Conestoga OHS8035-23F Hazard Identification PDF

OHS8035-23F Hazard Identification 1 WEEK 9: PHYSICAL HAZARDS - FALLS, WORKING AT HEIGHTS Unit Outcomes: Explain the mechanisms of various hazards and their respective potential for harm to...

OHS8035-23F Hazard Identification 1 WEEK 9: PHYSICAL HAZARDS - FALLS, WORKING AT HEIGHTS Unit Outcomes: Explain the mechanisms of various hazards and their respective potential for harm to workers. 2  Hazards Fall Hazards Working at Heights 3  Why are fall hazards a concern? Over 42,000 Canadian workers are injured on the job each year because of falls 66% due to ground-level slips 34% from ladders, stairs, roofs, and other height-related conditions Often these injuries occur despite employees following established safety equipment procedures 4  Why are fall hazards a concern? Can amount to as much as $59,000 per injury A report from Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board says that with a profit margin of 5 per cent: “the sales and services required to cover the cost of one injury equals $1.2 million” 5 There is an expression - ‘it’s not the fall Anatomy of Fall that’s hurts but the sudden stop at the end’. Think of a fall as “…a sudden, unanticipated descent in space driven by gravity”. The consequences are often disabling - or deadly. Think about it this way: it takes most people about 1/3 of a second to become aware of a fall. It takes another 1/3 of a second for the body to react. A person can fall up to 7 feet in 2/3 of a second.  Examples of Fall Hazards Falls from heights as well as the same-level falls continue to be the number one cause of work related injuries and deaths. To protect workers from hazards of falling the employer must conduct a risk assessment and identify, control or eliminate the fall hazards. Some examples of hazards include: – Trips and slips at the floor level – Falls from levels below 3m (10ft) – Falls from height of or more than 3 m (10 ft) – Falls into operating machinery – Falls into or onto hazardous substance or object – Falls through an opening in floor  Ground Level Falls - Slips, Trips and Falls Slippery surfaces Falls from beds of trucks, seasonal hazards trailers or loads Spills of wet or dry Obstructions in walkways substances Smoke, steam or dust Changes in walkway levels obscuring view Unsecured mats Lack of guardrails Unsafe use of ladders Poorly maintained equipment Poor lighting Unsuitable footwear These will be dependent largely on the characteristics of the physical work area, weather conditions (for example, snow, ice, rain, etc.), tasks performed and workers’ work practices 8 Ground level – Slips, Trips and Falls 9  Falls resulting from Slips and Trips Video: Slip, Trips and Falls Source: SafeWork Manitoba - And now legislation: A floor or other surface used by any worker shall, (a) be kept free of, (i) obstructions, (ii) hazards, and (iii) accumulations of refuse, snow or ice; and (b) not have any finish or protective material used on it that is likely to make the surface slippery. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, s. 11.  What does OHSA Say? Employers Workers Take every precaution Report known hazards to the reasonable in the circumstances employer or supervisor for the protection of workers Use or wear equipment, Provide information, instruction, protective devices or clothing and supervision to workers to required by the employer protect the health or safety of Report to the employer or the workers supervisor the absence of or Acquaint workers and defect in any equipment or supervisors with any hazard in protective device of which they the work and in the handling, are aware and which may storage, and use of any article, endanger them or other workers device, or equipment 11  Other Regulations O. Reg. 213/91 Constriction Waste material and debris shall be removed to a disposal area and reusable material shall be removed to a storage area as often as is necessary to prevent a hazardous condition arising and, in any event, at least once daily, s. 35 (1). Rubbish, debris and other materials shall not be permitted to fall freely from one level to another but shall be lowered by a chute, in a container or by a crane or hoist., s. 35 (2). O. Reg. 67/93 Health care and Residential Facilities If there is a spill of a liquid or material on a work surface that is likely to cause a worker to slip or fall, it shall be cleaned up forthwith and, until cleaned up, it shall be identified by a conspicuous warning sign., s. 34 If surface is slippery when it is being cleaned or polished, a conspicuous sign warning that the surface is slippery shall be posted during cleaning or polishing, s. 34. 12  Falls from Height Working at heights is a common task in many industries One of the most dangerous tasks workers are asked to perform Falls from heights can result in serious injuries or fatalities Fall from Heights Fatalities Analysis 13 Fall From Heights 14  Types of Working at Heights Falls from buildings Falls from buildings can occur from roof or elevated locations but aspects of buildings and other structures can also pose a hazard resulting in falls. Openings in floors and roofs Unprotected roof and floor edges Unguarded stairwells or work access ramps Wall openings such as windows or Doors Skylight fixtures 15 Elevator shafts and platforms  Preventing Falls When the fall hazard can’t be eliminated then hazard must be controlled. The controls should be selected according to hierarchy of controls.  Elimination  Prevention or Engineering Controls  Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Some of the control methods are prescribed by various Regulations under OHSA (i.e O.Reg 851/90, O.Reg 213/91). Let’s take a look at some of the prescribed requirements.  Guardrails - Legislation Subject to subsection (2), there shall be a guardrail, (a) around the perimeter of an uncovered opening in a floor, roof or other surface to which a worker has access; (b) at an open side of, (i) a raised floor, mezzanine, balcony, gallery, landing, platform, walkway, stile, ramp or other surface, or (ii) a vat, bin or tank, the top of which is less than 107 centimetres above the surrounding floor, ground, platform or other surface; and (c) around a machine, electrical installation, Are there more sections on place or thing that is likely to endanger the safety guardrails? of any worker. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, s. 13 (1). And again, good guess. Of course there is more. Here is an example: Section 26(3) O.Reg. 213/90  Floor Coverings A cover on an opening in a floor, roof or other surface shall be, (a) secured in place; and (b) constructed to meet the structural requirements for loads due to the use of floors and roofs as set out in the Building Code. R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851, s. 15.  Fall Restrain and Fall Arrest systems  Travel restrain system consists of an anchor, connectors, and a body harness or a body belt. It is designed to restricts the worker's movements in the fall hazard area by allowing them to reach the edge, but they are not able to fall over the edge. Video: Fall Restrain Systems; source: WorkSAfeBc  Warning barriers consist of ropes, wires or chains, and supporting stanchions that form a barrier to warn those who approach an unprotected roof side or edge.  Positioning device system enables the worker to work with both hands free on a surface such as a wall or other vertical structure. The positioning device system supports the worker on an elevated surface and limits a fall to two feet.  Safety net systems consist of mesh nets, panels, and connecting components.  Fall arrest systems consists of an anchor, connectors such are shock absorbing lanyard, lifeline, rope grab, and a full body harness that work together to stop one from falling and to minimize the arrest force. Video: Fall Arrest source: WorkSafeBC  Fall Arrest Hazards When selecting the appropriate fall arrest system close attention must be paid on type of work being performed, conditions of the workplace, intended use of the system and other hazards that may be associated. While design to protect worker from hazard of falling and hitting the surface below, the fall arrest system also have it’s own hazards such are: 1. Bottoming out 2. Pendulum effect or swing fall 3. Suspension trauma CSA Z259 Standards series provide guidelines for the selection of right equipment for the job Bottoming out occurs when the Total Fall Distance is greater than the distance from the work surface to the next surface below. Preventing a falling worker from hitting the ground or an object below requires knowing the Fall Clearance Distance  A person who is involved in a fall arrest may experience suspension trauma. It can occur if a person is suspended in the harness for a period of time. Being suspended in an upright The pendulum effect, also known as a position can swing fall, occurs when a worker cause blood to whose fall has been arrested swings pool in the legs, from side to side, possibly striking depriving the equipment, material, or a structure brain of oxygen Types of Working at Heights Scaffolds Elevated Work Platforms Ladders 27  Types of Working at Heights Scaffolds Temporary elevated platforms and their substructures, used for supporting workers, work materials or both. Their proper construction and weight capacities are necessary for safe operation. 28  Types of Working at Heights Scaffold Hazards Improper maintenance, erection or dismantling Incorrect mounting/dismounting Absence of guardrails Overloading Scaffold component failures Absence or improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) Moving rolling scaffolds with workers on the platform 29  Types of Working at Heights Elevated Work Platforms Each type of elevating work platform has unique manufacturer’s designs and require additional training to ensure safe use of the equipment. While working on EWPs in some instances, particularly those where the equipment is being moved with the workers still on the platform, workers must be tied off using a body harness with a shock absorbing lanyard attached to the anchor. 30 Vertically Ascending varieties of EWP include: Scissor Lifts Vertical Mast Lifts EWPs with Boom Arms Allow for greater flexibility of use as the work can be approached from a wide variety of angles. The arm which positions the work platform may be articulated or telescopic Can be mounted on a rotating base.  Types of Working at Heights Elevated Work Platform Hazards Overhead power lines Uneven terrain Soft soil Drop off and pedestrian traffic under the bucket Anchoring outside the EWP Loads beyond the equipment capacity Equipment failure 33  Looking for obvious signs of any parts that appear to be missing, damaged or loose  Jacks and/or outriggers operate properly.  The lifting mechanism is free of mechanical damage, such as cracking and corrosion  Components of the lifting system must be mechanically sound.  The guardrails and gate of the platform are in good condition.  Testing ground controls to make sure they are operating properly  Test the platform controls once EWP is level and stable.  Check battery, hydraulic fluid, fuel levels  Types of Working at Heights Ladders Ladders are either fixed or portable. Should only be used to perform light tasks such as changing lights, minor repairs and installations. A scaffold is a better alternative as it allows workers more lateral movement. Examples: Extension/Straight Fixed Access\Tripod Orchard Stepladder https://www.wsps.ca/resource-hub/guides/ladder-safety 35  Types of Working at Heights Ladders Factors contributing to falls from a ladder are: Overreaching to side or overhead Handling bulky or heavy material overhead Losing balance while working Working on unsecured ladder Failing to ensure three-point contact with ladder (one hand and two feet) Using a defective ladder Supplying or selecting improper ladder for given task Muscle fatigue from working long periods from a ladder36  Working at Heights Ontario Regulation 213/91 sets out the specific requirements for worker protection on construction sites. Sections 26.1 to 26.9 outline clothing, equipment and devices for workers who are at risk of the following: 1. Falling more than 3 metres 2. Falling more than 1.2 metres if the work area is used as a path for a wheelbarrow or similar equipment 3. Falling into operating machinery 4. Falling into water or another liquid. 5. Falling into or onto a hazardous substance or object. 6. Falling through an opening on a work surface. 38  Working at Heights Section 26.1 A worker exposed to these falling hazards must be adequately protected by a guardrail system If it is not reasonably possible to install a worker must be adequately protected by at least one of:  Travel restraint system  Fall restricting system  Fall arrest system (other than a restricting system designed for use in wood pole climbing) and a safety net. 39  Working at Heights Suspended platforms, guardrails and scaffolds must all be designed by a professional engineer in accordance with good engineering practices. Several elevating devices listed in the Regulation must also meet CSA standards. 40  Worker at Heights Training IF you do any of this work you also need training! It must be a working at heights training program that is approved by the MLITSD and delivered by an approved training provider. The training requirements for working at heights are set out in O. Reg. 297/13: Occupational Health and Safety Awareness Training. 41 Questions? 42