Month: November 2021

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Three Winter Construction Worksite Risks and What Experts Say Keeps Worker Safe

Safety hazards at construction sites are present all year round, but wintertime can bring in seriously dangerous working conditions. With lower temperatures and bad weather, the risk of cold-related accidents and injuries is at an all-time high.

Three big weather risks are most often identified with winter construction worksites. They include:

  1. Cold Stress Illnesses
  2. Icy Slip, Trip, and Fall Risks
  3. Work Zone Traffic Dangers

Below we’ll look at what each risk includes and what industry experts say are the most successful ways of protecting workers from these wintertime hazards.

1.   Cold Stress Illnesses

There’s no doubt that cold outdoor environments can endanger workers. But, it’s actually more than just the cold. You can blame it on the wind too. As the wind speed increases, it causes the air temperature to feel even colder.

Wet weather is another concerning element in the mix, said Brenda Jacklitsch, a health scientist at the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), in her article for the CDC website. She pointed out that a combination of all three elements: low temperature, wind speed, and wet conditions can lead to illness even at moderate temperatures as the diagram below shows.

Exposure to these conditions causes skin temperatures to drop and, in time, the body’s core temperature to drop below the healthy average of 37°C. When the body is unable to warm itself, severe cold-related illnesses referred to as cold stress could occur.

“What may be common knowledge for one person—say someone who grew up with cold weather conditions—may be new information for someone who has never before experienced snow, ice, or falling temperatures. There is also a lot of misinformation, so by spending a little time providing accurate information to all workers, injuries and illness may be prevented.”

 

 

– Brenda Jacklitsch, Health Scientist at NIOSH

For more information on cold stress illnesses like hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot, and chilblains, including symptoms and first aid, visit the NIOSH topic page on Cold Stress.

Preventing Cold Stress Illnesses

Worksite regulations specifically target cold stress because it can cause serious physical harm or even death to workers.

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) developed the “Work/Warm-up Schedule for a 4-hour shift.” It takes both air temperature and wind speed into account to provide recommendations on scheduling work breaks and ceasing non-emergency work.

Work/Warm-up Schedule for a 4-Hour Shift

When cold environments cannot be avoided, workers should follow the 4-hour shift schedule. NIOSH also advises moving into warm locations during work breaks and limiting the amount of time outside on extremely cold days.

They recommend workers should also carry cold-weather gear, such as extra socks, gloves, hats, jackets, blankets, a change of clothes, and a thermos of hot liquid. And first aid kits should have a thermometer and chemical hot packs.

Finally, NIOSH suggests workers exercise the following behaviors to keep safe:

  • Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin
  • Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers
  • Dress for the conditions, including personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE for cold work environments

Typically, PPE is considered the last line of defense for worker protections. However, when it comes to the cold weather in outdoor environments, clothing and PPE play a significant role. Important safeguards from worker PPE should include insulating layers of warm material, wind-chill protection, and protective covering for wet/rainy conditions.

Employers must provide PPE when required by OSHA standards to protect workers’ safety and health. But, there is actually no official OSHA requirement for employers to provide workers with ordinary clothing or other items used solely for protection from the weather (29 CFR 1910.132(h)(4)).

Despite that, many employers provide their workers with winter weather gear such as winter coats/jackets and gloves.

For another article in Safety and Health Magazine Jacklitsch warns that finding a balance between what you’re wearing and the type of job you’re doing is critical.

“You need to be aware that having extra PPE on may restrict some of your movements, so you need to be more careful.”

NIOSH tips on wearing protective clothing safely

●       Wear several layers of loose clothing. Layering provides better insulation.

●       Avoid tight clothing because it reduces blood circulation. Warmblood needs to be circulated to the extremities.

●       When choosing clothing, be aware that some clothing may restrict movement resulting in a hazardous situation.

●       Make sure to protect the ears in freezing weather.

●       Boots should be waterproof and insulated.

Caption: It’s important to keep your feet dry and warm outside in the winter months. The Durawear 5-buckle Arctic boot can do the trick and the sole helps prevent slips.

●       Wear a hat; it will keep your whole body warmer. (Hats reduce the amount of body heat that escapes from your head.)

●       Use an insulated coat/jacket (water-resistant if necessary)

Caption: Staying warm, and dry is critical. The Class 3 insulated black bottom bomber jacket is just what you need to stay seen on a winter construction site.

●       Cover face and mouth (if needed) with knit mask

●       Protect hands with insulated gloves (water resistant if necessary)

Caption: Keeping your hands warm and protected from the cold is essential. The Arctic Tuff line of protective gloves provides a thermal, 13-gauge, hi-vis color, nylon shell and black, foam latex, palm coating.

2.   Icy Slip, Trip, and Fall Risks

Even if dressed for the weather, outside workers need to continue to exercise caution. OHSA reports that slips, trips, and falls make up a large part of workplace accidents, and they are the cause of 15 percent of all accidental fatalities.

Even though these accidents can occur any time of the year, the snow and ice of winter make for an increase in hazardous conditions and the risks of serious injury.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in a survey that looked at incident rates from 2008 to 2017, the yearly average was over 20,000 occupational injuries related just to ice, sleet, and snow.

On winter construction sites workers are faced with super slippery surfaces from parking lots, sidewalks, and roads. Often there is not only snow to deal with but layers of ice can be hidden underneath. Its critical workers are prepared.

Preventing weather-related accidents

Because walking on the snow and ice is unavoidable on a winter construction site, OSHA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) work together to help workers learn how to respond to severe weather hazards.

Together they create and distribute information about wintertime risks including slips, trips and falls along with other dangers that workers may face during and after winter storms, and recommend the following:

3.   Work Zone Traffic Dangers

Yet another danger winter construction workers face is working around moving vehicles. And the winter weather makes that an even more dangerous situation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) sites 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes happen on icy, slushy, or snowy roads. According to that same report, more than 1,300 people are killed on roads under those same conditions every year, and snowfall and sleet cause an additional 900 deaths.

Seventy percent of the nation’s roads are located in snowy regions and the Federal Highway Administration points out that road maintenance issues in these areas are higher due to the increase in snow and ice.

This means road construction must continue even in the winter months, and construction workers will need to work in hazardous winter situations where vehicles are often present.

Work Zone Safety

Because drivers may skid or lose control of their cars more easily when driving on snow and/or ice-covered roads, construction workers being struck by vehicles is a real risk of the job. Workers exposed to vehicular traffic should wear the appropriate high visibility vest at all times so that they can be visible to motorists.

OSHA stresses the importance of properly setting up work zones during the winter months as a way to prevent accidents and recommends:

Work Zone Protections: Various concrete, water, sand, collapsible barriers, crash cushions, and truck-mounted impact absorbers can help limit unauthorized entry by motorists into construction work zones.

Flagging: Flaggers should wear high-visibility clothing with a fluorescent background and made of retroreflective material. This makes workers visible for at least 1,000 feet in any direction. Drivers should be warned with signs that there will be flaggers ahead. Flaggers should use STOP/SLOW paddles, paddles with lights, or flags (only in emergencies).

Lighting: Flagger stations should be well lit. Lighting for workers on foot and equipment operators should be at least five-foot candles or greater. Where available lighting is not sufficient, flares or chemical lighting should be used. Glare should be controlled or eliminated.

Training: Flaggers must be trained/certified and use authorized signaling methods. Driving: Seat belts and rollover protection should be used on equipment and vehicles as the manufacturer recommends.

Learn more at Work Zone Traffic Safety (OSHA QuickCard™) and Highway Work Zones and Signs, Signals, and Barricades (OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page)

Winter construction work requires working smart

In construction, there is no room for error, particularly in the winter when it comes to workplace safety in and around a worksite. However, cold weather doesn’t have to stop productivity. With the correct equipment and by following recommended controls, construction workers can stay safe all year long.

Identifying and minimizing cold-weather risks and ensuring the right gear is available will help keep winter construction workers warm, dry and safe throughout the season.

When it comes time to find the best selection of PPE for those winter months, Liberty Glove and Safety can help. Contact us to learn more about our line of personal protective equipment.

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What Risks Do Workers Face in Food Manufacturing?

What Risks Do Workers Face in Food Manufacturing?

Recent interest in protecting workers from the COVID 19 virus has brought increasing public attention to food manufacturing and the workers in the industry. Although the pandemic continues to be a safety consideration, paying attention to the workers’ general health and safety must also be a priority.

From extreme temperatures to slips and falls, food manufacturing presents many risks to those in it. In this post we’ll take a closer look at those risks and their impact on the food-manufacturing workers by exploring the following:

  • Who are the food manufacturing workers?
  • What hazards do they face?
  • What are some shared risks and how are they minimized?
  • Does the Coronavirus still remain a concern?

Who are the food manufacturing workers?

According to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the most significant portion of food manufacturing workers are in animal production and processing (38%). The subsequent largest set work is crop production (30%) and then seafood (7%). The rest (25%) are part of other food processing facilities.

That represents about 3.4 million people. Taking care of them has a major impact on their health and happiness and is also critical in maintaining our national food supply.

What hazards do they face?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identify risks within each of the above industries.

Animal Production/processing

There are many serious safety and health hazards in the meatpacking industry. OSHA records hazards that include exposure to high noise levels, dangerous equipment, slippery floors, musculoskeletal disorders, and hazardous chemicals (including ammonia that is used as a refrigerant).

Crop Production (Farmworkers)

According to OSHA, agricultural operations put farmworkers at high risk for fatalities and injuries, work-related lung diseases, noise-induced hearing loss, skin diseases, and certain cancers associated with chemical use and prolonged sun exposure.

Seafood Processing

The CDC reports that seafood processing workers have the highest injury/illness rate of any U.S. maritime workers. Occupational hazards include exposures to biological aerosols containing allergens, microorganisms, and toxins; bacteria and parasites; excessive noise levels; low temperatures; poor ergonomics; and contact with machinery and equipment.

Other Food Manufacturing

An Industry Safety & Hygiene News (ISHN) article, pointed out the importance of upholding safety standards within all of the sectors of the food manufacturing industry. The article stressed that ensuring the workers are looked after and food manufacturing environments are secure is crucial to the overall industry success.

What are some shared risks and how are they minimized?

Each of the mentioned food manufacturing industries shares common risks. Those risks, along with the protective equipment that is often used to minimize them, include:

1. Temperature Extremes

Temperatures play a significant role in a food processing worker’s day. They are often exposed to extreme heat from equipment like ovens, cookers, steamers, and hot water scalders. On the other hand, those workers who work in cold environments face overexposure to low temperatures commonly found in areas that have walk-in freezers, outdoor loading docks, refrigerated trucks, etc.

For cold indoor areas, thermal gloves and hats, earmuffs, and waterproof boots are often used for protecting workers against those temperatures.

For hot indoor environments, OSHA encourages water, rest, and limited exposure as well as treating any heat-related illness quickly.

2. Dangerous Equipment

The tools used in food manufacturing facilities can be hazardous, including equipment like blades, knives, and cutting machines, which put workers at risk of minor to severe injuries often involving the hands. For those workers, wearing cut-resistant gloves is considered critical PPE and can substantially minimize the risks.

Another consideration for those working around food processing equipment is their hair. It’s critical to keep it contained when on the job. Hair can contaminate sanitized surfaces and is a threat to the worker if it gets caught in machinery.

Hair coverings, including hairnets, beard nets, and bouffant caps, are designed to prevent that danger and are required by the FDA

3. High Noise Levels

The noise around many of the machines used in food manufacturing is often at very high levels. Sometimes it is at such a level that it can cause serious adverse effects on the hearing of the workers operating the machines or even just those near them.

Apart from mitigating noise levels, OSHA (in most cases) requires supplying appropriate hearing protection, which may include disposable earplugs or full coverage ear muffs depending on the noise exposure and the chances of hearing loss.

Note that it’s essential to choose the appropriate attenuation level so that alarms and warnings can be heard.

4. Chemical or Biological Exposure

Food processing may, at times, require the use of dangerous biological or chemical substances that could harm those workers who are regularly exposed to them. For example, handling live animals or raw meat (or meat by-products) is a common biological hazard, while sanitizing and cooling food products poses a significant chemical threat.

Coveralls, aprons, goggles, gloves, particulate respirators, and face shields are some of the protections that are necessary to keep workers safe and protect them from the long-term effects of these types of chemical or biological exposures.

5. Slips, Falls, and Trips

Food manufacturing facilities require frequent wash downs. The liquid cleaners needed to keep those surfaces and floors sanitary often create the perfect environment for potential slips or falls.

The last survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019 reported that 4,990 workers in the food industry experienced nonfatal injuries involving days away from work caused by these types of accidents.

According to OSHA, employers should implement a comprehensive safety program to identify hazards leading to slips, trips, falls, and other injuries. Of course, proper PPE should be part of that, including footwear with slip-resistant soles

6. Ergonomic risk factors

Workers in the food processing industry could be susceptible to injuries caused by repetitive motion or lifting heavy objects. Those who want to work without the undue pain it can cause will sometimes turn to ergonomic products that may help stabilize their joints when under stress.

Anti-vibration gloves, back support belts, and knee pads, though not required, are examples of products that may provide ergonomic support and offer a more relaxed way of working.

Does the Coronavirus (COVID-19) still remain a concern?

Outside of the industry risks we’ve mentioned, Covid 19 continues to be a safety concern for all food manufacturers. To help employers determine appropriate precautions, OSHA has prepared a guideline entitled: the Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19.

The guide divides job tasks into four risk exposure levels. Most American food manufacturing workers will likely fall in the lower exposure risk (caution) or medium exposure risk levels. It’s broken down as the following:

Caption:  The Occupational Risk Pyramid shows the four exposure risk levels in the shape of a pyramid to represent the probability distribution of risk.

Very High Exposure Risk

Very high exposure risk jobs are those with high potential for exposure to known or suspected sources of COVID-19 during specific medical, postmortem, or laboratory procedures. Workers in this category include:

  • Healthcare workers (e.g., doctors, nurses, dentists, paramedics, emergency medical technicians)
  • Healthcare or laboratory personnel collecting or handling specimens from known or suspected COVID-19 patients
  • Morgue workers who perform autopsies, on the bodies of people who are known to have, or suspected of having, COVID-19 at the time of their death.

High Exposure Risk

High exposure risk jobs are those with high potential for exposure to known or suspected sources of COVID-19. Workers in this category include:

  • Healthcare delivery and support staff (e.g., doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff who must enter patients’ rooms) exposed to known or suspected COVID-19 patients.
  • Medical transport workers (e.g., ambulance vehicle operators) moving known or suspected COVID-19 patients in enclosed vehicles.
  • Mortuary workers involved in preparing (e.g., for burial or cremation) the bodies of people who are known to have, or suspected of having, COVID-19 at the time of their death.

Medium Exposure Risk

Medium exposure risk jobs include those that require frequent and/or close contact with (i.e., within 6 feet of) people who may be infected with SARS-CoV-2, but who are not known or suspected COVID-19 patients. (e.g., schools, high-population-density work environments, some high-volume retail settings).

Lower Exposure Risk (Caution)

Lower exposure risk (caution) jobs are those that do not require contact with people known to be, or suspected of being, infected with SARS-CoV-2 nor frequent close contact with (i.e., within 6 feet of) the general public. Workers in this category have minimal occupational contact with the public and other coworkers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises those working in the lower risk category to use face masks or coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who are unaware they have the virus from spreading it to others.

In collaboration with the CDC, the FDA developed a quick reference guide to respirators, masks, or cloth face coverings potentially worn by workers in the Food and Agriculture Sector.

Continuing to Keep Workers Safe

Even with a possible end to the pandemic insight, the success and productiveness of the food manufacturing industry will depend on its commitment to the health and safety of its workers.

Consistently identifying the risks, putting the appropriate controls in place, and using the correct PPE will not only continue to help the workers but will also ensure the success of the industry as a whole.

When it comes time to find the best selection of PPE whatever food manufacturing industry you are in, Liberty Glove and Safety can help. Contact us to learn more about our line of personal protective equipment.