Winter Weather Safety
These are three hazards commonly associated with winter weather.
What are increased risk of slips, trips, and falls; cold weather exposure leading to cold stress; increased risk of vehicle incidents?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are operations that are considered "hot work."
What is welding, grinding, brazing, soldering, torch cutting and any other temporary work operation that creates an ignition source?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are the three criteria that makes a space a confined space.
What are:
-Large enough and so configured that a worker can bodily enter and perform work,
-Limited or restricted means for entry or exit,
-Is not designed for continuous employee occupancy?
These are circumstances/tasks in which lockout tagout procedures must be used.
What is when:
-You must remove or bypass a guard or safety device to perform your work?
-You must put any part of your body in the danger zone?
-The unexpected start up of the equipment, release of energy, or release of material could cause harm to you or someone else?
These are common workplace conditions that lead to slips, trips, and falls.
What are slippery surfaces (e.g., wet materials, dry materials, snow/ice, etc.), inadequate footwear, uneven or unstable surfaces, obstructions (e.g., cords, hoses, pipes, conduit, rugs/floormats, etc.), debris and clutter, poor lighting, obstructed view, and inattention?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are ways we can reduce the chances of slips, trips, and falls associated with winter weather operations.
What are wearing appropriate footwear, adjusting our walking speed & gait, planning ahead and avoiding problem areas, utilizing ice cleats (where appropriate), and removing the ice and snow?
With fire extinguishers, this is what the acronym P.A.S.S. stands for.
What is Pull (twist) the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are the four criteria that make a confined space a permit-required confined space.
What are:
-Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere?
-Contains a material that has the potential to engulf an entrant?
-Has an internal configuration that could entrap an entrant?
-Contains any other serious safety or heath hazard?
BONUS QUESTION!
Lockout tagout protects workers during servicing operations or other special operations. This is what protects workers from hazardous moving parts, hazardous energy, and hazardous materials during normal operations.
What is machine guarding, equipment enclosures, and system integrity?
When workers are exposed to falls of this height or more on campus, they must be protected from falling.
What is four feet?
BONUS QUESTION!
This is how to dress appropriately for winter weather to help prevent the development of cold stress (e.g., hypothermia and/or frostbite).
What is wearing:
-Base layer: moisture wicking fabric to keep skin dry.
-Insulating layer: fleece or wool for warmth
-Outer layer: waterproof and windproof jacket
-Headwear: Warm hat, beanie, or hood.
-Gloves: insulated and waterproof w/ grip.
-Footwear: Insulated, waterproof w/ adequate tread.
When it comes to hot work, these are examples of "combustibles."
What are wood, paper, cardboard, rags, cloth, fabric, carpet, plastics, dry/combustible vegetation, flammable liquids/gases/greases?
This must be done prior to entry if there is the potential for a hazardous atmosphere within a space.
What is ventilate the space using natural or forced-air ventilation until the air tests safe?
BONUS QUESTION!
This what you must do after you’ve deenergized the equipment/system, applied your lock and tag, and released any potential/stored energy.
What is verify that the equipment/system is actually in a safe state?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are the four components or steps to safe ladder use. (HINT: The first two rhyme)
What are ladder:
-Selection – Choose the right ladder for the job.
-Inspection – Make sure it is in good condition.
-Set up – Set it up properly.
-[Safe] Use – Use ladder safe work practices.
BONUS QUESTION!
These are ways operating vehicles in winter weather conditions differ from operating vehicles in normal weather conditions.
What is:
-When snow and ice are present stopping distance can be significantly increased and sliding or skidding is more probable when turning?
-Visibility can be limited due to low light conditions and/or increased/heavy precipitation?
BONUS QUESTION!
This is when a hot work permit must be completed.
When you cannot do the hot work in a designated area or at least 35' from combustibles?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are common precautionary measures that must be taken when a permit-required confined space must be entered.
What are controlling access to the surrounding area, assessing the space, completing an entry permit, conducting air monitoring, utilizing appropriate PPE, performing lockout tagout, eliminating other hazards, isolating the space, ventilating the space, designating an entry attendant, and preparing non-entry rescue means?
This is the person responsible for applying their lock and tag on a piece of equipment/system and is the only person authorized to remove their lock and tag.
What is the authorized person (i.e., the person who will be working on the equipment/system; the person who will be in harm’s way, etc.)?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are building materials that commonly contain asbestos on campus.
What are thermals system insulation, acoustical plaster (or "popcorn") ceilings, ceiling tiles, wall and ceiling surface texture coatings, drywall joint compound, vinyl flooring, adhesives (e.g., putties, calks, tapes, mastics), spray-on fireproofing, fire door interiors, and laboratory benchtops?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are examples of tasks associated with snow and ice removal that could lead to ergonomic (i.e., soft tissue, musculoskeletal) injuries.
What are awkward postures (bending to scoop snow, twisting to throw snow), repetitive motions (similar or same shoveling or ice chipping motions for an extended period of time), exertion of force (lifting shovels of heavy snow, lifting bags of ice melt), and vibration (hand and arm vibration from chipping ice)?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are the main ways hot work fires start.
What is:
-Sparks, slag, flames, or other ignition sources migrating to local combustible materials?
-Sparks, slag, flames, or other ignition sources migrating through openings to other areas?
-Ignition sources igniting flammable atmospheres or airborne combustible dusts?
-Heat transferring along or through a surface or material and igniting combustible materials?
This is an example of a hazardous atmosphere that could be encountered in a confined space and how such an atmosphere could occur.
What is:
-Carbon monoxide from combustion engines, like nearby vehicles or generators.
-Hydrogen sulfide from decaying organic matter.
-Flammable gases from nearby containers or from hot work equipment in the space.
-Low oxygen content because another gas is displacing it, like nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide.
BONUS QUESTION!
These are examples of energy isolating devices, mechanical devices that physically prevent the transmission or release of energy (e.g., what you put your lockout device on).
What are circuit breakers, disconnect switches, toggle switches*, valves, or any other device used to block or isolate energy?
BONUS QUESTION!
These are workplace risk factors (or physical stressors) for ergonomic injuries, things that can increase fatigue or stress in the musculoskeletal system which can increase the likelihood of ergonomic injuries.
What are awkward postures, static postures, repetition, exertion of force, tissue compression, and vibration?
BONUS QUESTION!