Contents
Deck the Halls
Safety tips for holiday decorating
By: INSafe Safety Consultant Mark McDaniel
Ladder mishaps. Electric shocks. Falls from the roof. Despite how entertaining Clark Griswold makes holiday decorating look, many of the hazards depicted on screen are real, and the results aren’t always so humorous when they are suffered by employees and homeowners.
Each year, IOSHA investigates fatal and nonfatal workplace injuries related to holiday decorating. What is supposed to be one of the happiest, most celebrated times of the year can quickly turn to tragedy when safety is ignored. The basic tenets of safety still apply when decorating. Bad luck, gravity, and electricity don’t take the holidays off.
Ladders
Using the wrong type of ladder for the job, using damaged ladders, and setting up ladders on uneven or unstable surfaces are all holiday recipes for disaster. Before using a ladder, either indoors or outdoors, perform a ladder inspection. Look for broken steps, bent rails, sharp edges, and general wear and tear. If something looks wrong, it probably is, so don’t use that ladder. Ensure the ladder’s feet are on level and stable ground. Use the right type of ladder for the job you are performing, and heed all of the warnings on the ladder. In most cases you should not step beyond the last rung of the ladder to help maintain a three-point contact and balance to prevent falls. Even falls from relatively low heights can result in serious injuries, so be careful!
Roofs
Sometimes, holiday decorating will require walking on the roof of a structure. Whether it’s a one-story building or a 50-story skyscraper, many of the same safety requirements apply. There are three types of fall arrest systems: a handrail system, nets, and personal fall arrest systems (PFAS). If you must walk on the roof to hang decorations, PFAS are highly recommended. Employees should tie off at the ridge by means of an anchor point capable of holding at least 5,000 lbs. Hook up to a retractable lanyard attached to the D ring on an appropriately rated and sized fall protection harness worn by the employee. Employers must also have a rescue plan for employees who are suspended by a lanyard and harness.
Lifts
Lifts require many of the same protections as working on a roof. If you are using a boom lift to reach higher areas to decorate, you must also use a PFAS mentioned above. Also, remember to bring the bucket down before going under powerlines to prevent tipping the bucket and electrocution. If you are using a scissor lift, typically this lift will have a handrail system in place as a part of the platform design. If this is the case, the PFAS is not required. If you climb out of any lift, you must wear a PFAS and tie-off to a new anchor point. You cannot tie off to the lift equipment. It is always a good practice to not work alone, just in case there is a fall or emergency. Remember, there should be a rescue plan for employees utilizing PFAS.
Electricity
Sure, the glow from 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights looks impressive, but there is a lot of energy flowing through those thin wires. While one may look at holiday lights and assume the tiny bulbs equal low-voltage, this is not always the case. Read the warnings on the decorations thoroughly and you will find a power rating and a recommendation on the maximum number of powered decorations that can be connected in series.
Excessive lighting and overloaded circuits, especially when exposed to the outdoor elements, can quickly overheat and become a fire hazard. Do not leave any decorative lights on for an extended period. Never use staples, nails, or screws to hang electrified decorations, as these can easily break the shielding and cause a shock or fire. If you find any exposed wires in your lighting and extension cords, get rid of them. Make sure your extension cords and lights are rated for the environment in which they are used. Prevent electric shock by using a ground fault outlet (GFCI) as the primary power source. Also, ensure that extension cords and light strands do not create a trip hazard. Not only is this a great way to prevent falls, it will prevent the plugs and wires from suffering damage.
If you have questions about the OSHA regulations or would like to request a free INSafe consultation, please contact INSafe at 317-232-2688 or visit INSafe online at https://www.in.gov/dol/insafe.htm .
Outside Looking In
By: INSafe Safety Consultant Bryan Thais
Most believe that hazards, including falls and struck-by hazards, are eliminated on a residential construction project once the building shell has been completed. Since work crews are no longer erecting walls or trusses, performing roofing operations, working from scaffolds, digging basements, or working outside around equipment, all of the important hazards on a worksite are gone, right? Actually, this is not the case at all. There are still numerous hazards related to the completion of work going on inside the home.
Falls are the most frequent cause of fatal injuries in construction, and fall hazards still exist when performing framing and other operations in the interiors of homes or in attics. There might be unguarded stairway openings, unprotected framed window and door openings, unprotected interior balconies, floor holes for mechanical or HVAC equipment, and other openings in attic areas, all of which pose significant fall hazards.
Employees must be protected from falling anytime they are exposed to a fall 6 feet or more above a lower level by either guardrails, personal fall arrest systems (PFAS), safety nets, or by covers installed over holes to prevent employees from falling through floor openings or from stepping into holes. Painters, carpenters, acoustical/drywall installers and finishers, plumbers, flooring installers, and electricians can all be exposed to these types of fall hazards. It is important for employees to recognize and eliminate fall hazards.
Working from scaffolding, interior or exterior, can also expose employees to fall hazards. Scaffolding platforms more than 10 feet above a lower-level need guardrails or some other form of fall protection, and the platform on a scaffold needs to be at least 18 inches wide. Scaffolds need to be adequately braced and proper access to the work platform needs to be provided. If the scaffold is equipped with wheels or casters, they must be locked while any worker is on the scaffold.
Ladders, as well as stairways, are another potential source for fall hazards in the residential construction industry. Stairways installed in buildings can pose tripping and fall hazards, and temporary stair rails and handrails need to be installed until the permanent railings have been put into place. Hazards associated with the use of ladders include misuse of the ladder, using a damaged or defective ladder, standing on top of a step ladder, exceeding the rated capacity of a ladder, not securing ladders, and not extending extension ladders 3 feet above the landing point.
Housekeeping is another hazard which constantly exists when completing work inside a home. OSHA requires that during construction, scrap lumber and other debris be kept clear of work areas, passageways, stairs, and in buildings. It is important to have a regular schedule for clean up to remove scrap and other debris from the building.
Electrical hazards are also prevalent when finishing interiors of residential structures. Often, the main panel box covers are not installed by the electrician while installing branch circuits, but the panel box will be energized to provide some power in the building. This exposes tradespeople to open live parts. Receptacles and light switches are sometimes energized without the permanent cover plates being present on the receptacle outlet or switch devices. Extension cord sets are frequently found with missing grounding members or with worn and cut areas within the cords, exposing employees to shock and electrocution hazards. Anytime extension cord sets are used, they must be plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet. Temporary lighting could exist where there are bulbs missing, once again exposing employees to live parts, or the guards protecting any bulbs are not in place.
Exposure to respirable silica may also occur with work activities such as drywall finishing, cutting control joints in concrete floors, installing, and finishing various tile or stone floors, or when installing some countertops. Employers need to perform exposure monitoring sampling for respirable silica when these tasks are being performed, and provide proper engineering controls, administrative controls, and PPE to ensure employees are not exposed to respirable silica above the OSHA permissible exposure limit.
Residential construction employers are required by OSHA to instruct their employees on regulations applicable to their work and on recognizing hazards associated with their work. This standard exists so that employees can recognize hazards within structures, work methods, and in other situations so that hazards can be eliminated by removing or correcting them. All hazards should be addressed prior to the beginning of the job through an effective job hazard analysis (JHA). Safety plans and procedures must be implemented during various phases of the project, so hazards are quickly eliminated.
If you have questions about the OSHA regulations or would like to request a free INSafe consultation, please contact INSafe at 317-232-2688 or visit INSafe online at https://www.in.gov/dol/insafe.htm .
On With the Show
By: INSafe Health Consultant Gary Hulbert
The entertainment industry requires many employees to ensure that customers have an enjoyable and safe time at a live event. There are many hazards associated with the production of music concerts, theatrical productions, sports, and motorsports entertainment. Employees and patrons are exposed to hazards, such as but not limited to, electrical hazards, fires, crushing injuries from overcrowded venues and panic due to an emergency, excessive noise exposures, and insufficient exit routes. Throughout the years, there have been many fatal injuries due to hazards that exist in the entertainment industry. For event staff, contractors, and performers, it is important to know how to spot these hazards and how to properly mitigate them.
Most live events in Indiana are regulated by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS). The plans and permits they require help to keep events safe for staff and patrons alike. Numerous OSHA regulations also apply to those working at the event. These OSHA regulations help keep the event workers safe, so that they may do their jobs providing the entertainment, hospitality, security, and emergency medical services for the event.
Electrical Hazards
Electrical hazards exist, not only for the technicians and crew who are responsible for constructing stages, operating sound systems and lighting, and setting up equipment, but also for the performers themselves. In a 2012 interview, David Lee Roth of Van Halen noted the reason behind the band’s now-legendary contract demand for M&M’s candies with no brown M&M’s: "If I came backstage, having been one of the architects of this lighting and staging design, and I saw brown M&Ms on the catering table, then I guarantee the promoter had not read the contract rider, and we would have to do a serious line check.”
Les Harvey, guitarist for '70s blues-rock band Stone the Crows, died onstage in front of 1,000 fans on May 3, 1972 when he was electrocuted while tuning up for a show in Swansea, Wales. He was electrocuted after touching a microphone that was not earth-grounded.
Fatalities receive the most attention, but many people have received shocks that were not reported or were not severe enough to incapacitate the person receiving the shock. Electrical safety begins with identifying the hazards, training employees on the hazards, and following safe work practices while not taking short cuts. Grounding must be provided for all equipment, bare live parts must be identified and protected using insulation, guarding, and barriers, and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) must be used when appropriate.
Fires
Many of the fatal fires in entertainment venues could be prevented by ensuring that exits remain accessible and not locked, exit signs are visible and in working order, crowd size is limited to existing occupancy codes for the venue, and construction materials, including walls and ceilings, are appropriate for the hazards that exist.
One of the most deadly such fires in recent memory occurred at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island on Thursday, February 20, 2003. 100 people were killed, including Great White guitarist Ty Longley, and another 230 were injured. The fire was caused by pyrotechnics set off by the tour manager of the evening's headlining band, Great White, which ignited flammable acoustic foam in the walls and ceilings surrounding the stage. The blaze reached flashover within one minute, causing all combustible materials to burn. Intense black smoke engulfed the club in under 6 minutes. 462 patrons were present, despite the club having a rated capacity of 404. While two other emergency exits were accessible, most patrons headed back to the front doors of the club, believing them to be the only means of exit. The ensuing rush created a bottleneck at the doors of the club, resulting in numerous injuries and fatalities.
Crushing Injuries
Crushing injuries can occur at concerts for various reasons. As was with the case of The Station nightclub fire mentioned above, people may panic in an emergency when entertainment venues don’t provide enough exits. These types of injuries are not unique to patrons alone. Venue employees, contractors, and emergency service workers can fall victim to these types of injuries as well.
More recently, on November 5, 2021, ten concertgoers were killed in a crush at the Astroworld festival in Houston, Texas. Early reports allege that there were numerous red flags indicating the concertgoers were ignoring commands from event staff, causing damage to the grounds, and trampling security staff long before the performances began for the day. Some reports also indicate that the unruly crowd intentionally slowed first-responders as they attempted to address medical emergencies such as overdoses and tramplings. All entertainment venues should have emergency action plans in place that address hazards such as deaths, traumatic injuries, severe weather, an active shooter, civil unrest, lost persons, missing children, unruly fans, crowd surges and mosh pit safety. Venues should also ensure there is a means to safely exit during emergencies.
Noise
According to an OSHA interpretation concerning the entertainment industry:
- OSHA's regulations for occupational exposure to noise are applicable to all workplaces in the private sector, including night clubs, dance halls, and other places of entertainment. Employers are expected to take appropriate measures to protect their employees who are exposed to excessive levels of noise.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) occupational noise exposure standard requires that when employees are exposed to the action level of 85 dB for an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA), an employer must develop and implement a written hearing conservation program and above the permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 90 dB, employees must wear hearing protection.
The music and entertainment industries are unique in that high noise levels and extremely loud special effects are often regarded as essential elements of an event. The average rock concert sound levels regularly exceed 115 dB and have exceeded 130 dB. The employer should conduct noise monitoring to determine the sound levels to which employees are exposed and develop and implement a written hearing conservation program as needed. All employees exposed to excessive sound levels should be wearing hearing protection that attenuates sound levels below the action level.
For more information about how live events are regulated by the IDHS, visit https://www.in.gov/dhs/fire-and-building-safety/code-enforcement/application-for-amusement-and-entertainment-permit/ . If you have questions about how OSHA regulations impact employees, staff, and contractors at an event, or if you would like to request a free INSafe consultation, please contact INSafe at 317-232-2688 or visit INSafe online at https://www.in.gov/dol/insafe.htm .