Date Posted: 09/13/2016

(MUTCD Signaling & Flaggers 296-155-305 Part E)

Flaggers are to be used only when other means are not adequate to control traffic. All workers are required to have a jobsite orientation. This requirement also applies to flaggers who are working on the jobsite and any workers who will perform flagger duties. Please use MUTCD for specific requirements.

Date Posted: 09/13/2016

Traffic control is needed at almost every job-site. This often involves the use of a flagger and a stop/slow paddle. Placing a flagger near traffic is considered a high hazard job and deserves attention.

Date Posted: 09/12/2016

Night work flaggers are faced with more challenging and dangerous situations than flaggers working during daylight hours. Nighttime drivers are more inattentive due to driver fatigue from the completion of the day. It is important for flaggers to remain alert and watch traffic approaching from both directions.

Date Posted: 09/12/2016

Gasoline can be used on job-sites for some tools and equipment. Improper handling of gasoline increases the workers risk for serious injuries and even fatalities.

Date Posted: 09/12/2016

Geo Thermal Wells can be horizontal at 5-10 feet deep but most often they are vertically drilled 150-300 feet deep into the ground. The closed loop wells are filled with HDPE pipe carrying water that leverages the earth’s constant 55 degree temperature to reduce building heating and cooling demands. The majority of the mechanical system is essentially buried underground instead of a large cooling tower and chiller. The result is a very small mechanical room, minimal wiring, materials and safety hazards after installation.

Date Posted: 09/11/2016

Guardrails offer a level of protection that is above personal fall arrest. When installed properly, guardrails prevent falls from happening. (WAC 296-155-24615)

Date Posted: 09/11/2016

Hand tools are used everyday in our line of work. If you’re a carpenter your tools include hammers, saws, framing squares, plumbs, etc. If you’re a concrete finisher you will have trowels, bull floats, a finishing broom, etc. The list goes on and on for each type of trade. All these tools help you accomplish your work.

Date Posted: 09/11/2016

Have you ever had a tingling sensation in your hands after operating a piece of equipment? That tingling is a very mild form of Vibration-induced White Finger (VWF) or Raynaud’s phenomenon.

Date Posted: 09/10/2016

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe, sometimes fatal, respiratory disease in humans caused by infection with a rodent infected with hantavirus. Rodent infestation remains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure. Healthy individuals can be at risk for HPS infection if exposed to the virus.

Date Posted: 09/10/2016

Hard hats are an essential part of head protection. The brain is the body’s command center; it offers the body a way to function and must be protected. Hard hats are a type of helmets worn in workplaces to protect the head from flying objects, collision impact, debris, and shock.

Date Posted: 09/10/2016

The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). This update will provide a common and clear approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information:

Date Posted: 09/09/2016

To provide and maintain a safe and healthy worksite, owners, contractors, employers, supervisors, and workers must accept and follow their own level of responsibility.

Date Posted: 09/09/2016

Construction workers are often exposed to on-the-job noise that can permanently damage hearing. When we are exposed to loud noises over long periods of time, we are at increased risk of losing our ability to hear.

Date Posted: 09/09/2016

Working in the heat and doing heavy physical work can affect the body’s cooling system. If your body is unable to cool itself, you can experience heat stress. If heat stress is not treated, it can develop into heat stroke, which can result in death.

Date Posted: 09/08/2016

Washington State can be known for its extreme temperatures. The temperature can change 20 degrees from one day to the next. Excessive heat can contribute to accidents in many ways. It becomes more difficult to concentrate on the job and this can lead to errors in judgment. It is important to be aware of the danger signs. When wearing restrictive clothing, even lower temperature can be dangerous.

Date Posted: 09/08/2016

Lack of proper housekeeping on the job is one safety hazard common to all construction projects. Good housekeeping is one item that can help improve not only the safety on the job, but also the morale and productivity of the workers.

Date Posted: 09/08/2016

Occupational health and safety regulations require workers to use a fall protection system:

Date Posted: 09/07/2016

Green Building Indoor Air Quality Management helps ensure worker safety and reduces the risk of poor air quality to future users of the finished space. A common responsibility of a site safety coordinator.

Date Posted: 09/07/2016

It is vital to inspect your Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS), Personal Fall Restraint System (PFRS), or Positioning Device System (PDS) in order to ensure that it is not defective.

Date Posted: 09/07/2016

Every year, many workers in Washington State are seriously injured from falling off ladders in their workplace. These injuries include dislocated limbs, broken bones, head injuries and even death from their injuries.