High Hazard Activities Toolbox Talk
Learn about high hazard activities on the construction site and how to be safe while you are doing them.
High Hazard Activities Safety Talk
A construction job site is a place that is often a place where you, as well as coworkers, are coming to help build or even repair a building. These sites are full of hazards and safety issues. You are often required to work with large tools. machinery, and work at heights above 6 feet as well as with hazardous materials. A construction site can be dangerous for everyone working there and visiting the site. As a worker, it is up to you to know what hazards could be on a job site and how to keep yourself safe.
High Hazard Activities
There are major hazards on every construction job site. While a majority of the fatalities fall into these four categories:
These four categories can be found almost anywhere on the job site. However, there are certain activities that these types of hazards are especially present in. These activities can include:
More tasks on a job site can be considered high hazard activities but these are some that are on the list of OSHA's "fatal four hazards."
Falls and How to Prevent
Falls are the number one cause of fatal injuries in the construction work field. The main causes of construction site falls are unprotected edges and opening, improper scaffolding construction or use, and improper ladder use.
Fall protection is required by OSHA if you are working at a height of 6 feet or more or anytime someone is working over dangerous machinery and equipment. If working on scaffolds fall protection must be provided if working 10 feet or more above the lower level. Examples of fall protection are guardrails, safety nets, and personal fall arrest systems.
When using scaffolding ensure they comply with manufacturer and OSHA standards. Place them on stable ground and inspect them before each use. If you are using a ladder on a construction site make sure you are using the correct ladder for the job. Always use a ladder on flat, level ground. Do not overload the ladder, and make sure to face the ladder when climbing and maintain 3 points of contact at all times. Some ways to prevent falls include:
Preventing falls can be easy if you take your time and use some safety precautions.
Electrocution and How to Prevent
Electrocution is second in line for construction site injuries and fatalities. Electrocution results when a person is exposed to a lethal amount of electrical energy. An electrical hazard can be defined as a serious workplace hazard that exposes workers to the following electrical injuries:
Major types of electrocution incidents come from failure to recognize and come into contact with energized sources. Other causes are an improper use of extension and flexible cords and contact with overhead power lines. Ways to prevent electrocution include:
Electrocution is a very dangerous and fatal hazard on many job sites. Keep yourself and fellow coworkers safe by following the correct safety precautions.
Struck by/in and How to Prevent
Struck by injuries occur when a worker comes into forcible contact with a flying, falling, swinging, or rolling object. The 4 common hazards in construction are:
When you are trying to prevent injuries and hazards being aware of your surroundings is a great way to start. Ways to prevent struck-by incidents include:
Caught by/Between and How to Prevent
Caught in/between hazards are caused when a worker is compressed between or gets caught in equipment or objects. It can also include a worker getting killed by getting caught, stuck, or crushed from materials, equipment, or a collapsing structure.This can include getting your hand caught in a moving part of the equipment, being buried by trench cave-ins, and getting pinned between a wall and a piece of heavy equipment.Ways to prevent caught in and caught between injuries include:
Use Caution During High Hazard Actvities
As with all other hazards on a construction site using the proper planning and safety precautions as well as being aware of everything going on around you can make the site safer for you and others that are working with you.
The construction industry is full of many job hazards and it is not easy to prevent every one of them. Making yourself aware of the dangers is the easiest way to prevent getting yourself or your coworkers injured while on a site.
When you are working on a high hazard task make sure you pre-planning your activities, understand the safety concerns with the task and any OSHA regulation that may be associated with said task, and make sure you know to stop the task if it gets too dangerous to complete. If you should have any questions with a safety concern or with a task you are to do please ask your supervisor or foreman.
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