Disaster prevention beats disaster survival. Turner Construction Co. Safety Director Harry Anuskiewicz draws up an accident-avoidance checklist for construction trades.

Part of your project safety program should be an effective checklist - a compilation of procedures to follow to prevent accidents. Some of the procedures might be taken for granted because workers perform the same activities over and over, and it isn't hard to forget to put on your safety glasses or hard hat or hook up your lanyard.

Not everyone needs a comprehensive checklist of every possible type of work being performed. General contractors or construction managers who oversee the project should have the most thorough knowledge of construction activities.

Fall protection

• Scaffolds, ladders, stairways, steel erection and high-tension voltage work are all exempt from Subpart M.
• A fall arrest system is made up of a body harness, anchor strap and a rip-out type lanyard.
• Warning cables with flagging and signs are needed when a leading edge exists.
• A proper guardrail system is required at all fall hazards more than 6 feet.
• Safety nets are used on the exterior of buildings and in open interior shafts.
• Inspection of all fall protection on site is required by a competent person.
• Holes through the floor more than 2 inches wide are to be properly covered, as are any floor depressions. The coverings should be marked "Hole - Do Not Remove. "
• Training on fall protection is required by OSHA.
• A full-time monitor is required when a warning line system is used on roofs and work outside the system is taking place.

Steel erection

• All steel connections are required to have a minimum of two bolts in place on each side before the piece is unhooked from the crane.
• Iron workers engaged in welding, bolting up or any other operation where they are in a fixed position should be tied off.
• Check all welding leads for tears in the casings.
• Tie off all ladders.
• A single cable is required for fall protection of the iron worker after the metal deck is in place.
• Proper personal protective equipment is required when welding, burning, grinding, etc.

Trenching

• Contact the local or state buried-line service before starting any digging.
• Backup alarms must be in working condition on all equipment when the operator cannot see behind the unit.
• No damaged or cracked glass is permitted to interfere with the operator's field of vision.
• A competent person must determine the soil type.
• The excavation must be sloped or benched according to the depth of cut and soil type.
• Shoring must be used when necessary.
• Excavations more than 20 feet deep must be designed by a registered engineer.
• Ladders must be provided, with access not to exceed 25 feet in any direction.
• Excavations more than 4 feet deep must have the air monitored before entry.
• Trench shields must extend 18 inches above the top of the trench.
• Underpinning of adjoining structures is required to prevent collapses.
• A competent person will conduct a daily inspection of the excavation.
• Guardrails and signs will be used when an excavation is obscured.

Electrical tools

• All blade guards are to be in place when a tool is being used. This includes such tools as chop saws, table saws, grinders, radial arm saws, etc.
• Double-insulated tools should be checked by a continuity test on a regular basis.
• Ground pins are required on all extension cords and nondurable insulated tools.
• Frayed, split, pulled-apart wiring is not permitted on extension cords or tools.
• A fire extinguisher should be handy if the tool produces sparks.
• Do not use the tool's wiring to raise or lower the tool.
• Use the necessary personal protection equipment, such as safety glasses, face shields, gloves, etc.

Hand tools

• Keep all tools clean and free from dirt, oil, grease or rust. Do not use tape on handles of tools.
• Do not use tools with "mushroom" heads.
• Use necessary personal protective equipment, such as glasses, face shields, gloves, etc.

Hazard communication

• Complete a pre-planning survey of the project site or building to identify possible problems.
• Each project must have a written hazard communications program.
• Each project will post a chemical survey list.
• Training for hazard communications is required by law.
• Labels are required on all containers and must illustrate the appropriate information, including the target organ effect - which organ of the body the chemical affects.
• The project safety meeting is a good place for all subcontractors to exchange Material Safety Data Sheets.

Welding or burning

• Some projects require a "hot work" permit for welding or burning operations.
• A fully charged fire extinguisher is required when welding or burning.
• Use proper protective equipment, such as a welding hood, eye protection, or a respirator.
• Welding cords must be in good condition and properly grounded.
• Gas bottles must be properly secured with caps in place and separated by 20 feet or a fire wall.
• Additional information for welding and burning is covered in ANSI 249.1 1967, "Safety in Welding and Cutting."
• When moving cylinders with a crane, use a cradle, boat or suitable platform. Slings and hooks must not be used.
• When welding or burning in an area containing combustible or flammable materials, a fire watch is needed, equipped with an appropriate fire extinguisher.

Stairways and ladders

• Whenever there is an elevation difference of 19 inches or more, stairs or a ladder must be used.
• Never build job ladders with double-headed nails.
• Double-wide ladders are required whenever more than 25 workers are on site.
• Trailer platforms must be large enough so a person is not struck by the door as it swings outward.
• Do not use plywood as spacers between steps.
• Be sure to use a stair pan filler in all steps before final concrete is poured.
• Proper handrails are needed on all temporary stairs. dAll ladders must comply with ANSI A-14.4.
• OSHA requires ladder training.
• All extension or job-built ladders must be secured when in use.
• Never splice two ladders together.
• Never paint wooden ladders.
• All extension ladders and job-built ladders must extend three feet above the landing platform.
• Any steps or treads above the loading platform should be removed for easier access to and from the ladder.

Scaffolds

• All scaffolds are to be built on a solid base.
• Do not use damaged, bent or rusty members.
• All scaffolds higher than 10 feet must have a complete guardrail system.
• All scaffolds must be built under the supervision of a competent person.
• A scaffold must be secure when it reaches a height equal to four times the least base dimension.
• All ladders require a proper ladder access.
• Rolling scaffolds require a horizontal or diagonal brace.
• Scaffolds higher than 120 feet must be designed by a registered engineer.
• Base plates are required on all tower scaffolds.
• Lock all wheels on rolling scaffolds.
• Scaffold planks must have an overhang of no less than 6 inches or more than 12 inches.
• Be sure all scaffold planks have a cleated end to prevent slippage.
• Workers are not permitted to remain on a rolling scaffold as it is moved.

Concrete and masonry

• Masonry regulations require a free access zone on the non-scaffold side of any wall under construction equal to the height of the wall plus 4 feet.
• All free-standing walls must be properly braced.
• Proper protective equipment is required when using a masonry saw.
• Fire arrestors and screens are required in all gasoline cans.

Demolition

• There must be an engineering survey of adjoining buildings on site prior to any demolition.
• Call the utility hot line in your area prior to any excavation.
• Proper ladder safety is required.
• Use the proper personal protective equipment.
• Fire protection requirements must be followed.
• All hazardous waste materials MUST BE REMOVED before demolition starts. This includes asbestos, lead, and PCBs.
• If any hazardous materials are discovered during the demolition process: STOP WORK. Notify the responsible party for cleanup. Start work only after you have received a written clean bill of health that the area is safe to work in.

Rigging

• Know the proper use come-alongs, chokers, shackles and clamps.
• Inspect all slings, cables, snaps, etc., before using them.
• Never raise a load over people.
• Use a tag line on all loads, especially larger ones, to control the load.
• Know the lifting capacities of rigging equipment and the weight of the load.
• Wear the proper personal protective equipment.

Material handling

• When lifting, use your head and lift with your legs, not with your back.
• Store or stack materials so they don't create a falling or tripping hazard.
• When hoisting materials, never walk under the boom or load. Don't place yourself in a position where you can be struck by the boom or the load.
• Never stack bricks more than 7 feet high.
• Material must be stored 10 feet from a perimeter edge or 6 feet from an interior shaft edge.
• There should always be a clear aisle for use by emergency equipment.
• When carrying a heavy load, keep it in close proximity to the body and not at arm's length.

Heavy equipment

• All backup alarms must be in working condition when the operator does not have a clear view behind the unit.
• No damaged or cracked glass is permitted to interfere with the operator's view.
• A fire extinguisher is required on all equipment when an oiler is in attendance.
• Cranes are required to be equipped with an "anti two-block" device.
• The swing of the counterweight must be protected with flagging or barricades.
• Flagging personnel must use the necessary personal protective equipment, which includes a safety vest and traffic flag.
• When cribbing outriggers on equipment, use proper equipment.
• Roll-over protection is required on some equipment, as is the use of safety belts.
• Only the trained operator may operate the equipment.

Fire

• A 201b ABC fire extinguisher is required for every 3,000 square feet of building.
• Do not use Halon, as it is carcinogenic.
• A one-half inch garden hose, 100 feet long, is an alternate to the fire extinguisher.
• A 55-gallon barrel filled with water, and two buckets, is also an alternate to the fire extinguisher.
• Good housekeeping on a regular basis will help prevent fires.
• OSHA requires proper training in emergency procedures.
• Each project must have a crisis management plan.
• OSHA requires posting emergency phone numbers.
• Hose cabinets or fire extinguishers must not be blocked by building material and/or debris.
• Active standpipes must be two floors below the last concrete floor in a high-rise building.
• There must be no propane stored inside any building.
• All gasoline cans are required to have a fire-arresting screen in the throat to the spout.
• All extension cords are required to have a ground pin on construction sites. No two-prong extension cords are permitted on construction sites.

Electricity

• All extension cords must be medium- or heavy-duty and be properly marked with SJ, SJO, SJT, S, ST, STO, SO.
• All temporary lighting must be flexible cord or cable and not triplex wiring.
• Temporary outlet boxes must be properly mounted.
• Every electric panel box must have a proper cover. Temporary covers of wood, drywall or masonite are accepted.
• Wall-mounted outlets will be left hanging out of the walls when energized.
• All circuits must be equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter or assured grounding program.
• All temporary electric boxes being used outside must be weatherproof.
• Do not ground portable generators with a grounding rod.

The examples in this article are not meant to be all-inclusive checklists. Your safety program may include more items - just make sure it doesn't contain fewer!

For more information, contact the author at

Turner Construction Co., 1800 JFK Blvd., Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA., 19103

Phone - 215-496-8868

Fax - 215-496-8950

email

This article has been reprinted from Constructor, the national magazine of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). For more information visit their web site.

© 2000, Daily Reporter Publishing Company, All Rights Reserved.