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Discussion Forum

Job Site Safety Rules

| Posted in General Discussion on March 6, 1999 08:55am

*
As I have said in previous posts, I am not a pro, but I lead a lot of volunteer service projects, some quite involved, at local girl & boy Scout camps, church facilities, community outreach groups, parks, etc. Workers range from kids (with their own adult supervision) to housewives, to military, and community service workers.

It’s hard to dictate safety rules and equipment, when you don’t see or even meet many of your workers until the particular day they show up to help.

I want to try and compile a list of required safety equipment, rules, advice, etc.

A few things off the top of my head to start:

*Shorts discouraged
*No tevas, flip flops, sandals, etc…tennis shoes ok, boots recommended
*Work gloves
*Eye protection
*Ear protection
*If it isn’t me, chainsaw operator must wear chaps, hardhat w/visor, ear protection, etc. (this is a rule of some of the places we work).

Some have suggested requiring hardhats, but they look even too silly for volunteers — we want them to come back! But then again, we had an army private drop a hammer on his 1LT’s head back last fall.

I always have a few pair of foam earplugs, a few goggles, etc on the truck. Someone shows up in open shoes, s/he is relegated to staying in a specific area, doing a menial job such as mixing paint or making the pizza runs.

I’m sure y’all have much to add to this, let’s hear it!

a’ad

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Replies

  1. Guest_ | Feb 26, 1999 06:59pm | #1

    *
    About the only safety the young carpenters are into in my neck of the woods are the meetings. Held everyday not necessarily only at 4:20. These guys do not last on my jobsites.

  2. Neal_D | Feb 26, 1999 07:08pm | #2

    *
    Well, I know a little about safety. I went to college for construction with an industrial safety minor, I don't think this makes me an expert in either field but I'll throw in my two cents worth.
    The bottom line is construction is dangerous! Volunteer or Pro if people don't adhere to safety they could be permenantly injured or killed. They may be volunteers but they came for a reason and I doubt fashion was it, you just need to let them know you are a stickler for the safety rules and you appreciate their help but you don't want anyone hurt. I'm sure a lot of the guys on this thread can input horror stories from the job sights to make the point, I as well could go on for hours about the crazy chances and situations that I've been in and been lucky.
    I can tell you from personal experience that going to the emergency room for trash in the eyes is not fun, after a trip in my younger days I realized that safety glasses, that I don't even like, are a rule. I would get the construction industry standards from OSHA (Ok I said it, rag me if you must) and set up your rules based on them. As far as the people the only thing you can do is let them know, scars, deafness, blindness, etc are not temporary and you care about turning out a good project...but it ain't worth killing anyone over, if you don't like it leave. In the aftermath you never want the baggage of thinking " If I only hadn't let him/her slide on the rule, they'd still be alive or OK."
    I'll step off my soap box but no one likes the safety guy til he saves their life.

    Neal

  3. Guest_ | Feb 27, 1999 12:31am | #3

    *
    Alad, I would work on your jobsite for one minute! Kidsrunning around? Flip flops?

    You better triple your insurance and put the job under some other chump's name.

    The winner of the lawsuit is goingto own you otherwise!


    Blue


    1. Guest_ | Feb 27, 1999 02:59am | #4

      *Alad,I agree with Neal. You need to establish a saftey program and stick too it. On Habitat for Humanity projects (almost all volunteer) we have set saftey guidelines and we stick to them. It is not unreasonable to to do this. You might contact a local affiliate of Habitat For Humanity or internationl & ask for a copy of their policy.

      1. Guest_ | Feb 27, 1999 09:23am | #5

        *Alad the first and most important think on a job is safety. We have all done dumb things and sometimes I seem to be the dumbest.(Just nailed finger to board) We work both residental and commerical (even have a nuke contract) work so I see both sides of the problems. My basic rules for any job are sturdy work shoes, long pants, shirt. Safety glasses are a given on all jobs. I buy the first pair and you by the rest. We use the "cuda's" because they fit the best and look really cool. If the glasses fit and look ok people will wear them. The residental side of building has yet to feel the heat of OSA. I said in one of my other post about framers and roofers having to wear full body harness. If we don't act soon to "clean up" our act someone will do it for us.

        1. Guest_ | Feb 27, 1999 10:43am | #6

          *Nicely said, Bill!The time is past when tradesmen measured their experience in the field by counting absent fingers with their remaining eye. I think most of us today would argee that no job can be considered successful if an injury occurs ... no matter what the profit margin.Safely, Steve

  4. alad | Feb 27, 1999 05:31pm | #7

    *
    I'd better clarify some, the "kids" on the jobsite are typically boy scouts or girl scouts, mostly older, 15 to 18. A couple of things that we are tight on with them, is no youth operates the power tools, and no high work. As far as the tevas and flops, it's typically one of the adults that shows up in them.

    As for doing really stupid things, it's usually the adults. There's usually an obvious choice of who to send on continual parts runs.

    akad

  5. Guest_ | Feb 27, 1999 06:16pm | #8

    *
    You're right Bill, but the one thing I've noticed consistently is the complete lack of safety gear on most residential workers. Shinglers walking up the roof untethered, etc. I saw a few minutes of "Your New House" yesterday and laughed when the host showed how to use a powder-actuated fastener gun -- with no eye or ear protection. The show may soon be called "Your New Glass Eye." Or "Your New Miracle Ear."

    Will try the "cuda's"

    1. Guest_ | Feb 27, 1999 11:04pm | #9

      *Paying extra attention to safety is worth it!!I head up the safety program at our company, and even though its a pain in the butt thankless job... it's well worth it.. You can measure it with dollars saved on workman comp premiums... we have cut our rate from 14% to 8% in 4 years... or even better, having the feeling that everybody in your organization is safety concious and watching out for each other.We have weekly safety meetings, proceedures for doing the hazardous parts of our work, enforce safety glasses at all times, use all the guards that come with equipment, deadline extension cords when they break, etc.When a newby comes on board, his interview includes an overview of our safety policies, and he is watched by everybody so he doesnt hurt himself, or more importantly somebody else.

      1. Guest_ | Feb 28, 1999 07:09am | #10

        *Bill,we have had OSHA visiting residential sites in central Ohio. BOth new & remodels. Although I haven't heard of any for a while, I do know some one who was sited from a picture in the paper. It seems one of his guys rode the cranes hok up to the ridge and the paper took a picture. OSHA saw it & sent a citation in the mail.

        1. Guest_ | Feb 28, 1999 08:05am | #11

          *Luckily, I have never had a serious injury on one of my jobs to anyone other than myself. As for me the injuries were not as serious as they were extremely painful I suppose (ie. razor through thumb, full swing from 20oz Estwing dirextly to tip of left index finger!). I do recall witnessing my father getting hit directly on the top of his head with a 3lb sledge once. This happened about 3 seconds after he told my bro-in-law not to miss the board because he might hit him in the head. Lucky for Dad that he has a very thick head. Man was he pissed!! He stood up, started cussing a bit threw a few things around the place etc.. I made for the hills. Dad is also known for his temper.For any of you who are ineterested in Safety programs for your company, my sister offers one day courses for 1600 bucks plus 5 bucks per attendee. She is a safety coordinator for a large company here in Cleveland. The course includes a comprehensive safety program for your company too. The fine folks from OSHA (or as I call them, O-Shit!) Actually asked her permission to distribute her safety program because they liked it so much.Thanks for letting me once again put in my two cents and drop a plug for my favorite older sister. By the way, I have a favorite older Brother and a favorite younger sister too. There are 4 of us.Pete Draganic

          1. Guest_ | Mar 06, 1999 08:55am | #13

            *I've been in the construction business off and on for 35 years, seen a lot of accidents, and, in hindsight, know that by following the regs and/or common sense, most could have been avoided. But, I never have understood the no shorts thing.Can anyone explain?

  6. alad | Mar 06, 1999 08:55am | #12

    *
    As I have said in previous posts, I am not a pro, but I lead a lot of volunteer service projects, some quite involved, at local girl & boy Scout camps, church facilities, community outreach groups, parks, etc. Workers range from kids (with their own adult supervision) to housewives, to military, and community service workers.

    It's hard to dictate safety rules and equipment, when you don't see or even meet many of your workers until the particular day they show up to help.

    I want to try and compile a list of required safety equipment, rules, advice, etc.

    A few things off the top of my head to start:

    *Shorts discouraged
    *No tevas, flip flops, sandals, etc...tennis shoes ok, boots recommended
    *Work gloves
    *Eye protection
    *Ear protection
    *If it isn't me, chainsaw operator must wear chaps, hardhat w/visor, ear protection, etc. (this is a rule of some of the places we work).

    Some have suggested requiring hardhats, but they look even too silly for volunteers -- we want them to come back! But then again, we had an army private drop a hammer on his 1LT's head back last fall.

    I always have a few pair of foam earplugs, a few goggles, etc on the truck. Someone shows up in open shoes, s/he is relegated to staying in a specific area, doing a menial job such as mixing paint or making the pizza runs.

    I'm sure y'all have much to add to this, let's hear it!

    a'ad

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