THE SAFETY NET L O C A T I O N C O NCSO U LNTSI NUGL T
JUNE 2022
D• ESIGN D & EESNIGGI NNE E R I N•G
E SGI GI N N -EBEURI L D ED N
IT’S ALWAYS SAFETY FIRST. R UNCSTTI R OU NC & TC O N T R A C T I N G • C O N SCTO
Congratulations Austin on 15 years of Safety Net! Each month, Charlie Engel combs through numerous safety publications to find and share articles that have something for everyone--from those folks out on the construction site to those working in the office or away from work altogether. Please join us in celebrating Safety Net’s milestone anniversary. We look forward to helping you stay safe for the next 15 years!
VOLUME 16 ISSUE 06
SAFETY FIRST. Austin employees have worked 4,815,452 hours without a Lost Time Accident through 4/2022.
Austin Stands Down With OSHA This month we invested a lot of time into OSHA - National Stand-down to prevent falls in construction and training a large number of employees in bloodborne pathogens, first aid, CPR/AED.
PROJECT
NG Lake Charles Storm Repairs WO: 20325
Pfizer
Lockheed Martin WO: 19405
NASA WO:19347
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
5 Employees Provided Lunch
4 groups of 10 to 15 max See topic discussed.
TOPIC DISCUSSED Reviewed OSHA statistics for fall related fatalities. Provided instructions and requirements for safe usage of manlifts, ladders (extension and step), scaffolding and guarding of potential fall areas. Pfizer Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) broke down the gatherings into 4 groups of 10 to 15 max contractors to minimize the size of groups gathering in one place. Iron Workers, Carpenters, Laborers, & Painters held separate group fall protection discussions. The Groups discussed Fall Protection inspection and appropriate use. Managing fall protection equipment use, proper use of anchor points, tie off point requirements etc. We continued to discuss the importance of effective inspection of fall protection equipment hardware, webbing stitching, & labels. We discussed the importance of having the properly rated Self Retractable Lifeline for the work being performed. Example, Roof Edge or floor edge requires a leading edge retractable with shock absorber pack attached at the hook end to keep the arresting forces below 900lbs. etc.
10 Employees
Although pictures were not permitted, Kenneth Strech explained the proper way to inspect and wear and harness and lanyard. He also explained swing radius and how to calculate fall distance.
50 Employees
NASA ACF project in Cleveland. Approximately 50 participants were present from all of the trades on site. The topic of discussion was slips, trips and falls and reiterated the issues with hurrying or not paying attention to surroundings.
Project Choco WO: 21323
15 Employees
Leon Walker talked about the 3 components of fall protections and inspections. Matt Merrifield talked more about the need of fall protection and how to put on a harness.
Bloodborne, First Aid, CPR/AED Training Class Project Choco 05.19.2022
Left to Right - Leon Walker, Tremaine Thompson, Daniel Scullion and Corey Geter.
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First Aid, CPR/AED Class Cleveland Office 05.04.2022
Left to Right: Allison Pacanovsky, Stephanie Rukule, Michael Zaruches, Karl Mews, Jessica Anderko, Leslie Panfil, Robert Tuckerman, Aieshya Reynolds, Nicole Rosario Not pictured: Amy Hewis, David Oshins, Nichole MacPherson, Juliana Lanese, Josh Moran, Larry Dobson, Jerry Lyzen, John Andreani, George Muha, Herman Miller, Michael Jones, Jeff Morris, Tom Morris, Hector Hernandez
Bob Tuckerman volunteered to help demonstrate applying bandages and gauzes to a wound.
David Oshins volunteered to help demonstrate Heimlich Maneuver.
Amy Hewis learns proper hand position for CPR.
Demonstrating how CPR and an AED machine work together. Left to Right - David Oshins, Jerry Lyzen, Jeff Morris, Bob Tuckerman, Charlie Engel
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June 1 – 7 Is National CPR and AED Awareness Week 5.20.2022 | Weeklysafety.com Every year, the first 7 days in June are recognized as
The newest campaign reinforces CPR/AED skills but also
National CPR and AED Awareness Week to spotlight how
places importance on the willingness of bystanders to
lives can be saved if more Americans know CPR and how
act in a cardiac arrest emergency. Did you know about
to use an AED. #CPRSavesLives.
70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in
The American Heart Association (AHA) in partnership with the American Red Cross and the National Safety Council worked together to federally designate a National CPR
homes? If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love. Be the difference for your parent, spouse, or child.
Awareness Week. In 2007, Congress unanimously passed
What if it were them?
a resolution to set aside June 1 – 7 every year as National
The AHA invites everyone to celebrate National CPR
CPR and AED Awareness Week to spotlight how lives
and AED Awareness Week in your community or at your
can be saved if more Americans know CPR and how to
workplace. To get started, the AHA has created free
use an AED.
materials that you can print out yourself.
During this week each year, CPR/AED classes and
There are so many printables to choose from including:
demonstrations are conducted, events are hosted and
• Posters and Cubicle Signs
educational information is distributed on the importance of being trained in CPR and AED use. In the declaration,
• CPR Fact Sheet
Congress also asked states and municipalities to make
• Event Flyers
AEDs more publicly accessible.
• Email Template
Many of the resources are also available in Spanish too!
To learn more about Hands-Only CPR visit
Additionally, there are many social media resources
CPR.heart.ORG
provided that are already formatted for Facebook, Twitter,
Here are some great ways any company or organization
and Instagram. You can use these resources
can participate in National CPR and AED Awareness Week:
along with #CPRSavesLives or #CPRwithHeart to promote
• Schedule CPR/AED training at the workplace
your campaign online. Don’t forget to share photos of your teams! Offering CPR classes at your workplace that incorporate First Aid and AED training is ideal and recommended. In addition, it can be part of an overall written safety and health program that includes an employee safety orientation and weekly safety meetings. However, if resources don’t allow the commitment to hours of training at one time, then please consider having all employees take just 5 minutes to learn the lifesaving skills of Hands-Only CPR. In just a few minutes, anyone can learn the two simple steps to Hands-Only CPR.
WHY LEARN HANDS-ONLY CPR? Cardiac arrest – an electrical malfunction in the heart that
for employees. • Ensure your workplace has AEDs, and if not, be an advocate to have them added. • Post the CPR Week image as your Twitter or Facebook profile picture from June 1 to 7. • Post a photo of your team learning CPR on social media using the tags #CPRSavesLives and #CPRwithHeart. • Print the CPR Week Cubicle Sign and encourage everyone to post it in their cubicle or on their office door. • Host a viewing party with healthy snacks and show Hands-Only CPR Videos. For even more ideas, check out this great flyer: Hands Only CPR 5 Ways to Get Involved.
causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts
Awareness campaigns, like National CPR & AED Awareness
the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs – is a
Week, offer a great opportunity to business owners,
leading cause of death. Each year, more than 350,000
management, and the safety team to highlight the
EMS-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the
importance and commitment the organization has to
United States.
worker safety. It doesn’t take a lot of time, money or
• When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby. • According to the American Heart Association, about
resources to participate. At minimum, consider a brief safety meeting allowing all employees to take just a few minutes to learn the lifesaving skills of Hands-Only CPR.
90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.
BE THE DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend. • Seventy percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes. • About 46 percent of people who experience an out-ofhospital cardiac arrest receive the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives. • Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work or in public.
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Building Effective Safety Teams 4.13.2022 | EHS Today by Tunzyaan A. Griffin Focus on educating and training teams to ensure
providing supplemental training and education for team
consistent inspection or audit findings, gain buy-in and
members is essential. After all, they cannot find a violation
maintain compliance.
until they know it exists. Part of the standards you set for
When I was working as a fire inspector, and later as an
your safety inspection team must include accuracy of
assistant safety officer, I was often met with resistance when
code or standard references your team members cite.
conducting safety audits and fire and life safety inspections.
As with any inspection or audit, there will be common code
It didn’t matter what I cited: an emergency light not
violations, findings and/or deficiencies. Of those issues,
working, impaired exit door, fire extinguishers overdue for service or an uninspected eyewash station. They would all illicit the same response, “The guy who came last year
certain findings will carry a higher priority or urgency. Your team must have a clear understanding of what those high priority or urgent issues are during an inspection
didn’t write me up for that.”
or audit.
Interactions like this affect the credibility of your safety
An effective means of establishing and documenting
inspection or auditing team. Since inspections and audits are conducted yearly by different members of your team, it is imperative that they identify the same findings. Consistency adds to your team’s credibility, which in turn helps you obtain buy-in. Therefore, the information your
that knowledge is to compile a finding library, or a list of common code violations and deficiencies. The library must include accurate code references applicable to the finding or violation. Ensure that all team members have access to the library, and that it is updated regularly as new
team provides must be consistent from year to year.
findings are identified.
Setting standards is imperative to building effective safety
Your team should understand and be able to apply the
or auditing teams. Once qualifications are established,
information in the findings library to regular inspections
or audits. You can take it one step further by developing
government agency. You have the support of the law and
and applying a ranking system based on the severity or
the legal system. If a business does not correct identified
frequency of the violations found.
code violations, you can impose a monetary fine, lock
As team leader, it is your responsibility to initiate discussions
the doors of the business in question or take legal action
and encourage input from team members. Initial and
for noncompliance.
regular roundtable discussions keep your team well-
Conversely, if a client pays your company directly, your
informed and allow you to adjust the training and/or
approach must be more collaborative and less prescriptive.
educational material to improve your team’s effectiveness.
In the private sector, your authority is derived from
Over time, other team members can lead regular meetings;
knowledge, perceived value and necessity. When you do
this encourages additional participation and feedback.
not have the power to enforce codes or standards, you
Roundtable discussions help you to gauge your team’s
must gain buy-in, meaning you must be able to explain
proficiency and knowledge. They are also a means of reinforcing learning. For example, while reviewing reports you see that a facility’s battery backed up exit signs and
why something is a violation or deficiency. The client must choose to comply, as there is very limited pressure your inspectors or auditors can exert to compel clients to follow
emergency lighting units are not being tested annually for
the rule of law to avert legal action.
90 minutes and documented as code requires. So, you sit
Another essential element in building and maintaining
down with your team and discuss where the issue is found
an effective team of safety inspectors or auditors team is
in the code and why it is important to be corrected. By
what I call the continuity of competence. In simple terms,
having this discussion with your inspection or auditing team,
continuity of competence is making sure the person
you are setting a standard of execution and consistency.
directly under you in the organizational hierarchy knows
Consistent yearly inspections also increase your team’s
how to do your job. This goes for every member of your
value. Getting facilities to comply with applicable codes and standards is a measurable indication of how effective
team. Implementing this practice reinforces your team’s knowledge and skills because it ensures all team members
your inspection or auditing team is.
are on the same page with the same level of competence.
You must take a strategic approach to obtaining
The goal for any team tasked with safety inspection or
compliance with the codes and standards you apply during safety audits or inspections. Those strategies will vary depending on your organization, industry, and the facilities your team inspects or audits. Those strategies must first be clearly communicated to and understood by your team. Consider this scenario: Your company is a municipal fire
auditing is to obtain compliance. Credibility, consistency, strategic approach, and continuity of competence are the foundation to building and increasing your safety inspection or auditing team’s effectiveness. Ultimately, an effective team helps to increase overall safety at the workplace.
prevention bureau, building inspection department or
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Causes of Falls: Environment, Equipment, and Behaviors 4.25.2022 | Safety Management Suite Most accidents, including falls, result from a combination
inspections. The “as necessary” inspections are typically
of a workplace hazards and employee behaviors. In
performed in response to an event, like inspecting a mobile
some cases, employers might not be able to identify a
ladder stand that was struck by a forklift. Employees must
specific hazard. Usually, however, a hazard involving the
be involved as well, such as inspecting ladders before the
environment or the equipment used will be a factor.
first use on each shift.
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
BEHAVIORAL HAZARDS
When looking for fall hazards, safety professionals might
Employee behaviors (actions or inactions) also contribute
focus on potential falls to a lower level. While these often
to falls. Employers sometimes blame employees for failing
cause serious injuries, a greater number of injuries result from
to notice or avoid a hazard. Expecting employees to
falls on the same level. Factors that cause same-level falls
notice hazards is legitimate, but the employer usually
include a tripping on uneven surfaces, slippery or wet floors,
needs to deliver effective training on how to identify and
holes, protrusions such as bolts, or debris on the floor.
report them. If employees haven’t been trained to inspect
Proper housekeeping should address most tripping hazards,
ladders, for example, they should not be expected to
and routine inspections should identify other environmental
recognize a defect that makes the ladder unsafe.
hazards. If a hazard cannot be removed immediately (such
Other behaviors may range from wearing inappropriate
as a bolt in a concrete floor where a rack was removed) it
footwear to carrying heavy or bulky items. Anything
should be clearly marked until it can be addressed.
that takes an employee’s awareness away from the
EQUIPMENT HAZARDS
surroundings increases the potential for failing to identify a hazard. To prevent falls, employees must use the safety
Falls to a lower level often involve equipment. Examples
between their ears, but that organ can be easily distracted
might include faulty or damaged fall protection equipment,
by other tasks.
peeling or worn tread on stairs, or damaged ladders. Even passive fall protection such as guardrails could fail from loose railings or bolts.
Preventing falls requires looking for hazards as well as root causes. Evaluate how the hazard arose, determine who might have seen it and failed to report it, and identify
OSHA requires employers to inspect walking-working
who is responsible for addressing it. Finally, train
surfaces regularly and as necessary, and that includes any
employees on hazard recognition and create a process
equipment used. The term “regularly” means the employer
for reporting hazards.
establishes a frequency (such as monthly or annually) for
Suicide Prevention: 5 Things You Should Know 4.2022 | Occupational Safety and Health Administration Suicide is a leading cause of death among working age adults in the United States. It deeply impacts workers, families, and communities. Fortunately, like other workplace fatalities, suicides can be prevented. Below are 5 things to know about preventing suicide.
1. BE AWARE - EVERYONE CAN HELP PREVENT SUICIDE. Mental health and suicide can be difficult to talk about—especially with work colleagues—but your actions can make a difference. When you work closely with others, you may sense when something is wrong.
2. PAY ATTENTION - KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF SUICIDE. There is no single cause for suicide but there are warning signs. Changes in behavior, mood, or even what they say may signal someone is at risk. Take these signs seriously. It could save a life.
3. REACH OUT - ASK “ARE YOU OKAY?” If you are concerned about a coworker, talk with them privately, and listen without judgment. Encourage them to reach out to your Employee Assistance Program (EAP), the human resources (HR) department, or a mental health professional.
4. TAKE ACTION - IF SOMEONE IS IN CRISIS, STAY WITH THEM AND GET HELP. If you believe a coworker is at immediate risk of suicide, stay with them until you can get further help. Contact emergency services or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
5. LEARN MORE - SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text “TALK” to 741741. Visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (www.afsp.org) to learn more about suicide risk factors, warning signs, and what you can do to help prevent suicide.
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The Pandemic’s Lasting Digital Impression on Construction Safety 4.5.2022 | EHS Today by Rick Veague Technology has become essential to the implementation of
If there was ever a time for construction to modernize, it
health and safety measures at construction sites.
would be now. As sites begin to reopen and projects ramp-
Construction is the largest industry in the global economy,
up, emerging technologies will be key to the industry’s
accounting for 13% of the world’s GDP. Tight profit margins, poor project delivery performance, and low levels of customer satisfaction have plagued the industry for years. Now, with the global pandemic adding to these long-
recovery. According to McKinsey research, the mandate for change and technological adoption in construction has never been stronger, with the pandemic “only serving to provide additional urgency to the pre-existing productivity
standing industry pressures, the time is ripe for this traditional
and data-visibility issues facing construction companies.”
sector to embrace the benefits of digital modernization. In
For companies looking to adapt traditional processes and
fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a key catalyst
address long-term inefficiencies within the construction
for technology adoption—helping to take construction into
industry, the pandemic has been a critical tipping point. In
the next digital age.
particular, the digital innovations that have emerged from
Construction companies were on the frontline during the
this crisis, such as the use of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors
pandemic, with the need for development of medical facilities and other essential infrastructure. But for an
and robotic drones, will help companies improve health and safety measures, standardize modular construction,
industry that relies heavily on manual labor and on-site
and create a more sustainable building environment.
workers, the sudden site closures, new safety measures and
FIRST, USE DIGITAL ON-SITE TOUCHPOINTS TO PRIORITIZE WORKPLACE SAFETY.
need for more remote employees presented significant challenges. Research suggests that the global construction sector decreased by 3.1% in 2020, its worst decline since the 2008 global financial crisis, but the problems didn’t stop there. Today, projects have resumed, but many are being impacted by global supply chain disruptions, worker shortages and skyrocketing material prices, particularly on lumber and steel. These issues are set to continue into the foreseeable future.
As construction companies complied with pandemic restrictions, technology became essential to the implementation of health and safety measures. For instance, firms can use wearables and AI sensors to detect when workers are not maintaining proper physical distance. Some construction projects are even using contact tracing devices that alert employees when there are too
many personnel at a worksite and can identify potentially
companies to reduce the amount of carbon embedded
infected individuals in the event of a confirmed COVID-19
in new construction. However, it doesn’t stop there—
case. These measures not only prioritize employee safety,
consumers are also urging companies to support the
but also help companies avoid entire site shutdowns,
growth of a deconstruction industry that reuses huge
ensuring both profit margins and tight project deadlines
existing stockpiles of construction material. This task will
stay on track.
not be easy as, according to the World Green Building
Even remotely, technology is a vital asset to construction
Council, the building and construction sectors are together
firms. With fewer personnel allowed on-site, companies
responsible for 39% of all carbon emissions in the world.
can rely on new cloud-based video platforms to assist with
As recent McKinsey research suggests, the global
site monitoring. For instance, in the city of Miami, virtual
conversation about climate change, exemplified by the
inspections of construction sites through either a Zoom or
implementation of UN sustainability targets, will compel
a Microsoft Teams video call are now routine between
construction companies and material suppliers to factor
engineers on-site and building control officials.
sustainability into their products, construction processes
With usage tripling in 2020 alone, drones are also being
and designs. However, the fragmented and project-
used more frequently to improve mapping and surveying processes. With their advanced capabilities, drones
based nature of the construction sector creates additional challenges for the adoption of sustainable practices—and
can create a digital record of the site to inform project
this is where technology can make a difference.
timelines—allowing all stakeholders to monitor progress
Smart buildings and infrastructure that integrate the
safely, while also enhancing the accuracy, speed and
IoT can increase data availability and enable more
ease of projects.
efficient operations as well as new business models, such
THEN, BUILD IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS WITH MODULAR CONSTRUCTION 2.0.
as performance-based and collaborative contracting. For instance, companies can use IoT sensors and communication technology to track and monitor energy efficiency, and maintenance needs. With the use of BIM
Modern methods of construction offer many benefits over
(Building Information Modeling), construction companies
traditional options, and are a big part of why the industry
can create a virtual 3-D model with precise transparency
was able to adapt during the pandemic. In particular,
on all components used in a completed building, which
modular construction—the process of prefabricating
can increase efficiency. Technology is set up to be a key
modules and components or even entire homes in a
player in helping companies better manage building
manufacturing facility and then shipping to the site—
lifecycles and significantly reduce carbon footprints.
allowed many construction companies to continue operations in a safe, secure and controlled way. While this construction method is not new, the development of digital planning and production technologies has seen adoption rates increase as more companies look to remain operational despite pandemic restrictions. This ability to enable more standardization across the building process allows construction firms to actively address the serious productivity problems affecting the quality and delivery pace of construction projects. For instance, McKinsey predicts that offsite construction can increase the speed of construction by as much as 50% and reduce costs, if done in the right environment, by 20%.
NOW YOU’RE READY TO LAY THE DATA FOUNDATION FOR A NET-ZERO FUTURE.
THE MANDATE FOR TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE HAS BEEN ISSUED. Companies throughout the construction ecosystem must change their strategies, business models and operating models to effectively manage the recent industry disruptions. The pandemic provided an opportune catalyst for industry-wide changes, but it’s up to construction firms to adapt and transition away from traditional processes. Only those construction businesses willing to use technology and transform how they work for the future—by fasttracking digital transformation and optimizing digital skills to become more efficient—will be sure to stay ahead of the competition and outlast the pandemic and supply chain disruptions.
As of late, customers have become more sustainabilityconscious than before and are placing greater pressure on
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Understanding OSHA’s General Duty Clause 5.9.2022 | Safety Management Suite In addition to specific regulations, employers must comply with OSHA’s General Duty Clause. OSHA can cite the General Duty Clause if a recognized serious hazard exists in the workplace and the employer does not take reasonable steps to reduce or eliminate the hazard. The General Duty Clause is used only if no other standard applies. OSHA has used it for hazards like ergonomics, failing to train machine operators, workplace violence, and heat stress, among other areas.
RECOGNIZED HAZARD Proving that a hazard was “recognized” may require OSHA to show that the employer was aware of or should have been aware of the hazard. For example, if a company had numerous ergonomic injuries and employees frequently reported ergonomic concerns, OSHA might show that the company was aware of the hazard. Some hazards may be recognized in certain industries or by manufacturer warnings. For example, forklift operator manuals require wearing the seat belt. The OSHA regulation doesn’t mention seat belts, but if operators don’t wear them, OSHA could use the forklift manual to show a recognized hazard. In rare cases, OSHA may argue that a hazard is so obvious that any reasonable person would have recognized it. For example, if storage racks in a warehouse have structural damage, that should be a recognized hazard.
SERIOUS HAZARD The hazard must also be capable of causing death or serious physical harm. Serious injuries include, but are not limited to, bone fractures, amputations, cuts or lacerations that require sutures, and burns from electrical, chemical, or thermal sources. In addition, OSHA must consider if the hazard exposure is regular and ongoing, or of limited frequency or duration. To illustrate, OSHA has used the General Duty Clause to cite employers for failing to train machine operators because most industrial machines have the potential to cause serious injuries and the exposure is ongoing. There’s much more to the General Duty Clause, but two key areas are the recognition of the hazard and the seriousness of the potential injury. Remember that a hazard could be recognized — and have the potential for serious injury — even if no injuries occurred yet.