DIRECTIVE NO. 262D DATE: June 30, 2006
SUBJECT: Master Safety Rules
REFERENCES:
1. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standards for General Industry
(29 CFR PART 1910) and Construction Industry (29 CFR PART 1926) dated February
1998, as amended.
PURPOSE: To establish policy and procedure for the safe conduct of work by Facilities Management employees.
CANCELLATION: This directive is effective immediately and supersedes and cancels Directive No. 262C dated January 24, 2001; Subject: Master Safety Rules. Significant changes from the previous directive are printed in bold face type.
BACKGROUND: To establish general safety rules and procedures that will be practiced by Facilities Management employees to ensure a safe work environment.
POLICY: Facilities Management is committed to promoting an environment for its employees that is outstanding in its regard for human health and safety. In furtherance of this policy, Facilities Management Master Safety Rules are adopted and incorporated by reference into all work procedures and position descriptions.
DISTRIBUTION LIST REVIEW DATE:
On-Line
Directors June 2011
Human Resource & Training Director
Information Officer
Architect for the University
OFFICE OR DEPARTMENT
RESPONSIBLE FOR REVIEW:
Safety Program Manager
DIRECTIVE NO. 262D June 30, 2006
page 2
PROCEDURES: The Master Safety Rules are:
1. Posted safety rules are applicable to all persons in any given area regardless of the purpose of visiting the area.
2. When an employee is injured or contracts a job related illness, he/she must notify his or her immediate supervisor within the same day if possible. The supervisor is required to follow the procedures as outlined in current Facilities Management Directive No. 268, Workers Compensation.
3. Horseplay, practical jokes and all types of "rough stuff" are prohibited in the work place.
4. All non-authorized persons are strictly prohibited from entering a barricaded, cordoned- off, or otherwise restricted area.
5. Exits, stairways passageways and mechanical spaces shall be well lighted. These areas, switch panels and emergency equipment shall be kept free of obstructions.
6. Tagouts or lockout signs must be placed on all switchgear motors, panelboards, electrical circuits, air handling units, appliances, gas lines, steamlines, and any other type of energized system or equipment when such items are being repaired or are connected to equipment on which repairs are being completed. Strict adherence to the established lockout/tagout directive is mandatory.
7. Employees must stand clear, look away when practical and use appropriate protective equipment such as protective shields, barriers and insulating materials, when operating electrical line switches or other such dangerous equipment. Class A or B non-conductive head protection must be worn wherever there is a danger of head injury from electric shock or burns due to contact with exposed energized parts. Eye and face protection must be worn wherever there is a danger of injury to the eyes or face from electric arc or flashes or flying objects from electrical explosions. Employees are responsible for ensuring that other people in the immediate work area have been made aware of the danger prior to the work being accomplished.
8. Climbing, standing on, or working from equipment, pipelines, ductwork, tanks or other such items is prohibited except where the surface is designed for climbing, standing, or supporting work. An exception to this rule can be obtained only as a result of an analysis by a professional engineer who has evaluated the structural capability of the structure and certified its suitability as a work surface. Elevated work platforms greater than or equal to 4 feet must have guardrails to prevent falls.
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9. Personnel shall not stand on the top two rungs of ladders or on the top of step ladders. An exception to this rule is the use of the top of a step ladder for standing if fall protection devices are used and attached to structurally sound building members. Only non-conductive ladders shall be used.
10. Monthly shop or divisional safety meetings shall be conducted. These meetings are often referred to as “tool box meetings” and may be held more often than monthly.
11. Only qualified personnel shall verify that an electrical system is de-energized before work can be done. A qualified person is one who is trained in electrical hazards, the operation and inherent hazards of the equipment/machinery to be worked on, and the operation of test meters rated for the proper voltage.
12. Only high voltage electricians are authorized to work on equipment over 600V.
13. Personnel are not authorized to touch, move, or work on any item labeled with a radioactive symbol unless advised by qualified lab personnel or someone from Environmental Health and Safety’s Radiation Safety Office that the exterior of the item has been certified free of contamination. Supervisors are responsible for annual training of their personnel for recognizing the radiation symbols and for working with items posted with radiation labels.
14. All tools and equipment shall be inspected prior to each use and shall be maintained in good condition. Tools and equipment shall not be altered without approval of the shop supervisor.
15. Safety guards are primary means of protecting the equipment user from dangerous moving parts and should never be bypassed or removed while the equipment is in operation. Any variance to this rule must be approved in writing by the Safety Program Manager and only after shop management has identified substitute safety measures that can be implemented that are at least equal to the safety protection that would have been provided by the machine safeguard. The approved variance must be posted with the equipment and must list the substitute safety measures that have been implemented.
16. Eye protection must be worn at all times during any work activity in which there is a reasonable possibility of an eye injury from impact hazards or flying particles. Safety glasses with eye shields must be worn at all times when operating grinding machines or tools, chipping hammers, air hammers, drills and power saws. Brow guard protection should be used for overhead work when dust and debris could fall into eyes. Welding operators must wear appropriate eye protection with proper lens shading for all welding, cutting and brazing. Eye and face protection is required for potential chemical splash hazards. All safety glasses must meet ANSI Z87.1-1989 if purchased after July, 1994 or ANSI Z87.1-1968 if purchased before July 1994. Refer to the Eye and Face Protection Selection Chart - Appendix (1) and (2), included herewith as attachment 1 and 2.
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17. The wearing of approved safety shoes meeting the minimum requirements of ANSI Standard Z41.1991 is mandatory for all employees who spend more than ten percent of their time on maintenance, construction or renovation projects. The only exception to this rule are those employees who have a medical reason, supported by proper documentation, which precludes/prevents the wearing of safety shoes, and which has been reported to the employee's supervisor. Housekeeping personnel and roofing personnel are not required to wear safety shoes; however, they must wear appropriate work shoes. Canvas top are not appropriate footwear for housekeeping personnel.
18. Hand protection appropriate for the work task will be furnished to employees. Cut resistant gloves are appropriate for those job tasks that could result in cuts, lacerations and abrasions. Heat resistant gloves are appropriate for those job tasks that could result in burns. Material safety data sheets should be consulted for the appropriate choice of chemical resistant gloves for those job tasks that could result in chemical contact.
19. Appropriate head protection meeting ANSI Standard Z89.1 will be furnished by Facilities Management. The head protection shall be worn in the proper manner by all employees when they are performing or observing work where the head is exposed to injury from moving, falling, or flying objects, electric shock, hair entanglements, chemicals, extremes in temperature or other types of head injury hazards. Head protection must be worn when entering any area designated and posted as a "hard hat" area, or when directed by a supervisor or other employee in charge.
20. Employees wearing rings or other similar personal objects shall use every precaution to ensure that these objects do not cause a safety hazard during the performance of assigned duties. Metallic jewelry presenting an electrical contact hazard is prohibited. When hair can be caught in moving machinery, it shall be secured.
21. Compressed air shall not be used on the body or clothing for removing dust or debris, or for any other purpose.
22. All operators of Facilities Management vehicles involved in an “at fault” accident must complete the National Safety Council’s Driving Course.
23. A maximum of three persons may be transported in the front seat of a state-owned vehicle.
24. When two (2) or more people are being transported in any vehicle the operator shall designate one such person to dismount from the vehicle and direct the driver when the vehicle is operating in reverse. If the operator is alone, the operator shall check the vehicle front and rear for obstructions and people prior to moving the vehicle.
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25. All materials, equipment, and debris, that are transported on an open vehicle must be properly secured and covered in a manner that ensures they do not become dislodged.
26. All passengers occupying the front seat of a Facilities Management vehicle must use seat belts. The operator of the vehicle is responsible for ensuring that all passengers occupying the front seat use seat belts.
27. Riding in the cargo area of vehicles is prohibited.
28. The use of cellular phones is discouraged while operating a vehicle. If the operator of the vehicle can safely answer a cellular phone, then do so but keep the coversation short. If safety is compromised , then do not answer the cellular phone.
Work Centers shall prepare safety rules pertaining to their respective trade. A copy of these rules shall be forwarded to the Safety Program Manager for review and approval by the Senior Safety Committee. Approved work center safety rules will become incorporated into the Master Safety Rules.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. The Master Safety Rules are incorporated by reference into the position descriptions of all supervisors and employees as applicable to their work performance.
2. Facilities Management Directors shall ensure that employees in their departments are made aware of and adhere to these master safety rules. The rules are to be posted on official bulletin boards and in all applicable shop areas for continuing reference.
3. Supervisors are responsible for ensuring safe work practices and conduct of employees under their supervision. Supervisors shall be aware of hazards in shops, work locations or employee's work tasks and shall provide employees with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that would prevent or lessen potential injuries from identified hazards. Supervisors shall ensure employees are trained on all assigned PPE.
4. All Facilities Management employees are responsible for complying with Master Safety Rules which are applicable to the work they are performing.
5. The Safety Program Manager shall advise the Senior Safety Committee as changes to these rules become necessary.
6. Employees shall report all hazardous conditions to their supervisor.
Richard H. Rice, Jr., P.E.
Acting Chief Facilities Officer