How to Avoid Trainer

7-Minute Electrical Outline

SAFETY TRAINER Accidents 310

Goals: This safety session should teach employees to:

● Know what precautions to take to avoid electrical accidents.
● Understand that only specific qualified employees may perform certain tasks
with exposure to live power.

Applicable Regulations: 29 CFR 1910.331-335

1. Electricity Has the Power to Shock, Burn, and Cause Fires or Explosions
Most electrical equipment has insulated conductors and is grounded to prevent accidents.
● If you touch equipment that isn’t grounded or has defective insulation, your body may
conduct the electricity. That can result in shock, which may cause:
— Pain, loss of muscle control, internal damage, cardiac arrest, or death
— Burns to internal body tissue
● Electrical equipment can also:
— Burn your skin
— Cause fires or explosions if exposed to flammable substances

2. Protect Yourself From Shock

● Inspect electrical equipment before use to be sure insulation is in good condition.
● Check that plugs have a good, tight connection.
● Never bend a 3-pronged plug or force it into a 2-pronged outlet.
● Use only wiring that is approved for use in outdoor or wet areas, and plug into ground
fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).
● Don’t touch anything electrical with wet hands or while in a wet area.
— Wear rubber gloves and rubber boots as protection.
● Don’t contact anything electrical with anything metal.
— Don’t wear metal jewelry or a metal hard hat around electricity.
— Don’t use metal tools, including ladders, around electricity.
● Use insulated, nonconductive tools around power sources.

3. Prevent Electrical Fires

● In areas with flammable liquids, vapors, or combustible dust, use only electrical
equipment identified as safe for that use.
— Be sure equipment doesn’t spark or get hot enough to ignite the flammables.

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 How to Avoid Trainer
7-Minute Electrical Outline
SAFETY TRAINER Accidents 310

● Don’t overload outlets, circuits, or motors.

● Don’t let grease, dust, or dirt build up on machinery.
● Dispose promptly of oily rags, paper, sawdust, etc. Don’t let them contact electric lights
or equipment.
4. Obey Restrictions on Electrical Circuit Access
Control panels and circuit breaker/fuse boxes for live electrical parts of 50 volts or more
must be in approved cabinets or enclosures, or separate rooms, behind partitions, or at
least 8 feet above ground.
● Obey warning signs and locks; keep out unless authorized.
5. Treat Electrical Equipment With Care and Respect
● Don’t use cords to raise or lower equipment.
● Don’t fasten cords with staples, nails, or anything that could damage insulation.
● Prevent damage by untangling cords and not running them along the floor or in aisles.
● Use extension cords only if necessary and when rated high enough for the job.
● Use only waterproof cords outdoors.
● Keep machines and tools properly lubricated.
● Don’t reach blindly into a space that may contain energized equipment.
6. Work on Energized Electrical Equipment Only If Trained and Qualified
OSHA defines qualified workers as those trained to identify exposed live parts and
their voltage and know the safety procedures to use with them.
● Electrical circuits and equipment are usually de-energized and locked or tagged out
before being worked on.
● Only qualified workers can perform tests or other work on “live” parts.
● If you’re not a qualified worker:
— Stay away from energized equipment, and at least 10 feet from power lines.
— Don’t try to remove a lock or work on locked out equipment.
Discussion Points:
! — Ask participants what specific tasks involving electricity they can do themselves and
which ones should be left for qualified employees.
Conclusion: Your Actions Can Help You Avoid Electrical Accidents
Avoid direct contact and take proper precautions to prevent shock, burns, and fires.

Test Your Knowledge

✎ Have your employees take the quiz on how to avoid electrical accidents. By testing
their knowledge, you can judge their ability to avoid these accidents and whether you
need to review this important topic again soon.

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 Importance of Trainer
7-Minute Fall Protection Outline
SAFETY TRAINER 3022

Goals: This safety session should teach employees to:

● Recognize the importance of fall prevention and fall protection.
● Understand the hazards of falls and know the OSHA rules that they must
follow to protect themselves.
Applicable Regulations: For construction workers, see 29 CFR 1926, Subpart M.
plus Subparts L, N, R, S, V, and X for special classes of workers. Regulations for
general industry are found in 29 CFR 1910.66 (i)(1) concerning powered platforms and
Appendix C of this standard.

1. Year After Year, Falls Are One of the Most Frequent Causes of Fatal
Workplace Accidents.
● In a recent year, 12% of fatal workplace accidents were caused by falls.
● Unfortunately, falls—especially from heights where fall protection is required—usually
cause extremely serious injuries.
● Although the construction standards are more detailed, workers in general industry
will be hurt just as badly if they fall.
2. OSHA’s Construction Standards Require Some Protection When an Employee
Could Fall 6 or More Feet on the Job.
There are three primary means of preventing falls:
● Guardrails serve as barriers between workers and an open upper level edge.
Guardrails are generally 42 inches high and must be able to withstand a force of at
least 200 pounds. If there is no wall or parapet at least 21 inches high protecting an
edge, you must install mid-rails or screens between the top of the guardrail and the
walking or working surface to prevent falls.
● Safety nets are usually made of rope mesh and are designed to catch workers if they
fall. Mesh openings can be no more than 36 square inches. Safety nets should be
placed 30 feet or less under the walking or working surface. They must, of course, be
certified as strong enough to catch a falling worker.
● Personal fall protection systems provide each worker with an individual form of
fall protection. Workers wear a body harness connected by a lifeline to a fixed anchor.
The anchor must be able to withstand 5000 pounds of force, and the lifeline must be
made of webbing or have a wire core if it might come in contact with a sharp edge.
The personal fall arrest system is designed to go into action by the time a worker has
fallen 6 feet and before contact with any lower level.
3. In Addition, OSHA Provides for Secondary Fall Prevention Systems to Cover
Situations Where These Systems Are Not Practical.
● Controlled access zones are areas where certain work can be performed without a
guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system. As the name suggests, these areas
must be off limits to all but specifically authorized workers.
● Safety monitoring is another alternative form of fall protection that can be used
when one or more of the three primary protection methods is not practical or would
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 Importance of Trainer
7-Minute Fall Protection Outline
SAFETY TRAINER 3022

create a greater hazard. A trained person is placed on the elevated walking/working

surface with the workers, close enough to be heard, and is assigned to look for fall
hazards and warn workers.
● Warning line systems involve the use of rope, wire, or chain barriers that alert
workers to an unprotected roof side or edge. Warning lines must be at least 6 feet from
the roof edge and go around all sides of the roof work area. Warning lines alone are
not enough—they must always be used with safety monitoring or one or more of the
three primary means of fall protection.
● Hole covers should be used to prevent workers from falling through holes in floors,
roofs, etc. Covers must be color-coded and marked “hole” or “cover” to warn of the
hazard. Hole covers should be secured so that they won’t move accidentally, and must
be able to support twice the weight of workers, equipment, and materials that could be
placed on them at one time.
4. To Prevent Injuries to Workers from Falling Objects, Employers Must:
● Require employees to wear a hard hat whenever there’s a risk of falling objects.
● Remove scrap and debris from the work area promptly.
● Cover holes, including skylights, through which objects could fall on people.
● Take precautions to prevent objects from falling by:
—Installing toeboards, screens, or guardrails around open edges
—Installing a strong canopy that falling objects can’t penetrate
—or installing barricades to keep employees out of the area where objects could fall
● Keep materials, tools, and equipment a safe distance from aboveground open sides
and edges.
Discussion Points:
—Discuss how the general information presented relates to the particular sites where
! workers could fall 6 feet or more on the job or where they could be injured by falling
objects. Make sure they understand the types of protection used by your company.
Conclusion: Falls and falling objects cause many serious injuries
each year.
Being aware of the particular hazards in your operation is the first step in protecting
yourself. The next step is to be sure you always use fall protection and wear your hard
hat where there is any danger.
Test Your Knowledge
Have your employees take the Importance of Fall Protection Quiz. By testing their
✎ knowledge, you can judge their ability of understand the both the hazards and
means of protection available and whether they need to review this important
topic again soon.

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 Protective Clothing Trainer
7-Minute On the Job Outline
SAFETY TRAINER 833

Goals: This safety session should teach employees to:

● Understand that the proper clothing can protect them from hazards on the job.
● Realize the importance of selecting it according to the hazards, getting a
proper fit, and inspecting it before each use.
Applicable Regulations: 29 CFR 1910, Subpart I—Personal Protective
Equipment: 1910.132, 1910.133, 1910.135, 1910.136, 1910.138,
and 1910.1200, Hazard Communication

1. OSHA requires employers to “assess the workplace” to see if there are

hazards that require protective clothing or other personal protective
equipment (PPE).
● If the assessment identifies hazards, employers then have to select, and have each
employee use, the types of PPE needed to protect from those hazards.
● Employers must select PPE that fits each affected employee properly.
● Employers are required to provide training so employees will know:
—When PPE is necessary.
—What PPE is necessary.
—How to properly put on, take off, adjust, and wear PPE.
—The limitations of the PPE.
—The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of the PPE.
2. The clothing you wear for work can protect you or be an added hazard
depending on the job you have been assigned to do. For example:
● Gloves can protect your hands when you are working with strong chemicals, but—
gloves can get caught in moving parts when you are working with machinery.
● Even if special clothing is not required for a job, the right choices can help to protect you.
—Long-sleeve shirts can protect you from insects and sunburn when you are working
outside.
—Pants should not have cuffs or be rolled up because they could get caught on
equipment or catch sparks or chemicals.
—Shoes with nonskid soles can save you from falls on wet surfaces.
—Avoid loose clothing or jewelry that could get caught in machinery.
—Jewelry could also act as a conductor of electricity.
3. Some on-the-job hazards are physical hazards such as heat, cold, electricity,
sharp objects, or falling objects.
● Fire-resistant fabrics or leather will protect against fire and heat.
● Heavy cotton clothing will provide protection against abrasions, splinters, or cuts.
● Insulated clothing will offer protection against cold.
● Safety footwear should be sturdy, with thick soles and impact-resistant toes.
● Safety helmets or hard hats are necessary to provide protection from falling
objects—some are specially designed to protect against electricity as well.
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 Protective Clothing Trainer
7-Minute On the Job Outline
SAFETY TRAINER 833

4. In addition there are health hazards from exposure to toxic or corrosive

chemicals.
● Many of these substances are so hazardous that they require full-body chemical-
resistant suits.
● Because the hazards vary widely from one chemical to another, it is necessary to check
the MSDS to find the proper protection.
● It is very important to remove chemical-protective clothing carefully to avoid
contaminating yourself.
—Remove contaminated clothing only in the designated changing area.
—Don’t touch any part of the contaminated clothing without gloves.
—Remove clothing from the top down so contaminants from the jacket or apron don’t
touch your uncovered legs.
—Always wear gloves as you unfasten zippers, snaps, etc.
—Place contaminated clothing in proper containers for cleaning or disposal.
5. Before you wear any protective clothing:
● Inspect it for cuts, tears, punctures, stiffness, and discoloration.
● Make sure it fits properly. It should be comfortable and not so loose or tight that it is
difficult to do your job properly.
● Make sure all snaps, zippers, etc., are fastened securely.
Discussion Points:
Discuss the particular operations that require protective clothing and the types of items
that are necessary. Discuss available choices and proper fit. If workers will be wearing
! protective clothing that would be contaminated by toxic chemicals, have them practice
donning and removing the clothing correctly.
Conclusion:
Protective clothing is required for many job operations. This is not a matter of choice.
Always wear the proper clothing required for the task. It’s for your own protection.
Test Your Knowledge
Have your employees take the protective clothing quiz. By testing their knowledge,
you can judge their understanding of the importance of selecting the proper clothing to
protect themselves on the job and whether they need to review this important topic
✎ again soon.

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 Respiratory Trainer
7-Minute Protection Outline
SAFETY TRAINER 820

Goals: This safety session should teach employees to:

● Understand when to use the different types of respirators.
● Understand how to fit, inspect, and maintain respirators.
Applicable Regulations: 29 CFR 1910.132, 134

1. Air That’s Contaminated or Lacks Oxygen Can Be Very Harmful to Health

● Inhaling chemical vapors, gases, or fumes and dust can irritate and even seriously dam-
age the lungs, respiratory system, or other organs, sometimes fatally.
● Lack of oxygen can cause death in minutes.
2. OSHA Requires Employers to Identify and Protect Against Breathing Hazards
● Engineering controls are the preferred form of protection, e.g., ventilation, using less
toxic materials, and enclosing operations that create air contaminants.
● When air measurements reveal that engineering controls haven’t brought air hazards to
safe levels, employers must provide employees with respirators.
3. Wear the Respirator Designed to Protect Against Your Specific Job Hazards
Check job procedures and/or chemical material safety data sheets.
● Air-purifying or filtering respirators screen out or “wash” contaminated air, but don’t
supply oxygen.
—A canister, cartridge, or filter color-code shows what chemical this type of respirator
protects against.
—Disposable surgical-type masks can be used only for very minimal dust hazards.
● Air-supplying respirators supply oxygen when the air contains 19.5% oxygen or less, and
in situations termed Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH).
—Self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs) have tanks that hold limited amounts of
air and signal when air is low.
—Full-face mask respirators connect with tanks or compressors that provide an unlimited
supply of air. The connecting hoses, however, can get in the way.
4. Get a Good Respirator Fit That Will Seal Out Contaminants
OSHA requires employees to have fit tests to ensure a good seal. A respirator should:
● Be secure, but not too tight, around the chin
● Not slip
● Not pinch the nose
● Allow you to move your head and talk

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 Respiratory Trainer
7-Minute Protection Outline
SAFETY TRAINER 820

5. Not Everyone Can Wear a Respirator

You may not be able to get a good fit or use a respirator safely if you:
● Wear eyeglasses
—OSHA says contact lenses can be worn with any type of respirator, but their use
is not recommended in dusty atmospheres while wearing a half-mask face piece.
● Have a beard or sideburns
● Wear a skull cap
● Are missing dentures
● Have breathing problems or a heart condition
● Are heat sensitive or claustrophobic (fear of confined spaces)
6. Inspect Respirators to Be Sure They Retain Protective Ability
Inspect respirators before and after each use, and report:
● Connections that aren’t tight
● Holes, cracks, tears, or other damage
● Wear or deterioration, especially in rubber parts like the face piece seal and
connecting tube.
● Dents or corrosion in filters, cartridges, or canisters
● Less than a full charge in an air or oxygen canister
7. Maintain and Store Respirators Properly
● Remove respirators without contaminating your skin or clean areas.
● Follow decontamination, cleaning, and disinfecting procedures.
● Store the respirator so it’s protected from dust, sunlight, heat, extreme cold, excessive
moisture, and damaging chemicals.
—Respirators stored in lockers or tool boxes must be in carrying cases or cartons.
● Rest the respirator’s rubber and plastic parts in their normal position for storage.
—Don’t squish. Doing so will deform and impair the seal.
Discussion Points:
—Ask participants to demonstrate how to select, inspect, and wear a respirator, using
! respirators that protect against your facility’s hazards.
Conclusion: Wear a Properly Fitted Respirator to Protect Against
Breathing Hazards
Learn to fit and use respirators to ensure safe levels of oxygen and to avoid inhaling
harmful contaminants.

Test Your Knowledge

Have your employees take the respiratory protection quiz. By testing their knowledge,
✎ you can judge their ability to ensure proper respiratory protection and whether they need
to review this important topic again soon.
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 OSHA Walking/ Trainer
7-Minute Working Outline
SAFETY TRAINER
Surfaces 3011
Goals: This safety session teaches employees to:
● Identify walking/working surface hazards.
● Take precautions to prevent slip, trip, and fall accidents.

Applicable Regulations: 29 CFR 1910 Subpart D

1. Know How To Identify Walking/Working Surface Hazards

● OSHA says that slips, trips, and falls cause the majority of general industry accidents
and some 15 percent of all accidental deaths annually, accounting for more fatalities
than all other causes except for work-related motor vehicle accidents.
● Common hazards include:
—Poor housekeeping that leaves spills or objects on floors that can cause slips or trips
—Damaged flooring, wet floors, or cords and hoses lying across walkways
—Ladders in poor condition or used improperly
—Poorly lit or cluttered aisles or stairways
—Improperly assembled or maintained scaffolding, and failure to inspect scaffolding
● OSHA’s standards for walking and working surfaces include requirements for
housekeeping, guarding floor and wall openings and holes, stairs, ladders, platforms,
and scaffolding.
2. Understand the Meaning of Terms Such as These
● Floor hole—an opening in the floor, platform, or pavement measuring less than
12 inches, but more than 1 inch, and through which materials—but not people—can fall.
● Floor opening—an opening in the floor, platform, or pavement that measures
12 inches or more, and through which people could fall.
● Platform—working space for persons elevated above the surrounding floor or ground,
such as a balcony or platform, for the operation of machinery and equipment.
● Runway—a passageway for persons elevated above the surrounding floor or ground
level, such as a footwalk along shafting or a walkway between buildings.
● Standard railing—consists of a top rail, mid rail, and posts, where the height from
the upper surface of the top rail to the floor level is 42 inches and the mid rail height is
one-half as high as the top rail (21 inches).
● Standard toeboard—blocks an opening along the base/floor of stairs or other
walking or working surfaces where materials or body parts might otherwise
inadvertently fall through, and must be 4 inches high, with not more than ¼-inch
clearance above the floor.
3. Prevent Accidents Caused by Floor Hazards
● Keep floors clear of debris, tools, cords, and hoses, and clean up spills right away.
● Keep aisles and passageways clear of obstructions that could cause tripping hazards.
● Use marked permanent walkways; don’t take shortcuts through areas not meant for
foot traffic.
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 OSHA Walking/ Trainer
7-Minute Working Outline
SAFETY TRAINER
Surfaces 3011
● Make sure floor holes and openings, open pits, etc. are covered or protected by
guardrails.
● Do not exceed the load rating limit of floors when storing materials or installing
equipment.
● Correct any hazards associated with walking and working surfaces whenever possible.
● Report any hazards that you cannot correct yourself, and block off the area to prevent
falls.
4. Take Precautions When Using Stairs and Ladders
● Use railings going up and down stairs, and walk, one step at a time.
● Do not leave materials or tools on stairs.
● Make sure stairs are dry and well lit; report burned out lights so that they can be
replaced.
● Don’t carry loads that block your vision on stairs.
● Inspect ladders before each use, and don’t use a ladder in poor condition.
● Set up ladders correctly on a stable, level surface.
● Hold on with both hands while climbing and with one hand while working on a ladder.
● Report hazards on stairs you can’t correct, and remove defective ladders from service.
5. Follow Safety Rules for Use of Platforms, Runways, and Scaffolds
● Make sure platforms, open-sided walkways, and runways are properly guarded and
that railings and toeboards are in place and in good condition.
● Inspect scaffolds regularly and make sure they are assembled and maintained
properly.
● Work carefully on scaffolds and keep the platform free of unnecessary materials or
tools.
● Make sure scaffolds are capable of supporting four times the maximum intended load
(including personnel and materials).
● Don’t alter or move scaffolding while in use, and protect against overhead hazards.
● Use wire mesh between the toeboard and guardrail if people work or pass underneath.
Discussion Points:
—Review your walking/working surface housekeeping requirements. Explain the
! procedure for reporting and eliminating walking/working surface hazards.
Conclusion: Eliminating Walking/Working Surface Hazards Prevents
Accidents
—Slips, trips, and falls constitute the majority of general industry accidents. Keeping
working surfaces clean, dry, and uncluttered can prevent many workplace accidents.
Test Your Knowledge
Have your employees take the OSHA Walking/Working Surfaces quiz. By testing their
knowledge, you can judge their ability to avoid accidents caused by walking/working
✎ surface hazards and whether they need to review this important topic again soon.
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