Safety Gear... what do you carry/use?

[DeWayne]

I know that most of you have (or should have) on your
truck a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and MSDS
sheets. Beyond that, do you always wear safety gear
head to toe when applying and mixing chemicals in
case the wind blows mist back onto you?

Do you wear a rain suit or long boots when you
power wash? Safety glasses on at all times?

I usually wear a rain suit, gloves, and sometimes
a full face shield to keep my clothes dry and protect
my face from flying water but I don't have good boots
yet. My wife says I look funny wearing my suit, so
I just have to ask what you wear on the job to help
keep your clothes and the inside of your truck clean
and dry.

Ok... you can stop laughing now!

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[AranServices]

As far as worrying about my truck - I'll keep it till it's totally dead! New vehicles depreciate too fast!
... it's an ol' truck used for work - let it get dirty!

I do use high black rubber boots (some times) It depends on what I am doing. Washing a building - usually regular steel toe boots or other leather ones. When I clean hoods I normally use the rubber boots, especially under the hood.
When cleaning hoods, I also try to bring a change of clothes. It's more for the smell - hood grease gets real ripe! Normally I pre-mix the chemical so my help only has to handle the end product. I tell them that I suggest that they get a rain suit - but I do not make any big deal out of it. They are men - they know what they can handle. NOTE: I am NOT saying that my attitude is the right one to have. It's just the one I personally have!

When mixing some chemicals - I (at times) use those yellow dish washing gloves to keep my hands from peeling.

As far as eye protection - We would spend more time wiping glasses off than working on most jobsites.
I don't get paid to wipe eyewear! I will NEVER tell help NOT to use eye protection - but I know they like to do like the next guy - and I won't wear it!

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Cleaning America - One Job At A Time!

 

[Clean County]

I try to keep my truck clean because it looks more professional to me when your in a cleaning business that your vehicles look the part. As far as safety equipment I have it all including harnesses but I don't always use them. I have steel tip rainboots and I also have steel tip redwing waterproof workboots which I wear more often then the rainboots. As far as wearing rain gear I only do that if it is raining out or the weather is to cold to get yourself wet. I always carry eye wear in case I need it but most of the time I am chewing on the glasses. I use to smoke but now I chew eye glasses. From one bad habit to another.

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[Jon]

Truck, what truck

DeWayne, go to a Home Depot or another like store and buy a pair of big black boots for around $12.00. You will sweat in them but better then working in wet cold shoes.

Aran, image is important, clean your truck when done a job or have your employee's clean it as they do the equipment.

I carry all that and lots more but this has been covered a few times, should be easy to search about two month ago.

I mix my chems at home before I go on job, seldom do I run out but if I do I can mix more there. A box of mechanics gloves from the auto parts store does wonders and are cheap, use and dispose. Wear them when filling the diesel fuel.

Rain gear, carry it but never wear it, have been soaked a couple times but guess I am to lazy to put it on, it is my feet that get most the water doing flat work anyway so carry extra shoes and sox. (again to lazy at times to put the boots on).


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Jon Fleischer
Oasis Pressure Cleaning
(909) 792-2247
Fax (909) 792-5633

 

[PUREPOWER]

Just call me king of safety gear!!!
I have it all, but seldom times do I wear it.

Hoods, rain suit, full face shield, and rubber boots.

Restorations, everything...HF will ruin your day,week,month,year,life. Also wear lanyard when on manlifts. That is a requirement with the contracts and with OSHA.

Decks, just a respirator when sealing and goggles when washing.

Gloves, neoprene, latex, big black rubbers, got all kinds.

I have a family I like to see everyday I would not think of NOT wearing protection.

My wife said I look funny too, but I tell her I would look funnier in a hospital bed not makin' money

.

Jordan


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[Brad]

I'm a big believer in utilizing personal safety equipment. On every job I wear:

- Safety boots (steel toed)
- Safety glasses* or shield ( depending on the job)
*If you've ever had water rebound off of a surface and go back in you eye, you'll never do it again...
- Ear Plugs
- Thick neoprene gloves
- Rain coat and pants (pants - depending on the job)

Additionally, two fire extinguishers are stationed outside the trailer and fuel is stored outside away from the equipment when it is running.

Better safe than sorry..............

Brad
Performance Pressure Washing


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[Rob Blair]

We have some commercial accounts that require us to abide by their safety regs. If you want to come onto their property you WILL follow the saftey rules witch include hardhats and saftey glasses. Hate to wear saftey glasses! Water, grease, and saftey glasses just don't go well together. Also, some other commercial accounts require us to be MSHA certified. This requires among other things that we attend a 24 hour safety course, vehicle inspections, and a list of safety gear a mile long! Not allowed on property otherwise. Alot of this stuff I wouldn't do on a regular job but if you want some of this work you got to play the game...........Rob

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[Scott Stone]

Okay Aran,
You have got me in a dither. Personal protective gear is required by law. You can be fined by OSHA and all sorts of other government and local agencies for the cavalier attitude you are taking.
What is required by OSHA is the following, and this is by NO means a comprehensive list.
1. Eye protection. Whenever there is a danger of Backsplash, especially with chemicals involved it is required. It is even required if the employees are using a vacuum.
2. Hand protection. Gloves are there to protect your hands. Get a razor cut from a wire spur on your hose and you will know what uncomfortable is, and wish you had been wearing the gloves.
3. Hearing protection is required, especially when you are exposed to high dB levels. Usually, the water rush and machines are enough to put you over the edge.
4. Hard hats and steel toe boots can be required when there is the chance of something falling on your head, you bumping your head, or something falling on your foot. I would think that vent hoods would require at minimum a bump cap.

You say your men are big boys and take care of themselves, try telling that to an OSHA investigator. They will laugh in your face as they are presenting you with the fines that you owe.
As far as washing your truck, I could care less. It is your own presentation. If you want that image it is up to you. I have done it in the past as well, I don't do it anymore. I now provide the protection to my employees. It costs me a total of about $40 a month. To me the security of knowing that the protection is provided is worth the expense. I also buy them a pair of Gore Tex workbooks after about 3 months, and buy new ones once a year. That cost is not included in the rest of the safety equipment.
Additionally, what you are doing has all of the markings of a fly by night operation. It appears that you are not in this for the long term, but to see how much money you can make fast and then get out before you get caught.
Judging from your posts, it appears that you are what is called a sleaze ball competitor. I may be wrong, but stealing water, No protective gear, and feeling justified in not complying with the laws and regulations of being in business are what leads me to this opinion.




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Any statement that I make about equipment, processes or your hair color is my own personal opinion. I usually base it on personal experience. If you disagree with me you are free to reply on both the BBS and by e-mail. If I am totally off base please explain why on the BBS so that we may all know why
Bus. Phone 480-834-3434
Cell Phone 602-509-9741

 

[AranServices]

Scott - what you are saying is fine!

BUT - thats a construction safety list you are talking about!
I don't really care for construction clean up!
If & when I do that I'll abide by those required regulations.

Try cleaning a small restaurant exhaust hood with safety glasses on!

Fact is every situation has it's own set of concessions it depends on the situation which ones are safety related.



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Cleaning America - One Job At A Time!

 

[Scott Stone]

That is a general pressure washing safety list. You might want to call OSHA and check it out. For your sake I hope you never get a straight shot of hood cleaner in the eye. Then it won't seem like such a hassle to clean glasses. I have an advantage because I have to wear them anyway.

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Any statement that I make about equipment, processes or your hair color is my own personal opinion. I usually base it on personal experience. If you disagree with me you are free to reply on both the BBS and by e-mail. If I am totally off base please explain why on the BBS so that we may all know why
Bus. Phone 480-834-3434
Cell Phone 602-509-9741