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Struck-By Hazards in Construction Environments

Leader’s Guide and Quiz

4861

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM

Structure and Organization

Information in this program is presented in a definite order so that employees will see the relationships between the various groups of information and can retain them more easily. The sections included in the program are:

• What are "struck-by" hazards?

• Personal protective equipment.

• Traffic safety.

• Heavy equipment.

• Masonry walls, overhead work and building materials.

Each of the sections covers important information in one topic area, providing employees with the basis for understanding what struck-by hazards are and how to avoid them.

Background

One out of every five workplace fatalities in the U.S. involves a construction worker. A significant number of these deaths and many worksite injuries result from just one type of incident, known as "struck-by" accidents… and they can be prevented.

Struck-by injuries are caused by the impact a person receives when something hits them. In construction work struck-by hazards include falling objects such as tools dropped from scaffolding, flying objects like a hammer head that comes loose from its handle, swinging objects like the booms of backhoes or cranes and "rolling" objects such as vehicles driving on or around the worksite.

To avoid struck-by injuries, construction workers need to be able to recognize these hazards ahead of time, and know what safe work practices they can use to avoid them.

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Objectives

This education and training program reminds employees that if they understand what types of struck-by hazards they may encounter on their job sites, they can take action to avoid them. Upon completion of the program, employees should:

• Understand what "struck-by" accidents are and how they are caused.

• Understand the hazards caused by flying, falling, swinging and rolling objects.

• Be able to recognize struck-by hazards on a job site.

• Be able to determine the "swing radius" of a machine and explain why it is a hazardous area.

• Understand how to work safely around vehicles or equipment.

• Know how to prevent struck-by accidents when they are using hand and power tools.

• Know safe work practices that can help prevent struck-by accidents associated with overhead work, building concrete and masonry walls, and stacking and storing materials.

Reviewing the Program

As with any educational program, the "presenter" should go through the entire program at least once to become familiar with the content and make sure that it is consistent with company policy and directives.

As part of this review process, you should determine how you will conduct your session. The use of materials such as handouts, charts, etc., that may be available to you needs to be well thought out and integrated into the overall program presentation.

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CONDUCTING THE SESSION

The Initial Steps

In conducting the session remember the positive nature of this presentation. Everyone is attending in order to learn more about how to work safely around potential struck-by hazards on a job site. Initially, you need to:

• Introduce yourself as the session leader.

• State the title of the program, "Struck-By Hazards in Construction Environments" and the purpose of the session (to be able to identify struck-by hazards and avoid them).

• Inform the attendees when there will be breaks (if you plan them) the location of exits and restrooms and if water, coffee, or other refreshments will be available.

• Make sure all of the attendees have "signed in" on your scheduling and attendance form. Remember, it is very important to document people's attendance at the session.

Once this housekeeping is done, it is time to move to the "meat" of the session. First, the attendees need to be informed about the objectives of the session (this is where you can use a flip chart or board to list the objectives, which should be done prior to the class starting). This listing should be preceded with some introductory remarks. Your own words are always best, but the remarks should follow along the lines of the following:

"One out of every five workplace fatalities in the U.S. involves a construction worker. Many of these deaths and a lot of worksite injuries as well result from just one type of incident. They're called 'struck-by' accidents… and they can be prevented."

"Struck-by injuries are caused by the impact a person receives when something hits them. On a job site, struck-by hazards can include falling objects such as tools dropped from scaffolding, flying objects like a loose hammer head that is thrown from its handle, swinging objects like the booms of operating backhoes or cranes, and rolling objects

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such as vehicles driving on or around the site." "To avoid accidents and injuries, it's important for you to understand struck-by hazards and be able to recognize them before they cause problems. You also need to know the safe work practices you can follow to avoid them."

"The program we are going to watch today will give us some good information about struck-by hazards. To make this the most productive session possible we need to look at what we want to accomplish here today (verbally reference the 'Objectives' list from the first section in this guide, or point to a white-board or chart where you have written them down)."

Once the objectives have been provided, you are ready to show the program. However, you do need to let the attendees know that they will be taking a quiz at the end of the session (if you are using it). It should be emphasized that they are not being "graded", but that the quiz is being used to see if the session is effectively transmitting information to them in a way they will remember.

Showing the Program

At this point, you need to introduce the title of the program once again, "Struck-By Hazards in Construction Environments", darken the lights if necessary, and begin the showing of the program.

You have several options as to how you can move through the program and what employees see.

The DVD menu has three "selection bars": • "Play".

• "Scene Index".

• "Contact Info".

To just play the program from beginning to end, select "Play".

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To view (or review) a specific section of the program, select "Scene Index". You will be presented with a group of buttons, each of which corresponds to a section of the program. You can then select the specific section that you want to view.

If you would like information on other programs and products that are available from MARCOM you can select "Contact Info" for information about how to contact us.

All of our DVDs, both English and Spanish, are subtitled (similar to closed captioning). If there are hearing impaired employees participating in your training session, or you want people to be able to read the program narration as well as hear it, push the "subtitle" button on your DVD player's remote control or the player's control panel. A print version of the narration will then appear on the screen as the program plays.

Using the Program for "Tailgate Meetings" and "Toolbox Talks"

The DVD version of the program has been designed specifically to facilitate "Tailgate Meetings" and "Toolbox Talks". The information in the DVD has been divided into 2-3 minute "chapters" on different issues involved with struck-by hazards. Each chapter forms the basis for a focused 10-15 minute session on an important aspect of that topic (chapters can be directly selected from the DVD menu).

Conducting the Discussion

After the program has been shown, it is time for the group discussion on the information that it contained. Care must be taken to make sure that the discussion is kept to the general topic of struck-by hazards. There are several ways to conduct this discussion. These include:

• Calling for questions from the attendees and using these questions as the basis for the discussion.

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• "Leading" the discussion through the points covered in the program using statements such as:

— "One of the sections that we saw in the program discussed how to avoid struck-by hazards when you're working around heavy equipment. Who can describe these safe work practices for us?"

— "We saw an interesting segment on the types of personal protective equipment that can be worn to protect against struck-by injuries. Who can list these types of equipment and describe what they protect against?"

You should use the discussion format that you are most comfortable with. The "Outline of Major Program Points" section in this guide, and the questions and answers in the master copies of the quiz should be used as a basis for this discussion, as well as the supplemental information that you have presented in this session.

Remember, you have allocated a limited amount of time in which this discussion can take place. It is important to blend the attendees' questions and areas of obvious interest with the objective of trying to touch on each major area within the program in the discussion. By touching on each area, the attendees are much more likely to retain the information presented in the session.

Concluding the Presentation

Once discussion has concluded (whether naturally or you have had to bring the discussion to a close in order to complete the session within the time allowed) it is time to give the quiz if you are using it. Copies of the quiz can be made using the printed "master" in the back of this binder or from the PDF version on the DVD. Again, remind the attendees that the quiz is only meant to help determine how effective the presentation of the information is, and that they will not be graded. Let them know that they have approximately five minutes to complete the quiz.

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At the end of the five-minute period, remind the attendees to date and sign their quizzes, and then collect them. The attendees should be thanked for attending the session and reminded of any other sessions in the educational program that they may be attending. They can then be dismissed to return to their normal activities.

*(An alternative to this approach is to give the quiz immediately after showing the program, then use a review of the quiz as a basis for your group discussion.)

"Wrapping Up" the Paperwork Before much time has passed, and the subject matter is fresh in your mind, several areas of "paperwork" must be completed. First, check to make sure that all attendees signed the scheduling and attendance form. Next, make sure that you have a quiz from every attendee, dated and signed.

Depending upon what you have decided to do, a copy of the attendance form and the quiz for each attendee should be either filed in your files or turned over to the attendee's department manager (or the personnel office) so that this paperwork can be included in their personnel file. The attendees' training logs should also be updated, and each attendee should be given a filled out and signed training certificate, signifying that they have successfully completed the course. Copies of the employee training log and the training certificate can be made using the printed "master" in the back of this binder or from the PDF version on the DVD.

Remember it is always a good idea to document information about an employee's attendance at these sessions, as well as the fact that the employee has come away from the session with an increased knowledge of how to work more safely around potential struck-by hazards.

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OUTLINE OF MAJOR PROGRAM POINTS

The following outline summarizes the major points of information presented in the program. The outline can be used to review the program before conducting a classroom session, as well as in preparing to lead a class discussion about the program.

• "Struck-by" hazards are one of the four leading causes of fatalities in construction work. These "Fatal Four" hazards also include:

− Falls. − Electrocution. − "Caught-in or between" hazards.

• Struck-by injuries are caused by the impact you receive when something hits you.

− This is what makes them different from caught-in or between injuries, which are caused by being squeezed, pinched or compressed by something.

• OSHA recognizes four types of struck-by accidents, based on how the "striking" object moves:

− Flying. − Falling. − Swinging. − Rolling.

• "Flying objects" are "thrown" or propelled through the air, causing an injury or fatality when they strike someone.

− A loose hammer head that comes off its handle is a flying object.

− So are metal fragments that may be thrown from the mushroomed head of a chisel when it's struck by a hammer.

− Fasteners that are shot by a nail gun can be flying objects, too.

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• "Falling objects" drop from a higher level to hit someone below.

− In addition to simply "striking" a worker, falling objects can also crush and pin the people they hit.

• Examples of falling objects include: − A brick that falls from a scaffold. − A jib from a boom crane that falls when a bolt holding

it fails. − A length of concrete piping that falls off a truck.

• "Swinging objects" swing, twist or turn to strike someone. This can occur when:

− A worker is standing too close to heavy digging equipment and is struck by the arm.

− A load of materials being hoisted by a crane is caught by the wind and slams into one of the crew that is landing it.

• A raised load that slips from its rigging is also considered to be a swinging object.

− Windy conditions increase the risk of swinging object accidents occurring.

• "Rolling objects" roll, slide or otherwise move to strike someone who is at the same level.

• The most common rolling objects on a construction site are vehicles that are in motion, such as:

− Traffic passing through or around the job site. − Cars and trucks operating on the site itself. − Heavy equipment such as dump trucks, bulldozers or

graders that are on the site.

• The first step in preventing struck-by accidents is to recognize these hazards on your worksite.

− The next step is following appropriate safe work practices to avoid them.

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• One easy and effective way you can protect yourself from struck-by hazards is to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

− PPE is anything you wear as a safeguard against injury.

• For construction work, PPE can include anything from hearing protection to supplied-air respirators, but for protection against struck-by hazards, you should pay close attention to:

− Head protection. − Eye protection. − Foot protection. − High-visibility safety clothing.

• OSHA requires your employer to: − Provide you with PPE that is appropriate for

protecting you while you're doing your job. − Maintain that PPE and replace it when it has

become worn or damaged.

• Your employer is also required to train you on how to care for the equipment, keep it clean and use it properly … so that you get maximum protection.

• As you might expect, head protection protects your head against impact. You should wear it:

− Whenever you might be exposed to flying or falling materials.

− Anywhere you might bump your head against beams, piping or other low-hanging objects.

• Always inspect head protection before you put it on. − Look for dents, cracks or other signs of deterioration. − If you find problems, take it out of service and get a

replacement. − The same goes for any head protection that has

received a heavy blow. − Once it has absorbed a significant impact, it can no

longer give you sufficient protection.

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• Never wear any PPE that is damaged.

• Safety glasses or goggles should be worn any time your work can generate flying fragments, large chips or other particles.

— These activities include welding, cutting, grinding or nailing.

— Even high winds can create flying object hazards by whipping up dust on your job site.

• To safeguard your entire face you should wear a face shield.

− A face shield can't provide complete eye protection by itself.

− You should always wear safety glasses or goggles under a shield.

• Falling and rolling objects can both pose serious hazards to your feet.

− To prevent injuries you should wear heavy duty foot protection.

− Steel-toe boots guard your toes against impact and compression.

• Some boots also have built-in protection for your metatarsals, which are the small bones located in the upper part of your foot.

− You can get similar protection by using toe caps and metatarsal guards, which are separate shields that can be fastened to the outside of regular work boots.

• Construction workers account for about 25% of the employees who die from being struck by a vehicle while on the job.

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• Even before ground is broken on a project, your employer will start planning as to how traffic can move most safely through and around the job site.

− Safe routes will be marked out by signs, barricades and warning cones.

− Sometimes "flaggers" will be used to control traffic movement as well.

− You will receive site-specific traffic safety training before you begin work.

• To avoid being hit by a vehicle you should always follow these general guidelines:

− Be aware of traffic on and around the site. − Stay alert, use caution and keep your distance. − Always look both ways as you walk the site. — Never put yourself in a position where you can't

escape from the path of a moving vehicle.

• You are much less likely to be struck when you make it easy for the driver to see you, so wearing high-visibility reflective safety clothing is also important.

• Construction workers are often hit by cars, trucks or other equipment when they are moving in reverse.

− These are called "backover" accidents, and are often the result of the driver having limited visibility.

− To avoid backovers, never cross the path of any machine that's backing up.

• While many vehicles are equipped with audible backup alarms to warn pedestrians, you should not depend on these devices.

− You might not be able to hear the alarm over worksite noise.

− The alarm might be broken and fail to work. − The vehicle might not have an alarm in the first

place.

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• Sometimes when backing up the driver or equipment operator will have a worker "run interference" for the vehicle by warning coworkers out of the way.

− If the operator's rearward vision is obstructed, they may have a "spotter" help out by guiding them with hand signals.

− In these situations, pay attention to the workers who are assisting the driver and make sure they know where you are.

• Spotters and flaggers receive special training in the use of proper signals, so don't try to "wing it" as an amateur!

• 75% of the struck-by accidents and injuries that occur on construction worksites involve heavy equipment.

— As with motor vehicle traffic, you can reduce your risk of being hit by heavy equipment by staying alert and maintaining a safe distance.

• Unlike ordinary motor vehicle traffic, heavy equipment can be hazardous even when it's not going anywhere.

− Some of this equipment has booms that can swing back and forth while the equipment remains in one place.

− On certain equipment, the superstructure of the machine may move as well.

• The area of ground that these parts cover when they move is called the "swing radius", and it's a serious struck-by danger zone.

− You should always be aware of the swing radius of heavy equipment, and stay away from it.

• On many worksites, the swing radius will be cordoned off by barriers that warn you of the danger and prevent you from getting too close, but you shouldn't depend on them to be there.

− You'll be safer if you make a habit of identifying potential swing hazards yourself, and staying out of their danger zones.

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• Stay clear of loads that are being raised as well, and never work under a suspended load.

• Whether a piece of equipment is operating or not, if you have to approach it you should always do it with caution.

− Never come at it from its "blind side", or linger where the machine operator can't see you.

− If possible, make eye contact with the operator so you know that they know you're there.

• The more easily you can be seen, the safer you'll be. − This is another reason to always wear high-visibility,

reflectorized safety clothing on your job site.

• Hand and power tools are designed to work safely, but when a tool has been damaged or misused it can create serious flying object hazards.

• Before you use a hand tool, always inspect it for: − Splintered or cracked handles − Parts that could fly off, like a loose hammer head. − Mushroomed heads on impact tools that could throw

fragments. − Loose or "sprung" jaws on wrenches that could slip

and let the tool go flying.

• If you find any problems, don't use the tool. − Have it repaired or replaced.

• Do the same with power tools. − Inspect each one before you use it, to ensure that all

the safety guards are in place and working properly.

• Remember, it's never safe to operate a power tool that you're unfamiliar with.

− Be sure you're trained on how to use it before you fire it up.

− Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.

• Be sure to wear eye protection any time you use hand or power tools.

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• Eye protection is also a good idea when you work with compressed air.

− Blasts of high-pressure air can cause particles to go flying.

− You can reduce the risk of this happening by adjusting the equipment's operating pressure to 30 pounds per square inch (psi) or lower.

− Even then, eye protection is a must.

• Nail guns can use electricity, high-pressure air or gunpowder to drive fasteners into wood, metal and concrete.

− When these tools are misused, they can create lethal flying objects.

• Do not operate a nail gun unless you have been trained on how to use it (and licensed as well if that's required where you work).

− Always test any type of nail gun before you use it. − Any problems that you discover during the tests or

the gun's operation should be corrected right away.

• Do not load powder-actuated tools until immediately before you intend to use them.

− Never leave them unattended.

• Some situations on a construction site require special measures to prevent struck-by accidents. These include whenever:

− Concrete and masonry walls are being erected. − Work is being done overhead. − Materials are being stacked and stored.

• Because of their great weight, the falling, rolling and swinging objects that are associated with the construction of concrete and masonry walls can be very dangerous.

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• To reduce these hazards: − When reinforcing wire mesh is unrolled, it should be

controlled or turned over so that it cannot spring back and strike someone.

− No loads should be placed on a concrete wall until it has been determined that the structure can support the weight.

− Masonry walls should be shored or braced until permanent supports are in place.

• You should keep your distance from concrete or masonry walls that are under construction unless you are directly involved in putting them up.

• When work is being done from a scaffold, on a roof or any other overhead location, objects that fall from that level can create serious struck-by hazards for people who are working or passing by below.

− To reduce this risk, elevated walking and working surfaces should always be equipped with guardrails, screens, and toeboards to prevent people, tools and materials from falling off.

— Debris nets should also be installed below work level to catch any objects that get through these safeguards.

• When you're performing overhead work, take care to secure all the tools that you use, and keep the work area clear to avoid knocking anything off.

− Alert people below by posting warning signs. − When necessary, use barricades to keep people out

of the danger zone.

• Be sure to wear head protection when you work below overhead jobs yourself.

• Building materials can present struck-by hazards as well. − You can help to prevent these struck-by accidents by

storing and stacking materials safely.

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• Sheetrock, lumber, cinder blocks, bags of cement and other items should always be stacked solidly, to prevent slipping, sliding, rolling or falling.

− This can be particularly important if conditions on the site are windy.

• In unfinished buildings, store materials more than six feet from hoist-ways and floor openings.

− This will prevent anything from falling to lower levels if "traffic" knocks them over.

* * * SUMMARY * * *

• Struck-by accidents are one of the four leading causes of fatalities on construction sites.

• They occur when workers are hit by objects that are flying, falling, swinging or rolling.

• To avoid struck-by hazards, use caution and keep your distance from vehicular traffic and heavy equipment.

• Never get behind a machine that is backing up. Stay out of the swing radius of heavy equipment.

• Always check hand and power tools for damage, and wear eye protection while using them.

• Be sure to wear head protection around any type of overhead work.

• Unless you are directly involved in building concrete or masonry walls, stay away from them until the work is finished.

• Stack building materials securely and out of the way of "traffic", so they won't get knocked over and become falling object hazards.

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• Now that you know how to recognize struck-by hazards and what to do to avoid them, you have the skills you need to make sure that you and your coworkers leave your job site injury-free… every day!

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QUIZ

"STRUCK-BY HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTS"

PRESENTER'S COPY...WITH ANSWERS

1. True or False?... Struck-by accidents are one of the four leading causes of fatalities in construction work.

X True False

2. True or False?... Struck-by injuries are caused by the impact you receive when an object hits you.

X True False

3. True or False?... A raised load that slips from its rigging is considered to be a "falling object". True X False

4. True or False?... Some protective footwear is equipped with built-in protection for the small bones located in the upper part of your foot.

X True False

5. True or False?... A face shield alone can completely protect your eyes from flying objects. True X False

6. True or False?... Trained personnel who control the movement of vehicle traffic in and around a job site are called "spotters".

True X False

7. True or False?… 75% of the struck-by accidents that occur on construction worksites involve heavy equipment.

X True False

8. True or False?... When you stay outside the "swing radius" of a piece of heavy equipment, you are avoiding a serious struck-by danger zone.

X True False

9. True or False?... You should not operate a nail gun unless you have been trained and licensed on how to use it (if licensing is required where you work).

X True False

10. True or False?... Many struck-by accidents can be prevented by stacking and storing materials securely so they cannot slip, slide, roll or fall.

X True False

QUIZ

"STRUCK-BY HAZARDS IN CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTS"

Employee Name: Training Date:

1. True or False?... Struck-by accidents are one of the four leading causes of fatalities in construction work.

True False

2. True or False?... Struck-by injuries are caused by the impact you receive when an object hits you.

True False

3. True or False?... A raised load that slips from its rigging is considered to be a "falling object". True False

4. True or False?... Some protective footwear is equipped with built-in protection for the small bones located in the upper part of your foot.

True False

5. True or False?... A face shield alone can completely protect your eyes from flying objects. True False

6. True or False?... Trained personnel who control the movement of vehicle traffic in and around a job site are called "spotters".

True False

7. True or False?… 75% of the struck-by accidents that occur on construction worksites involve heavy equipment.

True False

8. True or False?... When you stay outside the "swing radius" of a piece of heavy equipment, you are avoiding a serious struck-by danger zone.

True False

9. True or False?... You should not operate a nail gun unless you have been trained and licensed on how to use it (if licensing is required where you work).

True False

10. True or False?... Many struck-by accidents can be prevented by stacking and storing materials securely so they cannot slip, slide, roll or fall.

True False