Have you ever given much thought to your back? It s there when you need it, but only if you don’ t abuse it. The back is made up of four major parts. The spine, nerves, muscles, and the spinal cord. There are thirty-three bones in the spine and thirty-one pairs of nerves branching out from the spinal cord. All of them must work together. If they don t, you could end up with anything from a strain to a ruptured disk, fractured vertebrae, and a debilitating disease like arthritis.

• To help prevent a back injury you should exercise, practice good posture, eat the right foods and watch your weight. Check with your doctor for m uscle strengthening exercises for the back.
• Other things your can do to prevent back injuries include using work- saving devices – hand trucks, forklifts, wheelbarrows and dollies can assist you. When you have an object to lift that is too heavy or bulky, get help! Ask a co-worker for assistance. Remember, two backs are stronger than one.
• Now, what can you do when you have to do some lifting? Check out the object to be lifted. Think about how you are going to grasp the load and make sure there is a clear path of travel so you won’ t stumble. Before you lift stand close to the object, bend down at the knees and straddle it, get a good grip, and lift with your legs while keeping your back straight. The secret is to let your legs do the work.
• It doesn’ t have to be a heavy load – even a small, very light object lifted incorrectly can trigger a back injury.
• Back injuries can be painful, disabling, paralyzing, and sometimes even fatal. Protect your back by following the guidelines.

Toolbox Safety Talks for Mechanical Construction Workers – Volume VI

TOPIC: Confined Spaces – Common Gases/Hazards #9

PRIMARY POTENTIAL HEALTH AND PHYSICAL HAZARDS

• INSUFFICIENT OXYGEN – ASPHYXIATION – SUFFOCATION
• TOXIC AIR CONTAMINANTS – IMPAIRMENT – INCAPACITATION – DEATH
• FLAMMABLE GASES & VAPORS – FIRES & EXPLOSIONS

PRIMARY EXPOSURES FOR MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

• Entry into pipelines, ductwork, equipment housings, boilers, manholes, sewers, vaults, tunnels, shafts, vessels, pits, tanks, etc. that have limited or restricted means for entry or exit and are not designed for continuous human occupancy.
• Hot work inside a confined space that could change what would otherwise be acceptable atmospheric conditions to hazardous atmospheric conditions.

COMMON HAZARDOUS GASES/ISSUES IN MECHANICAL CONSTRUCTION

• Oxygen – Levels in confined spaces must be between 19.5% and 23.5%. Levels below 19.5% can lead to immediate organ damage and ultimately death. Also, since oxygen accelerates the rate of combustion, levels that are too high can make the space more susceptible to fires and explosions.
• Methane – Is highly flammable (it is the main constituent of natural gas). Methane is not considered to be toxic. However, it can displace oxygen in the lungs leading to asphyxiation and suffocation.
• Carbon Monoxide – Prevents efficient exchange of oxygen in the circulatory system and can be fatal.
• Hydrogen Sulfide – Is highly flammable, and is considered a toxic substance. It is an irritant that can cause respiratory failure over time if it goes undetected.

SAFE WORK PRACTICES

• Continuously monitor the atmosphere inside the space for hazardous gases.
• Use an appropriate, properly calibrated monitoring instrument with a built-in hazard detection alarm. If the alarm system(s) activates, evacuate the space immediately.