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12/01/2006
Safety & Education Committee Update
I have been climbing towers since 1967, so I literally grew up on them. My father was an ironworker who built towers all over the world and began my education at the tender age of five. In those days personal protective equipment was minimal and certainly not specific for towers; 100% tie-off was not even considered; and OSHA did not regulate the industry. The evolution of the industry has brought us to where we are today. A multitude of tower specific personal protective equipment is now available and extensive safety programs have been implemented.
As an owner of Phoenix Tower, a member of NATE, and with my service on the Safety & Education Committee, I have dedicated a great deal of time contemplating safety. Many of us may fail to recognize the impact of our company safety policies and attitudes with relationship to how they can affect other tower companies. Accidents cause insurance rates to increase for everyone and can become a financial burden to all companies -- small companies in particular.
The number of fatalities so far this year sounded an alarm and forced us to examine safety policies, attitudes, and increase training. Addressing non-compliance of safety policies within your own organization must be strictly enforced in all circumstances. Your company should have a disciplinary program established for safety violations and all employees should be familiar with the content. Take time now to review your safety policy and if you have not purchased safety materials offered by NATE, then place an order today.
OSHA Publications
Free publications, posters and quick cards may be downloaded or requested at www.osha.gov or by contacting your local OSHA office. Free training programs on the site are offered and links to other free training sites are noted as well. OSHA also offers a free video loan program as another tool to assist you in training, although the program is currently suspended. If you have not viewed the free material I would encourage you to take a moment to visit the OSHA site.
The Cold Stress Card is a good example of what is available from OSHA. It comes laminated if you phone an order in or you can download and laminate your own cards. It covers three areas:
• The Cold Stress Equation explains the danger of skin exposure and provides a chart for calculating temperature + wind speed + wetness = injury & illness;
• frostbite and hypothermia symptoms are outlined with explanations of how to treat; and
• a tutorial explaining how to protect workers.
The Cold Stress Card is available in English (ID# 3156) or Spanish (ID# 3158).
Another OSHA publication that is definitely worth downloading this time of year is Tips for Safe Winter Driving.
Head Protection
A key element of any safety program is protection from potential head injuries. Head injuries can impair an employee for life or be fatal. Providing appropriate hard hats and strictly enforcing their use can prevent head injuries. Employers must ensure that their employees wear head protection if any of the following apply:
• objects might fall from above and strike them on the head;
• employee might bump his/her head against fixed objects, such as exposed beams; and
• there is a possibility of accidental head contact with electrical hazards.
Checking your equipment and determining appropriate protection is essential. Hardhat labels located inside the shell should list the manufacturer, ANSI designation, and class of hat. Understanding all potential hazards, including electrical, is essential to selecting the proper head gear. Hard hats are divided into three industrial classes:
• Class A hard hats provide impact and penetration resistance along with limited voltage protection (up to 2,200 volts);
• Class B hard hats provide the highest level of protection against electrical hazards, with high-voltage shock and burn protection (up to 20,000 volts); provide protection from impact and penetration hazards by flying/falling objects; and
• Class C hard hats provide lightweight comfort and impact protection, but offer no protection from electrical hazards.
During the selection of head gear keep in mind ANSI Standard Z89.1-1986 must be met or provide equivalent protection. Head gear purchased before July 5, 1994 must comply with the earlier ANSI Standard Z89.1-1969 or equivalent protection. When selecting a hard hat:
• size matters -- head gear must fit appropriately;
• gear with adjustable headbands ensure a proper fit;
• clearance between the shell and suspension system should be sufficient for ventilation and distribution of an impact; and
• gear should not bind, slip, fall off, or irritate the skin.
There are many types of hard hats available, some with a wide variety of accessories to protect against the changing environmental conditions. Make sure your accessories do not compromise the safety features of the equipment. As with all equipment, periodic cleaning, daily inspections, and proper storage can extend the life of your equipment. Hard hats should be replaced under the following circumstances:
• perforation, cracking, or deformity of the brim or shell;
• indication of exposure of the brim or shell to heat chemicals or ultraviolet light and other radiation; in addition to a loss of surface gloss, such signs include chalking or flaking; and
• if your hard hat sustains an impact, even if no damage is noticeable -- always replace it.
Recently I witnessed a new tower being constructed and because the process is always fascinating to me, I stopped to observe. The construction was occurring near my office so I stopped to introduce myself to the site supervisor and let the crew be aware we were close by should they require any assistance. I returned to my office and proceeded to contemplate how to address a safety violation I witnessed. Rather than contact OSHA, I chose to drive back to the job site and seek out the on-site supervisor for discussion. I addressed the hard hat violation I observed and spoke of the number of fatalities that have occurred this year. To my dismay, not one crewmember admitted to being aware of the fatalities in this industry let alone the increased number occurring in 2006. My struggle with the decision to approach another crew and point out safety violations was a new challenge. In the end, I was satisfied when I left the job site and all crewmembers were wearing hard hats. By taking a few minutes to discuss safety compliance and touching on the unfortunate number of fatalities I felt I had contributed to the safety of this crew, certainly on this job site, and with a bit of hope, perhaps on future sites.
Safety policies can be written and distributed, and training provided, but an attitude of safety begins at the top and filters down. The responsible person on every job site must foster an environment based upon good safety compliance. Leaving safety to chance is not an option, and compliance must never be compromised. The path you choose to report safety violations may vary from situation-to-situation but make no mistake, each of us has a responsibility to take action. Working collectively as a team, we can and will make this industry safer.
Stay safe.
Clay Cowart is a member of the NATE Safety & Education Committee and is the Owner of Phoenix Tower Service, LLC in Horton, Kansas. He can be reached at 785-486-2711 or phoenix@rainbowtel.net
Clay Cowart
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