Safety Footwear in Public Works: Protecting Your “Wheels”

Who pays for it?.................Federal OSHA is somewhat clear in that steel toed footwear and prescription eye wear can be exempt items that the employer may not need to pay for.  However, MN OSHA takes a more stringent approach in that they require employers to pay for all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety shoes (Minnesota Statutes 182.655 subd. 10a).  So, if safety or steel toed boots are part of the employee's personal protective equipment, then the employer would need to pay the minimal cost of PPE that is of a type necessary for the job being performed.  If employees want a more expensive PPE, the employer has the option to pay the entire cost or have the employee pay the difference between the minimum type necessary to provide the protection and the option the employee is selecting.    The employee should not have to pay 100% on their own, and if they do, this could be a non-serious citation by an OSHA inspector.

Who needs it?..............OSHA 29CFR 1910.136 addresses foot protection as part of personal protective equipment.  The general requirement is that the employer must ensure that each affected employee uses protective footwear when working in areas where there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where such employee's feet are exposed to electrical hazards.  Whether full time, part time or seasonal, public works employees who encounter these types of hazards need protective footwear.  Generally these hazards are found in a large portion of the work public works employees do, so it is important to make sure their feet are well protected.

No “blue suede shoes” allowed………It is also important to note that safety footwear must meet ANSI minimum compression and impact performance standards in ANSI Z41-1991 (American National Standard for Personal Protection-Protective Footwear) or provide equivalent protection.  All ANSI approved footwear has a protective toe and offers impact and compression protection, but that doesn't mean that the type and amount of protection is the same.  Different footwear protects in different ways, so it is important to check the product’s labeling or consult the manufacturer to make sure the footwear will protect the user from the hazards they face.

What we’ve seen…………..One common trend that I see in public works as I travel around the state is that many cities are allowing public works employees to wear inappropriate footwear while on the job.  Often times, I see employees wearing tennis shoes instead of steel toed work boots.  This is not considered a best practice based upon the type of work that public works employees do.  A work boot would certainly offer greater protection of the feet and toes, and typically provides greater traction to help reduce slips and falls.  It’s important to make sure that proper footwear is being worn for the work being done, and a simple footwear policy would take care of this.  So, if you don’t already have a policy in place that addresses proper footwear, I would encourage you to consider developing one.

Do you ever really think about your feet on the job in public works?  Well, each year at least 120,000 workers certainly do.  That’s because each of them suffered an accidental foot injury while on the job.  And what are most of them thinking about?  Chances are it’s the realization that their accident could have been prevented by using common safety sense and wearing the appropriate protective footwear.

Give us a call or drop an email…………..If you have questions related to protective footwear, don’t hesitate to contact the loss control consultant assigned to your city.

By Jackie Torgerson

A Walk in the Park

For many years the annual Safety and Loss Control Workshops have been a harbinger of spring for Minnesota municipalities.  Over the years a wealth of information has been developed for members in the form of risk management memos on a wide range of park and recreation topics.  These memos have been available on the LMC website and from the League's Loss Control Consultants.  Now they are available in one handy guide.  Park and Recreational Loss Control Guide 

Parks and recreational facilities can be one of your city’s most visible assets.  Learn how to protect your parks and prevent injuries among park and recreation employees with LMCIT’s all new and comprehensive Parks & Recreational Loss Control Guide.  The Guide contains an overview of key risk management concepts and specific advice for managing many common programs and events such as snow hills, ice skating or swimming facilities, trails, skateparks, parades, sports leagues, and more. It also contains links to sample policies, checklists, and forms to make your life easier.

by Cheryl Brennan

There’s an App for That!

Ever wonder if there was an easier way to find those pesky problem areas in your city?  There’s an app for that.  There are a number of apps designed to aid Public Works in tracking the areas that need repairs and/or attention.

How does it work?
The most popular app is SeeClickFix  The city would need to establish a portal with SeeClickFix, and then notify their residents of the availability.  The residents would have to download the app on their smart phone and report any issues to the Public Works Department.

What do the citizens report?
The citizens can report anything from downed trees or graffiti to potholes or sidewalk cracks via this app.

Why do we need this?
With the diminishing resources we all deal with as a public entity, it is more important than ever to do more with less.  This creates more tasks for fewer people in less time, which then makes it more difficult for the Public Works Departments to identify all of the problem areas throughout the city.  The app can make the citizens their “eyes and ears”.

Not a fan of the app?
There are a number of additional apps available that provide the same service as SeeClickFix.  Here is a short, but certainly not comprehensive list of the available apps:

• Cartegraph 
• CitySourced 
• ConnectedBits

By: Tara A. Bursey

Accessing vehicle for repairs or inspection - by Joe Ingebrand

 A previous blog focused on safety as it relates to getting in and out of equipment that is being operated, and reviewed the importance of using the “three points of contact” when entering and exiting the cab.

 Another area where cities experience slip/fall injuries is when equipment is being repaired or inspected.

You’ve probable done it yourself, climbed up on the dump box to see if the box is empty, or stood on a wheel to clean the windshield, both of these scenarios can and have led to slip/fall injuries.

Whether it’s in the shop, or in the street, climbing on and around equipment can be dangerous. Fortunately, improvements have been made by manufactures, designing better steps and walkways on equipment, and by cities utilize portable steps, wheel steps, built-in steps or ladders to access equipment.   

Here are a few ideas utilized by other Minnesota cities we have seen used throughout the state of Minnesota.  See if you can find any ideas that might work for you on existing equipment, or to consider when purchasing                                       equipment in the future. 

           



                 
Below: Step added to specialty equipment where needed: belly plow, snow blower attachment, or anti-slip material on a surface that is slippery. 

The ABC’s of Heatstroke/Heat Exhaustion (Part II – Field Treatment)

Go to the LMCIT’s free video loan library to borrow these three titles for employee training:

 #261 Heat Stress

#262 Beat the Heat: Preventing & Treating…

#284 Heat Stress: Code Red 

Heat Exhaustion Treatment: Heat Exhaustion does not normally require a physician visit, however if you or a co-worker are experiencing severe symptoms or have a heart condition or high blood pressure, you should seek treatment immediately.

• Move to a shaded area
• Drink cool, nonalcoholic/decaffeinated beverages
• Rest
• If possible take a cool shower, bath, or sponge bath
• Move to an air-conditioned environment
• Plan to wear lightweight clothing on hot days

Heat Stroke Treatment: Heat stroke is a medical emergency.  Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

• Get the victim to a shady area.
• Cool the victim rapidly using whatever methods you can. For example, get the person into an air conditioned vehicle if working out in the field, immerse the victim in a tub of cool water; place the person in a cool shower; spray the victim with cool water from a garden hose; sponge the person with cool water; or if the humidity is low, wrap the victim in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously.
• Monitor body temperature, and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101-102°F.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, call the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the victim fluids to drink.

There are times that a person with heat stroke will experience uncontrollable muscle twitching.  If this occurs, you need to keep the person from hurting themselves, however do NOT place any object in the person’s mouth or give them fluids.  If the person is vomiting, turn them on their side to ensure that the airway remains open.

In Minnesota, we experience a full range of temperature extremes and conditions that we need to be prepared to deal with them as they occur.  There are a number of free weather applications for your smart phone that you can download to ensure you have the current weather conditions available to keep yourself and your co-workers safe in all weather conditions.  OSHA has also created an app for smart phones to track the heat index for those hot summer days to ensure that you can be aware of when you need to take extra precautions.  The app, Heat Safety Tool, is compatible with android, iPhone, and Windows based technologies.

As we look ahead toward colder temperatures, please refer back to last year’s blog post about staying safe in the extreme cold.  

By Tara Bursey

The ABC’s of Heatstroke (Part I – Prevention)

What is Heatstroke or Heat Exhaustion?  With the warm weather season upon us, we need to focus more on our bodies and how to stay healthy in the heat.  Heatstroke is one of the greatest risks when working outdoors in the high temperatures of summer.  Heatstroke can occur within 10 to 15 minutes of the body’s sweating mechanism failing and the body temperature rising. 

Heat exhaustion is a less intense form of heatstroke that can occur after prolonged exposure to high temperatures over a period of time.  People most prone to heat exhaustion include those that work outdoors in high temperatures. 

Signs and Symptoms of Heatstroke:

• High body temperature (above 103 degrees orally)
• Lack of sweating
• Rapid, strong pulse
• Throbbing headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness

Signs and Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion:

• Heavy sweating
• Paleness
• Muscle cramps
• Tiredness, weakness
• Dizziness, headaches, fainting
• Nausea, vomiting

How do you Prevent Heatstroke and Heat Exhaustion?

• Wear loose fitting, light weight, light colored clothing
• Wear sunscreen to prevent sunburn with reapplication intermittently
• Take breaks in air conditioning (either indoors or in an air conditioned vehicle)
• Drink plenty of fluids (16-32 ounces per hour)
• Replace salt and minerals with sports drinks
• Schedule outdoor work early in the day to avoid prolonged exposure during the hottest periods of the day
• Use Buddy System to monitor condition of your co-workers
• Use cooling towels to help regulate your body temperature  cooling towels
• cooling headbands  cooling head bands

By Tara Bursey

“Out With the Old and In With the New - Understanding GHS Requirements”

Did you know that the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1010.1200) was revised in 2012?  This was the first major change to this standard in nearly 30 years!  Minnesota has its own version of Hazard Communication, which is known as the Employee Right to Know law, and on September 10, 2012, MNOSHA adopted the new federal standard to comply with the new requirements.
With the revisions come several changes, including the new Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.  This system uses a common, consistent approach to labeling, classifying chemical hazards and safety data sheets (SDS’s – no more Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS’s)).   Federal OSHA states the changes are expected to prevent over 500 workplace injuries and illnesses and 43 fatalities annually, along with many other benefits.  The end goal is to ensure optimal environmental health and workplace safety around the world.
So, what does this mean for your city?  The major changes will be around training and container labeling.  According to OSHA, these are the major changes to the Hazard Communication Standard:

• Hazard classification: Chemical manufacturers and importers are required to determine the hazards of the chemicals they produce or import. Hazard classification under the new, updated standard provides specific criteria to address health and physical hazards as well as classification of chemical mixtures. 
• Labels: Chemical manufacturers and importers must provide a label that includes a signal word, pictogram, hazard statement, and precautionary statement for each hazard class and category. 
• Safety Data Sheets: The new format requires 16 specific sections, ensuring consistency in presentation of important protection information. 
• Information and training: To facilitate understanding of the new system, the new standard requires that workers be trained by December 1, 2013 on the new label elements and safety data sheet format, in addition to the current training requirements. 

More, links and information, including an easy-to-read hazard communication standard pictograms guide, is available at the League of Minnesota Cities website.  Click here GHS at a glance to find out what you need to do and when.  

Of course, you can always contact your LMCIT loss control consultant with questions as well.  

by Jackie Torgerson