Safety Vault Information Service This information is furnished with the understanding that AMG, LLC is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. Changes in the law may render this information invalid. Legal advice or other expert assistance should be obtained before acting upon any Safety Vault information.

A safety meeting in a nutshell

Note to the Discussion Leader: This short discussion explores the methods and hazards of using ladders, aerial lifts, scissors lifts and other methods to safely work at heights above reachable levels. Review the overhead tasks at your workplace and prepare to discuss the safety of the methods available.

If anyone in the group uses fall protection harnesses, this would be a good time to review the uses, inspection, putting them on correctly and anchoring the lanyards.

If practical, provide a way to write down the answers and ideas discussed. You might begin your discussion with the following questions.

What kinds of overhead tasks do we do that we cannot reach without assistance? Possible answers include:

• Changing light bulbs;
• Repairing pipes;
• Running electrical or signal wires.

What kinds of equipment are available to reach these heights? Possible answers include:

• Fixed ladders;
• Portable ladders;
• Aerial bucket lifts;
• Scissors lifts;
• Lifting cages.

Which of these methods requires special training? Possible answers: Any or all of them.

How would you inspect the equipment to see that it's safe to use? (Suggestion: See the manufacturers' recommendations. Review any written inspection check lists that you might have for the equipment.)

What personal checks might you make before working overhead? Possible answers include:

• Be sure shoes are not slippery;
• Use gloves when climbing ladders to protect hands from contamination or injury;
• Secure or barricade the area;
• Check for overhead power lines.

What safe ways can you use to get tools and materials up to the height needed? Possible answers include:

• Pull them up using a pail on a rope;
• Put them in a container for transporting in a lift;
• Transport in a belt pouch;
• Use a tool bag in the lift.

How can you keep the tools from falling on someone below? Possible answers include:

• Keep them in a container when not in use;
• Tie them to something using a tether line; Put the tools back into the belt pouch each time they are not in use.

Note to discussion leader: Provide a quick review, using the answers you have written down or notes on the discussion. Your review should cover the tasks mentioned, equipment available, inspections before use, safety during use and fall protection required when working overhead.

• Review this information especially with service and parts employees...and document training session.
• Verify that the proper fall protection equipment is on hand and available for use by employees.
• Verify that employees are utilizing the equipment and procedures when the job calls for it.

Circle the correct answers.

1. Ladders need to be inspected each time they are used. True or False
2. Aerial lifts are so easy to run that you don't need operational training. True or False
3. You must have a safety harness on when in an aerial lift bucket. True or False
4. It's OK to carry small tools in one hand while climbing a ladder. True or False
5. Oily shoes are a hazard if you ar climbing a ladder. True or False
6. Harnesses are not needed if you stay inside the hand rails on a raised scissors lift. True or False

Answers: 1.T; 2.F, 3.T, 4.F, 5.T, 6.T.

-- from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation Safety Leaders Discussion Guide