From the Directors of Safety From the Directors of Safety Brothers and Sisters, We have many safety slogans, acronyms, and mission statements we use throughout our industry and rightfully so. “To improve the Elevator Constructor’s sense of awareness to daily hazards present in the workplace” is the mission statement of the IUEC Safety Committee. “We came to this trade for a better life, not a shorter one” is a slogan or statement printed on wrist bands that the EIWPF has provided to the membership to keep safety at the forefront of our minds. “To promote and maintain a Safer & Healthier Conveyance Industry for all” is the mission statement of the IUEC/NEBA and IUEC/ECA Labor Management Safety and Health committees and the Canadian Industry Safety committee. “To improve safety conditions for Elevator Constructors, Employees, and the Riding Public by actively participating in the development and preservation of rules, codes, and standards for the conveyance industry” is the mission statement for IUEC Codes & Standards. We have strived to bring safety to the forefront of the conversation in every aspect of our union under the leadership of our general president. The strength of any safety program relies on the commitment of senior level management, and we definitely have that in our union. “Be safe” is another safety slogan we often use as a general farewell when we say goodbye to one another. We have taken an opportunity put meaning behind the words and provided stickers, which you can find stapled in this issue of the journal, as another reminder to BE SAFE. Barricades: Are proper barricades in place? Elevator Location: Verify elevator location prior to entry. Struck By: Is overhead protection in place? Adjacent Car: Is adjacent car protection in place? Fall Protection: Use PFAS where fall hazards exist. Electrical Protection: Use electrical safe work practices. Each of the words behind “BE SAFE” have meaning and are related to areas where we have had unfortunate on-the-job fatalities that include OSHA’s Focus Four hazards. Barricades are for our protection as well as to protect others in the workplace and the general public. They protect us from fall hazards and the curious person interested in our work. Verifying elevator location is vital in the service and modernization environment to prevent falls in hoistways. Construction sites are not immune either. Overhead protection is essential to prevent struck by hazards. Whether it is hoarding of the hoistway, full netting covering the entrance, crash decks, or overhead protection on false cars, it is the necessary protection we need in the hoistway. Adjacent car protection is critical to prevent caught between hazards. Screening between adjacent hoistways, A17.1 requirements for adjacent counterweight protection and working toward codifying screening between adjacent pits are either required or necessary to prevent being caught between an adjacent running car. Where a fall hazard exists, fall protection is required to prevent the number-one cause of death in the construction industry. There are also fall protection requirements for general industry (contract service) and if a fall hazard exists, your Personal Fall Arrest System (PFAS) will save your life. Donning your harness at this point should be as automatic as wearing a seatbelt. The use of electrical safe work practices will provide electrical protection from another industry hazard that has claimed one too many lives. Whether it is lock out/tag out, protective gloves, or electrical hazard rated footwear, take the time to verify you are protected from electrical hazards. At some point in your career, you have been trained on the aforementioned hazards, but we encourage you to use “BE SAFE” as another mental checklist while performing your daily tasks. Has your employer provided the necessary training and continued on page 13 March 2023 9 BE SAFE
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