-old truck driver was crushed when a crane tipped over and the crane's boom landed on the cab of the dump truck in which he was sitting. The crane had been lowering an empty 4-yard concrete bucket, while booming out [Ask the following question and ensure every item is covered.] ## How do we prevent these results? □ Operators must know the capacity of their equipment and work from a load chart. □ Workers on the ground should always keep an eye on nearby operations and never assume the operation is completely safe. - Operators must be particularly careful where trees are being cleared and stay far enough away to avoid being struck. □ Everyone on the site needs to wear their hard hats all the time. □ Everyone should stay away from ongoing operations unless they are needed for the work. [Ask the following questions about this site and ensure every item is covered.] ## Let's talk about this site now. What are the greatest potential for being struck by falling materials on this site? - Is there something we can do to limit the risks from these hazards? - Are there any particularly steep embankments that could pose a rollover risk? [Record questions below that you want to ask about this site.] Keeping bac…

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# Tree Care Work: Falls and Falling Object Hazards (cont.) ## Prevention (cont.) falling object hazards due to tree condition. The American National Standard Institute's (ANSI) Z133 consensus standard on tree care work defines "qualified arborist." - Determine if rigging is necessary and, if so, that workers can use it safely. This determination helps prevent sections of the tree from falling while performing tree care work. - Determine if workers will need to climb or use aerial lifts. In making this determination, ensure that: - o Ladders are: - Well maintained and not defective, such as having missing or broken parts; - Kept at least 10 feet away from power lines and other electric equipment. For lines and equipment over 50 kV, the distance should be 10 feet plus 4 inches for every 10 kV over 50 kV.* - Inspected before each use, and remove damaged or defective ladders; - Secured to avoid slippage; and - Used according to the manufacturer's instructions. - o Aerial lifts are: - Maintained and properly set up for use; - Used according to the manufacturer's instructions; - Not used as cranes to lift or hoist tree parts or material unless designed for that purpose; - Only used with fall protection equipment including tie-off; and - Kept at least 10 feet away from power lines and other electric equipment. For lines and equipment over 50 kV, the distance should be 10 feet plus 4 inches for every 10 kV over 50 kV.t - o Workers who climb trees are trained on: - Climbing techniques; - Using climbing spurs with gaffs that are compatible with the tree they will climb; † This guidance is intended as a general warning for all tree care workers. In situations where employees other than qualified workers, as defined in 29 CFR 1910.269(a)(1)(i)(E)(1), are clearing trees and brush around electrical lines, minimum approach distances are given in 29 CFR 1910.269(r)(1). For further information see the Electric Power eTool at www.osha.gov/SLTC/ …

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# FALLING OBJECTS Date Posted: 01/30/2024 Each day, countless workplaces are subjected to the risk of falling objects. According to a recent survey conducted by the Center for Construction and Research and Training (CPWR), in 2022, falling/flying objects accounted for approximately 30% of injuries on construction sites. Falling objects from above cause severe injuries and account for fatalities every year. Falling object occur due to: incidents • A lack of hazard communication. • Improper storage of materials. • Improper protection of elevated storage areas. • Not moving or securing loads properly when protective headgear is not worn. • Improper housekeeping. Workers' most common injuries from falling objects are bruises, fractures, strains, and sprains. The objects that commonly fall range from large items such as roof trusses and steel beams to items such as fasteners and small hand tools. Understanding these hazards and implementing effective control measures is crucial in maintaining the safety of workers and bystanders alike. small ## COMMON FALLING OBJECT HAZARDS Tools, materials, and other objects can fall from roofs, cranes, and scaffolds, and even objects falling from lower levels, such as a truck bed or dolly, can lead to injuries. Several factors increase the risk of more severe injuries, including the object's shape and where on the body the person is struck. The height at which the object falls and the weight of the object are also extremely important, with injury severity increasing as the height and weight of the falling object increase. - of Objects during Work at Height: As workers perform tasks at elevated positions, items such • Dislodgement as tiles can be dislodged from a rooftop, causing hazards to those • Falling Objects due to Environmental Factors or Deterioration: Harsh weather conditions can lead to objects like scaffold planks cast off scaffolds in robust winds. Similarly, fixtures ductwork might fall from a ceiling due t…

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# Equipment: Falling Objects (cont.) ## Remember This (cont.) CPWR TOOLBOX RESEARCH AND TRAINING THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION TALK # Equipment: Falling Objects CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTION CAUTIC - Do not hoist or pass loads over people. - Secure all loads lifted by forklifts. - Secure all tools close to leading edges in elevated work areas. ©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 【● THE CENTER FOR CONSTRUCTION RESEARCH AND TRAINING