Unit IV Journal: Most Prevalent Hazard at Former Job Site

Assignment Instructions:

There are three parts to this journal. First, you will identify the most prevalent hazard at your current or former job site and the type of hazard control that you have applied or that has been applied by others to reduce the risk of your identified hazard.

Next, explain in detail what that control is, and describe where and how it fits within the hierarchy of controls (elimination, substitution, engineering, administrative, or PPE).

Finally, explain how successful or unsuccessful it is at eliminating or reducing your risk while performing the job. Give one recommendation for an additional control that could be added (anywhere within the hierarchy of control) that would further reduce risk.

Your journal submission must be at least 500 words in length. No outside sources or APA Style is required.

(1) Most prevalent hazard at former job site was excavation and trenching.

(2) The main engineering controls that were in place was the protective system for trench walls, having a competent person to identify hazards before/during work, sloping/benching, spoil and material kept back 2′ from edge of trench, access/egress by building ramps and installing barricades or snow fencing to prevent fall ins, and water control by pumping water out of trench.

(3) Additional control added to reduce risk – Administrative control Implemented by requiring an Excavation Turnover Checklist created by contractor to do an inspection of the trenches before being turned over by the sub-contractor to contractor to take ownership and maintain barricades by:

• verifying barricades installed on all four sides of excavations
• ramp installed into trench every 50′ minimum, slope no greater than 34 degrees
• All snow fence stakes have protector caps installed
• No trash or other hazards present in trench before contractor taking ownership to begin work inside trench

Implementing the Administrative control was successful by having both contractor and sub-contractor signing off on the excavation turnover checklist verifying that everything was done correctly before turnover