Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce

Page 7 Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce MOVSC Upcoming Meeting Wednesday, March 18th Topic: Fire! Oh Wait Not Another Drill Speaker: Steve Waltman, Fire and Life Safety Educator, Ohio Depart- ment of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshall Meeting Information: Elizabeth Sugden Broughton Community Building Registration: 11:30 am Program: Noon to 1 pm Cost: $15 includes lunch RSVP: 740-373-5176 Not a Member? Please attend one of our meetings and we think you'll decide to become a regular! It's Information, Education, Connections and Lunch! It's helping you help your fellow em- ployees get home to their families each night! It's Safety! Support Safety & Gain Recognition for Your Business Want an easy way to promote your business to over 125 MOVSC members? Be a sponsor of the next available monthly meeting. All that is required is a giveaway for each person and a door prize. You will receive 5 minutes during the monthly meeting you sponsor to pro- mote your business to the MOVSC members. Contact Carrie for more information— 740-373-5176. BWC Safety and Hygiene Corner Q: I am hearing a lot about trench & excava- tion hazards recently. Besides cave-ins, is there any other hazards I should be aware of? A: Many construction workers are injured and killed in trench and excavation collapses each year. Although collapsing is the major hazard with trenches and excavations, there are others that you should be aware of, as well. • Trenches and excavations can be defi- cient of oxygen or could contain haz- ardous concentrations of gases like carbon monoxide. Stay out of the trench or excavation and report to your supervisor if either hazard is a possibil- ity. • Watch out for buried electrical cables that could cause injuries or electrocu- tions. Excavators are supposed to call local utilities before they dig, but its safest to assume that they haven't. If you see a cable, assume it is hot. Get out immediately without coming into contact with it and report to your super- visor. • Watch for water lines and avoid break- ing them. Broken lines will cause trenches and excavations to cave in quickly. If you see water inside a trench or excavation, get out immediately and contact your supervisor. • Watch for buried gas lines and other buried hazards. They could cause inju- ries. For example, a broken natural gas line could be ignited by a welding spark, torch, cigarette or other source. • Be aware of falling and moving objects while working, especially when an equipment operator is lowering pipe, shoring materials or other objects into the trench or excavation. Keep well away from the process. • Remember that changing weather con- ditions may affect the stability of the soil in a trench or excavation. When changes in weather occur, such as rain, snow, ice storms, heavy winds or ex- tended periods of hot, dry, weather. Stay out of the trench until it is inspect- ed by someone with the knowledge and experience to know whether entering could be hazardous. • Always maintain an accessible means of exiting the trench or excavation such as a ladder or ramp. There should be an accessible exit within 25 feet of every worker inside the trench or excavation. REMEMBER to RSVP your extra guests for the April 18th Safety Awards Banquet. We are expec ng a full house! Walking is considered a HIGH FRE- QUENCY TASK and is perceived as a LOW RISK HAZARD. However, it represents a significant number of inju- ries in the workplace. EXAMPLES OF POTENTIAL HAZ- ARDS TO BE AWARE: • Stepping over objects, equipment or potholes, • Slippery surfaces and trip hazards (algae growth in wet areas), • Bumping into equipment in non designated walkways, • Hoses and temporary pipe across normal walking paths, EXAMPLES OF CONTROL MEASURES TO PREVENT INJU- RIES: • Avoid multi tasking, get help, • Aim high, look out ahead, and don't rush up or downstairs, • Plan your pathway - Avoid slippery and uneven spots, • Keep walkways clean and free of clutter, • Wear non slip soles,

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