Maintenance, Support, and Construction Activities

The purpose of an Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices Program is to protect workers from the hazards of exposed electrical circuits through training, procedures such as lockout/tagout, and the use of personal protective equipment.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes all types of equipment used to increase individual safety while performing potentially hazardous tasks. This may include safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, lab coats, respirators, or any equipment used to protect against injury or illness.

Noise is defined as unwanted sound. Individuals who work in areas where high noise levels (more than 85 decibels averaged over eight hours) exist should be enrolled in the Princeton University Hearing Conservation Program. The purpose of the program is to prevent noise-induced hearing loss caused by exposure to loud and prolonged noise.

There seem to be as many hazards created by moving machine parts as there are types of machines. Safeguards are essential for protecting operators from preventable injuries.

When work is performed on elevated surfaces such as roofs, or during construction activities, protection against falls frequently must be considered. Fall arresting systems, which include lifelines, body harnesses, and other associated equipment, are often used when fall hazards cannot be controlled by railings, floors, nets, and other means. These systems are designed to stop a free fall of up to six feet while limiting the forces imposed on the wearer.

Portable ladders are used at Princeton University in a wide variety of settings, both academic and administrative. Misuse of portable ladders can result in serious injuries from falls or, in the case of metal ladders, electrical shock. Portable ladders must be maintained in good condition at all times, and inspected at regular, frequent intervals. Training is also an important aspect of portable ladder safety and accident prevention.

A confined space is any space that is large enough for an employee to enter, that has a restricted means of entry or exit, and that is not designed for continuous employee occupancy. All of these criteria must be met for a space to be classified as confined. Examples of confined spaces include tanks, pits, certain tunnels, utility vaults, and boilers. The physical and atmospheric hazards often associated with confined spaces can cause serious injury or death to workers. The major factors that lead to injuries in confined spaces include failure to recognize and control these hazards, and inadequate or incorrect emergency response.

Cutting and welding operations (commonly referred to as hot work) are associated with machine shops, maintenance, and construction activities, as well as certain laboratory-related activities, such as glass blowing and torch soldering. Potential health, safety, and property hazards result from the fumes, gases, sparks, hot metal and radiant energy produced during hot work. Hot work equipment, which may produce high voltages or utilize compressed gases, also requires special awareness and training on the part of the worker to be used safely. The hazards associated with hot work can be reduced through the implementation of effective control programs.

Construction and renovation activities at the University can be performed by either outside contractors or University workers. The work may be done exclusively by one group or the other, or a project may be a collaborative effort. Because of these differing arrangements, it often is unclear who is responsible for a given situation, or who has the authority to ensure that safety and health regulations are followed. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has addressed this problem by developing rules for multi-employer worksites and defining the responsibility of each employer.

Most of OSHA's regulations for construction work can be found in Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR), Part 1926, entitled "Safety and Health Regulations for Construction." However, there are several instances where a particular job or activity may not be addressed by these regulations. In those cases, the regulations for General Industry, found in Part 1910, may apply. If there are no regulations in either Part for a given activity, then OSHA's "General Duty Clause", which states that an employer must provide a workplace free of recognized hazards, would still be applicable.

Asbestos is a generic term used to describe any of six naturally occurring fibrous minerals. Because of several desirable characteristics, asbestos was incorporated into a number of widely used products, (See list of products that may contain asbestos) many of which were used in building construction beginning in the late 1800’s. By the mid 1980’s most products containing asbestos had been removed from the market. When left intact and undisturbed, these materials do not pose a health risk to building occupants.

There is potential for exposure only when the material becomes damaged (e.g., torn or missing pipe insulation coverings) If powdered or friable forms of asbestos are disturbed, fibers may become airborne resulting in a possible inhalation hazard. In nonfriable asbestos products (e.g., floor tiles, roofing materials, etc.) the fibers are bound in a matrix which prevents their release to the air unless the material is cut or abraded. Therefore, these materials present even less of an exposure hazard.

In many cases it is not possible to readily distinguish between asbestos and non-asbestos forms of the same product (e.g., pipe insulation, fireproofing, etc.). In general, laboratory analysis is required to confirm whether or not a material contains asbestos.

For many employees not directly engaged in research or teaching, laboratories are an unfamiliar environment. Support staff employees whose job responsibilities require them to work in these areas must communicate with laboratory occupants before beginning work to avoid creating a situation that may be hazardous to one or both parties. Advance planning of projects and effective communication will help to ensure that everyone involved understands all the potential implications of the work.

The classic example is chemical fume hood system maintenance. If the user attempts to work in the hood while maintenance is being performed, the individual working on the system may be exposed to contaminants being exhausted through the hood or to mechanical or electrical hazards. Similarly, laboratory personnel may be exposed if an exhaust fan is shut down without warning during an experiment. Following the procedures given below will help to assure that all necessary precautions are taken and that jobs are completed without undue risk.

Facilities Project Managers or others who schedule maintenance or renovation projects often need to repair or maintain critical services in occupied buildings. In the course of this work, research or other activities may be disrupted in ways that pose a threat to the health and safety of the building occupants or to the individuals performing the work.

This procedure was developed jointly by the Facilities Department and Environmental Health and Safety. It is intended to formalize the steps necessary to ensure that project activities involving work on critical services are reviewed for their potential health and safety implications. Issues raised in this review process should be resolved prior to the commencement of work to enable projects to be completed in a safe and efficient manner.

Hoisting and rigging allows you to safely move materials from one location to another is a vital part of many activities at Princeton. Hoists are often used when materials are too heavy or bulky to be safely moved manually. Because hoists rely upon slings to hold their suspended loads, slings are the most commonly used materials-handling apparatus.

In part because of the complex nature of the seemingly simple task of lifting an object, an effective program is necessary to lift and move heavy loads safely.

The purpose of this guide is to provide Project Managers with an overview of environmental health and safety issues as they relate to the organization and management of construction and renovation projects performed by outside contractors
and university personnel.

Project Managers are not expected to be health and safety experts, nor are they expected to conduct thorough worksite safety inspections. However, a basic appreciation of the safety and regulatory issues most frequently encountered in
construction and renovation projects will help to ensure a safe work environment for University employees and contractors and minimize potential liability exposures.

Preplanning Guidelines for Preventing Indoor Air Quality Concerns Related to Renovation and Maintenance Projects in Occupied Buildings

Building renovation and maintenance projects such as floor refinishing, painting, and work that requires the use of adhesives may produce dusts and/or odors that may be irritating to building occupants. In some cases the products and/or processes that are used may be hazardous to both the individual doing the work and the building occupants. Prior to conducting these types of projects, the project manager should establish a plan of action that includes working with EHS to evaluate the materials and processes that will be utilized. This is particularly important when working with new products or under unusual conditions.

EHS will determine if the material or process may produce a hazard or condition that may disturb or be irritating to building occupants and provide recommendations for controlling these conditions. In addition, EHS can assist with communicating this information to the appropriate departments that will be affected by the work.

As appropriate or if there is any reasonable likelihood of the work generating health concerns for employees or building occupants, University supervisors and/or project managers should ensure that the following activities are conducted prior to the commencement of these types of projects.

Measures that should be considered to control conditions such as dust or odor generation from the project include the following.

For assistance from EHS in evaluating and communicating health concerns related to these types of projects, please contact Shaundree Davis at extension 6256 or at shaundre@princeton.edu. If she is not available, please contact EHS at 5294 for immediate assistance.

For many people, summertime at Princeton means warm, comfortable days, perfect for eating outside or long walks during breaks from air-conditioned offices. But for some of us, summertime means special projects working outside in the direct sunlight or renovating buildings with no cooling systems. Working in hot conditions may pose special hazards to safety and health. This document provides an overview of the variety of illnesses and injuries associated with heat stress and gives guidance on how to recognize and prevent them.

Your mother was right. Remember when our parents insisted that we wear warm clothes and a hat when we play outside? The colder weather is here, and those of us that must work outside must be aware of the effects of cold stress, including hypothermia, trench foot and frostbite.

Portable n ladders are used at Princeton University i a wide variety of settings, both academic and administrative. Misuse of portable ladders can result in serious injuries from falls or, in the case of metal ladders, electrical shock. Portable ladders must be maintained in good condition at all times, and inspected at regular, frequent intervals. This advisory gives some guidelines to proper selection, use and care of portable ladders.

There are two types of portable ladders: stepladders (A-frame) or straight (extension) ladders. Both types can also be made out of different materials, including metal, wood, or fiberglass. Metal ladders should never be used for work on or around exposed electrical elements; a wood or fiberglass ladder is necessary. However, refer to warning labels on the ladder or the manufacturer’s directions because some nonmetal ladders are reinforced with steel or other conductive materials.

This Advisory contains an overview of selected health and safety good practices and regulatory requirements that Contractors may conclude to be applicable to their work at Princeton University.

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Laser Pointers and Levels

The lasers found in laser levels and similar equipment is the same as those used in laser pointers. They do not pose a health risk unless intentionally misused. For more information, see the Laser Pointer Advisory.



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