Spray Equipment Safety

Pest Control Equipment

Safety Training

Protect Yourself & Your Future

Our Equipment. Your Success.

Andrew GreessNPMA SW Conference Albuquerque January 2012

Today’s Safety Objectives:

- Identify Risks

- Identify Solutions

- Improve Awareness

Our Equipment. Your Success.www.QSpray.com

Protect Yourself & Your Future

Ground Rules:

- Share Experiences

-Ask Questions

-Don’t Assume “Common” Sense

-Employee or Employer Responsibility


We Will Not Be Covering:

- Driving Habits

- Vehicle Maintenance

- Stupidity


Today’s Safety Risks Discussion:

Vehicle: Equipment Security & Load Stability

Acute Injuries: Cuts, Scraps, Burns, Slips

Chemical: Exposure & Spills

Back Strain

Job Site Our Equipment. Your Success.

www.QSpray.com

Vehicle – Equipment Security-Protect: Driver

Others on the RoadEquipment

-Just because it’s in the vehicle, don’t assume its secure

-Get in the habit of looking & checking your equipment

-Examples: Our Equipment. Your Success.www.QSpray.com

Vehicle – Equipment Security



- Check: B&GsBackpacksToolboxesTank strapsSkid sprayers


A Quick Check Prevents Problems:




The Nightmare Scenario!



No Spills!

Vehicle – Load StabilityDon’t Overload Vehicles Load Affects: Maneuvering, Control & Stopping

Water in Tank is Significant


Vehicle – Load Stability-Water in Tank is Significant

Partial vs. Full Load

Smaller Vehicles

Distracted Drivers


Vehicle – Load Stability

Match Tank Size to Vehicle

Use Tank Baffles

Reinforce Good Driving Practices


Acute Injuries – Cuts, Burns, Abrasions-Review Truck/Equipment for:

Hot Sharp Moving Rough Rust Tight Overhang


Acute Injuries – Prevent Slips-Review Truck/Equipment for:

Easy Up/Down

Good Access

Room to Walk

Anti-Slip Surfaces


Acute Injuries - Prevention-Existing Equipment

Encourage techs to report problems

Supervisor Ride-A-Longs

Fix Significant Risks Now

Track Opportunities to Incorporate in Future Equipment

-New Equipment

Continuous Improvement – Steal Ideas

Plan it BEFORE you buy it!


Chemical Issues – Exposure-Use Personal Protection Equipment ALL THE TIME

Not Just When Applying Chemicals

-Prevent Chemical Buildup

On Equipment

In Vehicle

Inspect & Clean


Chemical Issues – Spills - Fix Small Leaks before they become Big Leaks

Fluids where they are not supposed to be are ALWAYS a problem

Equipment problems NEVER go away by themselves

Problems ALWAYS get worse

- Train Technicians to anticipate & identify problems

- Good Equipment Design can prevent leaks


Chemical Spills – Use Good Valving


Chemical Spills – Hose Issues


Back Strain -Eliminate unnecessary stretching, straining & lifting

-Provide easy access to commonly used equipment

-Provide equipment appropriate to the employee

-Don’t overfill manual sprayers

-Examples:


Back Strain


Job Site Safety- Know the hazards before starting

-1st Time? Inspect the Site

-No walking backwards!

-Watch for small trip hazards


There are no signs!

Job Site Safety examples:


Summary

(or thank goodness he’s almost done!)


Safety - Technician-Inspect equipment at the start of your day

-Don’t rush/Don’t cut corners

-Borrow ideas from colleagues at meetings like this on

-Don’t live with leaks and problems - report promptly

-Know the job site


Safety - Equipment-Work with your equipment supplier to design safety in up front

-Fix serious problems ASAP

-Check that your equipment is secured

-Continuously improve equipment selection and design

- Borrow ideas from colleagues at meetings like this one


Safety Policies & Procedures - Create a “Safety” culture

- Encourage reporting of problems

- Have regular safety meetings to share ideas

- Ask Spray Technicians for their ideas on improving safety

- Proper equipment maintenance will reduce safety problems

- Retrain technicians on proper equipment operation

- Managers should perform equipment inspections & ride alongs (pull hose)


More Info on Spray Equipment:


PMP Magazine Column

www.SprayEquipmentBlog.com

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Email us: [email protected]

Call Us for sprayers/parts/advice 800.675.7485

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