Safety Manual | 2022

Foot Protection Many tasks involve manual lifting or handling of heavy tools and materials, working around mobile equipment or sharp objects and debris, or working near electrically energized equipment. Under these circumstances, there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where Employees’ feet are exposed to electrical hazards. In addition, walking near obstructions; on slopes, uneven ground, or rough surfaces; and on wet, icy, muddy, or other slippery surfaces poses a risk of slips, trips, and falls, or other foot injuries. In areas of material handling or processing, the feet may be exposed to spilled or splashed liquids or other materials. Without proper foot protection, foot injuries may occur including cuts and puncture wounds; bruises, sprains, dislocations, fractures or crushes; chemical exposures; burns; or electrical shocks. Basic foot protection is required any time Employees perform fieldwork outside of the office environment. The minimum footwear requirement is safety shoes that have a sturdy patterned or textured sole and that completely cover the foot with a closed heel and toe (leather or composite work shoes, hiking boots, or sturdy walking shoes). Wearing sandals, clogs, open-toed or canvas shoes or dress shoes to work when basic foot protection is required is strictly prohibited. When there is a danger of foot injuries due to falling or rolling objects, or objects piercing the sole, and where Employees’ feet are exposed to electrical hazards, protective footwear must be worn. This protective footwear must comply with either of the following standards: ASTM F-2413-2005, “Standard Specification for Performance Requirements for Protective Footwear”, or ANSI Z41-1999, “American National Standard for Personal Protection -- Protective Footwear”. In addition to the requirements noted above, protective footwear is required when directly specified by the client, by site or facility safety rules, by a BL Companies’ site-specific safety plan, and when working with or in close proximity to heavy equipment or machinery.

Ear Protection The OSHA permissible noise exposure is 90 decibels for an 8-hour day. A rule-of-thumb approach to estimate this noise intensity is as follows: If one has to stand shoulder-to- shoulder with someone in order to communicate, the sound level is probably excessive. In this case, ear plugs must be worn. When in doubt, they should be worn. Insert the ear plugs by gently pulling back on the ear and inserting the ear protection into the ear canal. Do NOT push into the ear canal – there only needs to be a good seal at the opening. Hold ear plug in place for approximately 15-20 seconds and let go of the ear to allow for a good seal. Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Employees working over or near water, where the danger of drowning exists, shall be provided with U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket or buoyant work vests. Hand Protection Hands and fingers are exposed to many hazards that can cause cuts, scratches, bruises and burns. Fingers are hard to protect because they are constantly exposed to the actual work surface. Therefore, gloves should be worn when such hazards are or may be present. There are various types of gloves, each with different protective qualities. The proper glove should be selected for each job. The following hand protection safety procedures are established: · Leather gloves shall be worn when: Œ Handling heavy, sharp, jagged or rough materials and objects. Œ Working with brush, trash, or other debris that could cause injury to the hands. · Latex or other chemical protective gloves shall be worn when: Œ Handling corrosive, toxic and/or possible carcinogenic chemicals that may be absorbed through the skin. Œ Handling any other hazardous or poisonous material. In addition, care should be taken around pinch points — places where Employees’ hand or fingers can get caught between two (2) objects. Keep fingers protected when setting down heavy objects and using tools such as hammers, levers, wrenches and pry bars. If an Employee is exposed to such noise levels he or she should contact the immediate Supervisor.

It is BL’s policy to reimburse Employees who need protective footwear $125.00 towards such purchase.

If there is any uncertainty regarding the requirement for use of protective footwear, the Employee should consult with the BL Companies’ project manager and/or project safety officer to determine if protective footwear is required on the basis of a job hazard analysis.

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Section 8 // safety practices & procedures //