U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
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Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
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| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
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Publication Number: FHWA-RD-98-179
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Bridge Lead Removal and General Site SafetyGeneral Site Safety
Table of Contents
Because of the very nature of the work, construction workers face a higher risk of accidents and injury than the normal industrial employee. The personal protective equipment worn to reduce lead exposures can in turn increase accident potential by:
An accident is an undesirable, unplanned event resulting in personal physical harm or damage to property. An accident may be the result of an unsafe act, such as standing up in a small boat or not wearing a respirator properly, or the result of an unsafe condition, such as a leaking boat or dangerous atmosphere. These situations can be related, since an individual's unsafe act can result in an unsafe condition for someone else. The two main approaches to reducing or preventing accidents are: eliminating unsafe conditions and reducing unsafe acts. People must be aware of conditions that can contribute to an accident and then work to remove exposure to these conditions. Examples are enclosing live electrical circuits or providing workers with the proper protective equipment. Of course, it is difficult to eliminate all unsafe conditions, and it's even more difficult to predict or anticipate where such conditions may exist or develop on construction jobs involving lead. Each worker must make a conscious effort to work safely despite the hazardous conditions that may exist at any site. A high degree of safety awareness and training must be maintained so that the safety factors involved in a job become an actual part of the job. By being conscious of the task you are performing, the environment in which it is being performed, as well as how you are going to actually perform the task, you will be capable of identifying potential hazards that will cause you to act in an unsafe manner. Safety is the condition of being secure from hurt, injury, or loss. Therefore, to be safe, you act in two ways, Proactively and Reactively. When you act proactively, you anticipate problems before they occur and take steps to make sure accidents don't happen. When you act reactively, you are responding to problems after they occur. Workers are best protected when they act proactively.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY The use of wet methods increases the chances for electrical shock when working around electrical panels, conduit, light fixtures, alarm systems, junction boxes, computers, transformers, etc. It is important for workers to be aware of locations of hazards before they begin work. Safety Precautions
Slips, trips, and falls account for many of the injuries and deaths on construction jobs, especially for those working on bridge construction or rehabilitation projects. Whenever work takes place at heights there should be an evaluation of the proper methods of access and protection from falls. Many accidents occur on bridge projects because workers think that, because they will only be "out on the edge" a few minutes, they don't need to wear any protective equipment. They are wrong. Many accidents happen in that short time the worker is exposed. It is also important to ensure that the work area is free of debris. Slips, Trips, and Falls Many accidents occur because of all the equipment that is lying around on a work site. Much of this equipment needs to be there, and workers need to learn to be careful. However, many things can be picked up and moved out of the way, which will reduce the number of accidents. For example, when lead and other debris are removed, the accumulations should be bagged and removed from the floor as soon as possible. This simple step, which may require a little more initial effort, will make cleanup easier and the overall job safer. Safety Harnessing Systems Personal protective equipment, such as safety harnesses, is important when guard rails and other barriers are not possible. Falls from heights are the leading cause of death in construction. Many, if not almost all, of these accidents would have been prevented if the fall protection standard (OSHA 1926 Subpart M) had been followed. Many of the accidents occur within the first few minutes of being exposed to the hazard. This is simply because too many workers feel that since they are only going to be out there a few minutes or less, why take the time to get the harness and tie off? Below are some general guidelines for storage and maintenance of fall protection systems:
Anchorage Points it is recommended that anchorage points be inspected once a week by a competent person to determine whether any of the following conditions exist.
Improper Anchorage Points The following anchor points are unacceptable:
Scaffolding and ladders are almost always needed for projects on steel structures and they always present a risk. The following simple steps can be taken to ensure that the equipment you are using is in good condition and the method being used is correct. Ladders The following items should be checked on a regular basis:
Scaffolding Most bridge, structural steel, and demolition projects involve the use of scaffolding. Proper setup, regular inspection, and basic maintenance is important. Remember, scaffolding can be any elevated working surface, ranging from a plank laid over two saw horses to a manufactured lift. The following steps must be followed when erecting, dismantling, or working on scaffolds.
Typical examples of confined spaces include storage tanks, pits, sewers, and trenches. They may have one or all of the following characteristics:
Hazardous Atmospheres In confined spaces there often is a lack of natural air movement, which leads to the most commonly found hazard: hazardous atmosphere. Workers should recognize these hazardous atmospheres:
Oxygen-Deficient An oxygen-deficient atmosphere has less than 19.5 percent available oxygen. Any atmosphere with less than 19.5 percent oxygen should not be entered without an approved self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) or airline respirator with escape SCBA. Flammable Atmospheres A flammable atmosphere develops when a flammable gas, vapor, or dust is present in the air at concentrations between the Lower Flammable Limit (LFL) and the Upper Flammable Limit (UFL). Toxic Atmosphere Any substances, including the following, should be considered hazardous in a confined space:
Testing the Atmosphere Properties of a chemical will determine where in a confined space that chemical can be found. Some gases are heavier than air and will settle to the bottom of a confined space. Others are lighter than air and will be found around the top of the confined space. Therefore, it is necessary to test all areas (top, middle, bottom) of a confined space. Standby and Rescue A standby person should be assigned to remain on the outside of the confined space and be in constant contact (visual or speech) with the workers inside. The standby person should not have any other duties but to serve as standby and know who should be notified in case of emergency. More than 50 percent of the workers who die in confined spaces are attempting to rescue other workers. Unplanned rescue, such as when someone instinctively rushes in to help a downed coworker, can easily result in a double or multiple fatality. |
