WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Safety Meeting Contents 

Meeting Notice

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Leaders Guide

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Employee Handout

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Employee Quiz

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Meeting Sign-In Sheet

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Employee Puzzle

PRIOR TO THE WEEKLY MEETING: -

Post the meeting notice by the timeclock Read through the Leaders Guide and Employee Handout to familiarize yourself with the topic for the week Make copies of the employee handout (one for each employee) Make copies of the employee quiz (one for each employee) Make copies of the weekly puzzle (one for each employee)

AT THE SAFETY MEETING: -

Pass around the meeting sign-in sheet – ensure all employees present at the meeting print and sign their names Pass out the employee hand-out Pass out the employee quiz Pass out the weekly puzzle Keep the meeting simple Encourage discussion and questions

WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING NOTICE THIS WEEK, OUR SAFETY MEETING WILL COVER

SIGNS AND LABELS TIME: __________________________________________

DATE: __________________________________________

PLACE: _________________________________________

WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Leaders Guide EURAMAX PROCEDURE REFERENCE: C-6.0: Hoisting Equipment F-1.0: Hazard Communication and Chemical Safety Program (Hazcom / MSDS) F-2.0: Emergency Eye Wash G-6.0: Battery Procedures L-4.0: Fire Extinguishers MEETING OBJECTIVE: Safety signs and labels are designed to protect your workers. Signs alert workers to hazards. Labels on containers warn of hazards and indicate how the materials inside may be handled safely. The purpose of this meeting is to make employees aware of the need to read and pay attention to signs and labels and help them understand the safety messages these warnings offer. MEETING PREPARATION: Read the Euramax procedure, understand the contents, and ensure compliance. Collect samples of safety signs and labels used at your facility. Bring them to the meeting. Review the employee handout to see if there are any other materials you wish to bring to the meeting. Use a flip chart during the discussion to write key points and employee responses. technique visually reinforces your instruction.

This

MATERIALS CHECKLIST:  Samples of safety signs and labels  Flip chart and marking pens MEETING INTRODUCTION Safety signs and labels are too important to be ignored. They provide us with vital hazard information in a number of ways – through colors, words, and pictures. Signs tell you where the hazards are and how to protect against the danger. Labels on containers warn you what the hazards of the materials inside are and tell you how to use these materials safely. Today, we’re going to review the kinds of signs and labels you may come in contact with and find out how to interpret their messages. Safety signs and warning labels come in all sizes, colors, and shapes. Knowing what these signs and labels mean and following their instructions is the key to safety. Many accidents occur simply because a worker failed to take the time to read the label on a Page 1

WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Leaders Guide chemical container, or failed to pay attention to an obvious warning sign. Others are injured because someone forgets to post a sign or fails to follow up on a missing label. A simple, commonsense approach to warning signs and labels can prevent many accidents. DISCUSSION GUIDE Question: Why should you pay attention to safety signs? Answer:

They’re posted for your protection. Never take them for granted. There’s a reason behind every safety sign. If a sign is unclear or you’re not sure why it’s there, ask for clarification before you proceed.

Question:

What could happen if someone covered up a safety sign or blocked it behind some boxes?

Answer:

Someone could fail to notice a hazard and get hurt. That’s why it’s so important to keep safety signs clear for everyone to see. Remember, not everyone who enters your work zone is as familiar as you are with the hazards of the area.

Question:

Why should you always read labels on containers before you use materials?

Answer:

Labels tell you what’s inside the container. You might mistake one container for another if you didn’t read the label. Labels warn of hazards associated with the material inside the container. This is especially important when you are dealing with hazardous chemicals. Labels tell you how to use the material safety – including approved use, proper PPE, what to do in the event of a spill, etc. Labels provide emergency medical information in case of exposure to dangerous chemicals.

Question:

What should you do if you come across a container with a missing or damaged label?

Answer:

Do not use the container. Warn others not to use the container by marking it or posting a warning sign. Then report the situation to any supervisor. Page 2

WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Leaders Guide Question:

What should you do if you don’t understand something on a label?

Answer:

Consult the material safety data sheet (MSDS), if one is available for the material. If that doesn’t clarify the matter, check with any supervisor before you proceed. What you don’t understand can hurt you.

Display the sample labels you brought with you to the meeting. Pass them around so that employees can see them. Review the information contained on these labels. Question:

Safety signs come in different colors. What does a red sign mean?

Answer:

Red stands for danger. It identifies immediate hazards that will cause serious injury or death. Red also indicates the location of fire equipment and emergency exits.

Question:

What’s the message behind an orange sign?

Answer:

Orange means warning. Orange signs points to hazards that could cause serious injury or even death if you fail to take safety precautions. Examples: “Warning: Construction Area” or “Warning: Biohazard.”

Question:

What does a yellow sign indicate?

Answer:

Yellow signals caution. Yellow is linked to physical hazards that could cause minor or moderate injury. It’s often used to mark hazards that could cause someone to slip, trip, or fall. Other examples: “Caution: Forklift Traffic. Keep Clear,” or “Caution: Keep Hands Clear.”

Question:

What about green signs?

Answer:

Green indicates the location of safety equipment, such as eyewash stations, emergency showers, and first-aid kits.

Question:

What do blue signs mean?

Answer:

Blue signifies general information, such as notices about safety rules and procedures. For example: “Notice: Keep Area Clean.”

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WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Leaders Guide Question:

What does black and white mean?

Answer:

Black and white are used to give instructions for housekeeping or to mark boundaries such as traffic aisles, stairways, and directional signs.

Question:

What if you spot a hazard and there is no sign to warn people?

Answer:

Put up your own sign. By attaching a sign, you can make sure your co-workers will be kept safe from harm. For example, in the case of downed machinery, broken hand tools, frayed electrical cords, or cracked ladder rungs, attach a sign or tag to prevent others from using faulty equipment.

SUMMARY: Safety signs and labels warn us of hazards that we might not already know about. Reading and heeding all signs and labels is vital to your continued safety and the safety of others. And remember, things change around here. Just because there was no sign yesterday does not mean there won’t be one today. New materials are being introduced into the work area. So keep alert. Keep your eyes open. And pay attention to all warnings. EMPLOYEE HANDOUT: A. B. C.

Employee Handout Signs and Labels Safety Quiz Signs and Labels Puzzle

QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

False False True True False A True B True True False Page 4

WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Leaders Guide 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

True False D A True True False True True

PUZZLE ANSWERS: Across: 1. Labels 4. Caution 5. Danger 7. MSDS 9. Green 10. Eye Down: 2. Signs 3. Warning 6. Blue 8. Shape

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WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Employee Handout Make it a habit to read all the important signs. That's how you'll know to expect a stoplight around the next highway curve or a forklift coming down the warehouse aisle. Notice we said "all the important signs." It's next to impossible to read all the signs we encounter every day. But the important ones are easy to spot because they follow certain patterns in their design. In the workplace, for example, red signs with black writing are used to point out danger such as a live wire. Yellow signs with black lettering caution you about a possible hazard such as a slippery floor. Orange signs with black lettering issue a warning to be careful of a hazard such as in-plant traffic. Signs with information about safety services and equipment are green, such as those giving the location of first aid kits and safety eyewash stations. Besides colors, signs can be identified by shape such as round for regulatory, square for information and triangular for hazards. Pictograms help deliver the message, either alone or with a few simple words. Signs can be three-dimensional shapes instead of flat. Bright-colored cone shapes warn that the floor is uneven. When the danger is from fire and smoke or the power is off, fluorescent tape stripes on a floor can guide you outside. For signs to be effective, the graphics must be understandable and words must be easy to read, with good contrast between background and lettering. They must also be in the language of those who are expected to read them, leading many workplaces to use multi-lingual signs. Signage standards are developed with industry, government and safety groups working together. In North America safety signs are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hazard Communication and Right to Know Standards, state and provincial health and safety regulations, the American National Standards Institute, Uniform Traffic Code, Department of Transport, National Fire Protection Association, Transportation of Dangerous Goods regulations, Canadian Standards Association, Canada's Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and other agencies. Agencies such as these try to make signs as uniform as possible from one jurisdiction to the next. United States and Canadian systems are similar, and these are becoming increasingly compatible with European and other international systems. For signs to be effective, they need to be placed at the eye level of the people who need to see them, whether walking or driving past. Signs should also be maintained so they are accurate and easy to read. Signs can be obscured by dirt, poor lighting or placement of materials. Placement is important so it is clear where the hazard is or what the arrows are pointing to. If you see a problem with a sign, talk to your supervisor about it. You can help keep your workplace signage relevant, accurate and understandable. Safety signs are intended to tell workers about hazards they do not know about—and remind them of hazards they do know about. Get in the habit of reading them.

WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Employee Quiz Answer the following questions to see what you know about signs and labels. 1. There are so many signs out there; it’s a good idea to ignore them all. True or False 2. If you encounter a sign that is inaccurate, you should ignore all similar signs in the future. True or False 3. Color is one method of conveying information on safety signage. True or False 4. The shape of a safety sign might also be intended to convey a message. True or False 5. When a sign tells you to wear a hardhat in a work area, it means you only have to do so when the boss is watching. True or False 6. Regularly reading safety signs is: A. A good habit B. A waste of time 7. Your understanding of safety signs tends to improve as you practice reading them. True or False 8. If you see an incorrect or defective safety sign you should: A. Ignore it B. Report it to someone who can correct it 9. You should know how to read a material safety data sheet. True or False 10. Using material safety data sheets can help prevent injury. True or False 11. As long as you know what’s in the bottle, it doesn’t need a label. True or False 12. Employees should be trained before they begin work with a new chemical. True or False

WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Employee Quiz 13. Very few workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals. True or False 14. Chemicals enter the body in which of the following ways? A. Through the mouth B. Through the skin C. Through the eyes D. Any of the above 15. A material safety data sheet lists which of the following? A. A chemical’s properties and hazards B. All hazardous chemicals C. All chemicals used in your workplace 16. A person can die after coming in contact with certain chemicals. True or False 17. The minimum length of time you should rinse your eyes or body if splashed by a chemical is 20 minutes. True or False 18. Cleaning supplies never contain hazardous chemicals. True or False 19. When working with chemicals, you should know where washing stations, emergency numbers, alarms and absorbent materials are. True or False 20. The explosive, corrosive, flammable or poisonous qualities of chemicals can each be identified by a symbol. True or False

WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

SIGNS AND LABELS Meeting Sign In Sheet LOCATION MEETING DATE __________________

MEETING CONDUCTED BY

CONTENTS OF MEETING (Attach Handouts, etc.) ATTENDEES: Name (Print)

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WEEKLY SAFETY MEETING All Euramax Subsidiaries

Signs and Labels Employee Puzzle