Construction Safety Tips

Examples of a Confined Space

A few examples of confined spaces can include pipelines, duct work, equipment housings, access shafts, tunnels, pipes, storage bins, tanks, sewers, chimneys, fuel tanks, vessels, manure pits, vats, silos, hoppers, aircraft wings, truck and rail tank cars, and chemical plants. Due to the work being done, atmospheric hazards may be present due to the locations, contents, or construction means or materials. Continuous human occupancy is not what confined spaces are designed for; rather, regular maintenance is required but should be exercised with extreme caution. Workers can sustain serious physical and chemical injury or even death if proper precautions are not taken.

Working in a Confined Space

Avoiding all injury and possible negative outcomes should be the goal of every team and project manager that works near a confined space. All steps during this safety process should be taken with equal importance; this includes permitting, designating the confined space, atmospheric monitoring, proper safety equipment, and more. Here are a few tips for any worker that is entering a confined space:

• Maintain contact with the worker inside the confined space at all times. The worker inside the confined space should have access to immediate contact with another member of the team whenever they are performing work in the space.
• Check for atmospheric contaminants and other hazardous elements in the environment. This can include toxic gases, chemicals, and unsafe levels of dust and air contaminants. All necessary checks should be completed before anyone enters the confined space. Many toxic gases cannot be detected via smell, which is why it is important to get the proper instrumentation required to measure levels of dangerous gases.
• Make sure that the environment has proper ventilation or forced ventilation. Displacing gases and contaminants in a confined environment is an essential piece of the puzzle, so equipment like ventilation systems may be necessary.
• Personal protective equipment – which can include HAZMAT suits, protective gear, fire pants, air filters, Kevlar gloves, etc. – is highly dependent on the given situation; figure out what possible hazards may be present, then plan accordingly.
• Make sure there is a proper rescue protocol in place. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst; the right equipment and personnel are necessary in the event of an emergency situation, so your team should always be prepared for a rescue situation.
• Proper lighting in a confined space is essential, as almost all confined spaces will lack natural light. The person operating in the confined space should be able to do their job comfortably without fear of bodily injury or harm due to a lack of visibility.
• Use a management service such as Safety Sense, that allows for the storage of work place hazard information, work-related permits such as confined spaces, and confined space entry pre-plans and rescue procedures.

29 December 2018
by: elite
in: Blog,Construction Safety Tips
Tags: Confined Spaces, Construction, Safety Tips, Work Permit Data
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Construction sites can be a very dangerous place for anyone to be. Taking care of your workers, establishing proper safety protocols, and educating everyone on the possible dangers they may face while on the job is something that every responsible employer should do to ensure the safety of their workers. To keep the workplace a safe environment, follow these tips to make sure everyone gets home safe.

Be Wary of Crowded Work Areas

For jobs that require large machinery, many work areas become crowded with workers watching the operation. This can include large trucks and machinery such as cranes and tankers. People on the work site often gather to watch; however, there is no reason to crowd around a work area and increase unnecessary exposure to serious injury.

Workers on the ground should remain far from large machinery when in operation, especially when the equipment is dangerous. Steel mills are a prime example: make sure no one is ever underneath one while in operation. The operator is not responsible for people crowding around a proposed work site! A manager should always prevent a crowd from gathering.

Ladders, Stairs, and High Places

If your workplace has workers that frequently climb stairs, attend high places, or climb ladders, you need to make sure to take proper precautions. Check for worn, weak, loose, damaged, and otherwise broken spots, equipment, and stairs. Avoid these areas and inform a higher-up or foreman immediately if you see one of these spots. Ladders and stairs should always be kept dry, uncluttered, and clean and metal ladders should never be used in wet or rainy conditions.

As a rule of thumb, if you want to reach a high area, make sure the ladder you are using is at least 3 to 4 feet higher to allow yourself or a worker room to maneuver. Safety features like guardrails, toe boards, control line systems, and warning lines are also necessary precautions. Never try to overreach on a ladder or show off; it only takes one small mistake to result in a workplace injury.

Equipment Loading and Unloading

When unloading or unloading equipment, there is always a possibility for human error. Make sure the loading ramps are on-center and balanced and straight and cleared. In case of an emergency or equipment rolling back on the ramp, make sure you have ample room to escape in the case of a mishap. A spotter should always be used when operating machinery like a forklift or when loading equipment into a truck.

Personal Protective Equipment

PPE can include safety goggles, steel gloves and steel-toed shoes, fire pants, and other safety accessories. If you are operating in an elevated area, make sure to wear a safety harness and rubber, non-skid footwear. A breathing mask or ventilator should also be worn when dealing with hazardous chemicals in an enclosed space.

Getting in and out of Equipment

One of the most overlooked but leading causes of injuries occurs when a worker is getting in and out of heavy machinery or equipment. Make sure to avoid hopping up or down and make deliberate movements when exiting machinery, ask for a hand if necessary, make sure you have proper grip on a foothold or handhold, and always check equipment such as boots and gloves for mud or chemicals when entering a vehicle.

Workplace Safety Management System

SafetySense was developed and created by Safety Professionals! This program was not created by web developers with zero safety experience, it was created by safety professionals who have made their living in Safety. Our team includes Certified Safety Professionals (CSP’s), as well as Firefighters, Manufacturing professionals, and other subject matter experts! With decades of safety experience, we have seen it all! Unfortunately, we have also seen many industries fall behind on their permits and documentation as it relates to Permit Required Confined Space. Three of the most common issues that we see are…

Companies have a difficult time tracking changes or revisions to permit work history tied to their confined spaces.
Many companies are still using paper-based processes to perform assessments and storing them in drawers or filing cabinets where they are rarely updated or used. Transcription errors, illegible writing, etc., are just some of the challenges with paper permits.
Companies are still using printed permits that have every hazard possible available to be checked. This creates ambiguity which introduces safety hazards into the work to be performed due to errors in the information presented on the entry permit.

If you need a cloud-based workplace safety solution, contact us today.