Dangers associated with storm cleanup

Massachusetts has endured a number of significant storms in 2011 and will certainly see more adverse weather conditions before the year is over. The buzz of chainsaws and hum of equipment are often ubiquitous following such events.

Although we’ve grown accustomed to preparing for and enduring storms, debris cleanup continues to be problematic for public works personnel – in the sense that worker injuries continue to occur with regularity following most storms.

Storm cleanup presents a number of serious safety concerns that, if not properly addressed, could result in catastrophic injury or death. It is essential that cleanup crews conduct safety “tailgate talks” and review the plan of action prior to the use of any power tools. This communication may save lives.

Chainsaws may be the most helpful tool during the cleanup phase of a storm, but their use should not be taken lightly. A life can change, or be lost, in a split second if full attention to safety lapses.

All operators must be properly trained not only in the use of chainsaws, but also in their maintenance, a critical aspect of chainsaw use. Each operator must know how to clean and sharpen the saw, along with proper cutting techniques, stance and body positioning.

Many users have not been trained by competent instructors, or have only casual training. And most public works responders do not use chainsaws on a regular basis, which can mean that their chainsaw skills have deteriorated.

Most attention to safety occurs with the felling of trees. But “limbing” and “bucking” (the process of cutting a felled and delimbed tree into logs), the most frequent situation for using a chainsaw, are just as dangerous.

It is essential to have a firm understanding of how pressure on limbs or tension on “spring poles” – small trees bent over and held down by another downed tree – can affect the cut and fall of wood. This will go a long way toward preventing sudden snap back that could strike the worker.

Tim Ard of Forest Applications, one of the top trainers in this field, provides a number of tips at www.forestapps.com/tips/tips.htm.

Online tips, however, are no substitute for hands-on training. Municipal public works employees are encouraged to participate in chainsaw training whenever the opportunity arises.

After limbing and bucking usually comes the use of chippers. Some have witnessed gory scenes with the use of chippers. Over a nine year period, more than 39 workers across the country were killed in accidents when using wood chippers, according to the Department of Labor Standards.

Although actual incidents are few and far between, the risk is always present when chippers are used.

These machines should be designed to keep workers’ hands away from the feed mechanism. Design features should include long hoppers, to keep hands and feet away from blades, machine guards covering rotating parts, and emergency stop and feed control bars.

Loose clothing and snag points are leading factors in chipper fatalities. Shirts should be tucked in and sleeves buttoned. Slip resistant shoes and cuff-less gloves should be worn. As with chainsaws, all necessary personal protective equipment must be worn (e.g., hardhat, eye/face protection, hearing protection, chaps, etc).

Human error is a major contributor to chipper injuries. Hands should never enter the hopper. Clearing jams should be done with a rod and only when the equipment is powered down (and has stopped moving).

Training and communication are critical. Training must be specific to the actual machine being used. Operators should read the operator’s manual and seek additional guidance if any part of the operating and emergency procedures are in question. The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards provides tips at www.mass.gov/Elwd/docs/dos/mwshp/wood_chipper_alert.pdf.

Bucket trucks are also a common site after a storm. Operators of bucket trucks must have a hoisting license (per 520 CMR 6.00). As with any moving or hydraulic equipment, proper operation is critical. The licensing requirement, which has been in effect for only a year, has been developed to ensure that operators are properly trained and understand the responsibilities associated with using aerial lifts.

Particular care must be taken when working near power lines. Any work within 10 feet of power lines by public works crews must have a qualified linesman present.

Fatigue is another issue that arises during and after a storm. Many workers put in long hours responding to emergencies. Foremen and supervisors must be cognizant of the toll that extended periods of work can take on public works employees. Accidents happen when tired employees let their attention lapse.

Supervisors must be aware of the physical, mental, and emotional condition of their staff and address deficiencies immediately. Workers also have an obligation to let their supervisors know when they can no longer work safely. Even short periods of rest will provide crews with immeasurable safety advantages. Safety always trumps efficiency in hazardous occupations.

While we bracing for our next storm, we should also be preparing for the aftermath. Proper training, communication, protective measures, and alertness – along with a healthy respect for power tools – will prove valuable in the area of injury prevention.

Robert Marinelli (rmarinelli@mma.org) is MIIA’s Risk Control Manger.