Top Safety Hazards

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Top Safety Hazards

• In an office environment and other frequently
  cited violations

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Common Hazards in the Workplace

• Top Workplace Hazards
• Chemical Hazards
• Fire
• Over-exertion and Stress
• Electrical Hazards
• Accidental Falls and Flying Objects

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Unauthorized Storage (Mechanical/Electrical/Stair
well)
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Fire Extinguishers (Monthly Inspection/Mounted)

• Fire extinguishers not being inspected monthly

NFPA 10 7.2.1.2 Fire extinguishers shall be
inspected either manually or by means of an
electronic monitoring device/system at a minimum
of 30-day intervals.

• NFPA 10 (6.1.3.4) Portable fire extinguishers
  shall be installed using any of the following
  means
• Securely on a hanger intended for the
  extinguisher
• In the bracket supplied by the extinguisher
  manufacturer
• In a listed bracket approved for such purpose
• In cabinets or wall recesses

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Obstructed or blocked from view fire
extinguishing equipment.
Fire Extinguishing Equipment
NFPA 10 (6.1.3.3.1) Fire extinguishers shall not
be obstructed or obscured from view.
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Emergency Lighting

• Non-Functional
• Not being inspected monthly / annually

NFPA 101 (31-1.3.7) Periodic Testing of Emergency
Lighting Equipment. A functional test shall be
conducted on every required emergency lighting
system at 30-day intervals for a minimum of 30
seconds. An annual test shall be conducted for
the 1 1/2-hour duration. Equipment shall be fully
operational for the duration of the test.
Public Works has all emergency lighting within
C4I Complex on Preventive Maintenance Interval
(PMI) schedule beginning 2012.
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Hazardous Materials

• HAZMAT not properly labeled.
• Users dont have access to Material Safety Data
  Sheets (MSDS).

MSDSs can be found on most manufacturers
websites.
Household cleaning supplies require an MSDS also
(if allowed on AUL)
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DD Form 2522 / NFPA 704
HAZMAT Missing
Label requirements (a) Identity of material
or chemical (b) Name address of
manufacturer (c) Appropriate hazard
warning, including target organs
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Sprinkler Head Clearance
1910.159(c)(10) Sprinkler spacing. The employer
shall assure that sprinklers are spaced to
provide a maximum protection area per sprinkler,
a minimum of interference to the discharge
pattern by building or structural members or
building contents and suitable sensitivity to
possible fire hazards. The minimum vertical
clearance between sprinklers and material below
shall be 18 inches (45.7 cm).
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Examples of Fire Sprinkler Obstruction
At right is an example of materials stored on
shelving that is too high, obstructing the
sprinkler head and giving the sprinkler head and
giving the sprinkler less than an inch of
coverage. Stacked materials should never exceed
the height of 18 inches below sprinkler heads.
To the left is an example of an unacceptable
practice with sprinklers. Creating an opening in
the storage around a sprinkler does not satisfy
code requirements because the sprinkler water is
still blocked from reaching the wall.
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Exposed Wiring
1910.305(b)(1)(ii) Unused openings in cabinets,
boxes, and fittings shall be effectively closed.
Applies to power panels and electrical boxes.
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Exposed Wiring
1910.305(b)(1)(ii) Unused openings in cabinets,
boxes, and fittings shall be effectively closed.
Applies to power panels and electrical outlets.
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Required Space in Front of Electrical Panels
1910.303(g)(1)(i)(A) The depth of the working
space in the direction of access to live parts
may not be less than 3ft. Distances shall be
measured from the live parts if they are exposed
or from the enclosure front or opening if they
are enclosed 1910.303(g)(1)(i)(B) In all cases,
the working space shall permit at least a
90-degree opening of equipment doors or hinged
panels and 1910.303(g)(1)(ii) Working space
required by this standard may not be used for
storage. When normally enclosed live parts are
exposed for inspection or servicing, the working
space, if in a passageway or general open space,
shall be suitably guarded.
Wrong
Wrong
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Extension Cords

• Do NOT run extension cords through windows,
  walls, ceilings or doorways.

1910.305(g)(1)(iv) Unless specifically permitted
otherwise in paragraph (g)(1)(ii) of this
section, flexible cords and cables may not be
used 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(A) As a substitute for
the fixed wiring of a structure 1910.305(g)(1)(i
v)(B) Where run through holes in walls, ceilings,
or floors 1910.305(g)(1)(iv)(C) Where run
through doorways, windows, or similar openings
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Extension Cord

• Authorized for temporary use indoors
• Use Fan during work hours
• Portable Power Tools
• Floor Strippers / Buffers
• Check with your FD for rules on seasonal lighting

• NOT authorized for use on base

Limited Use Only
Check with Safety if you are unclear when and
where to use extension cords
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• Inappropriate Use of Extension Cords
• Using as permanent wiring
• Using unapproved extension cords
• Overloading power capabilities of the cord during
  temporary use
• Daisy chaining (plugging one extension cord into
  another and another, etc.)
• Using one surge protector/power strip to power
  another

• Basic Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of
  Extension Cords
• Cords must be properly approved (by Underwriters
  Laboratory, etc.)
• Approved cords must be for temporary use only (no
  more than 90 days)
• Extension cords may be used for remodeling and
  maintenance or repair of structures or equipment
• It is permissible to use extension cords to light
  holiday decorations

Examples of Improper Extension Cords and Power
Strips
To the right is a common example of improper
extension cord usage. As seen in this photo from
a Congressional facility, one extension cord is
being used to power multiple devices. This cord
is of the common household variety and not
approved for this type of use.
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• Common Hazards to Avoid with Power Cords
• Power cords with frayed or damaged external
  sheathing torn away from the plug head, or ground
  prongs removed
• Pulling a plug from a socket by jerking the cord
  rather than removing the plug carefully by hand

• Regulations Related to Damaged and Ungrounded
  Power Cords
• The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR 1910.303)
  states that electrical insulation shall be free
  from recognized hazards that cause death or
  serious physical harm to employees
• The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR
  1910.334(a)(ii)) requires damaged or defective
  power equipment to be removed from service until
  repairs are made and tests show the equipment is
  safe
• Missing ground prongs are a violation of
  Occupational Safety and Health Administration
  (OSHA) regulations and the National Electric
  Code. As required by CFR 1910.334(a)(3)(ii),
  attachment plugs and receptacles may not be
  connected or altered in a manner which would
  prevent proper continuity of the grounding
  conductor

To the left is a power cord in use in a
Congressional facility. The cord has had its
protective sheathing torn away from the plug
head, exposing energized wires.
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Approved?
Can you use power strips (surge protectors) with
these appliances and electronics?
Check with Safety if you are unclear what can be
plugged into a surge protector
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Overloaded Surge Protector/Power Strip
1910.304(b)(4) Outlet devices. Outlet devices
shall have an ampere rating not less than the
load to be served.
Caused by Surge Protectors/power strips being
used with refrigerators, microwaves, space
heaters, daisy-chained, and coffee pots.
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Daisy-Chained Power Strips
1910.303(b)(2) Installation and use. Listed or
labeled equipment shall be installed and used in
accordance with any instructions included in the
listing or labeling.
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Heat Producing Applianceswith Exposed Coils
Toaster ovens and toasters are not authorized in
work areas. Exception Kitchenette and galleys
are authorized areas
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Multi-Plug Adapter

• Not Authorized on base

1910.304(b)(4) Outlet devices. Outlet devices
shall have an ampere rating not less than the
load to be served.
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EXIT Lights

• EXIT lights being inoperative or missing

Notify Facilities to have EXIT lights repaired or
replaced
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• Things to Keep Away From Space Heaters in the
  Workplace
• Damaged power cords or excessive wiring
• Stacks of paper, wood, or other combustibles
• Clothing

• Precautions for Safe Use of Space Heaters in the
  Workplace
• Should be approved by an OSHA recognized
  laboratory (such as Underwriters Laboratory,
  Factory Mutual, or the European
• Commission electrical standard CE)
• Should be in areas free of combustibles
• Should be equipped with a tip-over switch
• Should NOT be used with extension cords
• Should NOT be used with missing or broken parts
  (such as nobs, grills, or stands)

Prior to any installation or use of portable
heaters or coffee makers check with your base
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU for guidance on the local
written authorization permit requirements.
EXAMPLE
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• Proper Fire Doors and Fire Door Self-Closing
  Devices are Required
• Not all doors are fire doors Fire doors must be
  certified by recognized testing laboratories
  (such as UL) and must have the
• laboratorys certification label
• OSHA regulations require that fire doors not be
  held open unless equipped with a device that
  releases the door upon activation of
• the fire alarm 29 CFR 1910.36(a)(3)

• When Fire Doors are Needed
• Where a door has an EXIT sign on or around it
• Where a door leads to exit stairwells and
  horizontal exits
• Where a door leads to a hazardous area such as
  flammable storage
• In general, where a door leads to a hallway or
  from one fully enclosed room to another

• Hazards to Avoid With Fire Doors
• Fire doors should never be tied open or held
  open by unapproved devices, such as door wedges
  and blocks
• Fire doors can only be held open by a device
  that automatically releases when the fire alarm
  is activated (such as an
• electromagnetic hold open device)
• Even when closed, fire doors should never have
  latch taped over during a fire, hot gases can
  easily build up enough pressure to
• cause fire doors to blow open

At right is an example of a fire door that has
been improperly held open by tying it to the
wall. Fire doors can only be held open by a
device that automatically releases when the fire
alarm is activated (such as an electromagnetic
hold open device)
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Grounding Pin Missing
1910.304(b)(2)(iv)(A) Where a grounding means
exists in the receptacle enclosure or a grounding
conductor is installed, grounding-type
receptacles shall be used and shall be connected
to the grounding means or conductor
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Questions?

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