Conducting Effective Sawmill Inspections

Introduction to Sawmill

Inspection Training

Purpose Provide training for JHSC members that focuses

on sawmill inspection expectations.

Familiarize everyone with WorkSafeBC

Regulations and other applicable regulating

bodies.

Identify what should be inspected.

What to do post inspection.

Relevant Legislation in BC

Workers Compensation Act (WCA)

WorkSafeBC Occupational Health & Safety Regulations (OHS regs)

British Columbia Safety Authority (electrical safety)

Transport Canada (Marine and Road Transportation Regulations – Heli-logging in Timberlands ops)

BC Fire Code

National Fire Protection Association

Legal requirements

WorkSafeBC OH&S Regulations.

Workplace Inspections - 3.5 General requirement

Every employer must ensure that regular inspections

are made of all workplaces, including buildings,

structures, grounds, excavations, tools, equipment,

machinery and work methods and practices, at intervals

that will prevent the development of unsafe working

conditions.

Legal requirements

WorkSafeBC OH&S Regulations.

3.8 Participation of the committee or representative

An inspection required by section 3.5 and a major

inspection required by section 3.7 must, where feasible,

include the participation of members of the joint

committee or the worker health and safety

representative, as applicable, but

(a) if there is no committee or worker health and safety

representative the employer must designate an

employer representative and the union must designate

a worker representative, or

(b) if there is no union the employer must invite the

workers to designate one of their number.

3.5 General requirement

Workplace Inspections

1. What are committee members attempting to identify

when doing workplace inspections?.

2. How often should workplace inspections be

conducted?.

3. When an unsafe condition is found during regular

tour or inspection what steps should be followed?

4. Do committee members only do workplace

inspections once a month?

Legal requirements

WorkSafeBC OH&S Regulations.

3.7 Special inspections

A special inspection must be made when required by

malfunction or accident.

Legal requirements

WorkSafeBC OH&S Regulations.

4.3 Safe machinery and equipment

(1) The employer must ensure that each tool, machine and

piece of equipment in the workplace is;

(a) capable of safely performing the functions for which it

is used, and

(b) selected, used and operated in accordance with

(i) the manufacturer's instructions, if available,

(ii) safe work practices, and

(iii) the requirements of this Regulation.

Legal requirements

WorkSafeBC OH&S Regulations.

4.3 Safe machinery and equipment (continued)

(2) Unless otherwise specified by this Regulation, the

installation, inspection, testing, repair and maintenance

of a tool, machine or piece of equipment must be

carried out

(a) in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and

any standard the tool, machine or piece of equipment is

required to meet, or

(b) as specified by a professional engineer.

(3) A tool, machine or piece of equipment determined to

be unsafe for use must be identified in a manner which

will ensure it is not inadvertently returned to service

until it is made safe for use.

Legal requirements

WorkSafeBC OH&S Regulations.

4.3 Safe machinery and equipment (contd.)

(4) Unless otherwise specified by this Regulation, any

modification of a tool, machine or piece of equipment

must be carried out in accordance with

(a) the manufacturer's instructions, if available,

(b) safe work practices, and

(c) the requirements of this Regulation.

Legal requirements Workers Compensation Act.

Duties and functions of joint committee

130 A joint committee has the following duties and

functions in relation to its workplace:

(a) to identify situations that may be unhealthy or unsafe

for workers and advise on effective systems for

responding to those situations;

(h) to ensure that accident investigations and regular

inspections are carried out as required by this Part and

the regulations;

(i) to participate in inspections, investigations and inquiries

as provided in this Part and the regulations

What Makes a Successful

Health & Safety System?

Successful safety and health systems have the

following in place:

• Managers committed to making the program work.

• Employees involved in the program.

• A system to identify and control hazards.

• Compliance with OSHA regulations.

• Training on safe work practices.

• Mutual respect, caring and open communication

in a climate conducive to safety.

• Continuous improvement

Conducting an Inspection

During an inspection, identify unsafe conditions and

activities that may cause injury or illness, so you can

take corrective measures.

Once you know the hazards, you

can decide how to control them.

• Prioritize the hazards you found

• Make a plan for correcting the hazards

• Correct the hazards

• Evaluate the changes.

Hierarchy of Control• The best way to protect

workers is to remove or

eliminate the hazard

from the workplace.

• Substitute dangerous

chemicals, equipment or

work methods with safer

and less hazardous ones.

• Engineering controls do

not eliminate hazards,

but rather isolate people

from hazards.

• Administrative controls

are changes to the way

people work.

Types of Hazards

• Chemical

• Biological

• Physical

• Ergonomic

• Psychosocial

Inspection Tools

How Do We InspectQuality, not quantity

It’s about being acutely aware of everything around you.

Look up

Look down

Look all around

Look at everything and everyone

It’s not a race to get from point A to point B! Schedule

the time to do the inspection properly.

The moment you become focused on getting somewhere

or distracted (such as running late for a meeting), you

will start to look, but not see!

What to Focus on Here are some examples of things to look for:

• Uncorrected problems from the previous inspection

report

• Workers not following safe work procedures or

procedures that aren’t correct

• Improper storage of materials (for example, in front of

emergency exits or electrical panels, or blocking aisles

or stairs)

• Accumulation of liquid or grease on floors

• Failure to put a sign or barrier near wet floors

• Lack of guarding on equipment

• Poor maintenance of equipment

Strategic Inspection

There are four steps to setting up a

good work place inspection program:

1.Planning the action to be taken.

2.Physical inspection of premises.

3.Writing reports.

4.Following up on recommendations.

Housekeeping

What exactly are we looking for?

Tripping hazards, garbage and debris, improperly

stored tools and equipment, cabs and enclosures

clean and orderly.

Stairways and landings are clear of debris.

Slips, Trips and Falls

What are examples of controls of

slip, trip and fall hazards?

1. Eliminate

2. Substitute

3. Engineering

4. Administrative

5. PPE

PPE (including contractors)

What exactly are we looking for?

Mandatory PPE throughout the

site - steel toe boots with ankle

support, safety eyewear and

hardhat.

Hearing protection must be used

where required.

Gloves must be used where

required.

Appropriate high-viz is required

when exposed to the hazard of

vehicles or mobile equipment.

Confined Space

What exactly are we looking for?

Proper signage.

All spaces have been identified and

assessment complete.

Emergency drill completed in the last

year.

Permit in place if required

Air quality monitoring if required

Ventilation if required

Stand by person identified

Rescue plan in place

Fall Protection

What exactly are we looking for? guardrails if a raised walkway

is over 4 ft. above the adjacent

floor or above a hazard.

Equipment inspections

completed prior to use.

Annual inspection competed.

Proper anchor points

(engineered).

Equipment properly set up.

Lockout (includes proper use of latchout)

What exactly are we looking for? All forms of energy and required equipment

are de-energized/ isolated.

Equipment is stopped before disconnects

are disengaged.

Disconnects are properly disengaged.

Worker test starts and visually confirms

equipment is in a zero energy state.

Worker ensures stop button is pressed after

test start is complete.

Disconnect is properly re-energized.

Gates in working order / shut

What exactly are we looking for?

Latches installed.

Purpose of gate is clear.

Gates or chains preventing

entry must have signage.

Access gates and chains are

closed.

Guarding

What exactly are we looking for?

Guarding as per OHS regulation.

Can’t reach Around, Under,

Through or Over (AUTO)

If a guard (or gate used to

prevent access to an unguarded

area) can be removed without a

tool then that area must be

considered unguarded.

Combustible Dust

What exactly are we looking for?

Unacceptable accumulations of

combustible dust.

Dust inspection records.

Dust testing records.

Dust inspection and testing records

when conditions change (eg. 10 hr.

shifts or species change).

Unacceptable use of compressed air.

Hotwork

What exactly are we looking for? Permits being filled out correctly.

Appropriate cleaning and wetting down prior to

hotwork.

Workers have been trained in hotwork.

Firewatch monitors constantly for 1 hour after

hotwork.

Firewatch assigned and monitored hourly after

hotwork completed.

Fire protection

What exactly are we looking for? Fire extinguishers have current tag

and are inspected and available where

identified.

Smoking only in designated areas.

Only service hoses used for fire watch.

Fire extinguishers and hoses are

accessible (not blocked).

Fire drill completed within the last

year.

Management of change

What exactly are we looking for?

New equipment

Change in process

Increase in shifts (Dust,

inspections, first aid coverage)

Species change

Mobile equipment operation

What exactly are we looking for? Pre-trip has been completed.

Driving to conditions.

Equipment parked with forks on the ground and park brake on.

Empty forklift operating with forks close to the ground and tilted back.

Seatbelts are used.

Functioning backup alarm.

No turning on incline or decline.

Mobile equipment interface with workers

What exactly are we looking for? Workers using designated

walkways.

Proper stepping of loads at walkways.

Proper piling of loads.

Confirmed contact with operator prior to proceeding.

Head lights are being used.

Yard walkways and restricted areas

What exactly are we looking for?

Walkways clearly defined/visible

Walkways clear.

Infeed/Outfeed hazard areas identified.

Overhead hazards clearly identified.

Seatbelts

What exactly are we looking for?

Seatbelts secured and worn as designed when vehicle or equipment is in motion.

Check for tears. Seat belts are pretty durable, but even minor tears or frays in a strap could turn into a major problem.

Examine buckles regularly. The buckles themselves should be checked at regular intervals.

Truck loading / unloading

What exactly are we looking for?

Truck driver, load checker and forklift are on the same side of the truck and visible to one another.

30’ safe separation maintained.

Proper strapping.

Tarping/fall protection must occur at approved stations.

No one approaches the forklift without permission.

Working alone / Man overboard

What exactly are we looking for?

Man overboard system is fully functional.

Check daily documentation of man overboard system test.

Working alone procedure is in place.

Boom safety

What exactly are we looking for?

Life jackets are being properly worn.

Ensure man overboard beacon is on.

Caulk boots in good condition.

Boat secured when unattended.

Hoisting / Mechanical lifting

What exactly are we looking for?

Rating clearly identified on the beam.

Weight capacities are not exceed.

Pre-use inspection is documented.

Adequate equipment and rating (hook condition, safety latch etc.)

Proper rigging (see wire rope / synthetic sling fail criteria)

Tools (unavailable or in poor condition)

What exactly are we looking for?

The tools required to do the job are present and are

in good working condition such as…

• Hand held grinders have guards for grinding wheel

or cutting disk. Cord in good condition etc..

• Bench grinders have guards and 1/8” gap

(maximum) between grinding wheel and tool rest.

Compressed gas stored upright when practicable.

Compressed gas secured during transport, use and

storage.

Compressed gas marked with rated pressure and

type of gas.

Pike pole – picaroon – peavey use

What exactly are we looking for?

Tools in good condition.

Correct length of pike pole for the

task.

Tools stored properly.

No one in the ‘line of fire’ when tool

is being used.

Ladders

What exactly are we looking for?

Ladder in good condition.

Proper ladder for the task.

Proper use of ladder. i.e. Tied off,

level ground, proper angle and

extension (1 metre above upper

landing).

Not using top two steps.

No carrying of heavier bulkier objects

when on ladder.

Ladder has feet (Do NOT USE a

detached top section of an extension

ladder).

Overhead hazards

What exactly are we looking for?

Toe boards on overhead

working areas.

The area underneath an

overhead hazard is

identified and controlled

when lifting is occurring.

Workers are not under a

suspended load or in the

line of fire if the load spilled.

Electrical

What exactly are we looking for?

Electrical cords in good

condition and being properly

used.

Clear access to MCCs and

disconnect panels.

No open electrical boxes or

exposed wires.

Ground Fault Circuit

Interrupter (GFCI) used

outdoors or in damp conditions.

Cross-shift management

What exactly are we looking for?

Work station is clean for incoming

shift.

Any new hazards are

communicated to the following

shift. Between shift maintenance

items are communicated to the

supervisor or to the incoming

worker.

Immediate hazards have been

removed from the area to allow for

a safe and efficient start for the

incoming shift.

Structural integrity of facilities

What exactly are we looking for?

Welds on platforms.

Condition of catwalks and

platforms.

Staircases and steps in good

condition.

Stairs are secure.

Post and beams are in good

condition.

Annual inspections completed

where required.

Kiln safety

What exactly are we looking for?

Working alone process in

place for hot checks.

Swamper in the clear

during kiln building

process.

Spotter used while

pushing carts.

Three point contact

What exactly are we looking for?

Use of rails when on

stairwells.

No double stepping.

Proper access egress of

equipment – always facing

the machine.

Ergonomics

What exactly are we looking for?

Proper lifting and bending

techniques.

Work station setup/operator

controls.

Positioning during upset

conditions.

WHMIS / MSDS

What exactly are we looking for?

Current MSDS sheets.

Secondary storage is labeled.

Product identified for day use storage.

Signage

What exactly are we looking for?

No conflicting signage.

No signs with legacy

operation logos.

Signs are in good condition

and are legible.

After the Inspection

Remedy serious hazards or unsafe work practices

immediately; this is a legal obligation.

Prioritize other, less serious hazards and assign

someone to remedy each one.

Follow up on any actions that will take time to complete

(for example, purchasing new equipment).

Communicate inspection findings to workers.

Ensure that the safety committee has access to, and

reviews, the inspection reports and process.

Critical items to remember?

Report hazards with high potential immediately.

Also known as imminent danger. What are some

examples?

If asked a question, don’t guess at an answer.

Get help.

It’s not a race. Quality trumps quantity.

Have the courage to speak up / intervene.

When we observe an unsafe situation developing,

there are only 2 choices you can make:

Will you say something and intervene or

Say nothing?

How would you feel if the situation resulted in a

serious close call or worse, an injury to a co-worker?