Water Utility Safety Practice Flashcards

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering safety requirements for confined spaces, chemical handling, trenching, and traffic control for water utility operations.

Competent Person

A person capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards in the work area, and who has authority to take prompt corrective action to eliminate hazards.

Confined space

A space that is large enough for an employee to enter, has limited means of exit, and is not designed for continuous employee occupancy.

Non-permit Confined Space

A confined space that doesn’t contain a hazardous atmosphere or any hazard capable of causing death or serious bodily harm.

Permit-required Confined Space

A confined space that contains hazardous atmospheres, materials with potential for engulfment, trapping internal configurations, or other recognized health hazards.

Attendant

An individual stationed outside one or more permit spaces who monitors authorized entrants and performs assigned duties.

Authorized Entrant

An employee who is authorized by the employer to enter a permit space after receiving proper training.

Entry Supervisor

The person responsible for determining if acceptable entry conditions are met, authorizing and overseeing entry operations, and terminating the entry.

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

A document providing pertinent information and a profile of a particular hazardous substance or mixture, available to all employees in the vicinity.

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

A document providing pertinent information and a profile of a particular hazardous substance or mixture, available for employees working with hazardous chemicals.

OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Act passed in $1970$ or the agency that enforces workplace safety regulations.

Oxygen deficiency

An atmosphere containing an oxygen concentration at a level below $19.5\%$ by volume.

Hydrogen Sulfide (Odor)

A gas characterized by a rotten egg odor.

Hydrogen Sulfide (Density)

A gas heavier than air that settles in low-lying areas.

Hydrogen Sulfide (Sensory Effect)

A gas that dulls the sense of smell.

Hydrogen Sulfide (Phyisological Effect)

A gas poisonous to the respiratory system.

Hydrogen Sulfide (Production)

A gas produced under anaerobic conditions.

Methane

An odorless and colorless gas that is flammable, sometimes referred to as swamp gas.

IDLH

Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health; exposure likely to cause death, adverse health effects, or prevent escape.

Chlorine IDLH Value

The value set by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health for chlorine is $10\,ppm$.

Tailgate safety meeting

A brief safety meeting held every $7$ to $10$ days.

Advance Warning Area

The section where road users are informed about the upcoming work zone or incident area.

Transition Area

The section where road users are redirected out of their normal path.

Buffer Space

A safety space to protect workers from traffic that fails to obey diversion signs, located just prior to the work space.

Work Space

The portion of the highway closed to road users and set aside for workers, equipment, and material.

Termination Area

The section used to return road users to their normal path.

Trenching Shoring Depth

Excavations deeper than $5\,ft$ require shoring or proper sloping of the sides.

Unstable Soil Trenching

Excavations in unstable soil may require shoring even if less than $5\,ft$ deep.

Trench Inspection Frequency

A Competent Person must inspect excavation operations daily.

Trench Escape Ladder Proximity

Escape ladders must be within $25\,ft$ of trench occupants.

Trench Escape Ladder Spacing

Escape ladders must be placed every $50\,ft$ in a trench.

Shoring Sections

Should have no gaps between them.

Trench Parking Safety

Heavy equipment should not be parked next to a trench.

Ground Vibration Hazards

Vibrations from roads or equipment may require additional shoring in trenching.

Confined Space Written Program

An OSHA requirement identifying all permit required confined spaces.

Confined Space Atmospheric Monitoring

Monitoring for $O_2$, explosive gases, and toxic gases prior to entry and continuously while occupied.

Confined Space Training Frequency

The employer must provide training annually.

Entry Personnel Requirement

Two people are required for each entry including an entrant and an attendant.

Permit Signatory

The Entry Supervisor must sign the permit.

Entrant Safety Equipment

The entrant must wear a chest or body harness to enter a permit required space.

Calcium Hypochlorite

A chemical listed under Chemical Handling Safety requiring proper PPE and MSDS consultation.

Sodium Hypochlorite

A chemical requiring eye protection, gloves, apron, and respiratory protection during handling.

Chemical Handling PPE (Eyes)

Eye protection must be worn when handling chemicals like Sodium Hypochlorite.

Chemical Handling PPE (Hands)

Gloves are required when handling Calcium or Sodium Hypochlorite.

Chemical Handling PPE (Body)

An apron is part of the required PPE for handling chemical substances.

Chemical Handling PPE (Respiratory)

Respiratory protection must be used when handling chemicals as specified.

Advance Warning Area Distance

Typically located $1\,mile$ in advance of the work area.

Transition Area Variable

The length of this area depends on lanes and speed.

Buffer Space Description

Open space before the shadow vehicle.

Termination Area Distance

Approximately $100\,ft$ long.

Shadow vehicle

A vehicle used for traffic safety when working in traffic.

Lane Width Options

Configurations include $10\,ft$, $11\,ft$, and $12\,ft$ lanes.

Taper Length ($20\,mph$, $10\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $70$.

Taper Length ($20\,mph$, $11\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $75$.

Taper Length ($20\,mph$, $12\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $80$.

Cone Count ($20\,mph$)

The required number of cones is $5$.

Taper Length ($25\,mph$, $10\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $105$.

Taper Length ($25\,mph$, $11\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $115$.

Taper Length ($25\,mph$, $12\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $125$.

Cone Count ($25\,mph$)

The required number of cones is $6$.

Taper Length ($30\,mph$, $10\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $150$.

Taper Length ($30\,mph$, $11\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $165$.

Taper Length ($30\,mph$, $12\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $180$.

Cone Count ($30\,mph$)

The required number of cones is $7$.

Taper Length ($35\,mph$, $10\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $205$.

Taper Length ($35\,mph$, $11\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $225$.

Taper Length ($35\,mph$, $12\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $245$.

Cone Count ($35\,mph$)

The required number of cones is $8$.

Taper Length ($40\,mph$, $10\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $270$.

Taper Length ($40\,mph$, $11\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $295$.

Taper Length ($40\,mph$, $12\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $320$.

Cone Count ($40\,mph$)

The required number of cones is $9$.

Taper Length ($45\,mph$, $10\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $450$.

Taper Length ($45\,mph$, $11\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $495$.

Taper Length ($45\,mph$, $12\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $540$.

Cone Count ($45\,mph$)

The required number of cones is $13$.

Taper Length ($50\,mph$, $10\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $500$.

Taper Length ($50\,mph$, $11\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $550$.

Taper Length ($50\,mph$, $12\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $600$.

Cone Count ($50\,mph$)

The required number of cones is $13$.

Taper Length ($55\,mph$, $10\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $550$.

Taper Length ($55\,mph$, $11\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $605$.

Taper Length ($55\,mph$, $12\,ft$ lane)

The required taper length is $660$.

Cone Count ($55\,mph$)

The required number of cones is $13$.

Traffic Safety Equipment: Lights

Flashing lights used to properly divert traffic.

Traffic Safety Equipment: Barricades

Physical barriers used for traffic control in work zones.

Traffic Safety Equipment: Signs

Warning signs used to inform road users of work zones.

Traffic Safety Equipment: Flags

Visual signaling tools used for traffic management.

Traffic Safety Equipment: Cones

Traffic cones used to establish tapers and redirect road users.

Traffic Safety Equipment: Vests

Safety vests worn to ensure worker visibility in traffic.

NIOSH

National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.

OSHA Passage Year

The Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed in $1970$.

Toxic gas monitoring

Required atmospheric testing for permit-required confined spaces prior to entry.

Anaerobic conditions

The specific environment where Hydrogen Sulfide is produced.

Employer Training Liability

The employer must provide annual training for confined space safety.

Employer Rescue Liability

The employer must provide safety and rescue equipment for confined space entries.

Hazardous Atmosphere (Confined Space)

A characteristic where the space contains or has the potential to contain dangerous air quality.

Engulfment hazard

A condition where a material has the potential to surround and overcome an entrant.

Swamp gas

A common name for the flammable gas methane.

SDS Availability

Required to be available to all employees who are likely to work with or near hazardous chemicals.

Properly divert traffic

The objective of using barricades, cones, signs, lights, and flags in a work zone.