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Public Works has many different hazards workers need to be aware of and the municipality must have procedures in place to insure workers are protected. One issue to consider is Fall Hazards. Print the brochure below to share with your employees who may work around these hazards.
Learning from practical, real-world experience often requires learning from our own mistakes. In many cases, this can be an effective way of developing greater levels of competence and understanding in a given subject. Unfortunately, when mistakes are made in confined space monitoring, the cost of this education if often measured in the number of lives lost (see 2016 Falls Creek Baptist Assembly Wastewater stories on the internet - KP).
The deadly nature of confined spaces leaves little room for error and even less opportunity to “learn as you go”. Learning about some common mistakes before entering a confined space will go a long way toward establishing a workplace air monitoring program based on industry best practices. (If your municipality does not have a gas monitoring detector and calibration kit and you can’t afford one, look into OMAG’s Public Works Safety Enhancement Grant Program on our website www.omag.org/getfreestuff -KP).
Mistake #1 – Not knowing OSHA standards and recommendations
Winter is coming, and prepping workers for cold temperatures should start well before the first snowflakes and ice storms occur. Proper PPE should include multiple layers of protection, both moisture wicking and wind resistant, as well as gloves and hard hat liners.
Dressing improperly, wetness/dampness and preexisting conditions can contribute to cold stress, hypothermia, and frostbite - conditions that occur when the body’s temperature begins to fall to dangerous levels (below 95 degrees F), resulting in tissue damage and even death.
Humidity, wind speed, and air temperature should all be taken into account. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), when air temperature is 40 degrees F, the wind speed is 35 mph, and humidity levels are above 50%, the effect on exposed skin is as if the air temperature were in the 20s.
If a worker is showing signs of hypothermia, the CDC recommends the following steps:
As Seasons Change, Beware the Invisible Killer
More than 400 Americans die from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Carbon monoxide is produced when fuel is burned in vehicles, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, fireplaces, gas ranges, furnaces and the like.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that often goes undetected, and as the weather turns colder in many parts of the country, it is important to be aware of the risks. Carbon monoxide becomes deadly when it builds up in enclosed spaces - and anyone can be affected.
At Work
Workers in certain professions, including welders, mechanics, firefighters and toll booth attendants are particularly at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning, according to OSHA.
To reduce the chances of carbon monoxide poisoning in the workplace:
• Install proper ventilation systems
• Keep equipment in good working order
• Consider switching from gas to electrical or battery operated equipment
• Prohibit use of gas-powered engines in poorly ventilated areas
• Provide personal, audible alarms
• Educate workers about carbon monoxide poisoning
At Home
About 170 people die each year from carbon monoxide exposure produced by room heaters and home generators, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The National Safety Council recommends installing a battery-operated or battery back-up carbon monoxide detector.
The CDC offers these and other tips:
• Professionally service your furnace, water heater and any other fuel-burning devices every year
• Never use a generator indoors or less than 20 feet from any window, door or vent
• Have your chimney checked and cleaned every year
• Make sure gas appliances are vented properly
• Never ignore a carbon monoxide alarm; immediately move outside, call 911 and make sure everyone is accounted for
Symptoms of CO Poisoning
If you see someone with the following symptoms who may have been poisoned,move the victim outside immediately and call 911. If he or she is not breathing, begin CPR. Low to Moderate CO Poisoning - headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. High-level CO Poisoning - mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscle coordination and loss of consciousness.
This article is shared from the National Safety Council’s Safety Spotlight.
Contact OMAG Risk Management Services department if you have questions about this or any other workplace safety topic. Gary Cauthen can be reached at (800) 234-9461 or gcauthen@omag.org.
Every year, OMAG receives 1,000 (+/-) tort claims that are filed against municipalities that participate in the Municipal Liability Protection Plan (MLPP). Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) are one of the most frequently filed claims we receive. In the past 10 years OMAG has paid over 6 million dollars in damages due to SSOs. In a recent interview with Todd Lansdown, Wastewater Maintenance Supervisor with the City of Bartlesville since 1981, Todd recommended these “BEST PRACTICES” to assist in SSO prevention and dealing with customers who have had one of these unfortunate events. He noted that these policies and procedures are not all his own ideas—they’ve been passed down and refined over the years.
While space heaters are legal and widely used as an alternative heat source, many fire departments do not recommend their use because they pose certain hazards. If you have a space heater, or are considering getting one, consider the following safety tips as vital information for your personal safety as well as for protecting your property.
• Have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the area where you have a space heater.
• Never use fuel burning appliances without proper ventilation. Burning fuel (kerosene, coal, or propane, for example) produces deadly fumes.
• Be sure your space heater is in good working condition. All space heaters need frequent check-ups and cleaning. A dirty or neglected heater is a critical fire hazard. Also, space heaters should be UL (United Laboratories) approved and have knock-over shut-off switches.
• Use only the proper fuel for each heater. Never introduce a fuel into a heating unit that is not designed for that unit.
• Store kerosene, gasoline, or other flammable liquids outside the home or office at all times.
• Use an approved safety can for storing all flammable liquids.
• Maintain adequate clearance in all directions around space heaters. Give the heater adequate clearance – 3 feet is the minimum – from walls and combustibles, such as clothes, curtains, furniture, files, etc. Also, do not put them under the desk where you cannot see them and may forget to turn them off.
• Never leave children unsupervised in a room with a space heater.
• If you use an electric heater make sure the wiring is adequate. Avoid using extension cords. Use an approved power strip with a built in circuit breaker. Do not overload the wall plug.
• Never cover the heater’s cord with carpeting or furniture. This could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
• Avoid using electric space heaters in the bathroom. Never touch an electric heater when you are wet.
• When refueling a kerosene heater, avoid overfilling it. If cold kerosene is used, it will expand as it warms up inside your office and may cause burner flooding. This could cause flare ups.
• Never fill your kerosene heater while it is burning.
• Turn off your heater and unplug it before you leave the office at the end of the day.
• When using a fuel burning heater, open a window to provide adequate ventilation.
Over 700,00 fires are started worldwide each year by space heaters. Spending a little time thinking about the potential hazards of space heaters may save your building and lives.
Contact OMAG Risk Management Services if you have questions about this or other topics related to municipal workplace safety issues. Kip Prichard can be reached at (800) 234-9461 or kprichard@omag.org.
The responsibility to respond to our members' coverage questions and provide coverage interpretation primary falls on OMAG’s Underwriting and Member Services Departments with support provided by OMAG’s Legal and Risk Management Departments. Providing a clear and consistent response to these inquiries is always our goal.
Our members occasionally ask “Who is covered under the municipality’s general liability plan and how does this plan define an employee?
Who is covered? Any of the following are covered while acting within the scope of their municipal duties: any member of the municipal governing body, any elected or appointed official of the municipality, any member of boards and commissions of the municipality and any employee of the municipality, as defined in the agreement.
Definition of Employee: OMAG’s plan mirrors the terms of the Governmental Tort Claims Act in defining the term “employee.” OMAG’s plan defines employee as "any person who has been authorized to act on behalf of the plan member whether that person is acting on a permanent or temporary basis, with or without being compensated, or on a full or part time basis. It includes all elected or appointed officers, members of governing bodies, and other persons designated to act for the plan member, but the term does not mean a person or other legal entity while acting in the capacity of an independent contractor or an employee of an independent contractor."
Example: An independent contractor would be a person or company that the municipality hires to do a specific job, such as a local contractor to do a street project or an electrical company providing installation or repair.
NOTE: You should always require the independent contractor to supply the municipality with a certificate of insurance.
The responsibility to respond to our members' coverage questions and provide coverage interpretation primary falls on OMAG’s Underwriting and Member Services Departments with support provided by OMAG’s Legal and Risk Management Departments. Providing a clear and consistent response to these inquiries is always our goal.
Our members occasionally ask, “Does the Municipal Liability Protection Plan provide coverage for our police department K-9s? And is there coverage provided when they are off duty?
The OMAG Municipal Liability Protection Plan does provide automatic general liability coverage for your K-9s while on duty. OMAG requires the K-9 and the handler to maintain their CLEET certification.
One example of how our coverage might work would be: Let’s say the dog is trained to be passive in his response by barking or going on point to indicate he recognizes something, and damage occurs when he jumps on a vehicle. This damage would not be expected, as the normal passive response would not lead to any damage occurring. A third party can file a claim for their damages in this instance.
In another instance, if the dog is trained to respond to drug search in an aggressive manner (by jumping up onto the vehicle to indicate something has been found) and damages the vehicle, then the OMAG policy would not provide coverage. In this case the officer should take measures (cover paws) if he knows that the dog will respond by jumping on the vehicle. This would be damage that would be expected or intended and is excluded on the policy.
When the K-9 is off duty and being kenneled, it is important to remember that the OMAG policy would respond to a claim filed for bodily injury or property damages only if the K-9 is being kenneled on city property. If the K-9 is being kenneled at a private residence, that individual’s homeowner’s policy would respond, should bodily injury or property damage occur.
The OMAG policy does not provide coverage for animal mortality, but we do have a market that provides for that type of policy/coverage separately if you should be interested.
Please contact Randy Stone, Underwriting Director, at (800) 234-9461 or rstone@omag.org if you have questions about this coverage or any other questions about the policies we offer.
Be alert don’t get hurt! Horseplay has no place on the job. It usually leads to an accident or could lead to an act of violence. Someone decides to horse around or play a practical joke on someone else. One thing leads to another, and before you know it someone gets hurt or property is damaged. Think back to when you were in school. You can probably remember horseplay beginning in the elementary grades and continuing through middle and high schools. You probably know someone who did it; most likely you even participated in some horseplay yourself. Sometimes it seems like no big deal but sooner or later things go wrong and one or more people get hurt.
Drones are more than a passing fad or hobby - they have widespread private and public implications. In the United States last year drones mapped approximately 2 million acres, however, in the last 4 months commercial drone users mapped 3 million acres. The explosive growth of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) is due in large part to decreasing price points and new technology. Drones are expected to total some 1.4 million by 2025.
Public entities have utilized drones for a multitude of tasks, such as:
Search & Rescue Operations
Aerial photography, inspection and mapping
Crime, accident and fire investigation and documentation
Monitoring/Inspecting powerlines, pipelines and infrastructure
Law enforcement surveillance
Municipalities wishing to leverage this technology in their operations will be required to comply with the FAA’s newly released Part 107 regulations which became effective at the end of August 2016. In addition to the FAA regulations, Oklahomans also need to be aware of HB 2599, that Mary Fallin signed into law in May of this year. House Bill 2599 restricts drone flight near any critical infrastructure such as: power plants, refineries/petro-chemical facilities and railroad facilities to name a few. However, HB 2599 does not apply to the federal government, the state or a political subdivision of the state or a law enforcement agency.
Municipalities making the plunge into the use of this new technology have 2 options to comply with the new FAA regulations:
1. Follow the same rules as business users. That is, the FAA’s small UAS rule (known as “Part 107”)
2. As a Government Entity you may apply for a blanket public Certificate of Authorization (COA) which allows flights at or below 400 ft in Class G airspace, self-certification of the UAS pilot and the ability to obtain emergency COAs under special circumstances.
Municipalities opting for compliance under Part 107, can get training here in Oklahoma through Oklahoma City Community College’s Professional Development Institute. OCCC’s Professional Development Institute offers an innovative program to help operators learn how to properly use drones and stay in compliance with the ever-changing rules that drone operators are required to follow. For more information on the courses offered at OCCC, contact Patrick Clanin by phone at (405) 682-7854 or via e-mail at patrick.a.clanin@occc.edu.
To learn more about the new FAA Unmanned Aircraft System Regulations, you can visit the FAA’s website at www.faa.gov/uas. In addition, OMAG has formed an affiliation with “Know Before You Fly,” a non-profit organization that provides information on the FAA’s regulations and resources to determine which route of compliance is appropriate for your organization. You can visit their website at www.knowbeforeyoufly.org.
