Construction Safety

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1. I believe that the first employee has every right to be cautious about working inside of a trench because of its possible repercussions. Also the second employee should be more understanding and supportive in order to assure that the first employee will be safe at all times especially if safety equipment is provided. I would tell both employees that although excavations are dangerous, the proper OSHA standards of on-site inspections by a professional as well as protection through use of various support systems shall be utilized in order dissociate any fear linked to this type of work.

2. I believe that ladder training is necessary especially since the supervisor is ordering the carpenter to do so. OSHA has designated safety as a top priority and will provide help with proper usage as well as preliminary inspections i order to minimize any incidents from happening.

J V

1. I would tell them that either at the top or bottom of the trench the danger could be imminent if the rules place by OSHA are not followed. I would explain to them that there are four types of soil, stable rock being the safest soil for a trench, then Type A, Type B, and finally Type C being the least stable. Depending on which type of soil it is, the type of protective system is chosen. Sloping, benching, shoring, and shielding are the types of protective systems that a trench can have. The person in charge of selecting the protective system is a professional and they shouldn’t be afraid to work on a trench, it is safe once the regulations are followed. I would advise them to stay vigilant and make sure they follow trainings that are provided to them and let know to a superior if they feel unsafe about a trench protection system so that it can be taken care of.  Bottom of Form

2. Trainings are necessary, OSHA places trainings for the safety of workers, so they can be educated on their job environment. It is important to understand and follow the rules because that will decrease the number of accidents that a person may have. The more educated a worker is on either ladder use or any other topic, the more safe will he be. No matter if its something as simple as using a ladder, it is important to know the rules and regulations that OSHA places.

R E

1. If we want to come to a conclusion to this question there is more detail about the circumstance of the trench we need to know. If you follow OSHA's regulations, a trench could possibly be as safe as it is on the surface. To set up a safe trench, first you have to identify the type of soil you are working on, it could be TYPE A, TYPE B, TYPE C, or stable rock. After determining what type of soil it is, you can start to use the appropriate type of slope for digging the trench according to the type of soil following OSHA's recommendation. A shoring system will also help protect individuals from cave ins which is also part of the excavations subpart in the 1926 OSHA construction manual. If you follow OSHA's standard and also consider the traffic around the trench, because of possible floor vibrations, you can be safe working inside a trench. Both of these employees should get some training to understand how it is possible to work in a trench safely.

2. Continuous training on any topic is never to much. Since there are many safety obligations we need to follow when working in construction, it is sometimes hard to remember all of them, or simply since on a day to day basis we are always working with this tools, and ways of doing things, that sometimes people just do not pay attention to detail. Remembering that we always need to check a ladder before using it, and as well as to follow all the safety rules it is important to avoid hazardous situations. In this particular case, if the carpenter already knows all about ladder safety it would be an excellent idea to have him share some experience on the job he has had with ladders, so the new workers can know a little more and have someone with a lot of experience share his point of view.

K W

1. It is completely normal to question the safety of a situation, especially before you enter said situation. It would be a great opportunity to review the hazards of the particular task, so they are more prepared are fully aware of the environment. They are both wright and wrong. The employees could get into the trench and be completely fine or there could be an accident. The same thing goes for the surface. The surface is full of hazards, as well. It comes down to being aware of your environment and understanding the hazards and what safety measures are in place to prevent any accidents. This includes safety procedures, required PPE, and safely operating equipment.

According to the OSHA Fact Sheet, cave-ins pose the greatest risk and less riskier hazards include falls, falling roads, and incidents involving equipment. Trenches should have a protective system, unless built into stable rock (OSHA, n.d.). Some of these protective systems include having a proper slope, shoring (prevents movement) and shielding (also prevents movement) (OSHA, n.d.). The protective system should consider rock type, soil type, how deep the trench is cut, weather, etc. It is also important to keep equipment and loads away from the edges, locate and know where utility lines are, test for hazardous gases, make sure the area is inspected daily (OSHA, n.d.).

2. Ladder training is necessary, because there is more to it than just climbing the rungs of the ladder. You must consider if it is the right length or strength for the job, the ladder itself is in good condition to use, and whether or not the ladder at the right angle. You also have to consider whether the ground is stable and level, and you are wearing proper shoes to avoid slipping. In addition, if you are going to be going above 6 feet, you’ll have to consider fall protection. All of these are important aspects of using a ladder. Regardless, if you think you know how to safely use a ladder, it never hurts to go through a refresher course. Usually, we get safety regulations, because it happened to someone before. Therefore, safety training on using a ladder is necessary, because there have been accidents where they were being used unsafely.

R B

1. I believe that both employees are correct, cave ins of excavations are a safety issue that can be life threatening. As an employer I would hope that the greatest safety precautions are taken and would talk to both employees regarding their concern. I would advise them that we have the proper equipment in place to protect them but at the same time they need to make sure that they are following all safety rules in order to make working in the excavation as safe as possible.

2. With ladder falls being one of the most common falls among work places, new techniques have been established to avoid these falls. I would advise the carpenter that there are new techniques that may prevent a fall that he may benefit from. Apart from that I would say if anything consider it a break and a chance to sit down while watching the presentation.

3.