Unit 2 • Workplace Safety

CARPENTRY

tech con

nectOne of the keys to working in any industry

is the safety and health of the workers. Thecarpentry industry can be a dangerousindustry in which to work if you do notobserve safety standards. The tools andmaterials that you will use on a daily basiscan be dangerous if not used properly, butif you observe safety rules carpentry can bea safe occupation. It is very important topay attention to safety standards in order tobe a successful worker.

Objectives ———————

1. Describe safety issues related to thecarpentry industry

2. State guidelines for personal safety

3. State rules for working safely.

4. Identify sources of accidents and possible injuries in the workplace.

5. Identify personal safety equipment.

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Objective 1:——————Describe Safety IssuesRelated to the CarpentryIndustry

Safety should be one of the top concernfor workers in any job. Almost everyworkplace can contain hazards andunsafe conditions. This is especiallytrue in the construction and carpentryindustries. The location of most carpentry jobs, the equipment andmaterials used, and the nature of carpentry tend to increase the possibilityfor serious accidents.

People can also do things in a way thatcan lead to injury and even death.Every year, millions of people suffernon-fatal workplace injuries. Thousandsof people in the United States die everyyear from injuries suffered on the job.Workplace accidents can range fromminor cuts to potentially life threateningsituations. The key to handling such an

accident is your ability to analyze thesituation and decide what must bedone.

Some of the materials used by carpenters are dangerous because theyare combustible. This means that theyare capable of bursting in to flames.Gasoline and paint thinners are examples of combustible materials.

Many of the materials are flammable.Flammable materials are capable ofbeing easily ignited or burning very rapidly. May untreated wood productsand paints are flammable.

Some of the equipment used by carpenters is powered by pressurizedor compressed air. This means that theair is stored or used at a greater pressure than the atmosphere.Pressurized equipment and air is another source of danger.

Unit 2 • Workplace Safety

CARPENTRY

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As a worker you have responsibilitiesand there are consequences if you donot follow through with those responsibilities. In relation to safetystudy the responsibilities andconsequences below.

Responsibilities:

You have the responsibility to yourself to prevent personal injury.

You have a responsibility to yourfamily members to continue providingfor them and to keep them safe.

You have a responsibility to your co-workers to prevent accidents andinjuries to them. This means beingconcerned with their safety andencouraging them to be safety conscious.

You have a responsibility to youremployers to prevent accidents sothey are not shorthanded, their jobprogress is not slowed or stopped,and their insurance rates are notincreased, making them less competitive.

Consequences of accidents and unsafebehavior:

Accidents and injuries.

Causes you to be tardy or absent.

Causes you to be less productive.

May affect your health and your ability to work.

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Objective 2:——————State Guidelines for PersonalSafety

As a worker in any industry thereare general safety guidelines to follow in order to avoid the consequences described in the previous objective. Study and following general guidelines for personal safety.

Comply with all of the employer’ssafety rules and posted signs.

Know the proper way to perform anyprocedure or use any tool or pieceof equipment.

Never operate, adjust, or repairequipment without proper training.

Do not use defective tools andequipment. Report them to yoursupervisor immediately.

Report all accidents on the jobimmediately.

Get first aid immediately!

Correct or report any unsafe conditions immediately.

Stay alert to possible hazards all thetime.

Work safely and help others worksafely. Never misuse or play aroundwith tools or equipment. Never distract your co-workers while theyare working.

Never carry tools or sharp objects inyour pockets.

Dress safely at all times:

Wear close-fitting clothing that isappropriate for the job.

Remove rings and other jewelrybefore you start work each day.

Confine long hair before usingpower tools or machines andbefore working around movingparts.

Wear the appropriate personalprotective equipment.

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Unit 2 • Workplace Safety

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Objective 3:—— StateRules for Working Safely

General Safety

Know the location of fire-fighting and first-aid equipmenton the job site.

Be alert and conduct yourselfin a safe manner.

Be conscious of others’ safetyand encourage others to do thesame.

Report all accidents, regardless of their nature orseverity, to the supervisorimmediately.

Be aware of OSHA, NIOSH, MSHA,and job-related safety rules.

Equipment and tool safety

Obey all safety rules and observe limitations on equipment.

Maintain all tools in safe workingorder. Properly store tools when notin use.

Shut off all power equipment when finished using it.

Do not leave equipment until it hasstopped completely.

Operate equipment only after receiving instructions on how to operate it safely.

Disconnect power from equipmentbefore changing accessories andbefore performing service or maintenance.

Use the correct tool for the job. ●

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Clean chips from grinders andother equipment with a brush.CAUTION: Do not clean equipmentwith your hands or with a rag; donot clean equipment while it is running.

Work-area safety

Arrange equipment to allow forsafe, efficient work practices andease of cleaning.

Store materials and supplies safelyin their proper places.

Store tools and accessories safelyin cabinets, on racks, or in suitablestorage areas.

Keep work area clear of debris andother hazards.

Always remove nails from woodbefore storing or disposing of it.

Clean floors of obstructions andslippery substances; clean up spillsimmediately.

Keep aisles, exits, and traffic areasfree of materials and debris.

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Unit 2 • Workplace Safety

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Dispose of combustible materialsproperly.

Keep brooms, brushes, waste containers, and other housekeeping equipment readilyavailable.

Flammable-liquid safety

Read the labels onall flammable liquids.

Use flammable liquids only inopen, well-ventilated areas.

Be sure that allflammable liquidsare marked correctly for storage.

Store all flammableliquids properly and only inapproved safety containers.

Oily rags and flammable materialsshould be stored in metal containers with self-sealing lids.When your clothing is soaked by aflammable liquid, immediatelychange clothing and clean yourbody with appropriate cleaner.

Use flammable liquids only for theirintended purpose. EXAMPLES;Never use gasoline as a cleaner.

Do not use flammable liquids nearfire or flame.

Always know the location of theappropriate fire extinguisher.

Stop, drop, and roll to smother afire; never run.

Gasoline-powered-equipment safety

Prevent contact with hot manifoldsand hoses.

Be sure that equipment is out ofgear before starting it.

Keep the appropriate fire extinguisher near by when startingand operating gasoline-poweredequipment.

Never pour gasoline into a fueltank when the engine is hot orwhen the engine is running.

Do not operate equipment that isleaking gasoline.

Stop, drop, and roll to smother afire; never run.

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Materials-handling safety

Avoid contact with your skin. EXAMPLE: Use proper gloves.

Wear the appropriate protective clothing. EXAMPLES: Wear close-fitting clothing with snug wristbands,ankle bands, and neckband.

Wear properly maintained andapproved safety equipment. EXAMPLES: Respirator, goggles, faceshield, hard hat, safety harness

Use good work practices to reducedust in the air when handling cementand concrete. EXAMPLES: Do notshake out cement bags unnecessarily

Stand upwind when dumping cementbags; wet concrete before cutting orgrinding; do not use compressed air toblow cement dust off clothing or worksurfaces.

Have adequate ventilation when usingepoxy resins, organic solvents, andother toxic substances.

Never use solvents to clean your skin.

Immediately remove epoxy, organicsolvents, and other substances fromskin; use appropriate cleansing agentto remove these substances.

Ladder Safety

Fully spread and lock stepladdersbefore using.

Do not use ladders that are notequipped with safety shoes.

Place ladders with approximately one-quarter of their support lengthaway from vertical plane of top support, and extend ladders at leastthree feet above top support.

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Unit 2 • Workplace Safety

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Secure ladders atboth top and bottom to preventdisplacement.Brace long laddersat intermediatepoints to preventspring.

Never overreachfrom a ladder.

Never work fromthe top step of aladder.

Never use laddersas makeshift scaffolds.

Do not climb a ladder that is occupiedby someone else.

Consult manufacturer's specificationsfor load-bearing limits.

Never use a metal ladder around wiresand conductors.

Inspect all ladders before use for wornsafety shoes, broken or loose rungs,broken extension locks, or otherdefects.

Always face and ladder and use a 3-point position when ascending anddescending.

Remove and store the ladder properlywhen finished using it.

Scaffold safety

Observe OSHA regulations.

Read and follow all manufacturer’sinstructions and use only approvedscaffolding.

Inspect scaffolds regularly.

Install anchors and guy wires on freestanding scaffolds as required.

Be careful not to overload scaffolds.

Ask an experienced co-worker, instructor, or your supervisor to inspectan assembled scaffold before use.

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TechConnect - STUDENT WORKBOOK 2 - 9 Workplace Safety - Unit 2

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/scaffolding/slides/index.html

Visit the OSHAwebsite to view

images and readabout safe andunsafe uses of

scaffolding:

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CARPENTRY

Objective 4: ——————Identify Sources of Accidentsand Possible Injuries in theWorkplace

Sources of accidents are common inmost workplaces and especially inthe workplace of carpenters. Studythe following list of accident sourcesand the possible injuries associatedwith each source. Discuss with yourinstructor other sources and injuriesthat might occur in the workplace.

Horseplay - May cause others tofall against sharpobjects or movingmachinery

Air hose - One blastmay rip clothing or skin

Moving parts - Maycatch fingers or clothing

Loose clothing - Maycatch in rotating parts

Tools - Sharp edgesmay puncture skin

Electrical power tools - May causeshock if not grounded

Lack of or improper supportingdevice under heavy objects - A fallmay cause a fatal injury

Lifting heavy objects - May causesevere back injury

Pneumatic tools - High air pressuremay seriously damage eyes andskin

Spills on floor - May cause falls●

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Unit 2 • Workplace Safety

CARPENTRY

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Objective 5: ——————Identify Personal SafetyEquipment

The proper use of personal safetyequipment is extremely important alloccupations. Study the equipmentlisted below and discuss with yourinstructor situations in which youwould use each piece of safetyequipment.

Hardhat- Head protection isrequired on all jobs and is used toprotect individuals from possiblehead injury.

Goggles or safety glasses - Eyeprotection is necessary wheneverthere is a possibility of eye protection.

Face shield - Face shield should beused whenever there is a potentialdanger of face injury.

Hearing protection - Hearing protective devices should be usedwhen working near extreme noiselevels.

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Respirators- Respirators should beused when the air at the worksitecarries hazardous and irritatingmaterial such as dust, paint, and gasfumes.

Fall protection equipment - Fallprotection equipment is necessarywhen working on scaffolds, highrisebuilding, elevated workspaces, androofs.

Gloves - Gloves are used to protectyour hands from hazardous or irritating material. You should usethe correct type of glove for the job.Use rubber gloves when workingwith materials such as concrete andepoxies. Leather gloves can be usedwith working with dry, rough, andsharp material and tools.

Boots or shoes - Steel toe/shankheel boots and shoes should beused to protect your feet. The properboot/shoe will help prevent slips aswell as protect your feet from wetmaterial or from being crushed byheavy material and tools.

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