water tank safety
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Water Tank Safety. Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety Workplace Safety and Health Program Nancy Pearce CIH Program Supervisor. The Big Question. Who covers the health and safety of public sector workers in Massachusetts???. Private versus Public Sector Workplaces. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Massachusetts Division of Occupational SafetyWorkplace Safety and Health Program
Nancy Pearce CIHProgram Supervisor
The Big QuestionWho covers the health and safety of public sector workers in Massachusetts???
Private versus Public Sector Workplaces
All private sector workplaces in the US are covered by OSHA Standards.
Public sector workplaces are only covered by OSHA Standards in certain states (Currently 26 states). Known as “State-plan States”.
There are additional States that have adopted some form of OSHA standards at the State level.
Massachusetts Public Sector SafetyMassachusetts has not passed a law
requiring public sector workers to comply with OSHA standards
Mass General Law Chapter 149- DOS and AGs shall determine
reasonable means and requirements to prevent injury and illness to municipal workers. (Note-does NOT cover State workers)
Mass General Law Chapter 149 for Municipal/County Workplaces Interpretation by (DOS) – in order to meet the intent of
Chapter 149 section 6 OSHA standards or applicable consensus standards should be followed as a minimum for county and municipal workplaces. If you follow OSHA standards or equivalent, you will be in compliance with Chapter 149.
What About State Workers?State employee health and safety is under the
jurisdiction of the Personnel Administrator (HRD).
DOS is providing assistance to HRD for state employee health and safety through an agency partnership agreement, including:Trainings focused on high hazard issuesOn-Site AssessmentsOutreach and informational materials on important
health and safety topics
Executive Order 511 requires joint labor/mgt health and safety committees to assess hazards, report findings etc
What does this all mean to me??
Bottom line-Municipalities, counties and State facilities are expected to follow OSHA standards
DOS can provide assistance
Key Tank Safety Hazards and applicable OSHA standardsFalls from climbing ladder
Falls from top of tank
Confined space Entry
Falls fromShould be protected
from falls the ENTIRE time you are climbing tank.
Should be able to move from attached ladder climbing device to top of tank without risk of falls. If no guardrails, never work unattached.
OSHA Website Fall Protectionhttp://www.osha.gov/SLTC/fallprotection/index.html
Ladder ClimbingFixed ladders -requires
cages as minimum over 20 feet. Platforms every 30 feet.
Studies have shown cages not effective for falls
Should have ladder climbing devices !!
Walking on top of Tank OSHA requires fall
protection at elevations over 4 feet
(6 feet in construction)
Three choices-Best-Guardrails
If not- Fall restraint/prevention Fall protection
Guardrail RequirementsRailing should be 42
inches
Midrail between
Toeboard 4 inches high
Must withstand 200 pounds presssure
Fall Prevention/Fall Protection(Fall Restraint)/(Fall Arrest)
Need to be sure worker cannot fall more than 6 feet. Shock absorbing lanyards, etc.
Better because CANNOT fall-keeps you away from edge.
Anchorage PointsFall Restraint-keeps worker
from edge of tank so cannot fall over edge- requires 1000 lb anchorage point
Fall Protection-keeps from falling more than 6 feet below if go over tank edge-Requires 5000 lb anchorage point (recommended)
(Note if limiting fall to 2 feet need 3000 lb
anchorage point (self retracting lifeline/ropegrab)
More than 50 rescue workers from Jackson County, Jefferson, Hall County and Gwinnett County responded to the Jefferson water tower Thursday after Jim Lurch, 37, of New Haven, Fla., fell 30 feet into the empty water tank.
Is Fall protection necessary when looking into tank?
Best to Design in Safety Features Up Front Conceptual Design $1Construction Documents $10Field Modification $100Commissioning $1000Renovation $10,000
Courtesy of Thomas E. Kramer P.E. Certified Safety Professional LJB Inc
Maybe the old way was the better way? Stairs instead of ladders, railings around the top!!
Confined Space Entry Rusting is oxidation-uses up
oxygen and can create an oxygen deficient environment. Breakdown of organic matter can create toxic environment.
Opening hatch and putting head inside tank to inspect is considered a confined space entry
Minimum requirement is to air monitor prior to placing head inside tank
Must also be attached so cannot fall into the tank. May involve davit arm. Two persons, attendant and entrant.
Contact InformationCall DOS at 617-969-7177. Ask for Workplace Safety and Health
Program
www.mass.gov/dos/wshp
OSHA Website www/osha.gov