WEEKLY TOOL BOX SAFETY MEETINGS
COLD WEATHER AND TEMPORARY HEATERS
Winter is fast approaching, so today’s safety meeting addresses cold weather safety and the use of temporary heaters.
Cold weather adds a new dimension to construction work — you must be aware of increased hazards that range from slippery roads and work surfaces to the danger of frostbite. Here are several tips to beat the cold. Clean off and warm up your car before you head out, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Watch out for slippery steps, walkways, and scaffolding. Warm clothing is essential to working comfortably in the winter, so layer your clothing. Several light layers will keep you warmer than one or two heavy layers. Avoid leaving skin exposed. Exposure to severe cold can result in frostbite, and your ears, nose, fingers, and toes are the most susceptible. Wear a liner under your hard hat. Keep your feet and clothing dry.
When warm clothing isn’t enough, we often turn to other sources of heat, such as temporary heaters, so we can work comfortably. Temporary heaters keep us warm, but they can be hazardous if not operated safely. Here are a few things to remember when working around portable heaters. In heating devices fueled by kerosene, fuel oil, or propane, carbon monoxide is given off during the combustion process. Make sure you have adequate fresh air. Avoid standing too close to a heating device. One wrong move and you could find your clothes on fire. Combustible materials stored near a heater are a fire hazard. It doesn’t take much for cardboard, packing material, or newspaper to catch fire. Consider taking the device outside and letting it cool off prior to re-filling the fuel tank. Even a minor fuel spill could cause a fire or an explosion, and serious injury.
There are dangers involved in storing and handling propane cylinders. For example, on one site several laborers were unloading gas cylinders from the back of a truck when one of the cylinders fell to the ground and ruptured, spewing propane everywhere. The gas found an ignition source and a large explosion occurred, sending the workers to the hospital.
Winter will always be a dangerous season, but a little caution and increased awareness will go a long way toward eliminating needless accidents and injuries.
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Topics Pertaining To Your Project __________________________________________________________________________
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Employee Safety Recommendations ______________________________________________________________________
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Meeting Attended By: Please sign your name and date.
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These instructions do not supersede local, state, or federal regulations.
Supervisor’s Signature ______________________________________________________________________
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