Aeronautical Center employees have recently completed the Winter 2023 quarterly Safety Stand Down Training. Here are some major take away points.
Beginning with Hazard Awareness – a repetitive learning behavior, especially in a construction environment – the well-being of you and others depends on the awareness of potential and existing hazards. Through training and plan task observations, we learn to identify and to be more aware of hazards.
Potential dangers include equipment, poor lighting, loud machinery, multiple vehicle confusion, excess wiring, gasses, mists, dusts, and vapors, loose building materials, electrocutions, and falls. Some common workplace hazards to be aware of are safety, biological, physical, ergonomic, chemical, and environmental hazards.
To avoid fall hazards, contractors are required to use fall protection at 6’ and above. Some fall hazards on construction sites include working around an open excavation, floor holes, working off ladders or roofs, and working around equipment and tools that may become a trip hazard. On most construction sites, you will find bucket trucks, front end loaders, forklifts, and other heavy machinery. Contractors are required to wear high visibility clothing so they can be easily seen. It is important to stay out of a construction zone when you are not wearing the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
It is very important that you take the time to familiarize yourself with the evacuation routes and rally points for the different types of emergencies. You can do this using the link below.
Emergency Evacuation Maps - All Documents (faa.gov)
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.
IAQ Components include –
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of IAQ problems. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels. High temperatures and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.
Mold exposure occurs because mold is a naturally occurring organism that produces spores that are small enough to travel through the air. We are exposed to mold in the air we breathe. Airborne molds increase when moisture problems arise in buildings creating mold growth on building materials. Mold exposure most commonly presents itself with allergic reactions but is dependent on the type and amount of molds present - along with susceptibility and sensitivity of the person exposed. Most workers will have no reaction when exposed to mold. Others may have underlying health conditions that make them more sensitive to mold exposure. If you can see or smell mold, there is a source of moisture that needs to be fixed and the mold needs to be cleaned or removed.
Mold is everywhere – hundreds of spores are continually floating around in every part of the world. Controlling mold requires the elimination or minimalization of elements that support growth. When any source of moisture is found or if mold is present, report it to the AMP-300 Trouble Desk (Ext. 954-3687).
If you have any questions or concerns about Indoor Air Quality or Mold issues please contact AMP-100, Duane Roe at (405) 954-0004.
Any visitor to AJW-L facilities should always pre-check to evaluate the safety, security, and PPE requirements before visiting or entering the facility. Minimum PPE requirements include Safety Shoes (steel toes) unless personnel are only using the marked walk path from the east to the west sides of the Logistics Support Facility (LSF). Other requirements include precautions for Security and Electrostatic Discharge (ESD).
On the east side of the LSF Repair, Fabrication, and Production areas, it is important to be on high alert and stay aware in the following areas:
Proper and current training is required to operate equipment.
Proper use of equipment and manufacturer’s recommendations are required.
Immediate removal of any damaged equipment is required.
Department of Labor Employees’ Compensation Operations and Management Portal (ECOMP) is the chosen system that houses the FAA’s incident information for federal employees and contractors since 2019.
For safety’s sake, there are several questions that depend upon accurate and correct responses when registering in ECOMP:
By having an ECOMP Account, you will be able to file and manage forms with the Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Workers’ Compensation Program (OWCP). Your account is covered under the Privacy Act.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 301, Injury and Illness Incident Report is one of the first forms that should be filled out when a recordable work-related injury or illness has occurred. This form helps the employer and OSHA to see the extent and severity of work-related incidents. The form must be completed within 7 calendar days of a recordable work-related injury or illness. The process for filing a form involves completing several form sections made up of smaller form-filing steps. Once the form has been submitted, it will be reviewed by the employee’s supervisor and/or agency’s OSHA RECORD KEEPER (ORK).
Your supervisor will review and complete the 301 Form regarding your incident. Once the supervisor has completed this task it is forwarded to the ORK to review and finalize. A digital copy of this 301 Form is kept by ECOMP for 5 years. File your CA-1 or CA-2 if you are a federal employee. When filing a claim for compensation, consider filing a CA-7.
The DOL’s ECOMP system does not allow for investigative documentation in its system so supervisors must document the investigation in the old Safety Management Information System (SMIS). An email for SMIS is generated to the supervisor and to the ORK once the ECOMP process is completed. Also, AMP-100 reviews the incident, and a follow-up report is sent to the OSH Rep within the injured party’s organization.
When walking in winter weather, be sure that you have well insulated boots with good rubber treads. Avoid plastic and leather soles. It is best to take short steps while walking at a slower pace to avoid slips and falls. When entering a building, brush snow off or remove wet boots and walk carefully on wet floors inside buildings.
If you are not appropriately dressed for cold weather, you may put yourself at risk of Hypothermia and/or Frostbite.
Frostbite occurs when the skin and body tissue just beneath the affected area freezes. Loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities, such as fingers, toes, earlobes, face, and the tip of the nose are signs of Frostbite. The best thing to do in this instance is to cover exposed skin, but do not rub the affected area in an attempt to warm it up. Seek medical help immediately.
Hypothermia occurs when someone has a dangerously low body temperature. Uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion are signs that Hypothermia may be happening. The best thing to do if symptoms of hypothermia are detected is to take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95 degrees, seek medical attention immediately. Get the victim to a warm location and remove wet clothing. Warm the center of the body first by wrapping the person in blankets or putting on dry clothing. Give warm beverages if the victim is conscious and seek medical help immediately.
For more information regarding Winter Weather Preparedness, please follow the links below.
OSHA:
Winter Weather - Introduction | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
National Weather Service:
7-Day Forecast 35.38N 97.59W (weather.gov)
MMAC Status:
Center Status (faa.gov)
