Your safety is AOE's foremost
concern. In the end, you are responsible for workplace safety through the
conscientious and consistent application of general and job-specific safety
principles. No matter what your occupation, no matter what your age, no
matter what experience that you have, it is important that you THINK
SAFETY FIRST while on the job.
General Safety Information
Ergonomics
Adopt an attitude that respects the risks related to your job.
Educate yourself on the ways to increase safety. Take advantage of
the AOE website as well as the resources provided by CPWR, OSHA, NIOSH
and eLCOSH.
Always wear appropriate gear. Be sure that your Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) is appropriate for the current job.
Wear a hard hat, safety goggles, protective footwear and ear plugs
when required.
Immediately report job hazards to the Safety Director on your job.
Use proper technique when lifting any objects. Do not over-exert
yourself.
Get help and/or use dollies and carts when moving heavy objects.
Make sure that tools are in good condition and are not causing you
undue stress to use them.
Prolonged repetitive motion can lead to injury. Try to rotate activities
and take breaks from repetitive tasks.
Working in an awkward posture can lead to injury. Identify these situations
and create a better situation before injury occurs.
Use the 3-stage safety model: recognize, evaluate and control hazards.
Plan your work and plan for safety.
Assume electrical circuits are energized unless you know that they
are not.
Avoid overhead powerlines, wet conditions and other dangers.
Use proper tools, wiring and connectors.
Always wear appropriate PPE.
Unless you know an overhead power line is turned off, stay at least
10 feet away from it.
Lock out/tag out machinery or equipment that you work on so that no
one turns on the power while you are doing your work.
All electrical systems must be grounded. You should regularly check
all electric paths to be sure that the path to ground is continuous.
Install guardrails when practical. Otherwise, use fall arrest and/or
travel restraint systems to ensure safety.
Cover openings on the working level, whenever a fall through the
opening is into machinery,into water or another liquid, or greater than
8 feet in depth.
Inspect scaffolds, guardrails and fall arrest systems regularly.
When using ladders, secure both the top and bottom of the ladder. Use
the 3-point system, so that at least one hand and two feet, or two hands
and one foot, remain in contact with the ladder at all times.
Scaffolds should be assembled by competent persons only and used only
during safe weather conditions.
Aerial lifts should be operated by full trained and competent persons
only.
