Staying Safe on Ladders and Scaffolds

Hundreds of workers are injured or killed every year from accidents on ladders and scaffolds. The good news is most ladder and scaffold accidents are preventable. Most of these accidents are either caused by risky behavior like over-reaching or from faulty setups of the ladder/scaffolding. These mistakes can be corrected.

You have the power to prevent ladder and scaffolding falls. Begin by implementing these 5 steps:

• Inspect equipment before use

• Follow manufacturer’s instructions and follow safety rules

• Use common sense

• Avoid risky behaviors like over-reaching, climbing too high, rushing movements, etc.

• Report safety problems (broken/malfunctioning equipment) immediately to a supervisor or safety coordinator

Don’t let these types of accidents happen to you or your staff:

• A worker was standing on top of a stepstool, which shifted and caused him to fall. He suffered a spinal cord injury and was off work for 4 months. It wasn’t even a long fall.

• A worker failed to secure his extension ladder to the top of a 20 ft. wall and he fell to the ground when the ladder slipped away from the wall, resulting in his death.

• Two men were working on an atrium when their scaffold collapsed. They fell to a concrete deck. One man was dead on arrival at the hospital; the other was in critical condition.

Practicing the 5 steps above could have prevented all these accidents.

Ladder Dos & Don’t’s

• Do make sure ladders are secured firmly at the top and bottom and supports are locked in

• Do make sure device is on a level surface

• Do use a 4 to 1 ratio; bottom of ladder should be 1 foot away from wall for every 4 feet of ladder height

• Do always face the ladder when climbing up or down

• Do have at least 3 feet of ladder extended past the top of wall/roof; secure it

• Do pay attention to the weight limit ratings listed on the ladder label

• Don’t place a ladder against a weak surface like a window

• Don’t use metal ladders near live electrical lines

• Don’t set ladders on boxes or other objects

• Don’t get on a ladder if another person is on it

• Don’t work on a ladder when there is a strong wind

• Don’t reposition a ladder while you are on it

If your job requires you to work at heights, OSHA and your employer require you to follow safety guidelines for your protection.

3 Fall Protections Systems: (one or more of these should be in place when workers are working from heights)

Guardrails (barriers between workers and the upper level edge)

• At least 42 inches high

• Able to withstand force of at least 200 lbs.

• Materials won’t puncture skin or snag clothes

Safety nets (catch you if you fall)

• Must be no more than 30 ft. below elevated workers or area

• Have strong rope border with mesh openings smaller than 6 inches per side

• Be strength tested by dropping 400 lbs. (30-inch diameter sandbag)

• Inspected weekly for wear, damage, and deterioration

Personal fall arrest system (harness/tethers)

• Body harness connected to a fixed anchor by lanyard, lifeline, or deceleration device

• Cannot be used to hoist materials

• Must be inspected before and after use

• Self-locking, self-closing connectors

• Anchor must support at least 5,000 lbs. per attached employee

• Cannot connect to platform supports or suspension points, guardrails, or hoists

• Avoid connecting to rough edges

• Do not connect with a hitch knot

OSHA Requirements for Scaffolds

1. Scaffolds must be made of metal or stress-grade lumber

2. Cross bracing is required for metal scaffolding

3. Guys, ties, or braces are required to keep supported scaffolds from tipping over

4. Supported scaffolds must bear on base plates and mudsills

5. Scaffold platforms and walkways should be at least 18 inches wide

6. Supported scaffolds must be able to hold at least 4 times the intended load

7. Ropes for suspended scaffolds must be able to carry 6 times their intended load

8. Scaffold must be erected a safe distance away from powerlines

9. Safe access to scaffold platforms must be provided (i.e. ladders, ramps, steps)

10. Fall protection is required for work more than 10 feet above a lower surface

11. All scaffolds must have guardrails or personal fall arrest systems to prevent falls

12. Top rails must be 38-45 inches above the platform and able to support a minimum of 200 lbs.

13. Toe boards at least 4 inches high are required on open sides to keep tools and materials from falling

14. Screens must be used between guardrails and toe boards if people will be passing underneath the scaffold

15. Debris nets, catch platforms, canopies, or barricades are necessary if people are passing beneath scaffolding

16. Employees working below scaffolding are required to wear hard hats

To keep workers safe make sure they are properly trained on the hazards of working at or around heights. Teach them to inspect their equipment and report broken or malfunctioning equipment. Have available and use the proper PPE, and keep equipment clean and properly functioning. Practicing safe work behavior before someone gets hurt prevents someone from getting hurt.

5 Common Playground Hazards

Playgrounds should be a safe place for kids to play. OMAG Risk Management Services performs playground inspections for our municipalities at no charge. Consider getting your playgrounds inspected to ensure your parks and recreation facilities are safe from these common hazards: 

Falls - Kids are prone to falling as they are still developing balancing skills. One way to protect them from falls is to follow safe use zones. Each piece of playground equipment has a use zone which gives a specific fall height. It is important to know these guidelines and follow them. 

Entrapment - Strangulation due to head/neck entrapment after a feet first entry into an element is the number 3 cause of death on playgrounds. All openings must be tested to admit both feet and the head. No opening should measure between 3 ½ inches and 9 inches on any structures. 

Crush & Shear Hazards - These injuries can occur at the juncture between 2 or more playground elements that have movements relative to each other and lack the recommended clearance between parts. It is important to have your playground inspected by a trained professional who will take notice of these types of hazards. 

Protrusions - A rigid projection becomes a protrusion hazard when it extends beyond the recommended ASTM standard, which is measured by placing 3 projection test gauges over the protruding bolt, fastener, step, or handle. 

Trip Hazards - These include deep pits/cracks in degraded poured-in-place rubber surfacing, clumps/folds of geo-fabric, exposure of the layer beneath engineered wood fiber surfacing when the wood mulch is scattered, and the tops and edges of concrete footings exposed due to the wearing away of safety surfacing. 

For a more detailed description of playground safety specifications go to www.omag.org (OMAG’s webpage), click on “free services” then “public works”, then under SAFETY DOCUMENTATION click on “The Playground Inspection Manual” and open the document icon found in the lower-left corner of your computer screen. This manual can be printed out or downloaded onto your computer or a flash drive. 

Workplace Violence & Security: Are Your Employees Safe?

Is your office, shop, or plant prepared to deal with a workplace violence incident?  Are your field workers?  If you aren’t sure or think it is unlikely to occur, consider this: According to OSHA, some 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence every year.  Workplace violence can strike anywhere and anytime, and no one is immune.

Workplace violence can take place at or outside of work. It is defined as violence or the threat of violence against workers. Violence in the work environment can range from threats, verbal abuse, harassment, to physical assault and homicide.

Certain workers are at higher risk according to OSHA.  These include, but are not limited to, workers who exchange money with the public, who work alone or in small groups, and who work early in the morning or late at night. Also, workers in certain industries (healthcare, social services, municipal utilities, law enforcement, retail, and in-home installations) are at increased risk.

It is important to acknowledge workplace violence as a real threat and take it seriously. The best protection employers can offer is to establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence against or by employees. OSHA advises employers to create a Workplace Violence Prevention Program (OSHA/PEOSH standards) and ensure all employees are trained on it and thoroughly understand policies and procedures concerning it.

Here are some other tips for keeping workers safe:

• Provide safety education for employees so they know what behavior is and isn’t acceptable in the workplace environment.

• Consider installing video surveillance, extra lighting, and alarm systems.

• Minimize access by outsiders to your facilities by using ID badges, electronic keys, and if necessary, security guards.

• Recommend field staff and employees working alone have cell phones and handheld alarms, requiring them to check in regularly.

• Instruct workers to never enter a location that they feel may be unsafe.

• Train employees on your workplace violence procedures annually and remind them frequently to keep their eyes and ears open and report anything that makes them feel awkward, uncomfortable, or unsafe. Even if they don’t experience it but saw or heard it they must report it!

Workers need to know employers have a system in place for their protection. It is critical to ensure all employees know the policy and understand that all claims of workplace violence will be investigated and dealt with promptly.

The Changing Role of Law Enforcement

De-escalation is the PROCESS of using STRATEGIES and TECHNIQUES intended to decrease the intensity of an escalating situation.

Keeping communities safe and enhancing officer skills and safety is of paramount importance for law enforcement, thus there is an ever-growing emphasis on the continued need to leverage de-escalation tactics. How law enforcement officers perform this obligation and how their actions are perceived by the community sets the foundation of their legitimacy in the eyes of the public. Focusing on this need for de-escalation will help facilitate trust within the community and reduce violent physical encounters.

De-escalation is not new, and officers have used it in its many forms since policing started. De-escalation saves lives and careers every year, but with complex and ever-changing societal conditions, law enforcement must evolve, grow and adapt to do it better today than they did yesterday.

OMAG has two Law Enforcement Specialist that have been Providing De-Escalation Training since 2008 with the use of a Shooting Simulator.  In 2018 they expanded De-Escalation training by adding ICAT (Integrating Communications Assessment and Tactics) training.   Since 2018 after providing ICAT training we have seen a positive change in how officers react to handling subjects who may have a mental disorder or subjects in crises when using the Shooting Simulator.

If your police department is interested in hosting the ICAT De-Escalation Training or the shooting simulator at your department or in your region please contact Billy Carter at wcarter@omag.org or Kevin McCullough at kmccullough@omag.org for additional information.

Reducing Inflow and Infiltration in Wastewater Systems

Stormwater flowing into a municipality’s sewer system through low gully traps, illegal connections, broken pipes, and unsealed manholes can cause overflows, system strains, and interruptions in your sewer operations. This is known as Inflow and Infiltration; aka I&I.

Why bother to fix Inflow & Infiltration?

By identifying I&I early and reducing their levels, municipalities can benefit from:

1. Reduced localized overflows: Through the management of overflows from manholes during rainfall, controlled overflow points, pump stations, and treatment plants.

2. Improve operational efficiencies: I&I reduces the sewer system capacity, limiting the potential for growth within a specific catchment.

3. Reduced ongoing costs: I&I results in clear water being pumped and treated along with wastewater, contributing to increased costs.

How to identify whether you have an I&I problem

Councils and water authorities can identify whether they have existing I&I issues within their system by looking for these indicators:

• Pumps run for hours and inflows increase significantly during storm events

• The hydraulic loading of wastewater treatment plants increases significantly after a rain event

• Localized overflows occur within a collection system during a heavy storm event

• An increase in inflow during dry weather conditions compared to previous months

Steps to reduce I&I within your wastewater system

First, identify the general vicinity of the issue through flow monitoring. Then identify the exact problem, locate the area(s) where it is occurring, and introduce measures to improve the situation.

The following steps provide a simple overview of an I&I reduction plan that can assist in identifying various stages associated with reducing I&I in a wastewater system:

1. Targeted monitoring – monitoring wastewater flows within the system

2. Identifying the problem – is it inflow or infiltration?

3. Source detection – where is it occurring within the system?

4. Rehabilitation – what can be done to reduce or eliminate the problem(s)?

Source detection

A few ways to detect the sources of I&I include:

Private Inspections – after receiving and documenting permission from property owners, inspecting private properties consists of visual assessments of the stormwater and wastewater networks within a property. Illegal connections could mean that a stormwater down pipe is directly connected to a wastewater gully trap.

Manhole Inspection – Manhole inspections can identify leaks from broken pipes, and joints due to tree root intrusion or design issues. Manholes can contribute to significant I&I through leaky covers as well.

Smoke Testing – Smoke testing locates I&I sources by identifying stormwater drain cross connections, broken pipes, and laterals, or unsealed manholes.

Dye Testing – Dye testing can be used to identify leaks and confirm smoke test results. The method uses water mixed with a non-toxic dye. The colored water Is pumped through the ground and storm water system and appears in the sanitary sewer collection system where leaks and illegal connections occur.

CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras – CCTV allows authorities to visualize the inside of pipes by using a small camera that travels down the length of a pipe to produce a visual representation of its condition. CCTV inspections can reveal the need for rehabilitating leaky pipes, facilitate grease or root removal, identify improper taps into the municipal lines, or find broken lateral connections.

Rehabilitation of Wastewater systems

Rehabilitation can include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Seal manholes and replace leaky covers

• Use cured-in-place piping (CIPP), trenchless rehabilitation or chemical grouting to seal leaks, and open cut replacement pipes

• Raise gully traps and disconnect stormwater downpipes from the gully trap and redirect into stormwater systems

• Fix broken laterals (reline or replace); fix any other private connections which might be improperly or illegally tapped into the municipal system

OMAG Risk Management Services wants to assist our municipalities in providing a safer and more efficient sanitary sewer system for their constituents. We offer several grants and programs to help you get started. Contact William Sheppard (wsheppard@omag.org) for more information if you are interested in improving your sanitary sewer system by reducing Inflow and Infiltration.

13 Warning Signs That May Lead to Workplace Violence

It is vital that administrators and supervisors have conversations with their employees about the potential for violence to occur in their workplace. We must train our employees to keep their eyes and ears open, watching for signs and behavior that can lead to a violent episode, and to report issues to supervisors, human resources, or law enforcement. What leads to workplace violence almost always starts small. It is possible for someone to be fine one day and come in the next with a firearm, but such incidents are extremely rare. Escalation to violence is typically a process. Usually there are warning signs (and often many of them) of a potential workplace violence incident about to occur. Here are thirteen suggested warning signs to keep in mind and watch out for while doing your day to day duties:

1. Threats – when a person makes direct, veiled, or conditional threats of harm.

2. Unreasonable – person constantly makes slighting references to others. They are never happy with what is going on. Consistently unreasonable and overreacts to feedback and criticism. They blow everything out of proportion. Individual tends to take comments personally and turn them into grudges.

3. Intimidation and control-oriented – individual feels a need to constantly force their opinion on others. Having a compulsive need to control situations. They use intimidation to get their way; can be physical or verbal. (Examples: fear tactics, verbal threats, harassment)

4. Paranoid – a person thinks other employees are out to get them. They think there is a conspiracy to all functions in society. They make comments of being persecuted or being a victim of injustice.

5. Angry, argumentative, and lacks impulse control – an individual has many hate and anger issues on and off the job with coworkers, friends, family, or the government. They are frequently involved in confrontations, are belligerent, and argue with others, including authority figures. This person demonstrates low impulse control (slamming or throwing things, cursing and threatening, physically animated with aggressive gestures.

6. Irresponsible – individual does not take responsibility for any of their behaviors, faults, or mistakes; it’s always someone or something else that is to blame. They make excuses and blame others, the organization, or the system for their actions.

7. Antisocial behaviors – this person has a fascination with violence and acceptance of violence as a way to handle situations; they applaud violent acts portrayed in the media such as racial incidents, domestic violence, active shooting sprees, or executions. They may have issues with law enforcement. May demonstrate an obsession with the killing power of weapons and their effect on people. They may demonstrate a pattern of behavior that shows a disregard for the rights of others.

8. Vindictive – makes statements like “he’ll get his”, “what goes around comes around” or “one of these days I’ll make them pay.” Verbalizes hope for something bad to happen to others, especially those they have a grudge against.

9. Bizarre and weird behavior – the person is quirky, strange, considered weird, and behaves in an unusual manner. Their presence makes others feel uneasy and uncomfortable. This behavior by itself doesn’t mean a person will become violent but coupled with other signs may be an indicator.

10. Desperation – a person is experiencing extreme desperation with family, finances, or personal problems; they are making comments of feeling “at the end of their rope” or “there’s no other way to deal with it.” They seem backed into a corner with no options.

11. Obsessive compulsive behaviors – the person has obsessive involvement with the job, they have no apparent outside interests; they eat, sleep, and live for the job. Or they have a romantic obsession with a coworker who has no interest in them. They may suffer from other forms of obsession; jealous interest in a specific topic, or perfectionist tendencies. Again, this behavior doesn’t mean they will necessarily become violent but look for a pattern of other signs coupled with obsessive compulsive behavior.

12. Substance abuse – persons demonstrating signs of alcohol and or drug abuse; frequent absences or tardiness, off-task and distracted on the job, disregard for safety policies and procedures; disoriented, jittery, slurred speech, frequently not where they are supposed to be or missing for stretches of time.

13. Chronic depression – a person displays signs of chronic depression, loss of interest and confidence in life or work, lethargic lacks energy, particularly when it is a significant change in behavior. The person was usually engaged, involved, and active but now they seem withdrawn and disengaged.

Just because a person appears to be demonstrating any of these signs doesn’t mean they are going to become violent at work, but it does mean supervisors, human resources, and administration should be aware of the signs and perhaps offer some assistance.  Recommend getting some help using the Employee Assistance Program through New Directions. It is free to OMAG plan participants. Go to www.omag.org and search for “employee assistance program” for more information. We all have difficulty dealing with life at one point or another. Keep an eye out for the signs and offer help to your coworkers early in the process; doing so may save lives.

Reducing Firefighters’ Chemical Exposures from Contaminated Skin or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Through direct contact to the skin or off-gassing from PPE, firefighters can be exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals both during and after firefighting activities.  

OMAG is issuing this alert to Oklahoma Fire Departments to raise awareness of this type of chemical exposure and encourage them to train firefighters in ways to minimize it.  

Minimize breathing contaminants:  

• Maintain and test SCBAs routinely to ensure their proper function  

• Use proper respiratory protection from initial attack, overhaul, and investigation  

• Remain upwind of the fire if not directly involved in the response  

• Provide as much natural ventilation as feasible to burned structures before starting investigations and when responders are not wearing respiratory protection  

Minimize skin absorption:  

• Wear long hoods that are unlikely to come untucked during response  

• Keep protective ensembles on during overhaul  

• Do gross field decontamination of PPE to remove as much soot and particulate matter as possible  

• Wash hands immediately and shower as soon as possible after a fire response  

• Use moistened wipes to remove as much soot as possible from head, neck, jaw, throat, underarms, and hands immediately while still on the scene  

• Clean PPE, gloves, hood, and helmet immediately after a fire response  

• Have turnout gear cleaned routinely in accordance with NFPA 1851 or the latest version. 

Minimize inhalation of chemicals released from contaminated gear:  

• Remove SCBA and hood last when doffing gear during decontamination  

• Doff gear before entering the rehab area  

• Consider bagging contaminated PPE and securing it in an apparatus compartment  

• Do not take contaminated clothes or PPE home or store them in your vehicle  

• Decontaminate the interior of fire vehicles after fires 

Training firefighters to adhere to these precautions can save lives, prolong careers, and save thousands of dollars in workers’ compensation claims. 

Fire Extinguisher Basics

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It’s important to help employees understand that with proper training and education, fire extinguishers can save lives and property. Many adults may not know how or when to use fire extinguishers. OMAG encourages our municipalities to hold fire safety training, teaching employees how to use a fire extinguisher, when to use one, and what a particular fire extinguisher’s limit are.  

There are five primary classes of fire extinguishers, each designed to put out different kinds of fires. Class A is for use on ordinary materials like cloth, wood, and paper. Class B is for use on combustible and flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, oil, and oil-based paints. Class C is used on electrical equipment like appliances, tools, computers, or other equipment that is plugged in. Class D extinguishers are for use on flammable metals and are specialized extinguishers usually for factories. Any time an SDS (Safety Data Sheet) recommends a product requiring a Class D extinguisher, there should be one present in the facility. Finally, there are Class K fire extinguishers, which are used for vegetable oils and animal fats used in cooking appliances. Most offices, vehicles, shops, and homes now use multipurpose fire extinguishers that are labeled Classes A, B, & C and can handle almost any type of fire. 

Help employees decide when to use a fire extinguisher: 

Fire extinguishers can be helpful on a small fire that hasn’t left its point of origin. Consider providing a checklist to help people prepare to use a fire extinguisher on a fire. 

• Have I alerted others in the facility that there is a fire? 

• Has someone called the fire department? 

• Am I physically able to use a fire extinguisher? 

• Is the fire small and contained in a single object (frying pan, wastebasket)? 

• Do I have a clear escape route, should my efforts fail? 

Use a fire extinguisher when all these questions are answered “Yes.” If you are unsure about whether or not it is safe to use an extinguisher, alert others, leave the building, and call 911 from a mobile phone. 

Teach employees how to use a fire extinguisher: 

When operating a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS – 

Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you, don’t grip the squeeze handles, and pull the pin preventing the squeeze handles from closing on themselves. 

Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire where the fuel is. 

Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly to disperse the fire repelling agent. Squeeze the lever intermittently to give you more control and fire fighting time. Avoid holding the trigger down and dispersing the agent all at once. 

Sweep the nozzle from side to side, covering the fuel area, and move in on the fire as it recedes. 

Educate employees on the importance of fire extinguisher maintenance: 

Remind employees to inspect fire extinguishers at least monthly. We don’t use them often, but when we need them, we need to be able to get to them and they must be reliable. 

• Easy access in an emergency – nothing is blocking or limiting our ability to get to it. The fire extinguishers are mounted and clearly marked with signage denoting where they are. 

• Inspect the extinguishers monthly – make sure the gauge arrow is in the green showing it is properly pressurized. Make sure all parts (can, hoses, nozzles) are free from damage and not clogged. Shake the extinguisher thoroughly to keep the retardant powder from compacting. 

• Make sure the extinguisher is clean and that there is no dust, oil, or grease on the outside of the extinguisher. 

• Make sure there are basic instructions on the use of the fire extinguisher on the label and that they are legible. 

Hands-on training by a qualified instructor is the best way to teach employees how to properly use a fire extinguisher. The experience will help employees better understand the procedures and processes in fighting a fire and the instructor can point out any concerns, field questions by the participants, and provide encouragement to anyone who doesn’t feel confident in their ability to use the extinguisher. 

First Recipient of the OMAG Sanitary Sewer Equipment Grant (Lone Wolf)

Congratulations to the Town of Lone Wolf! They are the first municipality to receive OMAG’s new Sanitary Sewer Equipment (SSE) grant.  The grant was used to purchase a refurbished Sewer Equipment Co. of America Model 747 jetter unit. Prior to making use of the SSE grant, Lone Wolf didn’t have a jetter. Now, with the addition of this jetter along with their sewer push camera, Lone Wolf will be able to better identify problem areas and maintain their sewer collection system.  

OMAG recognizes there are few if any grant opportunities for the purchase of sanitary sewer equipment. In response, the SSE grant was introduced in July 2020.  The SSE grant is a 1:1 matching funds, post-purchase grant with a maximum benefit of $10,000, and is available to all OMAG members.  

Fire Safety Procedures for the Workplace

A fire in the workplace can be one of the most devastating hazards for not only workers but for the public as well. It can result in numerous serious injuries or even fatalities, not to mention extensive property damage. Fire safety is very important! Be sure to train employees on your municipality’s fire procedures. If procedures are being ignored or are unclear, then schedule a fire safety meeting to train new employees, retrain veteran employees, and give knowledge and confidence to them all.  

Basic fire safety you must know for every worksite:  

• Know the location of fire extinguishers and/or fire alarm pull stations in your work environment. You should always know where the closest extinguisher is.  

• Know where the nearest emergency exit is and where alternate exits are located.  

• Know the difference between alarm signals to quickly recognize the situation (fire, tornado, active shooter, etc.)  

If you discover a fire:  

• Alert all other individuals in the workplace by activating the nearest fire alarm, shouting clearly, or by using other procedures set in place by your municipality.  

• Use the nearest exit to evacuate the workplace and go to the appropriate rendezvous location.  

• Use a fire extinguisher to put the fire out if it has not left its point of origin, you have been trained to use a fire extinguisher, and you have a sufficient way to escape if your efforts don’t put the fire out.  

During an evacuation of a worksite:  

• Stay calm and evacuate immediately when you hear the alarm.  

• Along the escape route close (but don’t lock) all windows and doors you pass. This helps reduce fire, smoke, and fumes from spreading throughout the facility.  

• Go to the rendezvous or assembly area immediately and check in with your supervisor so he/she knows you are safe outside the building.  

• Follow all procedures put in place by your municipality. 

A safe workplace is crucial and ensures you have the correct safety procedures and policies in place for such things as first aid and CPR training of employees. Employees must understand their role in a fire emergency especially if they have been given a special task like assisting a disabled co-worker safely out of the building. Holding fire drills at least annually and providing employees the opportunity to practice the information provided in safety meetings is another important part of fire safety. Don’t leave it out of your training procedures.