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ASSURED GROUNDING AND EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS

  1. ASSURED GROUNDING
    1. Each foreman/supervisor in charge of a job shall implement the assured equipment grounding conductor program on construction sites covering all cord sets, receptacles (which are not a part of the building or structure), and equipment connected by cord and plug which are available for use or used by our employees.
    2. The foreman/supervisor shall designate one or more competent persons to implement this program on their job or jobs. This person will be known as the Designated Site Safety Coordinator and will sign the Site Safety Coordinator document with the safety department.
    3. Each cord set, attachment cap, plug and receptacle of cord sets and any equipment connected by cord and plug, except cord sets and receptacles which are fixed and not exposed to damage, shall be visually inspected before each day use for external defects, such as deformed or missing pins or insulation damage and for indications of possible internal damage. Equipment found to be damaged or defective shall be tagged “DANGER UNSAFE – DO NOT USE” until repaired and documented.
    4.  All extension cords must be 3-wire type protected from damage and not fastened with staples, hung from nails or suspended from wire (only non-conductive means). No cord or tool with a damaged ground plug may be used. Splices must have soldered wire connections with insulation equal to the cable. Worn or frayed cables may not be used. Be certain all cords are properly installed in cord grips.
      1.  All extension cords or tool cords must be inspected and documented every ninety (90) days as listed.
        1.  All equipment grounding conductors shall be tested for continuity and shall be electrically continuous.
        2. Each receptacle and attachment cap or plug shall be tested for correct attachment of the grounding conductor. The equipment grounding conductor shall be connected to its proper terminal.
    5. All required tests shall be performed:
      1.  Before first use.
      2. Before equipment is returned to service following any repairs.
      3.  Before equipment is used after any incident which can be reasonably suspected to have caused damage (for example, when a cord set is run over).
      4.  At intervals not to exceed three (3) months.
    6. The foreman/supervisor shall not make available or permit the use by employees, any equipment that has not met the requirements of this program.
    7.  Tests performed as required in this program shall be recorded. This record shall be kept by means of color-coding as listed and performed quarterly by the 15th day of the month.
      1. January, after checking, color code WHITE.
      2. April, after checking, color code GREEN.
      3. July, after checking, color code RED.
      4.  October, after checking, color code ORANGE.
      5. Use colored tape to mark our cords.
      6.  Place the colored tape at the end of the cord just above the cord cap.
      7.  Remove the previous month’s tape before adding new month colors.
    8. GFCI protection devices (permanent and temporary) shall be inspected and tested before used on any shift per manufacturers instructions. When working outdoors with equipment supplied by greater than 125 V, 15, 20, or 30 Amperes, an Assured Equipment Grounding Conductor program shall be implemented.
  2.  LADDER INSPECTIONS
    1. Stepladder. The following items should be inspected before approving the use of a stepladder. If defective, tag the ladder out of service and discard or make arrangements for repair with the manufacturer.
      1. Steps
        1. Should not be loose, cracked, bent, or missing.
      2. Rails
        1. Should not be cracked, bent or split.
      3. Labels
        1. Should be legible and on the ladder.
      4. Top Cap
        1. No cracks, not loose, it tact.
      5. Spreader Bars
        1. Not cracked, bent, excessively loose, or excessively rusted.
      6. Safety Feet
        1. All should be in place.
        2. Not worn down and well secured to the ladder.
      7. General
        1. Rivets missing.
        2. Excessive grease or other items on steps.
    2. Extension Ladder. The following items should be inspected before approving the use of an extension ladder. If defective, tag the ladder out of service and discard or make arrangements for repair with the manufacturer.
      1. Rungs
        1. Should not be loose, cracked, bent, or missing.
      2. Rails
        1. Should not be cracked, bent, split, or frayed.
      3. Labels
        1. Need to be legible and on the ladder.
      4. Rung Locks
        1. Should not be loose, bent, missing or broken.
      5. Shoes/Feet
        1. Should not be worn down, broken or missing.
      6. Rope/Pulley
        1. Should not be loose, bent and should fully function.
      7. General
        1. Should not have excessive rust/corrosion, missing or loose rivets.
  3. FULL BODY HARNESS INSPECTIONS
    1.  The following items should be inspected before each use of a full body harness and documented with the appropriate colored tape every two months (or on a specified frequency used by some of our customers, such as the OSHA quarterly inspections).
      1.  Hardware
        1. Inspect D-Ring, buckles, keepers and eyelets.
        2. No cracks, distortion, corrosion, burrs or sharp edges.
      2. Webbing
        1.  Inspect for cuts, burns, tears, excessive dirt/grease and discoloration.
        2.  Inspect stitching for cut or pulled stitches.
      3. Labels
        1.  Should be able to read the weight capacity of the harness along with other manufacturer information.
        2. Label should be securely on the harness.
  4. LANYARD/CONNECTING DEVICE INSPECTION
    1.  Lanyards and self-retracting lifelines must be inspected prior to each use and documented with the appropriate colored tape every two months (or on a specified frequency used by some of our customers, such as the OSHA quarterly inspections).
  5.  RIGGING INSPECTION 
    1. Always ensure you know the weight of the item to be lifted and the capacity of the sling, chain or cable to be used. Always inspect rigging before use.
      1. Web Sling
        1.  No knots, burns, cuts, frays or excessive UV damage/discoloration.
        2. Label must be legible and in place.
      2.  Chain Fall
        1.  Capacity label in place and legible.
        2.  Check all motions are smooth and regular with no hesitations, binding or unusual noise (prior to putting a load on)
        3.  No kinks or elongated links in the chain.
        4.  Proper hook with safety latch/mouse.
      3.  Wire Rope/Cable
        1.  Capacity label in place and legible.
        2.  No significant distortion of the wire rope structure such as kinking, crushing, unstranding, birdcaging, signs of core failure, or steel core protrusion between the outer strands.
  6. PULLING ROPE INSPECTION
    1.  Pulling ropes should be inspected before, during, and after each use. The amount of strength loss in ropes is directly related to the amount of broken fiber in the rope’s cross-section.
    2. After each use, look and feel along every inch of the rope length inspecting for the following:
      1. Cut strands.
      2. Compression.
      3.  Pulled strands.
      4.  Melted or glazed fiber.
      5. . Discoloration
        1.  All pulling ropes will be discolored with use, but have to be on the lookout for chemical contamination or burns.
      6. Degradation (overall wear).
      7.  Inconsistent diameter and abrasion.
      8.  Stiffness (from excessive heat, excessive grit, or shock loading).

ESCO Group Equipment Grounding Program

Job Site Safety Log