Risk Management Bulletins

Drones - What is the Effect of the New FAA Regulations?

Drones - What is the Effect of the New FAA Regulations?

Drones are more than a passing fad or hobby - they have widespread private and public implications.  In the United States last year drones mapped approximately 2 million acres, however, in the last 4 months commercial drone users mapped 3 million acres.  The explosive growth of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is due in large part to decreasing price points and new technology.  Drones are expected to total some 1.4 million by 2025.

Public entities have utilized drones for a multitude of tasks, such as:
    Search & Rescue Operations
    Aerial photography, inspection and mapping
    Crime, accident and fire investigation and documentation
    Monitoring/Inspecting powerlines, pipelines and infrastructure
    Law enforcement surveillance

Municipalities wishing to leverage this technology in their operations will be required to comply with the FAA’s newly released Part 107 regulations which became effective at the end of August 2016.  In addition to the FAA regulations, Oklahomans also need to be aware of HB 2599, that Mary Fallin signed into law in May of this year. House Bill 2599 restricts drone flight near any critical infrastructure such as: power plants, refineries/petro-chemical facilities and railroad facilities to name a few. However, HB 2599 does not apply to the federal government, the state or a political subdivision of the state or a law enforcement agency.

Municipalities making the plunge into the use of this new technology have 2 options to comply with the new FAA regulations: 
1.   Follow the same rules as business users. That is, the FAA’s small UAS rule (known as “Part 107”)
2.   As a Government Entity you may apply for a blanket public Certificate of Authorization (COA) which allows flights at or below 400 ft in Class G airspace, self-certification of the UAS pilot and the ability to obtain emergency COAs under special circumstances.

Municipalities opting for compliance under Part 107, can get training here in Oklahoma through Oklahoma City Community College’s Professional Development Institute. OCCC’s Professional Development Institute offers an innovative program to help operators learn how to properly use drones and stay in compliance with the ever-changing rules that drone operators are required to follow. For more information on the courses offered at OCCC, contact Patrick Clanin by phone at (405) 682-7854 or via e-mail at patrick.a.clanin@occc.edu.

To learn more about the new FAA Unmanned Aircraft System Regulations, you can visit the FAA’s website at www.faa.gov/uas. In addition, OMAG has formed an affiliation with “Know Before You Fly,” a non-profit organization that provides information on the FAA’s regulations and resources to determine which route of compliance is appropriate for your organization. You can visit their website at www.knowbeforeyoufly.org.

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Wearing Safe Clothing To Work

Wearing Safe Clothing To Work

Have you ever heard the phrase "to die for", sometimes used in reference to fashionable clothes? It kind of takes a different meaning when you're talking about the potential hazards the wrong clothes could pose in your work environment. What you wear to work may cause you to be injured! 
 
The fact is the clothes you wear to the job site can affect your safety and the safety of co-workers. A simple example is the length of your pants. If they are too long you can easily catch your heel in them stepping down some stairs or out of a vehicle and trip yourself. 

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Health Hazards

Health Hazards

Public Works has many different hazards workers need to be aware of and the municipality must have procedures in place to ensure workers are protected.  One issue to consider is Health Hazards such as Lead, Silica, Asphalt, etc.  Print the brochure below to share with your employees who may work around these hazards.  

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New Worker, Higher Risk

New Worker, Higher Risk

New workers on the job are at a 40% greater risk of being injured on the job in the first year of service. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) new hires face a greater chance of being injured on the job when they have been in their position less than a year. Why are they more likely to be hurt? The BLS studies show that these employees lack one vital tool to protect themselves: Information. More experienced workers have learned the lessons already. Either by personal experience or by seeing someone else go through a bad experience. Let’s look at some information gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Surveys: 
      
27% of workers injured while working on scaffolding stated they had never received instruction on the proper way to install scaffolding or never received information on safety requirements involving the use of scaffolding. 
 
71% of workers receiving head injuries claimed they never received training on the need to use hardhats while performing their duties. 
 
61% of workers hurt while servicing equipment said they were never informed of lockout/tagout procedures in dealing with the equipment or machinery they were servicing.  
 
In nearly every type of injury studied by BLS researchers, the same story was repeated over and over; Workers did not receive instruction or training in safety prior to performing the job. Nearly 1 in 5 say they received no safety training before requested to do a task.  
 
What can Workers do? 
•    Be sure to understand all necessary safety measures before you start to work; If an explanation is unclear, ask again. 
•    Use your knowledge of safe practices – all the time. 
•    Use the proper personal protective equipment while doing the job and make sure to maintain that equipment properly. 
•    Make sure all safety guards and protection devices are in place. 
•    Don’t take shortcuts. 
•    Follow safety warning signs on equipment and chemicals you use. 
•    Ask your employer about emergency procedures and be prepared to follow them in the event of an emergency. 
 
What can Supervisors/Employers do? 
•    Make safety an essential part of the department routine. 
•    Have regularly scheduled safety meetings. 
•    Get feedback and input from employees about solutions to safety problems. 
•    Be a positive safety role model. 
•    Frequently remind employees of the need to work safely and draw attention to potential safety hazards related to the job.  
•    Document all accidents and near misses which occur on or at the job site.

Contact OMAG Risk Management Services if you have questions about this topic or other safety topics related to municipal workplace safety.  Email Kip Prichard at kprichard@omag.org or call him at (800) 234-9461. 

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Electrical Safety Precautions

Electrical Safety Precautions

Industry runs on electricity. It is safe to use when you know what you are doing and take proper precautions. When precautions are neglected, electricity can become a killer. 
 
How you are affected by electrical shock depends of the following factors: 

•    The rate the current flows through your body. This depends on how good your body conducts electricity. If you have dry hands and are standing on a non-conductive surface such as a rubber mat, you may not even feel a shock. If you are sweating or standing in water, you could be killed. 
•    The length of time the current flows through your body. The longer the electric contact, the greater the current flow and the greater the shock. 
•    The path the current takes through your body. The most dangerous path is through vital organs. 

Your actions can protect your safety. 

•    Read and follow instructions before handling anything electrical. If you don’t understand the instructions, get qualified help to assist you… Don’t guess. 
•    Plugs should only be inserted in receptacle outlets with the same slot or blade pattern, unless proper adaptors are used. Don’t force or alter a plug by bending, twisting, or removing blades to make it fit into a receptacle outlet. Water conducts electricity. Keep wet hands from touching electrical equipment or light switches. 
•    Firmly grip the plug, not the cord, when disconnecting equipment. Yanking the cord can damage the cord, plug, or receptacle outlet and result in a shock or fire. Because electricity is present even when the switch is in the “off” position, unplug equipment, appliances, and extension cords when not in use and before inspecting, cleaning, or fixing them. 
•    Recognize signs of overloaded circuits including flickering or dimming lights, blown fuses, warm wall plates or extension cords, and tripped circuit breakers. 
•    Receptacle outlets and switches should not be painted or covered with wall paper paste. 
 
There is no margin for error when working with electricity. Conditions vary so much that without the facts, you may make a mistake and  cause injury to yourself or fellow workers. 

Contact OMAG Risk Management Services if you have questions or suggestions for other topics related to municipal workplace safety issues.  (800) 234-9461 or kprichard@omag.org (Kip Prichard).

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Night Work Risks

Night Work Risks

Work Zone Safety - Maintenance Operations and Temporary Traffic Control
Roadway maintenance activities and sometimes water/sewer line repair occur in close proximity to traffic, creating a potentially dangerous environment for workers, drivers, and incident responders. In many cases a Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Zone will be needed to both protect workers and incident responders as well as allow for the safe and efficient movement of drivers and pedestrians through and around the Work Zone. There are several Work Zone safety issues to plan and prepare for when setting up Temporary Traffic Controls.  One issue to consider is Night Work Risks.  Print the brochure below to share with your employees who must work near equipment and traffic.

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Take Care With Compressed Air

Take Care With Compressed Air

Compressed air tools are commonly used in many workplaces. Many workers take them for granted, ignoring the hazards involved in their use. Compressed air  is not “just air.” It is a focused stream of air driven at a high velocity, which can cause serious injury or death to its operator or persons in the immediate area. 

Fooling around with compressed air can be lethal. In one case, a blast of air playfully directed behind a worker startled him and caused him to fall against a moving piece of machinery. A misdirected blast of compressed air can “pop” an eyeball from its socket, rupture an eardrum, or cause a brain hemorrhage. Directed at the mouth, it can rupture the lungs and intestines. If used to blow dust and dirt off clothing or body parts, it can cause bubbles of air to enter blood stream, even through a layer of clothing. Compressed air can also rupture body organs.

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Flagger Safety

Flagger Safety

Work Zone Safety - Maintenance Operations and Temporary Traffic Control

Roadway maintenance activities and sometimes water/sewer line repair occur in close proximity to traffic, creating a potentially dangerous environment for workers, drivers, and incident responders. In many cases a Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Zone will be needed to both protect workers and incident responders as well as allow for the safe and efficient movement of drivers and pedestrians through and around the Work Zone. There are several Work Zone safety issues to plan and prepare for when setting up Temporary Traffic Controls.  One issue to consider is Flagger Safety.  Print the brochure below to share with your employees who must work near equipment and traffic.

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Sewer Maintenance - Clean-Outs and Back-Water Valves

Sewer Maintenance - Clean-Outs and Back-Water Valves

Clean-outs and back-water valves are the resident’s key to keeping the private sewer service in good working condition and protecting the home from sewer back-up problems.

A clean-out is a vertical pipe that provides access to a property’s sewer service, allowing homeowners or plumbers to clear blockages that disrupt service. A clean-out cap is typically white PVC or metal, about 4 inches in diameter, and located near buildings.

Both homeowners and tenants should locate and inspect their clean-out cap before a plumbing emergency occurs. Keeping the caps screwed onto the clean-out helps prevent possible sewer backups caused by yard debris, dirt, and other items entering the sewer system. Capping also stops excessive inflow and infiltration, which can overload the system and cause overflows. 

A back-water valve is the resident’s protection against sewer back-up into the structure. If water tries to back up from the sewer mainline, the valve prevents sewage from backing up into the building. Back-water valves are typically located either outside near the building or in a floor drain in a basement. Those outside have a cap similar to a clean-out cap and a vertical pipe down to the valve. Size and maintenance needed depend upon the manufacturer of the back-water valve. 

You can protect yourself from sewer problems by making sure you have an accessible clean-out, keeping your sewer line in good condition, and by making sure you have a functional back-water valve.       

The photo below shows a back-water valve with 2 clean-outs. The caps have been removed to show how the back-water valve allows fluid to flow in only one direction. 

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Operator Safety

Operator Safety

Work Zone Safety -Maintenance Operations and Temporary Traffic Control
Roadway maintenance activities and sometimes water/sewer line repair occur in close proximity to traffic, creating a potentially dangerous environment for workers, drivers, and incident responders. In many cases a Temporary Traffic Control (TTC) Zone will be needed to both protect workers and incident responders as well as allow for the safe and efficient movement of drivers and pedestrians through and around the Work Zone. There are several Work Zone safety issues to plan and prepare for when setting up Temporary Traffic Controls.  One issue to consider is Operator Safety.  Print the brochure below to share with your employees who must work near equipment and traffic.

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