If your feet hurt, it seems that you hurt all over!  I wonder just how many women have spent years of their working lives in high heels, thinking more about the fashion statement they are making than the toll that their feet are taking?  Many times working men and women suffer injuries to their feet, which can result in time lost, and possible surgery to repair whatever damage has been done. 

OSHA dictates that as in all personal protective equipment, (PPE), companies should choose the appropriate footwear for the hazards of the particular job the employee does.  The standard from OSHA (29 CFR 1910.136) requires protection “where there is danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole and where..exposed to electrical hazards.”  There are also hazards such as impact when heavy materials are being handled, compression protection for work involving manual material handling carts, bulk rolls, and heavy pipe, and puncture protection from sharp objects, such as nails, screws, tacks, and scrap metal.  

Here are a few problems where the feet are at risk:

• Chemical hazards; boots and shoes made of rubber, PVC or neoprene are needed.
• Heavy objects – steel toes are to protect against falling objects, which cause about 60 per cent of all foot injuries.  If there are electrical hazards, a fiberglass toe should replace the typical steel toe.
• Slips and falls – shoes with good traction are needed. 

There are at least two distinct areas of foot protection that are mentioned in the realm of safety shoe covers.  In industrial and construction situations, OSHA and ANSI are concerned with safeguarding the “impact and compression” of the foot.  Medical, industrial, and laboratory environments are the other areas of foot protection issues.  Shoe covers for medical personnel can protect from spatters, liquid, and chemicals that could pose a danger.  Also, using shoe or boot covers protects others from receiving contaminants from you.  Those that are involved in “clean” manufacturing conditions, such as computer chips, digital medical equipment, precise engineering instruments, etc., must be careful to not transfer contaminants to sensitive objects.  Clean rooms must remain as germ and contaminant free as surgical environments; therefore, shoe covers are an important component. 

Even those involved in sports, such as cycling, can use shoe covers.  While your back, arms, and legs are stressed during high level cycling, nothing takes a worse pounding than your feet.  There are products that offer a line of covers and booties to protect shoes from road abuse from rocks, mud, and other hazards. 

One last “footnote”:  I recently read an article in the AARP Bulletin, written by Candy Sagon, regarding assisting people with dementia or Alzheimer’s who could possibly wander off from caregivers or nursing facilities: a locator shoe with a built-in Global Positioning System device now makes it easier to tract down its wearers.  Manufactured by GTX Corporation, the shoes look like a typical walking shoe but have a miniature GPS unit implanted in the heel.  The cost of the shoes is around $300.  The shoe works by allowing caregivers or family members to set up a perimeter, called a “geo-fence,” allowing wearers to move freely around a specific area.  When they stray beyond the perimeter, a Goggle Maps message pops up on a computer or phone to alert caregivers.  What a great investment to help with the task of keeping these patients safe. 

Regardless of the reason that your company has safety footwear to keep you safe, be sure you wear it every time you are on the job.  Those responsible for choosing footwear or any other type of PPE should select comfortable, and proper fitting protective clothing, head to toe.  There may not be a magic formula for the feet, but there are steps that can be followed to be sure feet are protected.

Source: OSHA, AARP Bulletin

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In an article from OSHA’s “Quicktakes” December newsletter, here’s an interesting report regarding fall protection.  OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officer, Tony Nozzi, was doing a November inspection of an Illinois worksite as part of a Local Emphasis Program on Falls, when he noticed a roofing contractor’s employees and a building restoration employee working on a church roof without any fall protection.  Before leaving the worksite, Nozzi made sure that all employees put on harnesses and lanyards and secured themselves with rope grabs before he left the worksite. 

Shortly after he was gone, an employee who worked for the building restoration company was assigned to power wash the church steeple.  Soon after he started his work, he slipped and slid down the church’s pitched roof.  Thankfully, the lifeline became tight on the lanyard, stopping him right before the edge of the roof.  The fall protection equipment prevented serious and potentially fatal injuries, and the employee was then able to walk back up the roof  toward the steeple and safely complete his work. 

This is a classic example of why those who work at heights should always use fall protection.  Companies should have a good fall protection plan in place.  If we knew we were going to fall, we would be sure to wear the proper equipment at the time, but because we don’t know, we should be inclined to do all we can to keep from getting hurt.  There are three elements included in fall protection that are equally important, and if one of these elements fails or are neglected, the system will fail, and serious injury or death can happen.  The three elements include: safety harness, lanyard and the anchor point. 

Years ago, a positioning belt, fitting around a person’s waist, was thought to be adequate fall protection; however, now, a full body harness is required.  The harness should be worn snugly against the body without slack in any part.  A person could fall out of the harness if worn too loosely.  Safety leaders should ensure that the proper length lanyard is used with the harness.  Height and height of the work platform should be considered when calculating lanyard length.  A three-foot safety margin should be figured in the selection of the lanyard.  

Foremost, rapid rescue should be a major portion of the fall protection system.  If rescue does not begin within 7 or 8 minutes of the fall, consequences could be deadly.  If a person is suspended in an upright position after a fall, it is very dangerous.  The restrictions of the safety harness can alter blood flow.  A person could pass out in as little as 5 minutes and the situation could become grave in as few as 15 minutes. 

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that falls at work are one of the leading causes of death caused by trauma.  OSHA requires fall protection for anyone in industrial environments working four feet above ground, and in maritime occupations, the requirement is 5 feet.  Construction workers must use fall protection if they are working at least 6 feet off the ground.  Last, but not least, the harness, D-rings, snaps, should be inspected regularly and replaced when necessary.  The equipment should meet OSHA standards.  So, save lives by providing the right equipment, and ensuring that it is used. 

Source: OSHA, DOL, ehow.com

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“OSHA describes scissor lifts as machines that are “movable scaffolds.”  They can lift large, heavy loads that are well balanced, as well as employees, and are capable of moving them safely to and from high elevations.  There are several different safety requirements that apply to the maintenance and use of scissor lifts, because they are classified as heavy equipment.”  This is an excerpt from an article we published in August of this year.  Thankfully, a reader and friend from the United Kingdom has written an outstanding article that gives us a good perspective regarding safety and scissor lifts.  Please enjoy the following Guest Post:

5 Scissor Lift Safety Do’s and Don’ts

In operating heavy machineries it is important for the operators of these machines to be aware of the safety procedures and guidelines in order to avoid accidents and injuries. Safety should be the primary concern of operators when workers are doing their jobs using heavy machines. The time to finish jobs when following safety procedures will be longer but the risks will be lower and the chance of delay in the operation on account of accidents and injuries will be reduced. Also, the chances of lawsuits will be lower in cases of work related accidents and injuries if safety guidelines are followed strictly.

Colleges have been using aerial lifts for reasons other than their intended purpose. The most frequent use of scissor lifts is the filming of football practices to get an aerial view of college teams. This practice has been deemed unsafe because the person holding the camera might be blown over by a sudden gust of wind and there are no safety regulations and guidelines being followed to prevent that sort of thing. A twenty year old has died because of the failure of university officials to set safety guidelines when using scissor lifts. Investigations were made by the university where the unfortunate incident happened and they found out after a few months after the incident that the policies of the university regarding the safety procedures and safeguards in using scissor lifts were not adequate to prevent accidents like the one that happened.  After that, other colleges have looked into their own policies when using machines such as these.  For the purpose of preventing accidents from happening when using scissor lifts here are 5 guidelines to follow.

1.       Use it for raised platform working, but don’t overload

Scissor lifts are just like any machine, they can perform the jobs needed from them but they also have a limit. Scissor lifts are primarily used for raising up things or people so they can do their tasks from an elevated platform. The weight of the things to be raised is a priority in safety because as the platform is raised, the base on which it is anchored becomes unstable as it goes higher. Once the platform becomes unstable outside forces like winds or a shake in the base will greatly affect the raised platform which can lead to accidents.

2.       Use it to transfer materials, but don’t rush

When transferring materials to high places it is always recommended to be sure and steady. As the adage goes “haste makes waste.” Caution should always be practiced when using heavy machinery and when dealing with machines that extend many feet above the ground.

3.       Use lanyards but follow the Ghostbusters’s rule (don’t cross the streams)

Lanyards are used as a safety option when operating machinery. It is attached to a worker’s wrist and in case the worker becomes incapacitated when operating the machine, the fall will enable the lanyard to pull the “kill switch” which is also attached to the lanyard and stop the machine from operating. However, another precaution should also be in place in order for the lanyards to be effective as a safety measure. Workers must make sure that their lanyards are not intertwined or are not crossing the streams as the safety precaution of lanyards will be compromised.

4.       Stay inside the guard rails, don’t over extend or stand on the rails

Persons who are tasked to be on the platform should always bear in mind that the guard rails are there for a reason. It is for their own protection to keep their bodies in the guard rail all the time. There are some circumstances and sometimes they cannot be avoided, that require a worker to reach out over the platform to perform a task. But one should be vigilant to not lean over or reach out too much to a point of over extending one’s self beyond the guardrails. Standing on the rails should also be avoided. The safety hazards of such act are innumerable and are subjected to every kind of outside forces that will cause a person to lose balance and fall. If there is an urgent need to go higher to perform a task it is better to raise up the platform itself rather than stand on the guard rails.

5.       Move the platform for different areas but not while the platform is extended.

When moving heavy machineries or any mechanical device for that matter, it is best to be cautious when transporting them from one place to another. The platform of the scissor lift should be brought back to its original place in the machine before moving the whole thing, just like when one would move a car or an oven, it is best to close the doors first so it won’t bump into other things while in transit. The same safety concept should be adopted when moving the platform of a scissor lift. In order to avoid accidents and injuries the extended platform should be lowered first before moving from one place to another.

In any job requiring the use of machines, especially heavy machinery it is very important to follow the safety guidelines while operating them. Operators should be strict in enforcing these guidelines to ensure a safe working environment for people using heavy machineries like scissor lifts. An unfortunate accident already happened because of the lack of safety standards in the use of scissor lifts outside of construction sites, like in colleges. The safety guidelines should be addressed by colleges when their students are using machineries like scissor lifts. There are standard safety guidelines to be followed strictly in order to avoid accidents when using scissor lifts.

We thank Allan Twillert, a Marketing Consultant that writes for Horizon Limited Platforms, a construction machine rental solution company in the United Kingdom.  For more information on Allan’s company, go to info@horizonplatformsco.uk.  It is an honor for us to hear from our friends in other countries who , like us, are very concerned about the safety of workers and students.

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Many employees are not trained properly in the use, care and maintenance of personal protective equipment (PPE).  Companies are required to furnish the type of PPE that is based on the potential hazards of each particular job.  Many workers are required to wear several types of PPE at the same time, such as construction workers, who must wear protective footwear, gloves, safety glasses, and hardhats.   Research has found that some workers have a rather cavalier attitude toward protective clothing, but that little was being done in terms of training or education to correct this situation.  During this research, some health and safety managers interviewed admitted to a lack of knowledge about different PPE product specifications and which clothing is the most suitable for their workplace. 

Anyone who must wear PPE will tell you that the choices made for their particular needs should fit well and be comfortable.  Some say that the PPE hinders their ability to do their job.  They explain that they would prefer to have clothing that is stylish and functional.  If the safety advisors include the workers in the choices they make, whether it is to protect from fire to freezing cold temperatures, working in areas with poor visibility, or handling of hazardous materials, chances are the results will be a more respectful attitude toward compliance. 

Safety officials of companies may confer with various suppliers and manufacturers to work out which types of clothing and particular products will be most suitable.  Products must meet the standards that are set by OSHA, ANSI, or other countries’ minimum health and safety requirements.  For workers who must wear more than one type of protective clothing, the different types of work wear must be compatible.  Many factors must be considered, such as, will the clothing get tangled up in equipment, (i.e., gloves that are too large), or does it increase slips and falls (wrong foot protection)?  

Safety glasses that are offered now are stylish; some of them look better and cost less than those purchased at an optical shop.  (And safer, too!)  All types are offered – from goggles to those with UV protection, wrap-around, over-the-glasses, to readers.  If companies don’t require a company logo on their hardhats, team hard hats or patriotic ones improve worker morale and compliance, by allowing them to show their support for their favorite team, be it NHL, NCAA, NFL, NBA, NASCAR, or MLB.  There are work gloves especially designed for women’s smaller hands, and they even come in “cool pink!”  Many jobs require PPE that is not as flashy as other types, but the main thing is that they fit the bill for the task at hand. 

Training employees on the correct use of their PPE, how to wear it, and care for it, and know when to replace it, is one of the most important ways a company can protect their employees.  It may not take a rocket scientist to figure some of it out, but when there’s doubt about PPE, there should be someone who can explain why they are required to wear it and how important it is to be worn during the entire work period.

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In the Northern Hemisphere, the first day of autumn, (or Autumnal Equinox) is Friday, September 23^rd.  The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night.” The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the hours of day and night are equal as the Sun crosses the celestial equator.  From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop and the days start to get shorter. The four seasons are determined by changing sunlight (not heat)—which is determined by how our planet orbits the Sun and the tilt of its axis.

As days begin to cool off, chances are you will be in the mood to get out there and do some of the tasks required to prepare your yard for winter.  Raking leaves is usually one of the big jobs waiting for you.  Be sure you own a good rake and a good pair of work gloves.  When picking up the leaves, bend at the knees, not the waist, or you’ll have a sore back.  As the weather becomes cooler, certain allergens blow in, just the same as in the spring.  A dust mask will help when you are working outdoors.  Watch for snakes lurking under the leaves! 

More than 400,000 victims of lawn and garden tool accidents are treated in U.S. emergency rooms annually, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Always wear safety glasses when doing yard work, as well as earplugs, if you are working with power tools.  Be sure you use the correct tool for each job.   If you have to use a ladder to prune trees or clean out gutters, be sure the ladder is in good condition, and set it on level space.  Move it more often as needed rather than stretch to reach something.  Many falls are attributed to faulty ladders, so it’s important to have a sturdy one.

Following the extremely hot and dry weather that many areas in the U.S. have struggled with this summer, it would probably be hard to find anyone that isn’t looking forward to the fall season.  Watching the leaves turn, taking walks on cool mornings, and enjoying the wind-up of baseball season – leading to the World Series, as well as backing your favorite college and professional football teams, should furnish pleasure to everyone. 

One other word of caution: deer are out and about more during the fall season, so please be sure to keep a watch out for them.  Many times, they get spooked and run across highways without fear of cars.  This can be a dangerous situation for drivers and passengers, as well as the animals.  So, please use caution when driving. 

Fall is such a great time of the year – make it a safe one, and enjoy!

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An important September observance in the United States is National Farm Safety Week, sponsored by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.  Working in the agricultural field ranks among the most hazardous industries in our country.  Farmers and family members who work side by side are at high risk for fatal and non-fatal injuries.  Most farmers have made their living by working the soil generation after generation.  They are aware of the hazards their occupation presents.  Accidents happen, though, and we want to share with you some of the things that might happen on a farm or ranch. 

Every day, approximately 243 agricultural workers suffer lost-time injuries, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, (NIOSH).  Young people are particularly susceptible to injury, if precautions are not taken.  Many young persons are injured by machinery (including tractors) and motor vehicles (including ATV’s).  

• PTO’s (power take-off) devices are extremely dangerous to workers, especially children.  These are pieces of farm equipment, such as augers, that are attached to tractors.  They rotate at 540 to 1,000 revolutions per minute.  Loose clothing could get caught in one of these, and there is simply no time to get out of this situation without serious injury.  
• Tractors should be equipped with a rollover protective structure (ROPS.)  There should not be extra riders on tractors or other farm equipment.  The person driving the tractor should always use handholds and care when getting on or off the tractor; slips and falls cause injuries.  A friend of ours who has farmed all of his life fell off his tractor one day, breaking his collarbone.  
• ATV’s are very popular on farms and ranches; they are designed for a single rider.  There is a risk of overturn when riding an ATV.  Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when operating machinery, such as a helmet when riding an ATV. 
• Animals present certain obstacles, as most farmers and ranchers will tell you.  Avoid quick movements and loud noises when working with animals.  One should know their characteristics.  Movement in an animal’s blind spots may startle it.  Be sure there is a quick escape if you go inside an animal pen.  The same goes for having a good escape route when working with animals in close quarters, such as chutes and stalls. 
• Hired farm workers should be aware of farm safety; they should have training and direct communication to ensure that they understand what they are expected to do.  Direct supervision when they are performing dangerous duties, particularly when the worker is new to the job.  Be sure there are no language barriers limiting the effectiveness of training or supervision. 

There are many other obstacles included in farm work.  Pesticide exposure could cause pulmonary disease.  Hearing loss from operating loud equipment over a long period of time, stress, and musculoskeletal disorders may result from this occupation.  The use of personal protective equipment is important when working outdoors.  Safety sunglasses, good work gloves, and respirators for working in dry, dusty environments are just part of the necessary protective measures to use. One never knows when that first aid kit will be needed, either. 

As always, we salute those who work in the agricultural field.  Without them, we’d be pretty hungry!  We wish for safety for all of them; and empathize with those who have lost their crops this year due to drought, flooding, wildfires, or other natural disasters.

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Yesterday, we took an imaginary tour of our homes to find if there are certain hazards that could cause injury to individuals, especially senior citizens.  We  continue today with more safety tips.  Please think about keeping your home safe for all who live there, regardless of their ages, and when older visitors come, pay close attention to the tips we have already mentioned.  Here are more safety ideas: 

Although we are all getting older with each day, exercise is very important.  The earlier you begin an exercise program, the better.  Always ask your doctor about the type of exercise you can do safely, if you have health problems.  Your health may be hurt more by inactivity than by exercise, because with age,  we lose ground in four areas: strength, balance, flexibility, and endurance.  Staying physically active and exercising regularly can help prevent or delay dementia, according to the National Institute of Health.  Fitness experts can work out a customized plan for individuals to exercise safely.

 Now, let’s talk about keeping medications either in clearly marked containers or in a medication organizer with individually sealed slots for every day of the week.   Those who have poor vision or other health problems could ask a family member to help with this.  

Have important phone numbers programmed in your home phone and/or cell phone.  If you go for a walk, take your cell phone, just in case of emergency, such as a fall.   Take along a cane or walking stick of some type just in case a “friendly” dog comes along; this will help with balance, as well as letting him know he needs to move on.  Dogs can jump up on those who are unsteady, causing them to fall.  Cats can easily trip someone.   I’ve known this to happen, and in both instances, broken hips were the result.  One lady died from complications following the hip surgery.

Place deadbolts and peepholes on the doors to your home, and keep the doors locked.  Don’t let strangers in without verifiable identification, don’t reveal you are alone, and always have your neighbors contact info.  Many persons choose to install a home security system.  Schemes abound for all of us - old, young, and inbetween.  When you are out shopping, keep purses close to you, and, guys, don’t keep a wallet in your back pocket.  Tell a family member or friend where you are going, avoid traveling alone, stay away from dimly lit  surroundings, and carry a whistle or other alarm.  Don’t sit in your parked car, counting money, or talking on a cell phone without locking the door first, and be sure you are in a safe area.  If you need handicapped parking accessibility, it’s there for you if you have a placard on your car or license plate.  If you don’t, please leave that space for someone who does qualify.  A caregiver or handicapped person will thank you for doing that.    When driving, don’t talk on the cell phone.  If you have taken medication, and are feeling drowsy, ask someone else to drive you where you need to go.  

Be aware of internet or phone fraud.  According to AARP, many senior citizens are victims of fraud.  Here’s some reminders about this subject:

• Never give out information such as your social security number or other personal information on the phone or internet.
• Stay informed of current schemes.
• Don’t freely give large amounts of cash. 
• Research a home-repair company’s credentials.  Use reputable local contractors for repairs. 
• Don’t fall for the “You’ve won the jackpot!” ploy.  This is probably a scam.
•  If you receive a call saying it is from your internet provider and you have a virus, and they can fix it for you from their office, don’t believe it.  Call them to verify the call.  It’s probably another “phishing” scam.

Last, but not least, consider a security alert button if you are at risk for falling, or have a chronic illness that may require urgent medical attention.  A  monitoring system similar to Life Alert will sound for help if you have fallen, or unable to talk due to a head injury or stroke.  Most systems are portable and can be worn as a necklace or bracelet.  Once the button is pressed, emergency personnel or the primary caregiver is immediately notified and contact is made with the client.  Others such as wearable health monitoring systems  alert medical personnel of any changes in the body via sensors.  A new senior cell phone option is an emergency cell phone that provides wide emergency response coverage, unlike most medical alarms that work only within or near your home.  It has an SOS button that will activate automatic dialing, which contacts up to five pre-programmed numbers to call for help.  It can also power up a loud alarm to call attention of nearby people that someone needs help.

Aren’t we lucky to live in an age where we can get assistance in many instances by merely pressing a button?  Never hesitate to ask for help when you need it.  You have a family member, neighbor, or friend who is there simply for the asking.  Don’t take chances with your safety – you are too important!

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It’s very normal for us to be concerned with our safety as we age.  It’s natural that as we grow older, we take more risks with everyday tasks.  Here are some suggestions that you may have already thought of;  if not, let’s think about ways to make our lives safer.   Take a mental picture of your home, room by room.  Are there some changes we should consider making?  Things in my home that are hazards are loose rugs in my hallway.  If I continue to keep them, I should use double-sided tape or non-slip padding on the underside, especially at corners and center, to prevent them from slipping.  We know that slips, trips, and falls, are serious hazards for workers, as well as seniors. 

Continuing through your home: how about the living room/den?  Are they cluttered?  You should never leave anything on the floor where someone could trip.  Furniture should be arranged to provide clear, easy pathways.  Power and extension cords should be taped along the baseboards of walls to keep them out of the way.  If there are steps in the home, have a ramp or handrail installed.  Having a soft nightlight in each room would help us find our way in the dark.

Going into the kitchen, see if the items you use the most are stored on easy-to-reach shelves, between waist and eye level.  If the step stool is old (please, never use a chair), get a stepladder with handles for extra support.  Keep flammables, like cup towels away from the stove.  Don’t wear loose clothing around the stove while you are cooking.  If you don’t have a fire extinguisher, purchase one, and have the store representative show you how to properly use it. 

Bedroom: never tuck in an electric blanket if you use them.  This can cause overheating and result in a fire.  Heating pads should not be used in bed; if someone falls asleep with it on, burns can result, even at low temperatures.  Have a light near the bed within easy reach.  Install a nightlight between the bed and bathroom to avoid a fall in the dark. 

Accidental falls in the bathroom are a common cause of broken hips; apply self-adhesive non-slip strips to the bottom of the tub or shower.  Have a grab bar inside the shower; installing another one beside the toilet is advisable.  Accessible toilets, 3 to 5” higher than a standard seat, make it safer and more convenient.  It would be wise to have locks that can open doors from both sides. 

Stairway/Porch Steps: one of the most common sites of falls is the stairway, or on the porch.  Stay safe on stairs with light-sensitive night lights in unlit stairwells, hallways, and by placing light switches at doorways, and at top and bottom on stairs.  Railings should be installed for sturdiness on steps of porches.  Paint porches with grit to prevent slips.

 One last point: if you have pets, watch them when you have older visitors, if you are a senior citizen, or have someone living with you that needs a safe haven.  I had a very dear friend, 97 years old, who had always been very careful about falling, because she was a very tiny lady and concerned about breaking her hip.  While visiting, the owner’s large dog greeted her, and knocked her down.  The result was a broken hip, and she died from complications of the surgery.  (She sweetly said, “it wasn’t the dog’s fault!” )  Another first-hand accident I am aware of was when an 80-year old lady was tripped by a young cat.  She also broke her hip, and required weeks of therapy following surgery.  She was in her early 80’s, and survived.  Our animals don’t intend to hurt someone, but we must be vary careful to avoid these types of accidents.

I hope these ideas will be of help.  Tomorrow, we will continue with more tips.  Please stay tuned………………….

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OSHA describes scissory lifts as machines that are “movable scaffolds.”  They can lift large, heavy loads that are well balanced, as well as employees, and are capable of moving them safely to and from high elevations.  There are several different safety requirements that apply to the maintenance and use of scissor lifts, because they are classified as heavy equipment. 

OSHA issued a hazard alert about the dangers of using scissor lifts to film events and functions.  These machines are commonly used to film events and functions of colleges and high schools, such as athletic and band activities.  High winds or bad weather; overloading the equipment with heavy objects; removing the guardrails during operations; and driving the lift on eneven or unstable gound can cause devestating accidents.  The alert recommends precautions to reduce the risk of these hazards. 

A 20-year old University of Notre Dame student employee was killed during a football practice while filming the football team from a scissor lift that was blown over by high winds.  The worker raised the lift more than 39 feet into the air on a day in which winds exceeded 50 miles per hour.  After investigating the incident, the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the university $77,500, and cited it with the most serious safety violation allowable under Indiana law.  It was reported that the student employee was not trained well enough to properly operate the equipment.  Hazards can be further reduced by training workers on how to operate scissor lifts properly, making sure that the scissor lift has a guardrail system for fall protection, and operating and maintaining the lift according to the recommendations of the manufacturer.

Employers can minimize scissor lift hazards by establishing safe work practices, including inspecting them before use; safely moving, positioning, and stabilizing the lift; selecting safe work locations; and identifying weather conditions that might delay use.  Other key safety practices include putting the scissor lift on a firm level surface, setting brakes and stabilizing the lift before raising it, and maintaining a 10′ clearance from electrical power sources and overhead hazards such as tree branches. 

Although scissor lifts are not enclosed, they are required to obey the same safety standards as scaffolding to ensure that employees do not fall from the lift while in use.  Guard rails should be placed around the perimeter of the lift, slip guards, and a lock must be engaged on the entrance to the lift platform while the lift is in use.  It should also be designed with an emergency stop button, both on the lift platform and with controls at the bottom of the lift.  This will allow either the worker on the platform or the lift operator to stop the lift in case of an emergency.  There should also be emergency brakes on the wheels.

There is more guidance on the hazards and requirements for using scissor lifts on OSHA ’s Scaffolding eTool and Safety and Health Topics page on Scaffolding.

Source: OSHA; eHow.com

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Imagine falling into a hole 55’ deep and only 33” wide.  That’s exactly what happened to Zach Rogan, in Carrollton, Texas, last week.  A student on summer break from the Weatherford Fire Academy, Zach had taken a job with Texas Shafts for the summer.  As he was cleaning around the hole, finishing his work for the day, things suddenly went wrong.  He took a step forward and his left leg went into the hole and he started falling.  Quick thinking helped make this terrible accident better than it could have been.  Zach kicked his legs out and pushed the sides of the hole with his arms to slow the fall.  He made it to the bottom of the shaft alive! 

Firefighters from Carrollton and Coppell worked quickly to lower a rescue worker to the bottom of the shaft.  That task took 30 minutes.  A tripod with a pulley was set up over the shaft, as the team of paramedics got ready.  A firefighter quickly put a strapped vest on Rogan, and a cable slowly lifted the men up out of the hole to safety.  This was a tough assignment, since a 33’ hole is only slightly larger than the width of a man’s shoulders.  

In researching a situation like this, I found that shafts 30” or greater in diameter and 6’ or more in depth require some form of fall protection at the surface of the shaft.  Fall protection, including a rescue plan, must be in place prior to drilling any shaft.  Guardrails must be around the shaft.  At the end of the day, there should be a sturdy cover placed over the shaft. 

Companies should have fall protection guidelines for workers, so they understand what is required for their safety.  They should participate in fall prevention training, and use fall protection equipment  if required for the job.  Workers also need to be taught how to inspect the devices they may use, to ensure they are in good condition.  

We are thankful that Zach survived this fall and hopeful that more care will be taken when working around shafts.  It only takes a few seconds for accidents to happen.  Rogan, 20, is a very lucky young man.  He is recovering from surgery to stabilize his crushed vertebrae, as well as suffering some nerve damage.  He still plans to become a firefighter, and hopes to be on the other side of an accident like this….as a rescuer and not a victim.

Source: WFAA.com

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