The type of Suspension trauma referred to in this article is where a person has fallen while working at height and is suspended in a safety harness. This can ultimately lead to the person losing consciousness and if not rescued quickly, death is certain.
When a person has fallen the body is held in the upright position. Gravity pulls the blood into the legs where it stays, depriving the brain of oxygen which leads to suspension trauma. We are able to stand and walk about daily as the muscles in our legs help push the blood up to the heart. If your legs remain still for long periods of time the much needed oxygen rich blood is not pumped up to your heart, the person faints, falls to the ground which enables the blood to flow easily to the heart since the person is now in the horizontal position. However when a person is suspended in a harness he remains in the vertical position, which is why it is vital he / she is rescued immediately.
If your legs are motionless, then you can go into shock from anywhere between three to twenty minutes. After this you faint and if you do not lie down immediately your brain dies a few minutes later. Once you faint and if you are upright, you lose control of your airway and you can choke on your tongue and suffocate within seconds. Time is a luxury the suspended person does not have!
It is therefore absolutely essential that persons working in a fall risk position, are properly trained on the use of the safety harness and related fall prevention and fall protection systems. The fall protection plan must be drawn up by a competent person who will include the rescue procedures to be implemented in the event of a fall. A good plan and task specific risk assessments will allow you to foresee possible problems and afford you the opportunity not only to prevent a fall but effectively rescue a person who has fallen and ultimately save lives.
This is a "Legal Check" that will assist you to do a quick, yet accurate legal check, to see if there is compliance with the requirements, as prescribed in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, 85 of 1993.
Construction Regulation 8: Fall Protection Plan.
- Competent person appointed in writing to develop and implementing of programme,
- a risk assessment of all work carried out from elevated positions is conducted,
- employees are trained,
- inspections, test and maintenance of all fall protection equipment are done and record kept,
- plan reviewed and regularly up date by the competented person.
Competent person - means a person having the knowledge, training, experince and qualifications specific to the work or task being performed.
1.Red. (SABS A11). Red is the basic colour to indicate:
1.1 Danger.
1.2 Fire protection equipment.
1.3 Stop buttons and emergency stop controls.
Typical examples: Danger.
- Flashing red lights at rail crossings, stores for explosives, etc.
- Barricades prohibiting the passage of persons.
- Fire protection equipment.
- Fire alarms.
- Boxes for fire extinguishers.
- Sprinkler system.
- As a background colour to indicate fire equipment locations.
- Stop buttons and emergency stop controls.
- Electrical stop buttons.
- Emergency stop bars.
2. Yellow. (SABS B49).Yellow is the basic or background colour used alone or in conjunction with black to indicate:
2.1 Places where caution should be exercised
2.2 Places where warnings of hazards from radio activity are required. Typical examples:
- Markings at barricades, temporary constructions or on mobile equipment.
- Low head room owing to structures.
- Changes in floor level and other tripping hazards.
- Demarcation on floors for stacking, walkways and for fire extinguishers.
- Handrails.
3. Green. (SABS E14). Green is used in conjunction with white lettering to indicate safety and first-aid equipment. It is also the colour for start buttons on machines.
Typical examples:
- Location of first-aid facilities.
- Location of gas masks.
- Exit signs.
- Emergency showers.
- Safety information signs.
- Safe areas, e.g. safety refuge in quarries.
4. Light Orange. (SABS B26). Light orange is used on inside surfaces of machine guards as well as dangerous parts of a machine capable of cutting, shearing or crushing; the surfaces of protruding shafts, the faces of gear wheels and any exposed rotating part of a machine.
The intention is to draw immediate attention to the hazard presented because a guard has been removed. This colour is also to be used for the identification of all electrical switchgear, electric services, conduits and allied fittings, but not on electric motors.
WORK AT HEIGHT
Height safety wearing a full body harness
There is so much more to wearing a full body harness to work than simply throwing it on and hoping for the best. Every type of full body harness has to be worn in the same way, whether it is standard polyester non elasticised webbing, or elasticised harnesses.
There are a number of points on the harness you need to be aware of. On the rear of the harness is the Dorsal Plate, this could be rubber, plastic or form part of the harness webbing pattern. This piece is extremely important as it prevents the ‘D’ ring from slamming into the back of your head in fall and converting the harness in a noose. The ‘D’ ring connects your harness to the anchorage point via intermediate attachments.
Some harness have an adjustment for height via buckles on shoulder straps, the simplest rule for this type of harness is that you should not be able to touch the Dorsal Plate by reaching from behind your head or by reaching up from the lumber or lower back region. Modern harness design has taken this feature out of the system to reduce misuse of the harness, this type of harness may be elasticised to encourage correct fitting and for the user’s comfort.
On the front of the harness should be a chest strap; some harnesses have a metal buckle and possibly a ‘D’ ring on the front. This is to provide the user with a way of attaching to an anchor or safe system of work, for example ladder systems. The important thing to note with this type of attachment is that unless the harness is worn correctly there is a risk the ‘D’ ring and buckle can strike the user in the neck and under the chin if they are involved in a fall.
Some harness designs have replaced this with soft loops as a front connection as this feature makes the harness safer for the user. The chest strap, without a front attachment is much smaller and made of softer webbing; the chest strap is there to stop the shoulder straps from parting and allowing the user to fall out the front of their harness. However in both cases it is important to take care when attaching your safety equipment in relation to the ‘D’ ring.
If the anchorage point is behind you then use the rear ‘D’ ring and vice versa if the anchor point is in front of you. Once you have put the harness on, like a jacket, and adjusted the chest strap to so it is tight but comfortable, you need address the leg straps, buckles and sliders, as there is more to it than just stepping into harness.
Stepping into a commercial full body harness is considered to be extremely bad practice. Not only does it increase the risk of slips trips and falls; if the harness is placed on the ground it could pick up all kinds of dirt and contamination. There is also a risk of complacency setting in; where the user steps into the harness in a rush and fails to adjust it appropriately.
In a fall a slack harness can lead to death or extreme testicular trauma and severe rectal damage. The easiest way to gauge the correct tension of the leg straps is to tighten it until you can just about get two fingers between the webbing and your leg. Two finger tension means placing the middle and index finger perpendicular to the webbing around the front area of the leg.
The final, and probably the most important thing, is to lock your harness. Every harness with a buckle used for adjustment should have at least one slider to lock it. If the harness is not locked and you are involved in a fall the movement of the webbing through the buckle can cause the bar tack to shock load against it. The bar tack is rolled over and lightly stitched as it is only there to keep the sliders and buckles on the harness.
The energy in a fall may exceed the strength of this stitching and it will rip apart, allowing the bar tack to unroll and pass through the buckle. The end result is that you will fall through the bottom of the harness. It doesn’t matter if you are wearing the harness correctly; if it’s damaged it’s useless and will offer you no protection whatsoever.
Harnesses need to be inspected on a regular basis to establish they are safe to use.
Author: Drew Beardmore
Article Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_1019263_5.html
Source: Leading Equipment Magazine: February 2010
A Fall Arrest Plan is not the same as a Fall Protection Plan.
Below is a summary of the most important differences between the two documents:
Fall Arrest Plan
1.Not necessarily documented
2.Describes procedure
3.Contains information on
• Fall arrest equipment
• Rescue equipment
• Rescue procedures
• Medical backup available within 15 minutes
4.Developer does not need to be appointed
5.No competency to draw it up is required
Fall Protection Plan
1.Must be documented
2.Describes policy
3.Contains information on:
• Risk assessment (specific to work at height
• Equipment inspection, testing and maintenance methods
• Medical and psychological examination procedure
• Must contain a training schedule
4.Developer must be appointed in writing, and must accept the appointment
5.May only be drawn up by a competent person
I hope this will assist you in understanding the differences in the two plans when it comes to employees working at heights.
Before each use:
1. Do not remove sleeve from shock absorbing element of Lanyard.
2. Harness should be issued as personal protective equipment to employee and all necessary and relevant information should be kept on the record card. This record card should be retained and used for the purposes of inspection and traceability.
3. Visual inspection of the condition of the webbing, stitching and fittings must occur. The item should be rejected and removed from service if there is any damage such as:
- cuts, tears, abrasions, burns or holes in webbing
- broken, pulled, worn or unraveling of stitches, distortion, burrs, cracks or corrosion on the fittings, ensuring that hooks and other connectors are in good working condition.
4. Ensure that the stirrup attachments is intact and in good condition.
5. Get your buddy to inspect to see that you have put on your harness correctly and that all parts are intact and in good condition.
- Ensure that chin straps are fitted to your hard hat and it is fastened before you climb up to the work area.
During use:
1. Ensure that anchor point is always above the operator and slack in the lanyard is kept to a minimum.
2. The clearance below an anchor point should always be a minimum of 5.75m from a 2m shock absorbing lanyard. (This is the potential extension plus operator body length)
3. Protect all equipment especially lanyards from sharp objects or corners.
4. Protect the harness / lanyard from possible chemical contamination and temperature extremes.
5. Certain chemical substances may reduce or affect the products ability to perform as required.
Maintenance and Storage:
1. Store safety harness in a dry and dust free environment away from direct sources of sunlight, temperature extremes and inclement weather.
2. Never modify or repair your safety harness without input from the supplier and manufacturer.
3. When cleaning the harness use warm water and mild soap to remove grease and dirt. Excess moisture should be removed with a clean dry cloth.
Many serious accidents and deaths are cause from falls on construction sites. A fall no matter how low or high can result in serious injuries and even death. Workers fail to weigh-up the risks when taking chances and shortcuts. When working at heights the last thing you do is taking a risk!
In this article we will look at the different types of fall protection systems that have been developed to eliminate any possible chance of a fall related accident. It will also cover the role of supervisors and the responsibilities’ that both management and workers have to ensure no one dies from a fall.
Fall Protection Plan:
Every site must have a Fall Protection Plan in place. This plan must be developed by a competent person that has been appointed in writing. This person must ensure the implementation of the Fall Protection Plan and ensure that it is updated on a regular basis.
Programs within this plan must include: Training, Inspections, Tests and Maintenance of equipment. Every person working at elevated positions must have been examined and granted a Medical Certificate of Fitness in order to do so. A healthy fit body is what is needed to work at these heights.
Physical Protection:
Guardrails, toe boards, safety nets, floor covers and personal fall arrest systems like harnesses are all fall protection systems used on sites.
Fall Prevention and Fall Arrest Systems:
It is important to know the difference between fall prevention systems and fall arrest systems and when to apply it. Hand rails, floor covers and edge protection are all examples of fall prevention systems whereas harnesses and fall arrest systems like life lines are examples of fall arrest equipment. The fall protection plan must clearly indicate what kind of protection is required for when persons are working at a fall risk position.
Only use safety belts as a fall prevention system. Harnesses are used to protect you in case you fall. They are designed to evenly distribute the force of the fall so you sustain the least possible injuries. Make sure you are trained correctly in the use of safety belts and harnesses and understand how to effectively use one. Always make sure the equipment you are using are in is good condition, free from cuts, tears and defects.
REMEMBER: NEVER use a harness that has been involved in a fall. It will not protect you in the next fall. If the Harness is damaged or has been used in a fall, it must be destroyed and thrown away so that another worker does not use it by mistake.
All safety belts and harnesses must be identified and entered into an inspection register. The supervisor must ensure that the equipment is inspected on a regular basis and the findings recorded in the register.
Always ask your supervisor or trainer if you are unsure about anything relating to harnesses.
Safety nets are also a great system for fall protection and should be used in conjunction with harnesses or where other types of fall protection mentioned could not be applied sufficiently. Safety nets must be regularly inspected and should be installed as close below the workers as possible. This will ensure the worker only falls a short distance if there is an accident.
Floor covers must be used to cover up holes and gaps in decks and floors. Falling through a hole will result in serious injury. The use of hard, undamaged, wooden boards to cover up holes is a sufficient solution. REMEMBER to fasten the boards to the surface to prevent them moving and exposing the hole. Openings in Floors, Edges, Slabs, Hatchways and Stairways must be fitted with this protection or Barricading and remember to place warning signs in these areas to remind workers of the hazards.
In some cases it is required to use a Man Cage for working in an elevated position. You may not use a Man Cage unless it has been approval by DOL.
Written by: Ahmed Amine BOULKSIBAT , Health and Safety Engineer
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Personal Protective Equipment and Clothing or “PPE” refers to the equipment to wear on site that will protect and limit employee’s exposure to harmful hazards.
It is the Contractor’s responsibility to identify these safety hazards and thereafter make an attempt to remove the hazards, should it not be possible to remove the hazard then and only then workers' exposure to these hazards must be provided with suitable PPE.
All construction sites should be declared hard hat zones. Hard hats must be provided to all employees and visitors and no one will be permitted on site without wearing a hard hat. Persons that fail to wear their hard hats must be escorted off the site.
All construction sites must be declared foot protection zones. Specific types of foot protection must be worn in different areas of work. For example, if persons are working in cement or wet conditions the appropriate footwear would be gumboots.
Eye and face protection such as goggles, face shields, welding helmets must be worn in the following situations: When using jack and kango hammers, angle and bench grinders, electric drills - overhead work into brick, cement or concrete, explosive powered tools, concrete vibrators and pokers, hammer and chisel work, brazing work, flame cutting and gas welding torches, arc welding, skill and bench saws, spray painting equipment just to name a few.
Hearing protection such as ear muffs or ear plugs must be used in the following situations. When using jack or kango hammers, angle grinders and explosive power tools. Noise generated from wood or aluminum working machines can also be harmful to ears, thus precautions must be taken when using saws, planers and routers to ensure workers avoid permanent induced hearing loss. Losing one’s hearing may make it difficult to get a job and work, so it is extremely important employees look after their hearing as best as they can.
Protective gloves must be worn by employees when handling or using cement, bricks, steel, chemicals, welding equipment, hammers and chisels, jack or kango hammers.
Suitable respirators must also be worn by employees when working with dry cement, hazardous chemicals, angle grinders, spray painters and when working in dry dusty areas.
Suitable safety belts or fall arrest equipment must be issued and must be correctly used by persons working in or on unguarded and elevated positions. Workers must use these safety belts when erecting scaffolding, rigging work, lift shafts work, edge work and ring beam edges work. Catch nets may be used as another method of fall prevention.
Protective clothing must be worn at all times when working in a hazardous environment.
Good news for employees is that All PPE is free! The Contractor must also ensure that the PPE is in good condition and must be checked regularly.
Workers must be instructed in the correct use of the PPE and records of PPE issued must be kept on file and workers must acknowledge receipt of the PPE. Workers must be informed that should they get injured whilst not wearing the prescribed PPE they could lose compensation.
It is the Contractors responsibility to not permit persons to work unless the worker wears the prescribed PPE.
In addition to identifying the need for PPE, it is essential that the right or proper type and grade of PPE is specified and provided.
Two types of criteria need to be determined:
a. the degree of protection required, and
b.the appropriateness of the equipment to the situation (including the practicality of the equipment being used and kept in good repair).
The degree of protection and the design of PPE must be integrated because both affect its overall efficiency, wearability, and acceptance.
GSR 2 also stipulates that the employer or user should effectively manage and controlling risk by making use of the following safety equipment and facilities:
1. safety equipment or facility of a type that will effectively prevent bodily injury
2.safety equipment of a type that will effectively protect the wearer thereof against harm
3.equipment that will effectively protect persons against falls
4.facilities that will effectively prevent slipping, unsafe entry or unsafe conditions
5.safety equipment or a facility of a type that will effectively protect against harm
6.suitable insulating material underfoot where persons work on a floor made of metal, stone, concrete or other similar material, and
7.generally, such safety equipment or facilities as may be necessary to render the persons concerned safe
In addition, a number of other OHS Act regulations have specific requirements relating to the provision, maintenance and use of PPE. The stipulations of these regulations are more specific than the requirements stipulated by GSR 2. A particular regulation that prescribes specific safety equipment or facilities shall take predominance over the above mentioned regulation.
PPE could also be used in conjunction with other controls to ensure the safety and health of workers.
It is essential to train employees in the proper use, maintenance and limitations of PPE and facilities. The extent of information, instruction and/or training will vary with the complexity and performance of the task.
Information and training could for example include:
1. the level of risk(s) involved
2. the reason why the PPE is needed (the potential risks to health and safety caused by exposure)
3. precautions to be taken by the employees to protect themselves against the health risks associated with the exposure, including the wearing and use
4. potential sources of exposure
5. the content and scope of applicable regulations
6. the operation (including demonstration), performance and limitations of the equipment
7. correct use (how to fit and wear PPE, how to adjust it for maximum protection and storage)
8. correct storage
9. any testing or medical surveillance requirements before use
10. any user maintenance that can be carried out (e.g. hygiene/cleaning procedures) factors that can affect the performance of the equipment (e.g. how to care for it, working conditions, personal factors, defects and damage)
11. how to recognise defects in PPE, and arrangements for reporting them
12.where to obtain new PPE if it needs to be replaced
In addition to initial training, refresher training may be required from time to time. Education programs should continue on a regular basis. One of the most common reasons for failure of a PPE program is the inability to overcome objections to wearing it.
PPE must be properly maintained, it is important to make sure the equipment continues to provide the degree of protection for which it is designed. Maintenance should include inspection, care, cleaning, repair, and proper storage. Manufacturer’s instructions (including recommended replacement periods and shelf life) could prove to be valuable in this regard.
An important part of maintenance is the need for continuous inspection of the PPE. Continuous inspections help to identify damaged or malfunctioning of PPE before it is used. The use of poorly maintained or malfunctioning PPE could sometimes be more dangerous than not wearing any form of protection at all. The workers gain a false sense of security and think they are protected when, in reality, they are not.
PPE may not be removed from a workplace or from premises where machinery is used, except for purposes of cleaning, repair, maintenance, modification, mending or replacement. Adequate storage facilities for PPE should thus be provided for situations when it is not in use. Where PPE may become contaminated during use, storage should be separate from any storage provided for ordinary clothing.
If items of PPE are required they must be provided free of charge by the employer. PPE stays the property of the employer. In order to prevent the unecessary loss or misuse of PPE, the implementation and use of a PPE policy could prove to be very valuable.
An employer may not require or permit any employee to work unless such an employee uses the required safety equipment or facilities. The worker is also obligated to co-operate with the employer to ensure that this duty or requirement are performed and complied with.
By law employees must carry out any lawful orders given to them and obey the health and safety rules and procedures laid down the employer in the interest of health or safety.
It is an offence to interfere with, damage or misuse safety equipment or personal protective equipment.
I trust that the above mentioned information would be useful.
Source: http://www.labourguide.co.za/most-re...ign=art%2Freps
By law, employers must as far as reasonably practicable, protect persons at work. Workers and other persons like visitors, contractors and suppliers have the right to be protected from harm caused by failure to take reasonable and practicable control measures. The employer or user of machinery is obligated by law to take the necessary steps in order to provide a safe and health work environment.
In order to provide a safe and health work environment the employer or user of machinery should evaluate the risk attached to any condition or situation which may arise from their work activities.
Section 8(2) (d) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act) stipulates that the employer must establish, as far as is reasonably practicable, what hazards to the health or safety of persons are attached to any work which is performed. The section also stipulates that employers must establish what precautionary measures should be taken in order to protect the health and safety of persons and provide the necessary means to apply such precautionary measures.
It is evident that work related hazards and risks needs to be identified in order to establish the necessary precautionary measures. A risk assessment could prove to be a valuable tool in this regard. It could basically be described as a careful examination of what, related to the work activities of an organisation, could course harm to people or damage to property.
During the risk assessment process we identify the hazards associated with an activity (physical task, or process at hand), to assess the seriousness of these hazards and to formulate systems of work, training or other methods (controls) to eliminate or reduce the associated risk to a minimum or at least to an acceptable level.
General Safety Regulations 2 of the OHS Act provides minim standard legislation in this regard. It elaborates on the matter by stipulating that the employer must provide the necessary equipment and facilities to ensure that any person exposed to hazards and risks at a workplace or on the premises or in the course of employment where machinery is used, is safe.
The regulation also stipulates that where it is not practicable to safeguard the condition or situation, the employer or user of machinery, shall take steps to reduce the risk as much as is practicable.
Please note that the main aim should be to firstly remove or secondly mitigating the risk associated with the exposure to a particular hazard. If the hazard or risk cannot be removed, the next potion would be to apply appropriate steps or measures to mitigate it.
PPE should be used when it has been determined that its use will lessen the likelihood of occupational injury and/or illness and when other protection methods are not available.
PPE is used to reduce or minimize the exposure or contact to injurious physical, chemical, ergonomic, or biological agents. PPE basically creates a barrier against workplace hazards.
A hazard cannot be eliminated by PPE, but the risk of injury can be reduced. For example, wearing hearing protection reduces the likelihood of hearing damage when the ear plugs or muffs are appropriate for the kind of noise exposure and they are used properly. However, hearing protection does not eliminate the noise.
Engineering controls, administrative controls, and good work practices are always preferred instead of personal protective equipment (PPE) as methods to protect workers against workplace hazards. PPE must always be regarded as a ‘‘last resort’’ to protect against risks to safety and health.
There are a number of reasons why PPE must be considered as a ‘‘last resort’’:
1. PPE only protects the person wearing it, whereas measures controlling the risk at source protect everyone in the workplace
2. theoretical maximum levels of protection are difficult to achieve and the actual level of protection is difficult to assess. Effective protection is only achieved by selecting suitable PPE and if it is correctly fitted, maintained and used
3. PPE may restrict the wearer to some extent by limiting mobility or visibility, or by requiring additional weight to be carried, thus creating additional risk.
Source: http://www.labourguide.co.za/most-re...ign=art%2Freps
Part 2 to follow.
Are you complying with the legal requirements related to excavation?
Have a look at our legal check series on our blogspot at http://kznmba.blogspot.com or go directly to the topic via this link http://kznmba.blogspot.com/2008/11/l...cavations.html
For complete, accredited and according to the relevant Unit Standards contact The Training Academy.
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Course are available Nation-Wide.
SOIL AND MINERALS
DEGRADATION OF SOIL
• Population growth
• Overstocking
• Overgrazing
• Open mining
• Pollution on land
• Intensive Farming
• Deforestation
IMPACTS ON SOIL
• Land disturbances.
• Scarring of land.
• Disruption of the land surface.
• Spoil heaps and tailings.
• Sink holes.
• Dust.
• Toxic substances.
• Acid mine drainage.
• Water pollution
Soil Management
• Soil management is a fundamental part of any project
• Consideration must be given in the design stage, during development work and in completion to:
– Soil type;
– Structure; and
– Chemistry.
• This will ensure that:
– Environmental values are not compromised.
– Contaminated / reactive soils are not disturbed.
– Development features are not compromised by changes to soil characteristics.
• Manage soil during development activities by:
– Identifying soil types and potential impacts on development.
– Managing and remediation of contaminated soils.
– Avoiding of impacts from erosion and sedimentation as well as impacts to waterways and wetlands.
– Managing topsoil.
• Feasibility and planning.
• Design.
• Construction.
• Lot creation. Avoidance.
• Minimisation.
• Management.
MANAGING/REDUCING IMPACTS
AVOIDANCE:
• Investigate potential site issues during feasibility/planning stages.
• This will provide for appropriate identification of potentially complex soils which may impact on development.
Most simplistic method to manage these types of soils is to avoid their disturbance
MINIMISATION:
If total avoidance of complex soils is not possible:
• design the development to minimise the extent of soil disturbed, or
• minimise the types of development features in those areas which will result in extensive disturbance (e.g. significant excavation for construction/placement of infrastructure).
MANAGEMENT:
• Erosion and sediment control.
• Removal and disposal of contaminated soils.
• Onsite remediation.
BENEFITS OF SOIL MANAGEMENT:
• Avoidance/minimisation of environmental harm and costs associated with remediation.
• Costs for strategic remediation and reuse/reburial of complex or contaminated soil types.
• Retention and reuse of topsoil minimises costs
RISKS FROM MIS-MANAGEMENT OF SOIL:
• Environmental damage and remediation costs.
• Costs associated with regulatory action.
• Damage to buildings, structures, etc.
• Repair/remediation costs.
• Increase (hidden) costs.
• Loss of revenue.
SAVINGS FROM SOIL MANAGEMENT:
Savings from appropriate soil management during development activities may come in the form of financial and/or time savings. Savings will largely accrue through the avoidance of additional costs as a result of:
• thorough investigation and proper planning,
• appropriate management of soil according to results of feasibility investigations and development planning,
• application of appropriate environmental management methods and technologies,
• avoidance of additional costs for remedial actions in the event of an environmental incident arising from soil mobilisation,
• reduced potential for additional costs for remedial action, repairs, replacement of development features, etc.
COST OF SOIL MANAGEMENT
Direct costs associated with soil management in the development process include:
• Feasibility – preliminary soil mapping/investigation, contaminated land searches, etc.
• Planning and design – detailed soil investigation;
Construction – engineering costs, machinery operation costs, materials e.g. agricultural lime (AgLime) for ASS treatment, geotextiles, plant stock, etc
DEVELOPMENT PHASE ACTIONS:
• Feasibility.
• Design.
• Construction.
• Lot creation.
• Completion.
FEASIBILITY
Relevant tasks:
• Undertake site investigation.
• Obtain soil mapping.
• Investigation of likely soil contamination.
• Assessment of topography.
• Identification of environmental features, waterways and drainage.
DESIGN
• Engineering planning
• Development design to maximise avoidance of complex soils (where possible)
• Identification of appropriate management (mechanisms/approaches to dealing with soil issues e.g. dealing with acid sulfate soils and/or contaminated soils.)
• Prepare site management, construction management, environmental management plans as required.
• Establish training/site awareness mechanisms/protocols to be applicable during construction stages
CONSTRUCTION
• Site establishment.
• Soil and erosion control
• Appropriate management of particular soil types.
• Implement and maintain storm water management
• Undertake topsoil management
• Landscaping and site restoration.
LOT CREATION AND COMPLETION
Lot completion:
• Undertake site establishment for individual allotments.
• Provide appropriate site management, including stockpile management, storm water management, construction management, materials management - stockpiling and storage, and site stabilisation/landscaping.
Completion:
• Decommissioning of site management works.
REHABILITATION OF SOIL
• Not reactive but proactive.
• Conservation of topsoil.
• Prevention is better than cure.
• Part of environmental management programme.
HOW CAN YOU HELP TO PROTECT THE SOIL?
At work:
• Rehabilitation of land.
• Prevention of soil erosion.
• Protecting the topsoil.
At home:
• Planting trees.
• Planting vegetables.
• Planting grass.
Making your own compost.
• Prevent veldfires.
• Do not litter.
• Prevent soil erosion.
By Amine :
Contact stress is closely related to soft tissue injuries and can be defined as something that happens when a force is concentrated on a small area of the body, usually extremities, pinching and crushing tissue.
HOW DO YOU EXPERIENCE CONTACT STRESS
You encounter contact stress when the edge of work surfaces dig into your forearms or wrists, when ridges and hard edges on tools dig into your hand, when you use your hand, feet or knees as tools, when you carry heavy equipment and material without the necessary hand protection. Often steel erectors working at height suffer contact injuries to their knees because of friction with the material they are working on.
HOW TO AVOID THESE TYPES OF INJURIES
Protect yourself from the sharp edges of tools, equipment and work stations by ensuring they are properly padded and have softeners.
- Avoid using the palm of your hand as tool- brick layers often use their hands to knock bricks into line.
- Provide steel erectors or roof workers with adequate knee padding to reduce the impact of contact on their knees.
- Always ensure tools have suitable handles and refrain from using make shift tools as these is often the source of unnecessary stress.
OTHER PREVENTITIVE SUGGESTIONS
- Eliminate contact stress by re-designing work stations, especially out in the field.
- Avoid resting against equipment and material which could have sharp edges. Barricade and restrict access to these types of areas.
- If an individual must work with material with sharp edges or handle material that has sharp edges then pad the edges or ensure suitable hand protection is provided.
- Spread contact forces over a greater area by increasing the length of tool handles.
- Limit the exposure to sharp edges on a site by covering exposed rebar with caps.
- Plan the work to ensure the individual is capable of handling the associated tools safely.
Hot and dry/humid weather conditions can have dangerous health effects on workers who are unprepared. Exposure to high temperatures for long periods of time can increase the chance of illnesses such as sunburn, heat exhaustion, heat stroke or heat cramps. These illnesses can range from mild to severe and sometimes can result in death. Knowing what to do to prepare for and prevent these heat-related illnesses is better than having to treat them.
Normal body temperature is 37°C and heat stress sets in where the body temperature rapidly rises beyond this to 41°C. This is a life threatening condition, requiring prompt and competent treatment.
Who is susceptible to heat related illness?
New employees – it can take up to 2 months for people to acclimatize to heat and the specific work environment.
Older persons can be less resilient and often succumb to excessive heat exposure.
Any person who is exposed to excessive temperatures for an extended period of time.
Persons who are under the influence of alcohol or suffering the consequences of alcohol intake.
Foreigners – persons who are not used to the natural climate of the area.
Any person who is feeling ill or whose body is weakened due to illness.
Recognizing the symptoms of heat disorders:
Extreme fatigue
General weariness
Muscular weakness
Muscle cramps
Nausea and vomiting
Mental disturbance/argumentative
Failure to sweat – serious!
Treating the symptoms of heat disorders:
If a person displays one or more of the above symptoms then you should immediately notify your clinic or doctor, requesting assistance.
Move the individual to a cool well ventilated area.
Attempt to reduce the core temperature of the body to below 39°C.
Spray the person with tepid water – to simulate sweating.
Increase air movement around the body.
When stable remove the individual to a clinic or doctor for treatment.
The most effective way of reducing core temperature is NOT to immerse the person with ice-cold water, but rather as described above. This could lead to shock as the body further increases its temperature to counter the cold water. The aim should be to stimulate sweating and natural cooling of the body. Get the exposed individual to medical care as soon as possible – Heat Stress kills.
Working in hot weather doesn’t have to be a killer if you’re prepared for it. Dress appropriately, remember to drink often during the day, take needed rest breaks in cool shaded areas, and recognize the signs of over-heating.
Evaporating cooling ties are designed for everyone under the sun, reducing the risk of dehydration by simply using a gel cooling system that is built into the neck or head band. Can you afford not to have at least one in your first aid kit?
With the distribution of CFL's by Eskom and others, it would be prudent to remember that they most likely contain Mercury and as such may require care in handling & disposal, whether at home or in the workplace.
Exposure to Mercury may occur if a CFL breaks.
See "Maine Compact Fluorescent Lamp Breakage Study Report" at http://www.maine.gov/dep/rwm/homeowner/cflreport.htm for information on CFL's as well as tips on cleanup and disposal.
Extract from US EPA website:
"How much mercury is in a CFL or other fluorescent light bulb?
The amount of mercury in a CFL or other fluorescent light bulb typically ranges between 3.5 milligrams to 15 milligrams. The amount of mercury varies depending on the type of fluorescent light bulb, the company that makes the light bulb, and when the fluorescent light bulb was made. Although companies have greatly reduced the amount of mercury used in light bulbs over the past 20 years, they are not yet able to completely eliminate the need for mercury. The amount of mercury in a single fluorescent light bulb is small. However, collectively, large numbers of fluorescent light bulbs contribute to the amount of mercury that is released into the environment. EPA encourages the recycling of all mercury-containing light bulbs.
What are the health effects of mercury exposure?
Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and other fluorescent light bulbs contain small amounts of mercury. For example, an average CFL contains 5 milligrams or about 1/100th of the amount of mercury found in a mercury fever thermometer. By comparison, older thermometers contain about 500 milligrams of mercury. It would take 100 CFLs to equal that amount.
No mercury is released when the bulbs are intact or in use; exposure is possible only when a bulb has been broken. Learn about how to clean up broken bulbs by visiting EPA's Mercury Web site. "
I recently has the privilege of partaking in a workshop session with Department of Labour Inspectors specifically focussing on Crystalline Silica in Industry.
These inspectors are increaseing their knowledge base on hazardoucs materials (hazardous chemical substabces) and are going to make a real difference in industry when they perform their blitz inspections.
What surprised and schocked me was the feedback that i received from them regarding inspections in the construction industry.
Many sites that have been visited in the past 3 years have no records of Occupational Health Risk Assessments being done nor do they have any monitoring reports for Occupational Hygiene Stressors. Now the scary part comes in where many of the Safety Coordinators were not aware that Silica exposure was a health risk on their site and that it should be monitored bi-annually and reported to the Depatment of Labour.
This tells me that the Hazardous Chemcial Substances Regulations are not well known and chemical management onsite not practiced.
This forms a very large part of the work we do as Occupational Hygienists to assist industry in complying with the regulations. What I would like to know from you all as field experts working on sites all day everyday is what type of tools do you need to improve your management of hazardous materials?
We constantly try to devlop manangement systems that are practical and easy to use on all sites to allow for effective communication of chemical hazards as well as strict management of these materials on and around site. Obviously though, through this feedback from the Department of Labour there is much room for improvement here.
I feel that the management of hazardous chemcial substances is the place where all SHE professionals need to be involved and would really like to hear your inputs
Heat stress occurs when the body’s means of controlling its internal temperature starts to fail. As well as air temperature, factors such as work rate, humidity and clothing worn while working may lead to heat stress. Therefore, it may not be obvious to a person passing through the workplace that there is a risk of heat stress.
You and your employees must be aware of how to work safely in heat, the factors that can lead to heat stress, and how to reduce the risk of it occurring.
How does the body react to heat?
The body reacts to heat by increasing the blood flow to the skin’s surface, and by sweating. This results in cooling as sweat evaporates from the body’s surface and heat is carried to the surface of the body from within by the increased blood flow. Heat can also be lost by radiation and convection from the body’s surface.
Typical example of a heat stress situation
Someone wearing protective clothing and performing heavy work in hot and humid conditions could be at risk of heat stress because:
●Sweat evaporation is restricted by the type of clothing and the humidity of the environment.
●Heat will be produced within the body due to the work rate and, if insufficient heat is lost, deep body temperature will rise.
●As deep body temperature rises the body reacts by increasing the amount of sweat produced, which may lead to dehydration.
●Heart rate also increases which puts additional strain on the body.
●If the body is gaining more heat than it can lose the deep body temperature will continue to rise. Eventually it reaches a point when the body’s control mechanism itself starts to fail.
The symptoms will worsen the longer they remain working in the same conditions.
What are the effects of heat stress?
Heat stress can affect individuals in different ways, and some people are more susceptible to it than others.
Typical symptoms are:
●an inability to concentrate;
●muscle cramps;
●heat rash;
●severe thirst - a late symptom of heat stress;
●fainting;
●heat exhaustion - fatigue, giddiness, nausea, headache, moist skin;
●heat stroke - hot dry skin, confusion, convulsions and eventual loss of consciousness. This is the most severe disorder and can result in death if not detected at an early stage.
Where does heat stress occur?
Examples of workplaces where people might suffer from heat stress because of the hot environment created by the process, or restricted spaces are:
●glass and rubber manufacturing plants;
●mines;
●compressed air tunnels;
●conventional and nuclear power plants;
●foundries and smelting operations;
●brick-firing and ceramics plants;
●boiler rooms;
●bakeries and catering kitchens;
●laundries.
In these industries working in the heat may be the norm. For others it will be encountered more irregularly depending on the type of work being done and changes in the working environment, eg seasonal changes in outside air temperature can be a significant contributor to heat stress.
What do I need to do about heat stress?
Over time people adapt to hot conditions by sweating more, and by changing their behaviour to try and cool down, eg removing clothing, taking cool drinks, fanning themselves, sitting in the shade or a cool area, and/or reducing their work rate. However, in many work situations such behavioural changes may not be possible, eg during asbestos removal. Where there is a possibility of heat stress occurring you will need to carry out a risk assessment.
What do I need to look at in a risk assessment?
When carrying out a risk assessment, the major factors you need to consider are:
● work rate - the harder someone works the greater the amount of body heat generated;
●working climate - this includes air temperature, humidity, air movement and effects of working near a heat source;
●worker clothing and respiratory protective equipment - may impair the efficiency of sweating and other means of temperature regulation;
●worker’s age, build and medical factors - may affect an individual’s tolerance.
Firstly, you will need to talk to the workers involved (and their safety representatives), to see whether they are suffering early signs of heat stress. If it seems likely that there is a problem, you may need to consult with people who are more experienced in determining the risk from hot environments, eg occupational hygienists, nurses or doctors.
How can I reduce the risks?
Remove or reduce the sources of heat where possible:
●Control the temperature using engineering solutions, eg -change the processes, -use fans or air conditioning, -use physical barriers that reduce exposure to
radiant heat.
●Provide mechanical aids where possible to reduce the work rate.
●Regulate the length of exposure to hot environments by:
-allowing workers to enter only when the
temperature is below a set level or at cooler
times of the day,
-issuing permits to work that specify how long
your workers should work in situations where
there is a risk,
- providing periodic rest breaks and rest facilities in cooler conditions.
●Prevent dehydration. Working in a hot environment causes sweating which helps keep people cool but means losing vital water that must be replaced. Provide cool water in the workplace and encourage workers to drink it frequently in small amounts before, during (this is not possible in some situations eg respiratory protective equipment use or asbestos removal) and after working.
●Provide personal protective equipment.
Specialised personal protective clothing is available which incorporates, for example, personal cooling systems or breathable fabrics. This may help protect workers in certain hot environments. Protective clothing or respiratory protective equipment is often required when there will be exposure to some other hazard at work eg asbestos. This type of equipment, while protecting from the other hazard, may increase the risk of heat stress.
● Provide training for your workers, especially new and young employees, telling them about the risks of heat stress associated with their work, what symptoms to look out for, safe working practices and emergency procedures.
●Allow workers to acclimatise to their environment and identify which workers are acclimatised/assessed as fit to work in hot conditions.
●Identify employees who are more susceptible
to heat stress either because of an illness/condition or medication that may encourage the early onset of heat stress, eg pregnant women or those with heart conditions. Advice may be needed from an occupational health professional or medical practitioner.
● Monitor the health of workers at risk. Where it is considered that a residual risk remains after implementing as many control measures as practicable, you may need to monitor the health of workers exposed to the risk. You should then seek advice from occupational health professionals with a good working knowledge of the risks associated with working in heat stress situations.
