It is hard to believe that the hazard communication standard has been around for years and yet violations of this standard in our industry are in the 'top ten list' of citations issued by OSHA. As an employee you need to know what types of chemicals you are using and what hazards are associated with them. The purpose of the standard is to ensure that all chemicals are evaluated, and that all information concerning their hazards is transmitted to your employer and to you. This transmittal of information is to be accomplished by means of comprehensive hazard communication programs, which include labeling and other forms of warning, employee training, and material safety data sheets (MSDS). Employers must be sure that labels on incoming containers of hazardous chemicals are not removed or defaced. They are also required to maintain copies of all MSDS recei... » Read more

Roofing

Posted 03/24/15 10:09:58 AM

Haz Com is the short term for the HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD. This standard was developed to ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are evaluated, and that the information gathered about their hazards is transmitted to employers and employees. Neither workers nor employers are exempt from this standard. You may think that there are no hazardous chemicals on your job. What about gasoline, diesel fuel, oxygen, acetylene, curing compound, and even WD40? Any chemical container brought on site that has warning labels on it like hazardous, caution, danger, flammable, or corrosive is covered by the Standard. Think about the chemicals you use during your daily activities. Look in the tool trailer. Check your tool box. Check what's carried in the back of your job pick-up.... » Read more

Roofing

Posted 03/24/15 10:09:41 AM

The average safety hard hat weighs about 14 ounces. The average man's head weighs 14 pounds. So there's an ounce of safety for every pound of head — provided the head protection is properly worn and maintained. The brain is the control center of the body. The slightest damage to any part of the brain will cause malfunction of some area of the body. The skull, under normal circumstances, protects the brain. But when a possibility of injury from falling or flying objects exists, additional protection is required. Hard hats not only reduce the chances of serious injury resulting from falling objects, but protect you when you bump your head on things — like machinery, ductwork, ceiling tie wires and forms. Non-conductive hard hats protect you from electrical shock and burns. Never wear metal hard hats around electrical... » Read more

Roofing

Posted 03/24/15 10:09:10 AM

Too many people do so, both at home and at work. Household jobs usually are light. So you sometimes can get away with using tools improperly or substituting one tool for another.  Our work, however, makes rugged demands on tools. If we misuse a tool,  or use one that's wrong for the job or in poor condition, it can result in injury or spoiled work.   CHOOSE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB Would you use an axe to drive nails? Obviously not. You'd use a claw hammer. It's the less obvious misuse of tools that gives us the most trouble, like using a screwdriver or a file as pry bar. Trouble also comes from trying to get by with a tool that's not the right size for the job. A common mistake is using a wrench that's the wrong size for the n... » Read more

Roofing

Posted 03/24/15 10:08:54 AM

Guardrails protect you from falls that can seriously injure or even kill. The amount of protection guardrails provide depends on how they are constructed and maintained. Most guardrails are built of strong materials and are usually solid when first put up. As time goes by, however, guardrails often are abused, weakened, broken, or moved and not replaced.  MISSING OR WEAKENED GUARDRAILS Sometimes sections of guardrails must be taken down so that materials or equipment can be brought in. These sections often aren't replaced or if they are, they're hastily thrown back up. Weakened guardrails are sometimes more dangerous than no guardrails at all, because they give a false sense of security. ... » Read more

Roofing

Posted 03/24/15 10:08:32 AM