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Working on scaffolding is very common in the construction industry and we could a use a little update on some of the things to keep in mind.  I can also say that these tips are non-negotiable.  Just do it.

* Use scaffolding based on manufacturer’s instructions.
* Do not mix scaffolds, frames and components from different manufacturers.
* Always place scaffolds on stable ground.
* Make sure to lock scaffold wheels when in use.
* Don’t use ladders on top of scaffolds to increase height.
* Remember to outfit all open ends of scaffold platforms with proper guardrails, midrails, and toeboards.
* Never work on scaffolding during strong winds or storms.
* Don’t use scaffolds as storage for tools or materials.
* Never move scaffolds while in use or occupied.
* Always wear a hard hat and sturdy, nonslip shoes when working on scaffolding.

Do you guys have any other tips we may have missed?  Or any handy tricks for that matter?

Technorati Tags: construction, safety tips, scaffold safety

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I have some good news and bad news for you. What would you like to hear first?

Okay, let’s start with the bad news and end with the good.

The bad news?  Vest harnesses don’t come in pink. Sorry, but no. So you ladies and metrosexuals out there, it’s not going to happen.

The good news? Where do I begin!?

The vest harnesses are so convenient and comfortable. With the added bonus that they don’t make you swear like a sailor when you try to put them on. You know what I am talking about Mr. Potty Mouth – where did you learn words like that?  Seriously, regular harnesses can annoy the hell out of anyone. But these vest harnesses? Well it’s a whole new level of satisfaction. Some of them even have multiple pockets. For tools, snacks, cell phones and lip gloss. Who can resist this kind of satisfaction?

This week I decided to model some samples and I was thrilled by the fit and feel. And just between you and me, they are much more attractive to wear than regular harnesses.

There are so many styles to choose from – vest or jacket, camo, flotation, high visibility and an assortment of colors. My personal favorites are the Guardian Jacket Tux Harness and the Guardian Green Mesh TuxVest Harness .  I like the green one for the superficial reason that I look good in green. So sue me. Nothing wrong with looking good, feeling comfortable, and being safe.

Can you handle more good news? Your wife is going to love this! (I guess that’s a little sexist to say – sorry) They’re washable! Yep, throw them in the washer. Really, you don’t have to disassemble anything. The WHOLE thing can go in the wash. I asked numerous times and they kept giving me the same answer. YES! Your stinky- I mean, manly smell is gone.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, tux harnesses, vest harnesses

Posted in Fall Protection Articles by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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Fall protection can get dirty.  It just happens, and that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.  So I want you to stop beating yourself up.  Just don’t put your gear in the washing machine.  Unless you want to get picked up for fall protection homicide.

So, what can you do to clean up your equipment for your next hot date job?  Well here are a few tips…

DO NOT put your crap in the washing machine!

Nylon or Polyester Fabrics (Harnesses & Lanyards)
Remove all surface dirt with a sponge dampened in plain water. Squeeze the sponge dry. Dip the sponge in a mild solution of water and commercial soap or detergent. Work up a thick lather with a vigorous back and forth motion; then wipe with a clean cloth. Hang freely to dry, but away from excessive heat.

Housing (Retractables)
Periodically clean the unit using a damp cloth and mild detergent. Towel dry.

Drying Your Gear (Everything)
Equipment should dry thoroughly without close exposure to heat, steam or long periods of sunlight.

Hopefully, this gave you a couple of ideas…  You no longer have to be the slob on the job, but don’t use a washing machine please.

Technorati Tags: cleaning fall protection, fall protection

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Fall protection may not seem like a great gift idea this holiday, but I assure you there are some awesome gifts to give.

One of them would be the Jacket Harness from Guardian.  It’s a harness inside a jacket.  There’s no straps to get tangled in, and it actually looks nice.  Not something I can say about a lot of harnesses.

Another nice option is a fleece liner for a tux harness.  This little item will add warmth to your harness on the coldest of days.  It certainly beats wearing a harness and another coat.  Why not combine the two?

How about a drawstring bag to carry all of your fall protection gear?  Lugging that crap around can be a pain in the ass.  I know you know.  Think about it.  It’s convenient.

Or what about a tool lanyard.  These things are awesome.  They basically keep your tools on their own miniature lanyard so you don’t drop your wrench 50 ft.  Not only is this dangerous, but climbing down from your workspace to pick up your wrench sucks.  It’s also cool having all of your tools in one space.

Finally, you can always get a new harness.  Now I’m not talking about a new chintzy dental floss harness.  I’m talking about a comfortable one.  Make the upgrade.  Especially, if you work in a harness all day.  Upgrade to an Edge Series, a Revolution, or Elevation harness.  You won’t regret it.

Looks like finding a nice fall protection gift for Christmas isn’t as weird as it seems. huh?  Tell your loved ones today.

What tools do you want this Christmas?

Technorati Tags: christmas, fall protection, harnesses

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Many of you may use retractables or SRL’s on a daily basis, but are you really inspecting it?  Daily?  Do you even know what to be looking for?  Well, let’s give you a few pointers and get you on your way then…

1. Check the Housing
This would be the big blocky thing.  It “houses” the guts of the retractable.  You want to inspect it for loose fasteners and bent, cracked, worn, or damaged parts.  If you find any of these things… that’s bad.  Stop using it.

2. Examine the Lifeline
The lifeline is either the cable or webbing that winds up into the housing.  Pull out the lifeline and allow it to retract into the unit, if it does not retract do not use the unit. Then, inspect the lifeline for signs of damage such as frayed webbing, and corroded steel.  You know the drill.  If it’s jacked up, stop using it.

3. Test the Breaking Mechanism
This is what actually stops the lifeline in case of a fall, and it resides in the housing.  Test this by grabbing the lifeline above the impact indicator and apply a sharp pull downward to engage the brakes. The brakes should not slip, and if the brakes do not engage discontinue use.

4. Check the Load Impact Indicator.
This is a very simple step.  Retractables include a load indicator, which indicates if the retractable has been used in a fall.  This is a very obvious defect to spot.  Quite simply, do not use if the load indicator has been activated.  Done…

Now, those are the basics.  Unfortunately, this does not get you out of the manufacturer’s required two year service schedule.  If your retractable needs to be re-certified, you gotta do it.  Sorry.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, self retracting lifeline, srl

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Creating a fall protection plan is essential to any company.  Especially if you like avoiding OSHA fines…  So we’ve compiled a helpful list of tips to help you create your own protection plan… Let’s go.

1. Understanding Regulations and Standards
The first thing you need to do is understand fall protection regulations and standards.  Trust us, we know this can be confusing due to the regulation bombardment in the industry.  However, we’ll give you a point in the right direction… http://www.osha.gov… they should be a pretty good source

2. Hazard Identification
The next thing you need to do is identify any fall hazards in the workplace.  According to OSHA if you spot a hazard you have two options… Eliminate the hazard or provide protection against it.  It’s best to eliminate it, but if that’s impossible, personal fall protection must be worn.

3. Written Fall Protection Plan
After you’ve identified all of the hazards on the job site, a written program should be prepared.  The plan should state what practices and steps should be taken to eliminate the hazard.  If the hazard is impossible to eliminate, then fall protection measures should be outlined.  Remember, this written report doesn’t need to be elaborate, but it needs cover the basics and to be understood by everyone working at the job site.

4. Product Selection
When the plan is complete, it is important to select the proper fall protection equipment.  Every situation is different, and fall protection manufacturers don’t know your situation.  It’s up to you to become familiar with products in order to select the best gear for your situation…  Or get some fall protection help.

5. Training
And finally, all workers need to be trained in properly using fall protection and in product maintenance.  They must also be able to identify potential hazards and what equipment to use for those hazards.

Now, that isn’t so hard is it?  Everyone should have a fall protection plan when hazards present themselves.  Seriously… You can do this.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, fall protection plan

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I can be an over-the-top safety girl. If my children so much as look at their bike, they need to be wearing their safety helmet. I don’t know of anyone who has regretted being extra careful. If anything, the opposite has always proven to be true. So I have no problem inundating readers with many safety reminders if they, the powers that be (Safety Frank in this case), would publish them.

Reminders are good – they keep us from becoming complacent. So with that in mind, the following is an excerpt of a posting from Tower Times that shares an older-timer’s mistake that he lived to warn others about.

“I had the good fortune to visit with a retired professional climber in 1994…  He was an older guy who quit his career after a fall. [He] spotted us at work and stopped by to see what we were doing (can’t get it out of our blood, I guess).We talked for a while.  I ALWAYS  try and learn from other peoples’ mistakes, here was his mistake…

As we all know, on a tower, you have to disconnect and reconnect your main lanyard time after time after time.  This fellow was in a hurry, and when he re-attached, it was mistakenly to the shank of a large tool, and not the big belt ring as he thought.  He leaned back and they were calling the ambulance. We should all be glad he lived to tell this story.

Anyway, whenever I reattach, before I unattached the above mentioned double protection, I visually inspect my main lanyard to assure it is attached to my belt on both ends. Thank God I got smarter as I got older.”

Technorati Tags: dual leg lanyards, fall protection, lanyards

Posted in Fall Protection Articles by Sassy Safety Glasses Queen. The Sassy Safety Glasses Queen is our resident safety glasses expert. She specializes in the news, trends, and fashions of the Safety Glasses industry while dabbling in the world of fall protection.

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In case you’ve missed them, I’d like to bring out an old favorite for your viewing pleasure…  These are the first 2 videos we created.

The Problem: Harnesses are too damn tricky to put on.

The Solution: The Vest Harness…  Seriously it solves this problem in ways you can’t even imagine…

The Videos:

The PG Version

The PG-13 Version
(Not For The Easily Offended)

The Vote:

Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment.

Technorati Tags: fall protection, harnesses, snug harness

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Here is a quick little tip for you today.  I don’t want to spend a huge amount of time on it, so here goes.

Before using any fall protection, inspect it.  If a bright red cord, or any red indicator is hanging out, don’t use that equipment.  It’s very simple.

Now, in case you didn’t know, most pieces of fall protection come with a fall indicator (primarily harnesses, lanyards, and retractables).  A fall indicator indicates when a piece of equipment has been involved in a fall.

In most cases this shouldn’t be an issue because when a fall indicator is visible it’s noticeable.  But in case you should happen to walk on an unfamiliar job site where you’re handed equipment, give it look over.  You can only trust yourself to make sure your fall indicator isn’t showing.

Technorati Tags: fall indicator, fall protection, lanyards

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Here is a nice collection of ladder safety tips courtesy of your friends and mine at OSHA!  OK, maybe it’s not that exciting, but these are a great set of guideline for everyone using ladders… That means you.

• Always inspect the ladder prior to using it. If the ladder is damaged, it must be removed from service and tagged until repaired or discarded.
• Be sure that all locks on an extension ladder are properly engaged.
• An extension or straight ladder used to access an elevated surface must extend at least 3 feet above the point of support.
• Use a ladder only on a stable and level surface, unless it has been secured (top or bottom) to prevent displacement.
• Do not place a ladder on boxes, barrels or other unstable bases to obtain additional height.
• Do not use a self-supporting ladder (e.g., step ladder) as a single ladder or in a partially closed position.
• Do not exceed the maximum load rating of a ladder. Be aware of the ladder’s load rating and of the weight it is supporting, including the weight of any tools or equipment.
• Do not use the top step/rung of a ladder as a step/rung unless it was designed for that purpose.
• Do not move or shift a ladder while a person or equipment is on the ladder.

So, seriously look these over, and re-look them over.  Have any tips we may have missed?

Technorati Tags: ladder safety, safety tips

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