SAFETY GUIDELINES
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
   

1.0  GENERAL

1.  Know and follow all safety rules which apply to your area or equipment.

2.  Do not use alcoholic beverages or controlled substances on the job.

3.  Horseplay, fighting, disorderly conduct, and practical jokes are not permitted.

4.  Confine work to designated areas, and take steps to prevent persons from being injured by work in progress.

5.  Immediately report any injury or property damage to your supervisor.

6.  Report unsafe conditions to your supervisor.

7.  Never remove or bypass safety devices or guards.

8.  Do not approach operating machinery from the blind side; let the operator see you.

9.  Be alert to hazards and be considerate of others.

10.  Obey safety signs and tags.

11.  Know emergency evacuation routes from your area.

12.  Know the location of fire extinguishers, safety showers and eyewash fountains.

13. Do not block emergency equipment.

14.  Observe smoking regulations.

15.  Be sure you are qualified and authorized before operating equipment or tools.

16.  Violator of university safety rules may be subject to disciplinary procedures leading to possible dismissal.

17.  Ensure that ladders, scaffolds, hoists, ropes, and cables are in good condition before being used.

18.  Do not dispose of any waste materials in such a way that may contaminate or pollute the environment.

2.0  PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

1.  Hard hats are required at all job sites if there is a possibility that something could fall on your head.

2.  Steel toe safety shoes are required of all workers on construction and maintenance sites.

3.  Safety glasses or goggles are required when performing work or visiting job site where there is a potential that something could damage your eyes. For example safety eye wear is required when sawing, grinding, drilling, breaking concrete, weed eating, and pouring corrosive materials.

4.  Appropriate clothing must be worn on the job. Do not work without the protection of a shirt and long pants.

5.  Use approved hearing protection when performing work that creates excessive noise (greater than 85 decibels). Examples of tools and equipment requiring hearing protection are; power saw, jackhammer, impact wrench, chain saw, concrete or brick saw, air chisel, mowers, hand blowers, and weed eaters. 

6.  An approved respirators must be worn in dusty conditions or when exposed to gas or fumes. The respirator must be the right one for the exposure. The employee must be properly trained in the wear and care of the respirator. Persons wearing respirators may not have beards.

7.  When there is a possibility of falling from a height of greater than six feet, a safety harnesses must be worn. Lifelines must be securely attached to anchorage points that can withstand 5,000 pounds.

8.  Work gloves and other protective clothing shall be worn as required to protect the individual in each job situation.

3.0  HAND AND POWER TOOLS

1.  Inspect all tools before using. Do not use defective tools.

2.  Use tools only for their designed application.

3.  Do not use tools with mushroomed heads, sloppy connections, split or broken handles.

4.  Make sure electrical tools are grounded, double insulated or have an operable ground fault interrupter in the circuit.

5.  Disconnect tools and machines from their power source before making adjustments or attachment changes.

6.  Air powered tools must have safety pins, wires or retainers on all connections.

7.  Do not remove guards or safety devices.

8.  When using wood working machines or saws, use guards or push sticks when possible.

9.  Inspect abrasive wheels for cracks, chips, or other defects before using.

10.  Know the capacity of a jack or block and tackle before using it.

11.  Block lift jacks firmly and squarely to prevent slipping under loads.

12.  When using power tools wear ear protection.

4.0  WELDING AND CUTTING

1.  Never store or move gas cylinders unless valve protection caps are in place.

2.  Store and move cylinders in a secured upright position.

3.  Do not take cylinders into confined spaces.

4.  Make sure regulators, hoses, couplings and tip connections are in good condition (no breaks, damage or cracked glass).

5.  Do not interchange hose connections between fuel gas and oxygen.

6.  Do not use matches or hot work to light torches.

7.  Do not weld or cut near flammable materials, especially paints, dusts, gases or vapors.

8.  Always have a  fire extinguisher near when cutting.

9.  Do not use compressed gas for comfort cooling, blowing dust from clothing, or for cleaning off work areas.

10.  Always wear suitable eye and face protection.

11.  Turn off gases at the cylinders when leaving a torch unattended.

12.  Check area before and after welding for fire hazards or fires. For electric arc welding, always wear proper eye and face protection.

13.  Inspect cables and electrodes for exposed conductors or cracked insulation.

14.  Report faulty or defective equipment to your supervisor.

15.  Make sure your equipment is properly grounded.

16.  Before making adjustments to any part of the electric welding equipment, be sure current is cut off.

17.  Do not look directly at welding operations. If others are in the vicinity, use a welding curtain.

18.  Do not wear metal jewelry, such as rings or watch bands when welding.

5.0  ELECTRICAL

1.  Know if a circuit is energized or not when working with or near electrical wiring. Unless an active circuit is a necessary condition of the work, the circuit must be de-energized and locked and tagged out before beginning work. Only the person authorized to do so will remove the lock and tag at the end of the work session.

2.  All extension cords and temporary wiring must be three-wire conductor. The grounding connector must not be by-passed or defeated in any way.

3.  Check all extension cords before use. Damaged cords and connectors must be reported to your supervisor and repaired or replaced.

4.  Ground fault interrupters or double insulated equipment must be used where temporary electrical wiring or extension cords are used.

5.  Wear electrically rated hard hats if you are working near energized electrical equipment.

6.  Know the location of all buried or concealed electrical circuits before drilling, jackhammering or digging.

7.  Check the work area for any exposed electrically active circuits, such as overhead lines. Make sure all electrically conducting equipment, including vehicles, will miss the wires.

8.  Do not use metal ladders or poles in an area with open electrical circuits.

9.   At least one member of a work crew working with electricity should be trained in CPR.

6.0  LADDERS AND SCAFFOLDING

1.  Inspect ladders before each use for damaged rungs, split or cracked side rails. Faulty ladders shall be removed from service and tagged defective.

2.  Ladders in doorways, walkways, or other congested areas must be barricaded or guarded.

3.  The top of ladders must be at least 3 feet above a landing.

4.  All straight ladders must have non-skid feet and be securely tied off or held when in use.

5.  Do not use metal ladders where there is any possibility of electrical contact.

6.  All scaffolds must be plumb and erected on stable and secure footing adequate for the load.

7.  All bracing must be placed before scaffolds are loaded.

8.  Scaffold platforms are to be planked solid.

9.  Top rails, mid rails and toe boards must be in place on scaffolds before work starts.

10.  Scaffold parts that have been damaged or weakened shall be repaired or replaced.

11.  A ladder must be used to gain access to the work platform unless the scaffold has a built-in ladder for this purpose. Do not climb the bracing.

7.0  FLOORS, WALL OPENINGS AND STAIRWAYS

1.  All floor openings shall be protected with covers that cannot be displaced or by standard guardrails.

2.  Do not store materials on stairways (stairways must be kept clear).

3.  When guard rails are removed for material handling, they shall be replaced immediately.

4.  Wall openings, from which there is a drop of more than 4 feet shall be guarded by a standard railing or the equivalent.

5.  Every open-side floor or platform 6 feet or more above the adjacent floor or ground shall be protected by a standard railing or equivalent.

6.  Guardrails must be constructed of sound, solid materials meeting OSHA standards for dimensions and spacing.

7.  All flights of stairs with four or more risers should have well-braced handrails.

8.0  CARS AND TRUCKS

1.  Operators of motor vehicles on campus shall drive within the posted speed limits and obey all other traffic laws.

2.  Personnel being transported must be seated with no arms or legs extending beyond the edge of the truck platform or body. Where seat belts are installed, they must be used.

3.  Operators must make sure that all materials carried by vehicle are loaded so that the load will not shift or fall off.

4.  Mark material extending beyond the edge of a vehicle with a red warning flag.

5.  Do not leave the motor running in an unattended vehicle.

6.  Before exiting a vehicle leave the gear in the appropriate position for parking and engage the hand brake.

7.  Do not fill the gasoline tank on any vehicle while the motor is running. An approved safety gas can must be used for transporting or storing fuel.

8.  Be aware of safe clearance from overhead obstructions.

9.  If visibility is limited, use a helper when backing a vehicle.

1.  Locate sources of fumes, mists and odors so that they will not affect others. Do not store or use them near air intakes for buildings. Examples are vehicle exhausts, paint sprays, vapors from open cans, and roofing materials.

2.  Where some public exposure cannot be avoided, inform the person responsible for the building of the planned work in advance so adjustments can be made, such as cutting off air handling units or allowing individuals to adjust their work schedules.

3.  Always follow the instructions on the labels when using or mixing chemicals. Wear the required personal protective equipment and inform others who might be affected of the risks associated with the materials.

10.0  HOUSEKEEPING

1.  A neat orderly area reduces the chances of accidents and fires. Leave every job clean and orderly at the end of each day.

2.  In removing debris from areas above ground level, do not throw materials from windows, down floor openings, hoist ways or safety chutes.

3.  Remove or hammer flat protruding nails before discarding lumber.

4. Place oily rags in waste cans provided for that purpose.