PVCC Safety Manual - Section 5

5.1 Safety Procedures - General

A. PVCC employees shall comply with the following safety and health requirements when working with and/or around the equipment described herein.

The facilities manager shall be responsible for implementing and enforcing these requirements in areas related to maintenance and shall certify that any affected employees are properly trained before they engage in work activities involving the equipment or tasks.
Instructors and deans shall be responsible for implementing and enforcing these requirements in areas related to academic programs and shall certify that any affected students are properly trained before they engage in activities involving the equipment or tasks.

B. Employees and students shall not perform work or handle equipment or material if they are not familiar with or have not been trained to perform the task and/or job in a safe manner.

5.2 General Safety Rules & Procedures

A. All employees shall comply with the following general rules and procedures as applicable:

Use an appropriate ladder or stool when reaching for high objects. Do not stand on a chair, carton, or other substitute for the correct device.
Properly store and/or strap down all items. Accidents can be caused by falling objects carelessly placed in elevated locations.
Inspect electrical devices for safe operation prior to use and periodically thereafter.
Electrical cords that are badly worn or damaged shall be repaired or discarded.
Temporary electrical cords shall be routed so as not to cross aisles or walkways.
Use machines only for their intended jobs. If the machine has guards, use them.
Do not disable or override guards or other safety devices.
Report defective or worn tools and equipment to the appropriate supervisor.
Lock and tag machines and equipment which are being repaired in accordance with PVCC’s Lockout/Tagout Policy. (Section 10 of this manual.)
Inform the appropriate supervisor if taking prescription medicines that cause fatigue or drowsiness. Do not operate machines or equipment unless fully alert.
Report all injuries and/or “close calls” to the appropriate supervisor and the human resources department. (See Section 4 of this manual for additional information.)
Report all unsafe conditions and/or unsafe acts to the appropriate supervisor so that corrective action can be taken.
Do not engage in horseplay, scuffling, running, and practical joking in work areas where there are hazards.
Do not wear open-toe shoes and sandals in work areas where there are hazards.
Do not wear long hair, dangling jewelry, watches, and rings in areas where there are hazards.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in areas in which hazards exist.

5.3 Specific Safety Rules & Procedures

A. Abrasive wheel equipment is defined as cutting tools with abrasive grains including, without limitation, bench and portable grinders.

Only authorized employees shall operate abrasive wheel equipment.
Abrasive wheel equipment shall not be used within 35 feet of open combustible and flammable materials.
Gaps between tool rests and the grinding wheel shall be set properly and guards shall be in place.

B. Compressed gas storage tanks and cylinders shall be handled and stored in accordance with the following:

Never smoke when carrying, connecting, disconnecting, or working around cylinder storage areas.
Use gloves when handling propane cylinders.
Visually inspect cylinders prior to each use for dents, scrapes, and gouges; damage to the valves; debris in the relief valve; damage to or loss of the relief valve cap; leakage at valves or threaded connections; and damage to or loss of gaskets and o-rings.
Compressed gas cylinders shall not be dropped, thrown, rolled or dragged.
If any defects are found, tag the cylinder, remove it from service and place it in an area reserved for unserviceable cylinders.
Secure cylinders with a chain when storing or transporting them.
Empty cylinders shall be stored in a designated area, and not left in the workplace.
Cylinders shall not be stored near sources of heat, open flames, or other sources of ignition.

C. All work performed in confined spaces as defined by OSHA 1910.146 shall be conducted in a safe manner that complies with requirements of the standard.

Confined spaces shall be labeled “DANGER – Permit Required. Confined Space. Do Not Enter.”
PVCC employees shall not be permitted to enter the confined space. Entry shall only be by qualified contractor personnel.

D. Proper care shall be used when handling industrial or laboratory chemicals to avoid damage to health or the environment. Employees shall become familiar with MSDS/SDS that accompany a product or are available in the area. Consult these sheets for the proper hand, face, and eye protection and ventilation requirements. Also, MSDS/SDS sheets should be consulted for first aid, spills, and fire response.

If a chemical spill occurs, remove contaminated clothing immediately and immediately wash with copious amounts of water. Eyewash stations and emergency showers are located in the chemistry labs. Refer to Section 7 of this manual. Consult the facilities manager for proper procedures for use, cleanup, and disposal of chemicals.
MSDS/SDS are maintained and available in each department in accordance with PVCC’s Hazard Communications Policy. (See Section 8 of this manual.)

E. Ladders shall be maintained in good condition at all times. Inspect ladders before use to make sure they are in good condition. Ladders shall be considered to be defective if there are broken rungs, missing steps or cleats, slippery feet, broken side rails, or missing decals.

Discard defective ladders; do not give them away or donate them.
Display the appropriate decals and safety information prominently on the ladder.
Purchase only ladders meeting industrial-grade specifications.
Use ladders safely in accordance with manufacturers’ recommendations.
Make sure the ladder is set on a firm, level base.
Set extension ladders against a wall at a one-to-four ratio (the base shall be one foot from the wall for every four feet of height).
Extend straight ladders 36 inches above the parapet or edge of the roof when gaining access to a roof.
Allow only one person on a ladder at a time.
Do not use metal ladders around electrical lines.
Do not use ladders for any reason other than the intended purpose.
Do not use stepladders longer than 20 feet or single ladders longer than 30 feet.

F. Machinery and equipment shall be guarded against hazards at the point of operation. Examples of guarding methods include barrier guards, two-handed tripping devices, and electronic safety devices.

Guards shall be affixed to the machine where possible and secured elsewhere if for any reason attachment to the machine is not possible.

a. The point of operation of machines whose operation exposes employees to injury shall be guarded.

b. Fans whose blades are less than 7 feet off the floor should be guarded.
Employees shall not be allowed to operate a machine until they are thoroughly familiar with the installation, operation, and removal of guards. Training shall include identification of hazards associated with each machine.
Each department shall conduct periodic inspections of all machine guards to ensure that they are in place and function properly.
Machines having guards include, without limitation, woodworking machinery, abrasive wheel machinery, mechanical power press machinery, mechanical power tool machinery, and portable power tools.

G. Follow proper lifting procedures as follows:

Never attempt to lift or move anything that is too heavy to be moved.
Never lift with the back. Keep the load close to the body with the back as straight as possible.
Keep the feet firmly planted.
Bend the knees and use the leg muscles for the lifting.
Wear a back brace when heavy lifting is a routine part of daily activity.
Empty the container prior to lifting or moving equipment that contains liquid materials.
Use an air sled or dolly when moving heavy items even if they are being moved a short distance.

H. Where engineering controls are not adequate, PVCC shall provide protective clothing and equipment, such as face shields, hair nets, caps, safety glasses or goggles, gloves, and other devices as required to protect the employee from injury.

Eye protection shall be worn when the duties of the job or the hazards of the environment require their use. Activities that may require eye protection include welding, sawing, drilling, and using chemicals.
Safety gloves shall be worn when handling and/or uncrating equipment, sheet metal or chemicals, or cutting lumber.
Sturdy, sensible shoes with heavy, non-skid, slip-resistant soles and short laces shall be worn. Steel-toed shoes may be required for certain jobs.

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