SAFETY BULLETIN: Temporary Employee Recordables
Two recent recordable injuries involving temporary employees highlight gaps in pre-task planning (PTP), hazard recognition, and following controls. Routine work is not risk-free. Every employee deserves the same planning, protection, and support, regardless of employment status or experience.
Incident 1: Conductor Stored Energy Resulting in an Eye Injury
An employee was managing conductors in a 12 × 12 junction box supplied by two 1-inch home-run conduits and three branch conduits. While separating and cutting conductor tails, one slipped, recoiled, passed underneath the employee’s visor, and contacted the right eye, causing a corneal abrasion.
Root cause: The PTP and hazard assessment did not adequately identify stored energy from large quantities of conductors in a confined junction box.
Key lessons and preventive actions:
- Recognize stored energy. Evaluate conductor tension, coil memory, limited workspace, and potential recoil paths before starting.
- Control the conductor. Maintain positive control of ends; secure conductors and release tension in a controlled manner.
- Stay out of the line of fire. Keep your face and eyes out of potential recoil paths. Stop and reassess whether tension, access, or positioning prevents control.
- Wear required eye protection. Ensure proper fit and use additional protection as the hazard assessment requires. A visor does not replace required safety glasses.
Incident 2: Foot Injury While Moving a Pipe Rack
An employee moving a fully loaded pipe rack between floors encountered an obstructed route. While maneuvering around a shaft wall and table, the employee moved beside the rack to avoid striking another trade’s drafting table. The left foot became wedged between a wheel and the ground, causing a hairline fracture.
Root cause: The PTP was not followed for route planning and removing or relocating obstacles before moving materials.
Key lessons and preventive actions:
- Plan and clear the route. Walk the entire path, identify tight turns and uneven surfaces, and remove or relocate obstacles. Coordinate with other trades.
- Avoid pinch points. Keep hands and feet clear of wheels and never place your body between moving equipment and fixed objects.
- Protect people—not property. Stop and reassess rather than put yourself in harm’s way to prevent damage.
- Maintain control and get help. Confirm the loaded rack can be maneuvered safely. Use assistance and a designated guide when visibility, load size, or clearance requires it.
Expectations Moving Forward
- Participate and speak up. Every employee has the right and responsibility to ask questions and stop unsafe work. Understand hazards and controls before starting.
- Verify controls. Identify stored energy, recoil paths, and pinch points. Clear travel paths before moving materials or equipment.
- Stop and reassess. If conditions change or controls are ineffective, stop work and revise the PTP before continuing.
If the plan does not control the risk, stop and revise it. No task is so urgent that we cannot take the time to do it safely.