Safety Manual | 2022

Sharp Tools · Cutting edges shall be kept sharp and carried in a suitable sheath or holster. · When handing a tool to another person, sharp points and cutting edges shall be pointed away from both the person grasping it and the person offering it. · Only use knives with handle guards. · Cut away from your body. · When carrying a knife on the job, the knife should be in a sheath worn toward the back of the hip (so that a sudden fall won’t cause injury). Retractable blades should be in the closed position when not in use. · Even the smallest cut should be treated for infection. · Be aware of others working in the immediate area and ensure they are at a safe distance when cutting is taking place. · Knives should only be used for their intended use. They are not to be used for prying. Impact Tools such as Hammers, Chisels, Punches or Steel Stakes · If they have burred heads, they should not be used. The head should be dressed to remove burrs and chipped edges. · Before using a hammer, check to make sure the handle is not cracked and is tightly connected to the head. Grasp the hammer firmly and close to its end, and make sure it is parallel to the object being struck. Prying and Lifting Tools · Only tools designed with the proper tensile strength shall be used for prying and leverage functions. · Care must be taken that hands and feet are not placed where tool failure or slippage could cause injury. Wrenches · Always use the right sized wrench for the job. · Never use a wrench as a hammer. · Make sure the wrench fits snuggly around the nut or bolt, and get a good footing before applying a force. · Always discard broken wrenches.

Scope This Section pertains to all Employees – those in the field and in the office. Policy It is the policy of BL Companies to keep Employees safe and injury free. Overview Analysis of past injury experiences has shown that a large proportion of the injuries experienced by Employees are related to materials/handling tasks. The tasks involve actions or body motions such as: lifting, pushing, pulling, twisting, carrying or lowering. The objectives of the activities could be as follows: · Moving articles from one place to another; and/or · Raising and lowering articles. Problems are caused by such conditions as: weight, size, shape, surface of materials, working surface, sudden release of resistance, position, location as well as obstructed vision, or loss of balance. Most of the materials/handling accidents can be avoided by planning ahead, using mechanical equipment whenever possible, thinking about the proper way to do the tasks, and using the proper tools. Safety Procedures The following safety procedures are established for all Employees: · Assume a well-balanced stance, use leg muscles, bend the knees and keep the back as straight as possible when lifting. · When in doubt make it a two (2) person job. The Employee should plan ahead and make certain he or she has a place to put the object. · The Employee should hold it so that his or her fingers will not be pinched if the load should shift, be sure the load does not block the view while walking, and remember to lift with the legs. · Place the object down by using arm and leg muscles. The Employee should rest one corner first so that hands do not get caught underneath. · Supervisors should take immediate corrective action to minimize any unsafe acts or unsafe conditions that could or would result in an accident.

8.12 Lifting and Pulling

Purpose The purpose of this Section is to raise awareness of the potential injuries caused by improper lifting or pulling of materials.

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Section 8 // safety practices & procedures //