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GENERAL SAFETY PROCEDURES

PURPOSE...

The purpose of this program is to provide basic safety rules and outline employee safety responsibilities. It also covers safety audits, incident investigations, and system safety (Hazard and Operability Studies).

SCOPE

This program applies to all Agricultural Experiment Station, Cooperative Extension and College of Agriculture employees.

GENERAL EMPLOYEE SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Do not operate mobile equipment (i.e., forklifts, personnel lifts, farm implements, etc.) without training.
  2. Wear seat belts while operating all vehicles equipped with seat belts.
  3. Erect barricades around excavations, open holes, pits, and trenches when left unattended.
  4. Report all injuries, suspected injuries, vehicle accidents, fires, chemical spills, and property damage to the supervisor immediately.
  5. Report unsafe conditions to the supervisor.
  6. Wear personal protective equipment when required.
  7. Do not operate equipment/machines without training.
  8. Work involving radiation sources shall be handled in accordance with the Kansas State University Radiation Safety Policy and Manual. Contact the KSU Radiation Safety Officer (785) 532-5856 if a radiation incident occurs.
  9. Follow safety rules/procedures.

SAFETY MEETINGS

Safety meetings should be conducted monthly for all employees. Meeting size can be a few people (supervisor and direct employees) or several groups convened together. Each safety meeting shall have a leader to coordinate and control the meeting, and a secretary to record the minutes. Safety meetings shall be documented on the Safety Meeting Form. The original shall be filed on site or in the department files, and a copy forwarded to the Department/Site Safety Coordinator. Safety meetings should be used to convey safety information about personnel safety and equipment safety. It should also be used by employees to report work place hazards (these hazards shall be prioritized and a status report given at each safety meeting). Human resource issues such as employment difficulties or compensation should not be brought up during safety meetings.

INSPECTIONS

Safety equipment requiring periodic inspections is covered in this section. The equipment, frequency of inspections, and instructions are outlined. Tags (purchased or made) can be attached to the equipment, initialed, and dated at the time of the inspection. Fire extinguishers also require an annual inspection by a certified inspector. Each location may use either the Division of Public Safety at Kansas State University or a certified fire extinguisher contractor for units outside of Manhattan. Fire alarms, smoke detectors, fire pumps, sprinkler systems, and standpipes On-Campus are inspected by the Division of Public Safety on campus.

EMERGENCY SHOWER/EYE WASH STATION:

EMERGENCY LIGHTING:
Monthly: Flush for at least 3 minutes. Monthly: Hold button for 30 seconds.
Annually: Hold button for 1.5 hours.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER:

UNIVERSITY-OWNED FIRE HYDRANTS / PIPING:
Monthly
  1. Located in designated place.
  2. No obstruction to access or visibility.
  3. Operating instructions on name plate legible and facing outward.
  4. Safety seals and tamper indicators intact and not broken.
  5. Fullness determined by weighing or "hefting".
  6. Examined for obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage, or clogged nozzle.
  7. Pressure gauge or indicator in operable range or position.
  8. For wheeled units, the condition of the tires, wheels, carriage, hose, and nozzle checked.
 Annually
  1. Exposed piping visually checked for corrosion
  2. Mainline strainers checked.
  3. All hydrants flowed until foreign material is cleared (minimum one minute).
  4. Hydrants checked for leakage, cracks, and physical damage.

SUPPLIED AIR RESPIRATOR:
Monthly and before each use.
  1. Follow the manufacturer’s inspection guidelines. If not available, contact the Health, Safety, and Environmental Coordinator for the instructions.

PORTABLE LADDER: 

FIXED LADDER:

Annually and before each use.

  1. Clean and clear of defects.
  2. No damaged or missing rungs, rails, cleats, or corroded components.
  3. Skid resistant shoes in place, where applicable. For single and extension ladders ensure that feet move freely and mounting brackets are fastened securely to the ladder.
  4. Locking mechanism works on step ladders.
  5. Tie-off rope attached to all ladders over six feet tall.
  6. Manually propelled platforms -- wheels securely attached and move freely, and wheel locking mechanisms function properly.

Annually and before each use.

  1. No cracks or damaged welds for metal rungs.
  2. No cracks, splintered, or damaged wood rungs.
  3. Handrails and ladder cages in good condition (ladders over 20 feet).
  4. Gates in good condition (chain or swinging bar).
  5. Corrosion resistant coating in good condition

SCAFFOLDING:

CHAIN SLINGS:

Monthly and before each use. (Tubular Welded Frame Scaffolds)

1.Frames and accessories not broken, bent, excessively rusted, altered, or structurally damaged.

Annually and before each use.

  1. Wear.
  2. Defective welds.
  3. Deformation and increase in length.
  4. Cracks in hook; hook opened more than 15 percent of the normal throat opening measured at the narrowest point, or twisted more than 10 degrees from the plane of the unbent hook.
  5. Note: All slings shall be inspected prior to use; chain slings require additional inspections and record keeping.

FIRST AID KIT:

Monthly

  1. List containing contents.
  2. The required number of all contents present.
  3. Used items discarded.

FUME HOOD: 

MAN LIFT:

Annually

  1. Average face velocity (80-120 fpm measured with a calibrated velometer or hot-wire anometer).
  2. Motors.
  3. Fan belts or motor couplings.
  4. Electrical junctions.
  5. Wiring.
  6. Fan blades.
  7. Duct work.
  8. Vent caps.
  9. Filters.
  10. Lights.
  11. Note: Any parts of the system which may affect hood performance shall be repaired prior to the hood being used.

Weekly

  1. Limit Switches.

Monthly

  1. Steps and step fastenings.
  2. Rails, rail supports and fastenings.
  3. Rollers and slides.
  4. Belts and belt tension.
  5. Handholds and fastenings.
  6. Floor landings and guardrails.
  7. Lubrication.
  8. Limit switches.
  9. Warning signs, lights and illumination.
  10. Drive pulley, bottom pulley and clearance, and pulley supports.
  11. Motor, driving mechanism, brakes.
  12. Electrical switches.
  13. Vibration and misalignment.
  14. "Slip" on up or down run when mounting step (indicating worn gears)
  15. Note: Must be completed by a competent person. Documentation shall include 1) findings at each inspection, 2) dates of inspections, 3) signature of inspector, 4) serial number/identification number of the man lift inspected.

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