I. OBJECTIVE
The Safety Policy of Northstar Cooling systems Ltd is designed to comply with the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2007, and endeavors to maintain a safe and injury free workplace. A copy of the OSHA Safety and Health Act 2007 is available for all our employees for use and reference from the company offices. Compliance with the following Safety Policy and all items contained therein is mandatory for all employees of the company.
II. POLICY
It is company policy that accident prevention be a prime concern of all employees. This includes the safety and well-being of our employees, as well as the prevention of wasteful, inefficient operations, and damage to property and equipment
III. APPLICABILITY
This Safety Policy applies to all employees of Northstar Cooling systems Ltd, regardless of position within the company. The Safety Rules contained herein apply to everyone who is on a company project site. Every employee is expected to comply with this Safety Policy, as well as OSHA Health and Safety Standards..
IV. IMPLEMENTATION
This Safety Policy supports five fundamental means of maximum employee involvement:
- Management’s commitment to safety.
- Weekly tool box safety meetings at all project sites.
- Effective job safety training for all categories of employees.
- Job hazard analysis provided to all employees.
- Audio and/or visual safety presentations given at jobsites
V. ADMINISTRATION
The Safety Policy will be carried out according to guidelines established and published in this and other related documents. Specific instructions and assistance will be provided by the site supervisors/project manager as requested. Each supervisor will be responsible for meeting all of the requirements of the Safety Policy, and for maintaining an effective accident prevention effort within his or her area of responsibility. Each supervisor must also ensure that all accidents are thoroughly investigated and reported on the same day of the occurrence.
VI. REPORTING OF INJURIES
All employees will be held accountable for filling out a “Notice of Injury Form" immediately after an injury occurs. Notice must be made at or near the time of the injury and on the same day of the injury. Employees must report the injury to their supervisor/foreman/project manager. A casual mentioning of the injury will not be sufficient.
Employees must let their supervisor know:
- How they think they hurt themselves.
- What they were doing at the time.
- Who they were working with at the time.
- When and where it happened.
- Other pertinent information that will aid in the investigation of the incident.
VII. NOTIFICATIONS
A. In Case of Serious Injury or Death–
After the injured has been taken to the hospital, the foreman/supervisor shall notify the main office as soon as possible. Statements from witnesses shall be taken. Statements are to be signed by witnesses and should include the time and date. Photographs of the area where the incident occurred and any other relevant information could assist in the investigation. The completed accident report form will be sent to the main office.
B. In Case of Inspection by OSHA Inspector-
The foreman/supervisor must notify the project’s manager that an OSHA Inspector is on the jobsite. It is the responsibility of all employees to make the inspector’s visit on the jobsite as pleasant and timely as possible.
VIII. BASIC SAFETY RULES
- Compliance with the applicable national, county, client, and company safety rules and regulations is a condition of employment.
- All injuries, regardless of how minor, must be reported to the site supervisor and the Safety Office immediately.
- Hard hats will be worn by all employees on the project site at all times. Alterations or modifications of the hat or liner are prohibited.
- Safety glasses will be worn as the minimum-required eye protection when deemed necessary.
- Fall Protection Requirements
- Full body harnesses and lanyards shall be worn and secured any time there is a fall hazard.
- Lifelines shall be erected to provide fall protection where work is required in areas where permanent protection is not in place.
- Employees using lanyards to access the work or position themselves on a wall or column, etc., must use an additional safety lanyard for fall protection.
- Clothing must provide adequate protection to the body. Shirts with sleeves and long pants will be worn at all times. No shorts are to be worn on projects. Sturdy work boots with rigid, slip resistant soles are required.
- All personnel will be required to attend safety meetings as stipulated by project requirements in order to meet OSHA Safety Standards.
- Weapons, alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs are not allowed on company project sites or in company vehicles at any time. The use or possession of illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages on the jobsite will result in immediate termination.
- Housekeeping shall be an integral part of every job. Supervisorsforemen and employees are responsible for keeping their work areas clean and hazard-free. Clean up is required when a job is finished at the end of the day.
- Burning and cutting equipment shall be checked daily before being used. All gas shall be shut off and hoses disconnected from cylinders at the end of the work day. Caps shall be replaced on cylinders when gauges are removed. When gauges are removed and caps replaced, the oxygen and LP cylinders shall be separated into storage areas no less than 20 feet apart with a “No Fire or Smoking" sign posted and a fire extinguisher readily available. Makeshift field repairs will not be allowed.
- All tools whether company or personal, must be in good working condition. Defective tools will not be tolerated.
- All extension cords and electrical tools shall be checked, properly grounded with ground fault interrupters (GFI’s), and color-coded by a designated competent person each month. This shall be part of the assured grounding program. Cords and equipment that do not meet requirements shall be immediately tagged and removed from service until repairs have been made.
- Running on the jobsite is allowed only in extreme emergencies.
- The jobsite speed limit is 10 MPH. No employee is permitted to ride in the bed of a truck standing up or sitting on the outside edges of a truck. Employees must be sitting down inside the truck or truck bed when the vehicle is in motion. Riding as a passenger on equipment is prohibited unless the equipment has the safe capacity for transporting personnel.
- Adequate precautions must be taken to protect employees and equipment from hot work such as welding or burning. Use of welding blinds is required in high traffic areas.
- All scaffolding and work platforms must be built and maintained in accordance with OSHA specifications. All ladders must be in safe condition without broken rungs or split side rails. Damaged ladders shall be removed from service. Ladders shall be secured at the top and bottom and extend three (3) feet past the working surface. Metal ladders around electrical work are prohibited. A step ladder shall never be used as an extension ladder. A step ladder must only be used when fully opened with braces locked.
- Report all unsafe conditions and near accidents to the site supervisors/projects’ manager so corrective actioncan be taken.
- All floor openings or excavations shall be barricaded on all sides to ensure employees are aware of the hazards. Floor holes shall be covered, with the covers secured and clearly marked.
- Warning signs, barricades, and tags will be used to the fullest extent and shall be obeyed.
- All OSHA Safety Standards will be followed for job processes requiring respiratory protection.
- All OSHA Safety Standards will be followed during excavation.
- All OSHA Safety Standards concerning confined space entry will be followed.
- All OSHA Safety Standards concerning lockout/tag out of energized equipment will be followed.
- All OSHA Safety Standards will be followed for job processes requiring fall protection.
IX. ENFORCEMENT OF SAFETY POLICY
Safety violation notice(s) shall be issued to any employee, subcontractor, or anyone on the jobsite violating the safety rules or regulations.
- Any violation of safety rules can result in suspension or immediate termination.
- Issuance of a safety violation notice for failure to use fall protection or for failure to report a job injury (at the time of the injury) may result in disciplinary measures, in accordance with company policy. It is understood that Northstar Cooling systems Ltd is not restricting itself to the above rules and regulations. Additional rules and regulations as dictated by the job will be issued and posted as needed.