PROJECT SAFETY GUIDELINES

First Aid & Medical Faelconities

Occupational health is part of the ELCON’s EH & S Policy and strictly adheres to the following objectives in order to safeguard the health of the employees and to develop health awareness and promotion in general. In case of major illness, the respective patient shall be referred to Govt. Hospitals without delay for further treatment. In case of an incident, the First Aider or the Male Nurse will accompany the casualty to the nearby clinic after application of the required First Aid treatment. The Company will be informed of the incident and the case will be monitored which includes progress reports of the recovery of the patient.

Medical Emergency Response and Treatment Faelconities

Health awareness amongst the workmen will be increased by way of films, posters, etc. The employees will be introduced to a programme of health related subjects to promote awareness, throughout our operations. The subjects will form part of the monthly EH & S meetings.

First Aid boxes will be provided at the work area, the contents will be checked monthly by the safety personnel. First Aid boxes with proper supplies shall be made available at the work area. The storekeeper shall ensure that First Aid boxes are stocked with proper supplies / medicines and are available at strategic locations at work site.

Working at height

Any activity, which is carried out above two meters, the management must provide, so far as is reasonably practicable, a safe place of work and protection from falls. However, our viewpoint is any work at any height that puts an individual in a position from which he can fall and cause himself harm. If we follow some basic rules then we can avoid unnecessary injuries.

• Follow procedures / job methods
• Use the correct equipment for the job (not an up turned bucket)
• Report any faults and defects
• Never work outside the bounds of a safe working platform
• Where a safe working platform (scaffold or permanent) cannot be provided a separate Risk Assessment would need to be carried out to identify alternative means of access.

• There are a number of factors that influence the type of access:
      The number of people
      Height off the ground
      Training of the people
      Type of job
      Weather conditions

Safe Working at height can be achieved by using proper
• Safety Net
• Scaffolds
• Ladder

Safety Net

The safety net shall be used where the work is carried out at height more than 25 feet (8 M) and it is impracticable to have proper scaffold or other means of protection. The safety net shall have the following;

• The safety net mesh opening can not be greater than 6” x 6” (15cm x 15cm).
• The safety net must extend outward 8 feet (2.24 M) from the structure, i.e. the net shall have minimum width of 8 feet.
• The safety net shall be tested in the field by dropping a 400 pounds (181 kg) sand bag from a height of 25 feet (8M).
• Connections between net panels shall develop the full strength of the net.
• The safety net shall be certified by a qualified person.
• The safety net shall be tied as close to the work level as possible.
• The safety net should be moved up regularly as the building is progressed.
• The safety net shall be secured properly capable of taking up the load as mentioned in above.

Scaffolds

Where you cannot work safely from the ground or from part of the building, it is better to use a suitable scaffold than a ladder. The following standards and precautions can be followed when using scaffold

• Use a scaffold only for the purpose for which it has been provided and make sure it is securely anchored or tied to the building.
• Do not overload the scaffold. In particular, do not load it with plant and materials unless it has been erected for this purpose. Never keep materials on the scaffold unless they are needed for work within a reasonable time.
• The uprights of the scaffolding should be placed on firm and level ground and the base plates at their feet should rest on timber sole boards. These help to ensure that the load carried by each upright is distributed over a fairly large area and so prevents the upright from sinking into the ground and affecting the balance of the scaffold.
• Uprights should be kept equidistant and should be connected and strengthened by ledgers fixed on the inside of the uprights; for strength, joints in ledgers should be staggered.
• Ledgers and transoms should not project more than is necessary beyond the general outline of the scaffold, or they become a danger to pedestrians or passing vehicles.
• Bracing is essential to stiffen the scaffold and prevent sideways movement, and it should run diagonally from ledger to ledger or upright to upright.
• Braces may run parallel to each other or rise in zigzag fashion. If bracing has been removed for the passage of workers and material, this should be only within one lift and it should be immediately replaced
• Make sure that the scaffold is tied or anchored to the building or structure at suitable intervals so as to prevent movement.
• As a rough guide, the area of scaffold per tie should not, generally, be more than 32 sqm reduced to 25 sqm for a sheeted scaffold.
• The scaffold boards which make up a working platform should rest squarely and evenly on transoms to prevent the risk of tripping.
• Where the ends of boards meet, transoms must be doubled and so spaced that no board overhangs by more than four times its thickness.
• Too much overhang will cause the board to tip if you step on it, while to little – less than 50 mm- will mean that it is easily dislodged.
• Normally, each board should have three supports to prevent it bending or sagging. The space between the edge of the working platform and the face of the building should be as small as possible.
• The scaffold shall have two railings. The uppermost guard-rail shall be at least 1.1 metres above the work platform
• The vertical distance between the adjacent guard-rails or between that work platform and guard-rail immediately above shall not exceed 600 mm

Ladders

The following practice should be observed when placing ladders:

• Place a ladder so that the horizontal distance from the base to the vertical plane of the support is approximately one-fourth the ladder lengths between supports.
• Never lean the ladder against unsecured planking
• Do not use ladder in a horizontal position as runways or as scaffolds. Single and extension ladders are designed for use in a nearly vertical position and not be used in horizontal position.
• Never place a ladder in front of a door that opens towards the ladder unless the door is locked, blocked or guarded
. • Place the ladder feet on a substantial, firm and level base, and not on any other objects, like barrels, wooden boxes etc.
• When using a ladder for access to high places securely ties or otherwise fasten the ladder to prevent it’s slipping.
• Ladder rungs and side rails must be in good condition
• The rung spacing must not be more than 12”
• Secure both bottom and top to prevent displacement when using a ladder for access to a scaffold.
• Extend the ladder side rails at least 3 feet above the top landing.
• Do not use a metal ladder close to live electric wiring or any operational piping like acid, gas, etc. which could be damaged.
• While ascending or descending, the user shall face the ladder, use both hands and place his feet near the ends of the rungs rather than the middle.
• Extension ladders should be sufficiently propped.
• All ladders of vertical height more than 30 feet shall be provided with an intermediate landing with guard rail, mid rail and toe board.
• No portable single ladder should be over 20 feet in length.

Electrical Work

Precautions to be observed for preventing Electrical Accidents

General

• The Electrical cords, cables and other fittings and equipment used in the project sites shall be good quality (ISI approved).
• The cords and cables shall not contain splices or damaged insulation.
• Do not leave cords or cables in areas where they could be damaged or would present tripping hazards.
• Do not allow cords or cables to lie in puddle of water.
• The electrical wirings, repair work and shifting of electrical installations shall be done only by electrician (Competent person).
• Do not allow illegal tapping either at labour quarter or at site. If anyone took illegal power tapping, they should be removed from the site.
• Someone must be responsible in coordinating the electrical work and controlling site electricians.
• Avoid joints in the electrical wiring. If the joints are inevitable, make the joints and insulate it properly. The joints shall be covered with sleeves and knotted to prevent disconnection during tension and run the joints above man reaching height (8 feet or more).
• When a circuit is de-energized by circuit protective device (ELCB or MCB), the circuit must not be manually re-energized until it has been determined that the equipment and circuit can be safely energized
• All cables are to be installed without obstruction to the use of passageways, walkway, ladders, stairs and the like
• Laying of cables on the ground shall be provided with suitable mechanical protection and securely supported.
• No flexible cords shall be used as sub main for the purpose of distribution of electric supply.
• Cables passing under roadways or access ways for transport shall be laid a minimum depth of 600 mm. A cable marker shall be installed
• Over head cables shall be supported by catenary's wires or proper cables support in a manner, such that the cables are not subjected to undue mechanical stress.
• Only approved equipment should used for routine opening and closing of circuits
• The cables used for lighting shall be of double insulated and protected properly.

Distribution Boards

All distribution boards shall be fixed and stable (not to be portable).

• Main distribution boards and sub distribution boards shall be fully covered and protected from water spillage and other probable damage.
• All main distribution boards and sub distribution boards shall have switch control to operate in case of emergency and switch off when not required.
• All main distribution boards and sub distribution boards shall be fitted with Over Current Protecting Device (OCPD), Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB) and grounded properly
• All circuits shall be routed through ELCB.
• The over current protecting device used in the distribution boxes shall be correct rating.
• The sockets in the sub distribution boards for power tapping shall have three-core connection (Phase, Neutral, & Earth).
• To withstand rugged site conditions, the metal clad and interlock type switch-plug socket units shall be used.
• Provide switch control at the distribution boards.
• Do not use the space behind the distribution boards for storage
• Barricade the main switchboard and distribution boards to prevent un authorized entry.
• Provide warning signs at the boards
• Provide insulating mat or dry wood floor with no metal parts in front of Main switchboard.

Portable electric equipment

All power tools must be inspected periodically and defective tools must be repaired or discarded.

• Visual inspection of portable electrical equipment must be made, before use, for external defects and for evidence of possible internal defect
• All electrically operated hand tools shall have three core wires and connected properly.
• Handling of portable electrical equipment must be done in manner that will cause damage to the equipment
• Employee’s hand must not be wet when using portable electrical equipment, plugging or unplugging flexible cords.
• The portable electrical equipment shall be double insulated or fitted with Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB)

SAFETY GUIDELINES-II