Construction Safety

UnitVI.pdf

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Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VI

Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:

2. Apply Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards and related practices to construction. 2.1 Apply standards related to crane safety and practices necessary for construction site safety. 2.2 Discuss the requirements for safe demolition of buildings and structures. 2.3 Apply standards related to trenching and excavation safety and practices necessary for

construction site safety. 2.4 Identify hazards and standards related to concrete construction.

4. Examine methods used to control common construction hazards. 4.1 Analyze hazards that contribute to construction accidents.

Course/Unit Learning Outcomes

Learning Activity

2.1 Unit VI Lesson Required Readings Unit VI Assessment

2.2 Unit VI Lesson Required Readings Unit VI Assessment

2.3 Unit VI Lesson Required Readings Unit VI Assessment

2.4 Unit VI Lesson Required Readings Unit VI Assessment

4.1 Unit VI Lesson Required Readings Unit VI Assessment

Reading Assignment

Click here to access the OSHA Construction Industry Digest and read the sections indicated below.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (2014). Construction industry digest [Brochure]. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha2202.pdf

- Concrete and Masonry Construction, pp. 13-14 - Cranes and Derricks, pp. 15-16 - Demolition, p. 16 - Excavating and Trenching, pp. 20-22

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (2010). Cranes and derricks, subpart CC [PowerPoint presentation]. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/presentation/index.html

UNIT VI STUDY GUIDE

Cranes, Demolition, Excavation, Concrete

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha2202.pdf

https://www.osha.gov/cranes-derricks/presentation/index.html

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (n.d.). OSHA fact sheet: Subpart CC – cranes and derricks in

construction: Operator qualification and certification [Brochure]. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OpCertfactsheet9-29SOL-DB.pdf

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (2015). OSHA technical manual, Section V, Chapter 1: Demolition. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_v/otm_v_1.html

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (n.d.). Excavations [PowerPoint presentation]. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/construction_generalindustry/const_outreach_tp.html

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (2015). OSHA technical manual, Section V, Chapter 2: Excavations: Hazard recognition in trenching and shoring. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_v/otm_v_2.html

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (1998). Concrete and masonry construction [Brochure], pp. 1- 10. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3106.pdf

Unit Lesson

Cranes

On July 14, 1999, a 547-foot mobile crane, nicknamed “Big Blue,” collapsed during the construction of Miller Park baseball stadium in Milwaukee. The crane was lifting a 450-ton stadium roof section when it fell. Three ironworkers were killed, and the millions of dollars in damage delayed the project for an entire year. Causal factors included operating the crane in winds greater than the crane’s rating and soft ground beneath the crane (Occupational Safety & Health Administration [OSHA], 2005, p.1). The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) issued a total of eight citations to three different contractors and assessed more than $500,000 in fines. Ironically, several OSHA inspectors were onsite at the time of the accident, investigating potential fall hazards.

While most safety practitioners will not have to deal with the largest mobile crane in the world, nearly all construction requires some type of crane or lifting device at some point in the project. Cranes are complex pieces of equipment that require engineering skills for the design and execution of safe lifts. OSHA recognizes this complexity in its very comprehensive standard for cranes (29 CFR 1926 Subpart CC). Construction safety professionals need to ensure that only qualified persons are allowed to operate cranes, rig loads, and design lifts. Crane inspections must be current and documented.

(Almeida, n.d.)

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OpCertfactsheet9-29SOL-DB.pdf

https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_v/otm_v_1.html

https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/construction_generalindustry/const_outreach_tp.html

https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_v/otm_v_2.html

https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3106.pdf

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

Excavation and Trenching

Many construction projects begin with dirt work or excavations. Earth-moving equipment moves dirt around the site, and then the digging starts for water lines and other types of underground utilities. Open trenches are created. Eventually, workers will need to enter those trenches to install utility lines. While excavation and trenching accidents are not always as “newsworthy” as a dramatic mobile crane collapse, they occur frequently enough to be part of OSHA’s “Fatal Four” construction hazards (OSHA, n.d.-a). The most common hazard of working in an excavation or trench is when the walls cave in and trap workers, and it often happens without warning. The trench does not have to be deep to be hazardous. Most accidents occur in trenches 5- 15 feet deep. Other concerns include:

 asphyxiation due to lack of oxygen,

 inhalation of toxic materials,

 fire, and

 electrocution from accidental severing of underground utility lines.

Watch this video, created by WorkSafeBC, highlighting the dangers of working in trenches: https://youtu.be/Q- 4zmR6yGzw (used with permission from WorkSafeBC)

Concrete and Masonry

Concrete is widely used in construction as pre-cast pieces transported to the site and assembled, or poured into forms at the site. Safe movement of pre-cast concrete depends on a knowledge of the weight of the materials as well as an understanding of the capacity of the equipment used to move the load. Pouring concrete creates a series of unique hazards, often starting with a trench into which forms are placed. Steel rebar is used to give the concrete additional strength, and before the concrete is poured, workers must be protected from the impalement hazards. Once the concrete is poured, a determination must be made that it has gained sufficient strength before the forms are removed. There must be a written plan for how this determination is made, or an approved standard test method must be used (OSHA, 1998).

An often-overlooked hazard of working with concrete is skin exposure to portland cement. Portland cement is also used in mortar, plaster, grout, stucco, and terrazzo. Skin contact with wet cement can cause caustic burns. These burns do not cause immediate pain and are often overlooked until serious damage has been done. Repeated skin exposure to cement can also result in sensitization, where even brief contact triggers a dermatitis-like reaction. Adequate PPE must be provided and used.

Demolition

Demolition is construction in reverse. Unlike construction, however, the hazards are not always easy to identify. For this reason, the OSHA standard for demolition (29 CFR 1926 Subpart T) requires extensive planning and preparation. Some of the key requirements are:

 engineering survey of the structure to be demolished,

 location of all utilities,

 medical services, and

 fire prevention and protection (OSHA, 2015).

Demolition is a significant source of exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, and cadmium. The engineering survey must contain a list of all the materials used in the construction of the facility to be demolished.

You can be sure that the demolition shown in the linked video, created by Controlled Demolition, Inc., would not have been successful had there not been a solid plan in place: https://youtu.be/oiftDBtCFt8 (Used by permission from Controlled Demolition, Inc. – Phoenix, Maryland, USA.)

Caught-In or -Between Hazards

OSHA has identified caught-In or -between hazards as one of the four leading causes of construction fatalities (OSHA, n.d.-b). Many of these hazards involve construction equipment and excavations. Click on this image for an example of a common caught-in or -between hazard:

https://youtu.be/Q-4zmR6yGzw

https://youtu.be/oiftDBtCFt8

http://www.controlled-demolition.com/

UNIT x STUDY GUIDE

Title

References

Almeida, A. (n.d.). “What the heck is THAT??” [Cartoon]. Retrieved from http://www.almeidacartoons.com/Safe_toons1.html

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (n.d.-a). Commonly used statistics. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (n.d.-b). Construction focus four training. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/dte/outreach/construction/focus_four/index.html

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (1998). Concrete and masonry construction [Brochure]. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3106.pdf

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (2005). The great American ballpark (A). Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/success_stories/compliance_assistance/abbott/stadium_construction.html

Occupational Safety & Health Administration. (2015). OSHA technical manual: Section V: Chapter 1. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/dts/osta/otm/otm_v/otm_v_1.html

TheLoizeauxGroupLLC. (2010, March 5). Kingdome – controlled demolition, Inc. [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiftDBtCFt8&feature=youtu.be

WorkSafeBC. (2011, Jan, 11). Excavation death trap: Not today [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-4zmR6yGzw&feature=youtu.be