Portland, OR – Three fatal incidents have spurred the Oregon Occupational Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Program to issue new toolbox talk guides.
In one incident, a worker died after falling through a skylight while fixing a warehouse roof. The guide from OR-FACE shares these tips:
- Identify and protect against known and possible hazards.
- Ensure buildings with plastic-domed skylights have fall prevention.
- Identify and shield skylights.
In another incident, a worker fell while putting rocks around a pond and drowned. The guide includes the following advice:
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- Ensure workers wear or have floatation devices, fall prevention or grab lines nearby when drowning is possible.
- Train workers about safety before working near water.
- Evaluate the workplace for hazards when duties or conditions change.
- Consider different equipment if standard equipment is impractical or unsafe.
In the third incident, a worker died when he was struck by the cap of the hydraulic accumulator he was disassembling. The guide recommends workers:
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
- Release pressure from pressurized systems before working on them.
- Set up a “dump valve” to ensure pressure release when the system is powered off.
- Inform workers about stored energy hazards and safe practices.
