With spring just around the corner,I was thinking of starting a thread about saftey tips for all the sign folks that have been cooped up all winter.Well here goes,...
Step one!,... on all stuctures or electrically lit signs,....find the power & turn it off.
Step two!,... survey the area if you are using lifts,cranes, or ladders, and locate,then stay away from all power lines.
any of you old pros got any subsequent steps to add?
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Hey Timi!
Don't forget to call Ungerground Utilities before you dig in the ground. It's the law here...
Have a great one!
Posted by Steve Barba (Member # 431) on :
Never put a screwdriver in your pocket!
I was on a ladder when it slipped- I caught myself, then removed the screwdriver from my pocket and tossed it to the ground.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
NEVER whittle/carve towards yourself and NEVER pee into the wind! Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Yep, when you use posthole diggers make certain you spread your feet before that downward thrust!
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
Looking at my post I guess I was a little vague,... I was hoping to keep this post a little more serious and professional,...as some if not alot of us actually make our living out there on location, be it ground level or several stories up.Hopefully someone here can learn from others & not from experience. Experience can be a rude teacher as it gives the test before the lesson. If just one accident this season can be averted from a trivial reminder then this post will have served it's purpose.Don't misunderstand me I enjoy humor as much as the next person but there is a place for it,...hopefully not in the wild joking story of how so and so barely survived that stupid stunt on location way back when. I know alot of folks here try to avoid any situations with labor intensive installs or dangerous service work but in the meanwhile I have a sneaking suspicion there are alot of people here who do so on a regular basis.What I was looking for is some simple saftey tips from those who work with installs on a daily basis that can be used by the small shops out there doing the first time service work on an electric sign or rigging for scalfold work that might benifit the "new kids" on the block so to speak along with the folks who have been at it for years, but do not do it on a daily basis.
[ February 25, 2002, 11:32 PM: Message edited by: timi NC ]
Posted by Kathy Joiner (Member # 1814) on :
Gotcha Timi. How about everyone being on the alert for the pesky stinging insects that are out in full force in the Spring. Be sure to carry wasp killer if you live in the south. If stung, remember that you CAN develop allergies at any age. More people are killed by bee stings than by snake bites because they do not take the injury seriously. Keep your eyes open and tune your ears to the "buzz."
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
NO kidding Kathy! I was lettering a large sign on a building one year and there was a wasp nest behind it. Another tip of course is to always discard your used razor blades properly. Put them in a special canister!
Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
If you're setting up scaffolding, and the frost is not yet out of the ground, lay down planks first, to give a solid base. When frost comes out of the ground, what first appeared to be a solid footing can quickly become unstable and quite dangerous should any of the supporting feet sink. Your scaffolding can then tilt, and even fall over, endangering yourself, and other property around the structure.
Posted by Mikes Mischeif (Member # 1744) on :
Save your back.
Purchase and use that orange $3 dollar "arm extender" that allows you to carry a 4x8 sheet like a suitcase.
Cover your mouth, and breath easy with a dust mask when you disappear in the concrete cloud you make when pouring the mixture in the post hole. No More Cement Booggers!
Posted by Bill Dirkes (Member # 1000) on :
Tie those ladders off. Even if it's calm out. If it goes over, yer in a real jam.
Posted by John Martin Robson (Member # 1686) on :
and don’t fry bacon without a shirt on
Posted by PKing (Member # 337) on :
Don't Drink Alcohol before leaving the ground
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
always use a safety line when working up high. never hold your finger or hand behind something you are drilling a hole in.
Posted by Arvil Shep' Shepherd (Member # 2030) on :
When manuvering a LOADED vehicle on the installation site. take in consideration permanent objects on the ground. ala manhole covers, cut off STUMPS...etc...just REMOVED the Spare Tire and Holder from my Pickup..normally it would have cleared.......with a Heavy Load ... IT DID NOT CLEAR..... As Timi says take time to Survey the Situation..It will save you a lot of Grief and sometimes even your LIFE......... Shep'
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Perform inspection and do maintenance on the equipment not used regularly throughout the winter. Movable parts on the ladders need oiling. Scaffolding planks that have been stored outside can get real slippery, and sometimes the wooden skins need replacing. Test the lines on your falls at the shop before going out on a job depending on them.Loose the extra winter pounds so you can fit into that safety harness. Hire youthful folks to do what you did when you were young.
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
Now this is what I was talkin about! Keep them coming folks , Any tip is good if it keeps someone from getting hurt,...
Posted by Steve Nuttle (Member # 2645) on :
Good ideas everyone! Thanks Timi for starting this thread. Here are a few that come to mind for me. Guys and gals with long hair, beware when working around ANY power tools but especially table saws, band saws and cnc routers. Also watch your loose clothing such as shirt sleeves and tails. It is real easy to get hair and clothing caught in power tools and get sucked into the running equipment.
Wear Safety Glasses!! Yesterday I was doing a job on the router. I had just installed a rebuilt motor and 1/2 through the job I noticed what seemed like unusal vibration. I bent in close to see and the 1/4 bit exploded. Good thing for safety glasses. Turns out they never tightened the chuck on the shaft when they replaced the bearings and I never felt it till it was too late.
I always wear disposible gloves when using one shots or block out. Lots of lead. Dust mask when sanding these finishes.
When I sandblast I make my helper wear a respirator and safety glasses and hearing protection. Many times I'll go back into the shop afterwards only to find them without their respirator and glasses, peeling off the mask and blowing off the piece with shop air. Silica dust is silica dust, in the booth out of the booth whatever. Wear protection till you are totally finish cleaning and preping the piece.
When in doubt take the time to think and spend the extra little $ on making yourself and others safe. Have a safe and healthy spring everyone!
Best Regards,
Steve
Posted by Dave Johnson (Member # 2535) on :
Don't forget your hearing protection when using power tools. I see a lot of folks that are careful with their eyes but overlook hearing protection.
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
DON'T put a thinner soaked rag in your back pocket!
DON'T try to catch falling sharp objects!
DON'T place paint or thinner on the floor where you can accidentally kick them over...use a KillerKart, milk crate, or even a TV tray!
DON'T put brown paint in a cup next to your coffee!
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