CONSTRUCTION SAFETY RULES

CONSTRUCTION SAFETY RULES ALL OF OUR SAFETY RULES MUST BE OBEYED.  FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN STRICT DISCIPLINARY ACTION BEING TAKEN.

1. Keep your mind on your work at all times.  No horseplay on the job.  Injury or termination or both can be the result.

2. Personal safety equipment must be worn as prescribed for each job, such as:  safety glasses for eye protection, hard hats at all times within the confines of the construction area where there is a potential for falling materials or tools, gloves when handling materials, and safety shoes are necessary for protection against foot injuries.

3. Precautions are necessary to prevent sunburn and to protect against burns from hot materials.

4. If any part of your body should come in contact with an acid or caustic substance, rush to the nearest water available and flush the affected part.  Secure medical aid immediately.

5. Watch where you are walking.  Don’t run.

6. The use of illegal drugs or alcohol or being under the influence of the same on the project shall be cause for termination.  Inform your supervisor if taking strong prescription drugs that warn against driving or using machinery.

7. Do not distract the attention of fellow workers.  Do no engage in any act which would endanger another employee.

8. Sanitation facilities have been or will be provided for your use.  Defacing or damaging these facilities is forbidden.

9. A good job is a clean job, and a clean job is the start of a safe job.  So keep your working area free from rubbish and debris.

10. Do not use a compressor to blow dust or dirt from your clothes, hair, or hands.

11. Never work aloft if you are afraid to do so, if you are subject to dizzy spells, or if you are apt to be nervous or sick.

12. Never move an injured person unless it is absolutely necessary.  Further injury may result.  Keep the injured as comfortable as possible and utilize job site first-aid equipment until an ambulance arrives.

13. Know where firefighting equipment is located and be trained on how to use it.

14. Lift correctly – with legs, not the back.  If the load is too heavy GET HELP.  Stay fit.  Control your weight.  Do stretching exercises.  Approximately twenty percent of all construction related injuries result from lifting materials.

15. Nobody but operator shall be allowed to ride on equipment unless proper seating is provided.

16. Do not use power tools and equipment until you have been properly instructed in the safe work methods and become authorized to use them.

17. Be sure that all guards are in place.  Do not remove, displace, damage, or destroy any safety device or safeguard furnished or provided for use on the job, nor interfere with the use thereof.

18. Do not enter an area which has been barricaded.

19. If you must work around power shovels, trucks, and dozers, make sure operators can always see you.  Barricades are required for cranes.

20. Never oil, lubricate, or fuel equipment while it is running or in motion.

21. Before servicing, repairing, or adjusting any powered tool or piece of equipment, disconnect it, lock out the source of power, and tag it out.

22. Barricade danger areas.  Guard rails or perimeter cables may be required.

23. Trenches over five feet deep must be shored or sloped as required.  Keep out of trenches or cuts that have not been properly shored or sloped.  Excavated or other material shall not be stored nearer than two feet from the edge of the excavation.  Excavations less than 5 ft may also require cave in protection in some instances.

24. Use the “four and one” rule when using a ladder.  One foot of base for every four feet of height.

25. Portable ladders in use shall be equipped with safety feet unless ladder is tied, blocked or otherwise secured.  Step ladders shall not be used as a straight ladder.

26. Ladders must extend three feet above landing on roof for proper use.

27. Defective ladders must be properly tagged and removed from service.

28. Keep ladder bases free of debris, hoses, wires, materials, etc.

29. Build scaffolds according to manufacturers’ recommendations and MIOSHA Construction Safety Standard Part 12 – Scaffolding.

30. Scaffold planks shall be properly lapped, cleated or otherwise secured to prevent shifting.

31. Use only extension cords of the three-prong type.  Use ground fault circuit interrupters at all times and when using tools in wet atmosphere (e.g. outdoors) or with any temporary power supply.  Check the electrical grounding system daily.

32. The use of harnesses with safety lines when working from unprotected high places is mandatory.  Always keep your line as tight as possible.

33. Never throw anything “overboard.”  Someone passing below may be seriously injured.

34. Open fires are prohibited.

35. Know what emergency procedures have been established for your job site.  (location of emergency phone, first aid kit, stretcher location, fire extinguisher locations, evacuation plan, etc.)

36. Never enter a manhole, well, shaft, tunnel or other confined space which could possibly have a nonrespirable atmosphere because of lack of oxygen, or presence of toxic or flammable gas, or has a possibility of engulfment by solids or liquids.  Make certain a qualified person tests the confined area with an appropriate detector before entry, that the necessary safety equipment is worn.  Standby person may be required to be stationed at the entrance.