Work Site Safety Inspection - Part 5

Work Site Safety Inspection

24. Ladders: portable

• Are all ladders in good condition, joints between steps and side rails tight, all hardware and fittings securely attached, and movable parts operating freely without binding or undue play?
• Are there non-slip safety feet on all ladders except step ladders?
• Are ladder rungs and steps free of grease and oil?
• Are employees prohibited from placing a ladder in front of doors opening toward the ladder except when the door is blocked open, locked, or guarded?
• Are employees prohibited from placing ladders on boxes, barrels, or other unstable bases?
• Are employees instructed to face the ladder when ascending and descending?
• Are employees prohibited from using ladders that are broken, missing steps, rungs, cleats, broken side rails, or other faulty parts?
• Are employees instructed not to use the top step of ordinary stepladders as a step?
• When portable rung ladders are used to gain access to elevated platforms, roofs, and the like, does the ladder always extend at least three feet above the elevated surface?
• Do you require the users of portable rung or cleat-type ladders to place the base so that slipping will not occur or to lash or otherwise hold the ladder in place?
• Do portable metal ladders have legible signs reading “CAUTION — Do Not Use Around Electrical Equipment” or equivalent wording?
• Are the rungs of ladders uniformly spaced at 12 inches, center to center?

25. Lockout and tagout

• Is all machinery or equipment capable of movement de-energized or disengaged and locked out during cleaning, servicing, adjusting, or setup?
• Do you prohibit locking out control circuits instead of locking out main power disconnects?
• Are all control valve handles provided with a means of lockout?
• Does the lockout/tagout procedure require that stored (potential) energy be released or blocked before equipment is locked-out for repairs?
• Are appropriate employees provided with individually keyed personal safety locks?
• Are employees required to maintain control of their keys while they have safety locks in use?
• Do you require employees to check the safety of the lockout by attempting to start up after making sure no one is exposed?

When the power-disconnecting means does not also disconnect the electrical control circuit:

• Are appropriate electrical enclosures identified?
• Are means provided to ensure the control circuit can also be disconnected and locked out?

26. Machine guarding

• Is there an employee training program for safe methods of machine operation?
• Is there adequate supervision to ensure that employees follow safe machine operating procedures?
• Is there a regular program of safety inspection for machinery and equipment?
• Is all machinery and equipment clean and properly maintained?
• Is sufficient clearance provided around and between machines to allow for safe operation, setup, servicing, material handling, and waste removal?
• Is equipment and machinery securely placed and anchored when necessary to prevent tipping or other movement that could result in personal injury?
• Is there a power shutoff switch within reach of the operator’s position at each machine?
• Are the noncurrent-carrying metal parts of electrically-operated machines bonded and grounded?
• Are foot-operated switches guarded or arranged to prevent accidental actuation by personnel or falling objects?
• Are manually operated valves and switches that control the operation of equipment and machines clearly identified and readily accessible?
• Are all emergency stop buttons colored red?
• Are all pulleys and belts (within seven feet of the floor or working level) properly guarded?
• Are all moving chains and gears properly guarded?
• Are methods provided to protect the operator and other employees in the machine area from hazards created at the point of operation, ingoing nip points, rotating parts, flying chips, and sparks?
• Are machinery guards secured and arranged so they do not present a hazard in their use?
• If special hand tools are used for placing and removing material, do they protect the operator’s hands?
• Are revolving drums, barrels, and containers that are required to be guarded by an enclosure that is interlocked with the drive mechanism so that revolution cannot occur,so guarded?
• Do arbors and mandrels have firm and secure bearings, and are they free from play?
• Are provisions made to prevent machines from automatically starting when power is restored following a power failure or shut-down?
• Are machines constructed to be free from excessive vibration when the largest size tool is mounted and run at full speed?
• If machinery is cleaned with compressed air, is air pressure controlled and personal protective equipment or other safeguards used to protect operators and other workers from eye and body injury?
• Are fan blades protected with a guard having openings no larger than 1⁄2 inch when operating within seven feet of the floor?
• Do saws used for ripping have anti-kickback devices and spreaders?
• Are radial arm saws guarded and so arranged that the cutting head will gently return to the back of the table when released?

27. Materials handling

• Are materials stored so that they prevent sprains or strains when employees retrieve them?
• Is there a safe clearance for moving equipment through aisles and doorways?
• Are aisles permanently marked and kept clear to allow safe passage?
• Are motorized vehicles and mechanized equipment inspected daily or before use?
• Are vehicles shut off and brakes set before loading and unloading?
• Are containers of combustibles or flammables properly stacked and stabilized when they are being moved?
• Are trucks and trailers secured from movement during loading and unloading?
• Are dock boards (dock plates) used during loading and unloading operations?
• Are dock plates and loading ramps adequately constructed and maintained to support imposed loads?
• Are hand trucks maintained in safe operating condition?
• Are chutes equipped with side boards of sufficient height to prevent materials from falling off?
• Are chutes and gravity-roller sections firmly placed or secured to prevent displacement?
• At the delivery end of rollers or chutes, are provisions made to brake the movement of materials?
• Are materials handled at a uniform level to prevent lifting or twisting injuries?
• Are material-handling aids used to lift or transfer heavy or awkward objects?
• Are pallets usually inspected before loading or moving them?
• Do you use hooks with safety latches or other devices when hoisting materials, so that slings or load attachments cannot accidentally slip off the hoist hooks?
• Are securing chains, ropes, chokers, or slings adequate for the job?
• When equipment or materials are being hoisted, do you ensure that no one will be passing under the suspended loads?

                                               ------ Continued in next post

                                                          work site safety inspection part 6