0174 - Citrus Fruits
CITRUS FRUITS
SIC CODE 0174
Section 9
SAFETY RULES, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES
The safety rules contained on these pages have been prepared to protect you in your daily work. Employees are to follow these rules, review them often and use good common sense in carrying out assigned duties.
Ladders ...... 3
Equipment/Machinery...... 3
Sprayers and Related Equipment...... 3
Goat and Grove Vehicles...... 4Hand Tools 4 Chopping Tools 4
Pruners and Chain Saws...... 4
Shop Operation...... 4
Fruit Picking...... 4
Pruning...... 5
ALL EMPLOYEES
Ladders and Step Ladders
1.Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions label affixed to the ladder if you are unsure how to use the ladder.
2.Do not use ladders that have loose rungs, cracked or split side rails, missing rubber footpads, or are otherwise visibly damaged.
3.Keep ladder rungs clean and free of grease. Remove buildup of material such as dirt or mud.
4.Do not use a metal ladder within 50 feet of electrical power lines.
5.Allow only one person on the ladder at a time.
6.Face the ladder when climbing up or down it.
7.Maintain a three-point contact by keeping both hands and one foot or both feet and one hand on the ladder at all times when climbing up or down the ladder.
8.When performing work from a ladder, face the ladder and do not lean backward or sideways from the ladder.
9.Do not stand on the top two rungs of any ladder.
10.Do not stand on a ladder that wobbles, or that leans to the left or right of center.
11.Do not place ladders on barrels, boxes, loose bricks, pails, concrete blocks or other unstable bases.
12.Do not carry items in your hands while climbing up or down a ladder.
13.Do not try to "walk" or "jog" a ladder. Climb down the ladder, and then move it.
14.Do not use a ladder as a horizontal platform.
Equipment/Machinery
1.Do not operate grove equipment unless you are a grove equipment operator.
2.No workers are permitted to ride outside of or on top of a grove vehicle or its load unless they are riding in a designated place or places required by the nature of the operation.
3.Do not use your hand or any part of the body to either locate or attempt to stop a hydraulic leak.
4.Do not remove protective shields or guards when operating the bench or pedestal grinder.
5.Only equipment/machinery repairmen may service or make adjustments to grove equipment and vehicles; turn the power switch to "off" before adjusting, unclogging or servicing a power-driven machine.
Sprayers and Related Equipment
1.Wear protective equipment and clothing according to the pesticide label instructions during loading and spraying operations.
2.Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling or applying pesticide.
3.Do not use any pesticide containers for storing food or drinks.
Goat and Grove Vehicles
1.Only goat, ATV or other grove vehicle operators may operate goat, ATV or grove vehicles.
2.Do not proceed to turn or reverse until you have looked to see that the area is clear of pickers or obstacles.
3.Drive slowly to avoid injury to yourself from tree limbs or injuring fellow pickers.
4.Do not operate goat or grove vehicles on steep slopes.
Hand Tools
1.Tag worn, damaged or defective tools "Out of Service" and do not use them.
2.Do not use a tool if its handle has splinters, burrs, cracks or splits, or if the head of the tool is loose.
3.Maintain a safe working distance from other workers when using hand tools.
4.Store tools in the proper storage place, or place them in plain sight and out of the immediate work area when not in use.
5.Do not throw or drop tools from trees.
Chopping Tools
1.Do not use chopping tools that have loose or cracked heads or splintered handles.
2.When using chopping tools, swing away from feet, legs and body.
3.Use the chopping tool that has been sharpened; do not use chopping tools that have dull blades.
Pruners and Chain Saws
1.Sheath the pruning scissors when not in use.
2.Use the pruning scissors that have been sharpened; do not use pruning scissors that have dull blades.
3.Only chain saw operators may operate chain saws.
4.Do not use the chain saw if the guard is missing or if it there is loose play in the chain.
5.Wear safety goggles when operating the chain saw.
6.Use both hands when operating the chain saw.
7.Do not cut wood directly overhead.
Shop Operation
1.Wear a face shield when performing cutting or grinding operations.
2.Do not perform welding operations if the floor is wet.
3.Do not leave power cords and welding leads lying on the floor; roll them up and store them after use.
4.Wear safety glasses when using bench or pedestal grinders. Do not operate bench or pedestal grinders if there are no guards covering the grinding wheel.
5.Do not use grove heaters as a heat source in the shop.
6.Clean up all grease and oil spills immediately.
Fruit Picking
1.Start picking fruit from the top of the tree and work your way down. Always rest the fruit bag on the middle rungs of the ladder as you come down.
2.Do not jump off of the last few feet of the ladder.
3.Look for and stay clear of wasp and hornet nests.
4.Pull fruit with a slight twist so that the branches will not snap back into your face.
5.Do not stand on the ladder when vehicles are passing through grove middles.
6.Use the right size ladder for the size of trees.
7.Wear leather gloves, long sleeves or arm protectors when picking limes, lemons, and juvenile fruit trees.
Pruning
1.Do not use the ladder until you have ensured that it is firmly set on the ground.
2.Do not leave tools, saws or clippers hanging from the ladder or tree.
Obtained from Citrus Fruits, /0174_Citrus_Fruits (Accessed October 21, 2016).