West Virginia Ag Safety DaysWest Virginia Ag Safety DaysKearneysville, WVKearneysville, WVFebruary 23, 2009February 23, 2009

11am-Noon11am-Noon

Ladder SafetyLadder Safetyand Aerial Liftsand Aerial Lifts

Ladders

Ladders must be kept in a safe condition

-- DO – Keep the area around the top and bottom of a ladder clear

Ensure rungs, cleats, and steps are level and uniformly spaced

Ensure rungs are spaced 10 to 14 inches apart

Keep ladders free from slipping hazards

General Ladder Requirements

Use ladders only for their designed purpose

-- DON’T – Tie ladders together to make longer sections, unless designed for such use

Use single rail ladders

Load ladders beyond the maximum load for which they were built, nor beyond the manufacturer’s rated capacity

General Ladder Requirements

Securing LaddersSecuring Ladders

Secure ladders to prevent Secure ladders to prevent accidental movement due to accidental movement due to workplace activityworkplace activity

Only use ladders on stable and Only use ladders on stable and level surfaces, unless securedlevel surfaces, unless secured

Do not use ladders on slippery Do not use ladders on slippery surfaces unless secured or surfaces unless secured or provided with slip-resistant feetprovided with slip-resistant feet

This ladder is not on a stable surface

Inspect before use for cracks, dents, and missing rungs

Design or treat rungs to minimize slipping

Side rails -- at least 11 1/2 inches apart

Must support 4 times the maximum load

Portable Ladders

Don’t paint ladders

Don’t use an opaque covering (like varnish) on a wood ladder

Painting Wood Ladders

Ladder AngleLadder Angle

Non-self-supporting ladders:Non-self-supporting ladders: (which lean against a wall or (which lean against a wall or

other support)other support)

Position at an angle where Position at an angle where the horizontal distance from the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the top support to the foot of the ladder is 1/4 the working the ladder is 1/4 the working length of the ladderlength of the ladder

When using a portable ladder for access to an upper landing surface, the side rails must extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface

Ladder Rail Extension

Tall Fixed Ladder RequirementsTall Fixed Ladder Requirements

Equip a fixed ladder 24 feet or Equip a fixed ladder 24 feet or longer with either a:longer with either a: Ladder safety deviceLadder safety device Self-retracting lifelines with rest Self-retracting lifelines with rest platforms every 150 feet or lessplatforms every 150 feet or less Cage or well, and multiple ladder Cage or well, and multiple ladder sections, each section not exceeding sections, each section not exceeding 50 feet50 feet

Do not use the top or top step of a stepladder as a step

Top Step

A competent person must inspect ladders for visible defects, like broken or missing rungs

If a defective ladder is found, immediately mark it defective or tag it "Do Not Use”

Withdraw defective ladders from service until repaired

Damaged or Defective Ladders

Missing rung

Face the ladder when going up or down

Use at least one hand to grab the ladder when going up or down

Do not carry any object or load that could cause you to lose balance

Climbing the Ladder

Near Energized Electrical Equipment

If using ladders where the employee or the ladder could contact exposed energized electrical equipment, they must have nonconductive siderails such as wood or fiberglass.

This is an unsafe condition

Overhead Power LinesOverhead Power Lines

Most overhead power line Most overhead power line electrocutions are a result electrocutions are a result from a failure to maintain from a failure to maintain proper safe distance.proper safe distance.

OSHA mandates that all OSHA mandates that all activities, equipment and activities, equipment and workers maintain at least workers maintain at least a 10 feet distance from a a 10 feet distance from a power linepower line

Water and ElectricityWater and Electricity

In Green industries, water usage is common on a In Green industries, water usage is common on a work site.work site.

Water decreases resistance to electricityWater decreases resistance to electricity Wet hand decreases the body’s resistance to shockWet hand decreases the body’s resistance to shock

Keep electrical equipment Keep electrical equipment and cords away from waterand cords away from water

Never operate electrical Never operate electrical equipment when standing in equipment when standing in waterwater

Contact With Power LinesContact With Power Lines

Indirect contact occurs when the machine, Indirect contact occurs when the machine, tool, or object someone is holding contacts a tool, or object someone is holding contacts a line and transfers the energy to the person.line and transfers the energy to the person.

Fatal FactFatal Fact

An employee was trimming a tree that was An employee was trimming a tree that was near an overhead power line. The employee near an overhead power line. The employee misjudged the distance, cut the branch, and it misjudged the distance, cut the branch, and it fell on the line. The employee, who was still fell on the line. The employee, who was still holding onto the branch, was electrocuted.holding onto the branch, was electrocuted.

What could have been done differently?What could have been done differently?

Activities Around Power LinesActivities Around Power Lines

Power line contact can result from:Power line contact can result from: Working in treesWorking in trees Pruning trees from the groundPruning trees from the ground

Using long pruning tools made of metal is dangerousUsing long pruning tools made of metal is dangerous Raising or moving laddersRaising or moving ladders Raising or lowering machinesRaising or lowering machines Moving irrigation pipesMoving irrigation pipes Pulling or installing pump Pulling or installing pump

casing and pipecasing and pipe

Staying Safe Around Power LinesStaying Safe Around Power Lines

Always look up for overhead power linesAlways look up for overhead power lines Always assume a power line is energizedAlways assume a power line is energized Non-metallics like lumber, branches, and rope Non-metallics like lumber, branches, and rope

can conduct electricity can conduct electricity Use a ground worker to observe clearanceUse a ground worker to observe clearance Stay at least 10 feet awayStay at least 10 feet away Don’t use ladders near overhead power linesDon’t use ladders near overhead power lines Plan travel routes for equipmentPlan travel routes for equipment

Contact With a Power LineContact With a Power Line

If a co-worker contacts a power line:If a co-worker contacts a power line: Do not go near them if they are still in contactDo not go near them if they are still in contact Call the power company to de-energize the lineCall the power company to de-energize the line Call emergency services immediatelyCall emergency services immediately

Personal Protective EquipmentPersonal Protective Equipment

Proper foot Proper foot protection (not tennis protection (not tennis shoes)shoes)

Rubber insulating Rubber insulating gloves, hoods, gloves, hoods, sleeves, matting, and sleeves, matting, and blanketsblankets

Hard hat (insulated - Hard hat (insulated - nonconductive)nonconductive)

FallsFalls

Workers in elevated locations who experience Workers in elevated locations who experience electric shock may fall as a result of the shock.electric shock may fall as a result of the shock. TreesTrees LaddersLadders Aerial liftsAerial lifts

Aerial LiftsAerial Lifts

Aerial LiftsAerial Lifts

Preoperational inspectionPreoperational inspection Look for broken, missing, damaged or loose Look for broken, missing, damaged or loose

partsparts Check pivot pins/retaining devisesCheck pivot pins/retaining devises Perform maintenance procedures required by Perform maintenance procedures required by

manufacturermanufacturer Look for structural damage, cracked weldsLook for structural damage, cracked welds Inspect hydraulic systemInspect hydraulic system

Aerial LiftsAerial Lifts

Lift controls tested dailyLift controls tested daily Only authorized persons to Only authorized persons to

operateoperate Never tie off to object Never tie off to object

outside the basketoutside the basket Harness and lanyard Harness and lanyard

requiredrequired Feet kept firmly on the floor Feet kept firmly on the floor

of the basketof the basket No planks or ladders used No planks or ladders used

for work positionfor work position

Never exceed basket Never exceed basket weight limitsweight limits

Lift trucks not to be Lift trucks not to be moved w/ basket moved w/ basket elevatedelevated

Upper and Lower Upper and Lower controlscontrols

Lower controls for Lower controls for emergencyemergency

Contact With a Power LineContact With a Power Line

If you are in a vehicle in If you are in a vehicle in contact with a line:contact with a line: Stay in the vehicleStay in the vehicle Make sure no one comes Make sure no one comes

near the vehiclenear the vehicle Call for help and contact Call for help and contact

the power companythe power company

Contact With a Power LineContact With a Power Line

If you must exit the vehicle because of fire:If you must exit the vehicle because of fire: Jump to the ground and keep your balanceJump to the ground and keep your balance Do not touch anything with your handsDo not touch anything with your hands Hop away from vehicle with both feet togetherHop away from vehicle with both feet together If you can’t hop, shuffle your feet keeping both on If you can’t hop, shuffle your feet keeping both on

the groundthe ground

SummarySummary

Inspect Ladders before useInspect Ladders before use Use ladders as manufacturers intendedUse ladders as manufacturers intended Avoid contact with overhead wires if you are Avoid contact with overhead wires if you are

working with long objectsworking with long objects Ladders, pruning shears, pruning saws, aerial liftsLadders, pruning shears, pruning saws, aerial lifts

Maintain aerial lift per operators manual Maintain aerial lift per operators manual Operate aerial lift as manufacturer intendedOperate aerial lift as manufacturer intended Keep electrical equipment away from water Keep electrical equipment away from water