Month: September 2016

Do not think because an accident hasn’t happened to you that it can’t happen.

What happened when the tree feller didn’t wear his safety goggles?

He turned a blind eye to saw safety.

As the chainsaw blade bites into the tree, bark, wood chips, and tiny bits of the metal blade explode into the air. Your face and eyes are nice, soft targets for all this flying debris. While a faceguard with a mesh screen protects your face, it isn’t enough to protect your eyes from injury. Neither are eyeglasses or sunglasses. Flying objects can shatter the lenses of regular eyewear, increasing the chances of eye injury.

Safety glasses or goggles with side protection or wrap-around lenses deflect threats that come at the eyes from both the front and the side. There are safety glasses and goggles that fit over prescription eyewear. Alternatively, you can have safety eye wear made to your vision prescription, even if you wear bifocals.

Whether you wear prescription or off-the-shelf safety glasses, to make sure you can see clearly, select models that:

• Resist fogging up
• Resist scratches
• Offer UV protection to minimize eye damage from UV light, and
• Have an ANSI/ISEA impact rating of z87. See the ANSI/ ISEA Eye and Face Protector Selection Guide.

Always inspect your faceguard and safety glasses before each use. Replace PPE that has weak or frayed straps, or cracks, chips, or damage to protective shields or lenses.

Your eyes face many dangers…

Threats to eyes and face from chainsaw use	Potential injuries to eyes and face from chainsaw use
Chainsaw kickback	Cuts, lacerations, loss of vision
Sawdust	Irritation, corneal scratches
Flying wood chips	Scratches, splinters, corneal abrasions, loss of vision
Flying metal particles from saw blade	Splinters, infection, granulomas, loss of vision
Twigs and branches	Scratches, punctures, corneal abrasions, loss of vision

Can’t find the perfect eyewear? Keep looking, there is a style and fit for everyone.

Every month, 23,000 people suffer from eye injuries. Don’t let anyone on your team be one of them.

Danger never takes a vacation:

You need hearing protection! Noise is measured in units called decibels (dB). A conversation is about 60 dB, a vacuum cleaner is about 70 db, a lawn mower is about 90 db, and a chainsaw runs at about 110 dB. OSHA regulations kick in at 85 db.

Hearing protection must be worn consistently to be effective, so pick a style that works for you and use it.

Hearing protection has a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). The NRR is the decibel reduction provided by hearing protection. A saw operator needs an NRR of at least 26 dB to reduce the noise below 85 dB.

Don’t over protect. Select hearing protectors that provide adequate but not excessive protection for overall performance and effectiveness. You must be able to hear talking, loudspeaker transmissions, warning signals, and important machine sounds while reducing the risk of permanent hearing damage.

OSHA Standard Number: 1910.95 states that employers must develop, implement, and maintain an audiometric testing program. A baseline audiogram for new employees must be established within six months of employment, with an audiogram every year after that.

Check how old your ears are below.

How Old Are Your Ears? (Hearing Test)

Some hearing loss is a normal part of aging, but regular exposure of more than one minute to chainsaw noise can also cause hearing loss. So take this test and see how you are doing…

Danger never takes a vacation:

OSHA requires that a protective hard hat is worn whenever you are working in an area where there is potential for injury to the head from falling objects. For tree care workers that means every time you get out of the truck. Tree workers are often hit on the side of the head (as well as the top) and would benefit from a helmet with side protection.

Q&A

How do I know if I have a safe helmet?

Look on the inside of the helmet. It should have the manufacturer’s name or ID, the date of manufacture, the type and class of helmet, head size and ANSI Z89.1-2014, Z89.1-2009 or Z89.1-2003.

The ANSI numbers mean it has met all the safety requirements for helmets.

What are those other markings?

 – The hard hat can be reversed, worn backwards or forward.

HV – The hard hat meets all testing requirements of the standard for high visibility colors.

LT – Low temperature use.

HT – High temperature use.

Can I wear a cap, scarf, or liner in cold weather under the helmet?

Only liners specified by the manufacturer can be used. Check with the manufacturer.

Can you put decals or spray paint the helmet?

Generally, decals are not a problem, but spray paint or adhesives may degrade the plastic or hide defects in the helmet. Again, check with manufacturer.

Do hard hats wear out?

YES! Check hats daily for cracks, dents, penetration, plastic chip flakes, discoloration, and chalky appearance. Look at the liner. If it’s worn or broken it should be replaced immediately.

If a big branch falls on me, I’m going to die anyway, why bother with a hard hat?

Small branches fall too, chippers spit out objects, climbers drop tools, your workplace is full of hazards. In 2012, more than 65,000 cases involving days away from work occurred due to head injuries in the workplace (2015 edition of the National Safety Council chartbook “Injury Facts”). That same year, 1,020 workers died from head injuries sustained on the job. Only 1 in 65 died from a head injury, the 64 others got hurt. Bet they’re glad they had their hard hats on!

No doubt about it, hard hats prevent injuries and save lives!

Should I wear a hard hat if there is no apparent danger?

Yes. Wear it every time you get out of the truck. In your work environment, unexpected hazards are the norm. Your hard hat will defend you from sudden dangers, when you don’t have the time or space to move out of the way.

Are hard hats considered sexy?

Definitely… 

Why you should wear a hard hat cutting down a tree

Want to see what happens to tree care workers who don’t wear a hard hat? OUCH!!!! Nigel needs more PPE!