Construction Safety Magazine - Spring 2008

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY Pull out guid e Proj f ect or Man ager s SPRING 2008 Lost-time injuries Trenching basics Crane crackdown Rollovers Fines MSD profile New President Getting to zero Trenching basics A trench is an excavation which is deeper than it is wide. An excavation for a basement—once forming is placed—becomes a trench for any worker standing between the forms and the side of the excavation. Never enter a trench deeper than 1.2 metres (4 feet) unless it has been ✓ sloped, ✓ shored, or ✓ set up with a trench box. 1 metre Foundation walls Keep spoil at least 1 metre from edge An excavation in good soil. Shoring a trench Shoring supports trench walls to prevent soil movement. The two most common types of shoring are timber and hydraulic. Both consist of posts, wales, struts, and sheathing. One major advantage of hydraulic shoring is that you don’t have to enter the trench to install the system. You can do it from the top of the trench. Whenever possible, shoring should be installed as excavation proceeds. If there’s any delay between digging and shoring, no one should enter the unprotected trench. Do it right! ✓ Follow the Construction Regulation requirements for trenching. (See Section 222 and following). ✓ Always provide ways to enter and exit the trench easily. ✓ Keep spoil (excavated earth), other material, and equipment far away from the trench. They put pressure on trench walls and can cause cave-ins. They can also roll into the trench. The minimum distance is 1 metre from the toe of the pile to the trench. ✓ When digging an excavation for a basement, allow for a minimum of 45 cm (18 inches) between the wall of the trench and formwork. We recommend at least 2 feet. Other trades may need space to do work such as waterproofing. ✓ Assess and control atmospheric hazards that can collect in the trench. Examples include methane, carbon monoxide, or foundation-coating vapours. Get more information on soil types and trenching from www.csao.org! Sloping a trench ➤ In good, Type 1 or 2 soil, you must slope the walls at an angle of 1 to 1 (45º) starting 4 feet (maximum) from the bottom of the trench. In fair, Type 3 soil, you must slope the walls at a 1-to-1 angle, starting from the bottom of the trench. In loose, Type 4 soil, you must slope the walls at a 3-to1 angle: 3 feet back for every one foot up. ➤ ➤ Section 226 of the Construction Regulation tells you how to identify what “Type” of soil you’re working with. Trench boxes Trench boxes are meant to protect workers in case of a cave-in. They are not meant to shore up or support trench walls. Backfill the space between the box and the trench wall. Otherwise, a cave-in could cause the trench box to tilt or turn over. It’s also easier for workers to enter the box if soil comes right up next to it. As long as you’re in the trench, stay inside the box. Construction Safety Association of Ontario www.csao.org 1-800-781-2726 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY Spring 2008 Volume 19, Number 1 The Construction Safety Association of Ontario publishes Construction Safety magazine quarterly. Circulation: 68,000. President: Renato Tacconelli, Vice-President— Operations, Eastern Construction Company Ltd. 1st Vice-President: William Nicholls, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Ontario Council. Executive Vice-President and General Manager: Roy O’Rourke Editor: John J. Ihnat johnih@csao.org Cover photo: John J. Ihnat CSAO reserves the right to accept or refuse any ad. Acceptance does not signify endorsement. Construction Safety Association of Ontario 21 Voyager Court South, Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 5M7 Canada 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org ISSN 1485-7227 Publications Mail Agreement # 40064070 Contents The top 3 lost-time injuries .............................................. 4 Tower crane crackdown: results .................................... 6 Getting to zero .................................................................... 8 Project Manager’s pullout guide ................... Centrefold Recent fines ...................................................................... 13 Equipment rollovers ........................................................ 14 Interview with new CSAO president ........................... 16 MSD hazards and controls: Rodworkers ................... 18 Have you subscribed to 2-Minute News? 2-Minute News is the email bulletin on construction health and safety that you can read in two minutes or less. CSAO sends it out once a month. It contains the latest information as well as ideas for safety talks. Right to your inbox! To subscribe send an email subscribe, to 2-Minute News Editor Jennifer Coccimiglio: jenniferco@csao.org. Archives are posted on www.csao.org Top 3 lost-time injuries The top 3 lost-time injuries Know the major causes of lost-time injury in Ontario construction. If a worker is going to get a losttime injury on a construction site in Ontario, it’ll probably be one of these three injuries. These three categories capture 75% of all losttime injuries in the province’s construction industry. Here are just a few ways to prevent them. ✓ The way to prevent MSDs is to do your work in as “normal” a body posture as possible, and to lift or do only as much as your body can handle. ✓ Use material handling equipment, such as carts, dollies, pallet jacks, or manual forklifts. Or get another worker to help. ✓ Avoid working on the floor. Instead of nailing or cutting wood on the ground, use a workbench (see photo). Bring the work up to your level so you don’t have to bend over. ✓ Don’t lift from the floor. Store materials above waist height and below shoulder level. ✓ Divide a large load into smaller, lighter loads. ✓ Minimize work that requires you to reach above your shoulders. ✓ Change your posture regularly. ✓ Check out the MSD profile for rodworkers on page 18 of this magazine. Develop your own profile of MSD hazards and controls! Musculoskeletal disorders Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are problems such as back pain or shoulder problems. Forceful exertion, awkward positions, and repetitive tasks can add up over time to produce an MSD. Struck-by injuries These are injuries where workers are hit by vehicles, equipment, or objects. ✓ Stay clear of vehicles and heavy equipment as much as possible. ✓ Learn where the blind spots are for different vehicles and equipment. Stay out of them. 4 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 Top 3 lost-time injuries ✓ Wear a high-visibility vest. ✓ Make eye contact with operators. ✓ Operators must know their blind spots. ✓ Operators: Use a signalperson when your view is blocked. You must obey the signalperson. ✓ Operators must wear their seatbelts at all times (see article on pages 14-15). ✓ Use blocking when unloading materials. ✓ Make sure material is tied down or secured when moving it. ✓ Use tag lines when hoisting to control the load. ✓ Put toeboards in your guardrails to prevent tools from sliding off and falling on workers below. Falls Falls have been the number-one cause of death from injury. ✓ Use guardrails, travel restraint, or fall-arrest systems. ✓ Wear your harness and tie off. ✓ Use protective covers or guardrails to prevent falls through floor openings. ✓ Don’t forget to replace these protective covers or guardrails if you remove them temporarily. ✓ When using a ladder, never reach off to the side. ✓ Always maintain 3-point contact on a ladder (keep one hand and two feet or two feet and one hand on the ladder at all times). Don’t carry materials by hand up a ladder. ✓ Secure ladders at the top and bottom. ✓ Keep your boots clean of mud, and watch out for slippery conditions. Everyone wins If you’re a worker, keep these injuries in mind before you begin work in the morning, and before starting a task. If you’re a supervisor or employer, put special emphasis on systems and practices to prevent these common causes of lost-time injury. Photocopy this article and share it with your workers. By eliminating these three types of injury, we could reduce overall losttime injury in Ontario construction by at least 75%. That would be good for people and good for business. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 5 Tower crane crackdown Tower crane crackdown: results Violations were widespread. Ministry of Labour to inspect tower cranes regularly. A Ministry of Labour (MOL) crackdown on tower cranes last year revealed widespread safety violations. The findings mean that the MOL will be paying special attention to tower cranes now and in the future. This article can help you prevent injuries and property damage, and avoid fines and orders. mechanical systems—against the provisions of the Construction Regulation (Ontario Regulation 213/91) as well as the CSA (Canadian Standards Association) standard Z248-04 Code for Tower Cranes. protection of a worker,” as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act Section 25 (2) (h). The inspectors considered the provisions of CSA standard Z248-04 Code for Tower Cranes to be reasonable precautions. ➤ ➤ The results The inspectors issued an astonishing 1,415 orders for the 120 projects they visited. Of those orders, 151 were stop-work orders, which were issued on more than half of all visits. The average number of orders per visit (7.7) was more than three times higher than the average during regular MOL inspection visits to construction sites (2.3). Fall protection (e.g., at offset platforms). Requirements of the “Cranes, Hoisting and Rigging” part of the Construction Regulation. Electrical safety (e.g., lack of weatherproof connections). Reports and engineer review (see Section 54 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act) (e.g., operators were not actually doing the logbook inspections, but instead were just checking items on the list and signing the log). Requirements of the “Equipment, General” part of the Construction Regulation. Proper access and ladders. The background The crackdown came as a response to indications of wide-ranging safety problems with tower cranes. Several incidents in Ottawa in 2005 provoked the MOL to audit cranes in that region. The inspectors ended up issuing 39 orders among the 20 audited cranes. This result led the MOL to launch a crackdown across the province. The inspectors visited 120 projects across Ontario from May 1 to October 31, 2007. ➤ ➤ The problems ➤ The inspections When an MOL team of inspectors visited a site, one group would inspect the crane while the remaining inspectors would audit the health-and-safety situation on the rest of the jobsite. The inspectors judged the condition and operation of the cranes—as well as related aspects such as the electrical and While there were certainly problems with crane structure and condition, most of the problems related to the mechanical or electrical systems. These areas are not captured by the professional engineer’s inspection of the crane’s structure. The top orders inspectors issued were for violations of these requirements: ➤ ➤ The very last inspection that the MOL carried out provides examples of typical problems the inspectors encountered throughout the crackdown: ➤ ➤ ➤ ➤ Missing guardrails on rest platforms Broken welds on rest platforms and walkways Poorly maintained or improper electrical equipment Improper hoist cable The requirement for the employer to “take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the 6 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 Tower crane crackdown ➤ ➤ ➤ Hoist cable not spooling properly Improper and missing lock pins Missing operator’s manual. What to expect in the future If you have a crane on site, expect MOL inspectors to show up unannounced. The MOL plans to inspect all cranes—province-wide— after they are erected, and have dedicated field staff and engineers for this purpose. As well, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) will begin to participate in provincewide tower-crane surveillance. Employer’s responsibilities Follow all the requirements of ➤ ➤ ➤ the Construction Regulation the crane manufacturer’s instructions CSA standard Z248-04 (get a copy from CSA at 1-800-4636727 or www.csa.ca) Before you erect the crane, you are legally required to contact the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA, 1-877-372-7233) for an inspection of the electrical aspects of the crane. Once you erect the crane, a professional engineer must inspect it. If the inspection reveals any defects, you must fix them. A report on the inspection must be prepared, and the engineer must sign it. After this process, the employer is responsible for maintaining the crane. It must be reinspected every 12 months. Ontario law require, as well as good crane inspection and operating practices. ➤ If you’re renting or leasing a crane, ensure that the paperwork you get includes the manufacturer’s instructions, as well as proof that the crane has been North American certified. The lease agreement generally states that the contractor is responsible for the costs of required repairs, parts, and other maintenance while leasing the crane. This condition means that there is little incentive for suppliers to do repairs at their own cost before leasing out the crane. Be aware that regardless of who owns the crane, the employer is required to ensure that the crane and its systems are in good repair. Put your training and expertise into practice. Inspect and operate the crane with a high degree of professional responsibility. You have the obligation to report problems to your employer. Refuse to operate a crane under unsafe conditions. You have the right to refuse unsafe work. If safety problems go uncorrected and the internal responsibility system within the company isn’t working, inform the Ministry of Labour. ➤ ➤ ➤ Operator’s responsibilities ➤ Follow all of the requirements that your employer and CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 7 General manager’s message Getting to zero By Roy O’Rourke, CSAO’s Executive Vice-President and General Manager won’t have an incident tomorrow. The challenge for you is maintaining zero into the future. Here are some important principles for employers and supervisors. 1. Company management must translate its commitment to health and safety into systems that fulfill this commitment. The main way that management demonstrates its commitment to health and safety is by establishing a program—a system—to protect workers, not just by coming up with bandaids and patchwork as problems arise. During the planning of a project, determine how to integrate injury and illness prevention seamlessly into your work processes. A little bit of investment at the beginning can give workers consistent protection throughout the course of a job, with little need to interrupt the flow of work. 2. Employees must be convinced that management expects them to take the necessary time to control unexpected hazards. Companies are in business to make money, but does your company emphasize productivity above everything else? Do workers feel that they had better take a risk instead of taking a moment to control an unexpected hazard? The everyday words and actions of supervisors tell employees what the company’s priorities are. If a supervisor never talks about preventing injury and illness, how can employees be expected to consider it important at a time when it really counts? 3. Remind people about hazards. We human beings adapt to our environment. That means we can become desensitized to hazards. We need to be prodded into seeing our usual surroundings with fresh eyes. That’s why unannounced health and safety inspections, safety talks, posters, and other reminders are so important. Why not hand out photocopies of articles from this magazine? Our web site has a wealth of such printable material. Even simply asking employees if they’ve seen any hazards can get them thinking. 4. Encourage employees to come forward with their health and safety concerns. Your employees can tell you about what’s really happening on site. Set up a system—perhaps an anonymous one—for getting their ideas on health and safety. You need to genuinely care about what they have to say, and you need to make that clear. CSAO is committed to the WSIB’s Road to Zero prevention strategy. Zero is possible, both for individual construction companies and for the industry as a whole. I encourage you to use our extensive experience and resources as you develop systems for prevention. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) describes its new, five-year prevention strategy as the “Road to Zero.” The “zero” refers to the goal of having no injuries, illnesses, or deaths in Ontario workplaces. You may ask, is achieving “zero” even possible in Ontario construction? The fact is that each year, for losttime injuries (LTIs), zero is achieved by the majority of construction contractors in Ontario. Companies are already achieving zero LTIs. In fact, a company that experiences an LTI in a given year is actually the exception in our industry. I believe that what is achievable by the majority can be achieved by all. It’s not a large step to zero. Perhaps your company has had zero injuries so far this year. Obviously that doesn’t mean you 8 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 t llou Pu de gui Health and safety principles for PROJECT MANAGERS What is a project manager? A project manager is the company’s main representative on a jobsite, with authority over the progression of the project and site supervision. A project manager is the primary link between field supervisors and company management for critical aspects of the job. Ensuring health and safety is a critical aspect of any job. According to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, the major workplace parties with health and safety responsibilities are the constructor, employer, supervisor, and worker. Because project managers represent management on the project, they are not exempt from responsibilities or liability for health and safety. By playing a clear and proactive role in injury and illness prevention, a project manager can ensure that scheduling, costs, productivity, quality, and health and safety are all managed for success. Construction Safety Association of Ontario www.csao.org 1-800-781-2726 What should a project manager do? Emphasize the rules in the bid package Include detailed descriptions of your health and safety requirements in the bid package for subcontractors. You should especially include those requirements that exceed the demands of the Construction Regulation, such as mandatory use of safety glasses. Including the requirements in the bid package will ensure that the contractor is aware of them, and will show that you’re serious about them. The signed contract will also give your supervisors support to enforce the requirements. Ensure workers have all mandatory training Ensure that everyone working on site has—at the very least—the minimum mandatory training necessary. By “everyone,” we don’t mean only your company’s employees. As a constructor, your company has the responsibility of ensuring the health and safety of all workers on site, including subcontracted employees. You, or your site supervisors, will have to ask for records of training (ROTs) or other proof from subcontractors. Assist site supervisors Tight schedules, unique project designs, multiple employers, and an often transient workforce make a site supervisor’s job difficult. Provide them with resources, assist them with their health and safety responsibilities, and help them ensure or enforce workers’ compliance with the health and safety policy. When necessary, you may have to take on the role of site supervisor for a period of time. Continued on page 4 of this booklet 2 Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org Project manager’s checklist Here is a sample checklist of health and safety requirements for the various stages of a project. At all stages, ensure that everyone on site has the appropriate resources for preventing or controlling workplace hazards. Pre-bid documents should include ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ requests for clearance certificates, liability insurance, WSIB records written confirmation from subcontractors that they will comply with your safety program copies of subcontractors’ health and safety programs designation of competent supervision request to conduct inspections, investigations, orientations (specified times) a description of the lines of communication the penalties for non-compliance a statement that attendance is required at project meetings and training sessions. ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ there are clear emergency routes, and that the general public is protected from the site’s hazards work areas have adequate lighting workers have all gone through site orientation sessions workers have easy access to necessary documents, e.g., ❍ manuals ❍ manufacturers’ instructions ❍ engineering reports ❍ safe operation procedures ❍ hazard assessments ❍ site-specific procedures. As the project proceeds ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Be a good role model for supervisors and workers. Attend and assist with orientations and safety meetings. Ask for up-to-date WSIB and insurance certificates to be included with subcontractors’ progress draws. Conduct both scheduled and unannounced inspections. Review MOL orders to ensure follow-up. Review accident/incident investigation reports. Ensure corrective action is taken for any problems. Monitor and measure both progress and results. Before or at the beginning of the project Ensure that . . . ❑ the following are posted: ❍ Notice of Project ❍ Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations for Construction Projects ❍ First Aid Requirements Regulation (Regulation 1101 under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act) ❍ WSIB form 82 (“In case of injury” poster) ❍ the company’s health and safety policy ❍ Names of Health and Safety Representative, JHSC members, and Worker Trades Committee members ❍ MOL orders ❍ warning signs. When the project is finished Review safety program components to verify if they are adequate for the next project. Evaluate site performance by reviewing ❍ accident/incident reports ❍ inspection reports ❍ training records ❍ MOL orders ❑ ❑ ❑ Form 1000s are completed by each subcontractor locates for overhead powerlines or underground utilizes are completed the layout of the site has designated areas for storage, trailers, first-aid stations, fire extinguishers, bathrooms, potable (drinkable) water, and parking ❑ ❍ sub-contractor compliance. Recognize good performance of both individuals and contractors. Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org 3 Continued from page 2 of this booklet Check for compliance Ensure that site conditions and practices comply with current legal requirements (such as Ontario Regulation 213/91: the Construction Regulation) and the company’s health and safety program. Ensure that contractual obligations by sub-contracted employers are implemented and enforced before the work begins. Enforce compliance In cooperation with site supervisors, ensure that corrective action is taken and that facts are documented in situations where there is ➤ ➤ ➤ non-compliance with health and safety regulations non-compliance with contracts a hazard to workers. Get more information CSAO offers resources and training Need to know more about health and safety? CSAO has a wealth of handbooks, sample forms, posters, stickers, videos, and training programs. We recommend ✓ the training program Basics of Supervising ✓ the training session Managing Health and Safety in Construction ✓ the Contractor’s Toolkit, a book of sample policies and procedures ✓ posters you need to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act ✓ the Construction Health and Safety Manual—CSAO’s encyclopedia of information on preventing injuries and illnesses ✓ the video New on the Job, which you can use during employee orientation. You can also call us with your health-and-safety questions, or request the help of a CSAO field consultant. Take advantage of CSAO’s wealth of resources, already paid for by the Ontario construction industry. Ensure that supervisors are held accountable for their responsibilities. Share your perspective Your knowledge of the “big picture” of the project —the history of the project’s development, the overall design, and the major work processes—is valuable information, and you may be the only person on site who has it. Because of your knowledge—as well as the experience, skills, and abilities which have made you a project manager—you can help develop solutions for challenging health and safety problems. You may see things that other’s don’t. Share the insights you have gained from your experiences with site supervisors and workers. Fill in the gaps in their knowledge of the project. Dispute resolution If disputes arise between supervisors, health and safety representatives, employers, and workers, offer options for resolving the problem. When people are debating a health and safety issue, ensure that the solution complies with the law and the company’s health and safety policy. Start by visiting us at www.csao.org, or call 1-800-781-2726 4 Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 www.csao.org Recent fines Recent fines Violations of Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act $180,000—Truck driver crushed to death A Concord-based company was fined following the death of a truck driver at a residential housing project. The driver had delivered a load of steel bearing plates and shims, contained in a barrel, to the construction site. A worker was instructed to unload the barrel. The worker used a forklift. The barrel, not secured to the forklift, fell on top of the truck driver. As constructor on the project, the Concord-based company had overall responsibility for the safety of all workers on the construction site, including the truck driver. The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that steel bearing plates were moved in a manner that did not endanger a worker. supervisor pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that entry and exit from the trench was provided by stairs, a runway, a ramp, or a ladder, as required by the Construction Regulation. $50,000—Asbestos project A Hanover-based retirement-home operator was fined $50,000 for failing to notify the Ministry of Labour of an asbestos removal project. $150,000—fall resulting in paralysis An Alberta-based company was fined after a young worker fell 6.1 metres from a platform in a cooling tower in Whitby, Ontario. The apprentice carpenter fell through an uncovered opening. The MOL investigation found that the worker was unaware of the opening. The worker was wearing a harness with a single lanyard, but it was not attached to a fixed support or a lifeline. The worker should have used a double or retractable lanyard. The worker did not receive sufficient training to ensure that the proper system of fall protection was used. As well, the lighting was inadequate for the worker to have seen the opening. Jail & $3,000—Pushing an inspector A Kitchener-based plumbing contractor was sentenced to seven days in jail and a fine of $3,000 for pushing a Ministry of Labour inspector visiting a Toronto construction site. Victim fine surcharge In addition to the fines noted on this page, the court imposed a 25% victim fine surcharge on the convicted parties. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime. Company: $120,000. Supervisor: $5,000 A company and supervisor were both fined after pleading guilty to charges related to the death of a worker in a trench collapse. The company was waterproofing the basement walls of a home, using a trench dug along the side of the house. The trench collapsed, burying a worker, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A Ministry of Labour investigation found that the trench was not properly sloped, nor did it have shoring or a support system. The Upcoming MOL blitzes The Ministry of Labour wants you to know about their upcoming blitzes in 2008. Prepare now! Spring: Electrical hazards Summer: Struck-by-vehicle hazards Autumn: Demolition and renovation sectors. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 13 Rollovers Equipment rollovers By Brian Varrasso, Project Coordinator, CSAO Technical Services Wear your seatbelt To be protected by a ROPS, you must wear a seat belt at all times while the equipment is operating. Workers have been crushed by the machine—even by the ROPS itself—during a rollover after they were thrown from the cab because they weren’t wearing the seatbelt. Never operate equipment if it doesn’t have a seatbelt or if the seatbelt isn’t working properly. A working restraining device must be installed before you can use the equipment. Know the law Ontario law forbids you from operating a machine unless it has an adequate ROPS. There also has to be an adequate “restraining device” (usually a seatbelt) for every operator. If the equipment has a restraining device, you must wear it. For details, see Rollover Protective Structures (Ontario Regulation 856), available on www.csao.org. Here are some conditions which can cause a vehicle to become unbalanced and tip: ➤ Since the year 2000, nine workers have been killed by equipment or vehicles rolling over. Rollovers can injure or kill both equipment operators and workers unlucky enough to be nearby. Here’s how to prevent injury and death from rollover. Know your equipment’s centre of mass Every object has a centre of mass. It’s the point where the object’s weight is evenly distributed in all directions. It’s usually where most of the material is concentrated. You can balance the object if you place it on a support such that the centre of mass is directly above the point of support. In the same way, a vehicle is balanced if the centre of mass is directly above the wheels. Stay inside the ROPS A roll-over protective structure, or ROPS, is a protective cage or sturdy frame mounted on the equipment around the cab. In case of rollover, you’ll be safe if you stay inside the ROPS. That’s why you need to wear the seatbelt. The centre of mass shifts to one side. This can happen if you change the machine’s distribution of mass by changing the machine’s configuration, (e.g., by extending a boom or moving an excavator arm). You drive on a slope. This moves the centre of mass relative to the equipment’s wheels. (See image below.) Gravity will act on the mass, pulling the vehicle to the side. ➤ Don’t jump! Never try to jump clear of a tipping machine. Workers have been crushed trying to do so. The machine will tip over faster than you can jump free. Also, the most natural way to jump free is in the direction of the roll—so you would actually be jumping into the path of the equipment. 14 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 Rollovers ➤ You take a turn too quickly. The momentum of one part of your machine (e.g., a loaded dump-truck box) can be greater than another part (e.g, the cab and frame), leading to rollover. Plan the site Equipment operators are not the only workers who can be killed by rollover. People working near the equipment can be hurt or killed as well, such as when equipment rolls from uneven ground and hits workers lower down on embankments or in excavations. There are several ways to protect workers in low-lying areas. The best and simplest policy is to forbid anyone from working in trenches or excavations when equipment is operating in the area. If this policy is not practical on your site, you need to incorporate controls into your site plan: ✓ Keep heavy equipment away from areas where work is being done in trenches or excavations. For example, keep excavation work separate from forming operations. ✓ Use ropes or barricades to mark off trenches, excavations, and equipment access ways. These indications can help equipment operators be aware of the different areas on site as well as the safe paths of travel. ✓ Forbid workers from being in a trench unless there is another person, nearby and above ground, who is responsible for warning equipment operators about the presence of the trench. Beware of slopes ✓ When working on an embankment never operate cross grade. Always operate in the direction of grade. ✓ When using a crane, excavator, backhoe, or elevated work platform, use the outriggers and extend them fully. ✓ If possible, work “down slope” of a trench so that in case of rollover, the equipment will not roll into the trench. ✓ Stay as far away as possible from the edge of a trench or excavation. Equipment weight and vibration can cause excavation walls to collapse. ✓ Establish and mark access routes. For example, when working around an embankment, have properly sloped and marked equipment access routes from the top to the bottom of the embankment. ✓ When driving your equipment on a road, remember that you’re not in a car. Your equipment may be less stable or responsive than a car, so avoid soft shoulders and any sudden or abrupt movements. Monitor ground conditions Ground and soil conditions affect the stability of your equipment. Rain, melting snow, thawing earth, or even overflow from nearby streams, storm drains, or sewers can change the condition of the ground—especially for previously excavated and backfilled soil. These changes can occur rapidly and the result can be severe. In the morning you could be operating on solid ground and later the same day the ground could be unstable. In previously excavated and backfilled soil, the conditions can change as things settle with the passage of time. Non-native backfill can be less stable than native material. For these reasons, monitor ground conditions throughout the day. Pay particular attention to backfilled trenches, graded embankments, and laydown areas. CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 15 Interview with CSAO’s new president “Attitudes are changing” An interview with CSAO’s new President, Bill Nicholls actively participated in that union and eventually started my second career representing workers in the fields of painting, decorating, glazing, and drywall finishing. Is there a particular event that sticks out in your mind that makes the case for safety? Absolutely. In 1973 I was 18 years old and working as an apprentice painting a bank. One day I was working on the floor and heard some noises. I turned and witnessed a coworker fall from some scaffolding. He hit the terrazzo floor and subsequently died of his injuries about eight hours later in the hospital. This was a tragic incident for our industry, but it was also a personal tragedy for me, especially since I was so young. The man who died was not only my co-worker, but he was also my mentor. It certainly brought safety immediately to the forefront of my mind in a way that I really didn’t think about before this experience. I remember the shock of losing my mentor, going through the police investigation, and then ultimately the inquest. I still think about it. I took what I learned from that incident and used it to shape how I dealt with workers when I became a foreman. I never put a co-worker in a situation that I wouldn’t go into myself. No worker should ever gamble with his life on a jobsite. All workers are expected to return home to their families after a day’s work. We, as leaders in the construction industry, have to ensure that it happens. When did you first become involved with CSAO? I’ve been involved with CSAO and with health and safety for several years. My involvement began when I was the Secretary Treasurer of the Ontario Council of Painters. In that position, I participated in the Toronto Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee, and later participated in the Provincial Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee. When I became the Vice President of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario, I joined CSAO’s board of directors and executive council. Throughout those years, how have you seen CSAO change? I’ve seen a decline in hands-on training from CSAO, but I’ve also seen a significant increase in prevention awareness and in the technical aspects of prevention. This awareness and understanding has made the construction industry a William (Bill) Nicholls is the President of the Ontario Council of Painters and Business Manager of Painters District Council 46. He becomes CSAO’s President in April. How did you get started in construction? I started in construction while I was in high school, back in the early 70s. I knew some painters and decorators and started working on weekends and after school. After I completed high school, I became an apprentice, then a journeyman, then a foreman, and then I had an opportunity to join a union—the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. I 16 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 Interview with CSAO’s new president much safer environment than what it used to be. What are some changes you’ve seen in the construction industry since that time? Attitudes are changing in a positive direction. However, people are still being killed. As long as people are being killed and as long as we continue to have the amount of critical injuries that we have, not enough is being done. Even though we have improved, we have to keep a focused agenda. What do you think are some of the biggest health and safety challenges we are facing right now in construction? I think we need to increase CSAO’s operating budget. This year, we received an increase of approximately 1.5%. That barely covers the cost of inflation. That increase is certainly not enough to fund new initiatives. We are grateful to have the funding increase because it is definitely needed, but it’s not enough to get us to where we need to be. Another challenge is the proportion of the construction workforce that isn’t paying WSIB premiums. The fact that there are workers in this province who aren’t covered by the WSIB is a problem. When they aren’t in the system it’s much harder for us to reach them. I know that significant steps have been taken to ensure that everyone is registered, but the government needs to make this a priority. Every single worker—all dependent and independent workers in this province—must be insured through the WSIB. When everyone is registered, there is more opportunity to implement structures and create cultures with an emphasis on safety and prevention. There have been so many changes to the construction industry over the past hundred years with respect to methodologies and materials. Sometimes I think we forget how fast and how much things change in this industry, and how these changes constantly affect health and safety. We need to constantly re-examine and re-evaluate our safety practices to ensure they remain effective. Are there any particular initiatives you would like to see CSAO undertake while you are president? The fact that falls and being crushed by equipment or materials are still the most common causes of traumatic injuries in construction is a continued challenge. We have mandatory fall protection in the industry now, and falls still cause a significant number of critical injuries. I would like to find out why and I would like to figure out how to resolve the problem. I would also like to support CSAO’s involvement in more occupational disease research. Illness resulting from materials and work methods is a serious issue in our industry. The effects are usually long-term and they often aren’t apparent for many years. The work that has been done regarding designated substances, like asbestos and lead, as well as work in the area of musculoskeletal “ It doesn’t matter how long you have been working or how many times you have performed a particular task. You have to be diligent . . . disorders, has had an impact on the industry. Now we need to go further. We need to make sure that occupational health remains a priority. If you could say one thing to the people reading this magazine, what would it be? Be aware of the work you are doing and of your environment. An accident is never really an accident. In every case, it could have been prevented. It doesn’t matter how long you have been working or how many times you have performed a particular task. You have to be diligent and you have to do it properly. There are reasons why tasks are always performed a certain way. Don’t take short cuts. It’s not worth it. ” CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MAGAZINE Spring 2008 17 Musculoskeletal hazards and controls RODWORKERS (REINFORCING STEEL) Photocopy this profile and distribute it as widely as possible! Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), such as chronic back pain or shoulder problems, often take time to develop. Forceful exertion, awkward positions, and repetitive tasks can add up over time to produce an MSD. This profile can help you identify MSD hazards in your job and how to control them. We recommend that you add the best practices outlined here into your company’s health and safety program. The hazards in a particular job, however, may be different than the ones on this profile, so evaluate the risks of your particular activities. ACTIVITY Sorting rebar HAZARDS ➤ Back injuries from bending over. ➤ Overexertion injuries (to back and shoulders) from moving rebar. CONTROLS ✓ Sort steel to minimize the amount that it has to be handled. ✓ Place steel on deck so that workers can remove it easily in the order it will be used. ✓ Mark the steel with different coloured paint to identify it for use in different locations. ✓ Store rebar at knee-height to reduce bending and to reduce the load on your lower spine. ✓ Use a crane to lift prefabricated steel into position (e.g., column cages), and to lift rebar close to the placement location. ✓ Provide enough workers for the task (e.g., lifting largediameter bars requires two people). ✓ Limit the amount of rebar lifted at a time. The amount should be limited to an average of 28 kg per lift per person for an 8-hour workday. ✓ Rotate workers among different tasks. ✓ Coordinate your work with the other trades working on the deck. E.g., coordinate with the crane operator to reduce your material handling. ✓ Ensure that the work area is clean. This will make material handling easier. ✓ Use an adequate number of ties and chairs. Continued on the next page . . . Placing rebar ➤ Overexertion injuries (to back and shoulders) from lifting rebar from ground level, and from carrying rebar. ➤ Injuries from attempts to carry rebar alone (if there are not enough workers to help). ➤ Back injuries from frequent bending over and pushing. ➤ Strains and sprains to arms and shoulders from gripping bars when fatigued. ➤ Injuries from slips and trips because of poor housekeeping, or sagging steel mat due to insufficient ties and chairs. April 2008 A publication of the Rodworkers Labour-Management Health and Safety Committee in partnership with the Construction Safety Association of Ontario 1-800-781-2726 info@csao.org www.csao.org Continued from the previous page. ACTIVITY Fixing rebar HAZARDS ➤ Back strains and sprains because of frequent bending at the waist (greater than 45 degrees). ➤ Injuries because of repetitive bending and twisting when tying and cutting wire with pliers. ➤ Injuries due to awkward posture (kneeling, crouching, or lying down) when tying rebar below ground level. CONTROLS ✓ Stretch your muscles for five minutes during a “mini break” every hour. ✓ Use alternative tying methods or tools that reduce bending at the waist. ✓ Rotate workers among different tasks. Twisting tie wire ➤ Overexertion injuries to the upper arms from repetitive tying. ✓ Reduce tying tension applied to the wire. This reduces the amount of hand exertion. ✓ Work at an appropriate speed to avoid injury. ✓ Explore alternative tying methods or tools. For example, choose nips with long handles so that you use less pressure when cutting wire. Use spring-loaded pliers to reduce hand exertion. Use pre-tie wires or mechanical tying tools. Working with pre-fabricated cages ➤ Back injuries from lifting and lowering cages manually. ➤ Upper-arm injuries from repetitive tying. ➤ Injuries from awkward postures when placing conduit for tensioning strands. ➤ Injuries from pulling strands. ➤ Overexertion injuries from working with jacks and materials associated with stressing cables. ✓ Explore the use of mechanical devices that can lower cages to the ground without using on-site cranes. ✓ See the controls beside “Twisting tie wire,” above. ✓ Coordinate with other trades to ensure proper timing and access to the work area. ✓ Use material-handling equipment to deliver rolls of wire. ✓ Use mechanical devices to pull strands. ✓ Store material between waist and shoulder height. Working with posttensioning cables This profile is the first of several trade-specific MSD profiles. Others profiles are currently being developed by Ontario’s network of Labour-Management Health and Safety Committees with the support of CSAO. As soon as new ones are completed, we’ll post them on www.csao.org. CSAO’s web site also contains a wealth of other resources on preventing MSDs. Check it out! New release: MSD Prevention Toolbox The Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario recently released the third part of its package of resources for workplace parties seeking to prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The three-part MSD Prevention Series includes: ✓ The MSD Prevention Guideline for Ontario—presents a recommended framework for MSD prevention. ✓ The Resource Manual for the Guideline—contains specific information on how to implement the framework. ✓ The MSD Prevention Toolbox—the latest release, it includes worksheets, surveys, hazard identification tools, and information to help you reduce MSDs. You can download the series from www.csao.org! Start spring construction off right. Remind your workers about health and safety using CSAO’s POSTERS Many are available for free download. www.csao.org 1-800-781-2726 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064070 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Construction Safety Association of Ontario, 21 Voyager Court South, Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 5M7 Fax: 416-679-4069, 416-674-8866 info@csao.org Cert no. SW-COC-2063