Here is an example shared by BP:

“A few months ago I was driving with my family when a motorcycle passed us on a four lane road. About 20 seconds later as I came around a sharp curve in the road, I noticed the same motorcycle in a ditch and the driver lying face down and unconscious in the grass about 30 feet away. I immediately stopped to help and I was the first one on the scene. There were no other vehicles involved. I called 911 (the emergency number in the US) from my mobile phone to report the incident and requested an ambulance. As I explained where I was located to the dispatcher, he couldn’t figure out which ambulance service to call because we were on the border between two towns. I was amazed how difficult it was to get help! About 20 minutes later, police and ambulance services from both towns finally arrived. While at the scene, they were trying to figure out which jurisdiction they were in and who should transport the injured person. The person finally regained consciousness and was taken to the hospital. I was shocked and amazed by the confusion that I was witnessing! How could this happen?”

The actions that are taken in the first few minutes of an emergency can be critical. A quick warning to people to stop work, shelter or evacuate can often save lives. A prompt call for help to local emergency services with accurate information about the site operations, location and type of emergency is important for the dispatcher so that the right responders and equipment can be sent.

The first step in emergency preparedness is planning. A few years ago I was involved in a project in tornado alley.  There were 50 people onsite, and we planned for everyone to muster into the only subgrade basement on site if needed.  We practiced this to make sure everyone would fit, and during the drill, someone asked “What do you see missing?”  We had water, some food, flash lights, but the answer we got was easily overlooked.  “Where do we go to the bathroom?”

When developing an emergency response plan, the hazards and the risks need to be fully assessed to identify potential emergency scenarios. An understanding of what can happen will enable you to determine emergency resource requirements and to develop effective plans and procedures. The plan should include a description of the notification and activation process along with options for response. The emergency information should either be incorporated into the site Health and Safety Plan (HASP) or included in a stand-alone Emergency Response Plan based upon applicable regulatory requirements, scope of work or site risks.

Part of the planning process should also include verification that the emergency phone numbers and resources or equipment that will be relied upon during an emergency are accurate and available.

• When was the last time that you reviewed your site’s emergency response plan?
• Do you know what to do in in an emergency?
• Do you know where the nearest hospital is located?
• Do you know how to initiate an emergency response?

Daily visual inspections are imperative for our or a subs equipment to function well and without incident.  As discussed in a previous Safety Brake, equipment inspectors need to have  proper competency and experience to match the equipment being inspected .  With the backhoe’s diverse set of uses, an inspector should be prepared for a comprehensive checklist.  One method to use when performing an inspection of the backhoe or other similar equipment is to break it down into five major areas and conduct a SMART inspection.

1. Structural Components – visually look for cracks, welds, dents, bends, kinks, and backlashes in the critical functioning areas such as: arms, booms, buckets, masts, outriggers, and hooks.
2. Mechanical  – visually check engine, transmission and hydraulic units; as well as all the moving mechanical parts, checking the oil and fluid levels.
3. Aesthetics (or outside appearance) –  visually inspect the external steel and sheet metal, paint, look for corrosion, leaks and oil & grease build up at all knuckles and pivot points. Inside look at the condition of the seat, seat belt, control levers/wheels/joysticks/etc.(are they labeled with name and proper directional function) and the unit’s glass (is it without flaws, seated or sealed  properly and clean).
4. Roll Over Protectors (RoP) – is it provided and in good condition without dents, dings and depressions; also check that crash bars, horns, lights and seat belts, are  functioning properly.
5. Tires and/or Tracks – check tires for gouges, slices and even wear and that they are aligned and  inflated correctly.  Check tracks for cleat wear, alignment and rotation forward and reverse.  Check if they are tracking straight.

As with all inspections, if something doesn’t look right,  STOP WORK, re-assess, remove and lock out the unit from service and have it checked out by a trained mechanic for repair.

Inspections can only serve us correctly when they are completed safely, efficiently and effectively.  Inspections can make our jobs less complicated and more efficient but most importantly they can help ensure that we go home safe back to our families.

Equipment Inspection -Inspector Qualifications and Competency

It is each of our responsibilities to maintain a safe work environment for ourselves, our coworkers, and our subcontractors.  The way we create a safe work environment is by identifying and mitigating / controlling hazards and risks, but before you can mitigate or control anything, you have to know what the “anything” is.  As the caption of our Portal states “If you don’t know what is going to happen, there is no way to stop it.”  This is where inspections become an integral part of our process in maintaining a safe work environment.  Whether at work or at play and at the most basic level, all of us constantly perform visual inspections.  We visually inspect the environment we are in looking for possible hazards.  But even at the most basic level, the competency of the person doing the inspection is important.  If you have no knowledge of certain hazards, it’s hard to recognize one.  This is where the “competency” of the inspector comes in to play.

Oftentimes, the equipment user is also the inspector.  The user inspects his own PPE, hand tools, certain aspects of power tools, vehicles, and heavy equipment.  However, there are times when the user should not be the inspector.  When do the inspection requirements move beyond the user’s capabilities?  A good example to explore this is to think about your own personal vehicle.  You, the user, inspect tires, seat belts, fluid levels, operation of lights and signals, etc.; however, if you want to check the wheel alignment or wear on the timing belt most of us defer to a professional mechanic.  We simply do not have the competency (i.e. experience, knowledge and/or training) to perform those inspections.

When it comes to equipment inspections, it is important to ensure that the inspector has the right competency to perform the inspections they are doing.  In assuring whether and inspector has the necessary competency, the following should be considered:

• Range of inspection activities (what is being inspected);
• Competence for each activity (ability to detect and evaluate defects);
• Evidence of training and assessment against the competence criteria (records and certificates)
• Authorization and monitoring of persons performing the inspections (peer or higher authority)

Stratus’ expectation is that tools and equipment are inspected by a competent person before every use.  Once we put the effort into choosing the correct tool or equipment to perform the work, we need to make sure the tools and equipment are deemed safe to use.  It is all of our responsibility to ensure safe and reliable outcomes and inspectors play a key role in that goal.

You won’t believe what caused the fire in this man’s home. His one lesson about the cause of the fire is so incredibly important. Click Here

The Problem

• 9-volt batteries can be dangerous.  The positive and negative posts are close together.  If a metal object touches the two posts of a 9-volt battery, it can cause a short circuit.  This can make enough heat to start a fire.
• It is unsafe to store 9-volt batteries in a drawer near paper clips, coins, pens, or other batteries.  Do not store common household items such as steel wool, aluminum foil, and keys near 9-volt batteries.  If these items touch the two posts, there is a greater risk of a fire starting.
• Weak batteries may have enough charge to cause a fire.
• Some fires have started in trash when 9-volt batteries were thrown away with other metal items.

Storing 9-Volt Batteries

• Keep batteries in original packaging until you are ready to use them.
• If loose, keep the posts covered with masking, duct, or electrical tape.
• Prevent the posts from coming in contact with metal objects.
• Keep them someplace safe where they won’t be tossed around.
• Store batteries standing up.
• 9-volt batteries should not be stored loose in a drawer.  Do not store them in containers with other batteries.

Disposal

• 9-volt batteries should not be thrown away with trash.  They can come in contact with other batteries or pieces of metal.
• 9-volt batteries can be taken to a collection site for household hazardous waste.
• To be safe, cover the positive and negative posts with masking, duct, or electrical tape before getting rid of batteries.
• Some states do not allow any type of battery to be disposed of with trash.  Check with your city or town for the best way to get rid of batteries.

Fatigue is a result of physiological factors, it is not a state of mind.  Fatigue is often a root use of accidents.  Suffering from fatigue can lead to errors which in turn, may lead to accidents.  Some usual or contributing factors that lead to fatigue come from lack of basic health necessities such as diminished sleep, poor diet and exercise, increased stress, and known or unknown medical conditions.

Most of the time, we are able to nurture our work/life balance in order to combat and minimize the effects of fatigue.  However, during this time of year, when we throw in seasonal activities, end of year deadlines, planning for next year, holidays, shopping, visits to/from friends and family, and travel and quickly the delicate work/life balance gets thrown off.  Many of us, during this time of year, continue to push, go the extra step, throw in one more item to do and before you know it, an already full schedule becomes overwhelming, stress takes over and fatigue sets in.

Fatigue can be controlled.  The first step is to prevent it from happening but aside from prevention, you should be aware of the following signs and symptoms of fatigue:

Physical Signs:

• Head bobbing, nodding off
• Slower movements
• Heavy eyelids — slow rolling eye movements, blinking, bloodshot eyes
• Reduced motor coordination
• Unsteady on feet
• Slower than normal responses and reactions
• Excessive yawning
• Sluggishness or lack of energy
• Out-of-character facial expressions

Performance Signs:

• Easily distracted
• Difficulty concentrating, lapses in attention
• Difficulty completing tasks
• False perception of pability & performance
• Short term memory loss (not remembering, forgetting instructions)
• Lacking motivation to do tasks well, cutting corners, deviating from procedures

Mood Signs:

• Irritable or argumentative
• Easily frustrated or annoyed
• Becoming quiet and more withdrawn
• Feeling/appearing depressed

If you recognize one or more of these signs in yourself or others, STOP & REST. This is especially important before doing or continuing risky activities (e.g. driving, climbing ladders, etc.).  Remember, fatigue can be controlled and alleviated through healthy habits such as good sleep, proper nutrition and not over committing yourself.  So, when you’re adding the next item on your to-do list, make sure you schedule some time to take care of yourself and prevent fatigue from complicating the end of your year.

There are two key aspects of risk management we need to focus on for all of our work:

1.  Identify key risks to your project; and
2. Implement appropriate actions to help manage those risks.

If we don’t have action plans and mitigation’s for the identified risks, we have done nothing to manage the risk.

At Stratus, project risk management is actually a project managers best friend. What is risk management trying to do? It is trying to help a project manager deliver her/his project safely and efficiently with no surprises?  If you find yourself thinking that identifying, documenting, and creating mitigation’s and an action plan for your projects as a waste of time,  step back and ask yourself what that action plan is trying to do, manage a risk that if not managed could derail your project, and the Stratus reputation.

This increased concern about the spread of infectious diseases leads us to reiterate protocols we should follow in our offices regarding office hygiene to prevent the spread of germs in enclosed environments.  No matter where you are in the world, most likely the weather is changing. In some places it is starting to get really cold, and any severe change in weather may wreak havoc on our respiratory systems and is prime season for breeding the influenza virus, commonly known as the Flu.

One of the primary culprits for the spread of colds and flu is germs that reside on surfaces touched by multiple people. Door knobs, hand rails, elevator buttons, and keyboards are some of the examples of surfaces we touch every day. The best defense against these contaminated surfaces is to either wash your hands, or clean your hands with anti-bacterial wipes after you’ve come into contact with public surfaces. If you cannot get to either of these immediately then refrain from touching your face until you can wash your hands.

Please remember to wash your hands with soap and warm water sufficiently. One recommendation is to sing “Row, row, row your boat” slowly while washing your hands. Your hands are clean when you have finished the whole nursery rhyme. If you’re not familiar with this rhyme, pick any song or rhyme that takes at least a minute to sing.

Another major culprit for the spread of germs in the office is people coughing or sneezing without covering their mouth. The protocol is to cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, throw the tissue away immediately and then wash your hands to prevent germs from spreading.  If a tissue is not available, sneeze or cough into your sleeve at the elbow and then follow up with washing your hands.

One of the most effective ways that we can help each other from falling sick is to recognize when we ourselves need to stay home or to encourage our colleagues to go home if they are displaying flu like symptoms of fever, coughing and sneezing.

A couple of other areas that may cause the spread of germs (that we tend to neglect) are our workstations and gym equipment.  The average keyboard, mouse and chair have approximately 21,000 germs per square inch. Periodically clean your desk and computer equipment with an anti-bacterial wipe, usually found in your office’s supply closet/drawer.

The last area we would like to draw your attention to is gym equipment.  Always wipe down the machine handles or any part of the equipment that you are going to touch with your bare hands before you use the equipment. As an added courtesy, please wipe down the equipment after you’ve exercised, leaving the machine relatively germ free for the next user.

In summary, the most important thing you can do to avoid contaminating others, or yourself from other’s illnesses, is to wash your hands. It’s most critical to wash your hands after using the bathroom, touching public surfaces like hand rails and elevator buttons, and sneezing or coughing.

Thanks to: Farida Hasanali, Jessica Loflin, Sarah Pedersen, and Janet Wager

Initially, the injury should be properly treated, and the injury reported promptly after proper care and treatment is provided.  If you’re like most people, you may take wound healing for granted.  Typically people get a small cut, put on a bandage and carry on with their activities.  However, healing of even small wounds is biologically a complex sequence of events. Take for example, the basic fact that everyone bleeds when they get cut.  But there is more to it than just that – the blood clots to prevent blood loss but also to protect the wound. Blood-borne oxygen is essential for healing and the right balance of oxygen is needed.  With the right balance, the wound is repaired, rebuilt, and strengthened.

The healing process seems simple, but it is not.  Certain factors can disrupt the process, such as inadequate blood supply to the wound, diabetes, and high blood pressure.  A wound that is not getting enough blood could take at least twice as long to heal, or may not heal at all.  By some estimates, as many as 6.5 million people in the United States suffer with wounds that are not healing well (Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library).

It’s important to follow proper steps of first aid treatment for a wound of any size – no matter how small.  Proper treatment is even more important on work sites where we deal with water, soil, and chemicals that could complicate the healing process. 

REMEMBER:  At Stratus we do not skip steps in safety, so take a couple minutes to properly treat any wound, at work or at play! 

Thanks to: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/surgical_care/how_wounds_heal_134,143/

1. Demonstrate personal responsibly for the safety and well-being of everyone around me
2. Respect the capabilities of those in safety-critical roles and listen to their advice
3. Seek expertise, continually learn and develop safety and risk management skills of myself and my team
4. Follow the requirements specified In Stratus CoW and contribute to the delivery of safe, complaint, and reliable operations
5. Contribute to a more sustainable environment

We must be vigilant, disciplined, and always be looking out for one another.

Also, Genie has determined that a malfunction in the control system in the above referenced machines can occur. This malfunction follows a brief, time dependent interval between actuating the turn function and drive function and enable release from the platform controls. If this occurs, it can result in unintended machine movement.

Please see the attached and if using a Genie lift please contact Dan or Jenn for further dirction.

Genie Controls

Genie Unladen Weight