Gravity Never Forgets - Ladder Safety

As soon as you set foot on the ladder’s first rung and pull your body off the ground, gravity is working to bring you back to earth. Therefore, ladder safety begins from the ground up.  

Proper ladder setup will help prevent slips and falls. Place the base on a firm, solid surface. Avoid slippery, wet or soft surfaces. If you must put the ladder on a soft surface, place a board under the ladder’s feet to provide firm footing. Make sure the top of the ladder has firm support as well.

Never lean a ladder against a window pane or other unstable surface. If you’re using a straight or extension ladder, the angle of the ladder is the next critical safety factor. A straight or extension ladder should be placed 1 foot away from the surface it rests against for every 4 feet of ladder height. For example, if the ladder is 4 feet high, the bottom of the ladder should be 1 foot away from the support surface.

What's wrong with this picture?

If you use a ladder to access a roof or platform, make sure the ladder extends at least 3 feet over the roof or platform edge. Be sure to securely fasten straight and extension ladders to the upper support. If you have angled the ladder properly and still have doubts about its stability, have someone hold the ladder before climbing up.

If you’re using a step ladder, be sure to open it completely before you climb. If you have to use a step ladder near a doorway, lock or barricade the door and post signs so no one will open it and knock you off the ladder.

When you climb, always face the ladder and grip the rungs of the ladder to climb, not the side rails. Never get on or off a ladder from the side unless it has been secured to prevent movement.

Never climb with equipment in your hands. Use your pockets, equipment belt, or a tool pouch and raise heavy objects with a hand line. If you forget something, always climb down the ladder to retrieve it yourself; don’t have someone toss it up to you. And never ask someone to climb up your ladder to give you supplies. It is dangerous to exceed the weight limits that a specific ladder can handle.

When you descend a ladder, practice the same safety rules. Face the ladder, keep your body square and hold on to the rungs. Lastly, step off at the bottom rung of the ladder. Never jump off of a ladder.

Before you start to haul a ladder around, evaluate the area where you’ll be working.

Ladders can be heavy and unwieldy. You can strike another person or object, or hit electrical power lines. Make the ladder as compact as possible before transporting it.

Carry it horizontally while tilting it higher in front and lower in back. If the ladder is particularly long and heavy, get a coworker to help you carry it.

Ladder safety may seem simple, but injuries occur every year. Below are some ladder safety dos and don’ts:

• Use the right ladder for the job.
• Inspect the ladder before and after a job.
• Read all warning labels carefully and follow directions before you climb.
• Clean the ladder after each use to prevent dirt buildup.
• Wear clean, dry, slip-resistant shoes and use ladders with slip resistant feet.
• Don’t stand any higher than the third rung from the top of the ladder.
• Don’t lean too far or overreach. Reposition the ladder closer to the work instead.
• Don’t use a ladder as a bridge or scaffold.
• Don’t put a ladder on a box, barrel or other object to gain additional height.
• Don’t use a damaged or unsafe ladder.

Experts also warn about ladder use in bad weather. Descend immediately if high winds, rain or other inclement weather begins. Wind force can blow you off the ladder.  Rain can make the rungs and the ground slippery. Bitter cold can make metal ladders more brittle and can cause other structural damage. If you encounter bad weather while on a ladder, do not speed up to finish the job and risk injury. Wait to finish the job until conditions are once again safe.

Remember, don’t let gravity get you down. Practice ladder safety rules every time you climb to make your work easier, faster and safer.

Contributed by Eric Tofte, Director of Training, Evergreen Safety Council

Occupations and Environmental Areas at Risk in Washington State

The high levels of asbestos within the state of Washington have made it No. 10 in the nation for asbestos-related deaths. More than 1,000 mesothelioma and asbestosis patients passed away between 1999 and 2008.

These illnesses are primarily caused by two different types of asbestos exposure, both of which are common in Washington:

• Occupational exposure risks (in asbestos-contaminated jobsites) 
•  Environmental exposure risks (in naturally occurring asbestos deposits)

While asbestos is no longer mined from the environment or heavily relied on in Washington’s industrial jobsites, asbestos threats do still remain in the state.

Naturally Occurring Asbestos in Washington

Washington’s mountainous soil is rich in naturally occurring asbestos. The state was once home to two major amphibole asbestos mines:

• Lyman Deposit (Skagit County) 
•  Alta Lake Mine (Okanogan County)

Neither of these mines is still in operation, but asbestos fibers still remain in the mines and around the sites.

Asbestos was also prevalent in the earth near Swift Creek and the Sumas River. An asbestos quarry was briefly opened in the Whatcom County area, and landslides in the area threatened to wash some of the remaining asbestos into the bodies of water that surround it. The EPA began monitoring the asbestos content in the water in response to the environmental hazard.

When exploring any part of the state where naturally occurring asbestos may be present, residents should avoid handling any rock deposits that may be laced with the carcinogenic fibers. Environmental asbestos exposure risks can also be reduced by staying on paved paths when hiking or biking through natural parks.

Asbestos-Contaminated Jobsites in Washington

Washington’s industrial jobsites are also potential sources of asbestos exposure. Large companies including Lockheed Martin and Kaiser Aluminum have exposed employees at their Washington jobsites to asbestos. Other Washington-based employers with known asbestos threats at their facilities include Alcoa Aluminum, Reynolds Metal and UNOCAL Chemical.

Occupations that were at the highest risk for asbestos exposure include:

·         Construction workers

·         Plumbers

·         Steelworkers

·         Automobile mechanics

The shipbuilding industry in coastal Washington was a major industry in Washington, and many workers were exposed to asbestos while constructing private and government vessels. Tacoma Dry Dock Shipyard, Duwamish Shipyard and Bremerton Puget Sound Naval Shipyard were among the largest shipyards that posed an asbestos threat to employees.

While Washington’s jobsites are now regulated by the Washington State Department of Health, thousands of people employed before the 1980s were exposed to asbestos at work. Unfortunately, many of these workers brought asbestos fibers home on their work clothing. 

Author bio: Faith Franz is a writer for the Mesothelioma Center. She combines her interests in whole-body health and medical research to educate the mesothelioma community about the newest developments in cancer care.

Keep an Eye Out for Motorcycles

Did you know that May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month? This is a national initiative aimed at getting motorists and motorcyclists to “share the road” with each other.

 A recent NHTSA report stated that motorcycles made up nearly 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States in 2007 and accounted for only 0.4% of all vehicle miles traveled. Per vehicle mile traveled in 2007, motorcyclists were about 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in motor vehicle traffic crashes and 9 times more likely to be injured. This same report also found that motorcycles that were involved in 2 vehicle crashes were hit 77% of the time in the front while only 7% were struck from the rear. This number shows that most cars are in front of the motorcycle perhaps making a lane change or entering the roadway in front of the motorcycle.

So what can you do as a driver to avoid a crash with a motorcycle?

• Before making a lane change look over your shoulder and check your blind spot.
• If you are riding next a larger vehicle make an effort to move out of the blind spot making it easier for drivers to see you.
• Look twice to be sure you didn’t miss that bike on your first glance.

As a motorcycle driver these tips can help you avoid a crash:

• Be aware of driveways and side streets and be alert when cars are entering the roadway.
• If you are riding next to a larger vehicle make an effort to move out of the blind spot making you easy for drivers to see.
• Always ride with your headlight on for increased visibility. 

Evergreen Safety Council offers Motorcycle, Sidecar/Trike and Scooter Safety Training for all skill levels in 8 locations throughout King County.  For a full schedule or to register for a safety training class visit our website or contact our office 206-382-4090.

Article courtesy of ACTSOregon MAY edition of Traffic Safety Connection (pdf).

Reading the Road

Guest Contributor: Ross Bentley

One thing that every driver does naturally is what I call “reading the road”.  As you drive, you constantly note and evaluate the shape, layout and condition of road ahead.  You do this without even thinking about it.  It’s one of the most important things you do while driving.

The more effectively you read the road, the safer you will be.  So, let’s take a look at just some of the things you can do.

If you're driving a winding country road or mountain highway, one of the most difficult tasks you face is just knowing which way the road curves on the other side of the hill-crest.  A simple glance at the tree line or the telephone poles can give an advanced indication as to the direction and inclination on the other side of the hill.

At night, shadows will give you a hint of upcoming bumps and rises.  Light travels in a straight line, so when you see a shadow, the road is dropping at that point.  Likewise, if the surface is gathering more light, it is rising.  Since oil and antifreeze leaking from cars are more likely to be shaken off and onto the ground by a bump, you can assume that where there is dark stained roadway, there is a bump - possibly to be avoided.

Watch for uphill, downhill, banked and off-camber corners.  They will have a considerable effect on the acceleration, deceleration and turning of any car.  A good  driver uses these to his advantage - and conversely, attempts to minimize their disadvantages.  Just remember, a car going uphill or turning on a banked corner has better traction than one going downhill or on an off-camber corner.

Traction capabilities can, and should be checked at very low speeds, whenever possible - especially in adverse conditions.  When it is safe to do so, brake heavily to determine where the braking traction limit is under these particular conditions.  Don't wait until you are approaching a stop sign, or in an emergency situation to find out the road is a little icy!  That's too late.

Try to avoid braking or accelerating heavily when driving over painted road markings - especially in the wet - as  these are often very slippery.  Also, watch for leaves on the roadway.  Driving on wet leaves can be like driving on ice.

I guess the final thought is to look far ahead, reading the road and watching for changing conditions - and thinking about how that will affect you and your vehicle.

copyright: Ross Bentley

Safety & Health Solutions Newsletter - May Edition

Contributed by Star Conrad, Director of Operations, Evergreen Safety Council
Evergreen Safety Council produces a monthly newsletter covering a variety of safety topics.  Each month we provide a link here to the current month's edition.

Inside this issue:

Lead: Have You Ever Wondered How Evergreen Came to Be?

Bloodborne Pathogens and PPE

Why Enroll in a Lead Safety Cert

Forklift Corner

You can also sign up (scroll to the bottom of the page) to receive an electronic copy via email. You can also visit the archive to view past issues.

So pour yourself a cup of coffee, sit back and read all about what's going on in the world of safety & health.