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SAFETY MOMENT, AUGUST 8

Size up the load and the path

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Safety moment, August 8

Size up the load and the path

We lift, carry, push and pull materials by hand all day. One bad lift can strain your back, and a dropped load can crush fingers or toes. Even light loads add up when you move them all shift with poor technique. Planning the move takes a moment and can save you a lot of pain.

SAFETY MOMENT

August 8

The hazard

We lift, carry, push and pull materials by hand all day. One bad lift can strain your back, and a dropped load can crush fingers or toes. Even light loads add up when you move them all shift with poor technique. Planning the move takes a moment and can save you a lot of pain.

The action

Before you lift, check the weight, the shape and where you can get a good grip. Look for sharp edges, splinters and nails, and tip one corner to test the weight. Clear your path of debris and tripping hazards before you pick anything up. In construction, aisles and passageways must be kept clear for the safe movement of workers and material handling equipment. (29 CFR 1926.250(a)(3))

ASK THE CREW

How will we call a team lift so everyone lifts and sets down together?

From the talk: Safe lifting and manual handling. 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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