General safety precautions and procedures

Before you start working at a new job or a new work site, make sure you are given basic safety information.

This basic information should include at least the following:

• a guided tour of the work area
• a thorough explanation of your responsibilities
• location of first aid equipment and personnel
• location of emergency equipment
• personal protective equipment if required
• method of reporting injuries
• plant safety rules
• plant safety training/orientation
• muster points/evacuation procedures

Safety awareness

Being constantly aware of conditions that affect health and a safe working environment is the responsibility of all workers. You must be alert when you move about the job site and must have a constant awareness of your surroundings.

This should include:

• identifying and fixing potential safety problems
• performing day-to-day work using the proper safety equipment
• checking the condition or operation of safety equipment and tools regularly
• identifying safety problems and unsafe work practices
• performing tasks safely to avoid danger to self or co-workers
• warning co-workers of potential hazards

Horseplay, fighting and practical jokes are inappropriate behaviour for a job site as they can be extremely dangerous and cause injuries.

Failures to follow known safety procedures or knowingly allowing uncontrolled hazardous situations to develop are safety violations with potentially serious consequences; not the least of which could be your job.

Respect for others' safety

Every person has the right to work in a safe environment. Everyone must work in accordance with good safety practices as discussed, instructed, and posted. Every person must also refrain from any unsafe act that might endanger oneself or fellow workers.

Proximity work

Proximity work is work being performed near a hazard, but not in direct contact with it. Proximity work requires extra caution and awareness of the nearby hazard. The hazard may be hot piping, energized electrical equipment, or running motors and machinery. There may be special clearance requirements that require barricades or having a monitor watch you to maintain safe working distances.

When working with a crane near high voltage power lines, extreme caution should be used. Although you are not the operator of the crane, you may be doing the rigging or handling the load that the crane lifts.

Keep your distance from power lines!

The area surrounding every live power line is referred to as the absolute limit of approach. It is strictly forbidden to move any crane boom, load line or load into this area unless the power line has been de-energized. There are no exceptions.