Safety Meeting

Given By_____________________

Topic #118

Date_________________

GENERAL SAFETY - THE BASICS OF SAFETY

Through several years of investigating accidents and research in the field of accident reconstruction, leaders in the field of occupational accident prevention have concluded that there are specific reasons why accidents occur. They found that worker safety is dependent on worker behavior and human factors. They developed ten safety rules and, while some of you may have heard them before, they are worth repeating: 1. STAY ALERT - and stay alive. The more awake a worker is, the less likely he or she is to get hurt. If you are unsure how to operate equipment or perform a task, ask your supervisor. Don't guess and muddle through. Make sure you know in advance the correct, safe way to do it. 2. WEAR THE RIGHT CLOTHES - work clothes should fit properly. Anything that can catch in machinery or trip you up is hazardous. Wear protective clothing and equipment as required. 3. USE THE RIGHT TOOLS - if you need a hammer, get a hammer. It may be handier to use a pair of pliers, wrench, screw driver or even your fist. But you will have only yourself to blame if you break your fingers. 4. LEARN HOW TO LIFT - Lifting takes more than muscle; it is an art. Don't try to show how strong you are; you may end up in a hospital. Get help to handle anything that is too heavy or cumbersome for you. 5. DON'T BE A PRANKSTER - practical jokes and horseplay can be dangerous around machinery. If you feel the urge to play, resist it until after work. 6. BE TIDY - Good housekeeping reduces hazards in the workplace or your home. Always put away tools when they are not in use. Keep the floors clean, pick up scraps, wipe up spills. A slip or trip can be fatal. 7. REPORTING IS IMPORTANT - Never fail to report accidents, defective equipment, and unsafe conditions. 8. GET FIRST AID IMMEDIATELY - if you're hurt -- even if it is just a scratch. Neglect of the injury may lead to serious infection, weeks of lost time, even permanent injury. 9. BACK YOUR SAFETY PROGRAM - If you have an idea you believe will reduce accidents, tell your supervisor about it. Set an example by obeying safety rules. Cooperate with your safety committee. 10. NEVER TAKE A CHANCE - Next to sheer carelessness, the short cut is probably the biggest killer of all. To save a minute or two, you may lose a lifetime. Whatever you are doing, if you are not doing it safely, you are not doing it right!!

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com

Safety Meeting
Given By_____________________

Topic #119

Date_________________

SEVEN COMMON ACCIDENT CAUSES

Consider this statistic: 80 out of every 100 accidents are the fault of the person involved in the incident. Unsafe Acts cause four times as many accidents & injuries as unsafe conditions. Accidents occur for many reasons. In most industries people tend to look for "things" to blame when an accident happens, because it's easier than looking for "root causes," such as those listed below. Consider the underlying accident causes described. Have you been guilty of any of these attitudes or behaviors? If so, you may have not been injured-but next time you may not be so lucky.

Taking Shortcuts: Every day we make decisions we hope will make the job faster and more efficient. But do time savers ever risk your own safety, or that of other crew members? Short cuts that reduce your safety on the job are not shortcuts, but an increased chance for injury. Being Over Confident: Confidence is a good thing. Overconfidence is too much of a good thing. "It'll never happen to me" is an attitude that can lead to improper procedures, tools, or methods in your work. Any of these can lead to an injury. Starting a Task with Incomplete Instructions: To do the job safely and right the first time you need complete information. Have you ever seen a worker sent to do a job, having been given only a part of the job's instructions? Don't be shy about asking for explanations about work procedures and safety precautions. It isn't dumb to ask questions; it's dumb not to. Poor Housekeeping: When clients, managers or safety professionals walk through your work site, housekeeping is an accurate indicator of everyone's attitude about quality, production and safety. Poor housekeeping creates hazards of all types. A well maintained area sets a standard for others to follow. Good housekeeping involves both pride and safety. Ignoring Safety Procedures: Purposely failing to observe safety procedures can endanger you and your coworkers. You are being paid to follow the company safety policies-not to make your own rules. Being "casual" about safety can lead to a casualty! Mental Distractions from Work: Having a bad day at home and worrying about it at work is a hazardous combination. Dropping your 'mental' guard can pull your focus away from safe work procedures. You can also be distracted when you're busy working and a friend comes by to talk while you are trying to work. Don't become a statistic because you took your eyes off the machine "just for a minute." Failure to Pre-Plan the Work: There is a lot of talk today about Job Hazard Analysis. JHA's are an effective way to figure out the smartest ways to work safely and effectively. Being hasty in starting a task, or not thinking through the process can put you in harms way. Instead, Plan Your Work and then Work Your Plan! "It is better to be careful 100 times than to get killed once." (Mark Twain)

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com

Safety Meeting
Given By_____________________

Topic #120

Date_________________

THE THREE-POINT RULE You Don't Have To Fall Off A Truck!

Falling while getting into or out of heavy equipment, a truck or tractor cab, hooking up air and electrical lines, or mounting or dismounting trailers is a sure way to get seriously hurt. An insurance industry study showed that falls from vehicles produced injuries that were almost 25% worse than other types of injuries. Even an ankle sprain can play havoc with your ability to use the clutch. Minor injuries can cost you big in terms of lost income and downtime. The biggest single cause of falls from a vehicle is driver error and failure to follow the THREE-POINT rule. WHAT CAN YOU DO TO AVOID FALLS? No matter what type of access system your vehicle has available, use the THREE-POINT system to significantly reduce the chance of a slip or fall. The THREE-POINT system means three of your four limbs are in contact with the vehicle at all timestwo hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand. The THREE-POINT system allows a person to have maximum stability and support, thereby reducing the likelihood of slipping and falling. Be a winner; use the THREE-POINT system. DO'S DON'Ts Don't climb down with something in your free hand. Put it on the vehicle floor and reach up for it when you get down on the ground. Don't rush to climb out after a long run. Descend slowly, to avoid straining a muscle. Don't ever jump out. You may land off balance or on an uneven surface, and fall. Don't use tires or wheel hubs as a step surface. Don't use the door frame or door edge as a handhold. Don't become an injury statistic. Wear shoes with good support -- not sandals, bare feet or high heels. Exit and enter facing the cab. Slow down and use extra caution in bad weather. Get a firm grip on rails or handles with your hands. Look for obstacles on the ground below before exiting.

The only person who can prevent a fall is you! The professional driver or operator knows all the do's and don'ts of getting in and out of vehicles and practices the Three Point Rule every day.

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com

Safety Meeting
Given By_____________________
CELL PHONES

Topic #121

Date_________________

Talking to friends and relatives on the phone can be a very pleasant part of our day. Depending on what we are discussing, it can also be very upsetting. We could be discussing last nights football game and the winning or losing point, scheduling a doctor's appointment, having a fight with a girlfriend, checking on a sick parent, thinking, planning, emotions running high all with one hand on the telephone. This is okay if we are just sitting on the living room sofa; however, it is not okay if you are on a jobsite, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE WORKING ON A HIGHWAY. While working out in the field, talking on the phone is not appropriate. Make no mistake about it; IT IS DANGEROUS! Working on or near streets and highways requires your constant awareness for the safety of motorists, pedestrians and workers. Our full attention and all of our physical capabilities should be focused on what we are doing if we expect to perform our job in a safe manner. An injury or loss of life is a high price to pay because we didn't want to miss a phone call. For this reason, personal cell phones are not allowed on the jobsite without permission from your supervisor or foreman. They are to be kept with your other belongings, i.e., locked in a vehicle or left back at the motel or in your home. You are never supposed to be making or receiving calls on personal (unauthorized) cell phones while you are working. Because cell phones have been listed as a contributing factor in vehicle accidents, all drivers (even if authorized to use a cell phone on the job) are not allowed to talk on the phone while driving. If you receive a call or it is necessary to make a call, pull off the road to a safe spot and park your vehicle.

Remember to be responsible and act SAFELY,

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com

Safety Meeting
Given By_____________________

Topic #122

Date_________________

WHY A WRITTEN SAFETY PROGRAM?

The formal safety program is a set of written documents that describe a company's safety policies, priorities, and responsibilities. The program is designed to bring structure and consistency into a firm's accident prevention efforts. Without a written document, you might as well have a construction crew without a blueprint, or a factory without a production plan. However, just because a safety program is written, doesn't mean it is always followed. To be effective, everyone on the management team must understand what is expected of them and safety must be an ongoing, essential part of production. This means the entire workforce must have an occasional reminder of what accident prevention is all about. Key safety program elements are: 1. Management's Safety Policy - This is usually a simple but important statement, emphasizing that the safety and well being of employees is of the highest priority in the firm, and will be fully supported by top management. 2. Responsibilities of Management, Supervisors, and Employees - Safety responsibilities at every level of the organization must be clearly defined in writing and in training, so everyone has a fair and equal chance to live up to what is expected of them. 3. Safety Rules - A list of specific Safe Work Practices must be established for the safety of each individual and all co-workers. These "conditions of employment: can prevent accidents during production--but workers and companies often tend to forget them, unless they are enforced. 4. Disciplinary Policy - When any individual fails to follow established safety rules, the entire work team may be at risk. And when rules are ignored by many, the idea of consistent safe work practices "goes down the tube." The disciplinary policy defines how safety rules will be enforced fairly and consistently. The typical policy is a form of "Three Strikes and You're Out." 5. Specific Written Programs - Federal and State laws also require that critical jobsite hazards must be controlled through specific written programs and extra employee training. These include programs in Confined Space Entry, Lock out /Tag out, Fall Protection, Scaffolding Safety, Hazardous Materials, etc. Strict procedures are necessary to prevent exposures, fatalities or serious injuries, and must be followed to the letter. 6. Safety Meetings - Responsibilities and safety procedures are rarely followed by everyone without an occasional reminder. Like the vaccinations we got as kids, we all need booster shots for a good "take." Most worksites have a variety of hazards to discuss, and safety meetings provide this opportunity. Many hazardous industries hold them weekly. Remember, though, you needn't wait for a safety meeting to correct a potentially hazardous situation. Why a written safety program? As workers we need to know what is specifically required of us, to perform our job safely. As supervisors we need the tools and guidance to help us manage a safe production process. As management, we must continually protect our greatest asset--the workforce. Safety is a teamwork effort. Let's everyone remember the important part they play!

Prepared by: Justin Robinson

Toolboxtopics.com