Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/717930
50 • september 2016 • world fence news Visit Logical Decisions at www.ldi.com Your Gate Operator Specialist Find us on the meeting and then present the topic. It's OK to refer to notes, but again, you should not just read at toolbox talks. The training will be far more effective if it's presented and not just read off a sheet. • Safety toolbox talks should gen- erally be presented by a supervisor, foreman, manager or similar type em- ployee. Don't delegate this important task! When toolbox safety training is presented by a credible supervisor or person of similar responsibility, it is far more likely that the training will be taken seriously. But, it is not absolutely mandatory that a supervisory level person present the talk, if a qualified employee has something very relevant to present. • Safety toolbox talks should ad- dress the hazards of your workplace or environment. Present toolbox safety training that's relevant to your workplace, otherwise you'll quickly lose the attention of your employees and workers. • Safety toolbox talks should be quick and to the point and should take no longer than five to 10 minutes. You can likely address one specific hazard or issue and the relevant safeguard in that time span. You want your audience to "grasp" and remember this safety training and so you will have more success if you keep the talks short and to the point. • Document your safety toolbox talks. One of the most frequently cit- ed OSHA standards, 1926.21 (B) 2, reads: "The employer shall instruct each employee in the recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his/her work environment to control or elimi- nate any hazards or other exposure to illness or injury." Essentially, this means it's the employer's responsibility to train all employees regarding all workplace hazards and their appropriate safe- guards. Documentation is the only way to show OSHA that this training has been completed. Check with OSHA's web site to give you guidance. At this point, I want to spend a few minutes discussing what is called the "Three Point Rule" in avoiding falls. This could be an excellent topic for a future toolbox talk. In my experience while visiting with many of you over the years, I have seen the problem of falling first- hand. Therefore, I feel compelled to present it in the context of safety tool- box talks. Here we go: Falling while getting in or out of truck cabs, or other heavy equipment, or when mounting or dismounting truck bodies or trailers can cause seri- ous injuries (I have seen this happen). Many knee, ankle and back inju- ries result from jumping from equip- ment onto uneven ground or objects. The biggest cause of falls from a vehicle is human error and failure to follow the "Three Point Rule." The Three Point Rule requires three of four points of contact to be maintained with the vehicle at all times – two hands and one foot or both feet and one hand. This system allows maximum stability and sup- port, reducing the likelihood of slip- ping and falling. There are important steps that can be taken to prevent mounting and dismounting injuries, with use of the Three Point Rule being most import- ant. Here are some thoughts; first of all, what the steps are which the em- ployer can do. • Evaluate every truck and piece of equipment as to whether or not it is safety compliant. • Provide additional steps, non- slip surfaces and hand-holds where necessary. • Maintain steps, contact surfaces and hand-holds in usable condition. Inspect frequently. • Instruct all workers in safely mounting and dismounting equip- ment, including the Three Point Rule contact method. • Install warning decals or signs in the cab or on the door of trucks and heavy equipment reminding workers to use the Three Point Rule contact method. We have detailed what the em- ployer can do, now we must also rec- ognize that there are things that the Toolbox safety talks continued from previous page continued on page 52 At Western Tube & Conduit customer satisfaction and quality are the first order of business. Our Fencepost and Fencerail production is ISO-9001:2008 certified - and our products are manufactured to meet all the applicable state, federal, industrial and regulatory specifications and requirements. While we regularly stock standardized products and sizes, we are happy to provide custom dimensions as well. All our Fence products are galvanized with high purity zinc. We use high frequency welding (ERW) to turn the highest quality strip steel into tubing, and then a continuous hot-galvanizing process to zinc-coat the products smoothly and evenly. A zinc-rich interior organic coating, a chromate conversion coating, and a clear exterior organic coating provide the complete finish package that gives them superior protection against the elements and long life as a result. Gal-Z serves customers looking for shaped Fence tubing as well as corrosion-protected mechanical tubing. It can be purchased in squares and in rectangles, and it provides excellent environmental durability while also fulfilling the need for strength and weldability.