1. Cable Winch Failure

A roll-off bin of impacted soil was being loaded onto a truck when the winch cable failed and separated from the clevis.  At the time of failure, the cable was under tension and sprang straight up into the air. The roll-off bin slid off the rails and onto the ground.  The driver was in the cab of the truck and other personnel were outside of the exclusion zone.  No one was injured.

2. Bin Roll-Over

A roll-off bin of scrap metal was being loaded on to a truck when the operator decided to reposition it and set the bin back down to the ground.  The bin was originally positioned on a gravel road that is adjacent to a drainage ditch.  Upon setting the bin back to the ground, one comer of the bin overhung the ditch causing the bin to tip onto its side. There were no injuries or property damage.

2. Bin Strikes Fence

Subcontractor was attempting to drop off a roll-off bin. While two spotters were present and attempting to direct the bin, the vehicle operator disregarded the spotters input and ran the roll off-bin into the fence of a nearby homeowner, causing damage.  All work was stopped and notifications made. Subcontractor was asked to depart the site.

Please take a moment to consider your site tasks.  Keep these recent incidents in mind when performing your risk-assessments & equipment inspections.  Look out for changing conditions and Stop Work, if necessary.

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

The FIA, the governing body of F1 said in a statement’ “The worker was helping to recover a car which had stopped during the race. The recovery vehicle had lifted the car to return it to the pits and while doing this the worker dropped his radio and attempted to pick it up. As he did this, he stumbled and was hit and run over by the recovery vehicle.”  The marshal was a 10 year veteran of the position.

This has direct reflection on our daily operations.  We do everything we can to identify risks, put mitigations in place, and a simple mishap can lead to catastrophic consequences. Could this have been prevented, most likely yes.  Take this message as a learning event for your work across the board, and especially while working around traffic.  No action is more important that the one that will keep you out of harms way.

If interested, more can be found about this accident via the internet.

• Only 18% of respondents knew a sunscreen with SPF 30 does not provide twice the protection of an SPF 15. The difference of protection between SPF 15 and SPF 30 is 5%.
• Only 28% of respondents who said they sometimes or always use sunscreen reapplied sunscreen every two hours.

Research also indicates that most people only apply 25% to 50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen (one ounce for the entire body, or enough to fill a shot glass).

Before you lather up, learn what you need to use so you don’t get burned. According to the AAD, only use sunscreen products that offer:

• Broad-spectrum coverage (label may read “broad spectrum,” “protects against UVA/UVB,” or “UVA/UVB protection”)
• SPF of 30 or higher
• Water resistance

The AAD also recommends:

• Reapplying sunscreen every two hours when outdoors
• Finding shade whenever your shadow appears to be shorter than you are
• Wearing protective clothing, including long sleeves, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses

Sources: www.healthfinder.gov; American Academy of Dermatology

As we move from spring into summer, those who work (or workout) outside need to monitor temperatures and fluid intake because the likelihood of dehydration, cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke increases dramatically.

While many wave it off as, “it’s hot, I’m sweating – no big deal,” here are the facts. Your body builds up heat when you work and sweats to get rid of extra heat. But sometimes your body may not cool off fast enough. Too much heat can make you tired, adversely affect your job performance, and increase your chance of injury. At a minimum, you develop a skin rash (very uncomfortable, but not life threatening).

The progression of heat related issues include:

• Dehydration. When your body loses water, you can’t cool off fast enough. You feel thirsty, weak and tired. Drink fluids before you feel thirsty.
• Cramps. You can get muscle cramps from the heat even after you leave work.
• Heat exhaustion. You feel tired, nauseous, headachy, and giddy (dizzy and silly). Your skin is damp and looks muddy or flushed. You may faint; but worse of all you could develop heat stroke.
• Heat stroke . You may have hot dry skin and a high temperature. You may also feel disoriented. Additionally you may have convulsions or become unconscious. Heat stroke can even lead to death if you don’t seek emergency medical help.

Your risk of heat stress depends on a number of things, including:

• Your physical condition.
• The weather (temperature, humidity).
• How much clothing you have on.
• How fast you must move or how much weight you must lift.
• If you are near a fan or there is a breeze.
• If you are in the sun.

While temperature is a critical factor with heat related illness, other factors play a role. Let’s think for a minute about a drill crew working on a dry cleaner site at a retail center. When the rig is out in the open with constant breezes the crew may not be exposed to any heat issues. Now take that same crew and place them behind the facility in an alley; little air movement, light and heat reflected off of the building walls and asphalt can lead quickly to heat issues.

Here’s how you can ensure that you are prepared to weather hot weather:

• Drink plenty of fluids before you get thirsty.
• Keep taking rest breaks. Rest in a cool, shady spot.
• Use engineering controls. Place fans on the site to create air movement. Shield your neck from the sun with a cooling “gator.”
• Wear light-colored clothing made of a breathable wicking material if possible.
• Do the heaviest work in the coolest time of the day.
• Work in the shade . If shade is not naturally available at the site, bring an open-sided tent or other shade structure.
• For heavy work in hot areas, take turns with other workers, so some can rest.
• If you travel to a warm area for a new job, you need time for your body to get used to the heat. Be extra careful the first two weeks on the job. Do not forget the effect of humidity; working in 90° in San Bernardino is far different than 90° in Houston.
• If you work in protective clothing , you need more rest breaks. You may also need to check your temperature and heart rate.

Now is the time to review the symptoms of heat related illnesses. During your next tailgate safety meeting discuss the differences between heat exhaustion and heat stroke and how to minimize the potential exposure to these dangerous and potentially deadly issues. Then periodically throughout the summer take time to talk about these issues with your crew and other site personnel.

Remember – If you think someone has heat stroke, call emergency services (or 911). Immediately move the victim to the shade. Loosen his/her clothes. Wipe or spray his/her skin with cool water and fan him/her. You can use a piece of cardboard or other material as a fan.

Be prepared and be aware of how you (and your co-workers) are feeling, looking or acting in hot weather. It will keep you cool and safe from heat related illnesses.

Of course, the places we’ve heard the “safety is our top priority” phrase before are:

• here at Stratus
• from our clients
• other workplaces
• from people who speak at safety conferences, and
• just about anywhere in the business world when someone is asked the question, “How does employee safety figure into your organization?”

It’s cliché.

Oh, many people actually mean what they say. These are the ones who, every day, send their employees and themselves home in the same condition they came into work because of their commitment to safety.

Words are words without actions to back them up.  Just what do the words “safety is our top priority” mean to you, and how do you really show that?  When was the last time you submitted a safety observation the the Stratus Safety Team?  What was the last notable safe act you conducted.

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