Construction Safety Manual
Construction Safety Manual
Construction Safety Manual
1) Hazard symbols
2) Warning labels
3) Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Hazard Symbols:
Warning labels must be on containers for materials covered under the WHMIS system.
If a material is transferred to another container, a label must be created and attached to
the new container. These labels contain important information for the safe storage,
handling, use, and disposal of these substances. Proper PPE and first aid information is
included on these labels as well.
1) Material identification
2) Hazard symbols
3) Risk phrases
4) Precautionary measures
5) First aid
6) Supplier identification
7) References to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
These sheets provide comprehensive information and must be kept on site where the
materials will be used/based from. MSDS list:
These sheets must be available for anyone who is using a hazardous chemical as
identified by WHMIS. It is the worker’s responsibility to read these sheets before using
the hazardous materials.
General Safety:
a) Any student, including yourself, feels ill or has even the slightest injury, accident,
burn, or electric shock.
b) You see anyone breaking a safety rule or acting in an unsafe manner.
c) You find a faulty tool, questionable equipment, or a safety guard removed from a
machine.
d) You find any machine out of adjustment or in need of repair, or any other unsafe
shop condition.
e) You find damaged or broken tools. Tag the tool as unsafe. Report any machine that
does not operate correctly.
a) Using any power machine or test equipment. You are permitted to work with
machines and equipment only after you have been given safety instructions. Get
instructions from your instructor on safe operation before operating tools.
b) Working with any machine or equipment before, during, or after class hours unless
you have received permission and there is an instructor in the shop or project area.
Should you or any other student get injured, report it to the instructor immediately.
c) Using any shop made jigs.
d) Using any materials that you have not been given permission to use
a) Remember there are sawdust and flammable materials around the project site.
b) In the case of fire, follow the approved fire exit route and meet at the designated
muster point.
c) Never use or operate any equipment that generates sparks
and flames near any flammable or combustible materials.
d) Keep all rags containing oil, gasoline, paint, solvents, or any
other combustibles in approved metal cabinets.
e) Keep hands away from open flames, hot metal, drill bits, saw
blades, and any other hot objects that could result in a burn.
f) Do not use paint, enamel, lacquer, or solvents near flames or
sparks.
a) Keep the floor, aisles, and passageways clear of stock, materials, scraps, tools, and
equipment. Place all scrap material or cuttings in the scrap box provided.
b) Clean up immediately any liquids or grease spilled on the floor to prevent slips and
falls and to reduce fire danger.
c) Do not increase the air pressure in the air regulator past 50 psi when cleaning
sawdust off tools or projects.
d) Do not blow compressed air onto your body to clean off clothes or body parts or for
any other reason.
LADDER SAFETY:
Select a ladder of the correct length for the job. Determine the vertical height from
ground level to the point where the ladder is to rest. Inspect the rungs for safety. Then
place the ladder so the space between its bottom and the surface it is to rest against is
1/4th the length of the ladder. Finally, be sure that the top of the ladder extends at least
30" above the roof, landing, or platform to provide a secure grip when a person gets on
or off the top of the ladder.
a) Use the right tool for the right job. Hand tools come in many shapes and sizes.
Each tool is made to do only certain jobs with safety and ease.
b) Use only tools that are in safe condition. Report any sub-standard or unsafe tools to
the instructor.
c) Do not throw tools or materials to another student. Pass tools directly, with handles
extended. Do not leave tools or materials projecting from a vise, workbench, or
pants pockets. Other students can bump into them.
d) Keep all tools clean. Do not let oil, grease, or dirt accumulate on the tool or on your
hands. Avoid using wrenches with cracked, sprung, or worn jaws. A slipping wrench
usually causes a painful hand injury.
e) Make sure that handles are used on all tools such as files, chisels, and scrapers.
f) Do not carry sharp-edged tools in your pockets.
g) Keep sharp edged tools sharp.
h) Chisel or gouge: hold a chisel or
gouge with both hands unless one
hand is used to drive the tool with
a mallet. Never test the edge of the
blade by drawing fingers across it.
i) Clamp: use both hands to remove
a bar clamp from the rack. Be sure
that the clamp being removed is
not in contact with another clamp
in the rack. Never carry or move
projects after the clamps have been applied.
j) Hammer: make sure the nail is securely set in wood before striking. Always use
safety goggles when working with hammers. Make sure the head of the hammer is
securely attached to the handle. Do not strike two hammerheads together. Never
use a wood handled hammer to pull nails.
k) Sawing: when hand sawing, start the teeth on the backstroke, keeping your thumb
well above the teeth while guiding the beginning cut.
l) Screwdrivers: always use the appropriate size and type of screwdriver for the job.
Drive screws carefully and keep both hands on the screwdriver. Never hold the
screwdriver with one hand or place a hand in front of the screwdriver tip. To start a
screw, first prepare the stock with a “pilot” hole.
m) Shovels: do not use shovels with split, broken, loose rivets.
n) Vise: never tighten an unused vise. When a vise in not in use, be sure the jaws are
closed and the vise handle is in a vertical position.
a) Recognize that the right size and shape of the tool is important to the job. Every
tool has a "built-in" safety limit or capacity.
b) Obtain the instructor’s permission before turning on any power tools or
equipment. Do not use any power tool while standing on a wet or damp floor.
c) Use extension cords carefully. Drop the lead wire directly from the wall plug to
the floor to avoid tripping over the cord. Inspect the condition of the cord, cap,
and body and be sure that insulation and covering are not broken or worn and
that it has a grounding prong. Be sure your hands are dry before touching
switches or receptacles. If possible, try to route an extension cord so that it will
not be a tripping hazard
d) .Before turning on the power to any tool, clean up loose tools and materials
around the power tool and make certain that all other students are clear of the
machines and equipment. Clean or adjust machinery only when the machine is
stopped and preferably when the machine is unplugged.
e) Keep clothes, cords, and loose objects away from moving parts. They can get
caught in the equipment causing injury to yourself and possibly others.
f) Never remove guards of safety devices from any machine. They must always be
in place when the tool is being used.
g) Do not distract the operator of a machine. You must stand at least 1 metre away
from anyone using a stationary power tool. If you start a machine, stay with it
until the machine is turned off and do not walk away from a running machine.
h) Check all adjustments before turning on the power. Verify that all adjustments
are locked into place before starting a piece of equipment. Vibration may cause
an adjustment to loosen, slip, or change position. Vibration may cause tools or
other loose objects to be drawn into the moving parts, causing personal injury
and damage to the equipment.
i) Use caution when approaching power machines.
Stay away from moving parts. Never stand in the
direct line or “throw” of any machine. If a
machine breaks or becomes overloaded, objects
can be thrown out with strong force (the stock
could not be held securely or knots/slivers can
break loose).
j) Before starting the drill press make sure the
chuck is tightened, the drill bit is centred and
tight, the chuck key is removed, and the table is Injury caused by kickback from table
firmly clamped. Make sure a drill vise or clamp saw
securely holds the material being drilled. Never
hold small material being drilled with your hands.
k) When the drill bit is close to breaking through the material being drilled make
sure you ease up on the drill pressure.
l) When cleaning material off the drill table, use a brush and never use your hands
to wipe the chips from the table.
a) Drill safety:
i) Make sure the drill is unplugged before tightening the chuck or changing a bit.
ii) Be sure the drill is in the “OFF” position before it is plugged into an electric outlet, in
order to prevent anything from being caught by the rotating drill bit.
iii) Always hold the switch when operating the drill. Be ready to stop the drill at any time.
When using a heavy-duty drill, be sure the handle is in place. Hold the drill with both
hands and brace the body securely to avoid twisting.
i) Keep body parts clear of the saw blade and hold the saw firmly against the stock
being cut. Do not use the saw to cut small pieces of material. Do not force the cutting
action. A blade will break if forced to cut too fast. If a saw blade breaks, turn the switch
off immediately. Be sure the jigsaw is unplugged before changing the blade or making
any adjustments.
ii) Guide the saw carefully so that the blade
does not strike the bench, sawhorse, or
platform supporting the stock. Do not force the
jigsaw to cut too fast. Cut turns and curves
slowly. Be sure there is enough clearance
underneath the jig saw blade and workbench.
iii) Start the saw and then saw into the board.
Do not start a saw while the blade is in
contact with the board or material. Never
remove the saw from the material while the
blade is moving.
iv) Before using the jigsaw or any other electric power tool make sure the cord is in
good shape and the ground terminal is intact.
v) When starting in the field (the field is in the center of the plywood sheet), drill a hole.
Do not plunge cut.
c) Circular saw:
e) Brad Nailer:
i) Keep fingers clear of the foot of the nail gun. Nails can turn
and come out when least expected.
ii) The plastic that holds the clips of nails together can shoot
out in all directions so safety glasses are mandatory when
using the nail gun.
iii) Disconnect the nail gun from the compressor when not in
use.
iv) Do not hold small pieces of wood in your hand when nailing the wood.
v) When using nail guns point the gun down and away from you.
vi) Safety glasses are mandatory when using the nail gun.
a) Band saw:
b) Pedestal Grinder:
c) Table Saw:
i) Use the right saw blade for the job. Don’t use a ripsaw for crosscutting, or a crosscut
for ripping. Don’t use a warped blade. Before starting the machine, see that the blade is
securely fastened to the arbor and revolves freely. Verify that the screws or clamps on
the fences are tightened.
ii) When ripping stock, attach a splinter behind the ripsaw to keep the stock separated
as it passes and prevent it from binding the saw blade, thus avoiding kickback. Do not
rip boards unless they have a straight edge
against the fence, otherwise they might
kickback.
iii) When ripping narrow stock, clamp a piece of
scrap wood to the fence to protect the fence.
Use a push stick when ripping narrow stock. The
push stick is narrower than the hand and keeps
the hand at a safe distance. Use the clearance
block when crosscutting short pieces. Never use
the ripping fence as a stop when crosscutting, it
may cause a kickback. When several short
pieces are to be cut the same length, fasten a
clearance block to the fence for a stop. When
cutting a miter, extend guide with board close to the saw. Use a sliding miter gauge
when crosscutting stock.
iv) Use a helper when ripping long stock. Be sure the helper supports the stock and
does not pull unless you direct the helper to pull. (If the helper pulls on the stock, it
could upset your balance or jerk your hands into the saw.)
d) Disc Sanders:
i) Perform all adjustments and fasten the table before starting the
sanding disc.
ii) Use caution in sanding small pieces of stock that may slip and
cause the fingers to come in contact with the abrasive surface. Be
sure that thin stock does not wedge between the table and disc or
between the sander belt and stop board.
iii) Apply work to the part of the disc that is traveling downward (to
apply it to the upward travel would cause the work or stock to be
snapped from your grasp and it might jerk your hand against the disc.
iv) Feed the material gently to the disc. A sander is not to be used as a plane. Check
sandpaper before starting the machine. If the paper is torn or loose, check with the
instructor.
e) Planers:
f) Jointer:
i) Never plane more than 1/8th of an inch (2mm) in
depth at any one time.
ii) Do not place fingers near the edge of the cutter
opening or the chip ejector port.
iii) Do not use material under 18" (450mm) on the
joiner.
iv) When face-planing stock, the stock must be a
minimum of ¾” (19mm) thick.
v) Allow the guard to completely cover the blade before
removing the stock.
vi) Hands never go through the guard zone unless they are guiding the wood with push
blocks. The guard zone is the blade area defined by the red guard covering the blade.
g) Power Miter Saw:
h) Drill Press: