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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY MANUAL

 

 

 

0

20 April 26

Approved for use

M. Neville

T, Myers

A. Myers

M. Neville

​

REV

1

​

DATE

5/9/26

DESCRIPTION

Updated manual to reflect in field practices and online documents and procedures

APPROVED

BY

A Myers

T Myers

P Stith

​

DOCUMENT TITLE: TIM MYERS CONSTRUCTION EHS MANUAL 

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​

​

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS                             

 

DESCRIPTION                                                                                                    PAGE NO.

 

1.0         PURPOSE and Scope    3

2.0         Safety policy statement  4

3.0         roles and responsobilities  4

3.1         company management  4

3.2         supervisors/foremen   4

3.3         employees  4

3.4         subcontractors  4

4.0         hazard identification & job safety analysis (jsa) 4

5.0         training and competency  5

6.0         personal protective equipement (ppe) 5

6.1         minimum required ppe  5

6.2         task-specific ppe  5

7.0         excavation and trenching safety (ground grid work) 6

7.1         pre-excavation requirements  6

7.2         protective systems  6

7.3         access &egress  6

7.4         inspections  6

8.0         ground grid & grounding systems safety  7

8.1         general requirements  7

8.2         installations hazards & controls  7

8.3         ground rod installation   7

9.0         gravel placement & ground preperation   8

9.1         ground preperation   8

9.2         ground placement safety  8

9.3         equipment use  8

10.0      heavy equipment and mobile operations  9

11.0      traffic control and row safety  10

12.0      environmetal protection   10

13.0      incident reporting & investigation   10

14.0      emergency response  10

15.0      WEATHER, HEAT AND  ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS  11

16.0      INSPECTIONS, AUDITS AND COMPLIANCE  11

17.0      ENFORCEMENT AND DISIPLINE  11

18.0      CONTINOUS IMPROVEMENT  11

19.0      DOCUMENT CONTROL  12

 

 

 

 

Civil Utility Health, Safety & Environmental (HSE) Manual

(Ground Grid & Ground Preparation Focus)

1. Purpose and Scope

This manual establishes health, safety, and environmental requirements for civil utility construction activities involving ground preparation and grounding systems, including but not limited to:

  • Ground grid installation

  • Ground rod installation and bonding

  • Ground conductor trenching

  • Gravel placement and base preparation

  • Structural and electrical support excavations

  • Heavy equipment operations

  • Roadway and right‑of‑way (ROW) work related to grounding activities

This program applies to all employees, subcontractors, and visitors on company-controlled civil utility worksites.

 

2. Safety Policy Statement

The company is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace and recognizes the unique risks associated with excavation, grounding systems, energized environments, heavy equipment, and material handling.

No task is so urgent that it cannot be performed safely.
All personnel have Stop Work Authority without fear of retaliation.

 

3. Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 Company Management

  • Ensure compliance with OSHA, client, and site-specific safety requirements

  • Provide trained supervision and safe equipment

  • Support corrective actions and continuous improvement

3.2 Supervisors / Foremen

  • Act as Competent Person for excavation activities

  • Conduct daily JSAs addressing grounding and excavation hazards

  • Write work permits daily, including safe, high, hot, excavation, and Lock out Tag out.

  • Verify underground utility locates before trenching

  • Enforce PPE, access control, and exclusion zones

  • Stop work when unsafe conditions exist

  • Complete Onboarding training

3.3 Employees

  • Follow all safety rules and procedures

  • Wear required PPE, as defined on permits and JSA forms

  • Never enter unprotected excavations

  • Maintain clearance from grounding conductors and equipment

  • Immediately report hazards, near misses, or incidents

  • Complete onboarding training

3.4 Subcontractors

  • Meet or exceed company safety requirements

  • Coordinate grounding and excavation activities

  • Provide qualified operators and safe equipment

  • Complete onboarding training

 

4. Hazard Identification & Job Safety Analysis (JSA)

A daily JSA shall be completed before starting work and updated when conditions change.

JSA forms are digital and can be found on the Safety Culture App. Supervisors are trained in completing the digital JSA form and this task is completed collaboratively with supervisors and workers on site. The JSA is conducted and verified online.

Common Grounding & Civil Hazards:

  • Trench and excavation collapse

  • Striking existing underground utilities

  • Contact with energized or grounded systems

  • Heavy equipment interaction

  • Manual handling injuries

  • Dust exposure during gravel placement

  • Slips, trips, and falls on uneven ground

  • Heat and weather exposure

Use the Hierarchy of Controls to eliminate or reduce risks whenever possible.

 

5. Training and Competency

All employees and contractors working onsite receive onboarding training digitally via Safety Culture. The training includes training modules covering work permits, JSA forms, near miss reporting, PPE usage, excavation and trenching safety and an acknowledgement of Tim Myers Construction policies concerning harassment, substance abuse and the EHS manual.

Required training includes:

  • Online training module concerning Tim Myers Construction harassment, substance abuse, and EHS policies

  • Online training module concerning Excavation and trenching safety

  • Online training module concerning PPE and its proper usage

  • Online training module concerning the proper use and execution of work permits

  • Online training module concerning near miss reporting and the importance of near miss culture in safety

  • Additional training may be provided to persons performing specialized tasks that require training beyond the basic employee/contractor onboarding package

Only authorized and trained personnel may perform specialized tasks. In addition, all employees and contractors must adhere to the substance abuse policy.

 

6. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

6.1 Minimum Required PPE

  • Hard hat (ANSI-approved)

  • High-visibility clothing (Class 2 or 3 for ROW work)

  • Safety glasses with side shields

  • Steel-toe, slip-resistant boots

  • Work gloves suitable for grounding conductors and materials

6.2 Task-Specific PPE

  • Hearing protection near heavy equipment or compactors

  • Respiratory protection where dust levels require

  • Electrical-rated gloves if specified by site rules

  • Cut-resistant gloves for handling ground conductors

  • Protective boots for specialized tasks

  • Safety harness and associated equipment for high work

  • Required PPE is listed on every work permit for every job

 

7. Excavation & Trenching Safety (Ground Grid Work)

7.1 Pre-Excavation Requirements

  • Complete the excavation section of the work permit every time excavation is performed

  • Call 811 and verify locates before digging

  • White-line proposed ground grid trenches

  • Hand dig or vacuum within tolerance zones

  • Soil classification by a competent person

  • Establish spoil pile setbacks at least 2 feet from edge

7.2 Protective Systems

  • Trenches 4 ft or deeper must have:

    • Sloping

    • Benching

    • Shoring

    • Trench boxes

  • Protective systems must accommodate grounding conductor placement

7.3 Access and Egress

  • Ladders or ramps within 25 feet of travel

  • Ladders to extend 3 feet above trench edge

  • Open tranches must be properly tagged and barricaded

  • No jumping in or out of trenches

7.4 Inspections

  • Daily inspection by competent person

  • Re-inspect after rain, vibration, or soil changes

  • Stop work immediately if instability is observed

 

8. Ground Grid & Grounding System Safety

8.1 General Requirements

  • Verify grounding plans and drawings before installation

  • Confirm grounding components are de-energized unless specified otherwise

  • Maintain separation from live electrical systems

  • Bond grounding components per design specifications

8.2 Installation Hazards & Controls

  • Use mechanical assistance for heavy conductors or rods

  • Secure loose conductors to prevent trip hazards

  • No walking on exposed ground grids unless permitted

  • Protect exposed grid from damage prior to gravel coverage

8.3 Ground Rod Installation

  • Use approved driving equipment

  • Maintain safe distance during driving operations

  • Barricade area to prevent struck-by hazards

  • Confirm rod locations before driving

 

9. Gravel Placement & Ground Preparation

9.1 Ground Preparation

  • Grade and compact subgrade per specifications

  • Remove debris that could damage ground grid

  • Verify grounding components are properly inspected prior to covering

9.2 Gravel Placement Safety

  • Maintain safe distance from equipment during dumping

  • Control dust with water or other approved methods

  • Spotters required when trucks are backing

  • Avoid walking on freshly placed or unstable gravel

9.3 Equipment Use

  • Operators must be trained and authorized

  • Use compaction equipment per manufacturer guidelines

  • Maintain exclusion zones around compactors and loaders

 

10. Heavy Equipment & Mobile Operations

  • All work requires a permit before work commences

  • Operators must be qualified

  • Seat belts mandatory

  • Spotters required where visibility is limited

  • Establish equipment swing-radius exclusion zones

  • Never work under suspended loads

  • Daily equipment inspections required

 

11. Traffic Control & ROW Safety (When Applicable)

  • Approved traffic control plans required

  • Follow MUTCD standards

  • High-visibility garments required

  • Remain alert to live traffic at all times

 

12. Environmental Protection

  • Weekly Environmental checklists must be completed

  • Relevant Environmental questions must be answered on daily work permits

  • Prevent sediment runoff and erosion

  • Control dust during excavation and gravel placement

  • Proper disposal of excess soil and material

  • Fueling only in designated areas

  • Spill kits available and maintained

 

13. Incident Reporting & Investigation

Report immediately:

  • Injuries or illnesses-All injuries should be reported to supervision and entered in the incident reporting form in Safety Culture to start the investigative process.

  • Near Miss incidents-Near miss incidents should be reported to supervision and entered into the near miss reporting form in Safety Culture. Near miss reporting is strongly encouraged and can be reported anonymously via the app. When reporting to a supervisor, the employee or contractor has discretion to include their name and be included in any follow up actions or not.

  • Utility strikes-Report to supervision

  • Electrical contact or near misses-Report to supervision

  • Property or environmental damage-Report to supervision

All incidents will be investigated for root cause and corrective action.

 

14. Emergency Response

Common Emergencies:

  • Excavation collapse

  • Electrical contact or arc exposure

  • Equipment incidents

  • Severe weather

  • Heat-related illness

Response Actions:

  • Stop work and secure area

  • Call emergency services if required-The nearest emergency center, including phone number and address must be entered daily on the JSA form before work begins.

  • Do not attempt trench or electrical rescue unless trained

  • Follow site-specific emergency plans

 

15. Weather, Heat & Environmental Conditions

  • Monitor weather conditions daily-The current and expected weather must be evaluated on the JSA form daily.

  • Implement heat stress controls:

    • Hydration

    • Rest breaks

    • Shade

  • Suspend work during unsafe weather or lightning events

 

16. Inspections, Audits & Compliance

  • The supervisor must complete a JSA as well as a work permit each day. The basic safe work permit must be completed for all tasks. Specific hazards such as hot work, high work, excavation or lock out tag out are addressed in separate sections on the permit and should be completed as applicable.

  • Work permits shall remain open for the duration of the work and be closed at the completion of work by the supervisor and a person performing the work.

  • Equipment inspection records-Company owned equipment is affixed with inspection tags that should be completed before operation each day

  • Near Miss incidents should be completed in the safety culture app as they occur and corrected immediately when necessary or as soon as practicable otherwise.

  • All employees and contractors have the authority to stop work when a safety issue arises, without fear of retaliation.

  • All training records, policies and inspection records (near miss, incidents, JSA forms and work permits) for each job are kept automatically by Safety Culture and grouped by job for quick reference. Pdf’s of these records can be produced when necessary.

 

17. Enforcement & Discipline

Violations in Tim Myers Construction safety policy may result in:

  • Coaching or retraining

  • Written warning

  • Removal from site

  • Termination for severe or repeated violations

 

18. Continuous Improvement

  • Review near misses and incidents-all near misses and incidents are automatically forwarded to responsible parties when they are submitted, ensuring that they are properly reviewed and appropriate actions taken.

  • JSA forms and Work permits are online in Safety Culture, ensuring that the most recent version is always used.

  • Near Miss reporting is encouraged

  • Promote a strong safety culture

  • Continuing education is encouraged-OSHA training is required for supervision within one year of employment and encouraged for others.

 

19. Document Control

  • All documents are reviewed as needed, and at least annually

  • The most recent version of all documents are kept online

  • All employees can view policies, training and other documents online at any time

  • Current version available at all worksites

 

Employee Acknowledgement

All personnel must acknowledge understanding and compliance with this HSE Manual.

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