Safe use of equipment

Risks to persons or to the environment must be minimized by adherence to safety legislation and protocols, e.g., Occupational Health and Safety (COSSH in the UK), which informs on health risks associated with specific chemicals and appropriate medical and cleanup procedures in the event of exposure or a spillage. Before undertaking field work, a site-specific risk assessment should be carried out to identify potential risks and specify safe practices. Important issues include transport of persoimel and equipment, weather conditions, possible health risks from the sample and the general environment, appropriate protective clothing, safe onsite working practices, safe use of equipment, communications, and emergency procedures. 

Contact between large construction equipment and overhead lines is a major cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States. All overhead lines must be considered to be energized unless and until the person owning the line, or the electrical utility authorities, indicate it is not an energized line, and it is visibly grovmded and appropriately marked. The OSHA rules have specific requirements for safe use of equipment close to overhead lines. 

The working platform itself is to be rigid and stable, not able to be accidentally displaced so far as is reasonably practicable, and be dismantled in a way which prevents accidental displacement. Platform dimensions are limited to a minimum width of 600 mm and must further be sufficiently wide to permit free passage of people and safe use of equipment or materials... 

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See also in sourсe #XX -- [ ]

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