Work Safe - Work Smart
Union jobs are safe jobs because our members are trained
in proper safety procedures, have access to safety information,
and have IU and IMI staff working every day to identify
and eliminate hazards.
As the weather improves and work picks up, it’s helpful to review what
you can do to work safer and smarter.
Personal Protective Equipment
There are many types of equipment that construction workers
can use to protect themselves from work related hazards
including hardhats, safety glasses, kneepads, work boots,
gloves, harnesses and respirators. When an employer is
not able to reduce a workers exposure to a hazard through
engineering or administrative controls, the employer is
required by OSHA to supply personal protective equipment
(PPE) to the worker along with training in its use. PPE
can protect you on the job –but only if used properly.
It’s in your interest to use protective equipment
supplied by your employer.
Identify the Hazards
Some hazards are readily apparent, but others may not
be as obvious. Every day masonry craftworkers are exposed
to products and material by-products that may be hazardous
to their health. The OSHA hazard communication standard “gives
all workers the right to know about the potential hazards
of toxic chemicals used by manufacturers and employers.
The standard requires chemical manufacturers to provide
information and training to employers and workers and sets
new labeling standards for toxic chemicals.”All jobsites
should have material safety data sheets (MSDS) for the
products being used on the job that are accessible to workers.
An MSDS contains information on the hazards associated
with working with a product and the steps required to prevent
unhealthy exposures.
The following are just a few of the exposures that masonry
workers could face on the jobsite and some of the protections
recommended:
•Crystalline Silica Dust –workers involved
in cutting, chipping or grinding masonry materials that
contain silica are at risk of being exposed to dangerous
levels of respirable crystalline silica dust. It is best
to control exposures by eliminating the problem at the
source through, for example, wet cutting or the use of
dust collection systems. If engineering controls are not
feasible or readily available, then a respirator that meets
the criteria recommended by OSHA should be used.
•Polychlorinated Biphenyls –although production
of PCBs in the United States was stopped in 1977, they
still may be present in some old caulking materials installed
prior to that time. If it is found that caulking that needs
to be removed contains PCBs, OSHA recommends the use of
equipment that provides
a protective barrier to prevent the chlorodiphenyl from migrating through it.
Glove materials that prevent PCBs from breaking through in 24 hours should
provide adequate skin protection. These materials include Neoprene (chloroprene
latex), polyvinyl alcohol, FEP Teflon and Viton fluorocarbon rubber. When exposures
are the result of grinding and the dust is not controlled through engineering
controls at the source, appropriate respiratory protection must be provided.
•Hexavelient Chromium –workers that use Portland
Cement may develop skin disorders. According to the Center
to Protect Workers’Rights, the most common are dry
skin, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis,
and cement burns. Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is
the most serious and exposure to hexavalent chromium in
cement is a primary cause. CPWR recommends protecting yourself
by wearing gloves and practicing good hygiene: wash your
hands two to four times a day –before eating, when
you stop work for the day, and whenever you remove your
gloves. Use pH-neutral or slightly acidic soaps: pH 7 or
lower, or carry a vinegar-soaked washcloth in a plastic
baggy to wipe your hands if clean water is not available,
or use a buffering spray. Avoid barrier creams since they
can trap the contaminants against your skin.
Protection from the Elements
Some working conditions are beyond our control. Anyone
who works outside is going to be exposed to heat and sun,
but if you work smart, you can avoid illnesses and injuries
caused by sun exposure. According to the Center to Protect
Workers’Rights, “Too much heat can make you
tired, hurt your job performance, and increase your chance
of injury.”Among the side effects are dehydration,
cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke –the latter
condition can kill you if you don’t receive prompt
medical attention. CPWR recommends avoiding heat stroke
by drinking water all day, wearing light-colored clothing
made of cotton, and resting. You should also make it a
habit to wear sunscreen to prevent skin cancer.
To become better informed on how to protect yourself
on the job, take advantage of safety training and tool-box
lectures offered by your Local or IMI. You can also visit
one of the many websites and resources available to help
you learn more about how to protect yourself from these
and other health and safety hazards:
•More information about preventing contact dermatitis,
silicosis, heat stroke and other health and safety information
is available at http://www.cpwr.com.
•The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
offers more detailed information about PCBs on its website
- http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/1554.pdf.
•To learn about OSHA regulations, hazard alerts,
and protections recommended by OSHA visit http://www.osha.gov.
To learn more about the PPE requirements mentioned in this
article go to http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/constructionppe/.
•Information on MSDS is available at http://msds.pdc.cornell.edu/msdssrch.
Most importantly, if you identify a hazard on the job
let your job steward or BAC representative know so that
corrective steps can be taken. Don’t become a statistic –protect
yourself.
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