Job Site Safety
Stop Work Authority
• All employees are responsible to initiate a Stop Work Authority order when necessary if any unsafe act or condition is perceived to exist.
• Supervisors are responsible to ensure a culture is created where Stop Work Authority orders are exercised and honored freely to resolve issues before operations resume and recognize proactive participation.
• Management must establish and support clear expectations to exercise Stop Work Authority orders, create a culture where Stop Work Authority orders are exercised freely and hold those accountable that choose not to comply with established Stop Work policies.
Stop Work Authority Procedure
1. When an unsafe condition is identified by an employee, the Stop Work Authority order will be immediately initiated and coordinated by the supervisor (Foreman of the crew or highest ranking manager at the job site), where the supervisor must initiate the Stop Work Authority order in a positive manner, notify all affected personnel at the job site to stop work and address the stop work issue, discuss and correct the issue. Once everyone agrees that the issue is corrected, and the work environment is now safe, then the supervisor may allow the team to resume work.
2. If a supervisor fails to recognize an employee’s Stop Work Authority order, then the employee must call the General Foreman or the next highest manager over the supervisor and let them know that Stop Work Authority order has been made but not addressed by the supervisor. Supervisors are not allowed to ignore any Stop Work Authority order.
3. No work will resume until all stop work issues and concerns have been adequately addressed and a safe work environment exists as determined by all employees at the job site.
4. Any form of retribution or intimidation directed at any individual for exercising their right to issue a stop work authority will not be tolerated by Energy Group, Inc.
Follow-Up: All Stop Work Authority orders shall be documented for lessons learned and corrective measures to be put into place. The supervisor will need to send a Stop Work Authority order summary in the form of an email to their manager and the safety manager for each occurrence on the date of the Stop Work Authority order occurrence.
Stop Work Authority order summary reports will be created monthly by the safety manager and shall be reviewed by management to measure participation, determine quality of interventions and follow-up. It will also help to trend common issues, identify opportunities for improvement, and facilitate sharing of learning.
It is the desired outcome of any Stop Work Authority order that the identified safety concern(s) have been addressed to the satisfaction of all involved persons prior to the resumption of work. Most issues can be adequately resolved in a timely manner at the job site, occasionally additional investigation and corrective actions may be required to identify and address root causes.
Training: All employees shall be trained per this procedure before performing tasks and all training documents will available through the Human Resources department. Training for this policy will be tracked by the Compliance & Training Manager (CTM) application with refresher training provided annually.
Morning Standup Meeting
All employees will be required to participate in a Morning Stand Up Meeting for the first 15 minutes of the shift at the yard. The Morning Stand Up Meeting is held every day at the beginning of the shift and is designed to share key operational and safety information from multiple sources with all employees across the Company. Operating and Safety information will be coming from many sources such as from customers, the IBEW17 union hall, other contractors, previous shift safety incidents or near–miss incidents, or from the industry. The topics for the Morning Stand Up Meeting will change each day. If you have questions about any items discussed during the Morning Stand Up, do not hesitate to speak up and ask questions.
Supervisors are required to complete a package of information each day that includes – signed copy of the:
Morning Stand Up Report, Roster, Time Sheet and Pre-Job Brief(s). All rosters, time sheets and pre-job briefs must be completely filled-out and match accurately for those that are on the job across all of the forms and also provide clear indication who is taking PTO or unpaid days off if any.
PPE is required for visual verification during the Morning Stand Up Meeting by the supervisor at the yard prior to going to the job site. Required PPE includes hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses, and Company ID. If you do not have your Required PPE on you during the Morning Stand Up meeting, you cannot go to the job site. PPE must be worn at all times when in the yard and on the job site.
Traffic Safety
Some Energy Group employees may be required to utilize traffic controls in their normal line clearance, overhead or underground construction work. It is critically important that we protect public drivers and our employees in and around our job sites through the use of appropriate traffic control devices and techniques for maintaining safe traffic flow in and around the job site. Traffic control devices shall be defined as all signs, signals, markings, and other devices used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over, or adjacent to a street, highway, pedestrian facility, bikeway, or private road open to public travel by authority of a public agency or official having jurisdiction, or, in the case of a private road, by authority of the private owner or private official having jurisdiction. So as you can see from the lengthy definition there are many job sites that require traffic controls.
Traffic controls are required to control motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic in and around the job site. Traffic controls are required to be established at the job site PRIOR to the start of work. A pre-job brief shall be utilized to outline all hazards in and around the work site.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is incorporated by reference in 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F and shall be recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, bikeway, or private road open to public travel (see definition in Section 1A.13) in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 109(d) and 402(a). The policies and procedures of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to obtain basic uniformity of traffic control devices shall be as described in 23 CFR 655, Subpart F.
Placement and Operation of Traffic Control Device Guidance:
1. Placement of a traffic control device should be within the road user’s view so that adequate visibility is provided. To aid in conveying the proper meaning, the traffic control device should be appropriately positioned with respect to the location, object, or situation to which it applies. The location and legibility of the traffic control device should be such that a road user has adequate time to make the proper response in both day and night conditions.
2. Traffic control devices should be placed and operated in a uniform and consistent manner.
3. Unnecessary traffic control devices should be removed. The fact that a device is in good physical condition should not be a basis for deferring needed removal or change.
All employees must comply with traffic control requirements as follows:
• Traffic controls MUST be in place before commencing line clearance or construction work.
• Employees shall ware high visibility safety clothing meeting requirements for ANSI/ISEA 107.
• Drop zones shall be clearly marked and used with appropriate traffic control devices at all job sites, where line clearance operations occur to protect employees and public pedestrians from walking underneath the area where tree trimming operations are occurring.
• Public pedestrians including bicycles, strollers, dog walkers, etc. shall have separate movement around the worksite and shall never be allowed to enter the work site while work is being performed. If a public pedestrian enters the work site, the employee is required to communicate to all employees at the job site that they must stop work until the public pedestrian leaves the work zone. The employee should let the public pedestrian know that it is unsafe to be in the work zone.
• Arborists and other employees with specific temporary traffic control zone responsibilities shall be trained in traffic control techniques, device usage and placement, and how to work next to traffic in a manner that minimizes the employee’s exposure.
• Temporary traffic control zones set up by employees should impede the flow of traffic as little as possible.
Arborists and other employees should use the necessary devices that get the road users attention and provide positive direction in accordance with the MUTCD.
Working Near Railroad Safety
Some Energy Group employees may be required to perform work on trees near power lines that run along railroad tracks. P.A. 354, Section 402, was enacted by the Michigan Legislature to provide for the safety of railroad employees when walking on railroad rights-of-way in the performance of their duties. The provisions of Section 402 are applicable to all individuals, partnerships, or corporations that are engaged in the operation of a railroad. Also, this applies to all individuals, partnerships, or corporations that own, lease, or otherwise have jurisdiction or control of land on which, or adjacent to which, railroad tracks or sidetracks are located and operated.
Section 402 provides that no person shall knowingly permit any scrap iron, lumber, debris, vegetation (including tree debris from trimming operations) exceeding a height of 4 inches, marked unevenness of terrain, or any material or condition which unreasonably endangers any employee, to remain or continue in the "safe space" over which the person has full or partial legal control. "Safe space" means the area encompassed within the following distances:
• from the actual grade level to a distance of 22 feet 6 inches above the top of the rail head.
• a distance of 8 feet 6 inches on both sides of a perpendicular from the center line of a railroad track with a radius of not less than 400 feet lateral curvature (straight track to radius of 400 feet curved track, see Appendix 1);
• a distance of 9 feet on both sides of a perpendicular from the center line of a railroad track with a radius of less than 400 feet lateral curvature (high curvature areas of the railroad track, see Appendix 1 and change to 9 feet on both sides).
Slips, Trips and Falls
Slips, trips and falls account for many work-related injuries. At Energy Group, they are a leading cause of employee injury; in many cases, serious and painful injuries.
Falls occur for a variety of reasons; including, but not limited to:
• Not inspecting the work site for tripping hazards, not taking appropriate action to avoid them. Failure to communicate the hazard to crew members;
• Ineffective handling of debris;
• Stumps cut too high;
• Material left scattered throughout the work site;
• Poor housekeeping, maintenance and clean-up of spilled liquids, such as petroleum products;
• Lack of attention to the task at hand or the path taken;
• Not exercising caution on rugged, loose, overgrown or slick terrain.
Mindfulness of job site conditions is critical in preventing slips, trips and falls. If terrain conditions are too severe to work, then move to a site where work can be accomplished safely. If no alternate site exists, you may have to shut down temporarily. This is to be communicated and coordinated with your supervisor. Changeable weather can affect your work site and job planning. Rain, snow, sleet or ice will affect the terrain you work on. You must adjust accordingly for safety.
It is your responsibility, (especially if you are a crew leader,) to take these and other slip, trip and fall conditions into consideration. When planning the work, conducting a job briefing with the crew and then working the plan. If conditions change, revisit your job briefing and work accordingly.
Never Climb A Dead or Diseased Tree
Never climb a tree that is dead, diseased or has dead wood or dead branches. It is extremely dangerous as the tree limbs used for securing the climbers life support rope lines may break loose causing the climber to fall possibly to their death.
It is Energy Group’s policy that employees must use a bucket truck boom lift or backyard bucket lift device to trim or remove dead or diseased trees.
Working Near Dogs
Dogs may be present in or around the job site when trimming trees, so the following precautions must be taken:
• If possible, avoid going into or near the yard where the dog is present as dogs are territorial.
• If tree trimming must be performed in or near a yard with a dog, ask the owner to keep the dog inside the house, in a garage or on a leash while tree trimming operations are performed.
• Do not pet or give food to dogs.
• Do not trim trees in or around a yard if an owner cannot be found to control and secure the dog.
• Report all hostile dogs to your supervisor, so that the customer/utility may be notified.
These precautions are meant to protect the dog from falling tree limbs or other hazards while performing tree trim operations and to prevent the tree trimmer from getting bitten by a dog.
Avoid Contact with Hazardous Plants
Poisonous plants can cause severe irritations. Learn to recognize and avoid contact with poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.
Wear long sleeves when working in proximity to any of these plants and, if you do come in contact with any of these, wash with Technu Poison Ivy Cleaner and water, following the label directions for the best results. The oils in these plants are persistent and will remain on your clothes. Handle your clothes carefully and wash them thoroughly after working near any of these plants. Oral Ivy is an over-the-counter preventative product that can help some people develop a tolerance of the oils in these poisonous plants. To be effective, it must be taken 7 to 14 days in advance of exposure, as directed on the label.
Preventing Insect Stings and Bites
Stinging or biting insects and spiders can be hazardous to outdoor workers. Stinging or biting insects include: bees, wasps, hornets and fire ants. The health effects of stinging or biting insects or spiders range from mild discomfort or pain, to a lethal reaction for those workers, allergic to the insect's venom.
Workers should take the following steps to prevent insect stings:
• Wear light-colored, smooth-finished clothing. Avoid perfumed soaps, shampoos and deodorants.
• Don't wear cologne or perfume.
• Avoid bananas and banana scented toiletries.
• Wear clean clothing and bathe daily (sweat may anger bees.)
• Wear clothing to cover as much of the body as possible.
• Avoid flowering plants when possible.
• Keep work areas clean. Social wasps thrive in places where humans discard food.
• Remain calm and still if a single stinging insect is flying around. Swatting at an insect may cause it to sting.
• If several stinging insects attack you at once, run to get away from them. Bees release a chemical when they sting, which may attract other bees.
• A shaded area is better than an open area to get away from the insects.
• If you are able, physically move out of the area.
• Do not to attempt to jump into water. Some insects, particularly Africanized Honey Bees, are known to hover above the water, continuing to sting once you surface for air.
• If a bee comes inside your vehicle, stop the vehicle slowly and open all the windows.
• Workers with a history of severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings should consider carrying an epinephrine auto injector (EpiPen) and should wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace stating their allergy.
First Aid for Insect Stings: If a worker is stung by a bee, wasp or hornet:
• Have someone stay with the worker to be sure that they do not have an allergic reaction.
• Wash the site with soap and water.
• Remove the stinger using gauze wiped over the area or by scraping a fingernail over the area. Never squeeze the stinger or use tweezers.
• Apply ice to reduce swelling.
• Do not scratch the sting, as this may increase swelling, itching and risk of infection.
Fire Ants: Fire ants bite and sting. They are aggressive when stinging and inject venom, which causes a burning sensation. Red bumps form at the sting and, within a day or two, they become white fluid-filled pustules.
Preventing Fire Ant Stings and Bites: Workers should take the following steps to prevent fire ant stings and bites:
• Do not disturb or stand on or near ant mounds.
• Be careful when lifting items (including animal carcasses) off the ground, as they may be covered in ants.
• Fire ants may also be found on trees or in water, so always look over the area before starting to work.
First Aid for Fire Ant Stings and Bites
• Workers with a history of severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings should consider carrying an epinephrine auto injector (EpiPen) and should wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace stating their allergy.
• Workers should take the following steps, if they are stung or bitten by fire ants: Rub off ants briskly, as they will attach to the skin with their jaws.
• Antihistamines may help. Follow directions on packaging. Drowsiness may occur.
• Take the worker to an emergency medical facility immediately if a sting causes severe chest pain, nausea, severe sweating, loss of breath, serious swelling or slurred speech.
Venomous spiders: Venomous Spiders in the United States include the black widow, brown recluse and hobo spiders. They can be dangerous to outdoor workers. Spiders are usually not aggressive, and most bites occur because a spider is trapped or unintentionally contacted.
Preventing spider bites
• Inspect or shake out any clothing, shoes, towels or equipment before use.
• Wear protective clothing, such as: a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, hat, gloves and boots, when handling stacked or undisturbed piles of materials.
• Minimize the empty spaces between stacked materials.
• Remove and reduce debris and rubble from around the outdoor work areas. Trim or eliminate tall grasses from around outdoor work areas.
• Store apparel and outdoor equipment in tightly closed plastic bags.
• Keep your tetanus boosters up to date (every 10 years). Spider bites can become infected with tetanus spores.
First Aid for Spider Bites: Workers should take the following steps, if a spider bites them:
• Stay calm.
• If it is possible to do so safely, identify the type of spider. Identification will aid in medical treatment. Wash the bite area with soap and water.
• Apply a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice to the bite area to reduce swelling.
• Elevate bite area, if possible.
• Do not attempt to remove venom.
• Notify your supervisor.
• Immediately seek professional medical attention.
Ticks: Ticks are found nearly everywhere in North America, and can transmit diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, human ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE). Those employees who may come in contact with white-tail deer or the deer's range and surroundings, need to be aware of the potentially harmful deer tick and Lyme disease. Ticks adhere to the skin or scalp. If they are attached a long time, there is a greater potential for diseases to be transmitted. Check your body, neck and scalp regularly for ticks, tick bites or rashes. Remove attached ticks immediately.
Preventive measures for ticks include:
• Wearing proper clothing - long-sleeved shirts and pants legs tucked into your socks will help minimize skin exposure.
• Treating work clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET (N-diethyl-meta- toluamide).
• Light colored clothing will help you spot ticks. Brush off clothing after leaving the work site.
Tick and insect repellents may pose a risk of adverse health effects if used improperly. To reduce these risks, carefully read and follow all label directions before, during and after each use.
Do not apply repellents containing permethrin or DEET directly to exposed skin. If you treat your clothing, there is no need to spray repellent containing permethrin or DEET on the skin under your clothing.
Chiggers: Chiggers live in open forests and grasslands of the southern and lower Midwestern states. These relatives of ticks are nearly microscopic, measuring 1/100 of an inch with a chrome- orange hue.
The larval-stage chiggers feed on the skin cells, but not blood, of animals, including humans. After crawling onto their host, they inject digestive enzymes into the skin that break down skin cells. They do not actually bite, but instead form a hole in the skin and chew up tiny parts of the inner skin, thus causing irritation and swelling. The itching is accompanied by red pimple-like bumps or hives, and sometimes a skin rash or lesions on sun-exposed skin areas. Itching usually begins after the larvae detach from the skin. Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin and live there.
Chiggers thrive late in summer, in: open habitats among briar patches, tall grass and weeds, woodland edges, pine straw, leaves and bark. To avoid being afflicted by chiggers, wear tight weave, protective clothing and spray repellent on your skin for further protection. Application of repellent to the shoes and lower trousers is helpful.
The most effective way of removing chiggers is by taking a hot shower and washing the affected areas with mildly hot water and soap. This must be done as soon as possible after exposure or possible exposure. Carefully wash the ankles, feet, behind the knees and under the arms and chest.
Do not rub and scratch the skin aggressively, but instead gently rub the irritated skin with warm soapy water. Excessive scratching may scrape off chigger larvae, but it can also cause increased irritation by breaking the skin and leaving it vulnerable to more serious infection.
A covering to reduce air exposure over the itchy area, such as calamine lotion, petroleum jelly or baby oil, may help relieve the discomfort. Many people think the red dot in the middle of the bite is the chigger itself (the chigger is long gone) with the misconception that the mite has burrowed into the skin, and that coating bites with nail polish or some other air-inhibiting seal will "suffocate" the chigger. Another myth is that application of rubbing alcohol kills the chiggers or helps with symptoms. This method serves only to cause burning pain and additional discomfort.
Stop Work Authority
• All employees are responsible to initiate a Stop Work Authority order when necessary if any unsafe act or condition is perceived to exist.
• Supervisors are responsible to ensure a culture is created where Stop Work Authority orders are exercised and honored freely to resolve issues before operations resume and recognize proactive participation.
• Management must establish and support clear expectations to exercise Stop Work Authority orders, create a culture where Stop Work Authority orders are exercised freely and hold those accountable that choose not to comply with established Stop Work policies.
Stop Work Authority Procedure
1. When an unsafe condition is identified by an employee, the Stop Work Authority order will be immediately initiated and coordinated by the supervisor (Foreman of the crew or highest ranking manager at the job site), where the supervisor must initiate the Stop Work Authority order in a positive manner, notify all affected personnel at the job site to stop work and address the stop work issue, discuss and correct the issue. Once everyone agrees that the issue is corrected, and the work environment is now safe, then the supervisor may allow the team to resume work.
2. If a supervisor fails to recognize an employee’s Stop Work Authority order, then the employee must call the General Foreman or the next highest manager over the supervisor and let them know that Stop Work Authority order has been made but not addressed by the supervisor. Supervisors are not allowed to ignore any Stop Work Authority order.
3. No work will resume until all stop work issues and concerns have been adequately addressed and a safe work environment exists as determined by all employees at the job site.
4. Any form of retribution or intimidation directed at any individual for exercising their right to issue a stop work authority will not be tolerated by Energy Group, Inc.
Follow-Up: All Stop Work Authority orders shall be documented for lessons learned and corrective measures to be put into place. The supervisor will need to send a Stop Work Authority order summary in the form of an email to their manager and the safety manager for each occurrence on the date of the Stop Work Authority order occurrence.
Stop Work Authority order summary reports will be created monthly by the safety manager and shall be reviewed by management to measure participation, determine quality of interventions and follow-up. It will also help to trend common issues, identify opportunities for improvement, and facilitate sharing of learning.
It is the desired outcome of any Stop Work Authority order that the identified safety concern(s) have been addressed to the satisfaction of all involved persons prior to the resumption of work. Most issues can be adequately resolved in a timely manner at the job site, occasionally additional investigation and corrective actions may be required to identify and address root causes.
Training: All employees shall be trained per this procedure before performing tasks and all training documents will available through the Human Resources department. Training for this policy will be tracked by the Compliance & Training Manager (CTM) application with refresher training provided annually.
Morning Standup Meeting
All employees will be required to participate in a Morning Stand Up Meeting for the first 15 minutes of the shift at the yard. The Morning Stand Up Meeting is held every day at the beginning of the shift and is designed to share key operational and safety information from multiple sources with all employees across the Company. Operating and Safety information will be coming from many sources such as from customers, the IBEW17 union hall, other contractors, previous shift safety incidents or near–miss incidents, or from the industry. The topics for the Morning Stand Up Meeting will change each day. If you have questions about any items discussed during the Morning Stand Up, do not hesitate to speak up and ask questions.
Supervisors are required to complete a package of information each day that includes – signed copy of the:
Morning Stand Up Report, Roster, Time Sheet and Pre-Job Brief(s). All rosters, time sheets and pre-job briefs must be completely filled-out and match accurately for those that are on the job across all of the forms and also provide clear indication who is taking PTO or unpaid days off if any.
PPE is required for visual verification during the Morning Stand Up Meeting by the supervisor at the yard prior to going to the job site. Required PPE includes hard hat, safety vest, safety glasses, and Company ID. If you do not have your Required PPE on you during the Morning Stand Up meeting, you cannot go to the job site. PPE must be worn at all times when in the yard and on the job site.
Traffic Safety
Some Energy Group employees may be required to utilize traffic controls in their normal line clearance, overhead or underground construction work. It is critically important that we protect public drivers and our employees in and around our job sites through the use of appropriate traffic control devices and techniques for maintaining safe traffic flow in and around the job site. Traffic control devices shall be defined as all signs, signals, markings, and other devices used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over, or adjacent to a street, highway, pedestrian facility, bikeway, or private road open to public travel by authority of a public agency or official having jurisdiction, or, in the case of a private road, by authority of the private owner or private official having jurisdiction. So as you can see from the lengthy definition there are many job sites that require traffic controls.
Traffic controls are required to control motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic in and around the job site. Traffic controls are required to be established at the job site PRIOR to the start of work. A pre-job brief shall be utilized to outline all hazards in and around the work site.
The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is incorporated by reference in 23 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 655, Subpart F and shall be recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices installed on any street, highway, bikeway, or private road open to public travel (see definition in Section 1A.13) in accordance with 23 U.S.C. 109(d) and 402(a). The policies and procedures of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to obtain basic uniformity of traffic control devices shall be as described in 23 CFR 655, Subpart F.
Placement and Operation of Traffic Control Device Guidance:
1. Placement of a traffic control device should be within the road user’s view so that adequate visibility is provided. To aid in conveying the proper meaning, the traffic control device should be appropriately positioned with respect to the location, object, or situation to which it applies. The location and legibility of the traffic control device should be such that a road user has adequate time to make the proper response in both day and night conditions.
2. Traffic control devices should be placed and operated in a uniform and consistent manner.
3. Unnecessary traffic control devices should be removed. The fact that a device is in good physical condition should not be a basis for deferring needed removal or change.
All employees must comply with traffic control requirements as follows:
• Traffic controls MUST be in place before commencing line clearance or construction work.
• Employees shall ware high visibility safety clothing meeting requirements for ANSI/ISEA 107.
• Drop zones shall be clearly marked and used with appropriate traffic control devices at all job sites, where line clearance operations occur to protect employees and public pedestrians from walking underneath the area where tree trimming operations are occurring.
• Public pedestrians including bicycles, strollers, dog walkers, etc. shall have separate movement around the worksite and shall never be allowed to enter the work site while work is being performed. If a public pedestrian enters the work site, the employee is required to communicate to all employees at the job site that they must stop work until the public pedestrian leaves the work zone. The employee should let the public pedestrian know that it is unsafe to be in the work zone.
• Arborists and other employees with specific temporary traffic control zone responsibilities shall be trained in traffic control techniques, device usage and placement, and how to work next to traffic in a manner that minimizes the employee’s exposure.
• Temporary traffic control zones set up by employees should impede the flow of traffic as little as possible.
Arborists and other employees should use the necessary devices that get the road users attention and provide positive direction in accordance with the MUTCD.
Working Near Railroad Safety
Some Energy Group employees may be required to perform work on trees near power lines that run along railroad tracks. P.A. 354, Section 402, was enacted by the Michigan Legislature to provide for the safety of railroad employees when walking on railroad rights-of-way in the performance of their duties. The provisions of Section 402 are applicable to all individuals, partnerships, or corporations that are engaged in the operation of a railroad. Also, this applies to all individuals, partnerships, or corporations that own, lease, or otherwise have jurisdiction or control of land on which, or adjacent to which, railroad tracks or sidetracks are located and operated.
Section 402 provides that no person shall knowingly permit any scrap iron, lumber, debris, vegetation (including tree debris from trimming operations) exceeding a height of 4 inches, marked unevenness of terrain, or any material or condition which unreasonably endangers any employee, to remain or continue in the "safe space" over which the person has full or partial legal control. "Safe space" means the area encompassed within the following distances:
• from the actual grade level to a distance of 22 feet 6 inches above the top of the rail head.
• a distance of 8 feet 6 inches on both sides of a perpendicular from the center line of a railroad track with a radius of not less than 400 feet lateral curvature (straight track to radius of 400 feet curved track, see Appendix 1);
• a distance of 9 feet on both sides of a perpendicular from the center line of a railroad track with a radius of less than 400 feet lateral curvature (high curvature areas of the railroad track, see Appendix 1 and change to 9 feet on both sides).
Slips, Trips and Falls
Slips, trips and falls account for many work-related injuries. At Energy Group, they are a leading cause of employee injury; in many cases, serious and painful injuries.
Falls occur for a variety of reasons; including, but not limited to:
• Not inspecting the work site for tripping hazards, not taking appropriate action to avoid them. Failure to communicate the hazard to crew members;
• Ineffective handling of debris;
• Stumps cut too high;
• Material left scattered throughout the work site;
• Poor housekeeping, maintenance and clean-up of spilled liquids, such as petroleum products;
• Lack of attention to the task at hand or the path taken;
• Not exercising caution on rugged, loose, overgrown or slick terrain.
Mindfulness of job site conditions is critical in preventing slips, trips and falls. If terrain conditions are too severe to work, then move to a site where work can be accomplished safely. If no alternate site exists, you may have to shut down temporarily. This is to be communicated and coordinated with your supervisor. Changeable weather can affect your work site and job planning. Rain, snow, sleet or ice will affect the terrain you work on. You must adjust accordingly for safety.
It is your responsibility, (especially if you are a crew leader,) to take these and other slip, trip and fall conditions into consideration. When planning the work, conducting a job briefing with the crew and then working the plan. If conditions change, revisit your job briefing and work accordingly.
Never Climb A Dead or Diseased Tree
Never climb a tree that is dead, diseased or has dead wood or dead branches. It is extremely dangerous as the tree limbs used for securing the climbers life support rope lines may break loose causing the climber to fall possibly to their death.
It is Energy Group’s policy that employees must use a bucket truck boom lift or backyard bucket lift device to trim or remove dead or diseased trees.
Working Near Dogs
Dogs may be present in or around the job site when trimming trees, so the following precautions must be taken:
• If possible, avoid going into or near the yard where the dog is present as dogs are territorial.
• If tree trimming must be performed in or near a yard with a dog, ask the owner to keep the dog inside the house, in a garage or on a leash while tree trimming operations are performed.
• Do not pet or give food to dogs.
• Do not trim trees in or around a yard if an owner cannot be found to control and secure the dog.
• Report all hostile dogs to your supervisor, so that the customer/utility may be notified.
These precautions are meant to protect the dog from falling tree limbs or other hazards while performing tree trim operations and to prevent the tree trimmer from getting bitten by a dog.
Avoid Contact with Hazardous Plants
Poisonous plants can cause severe irritations. Learn to recognize and avoid contact with poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.
Wear long sleeves when working in proximity to any of these plants and, if you do come in contact with any of these, wash with Technu Poison Ivy Cleaner and water, following the label directions for the best results. The oils in these plants are persistent and will remain on your clothes. Handle your clothes carefully and wash them thoroughly after working near any of these plants. Oral Ivy is an over-the-counter preventative product that can help some people develop a tolerance of the oils in these poisonous plants. To be effective, it must be taken 7 to 14 days in advance of exposure, as directed on the label.
Preventing Insect Stings and Bites
Stinging or biting insects and spiders can be hazardous to outdoor workers. Stinging or biting insects include: bees, wasps, hornets and fire ants. The health effects of stinging or biting insects or spiders range from mild discomfort or pain, to a lethal reaction for those workers, allergic to the insect's venom.
Workers should take the following steps to prevent insect stings:
• Wear light-colored, smooth-finished clothing. Avoid perfumed soaps, shampoos and deodorants.
• Don't wear cologne or perfume.
• Avoid bananas and banana scented toiletries.
• Wear clean clothing and bathe daily (sweat may anger bees.)
• Wear clothing to cover as much of the body as possible.
• Avoid flowering plants when possible.
• Keep work areas clean. Social wasps thrive in places where humans discard food.
• Remain calm and still if a single stinging insect is flying around. Swatting at an insect may cause it to sting.
• If several stinging insects attack you at once, run to get away from them. Bees release a chemical when they sting, which may attract other bees.
• A shaded area is better than an open area to get away from the insects.
• If you are able, physically move out of the area.
• Do not to attempt to jump into water. Some insects, particularly Africanized Honey Bees, are known to hover above the water, continuing to sting once you surface for air.
• If a bee comes inside your vehicle, stop the vehicle slowly and open all the windows.
• Workers with a history of severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings should consider carrying an epinephrine auto injector (EpiPen) and should wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace stating their allergy.
First Aid for Insect Stings: If a worker is stung by a bee, wasp or hornet:
• Have someone stay with the worker to be sure that they do not have an allergic reaction.
• Wash the site with soap and water.
• Remove the stinger using gauze wiped over the area or by scraping a fingernail over the area. Never squeeze the stinger or use tweezers.
• Apply ice to reduce swelling.
• Do not scratch the sting, as this may increase swelling, itching and risk of infection.
Fire Ants: Fire ants bite and sting. They are aggressive when stinging and inject venom, which causes a burning sensation. Red bumps form at the sting and, within a day or two, they become white fluid-filled pustules.
Preventing Fire Ant Stings and Bites: Workers should take the following steps to prevent fire ant stings and bites:
• Do not disturb or stand on or near ant mounds.
• Be careful when lifting items (including animal carcasses) off the ground, as they may be covered in ants.
• Fire ants may also be found on trees or in water, so always look over the area before starting to work.
First Aid for Fire Ant Stings and Bites
• Workers with a history of severe allergic reactions to insect bites or stings should consider carrying an epinephrine auto injector (EpiPen) and should wear a medical identification bracelet or necklace stating their allergy.
• Workers should take the following steps, if they are stung or bitten by fire ants: Rub off ants briskly, as they will attach to the skin with their jaws.
• Antihistamines may help. Follow directions on packaging. Drowsiness may occur.
• Take the worker to an emergency medical facility immediately if a sting causes severe chest pain, nausea, severe sweating, loss of breath, serious swelling or slurred speech.
Venomous spiders: Venomous Spiders in the United States include the black widow, brown recluse and hobo spiders. They can be dangerous to outdoor workers. Spiders are usually not aggressive, and most bites occur because a spider is trapped or unintentionally contacted.
Preventing spider bites
• Inspect or shake out any clothing, shoes, towels or equipment before use.
• Wear protective clothing, such as: a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, hat, gloves and boots, when handling stacked or undisturbed piles of materials.
• Minimize the empty spaces between stacked materials.
• Remove and reduce debris and rubble from around the outdoor work areas. Trim or eliminate tall grasses from around outdoor work areas.
• Store apparel and outdoor equipment in tightly closed plastic bags.
• Keep your tetanus boosters up to date (every 10 years). Spider bites can become infected with tetanus spores.
First Aid for Spider Bites: Workers should take the following steps, if a spider bites them:
• Stay calm.
• If it is possible to do so safely, identify the type of spider. Identification will aid in medical treatment. Wash the bite area with soap and water.
• Apply a cloth dampened with cold water or filled with ice to the bite area to reduce swelling.
• Elevate bite area, if possible.
• Do not attempt to remove venom.
• Notify your supervisor.
• Immediately seek professional medical attention.
Ticks: Ticks are found nearly everywhere in North America, and can transmit diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, human ehrlichiosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE). Those employees who may come in contact with white-tail deer or the deer's range and surroundings, need to be aware of the potentially harmful deer tick and Lyme disease. Ticks adhere to the skin or scalp. If they are attached a long time, there is a greater potential for diseases to be transmitted. Check your body, neck and scalp regularly for ticks, tick bites or rashes. Remove attached ticks immediately.
Preventive measures for ticks include:
• Wearing proper clothing - long-sleeved shirts and pants legs tucked into your socks will help minimize skin exposure.
• Treating work clothing with repellents containing permethrin or DEET (N-diethyl-meta- toluamide).
• Light colored clothing will help you spot ticks. Brush off clothing after leaving the work site.
Tick and insect repellents may pose a risk of adverse health effects if used improperly. To reduce these risks, carefully read and follow all label directions before, during and after each use.
Do not apply repellents containing permethrin or DEET directly to exposed skin. If you treat your clothing, there is no need to spray repellent containing permethrin or DEET on the skin under your clothing.
Chiggers: Chiggers live in open forests and grasslands of the southern and lower Midwestern states. These relatives of ticks are nearly microscopic, measuring 1/100 of an inch with a chrome- orange hue.
The larval-stage chiggers feed on the skin cells, but not blood, of animals, including humans. After crawling onto their host, they inject digestive enzymes into the skin that break down skin cells. They do not actually bite, but instead form a hole in the skin and chew up tiny parts of the inner skin, thus causing irritation and swelling. The itching is accompanied by red pimple-like bumps or hives, and sometimes a skin rash or lesions on sun-exposed skin areas. Itching usually begins after the larvae detach from the skin. Contrary to popular belief, chiggers do not burrow into the skin and live there.
Chiggers thrive late in summer, in: open habitats among briar patches, tall grass and weeds, woodland edges, pine straw, leaves and bark. To avoid being afflicted by chiggers, wear tight weave, protective clothing and spray repellent on your skin for further protection. Application of repellent to the shoes and lower trousers is helpful.
The most effective way of removing chiggers is by taking a hot shower and washing the affected areas with mildly hot water and soap. This must be done as soon as possible after exposure or possible exposure. Carefully wash the ankles, feet, behind the knees and under the arms and chest.
Do not rub and scratch the skin aggressively, but instead gently rub the irritated skin with warm soapy water. Excessive scratching may scrape off chigger larvae, but it can also cause increased irritation by breaking the skin and leaving it vulnerable to more serious infection.
A covering to reduce air exposure over the itchy area, such as calamine lotion, petroleum jelly or baby oil, may help relieve the discomfort. Many people think the red dot in the middle of the bite is the chigger itself (the chigger is long gone) with the misconception that the mite has burrowed into the skin, and that coating bites with nail polish or some other air-inhibiting seal will "suffocate" the chigger. Another myth is that application of rubbing alcohol kills the chiggers or helps with symptoms. This method serves only to cause burning pain and additional discomfort.
