This is probably the most misunderstood and prevalent myth out there. We are probably all familiar with the properties of conductors and materials used for them. Materials such as gold, silver, aluminum, copper, and the ferrous metals are all excellent conductors of electricity. Most other materials around us have some resistance to electrical current flow of one degree or another.

Materials with a high resistance to electrical current are called insulators, or insulating material. Examples are plastic, rubber, fiberglass, wood, and glass. Materials manufactured and designed with electrical insulating qualities in mind, could have insulating properties measured in thousands of volts.

However, we need to understand that no material is effective at insulating someone from electrical current at any voltage. All dedicated insulators have a voltage limit to resisting electrical current flow. There is no insulating material that will protect you from a sufficiently high voltage. Remember, voltage is the pressure of the electron flow, and that pressure is exerted against the insulating material outwardly, as the electrical flow passes. Therefore, you will find that insulating materials have a voltage rating. The most common voltage rating for a electrical cords, power tools, and appliances is 600 V. Just as you can imagine what would happen if you put 6000 V on a 600 V cord. The same thing applies to any insulating material if a sufficiently high voltage is plied to it. Sometimes the only insulating protection is simply distance.

Myth #2 – Electricity seeks the best path to ground

It is important to recognize that electrical flow is from a high potential source or level to a lower potential level. Electricity will always flow when a path is available from a higher potential to a lower potential. Since common electrical power distribution is tied or referenced to the earth, we typically refer to voltage as voltage-to-ground. Therefore, if a power tool or a cord is abraded or somehow there is a path available to ground, the current flow will seek any available path to ground-all at the same time. You could be holding a power tool connected to a perfectly good grounded extension cord, and if you are touching a grounded pipe or cabinet, or kneeling in wet grass, you can also become a path to ground in a short-circuit condition. Workers have been injured or killed with a perfectly good grounded system. The common grounding system, while typically effective may still allow a fatal amount of electrical (as little as 1/20th of amp) flow through the worker when a short-circuit occurs.

Myth #3 – You don’t need GFCI’s at all times

While technically correct according to OSHA, not using a GFCI circuit for work with the power tools and extension cords, is simply foolhardy. Ground fault circuit interrupters are designed specifically to shut off the power extremely quick and at an extremely low current flow, typically 1/10 of the amount it would take for heart fibrillation to occur. Not using a GFCI can simply increase your chances of a fatal shock in the event of a short-circuit. Most construction companies require 100% GFCI circuit protection on their projects.

Myth #4 – An assured grounding equipment conductor program can be used in lieu of a GFCI

This is perhaps the most dangerous myth the law. OSHA is assured grounding conductor program, or AEGCP is allowed to be used in lieu of a GFCI. I recommend never ever to use an AEGCP in lieu of a GFCI circuit. An assured equipment grounding conductor program is a method to simply verify the ground continuity of power tools and extension cords on a periodic (usually three month) basis. The problem is simply using a good quality extension cord with a ground is still not completely effective at preventing electrocution, especially if the worker is well grounded. The AEGCP is fine to use: but only in addition to or as an adjunct to a proper GFCI – faithful program.

Myth #5 – Fiberglass and wood ladders will protect you from electrical shock

This is mostly true, however, one needs to be careful about this belief. Electricity can still flow through wet and or dirty fiberglass and wood ladders. Clean and dry fiberglass and wood ladders are effective at insulating a worker from electrical shock, but only for low voltage (under 600 V) conditions. Even then, other protective measures need to be taken, such as: insulated tools, gloves, and boots. Of course, the absolute best method is to simply work with deenergized circuits.

Caught between hazards can be generalized into four categories: working in unprotected excavations, being involved in a structure collapse, and being caught within a pinch point or having a load fall on a worker.

Workers caught in an excavation collapse is the leading cause of caught between hazards. When working in an excavation narrower than 15 feet and deeper than 5 feet, trencher protection is mandatory. Trench protection may be sloping or benching the trench walls, or shielding the worker with shoring, or a trench box. It is vital for workers to never work outside of the protection afforded by these protective systems.

While structure collapse is something the typical construction worker cannot anticipate, there are some safety considerations to note. Strict adherence to an erection plan, will ensure that the structure is properly connected and supported as the structure is erected. Inadequate connections, premature erection on uncured columns and footings, and premature removal of forms and shoring before proper concrete curing time are all leading causes of structure collapse.

Workers who are caught between loads, are either caught between a load and a pinch point such as a structure wall, or the load and the ground. It is important to understand that most of these types caught between hazards result from the load moving unexpectedly when it is initially raised. Heavy loads, lifted by a boom type crane will load the boom tip ending it down slightly. This increases the radius. When the load is lifted off the ground it will always swing away from the crane. The worker must keep this in mind and stay clear of the load when it’s initially raised.

Falling loads are typically the result of improper rigging. This results from defective rigging equipment, or placing the rigging in a way that the load will move and/or slip out of the rigging, falling to the worker below. It is important to not only inspect rigging after every lift, but to only use qualified riggers for hoisting materials. Workers also need to keep out of the load path when loads are being moved by cranes or other equipment.

A comprehensive health and safety program will list various conditions were struck by hazards exist, and which countermeasures to employ for safety. A safety and health plan will have countermeasures for working around excavations, with erection plans and methods, with moving loads, and working around elevated loads.

Electrocution hazards can be generalized into four categories: Working around power lines, working around power tools and extension cords, locking out and tagging out electrical equipment, and demolition work.

Electrocution from powerline contact is the leading cause of electrocutions for construction workers.  While OSHA requires a minimum of 10 foot separation from any construction activity and power lines, all powerline contacts result from encroaching on this distance.  Typically, powerline contact results when activity (hoist line, material, worker) is within a few inches of the powerline.  Simply maintaining the 10 foot clearance is the most important thing you can do.  The new cranes and derricks regulation requires certain actions to take place.  When any construction activity is possible within 20 feet of power lines, from the 20 foot mark to the 10 foot mark, a pre-activity meeting is required and an observer is required when activity is ongoing in this buffer area.

Effective power tools and extension cords can be a source of electrocution, however with the advent of GFCI protection, there’s cause of electrocution has been reduced significantly.  Always use GFCI protection, whatever you’re using power tools and extension cords, and always inspect your power tools and extension cords for defects.  Electrical power tools and extension cords cannot be repaired by your typical construction worker.  They may only be repaired by a qualified person (i.e. an electrician or electrical maintenance worker).

Many workers are killed when working on electrical equipment that they thought was deenergized.  A methodical, comprehensive lockout tag out program is required when working on equipment that can be potentially energized.  One of the most important tools a construction worker can have it in their toolbox is their own personal lock with a tag having their picture on it.

When performing demolition work around potentially energized circuits, workers need to ensure circuits are deenergized before cutting into walls.  There is a variety of electrical test equipment on the market that can ensure that where you are cutting will only have dead circuits.  If you are forced to keep some circuits energized, then a slow methodical approach to demolition needs to be performed.

A comprehensive health and safety program will list various conditions were electrocution hazards exist, and which countermeasures to employ.  A safety and health plan will have countermeasures for working around powerllines, with power tools and extension cords, with locked out equipment, and demolition work around energized circuits.

Struck by hazards encompass many activities. Construction workers may be struck by vehicular traffic, struck by heavy equipment on a construction site, struck by moving loads, or even falling loads.

When working in the vehicular right-of-way, the most important rule is to keep aware. Keep aware of your location and make sure that you’re always positioned behind not only warning barricades, but physical barricades. Physical barricades may be attenuators, concrete barriers (also, known as Jersey barriers), large job boxes, or even heavy equipment. Virtually all right-of-way construction workers who have been killed by a vehicle were outside of the protection of these physical barriers.

Construction workers that are struck by heavy equipment on a construction site, are usually struck from behind. In a large number of cases, the equipment in question had a working backup alarm. Unfortunately, the construction worker eventually learns to ignore this warning device. It is paramount for workers to heed emergency alarms and to continually pay attention to them – even though they are going off all day long.

Workers who are struck by moving loads, are either struck by swinging loads, or caught between a load and a pinch point such as a structure wall. It is important to understand that most of these struck by hazards from moving loads result from the load moving unexpectedly when it is initially raised. Heavy loads, lifted by a boom type crane will load the boom tip ending it down slightly. This increases the radius. When the load is lifted off the ground it will always swing away from the crane. The worker must keep this in mind and stay clear of the load when it’s initially raised.

Falling loads are typically the result of improper rigging. This results from defective rigging equipment, or placing the rigging in a way that the load will move and/or slip out of the rigging, falling to the worker below. It is important to not only inspect rigging after every lift, but to only use qualified riggers for hoisting materials. Workers also need to keep out of the load path when loads are being moved by cranes or other equipment.

A comprehensive health and safety program will list the various conditions were struck by hazards exist, and which countermeasures to employ. A safety and health plan will have countermeasures for right-of-way work, working around equipment, and working with lifting and moving loads.

Falls are the leading cause of death in the construction industry, and one of the leading causes of death in general industry. Several hundred construction workers every year die from falls. Most of these falls are from elevated heights and most of those are from scaffolds and ladders. Falls from roofs, account for another significant cause of falls from elevated Heights.

There are no all prevention requirements for ladder usage, so strict and proper usage of ladders, per OSHA and the manufacturer’s requirements are required at all times-no exceptions. Falls from scaffolds are typically the result of the lack of guardrails. Guardrails on scaffolding are required at heights of 10 feet or higher platform height. Missing or poor guard rail construction is the cause of most of the scaffold accidents. Falls from roofs can be the result of falling from either a steep roof or a low slope or flat roof. While it may seem hard to fall from a flat roof, it happens with regularity. This is due mostly from workers failing to recognize their location on the roof and they inadvertently step off to the side or to the rear of from the roof edge. Falls from sloped or steep roofs are typically the result of not having the correct fall protection equipment. For steep roofs, conventional fall protection is required with a harness, lanyard, and connection to a roof anchor.

Fall prevention is the employment of guardrails, floor covers, and fall restraint. These measures prevent falling in the first place, and is considered by far the preferable remedy for fall exposure. Fall arrest is the usage of a harness, lanyard, and Anchorage system so that if a worker would actually fall and gain momentum, the personal fall arrest system would deploy to slow the worker down to a safe stop. This is considered the second-most desirable form of fall protection. The last form of fall protection, fall awareness is the application of warning lines, controlled access areas, along with a safety monitor. This form of fall protection is by far the absolute worst, and should only be used as a last resort when other measures are not available.

A comprehensive health and safety program will list the various conditions were fall protection is required and what sort of fall protection to use. A safety and health plan will have countermeasures listed for fall prevention, fall arrest, and fall awareness situations.

For workers that work on and around roadways, many hardhats come with a reflective strip. This is important when working in the evening or when visibility is low since the sticker is reflective and can be seen when it hits the headlights of vehicles. This type of hardhat is mandatory in road construction or highway maintenance.

Having a properly fitting hard hat can be essential to safety. It is important to make sure that the hardhat fits comfortably on the head and fits securely. By not wearing a hard hat that does not fit the head properly cannot only be uncomfortable, it can also be hazardous. An ill-fitting hard hat that is too loose on the head can cause the hat to slip down in front of the face and can impair vision. A hardhat that is too tight or too big can also cause the hardhat to fall off giving no protection to the head.

Wearing a hardhat on the job site is essential to keep the head protected, but many neglect to wear them when doing home improvement projects at home. By wearing a hardhat when installing electrical equipment or building a deck for example can help to keep the head safe from many accidents that can occur.

Knowing and understanding hardhat safety is essential for many that work in and around construction zones. Not only is it a good piece of equipment to use, it is now the law in many countries. Wearing the proper size and class of hardhat when working can help to protect the head; it can also help to save a life when working on a job at work or at home.

The lenses of safety goggles are made out of shatterproof materials. This is an important safety feature that helps keep the lens from shattering upon impact and prevents shards of the lens from going into the eye. Without this feature safety goggles could do more harm to the eye then good.

The fit of safety goggles on the head is important. When goggles are too big on the head, they could slip off while working. If the goggles are too tight they are not only uncomfortable they can even cause damage to the eyes and face. To insure a perfect fit, it is recommended to try the glasses on before wearing them for work or play.

One problem that use to plague early versions of safety goggles is that the lenses would fog up from perspiration. This was a huge problem that would cause many to avoid wearing goggles. Now, many companies have addressed this important safety issue and most are now made with vents on the side of goggles. These vents help the skin to breathe and helps to reduce fogging. One should make sure that the safety goggles come with vents to help reduce fogging of the lenses.

Making sure that safety goggles fit properly and are the right type of eyewear for the job is essential. No matter if one is wearing safety goggles for work or for play, they are a great piece of equipment to help protect the eyes.

People that use forklifts everyday have a tendency to take shortcuts and have a lackadaisical attitude about safety, which make the individual more prone to accidents. A person can avoid becoming a statistic if willing to review and observe forklift safety and be aware of guidelines each and every time the machine is used.

Tipping over and losing a portion of the load is one of the most common ways in which accidents happen with forklifts. Some factors need to be taken into consideration which includes the capacity of the forklift, shape and composition of the load, condition of the machine and the path to be taken when delivering the materials. Knowing these things is essential to operating a forklift safely and should not be overlooked at any point.

Another thing to consider when operating a forklift is whether or not co-workers can hear and see you. A person should never operate a forklift without first being properly trained and make sure to maintain a safe distance between forklifts and other machines. Following the speed limits and other jobsite regulations is also vital to forklift safety lest someone could possibly get hurt.

A person should always exercise extreme caution when driving with large, cumbersome materials and make sure the load is within capacity limits as well. Raising and lowering of the loads should only be done when the forklift is in the stop position and not while in operation or moving. Stop and sound the horn at crossings and intersections to let others know you are coming and to avoid collisions.

Stop and pay attention to corners and never take one too quickly or sharply, as it could result in the forklift tipping over and causing an accident. A person should also keep arms and legs inside the forklift at all times and be certain to wear a hardhat and any other protective clothing when needed. When exiting the forklift, a person should lower the forks, put the controls in neutral and shut off the machine and engage the brake when done operating the vehicle.

Failure to act in a responsible manner when operating a forklift is why accidents and job fatalities happen and these things could all be completely avoided with observing proper safety guidelines. When someone does not follow forklift safety rules, they put themselves and others in the job place at risk of danger, so please be aware of what is going on and always operate a forklift in the safest way possible, it saves lives.

Related Safety Plan: General Construction Safety Plan

Hard hats are an essential piece of equipment that should always be worn on a building site. The hard hat helps to protect ones head from falling debris to bumping the head on objects on the job site. Without wearing one of these hats, can lead to many head injuries and even death for a person.

When back braces are not worn when lifting, can cause major spinal injuries. By wearing a back brace when bending or lifting helps keep the back from being strained. This piece of equipment when worn properly can help prevent many common back-related injuries that can occur when lifting and bending.

Protective eyewear can help reduce of injury or loss of and eye when worn properly. There are many hazards that can injure the eye on a job site. This can include flying debris to working with hazardous chemicals. Safety goggles or safety glasses are a great way to help protect eyes from injury when doing any type of construction work.

Costs on purchasing safety signs should never be cut. “Danger” and “Caution’ signs should always be placed where applicable on a job site. This will keep workers informed on where some of the most dangerous areas are and where certain precautions should be taken in these designated areas. By not using these signs on a construction site could result in many different types of injuries or even death.

A first aide kit is a must on a construction site. Without having this basic piece of equipment can have devastating effects when one has an injury. By having a first aide kit that is fully stocked at all times can sometimes be the difference between life and death for someone that is hurt on the job site. This allows one to apply first aide until the person receives medical attention.

Following certain rules for safety and using proper safety equipment on a job site, not only saves money in the long run, but can also save lives. By not cutting corners on safety will greatly reduce hazards on the job site.

* Incidence rates and numbers of cases for injuries and illnesses combined declined significantly in 2007 for several case types: total recordable cases; cases with days away from work, job transfer or restriction; cases with days away from work; and cases with job transfer or restriction. The incidence rate and number of cases for other recordable cases remained relatively unchanged.

* Both the incidence rate and the number of injuries alone declined significantly in 2007 compared to 2006—5 percent and 2 percent, respectively.

* The total recordable case injury and illness incidence rates declined among 5 of the 19 private industry sectors—Agriculture, forestry, fishing & hunting; Mining; and Construction.