1. Safety inSafety in
Operations andOperations and
MaintenanceMaintenance
General Policy
Guidelines

2. Safety Responsibilities
To maintain Safe job performance, each employee should:
 Be familiar with all safety rules, regulations, and
standards;
 Be familiar with job hazards and safety guidelines;
 Maintain required physical condition;
 Inform supervisors of unsafe conditions and
injuries;
 Visually inspect all work areas and equipment;
and
 Take prudent action to prevent accidents.

3. Supervisors should:
 Ensure that employees are properly trained;
 Ensure accountability;
 Implement and supplement applicable
safety directives; and
 Advise supervisors and safety officers
concerning safety matters.

4. Upper Managers should:
 Give priority to accident prevention;
 Ensure that supervisors and managers
accept appropriate safety accountability;
 Consider safety aspects of all operations;
 Integrate safety into all management
functions.

5. Fundamentals of Safety
 Accident prevention requires the
wholehearted cooperation of all employees.
 A capable, mentally alert employee will
avoid accidents.
 Unsafe workers are a danger to themselves,
co-workers, and the public.
 An unsafe worker is always inefficient.
 Accidents do not “just happen.” They are
the result of unsafe acts or unsafe
conditions or a combination of both.

6. Examples of Unsafe Conditions
 Unguarded—unshielded moving parts of
machines, saws, etc.; unenclosed live circuits
or high voltage equipment.
 Inadequately Guarded—Insufficient
warning signs, guards, or makeshift barriers.
 Defective Material or Equipment—split
handles, mushroomed chisels, weak
equipment, etc.
 Hazardous Arrangements—poor
housekeeping, unsafe planning, inadequate
working space, etc.

7.  Unsafe clothing—Wearing neckties or
jewelry when working near machinery;
failure to use goggles, respiratory protection,
proper shoes, rubber gloves, etc.
 Improper Illumination—Insufficient light,
glare, objectionable shadows, etc.
 Unsafe Design and Construction
 Improper Ventilation—Insufficient change
of air, harmful vapor, dust or gas, etc.
 High noise level areas and equipment

8. Unsafe Acts which may cause
accidents:
 Operating without Guards or Warning—
operating hoists and trucks without
warning, failure to block or place warning
signs where needed, etc.
 Operating or Working at Unsafe Speed–
driving too fast, throwing material or tools
to another worker, jumping from vehicles or
platforms

9.  Making Safety Devices Inoperative—
removing guards, using oversize fuses,
blocking safety valves, etc.
 Using Unsafe Equipment or improperly
dull cutting tools, mushroom head chisels,
pipe extensions on wrenches, wrong tool
for the job.
 Unsafe Loading, Placing or Mixing—
overloading cranes and winches, carrying
too heavy a load, leaving objects where
they may cause a fall, mixing chemicals to
form a dangerous mixture, etc.

10.  Taking Unsafe Position or Posture—walking
under suspended loads, lifting from awkward
positions, passing on hills or curves, riding in bed
of pickup truck, etc.
 Working on Dangerous Equipment—cleaning,
oiling or adjusting moving machinery; working on
live electrical equipment, etc.
 Distracting, teasing, startling, practical joking,
horseplay, quarreling, or annoying
 Failure to use safe clothing or protective
equipment.

11. Essentials of Accident Prevention
 Safety Training of Employees
 Providing workers with safe working
conditions
 Inspection of work habits and equipment
 Enforcement of safe practices
 Thorough investigation and complete report
of all accidents.
 Posting of safety posters and bulletins for
all employees to read

12. Accident Reports and Records
 Analysis of accident records is essential to
the prevention of accidents.
– What are the most frequently encountered
types of accidents?
– Where did they occur?
– How severe were they?
– What factors were involved?
 You need accurate and complete records!

13. General Guidelines for Accident
Reporting
 Every employee injury should be promptly
reported to his/her supervisor.
 Any employee injury occurring during
work and requiring the service of a
physician should be reported in writing.
 Accidents (or “near misses”) which do not
result in personal injury should also be
reported in writing and investigated.

14.  If an injury results in loss of time beyond
that of the day of the injury, then the
employee should have clearance from a
physician before returning to duty.
 If an accident results in damage to agency
or organization property, it should be
reported to the supervisor along with
pertinent details.
 Injuries to persons other than employees,
or damage to non-agency property, must
be reported immediately

15.  If an accident results in injury to a person
or equipment not owned by the agency, the
employee should obtain pertinent
information, including names and
addresses of witnesses and details relating
to the accident. Evidence should be
preserved until investigation is complete.
 Employees should make no statement
whatsoever concerning the settlement of
claims, promises for injuries or
damages, or any statement as to who
was at fault.

16.  The supervisor is responsible for seeing
that the employees comply with the
regulations and procedures relating to
accident reporting.
 The supervisor should investigate every
accident or “near miss” to determine the
cause and what action is needed to prevent
a reoccurrence

17. Employee Responsibilities
 Employees must remain alert at all times.
 Employees must inspect all tools,
equipment, and areas and remedy any
potentially unsafe conditions before
commencing any work.
 Employees must use all protective
equipment provided by the employer.
 Employees must never be so busy that they
neglect safety in the interest of saving
time.
 Employees must warn each other about
hazards and unsafe practices.

18.  No employee should ever work any “live”
electrical equipment of machinery for
which he/she has not been thoroughly
trained and properly qualified unless it is
under the direct supervision of a properly
qualified person.
 If an employee is physically or mentally
unable to perform his/her duties safely,
he/she must report this promptly to his/her
supervisor.

19. Supervisory Responsibilities
 If two or more workers are on the same
job, one should be designated in charge of
the project.
 Supervisors must see that there is strict
compliance with all safety rules and
regulations.
 Supervisors must determine that
employees assigned to a job are competent
and proficient and that they are wearing
appropriate clothing and protective gear.

20.  Supervisors are responsible for the proper
inspection, use and maintenance of all
tools, equipment and protective devices,
and for correcting defects in any
equipment or apparatus.
 Supervisors are responsible for good
“housekeeping” in their work areas.
 Supervisors are responsible for
maintaining fire extinguishing equipment
and first aid kits in their areas.

21.  Both supervisors and employees are
responsible for protecting the public—
for regular inspection of the premises
for any dangerous conditions.
 Supervisors should supervise rather than
engage in the actual work in dangerous
situations (working around live wires, etc.)
so that they may oversee safety and
summon assistance if needed.

22. Housekeeping
 “Housekeeping” refers to the maintenance
of a neat and orderly work place.
 Much of this is common sense—keeping
stairways, aisles and fire escapes clear of
obstructions; placing tools and materials
where they do not cause tripping or
stumbling hazards; cleaning up oil or water
spills; storing oily rags in metal containers;
taking care of disposal of broken glass;
keeping truck cabs and beds neat and safe,
etc.

23. Fire Prevention
 Good housekeeping—do not accumulate
waste paper, rags and combustibles.
 Store flammable liquids in appropriate
locations and safe containers, label them,
store them away from open flames or
sources of ignition.
 Be certain employees know the location of
and proper use of fire extinguishers.
 Remove weeds/vegetation from around
storage yards and structures.
 Prohibit smoking/open flames where
necessary.

24. Fire Extinguishing Equipment
 Class A—ordinary combustible materials
(paper, wood, etc.)—use foam, dry
chemical, or water type extinguishers.
 Class B—(flammable liquids, gases,
greases)—use carbon dioxide, dry
chemical, foam extinguishers (not water!)
 Class C—energized electrical equipment—
use carbon dioxide or dry chemical
extinguishers (but not water!)
 Class D—combustible metals (magnesium,
sodium, etc.)—don’t even mess with this.

25. Protecting the Public
 Employees must inspect for dangerous
conditions and either make them safe or
warn the public about the danger.
 For work in progress, erect signs,
barricades or other warnings.
 Place barriers around open manholes,
exposed open ditches and excavations.
Board over excavations to prevent
accidental falls.
 Place red lights or reflectors around
obstructions/excavations, etc. at night.

26. Eye Protection
 Use goggles or other approved eye
protection devices where there is a danger
from flying particles, acids, caustic
substances, harmful light rays, etc.
 Eye protection should be mandated for any
welding; chipping, grinding or buffing;
drilling, cutting or breaking masonry;
handling acids or caustics; power tool
operation; chain saw operation, or using
lawn equipment.

27. Cleaning Solvents
 Flammable solvents such as gasoline
should not be used for cleaning.
 Some solvents may not be particularly
flammable, but may be caustic or
corrosive. In such cases, use goggles and
rubber gloves.
 Alcohol and other solvents can be used to
clean brushes, etc., but the area should be
well-ventilated and free of open flames.
 Certain solvents such as carbon tetra-
chloride are toxic and should not be used.

28. Material Storage
 Stored materials should be arranged so that
they are not top heavy and weights should
be distributed evenly.
 Sand, gravel, stone, etc. is heavy and
should not be stored inside buildings not
designed to support that weight.
 Poles, pipes, lumber, etc. should be stored
in racks designed to safely contain them.
 Bricks should be stacked and banded or
cross-tied.

29. Lifting and Carrying
 Use back belts when lifting heavy objects,
keeping your back close to vertical and
lifting with your leg muscles.
 Bulky loads should never obstruct the view
ahead.
 Heavy timbers, steel girders, pipes, etc.
should be lowered into place, never
dropped.
 Use blocks and tackles, jacks, etc. when
practical.

30. Hazardous Substances
 Noise is a hazard—levels should be at or
less than 90 dB. There should be no
exposure at over 115 dB, and no more than
15 minutes per day at the 115 dB level.
Earplugs or muffs should be used in all
noisy environments.
 Batteries, and battery charging can be
dangerous. Short circuits and incorrectly
connected jumper cables can result in
explosions and severe acid burns

31.  Carbon monoxide gas is colorless,
odorless, non-irritating and tasteless, and
can be fatal or result in severe brain
damage. Do not run gasoline engines in
enclosed buildings.
 Employees handling lime or cement should
wear protective clothing, including
goggles, dust respirators and gloves.
 Paint fumes should not be inhaled—have
adequate ventilation.

32.  Pesticides, herbicides, and chemical sprays
should not be inhaled or come in contact
with skin. Do not spray while smoking or
in the presence of open flames.
 When using weed killers, stand upwind to
avoid inhaling spray, wear a face shield
when mixing and applying; wear
protective gloves and long sleeve shirts as
well as rubber boots.
 Never mix “Roundup” in a galvanized
container—a combustible mixture can
result.

33. Operations—SOP
Standard Operating Procedure
 Standard Operating Procedures should be
developed for all normal operations and
should include a listing of required safety
equipment and procedures.
 OSHA prescribes certain safety measures
which must be undertaken and which, if
not applied, can result in fines and
exposure to lawsuits. OSHA 1926.100
prescribes that hard hats are to be worn at
outdoor worksites and in some other areas.

34. Sample SOP – Machetes
5 Steps
 Be sure that other personnel are clear of
your swing.
 Watch for overhead vines or brush that
may deflect your blow.
 The path of the blade should never be
directed at your legs or any other part of
your body.
 Keep machetes sharp and sheathed when
not in use.
 Personal protection to be used: Eye
protection and gloves.

35. Sample SOP – Ladders
11 Steps
 All new ladders should be inspected for defects
upon receipt.
 Ladders should not be painted, and they should
be kept clean so that any defects will be visible.
 Short ladders should not be spliced to make
longer ladders.
 If it is necessary to use ladders in strong winds or
on unstable ground they should be securely
lashed and guarded at the base by another
workman. A solid footing should be provided for
all ladders.

36.  When using a ladder for access to high
places, it should be secured to prevent
slipping.
 Conventional ladders should never be
placed or used on moveable objects.
 Under normal conditions, ladders should
be placed so that the distance from the
supporting surface to the base of the ladder
is approximately one-fourth of the length
of the ladder.
 Be sure shoes are not greasy, muddy, or
slippery before climbing ladders.

37.  Keep both hands free and grasp side rails
while climbing. Hoist materials or tools
with a hand line.
 Metal ladders are electrical conductors and
shall not be used in electrical work or
around electrical equipment.
 When using stepladders, be sure cross
braces are securely locked

38. Sample SOP—Chain Saws
25 steps
 Because of safety and ease in handling, a
small, light-weight saw should be used
when the size of the timber being cut
permits.
 Carry the saw by the handle with the blade
to the rear.
 Care should be exercised in footing and in
refraining from awkward positions both
when working and when carrying chain
saws.
 Lift with your legs, not your back.

39.  Saws shall be securely lashed or tied while
being transported in trucks.
 Keep a firm grip on the saw. If it kicks
back and falls from any cause while
running, it may cause a severe injury.
 Watch out for falling wood from overhead
due to vibration of the tree.
 Do not inhale exhaust gases.
 Eye protection, ear protection, gloves and
chaps, and helmet shall be worn to protect
from sawdust, twigs, noise, and falling
debris.

40.  Do not touch the muffler or hot cylinder
head.
 Choose your workplace so you will not be
struck by the branch or log you are cutting
or by other branches it may dislodge.
 Clear away stones, earth, and bark so chain
cannot throw them in your direction.
 Know the manufacturer’s handbook for the
saw you are using.
 Swing the saw so that you do not cut
yourself or others.

41.  Before you start the motor, make sure the
saw is not touching anything.
 Do not smoke while filling gasoline tanks.
 Stop the motor while filling gasoline tanks
and do not spill gasoline on hot cylinder
head.
 Use a gasoline can with a spout or use a
funnel to fill the gasoline tank.
 Fill the tank only on an area of bare
ground.
 Use proper gasoline and oil mixture to
minimize carbonization.

42.  Do not start the motor where the tank is
filled.
 Keep the entire saw clear of gasoline, oil,
and sawdust.
 A fire extinguisher should be readily
available.
 The chain should be checked for tension
frequently during use.
 Avoid working alone when using a chain
saw. If you do work alone, have someone
check on you often.

43. Sample SOP –Electrical Hazard
9 Steps
 All wire and apparatus should be of a type
approved by the Underwriters Laboratories
Incorporated.
 Loose wires hanging from buildings, poles,
or across roads should not be touched. A
safe practice is to assume all wires are
LIVE.
 Insulation on wire should not be
completely trusted.

44.  Double-insulated portable electric tools
should be used or the frame on the tools
shall be grounded by a grounding plug.
 Switches should not be located where there
are flammable vapors unless they are the
special sparkproof type.
 Cords with defective or broken insulation
shall not be used.
 Non-metallic tools shall be used in
electrical work whenever possible.
 Only authorized personnel will perform
electrical work.

45.  Main power disconnect switches shall be
locked in the OFF position when
maintenance and repairs are made on
electrically powered equipment or
machinery.

46. Links
 OSHA http://www.osha.gov
 Public Playground Safety Checklist
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/327.html

50. Credits
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Park
Operations Division, Public Lands Safety
Manual, 1993