Ryan Batenhorst

It’s that time of year again and winter is knocking at our door. It is important to remember to bundle up if you plan on working out in the cold this winter. As an employer it is also a good idea on very cold days to schedule periodic times to come inside and warm up if possible. Cold weather is no joke and should not be taken lightly.  People have lost toes and fingers due to working in in the cold for long.
Hypothermia occurs when the core temperature of your body falls below the normal level. If your body becomes too cold, your organs stop functioning properly. If left unrecognized in the early stages, hypothermia can eventually result in death. Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, chattering teeth, confusion, slurred speech, lack of coordination and eventually unconsciousness. Frostbite is when your flesh actually freezes. It can occur even without the symptoms of hypothermia. Your extremities, such as your ears, feet, fingers and cheeks, are prone to frostbite in extremely cold weather. Symptoms of frostbite are quite different from hypothermia. The exposed skin will first appear reddish, and then a greyish-white color. You’ve probably seen on movies where mountain climbers have been rescued and their noses or fingers are jet black. It is because the skin has died.
So it is very important to remember to remember to plan the day before and find all of your winter weather gear such as hats, gloves, insulated boots, coveralls etc. It’s also important to keep in mind, 0 degrees Fahrenheit and a wind speed of 15 mph creates a wind chill temperature of -19 degrees Fahrenheit. Under these conditions frost bite can occur in just 30 minutes. If you have become too cold here is what you are to do
-Get into a warm room as soon as possible.
-Unless absolutely necessary, do not walk on frostbitten feet or toes—this increases the damage.
-Immerse the affected area in warm—not hot—water (the temperature should be comfortable to the touch for unaffected parts of the body).
-Or, warm the affected area using body heat. For example, the heat of an armpit can be used to warm frostbitten fingers.
-Do not rub the frostbitten area with snow or massage it at all. This can cause more damage.
-Don’t use a heating pad, heat lamp, or the heat of a stove, fireplace, or radiator for warming. Affected areas are numb and can be easily burned.
 
                All in All, cold weather is nothing to be taking soft, many people have died and also lost feeling in their extremities from working in cold weather. Remember to pack as many winter clothes the night before, you can always take layers off, but you can put layers on.  As an employer as remember to schedule breaks to warm up on extremely cold days.  Stay Safe, Stay Warm!
 

THE SAFETY HAZARDS OF BELLY DUMP TRAILERS
Kristina Goldman
 
 
Belly dump trailers are used for transporting certain materials from places like sand and gravel pits and asphalt plants to job sites or other sand and gravel pits. These materials are usually sand, gravel, dirt, rock and asphalt. But, you have to be careful when cleaning them. 

Belly dump trailers have their gates on the underside of the trailer. These gates open to unload the trailer. The gates are controlled by air. There are open and close buttons and an on/off switch in the cab of the semi. There are open and close buttons on the trailer as well. In order for any of these buttons to work, the switch in the cab of a semi needs to be on. and air in the tank needs to be full. Hitchcox, A. 1999, April 1. Air Valve Commands Bottom-dump Trailer. And here is a video showing how to unload asphalt from the back of a belly dump trailer from the outside buttons.  YouTube, 2011, June 5. Dumping Asphalt.

The trailer needs to be checked for safety issues before use. The doors and the rest of the trailer needs to be greased. The air lines need to be checked for leaks and they need to make sure the connections are good going to the cab so that the air can build in the tanks. Once the air is built, you can turn the switch on in the cab and open the gates to see that they are working properly, assuming that the trailer is empty.
With belly dump trailers, there is the possibility that the gates can shut without warning. There can be times when a person is standing inside these gates for spraying, maintenance, or to clean. Before he stands inside these gates, all safety bars have to be in place. He then needs to disconnect the power and release the air. He is now safe to properly enter the inside of the trailer.

There have been injuries and fatalities with belly dump gates. There was an OSHA investigated accident in 2008 that resulted in a fatality. This was found in OSHA’s website as a publication dated 12/09/2008. This employee was cleaning dirt on the inside of his trailer when the gates suddenly shut and he was then crushed. This fatality happened due to not following procedures for entering and cleaning the trailer. He did not lock the gates in the open position like he should have. To sum it all up, knowledge of safety procedures of any equipment should be followed.
 

Skid Loader Safety Training
            Skid steer loaders can be dangerous if you do not observe certain safety precautions. Injuries and death are preventable. The most commonly reported causes of serious injury and death using skid steer loaders are: crushed by moving parts and rollover accidents. Never leave the operator’s station when the engine is running or the lift arms are raised. When operated improperly, skid steer loaders can overturn, especially handling heavy loads or operating on uneven ground.
Safe work habits are important. Here are three actions you can take to be safe on the job site.
1. Learn all you can.  To prevent accidents with skid steer loaders, read and follow directions in the equipment operator’s manual. Pay attention to safety instructions in the manual and to warning labels you see on the equipment. If you have questions, stop and ask your supervisor before you continue.
2. Concentrate on working safely.  Sometimes you may be tempted to take risky shortcuts. Remember that an accident can leave you permanently injured or cut your life short. For your safety and the safety of those around you, do not take unnecessary risks. No deadline is so pressing you can’t take the time to do your work safely.
3. Additional Precautions.  Do not operate machinery if you are tired or have taken drugs or alcohol. If you are on medication, discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you are capable of safely operating machinery.
Neither OSHA or ANSI have released a set of skid loader specific standards or rules. Since skid loaders are able to accept forks then they do not fall under OSHA’s standards for earth moving vehicles.
https://www.osha.gov/dte/grant_materials/fy09/sh-19503-09/skid_steer_loader_safety.pdf
http://hardhattraining.com/skid-steer-safety-training/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1n4415Dp1g

What are the proper ways to handle lead based paint?
 
Lead paint is very hazardous, especially for young kids. It can cause nervous system damage, stunted growth, kidney damage, and delayed development. It is dangerous to children because it tastes sweet, and can encourage children to put these lead based paint chips and toys in their mouths. Lead paint can also be dangerous to adults, and can cause reproductive problems in men and women. Lead is considered to be a carcinogen, high levels may result in death.
 
Regulations?
 
The EPA signed a new regulation called Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) regarding the renovation of residential housing and child-occupied buildings built before 1978. The rule became effective April 22, 2010. Under the rule, contractors performing renovation, repair and/or painting projects that disturb lead based coatings in child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination.
 
Lead Paint Removal Options?
 
If you have lead-based paint, you have several options for removal. Although some states allow you to do the work yourself, a contractor who is certified in lead paint removal is trained to do the job safely and will determine the best abatement strategy. Here are some options you can discuss with your contractor.
 
First we have encapsulation, which is typically the least complicated and most affordable method. Encapsulation involves brushing or rolling on a specially made paint coating. Doing so creates a watertight bond and seals in the lead based paint. However, opening and closing your doors and windows eventually may wear off the coating.

A Guest Post from Wayne State College Student Travis Eller

Caution: Missing Fingers
 
 
            Quick, think of somebody who has lost a finger or was injured due to a table saw.  Many of those injuries are the result of misuse of the machine, or unsafe practices involved while using the machine.  There are many practices and procedures that can be implemented into a safety program to allow for safer use of table saws and, therefore, fewer injuries and lost time from work.  In addition to these practices, new technology has been invented and applied which has resulted in fewer injuries and lost fingers.

            An estimated 10 amputations happen each day from the use of table saws.  In addition, there are more than 40,000 table saw injuries every year.  These numbers can be reduced and even eliminated through the proper use and maintenance of these machines.  Table saws have guards in place to protect extremities and the face from accidental cuts or splinters flying around.  Before and after each use, a worker should check all guards to ensure they are in their proper place and working as designed.  By using another piece of wood or a molded plastic piece, an operator can safely move the wood through the cut while keeping his or her fingers away from the blade.  Wood that is being cut spins up saw dust and splinters, which can cause injury if correct personal protective equipment is not worn.  Safety glasses or a safety shield should be worn at all times to prevent facial and eye injuries.  Wood can also “kickback”, which means the blade catches the wood and flings it back at the worker.  Spectators should also keep at least three feet away on all sides of the machine.

            Advancements in technology have allowed for fewer potential injuries.  A company called Saw Stop has created technology that does not allow a blade to cut through a finger or other soft fleshy skin.  The blade on the machine detects if electricity can be conducted by the material it is cutting through, and if it senses a current, a trigger is applied resulting in the blade to fall into the table leaving the skin uncut and the finger fully functional.  Although slightly more expensive, the blade will not cut through an extremity and reduce blade injuries to zero. This advancement in table saw safety technology can help eliminate the amputation statistics caused by table saws.

            Table saws are effective tools that can be used to help create great projects.  By implementing new practices and safety programs, as well as investing in newer safety technology, businesses and people can work to eliminate injuries on the job site.
Websites for further information:
 
Table saw safety: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/woodworking/table_saws.html
 
Table saw safety: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSzOc6-UQEk&feature=youtu.be
 
Saw Stop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiYoBbEZwlk
 
Table saw safety tips:
            http://woodworking.about.com/od/safetyfirst/p/TwelveTableSawSafetyTips.htm