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SAFETY MOMENT, FEBRUARY 20

Store materials so they cannot fall

See today's safety momentHow to give a safety moment

Safety moment, February 20

Store materials so they cannot fall

A messy work area leads to slips, trips, cuts, falling objects and fires. Clutter can also block an exit or an extinguisher right when you need it. A mess that looks minor can have serious consequences, so good housekeeping is part of the job, not a once-a-week cleanup.

SAFETY MOMENT

February 20

The hazard

A messy work area leads to slips, trips, cuts, falling objects and fires. Clutter can also block an exit or an extinguisher right when you need it. A mess that looks minor can have serious consequences, so good housekeeping is part of the job, not a once-a-week cleanup.

The action

Stack materials so they are stable and cannot slide, tip or roll. Keep loose materials and tools back from edges and floor openings, where they can be knocked off onto someone below. During roofing work, materials and equipment may not be stored within 6 feet of a roof edge unless guardrails are erected at the edge. (29 CFR 1926.502(j)(7)(i))

ASK THE CREW

Do we have enough trash and scrap containers, and are they where we need them?

From the talk: Housekeeping. Read it in full, free, with the questions and the sign-in sheet.

HOW TO USE IT

How to give a safety moment

  1. Gather the crew where they work, before the shift or the meeting starts. Read the hazard out loud.
  2. Ask the question and let two or three people answer. What they say about their own work counts for more than what you read.
  3. Name the action and point to one place on today's job where it applies, so everyone knows what to do differently.
  4. Write the date and the names on a sign-in sheet.

A safety moment is short and does not replace the full talk. When you want to go through a topic with the crew, pick a free toolbox talk.

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