Many suppliers now offer an ergonomic snow shovel. It`s a good idea and they work. The principle is to move the handle so you don`t have to bend over to use it. Attaching a handle to the shovel where your lower hand grasps the shovel achieves the same goal. The idea is to stay as straight as possible. The new s.dol.gov/130 winter storm website contains links to guidelines from OSHA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Safety Council, and other agencies and organizations. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1970, employers are required to provide safe and healthy workplaces for their employees. OSHA`s role is to ensure these conditions for American workers by establishing and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and support. For more information, see www.osha.gov. Employers must assess snow removal tasks to detect hazards and plan how the work can be done safely. Workers should be aware of potential unforeseen hazards due to weather conditions, such as the formation of ice sheets as the ambient temperature drops, making surfaces even more slippery. An area weighed down by snow must be inspected by a competent person to determine if the access is structurally safe for workers as it is at risk of collapsing.
Snow-covered roofs can hide hazards such as skylights through which workers can fall. Electrical hazards can also come from overhead lines or snow removal systems. With record snowfall in Pennsylvania and western New York, as well as cold temperatures in the Northeast and Midwest, the U.S. Department of Labor`s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is urging everyone involved in snow removal and cleaning to take precautions and focus on safety. OSHA`s Hazard Alert, Snow Removal: Know the Hazards and winter weather websites provide employers with tips on how to avoid serious injuries and fatalities. Employers should consider options to avoid working on roofs or high heights, plan for safe snow removal in advance, and must: WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor`s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has created a website to protect workers from the hazards they may face when responding to winter storms and rescue operations. The website contains tips on how employers and employees involved in clean-up and salvage operations can identify snowstorm-related hazards and what necessary steps employers should take to keep workers safe when working in these conditions.
The site contains instructions for workers who heavy snow removal in front of workplaces and roofs, workers who encounter downed power lines or drive on icy roads, and utility workers who restore power after winter storms. Hazards associated with working in winter storms include: For those with a snow blower, the job is easier, but not without danger. The first thing to think about is what is left in the aisle before starting the machine. Stones, toys and other objects from scratch are now frozen projectiles that can shatter windows or easily knock out an eye. Always point the landfill chute away from the property and people. Never allow young children to be blown into or around the area. Sometimes the wheels pick up something like string or a plastic bag and jam. Never try to remove a computer while it is running. Take the time to turn it off before working on it. For a complete list of winter storm hazards and protection measures, see www.osha.gov/dts/weather/winter_weather/index.html or www.osha.gov. Workers should wear PPE that protects them from the hazards of tree felling tasks.
Workers who use chainsaws and shredders to remove fallen trees should use: gloves, chaps, foot protection, eyes, fall protection, hearing protection and head protection. While employers cannot control road conditions, they can promote safe driving by ensuring that workers: recognize the dangers of winter driving, e.g., driving on snowy or icy roads; are trained to drive in winter weather conditions; and are registered (if applicable) for the vehicles they operate. For more information on safe winter driving, visit OSHA`s Safe Driving in Winter page. OSHA has released a new resource guide for employers and employees involved in snow and ice removal.