The current issue of the Industrial Hygiene News has an excellent article on laboratory safety called "A Chemical Lab Safety Refresher" written by Mr. Phillip G. Retallick, who is the Senior Vice President Regulatory Affairs for Clean Harbors. The article covers the typical information regarding lab safety - training, storage, disposal, labeling, and compliance audits. One of the more interesting sections was the discussion on the requirements of a good industrial hygiene program. This section discussed the need for a worksite analysis and a well-defined and monitored work practices. The need for a Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Registry software and routine monitoring of the air to ensure lab staff are protected is not typically discussed. The assumption is that sufficient ventilation will handle any potential problems. However, how do you know you have sufficient ventilation? Monitoring is the best way to ensure that. The article list important resources such as the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Environmental Management Guide for Small Laboratories" and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) hazardous materials portion (Section H) of 29 CFR 1910. A short and to the point article on Lab Safety.
Future Environment Designs Training Center specializes in asbestos, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, and occupational safety training programs. We offer New York State asbestos and mold certification courses. We design, develop, and maintain the various indoor air quality, asbestos, and safety programs that are Keeping Your Employees Safe.
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Showing posts with label OSHA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OSHA. Show all posts
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
New Joint NIOSH/OSHA Publication on Nail Gun Safety
Image via Wikipedia
The National Institue of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have a new publication called "Nail Gun Safety: A Guide for Construction Contractors." This publication was created as a resource to prevent injuries in the construction industry, including residential construction. While nail guns may boost productivity, nail guns are responsible for tens of thousands of painful injuries each year. One study found that 2 out of 5 residential carpenter apprentices experienced a nail gun injury over a four-year period. When these injuries occur they are often not reported or given any medical treatment. The risk of injury is twice as high when using a multi-shot contact trigger versus using a single-shot sequential trigger nailer. Many years ago, Linda Archipolo of Massapequa made the news on Long Island, when she was working in a Burger King at the Sunrise Mall. A three-inch nail, shot with a nail gun, accidentally went through two walls and landed in Ms. Archipolo's skull. Luckily, she survived. This new publication is intended for residential home builders and construction contractors, subcontractors, supervisors and workers to prevent these kinds of injuries. The guidance was developed in response to a unanimous recommendation by employer, labor and public members of OSHA’s Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH), asking OSHA to develop awareness and materials about nail gun risks. OSHA and NIOSH worked together to make sure the guidance reflects the most current information available. The publication highlights what is known about nail gun injuries, describes the common causes of nail gun injuries and provides six practical steps that contractors can take to prevent these injuries. The guidance includes actual workplace cases along with a short section on other types of nail gun hazards and sources of additional information.
Related articles
- Buyer beware when purchasing nail guns, salespeople know little about safety risks [The Pump Handle] (scienceblogs.com)
- Construction Worker Survives Nail Gun Brain Injury (first4lawyers.com)
- Nail gun attacker blinds workmate, walks (heraldsun.com.au)
- Suicide by nail gun more common, less successful, than you might guess (boingboing.net)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
OSHA Focuses on Tortilla Companies
Image via WikipediaThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Tortilleria Chinantla factory in Brooklyn (a tortilla company) for violations carrying fines totaling over $62,000 after an investigation into the death of a worker, Juan Baten, a 22-year-old Guatemalan immigrant who was married and had a 7-month-old daughter, who fell into an industrial mixing machine at its factory. The death occurred Jan. 24. The most serious violation involved the failure of Tortilleria Chinantla to install a guard barrier on the mixer to prevent employees from coming into contact with its fast-moving machinery. The infraction was classified as “willful,” the most severe category of violation issued by OSHA, and carries a penalty of $42,000. The company was also cited for seven other violations, six of which are labeled “serious.” Among those was the lack of a program to prevent the unintended start-up of machinery.
OSHA also said that after the death of Mr. Baten, investigators inspected the factories of two other Brooklyn tortilla makers and issued a total of 26 violations to those companies. One, Buena Vista Tortillas Corporation, was cited with having 14 violations, 13 of them deemed “serious,” carrying $39,000 in fines. The other, La Tortilleria Mexicana Los Tres Hermanos Corporation, was cited with having 12 serious violations carrying a total of $33,600 in fines.
Related articles
Related articles
- Michele Dufault Death: OSHA Finds Safety Gaps In Yale Lab (huffingtonpost.com)
- Sayreville company cited for 2 safety violations after worker's finger is amputated (nj.com)
- OSHA cites Mantua business, seeks $41,580 in fines (nj.com)
- Did Unsafe Machine Contribute to Yale Student's Death? (news.sciencemag.org)
- Bookmark Explaining Young Workers' Rights Available for Ordering (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Friday, July 08, 2011
CMM Realty Alleged to Have Violated OSH Act and Clean Air Act
The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has sued CMM Realty Inc. for allegedly firing an employee who voiced and reported workplace and environmental concerns regarding asbestos at one of the company's worksites.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, alleges that the company violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act when it terminated the individual's employment. OSHA is asking that the court provide him all appropriate relief, including reinstatement to his former position, back pay, interest and compensatory damages, as well as prohibit the defendant from future violations.
On May 13, 2009, the employee voiced concerns to the owner of CMM Realty concerning asbestos exposure at the company's Briargate Condominiums. The following day, he filed complaints with the South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Conservations. Both agencies conducted inspections and issued citations against CMM Realty for violating asbestos control standards. On that same day, the employee was informed that his services were no longer needed. On May 18, he was notified officially of his termination from the company.
In June 2009, the employee filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA. After conducting an investigation, the agency found that CMM Realty unlawfully had terminated the individual's employment for reporting concerns to management about exposure to asbestos and for filing complaints with the two state agencies. In November 2010, OSHA enforced the whistleblower provisions of the Clean Air Act by ordering the company to reinstate the whistleblower and pay him $56,222 in compensatory damages and back wages, which continue to accumulate while he is out of work. The company appealed that order to the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges, where it awaits review.
OSHA is now suing the company in federal court for violating Section 11(c) of the OSH Act, which forbids companies from discriminating against an employee because he or she has filed a complaint with OSHA.
CMM Realty Inc. is a real estate management corporation with its main office in Columbia, S.C.
OSHA is represented in federal district court by the Labor Department's Office of the Solicitor.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, alleges that the company violated the Occupational Safety and Health Act when it terminated the individual's employment. OSHA is asking that the court provide him all appropriate relief, including reinstatement to his former position, back pay, interest and compensatory damages, as well as prohibit the defendant from future violations.
On May 13, 2009, the employee voiced concerns to the owner of CMM Realty concerning asbestos exposure at the company's Briargate Condominiums. The following day, he filed complaints with the South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Conservations. Both agencies conducted inspections and issued citations against CMM Realty for violating asbestos control standards. On that same day, the employee was informed that his services were no longer needed. On May 18, he was notified officially of his termination from the company.
In June 2009, the employee filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA. After conducting an investigation, the agency found that CMM Realty unlawfully had terminated the individual's employment for reporting concerns to management about exposure to asbestos and for filing complaints with the two state agencies. In November 2010, OSHA enforced the whistleblower provisions of the Clean Air Act by ordering the company to reinstate the whistleblower and pay him $56,222 in compensatory damages and back wages, which continue to accumulate while he is out of work. The company appealed that order to the department's Office of Administrative Law Judges, where it awaits review.
OSHA is now suing the company in federal court for violating Section 11(c) of the OSH Act, which forbids companies from discriminating against an employee because he or she has filed a complaint with OSHA.
CMM Realty Inc. is a real estate management corporation with its main office in Columbia, S.C.
OSHA is represented in federal district court by the Labor Department's Office of the Solicitor.
Related articles
- OSHA Updates Indoor Air Quality Guide (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA Business Regulations (thinkup.waldenu.edu)
- OSHA New Heat Illness Web Page (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA cites York County company for fatal trench collapse in December (pennlive.com)
- OSHA Fines Honeywell, Citing 17 'Serious Violations' at Uranium Facility (talkingunion.wordpress.com)
- OSHA at 40 (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
OSHA New Heat Illness Web Page
Though the weather hasn't been too hot this year, so far, and the first official day of summer was Jun 21, OSHA's new Heat Illness Campaign Web page was designed to assist employers and their employees. The Heat Illness Web page provides educational materials in English and Spanish, as well as a curriculum to be used for workplace training. Multiple copies of publications can be ordered from OSHA's Web site. OSHA is also partnering with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on weather service alerts to incorporate worker safety precautions when heat alerts are issued across the United States. NOAA is also including pertinent worker safety information on its Heat Watch Web page.
Related articles
- Keeping Your Cool This Summer - The Dangers of Heat-Related Illness (homesecuritysource.com)
- OSHA at 40 (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA's Tornado Preparedness & Response (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Staying Safe in the Summer Heat (hhnature.wordpress.com)
- Heat Wave: How You Can Help (fellowshipofthehigherpower.wordpress.com)
- Heat Wave: Hazy, Humid and Wreaking Havoc on Health (abcnews.go.com)
- Bookmark Explaining Young Workers' Rights Available for Ordering (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Friday, June 24, 2011
Bookmark Explaining Young Workers' Rights Available for Ordering
A bookmark explaining young workers' rights is now available for order from the OSHA Publications Web Page. The bookmark has information about workers' rights, work hour restrictions and prohibited jobs, as well as work hazards related to common summer jobs. Additional information on these topics is available on OSHA's Young Workers Web page.
Related articles
- Why the Republican War on Workers' Rights Undermines the American Economy (underpaidgenius.com)
- Do Young Workers Still Need the Labor Movement? (talkingunion.wordpress.com)
- Knowledge of worker rights improves (premierlinedirect.co.uk)
- How the GOP's war on workers' rights undermines the economy (salon.com)
Thursday, June 23, 2011
OSHA Announces Three-month Enforcement Phase-in for Residential Construction Fall Protection
OSHA announced June 9 a three-month enforcement phase-in period to allow residential construction employers to come into compliance with the agency's new directive to provide residential construction workers with fall protection. During the phase-in period June 16-September 15, if an employer is in full compliance with the old directive (STD 03-00-001), OSHA will not issue citations, but will instead issue a hazard alert letter informing the employer of the feasible methods that can be used to comply with OSHA's fall protection standard or implement a written fall protection plan. If the employer's practices do not meet the requirements set in the old directive, OSHA will issue appropriate citations. If an employer fails to implement the fall protection measures outlined in a hazard alert letter, and OSHA finds violations involving the same hazards during a subsequent inspection of one of the employer's workplaces, the Area Office will issue appropriate citations.
OSHA's Residential Fall Protection Web page has many guidance products, including a fall protection slide show*, to help employers comply with the new directive. See the news release for more information.
Related articles
- OSHA at 40 (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA crackdown revisited (lawunderconstruction.com)
- N.L. company charged after fall from roof (cbc.ca)
- OSHA Saves Lives: Trench Collapse Edition (scienceblogs.com)
- Workers die on the job, prevention tools often disregarded (scienceblogs.com)
- OSHA cites Bush airport train operator over fatal crash (chron.com)
Friday, June 17, 2011
OSHA's Tornado Preparedness & Response
First the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) create a website (click here for the CDC site) to help with preparedness for hurricanes and storms, now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has a website for Tornado Preparedness and Response. The tornado preparedness and response site focuses on being prepared by developing an emergency plan and creating checklists (the checklist link brings you to the Red Cross website). While on the response side it discusses employer responsibilities and potential hazards such as:
- Hazardous driving conditions due to slippery and/or blocked roadways
- Slips and falls due to slippery walkways
- Falling and flying objects such as tree limbs and utility poles
- Sharp objects including nails and broken glass
- Electrical hazards from downed power lines or downed objects in contact with power lines
- Falls from heights
- Burns from fires caused by energized line contact or equipment failure
- Exhaustion from working extended shifts
- Heat and Dehydration.
A pretty good website to help you in dealing with the numerous tornados we are encountering this year.
Related articles
- emergency preparedness (teensread.wordpress.com)
- Emergency Preparations (crackerboy.us)
- CDC Providing Resourses for Hurricane Preparedness (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA at 40 (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA: Theater Inspections To Include Emergency Plan Review (newyork.cbslocal.com)
Monday, May 16, 2011
OSHA at 40
Image via WikipediaOn April 28, 1971 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 that was signed by President Richard Nixon on December 29, 1970. Last month, OSHA celebrated it's 40th anniversary/birthday by creating a webpage with a timeline documenting OSHA's 40 years, a video discussing OSHA successes over 40 years, and Assistant Secretary David Michael's presentation to mark its anniversary at the public forum hosted by the Center for American Progress. From this presentation came the following quote: "OSHA doesn't kill jobs, it stops jobs from killing workers." It is an important quote and their are enough statistics that support this statement. If employers get serious about safety, productivity increases, workmen's compensation costs decrease, and employers become more competitive.
Related articles
- OSHA Wins Key Battle Against Insurer in Grain Elevator Accident (legaltimes.typepad.com)
- Long Island OSHA Rep Speaks to the Association of Facilities Engineers (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- 40 Years of OSHA milestones, Visualized (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
Friday, March 25, 2011
Engineering News Record of New York Interviews William Rapetti
Tower Crane in Venice, Italy |
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- Rigger Acquitted in Deadly '08 NYC Crane Collapse (abcnews.go.com)
- Crane rigger found not guilty in 2008 East Side crane collapse (nydailynews.com)
- Rigging contractor found not guilty in New York crane collapse (cnn.com)
- NYC crane rigger cleared in fatal collapse (cbc.ca)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Successful PACNY Conference Gets Even Better The Second Day - Part 2
Roundtable Participants - Mr. Alonge, Mr. Yehl, Mr. Garcia, & Mr. Hart |
Unfortunately, due to the need to check-out of the hotel before 11 AM, we missed Paul Watson's, of ATC Associates, "A Discussion about Mercury." That brought the conference to the main event, Christopher Alonge, PE, of New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) discussing "Code Rule 56 Update." As in previous presentations, Mr. Alonge was nice enough to provide his presentation to the attendees at this link: http://www.pacny.org/docs/2011-ICR-56-Changes.pdf. The attached presentation includes changes made by NY Department of State regarding the Fire/Life Safety proposed changes we have seen in Mr. Alonge's previous presentations. Examples include changing the requirement of a code compliance technician to a code compliance officer for notification/variance sign-off, requirements for required exists, emergency lighting, and portable fire extinguishers. NYSDOL will also be creating a code compliance course for code enforcement officials that will be 4-hours of in-service training. Mr. Alonge is anticipating a schedule of June 2011 for publishing and October 2011 for finalizing. Still not sure if there will be a adoption period. The biggest uproar and most questions during the Q&A period was regarding the proposed NYSDOL change that all asbestos has to be removed before any demolition, renovation, or remodel. This change brought about the most questions and concerns from the audience. After Mr Alonge's presentation an industry roundtable Q&A was moderated by Mr. Sean Hart, of AECOM Environment, and consisted of Mr. Alonge; Mr. Joe Cantone, of Colden Corporation; Mr. Peter DeLucia, of AAC Contracting; Mr. Darren Yehl, of LeChase Construction Services; and Angelo Garcia, III, of FED.
I was honored to be selected on the panel again this year. I enjoyed meeting people that I've met year after year and unfortunately only get to meet at this conference. It seems to me the PACNY organization seems to be getting better and better each year, and I look forward to seeing it continue its growth well into the future.
Related articles
- 15th Annual PACNY Environmental Conference (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Save The Date For PACNY's 15th Annual Environmental Conference (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
OSHA Website Focuses On Green Job Hazards
Wind Farm in California |
The Occupational Safety and Health Adminisitration (OSHA) standards cover many of the hazards in green industries and employers must use the necessary controls to protect workers. The green industry is being defined broadly as an industry that helps to improve the environment. The jobs created by this green industry (typically called green jobs) also create opportunities to help revitalize the economy and get people back to work. Examples of the different green industries include:
- Wind Energy
- Solar Energy
- Geo-thermal
- Biofuels
- Recycling
- Green Roofs
- Hydrogen Fuels
- Weather Insulating/Sealing
Green jobs do not necessarily mean that they are safe jobs. Workers in the green industries may face hazards that are commonly known in workplaces -- such as falls, confined spaces, electrical, fire, and other similar hazards. These hazards may be new to many workers who are moving into the fast-growing green industries. Additionally, workers may be exposed to new hazards which may not have been previously identified. An example of this are workers in the solar energy industry may be exposed to Cadmium Telluride, a known carcinogen, if adequate controls are not implemented. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act) requires employers to comply with safety and health regulations promulgated by OSHA. In addition, the OSH Act’s General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1), requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. In the absence of an OSHA standard, OSHA can enforce the General Duty Clause.
One of the key concept for all industries, but especially those that are just beginning to grow, is "Prevention through Design (PtD)" – designing the process/equipment in a way that eliminates hazards to the workers who use them. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has a web page discussing this concept, visit it at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/PTD/. The basic premise of this is to address occupational safety and health needs in the design process (having occupational safety and health professionals working with design engineers) to prevent or minimize the work-related hazards and risks associated with the construction, manufacture, use, maintenance, and disposal of facilities, materials, and equipment. If the design eliminates the hazard before what is being designed is built, then the hazards may never be created. Visit OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov/dep/greenjobs/index.html to better understand the job hazards in each of the different green industries.
Related articles
- OSHA Reminds Employers Of The Hazards Associated With Ice And Snow Cleanup (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- US Department of Labor's OSHA Withdraws Proposed Interpretation on Occupational Noise (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- OSHA Acts To Protect Residential Roofing Workers (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- AIHA Survey Indicates Issues That Concern Industrial Hygiene Profession (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- OSHA to Roll Out 5 New Rules & Ergonomic Won't Be One of Them (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- "I want those workers to be as safe as those shrimp" - What we still don't know about Deepwater Horizon response health impacts [The Pump Handle] (scienceblogs.com)
- California green job growth outstrips tired old brown economy (grist.org)
- NIOSH Science Blog - "Going Green: Safe and Healthy Jobs"
- OSHA Log Form 300A Posting Due February 1, 2011. (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
OSHA Log Form 300A Posting Due February 1, 2011.
Section 1904 of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations require certain employers to comply with the OSHA recordkeeping guidelines (this includes most employers, see http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/ppt1/RK1exempttable.html for a list of partially exempt industries). This regulation requires OSHA form 301 to be completed for each work related injury/illness. The information from the 301 form is logged onto the OSHA 300 form. At the end of calendar year 2010, the totals from OSHA 300 form is entered onto the OSHA 300A form. The 300A form is the total number of cases (injuries/illnesses), total number of work days lost (due to injuries/illnesses), and total number of injury/illness types from the calendar year 2010 for each facility/work site/employer. The OSHA 300A form must be posted from February 1, 2011 thru April 30, 2011. The 300A form should be posted in a conspicuous place where you normally post employee information. Failure to post can result in citations and penalties. You are required to maintain the OSHA 300 and 300A forms for 5 years following the year they pertain and make them available to employees upon request. To get the forms mentioned above and instructions on how to complete then visit OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/new-osha300form1-1-04.pdf. For more information on recordkeeping requirements visit OSHA's website on recordkeeping at http://www.osha.gov/recordkeeping/index.html. If you need assistance or training on completing these forms you can also contact us at angelo3@futureenv.com.
Related articles
- OSHA's Vision for the Future & Opinion on "Safety Incentive Programs" (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- OSHA Construction Safety Video: OSHA Fall Protection Standards (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- 10 OSHA Recordkeeping Questions Employers Get Wrong (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- 4 months and counting: when will Obama's Regulatory Czar free OSHA's injury surveillance rule? (scienceblogs.com)
- OSHA Proposes $51,000 in Fines Against David H. Koch Theater in New York for Asbestos, Fall and Crushing Hazards (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
OSHA Reminds Employers Of The Hazards Associated With Ice And Snow Cleanup
Image via WikipediaThe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in Region 4 (Georgia) is warning employers of the hazards associated with ice and snow removal. However, with the Northeast being hit by more snow just this week it is important to remember these hazards ourselves.
Common hazards can include:
Common hazards can include:
- Electric shock from contact with downed power lines or the use of ungrounded electrical equipment.
- Falls from clearing ice jams in gutters, snow removal on roofs or while working in aerial lifts or on ladders.
- Being struck or crushed by trees, branches or structures that collapse under the weight of accumulated ice.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning from gasoline-powered generators in inadequately ventilated areas or idling vehicles.
- Lacerations or amputations from unguarded or improperly operated chain saws and power tools, and improperly attempting to clear jams in snow blowers.
- Slips or falls on icy or snow-covered walking surfaces.
- Being struck by motor vehicles while working in roadways.
- Hypothermia or frostbite from exposure to cold temperatures.
- Assuming all power lines are energized, keeping a distance and coordinating with utility companies.
- Making certain that all electrically powered equipment is grounded.
- Providing and ensuring the use of effective fall protection.
- Properly using and maintaining ladders.
- Using caution around surfaces weighed down by large amounts of ice.
- Making certain all powered equipment is properly guarded and disconnected from power sources before cleaning or performing maintenance.
- Using and wearing eye, face and body protection.
- Clearing walking surfaces of snow and ice, and using salt or its equivalent where appropriate.
- Establishing and clearly marking work zones.
- Wearing reflective clothing.
- Using engineering controls, personal protective equipment and safe work practices to reduce the length and severity of exposure to the cold.
Related articles
- What OSHA Expects: The Electrical & Arc Flash Safety Questions OSHA Will Ask During an Investigation (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- OSHA Quick Takes - January 15, 2011 (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- OSHA to Roll Out 5 New Rules & Ergonomic Won't Be One of Them (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- OSHA Proposes $51,000 in Fines Against David H. Koch Theater in New York for Asbestos, Fall and Crushing Hazards (futureenv.blogspot.com)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
OSHA Acts To Protect Residential Roofing Workers
Fall Protection established for this roof project. |
"Fatalities from falls are the number one cause of workplace deaths in construction. We cannot tolerate workers getting killed in residential construction when effective means are readily available to prevent those deaths," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. "Almost every week, we see a worker killed from falling off a residential roof. We can stop these fatalities, and we must."
The National Association of Home Builders recommended rescinding the 1995 directive, as did OSHA's labor-management Advisory Committee for Construction Safety and Health; the AFL-CIO; and the Occupational Safety and Health State Plan Association, which represents the 27 states and territories that run their own occupational safety and health programs.
According to data from the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average of 40 workers are killed each year as a result of falls from residential roofs. One-third of those deaths represent Latino workers, who often lack sufficient access to safety information and protections. Latino workers comprise more than one-third of all construction employees.
OSHA's action rescinds the Interim Fall Protection Compliance Guidelines for Residential Construction, Standard 03-00-001. Prior to the issuance of this new directive, Standard 03-00-001 allowed employers engaged in certain residential construction activities to use specified alternative methods of fall protection rather than the conventional fall protection required by the residential construction fall protection standard. With the issuance of today's new directive, all residential construction employers must comply with 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1926.501(b)(13). Where residential builders find that traditional fall protection is not feasible in residential environments, 29 CFR 1926.501(b)(13) still allows for alternative means of providing protection.
Construction and roofing companies will have up to six months to comply with the new directive. OSHA has developed training and compliance assistance materials for small employers and will host a webinar for parties interested in learning more about complying with the standard. To view the directive and for more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/doc/residential_fall_protection.html.
Related articles
- US Labor Department's OSHA Acts to Protect Residential Roofing Workers (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- OSHA Announces Fall Protection Directive for Residential Construction Workers (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- OSHA Cites New York Contractor for Steel Erection, Fall and Scaffold Hazards After Fatality (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- OSHA Cites Naperville, Illinois Roofing Business (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Freeport
Image via WikipediaCarbon monoxide that seeped out from a faulty heating system at La Mar Plastic Packaging on Tuesday December 28, 2010 sent dozens of people to the hospital - two with serious injuries - Nassau County fire and village officials said. La Mar Plastic Packaging located at 216 N. Main St. in Freeport, called Freeport Firefighters about 10:30 a.m., and rescuers evacuated dozens of people complaining of headaches, dizziness and nausea from the structure, said Vincent McManus, a district supervisor for the Nassau fire marshal's office.
After a preliminary investigation, fire officials, members of the Freeport Building Department and the county's hazardous materials team determined that the deadly gas came from hanging gas-fired heaters in the building, McManus said.
Mark Stuparich, an assistant chief for the Freeport Fire Department, said it was unlikely the building was equipped with a carbon-monoxide detector. "The thing would have been going off all morning," he said. Assistant Chief Stuparich said readings of indoor air showed upward of 500 parts per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), normal indoor levels are 5 ppm or less. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the permissible exposure limit is 50 parts per million or less in an eight-hour period.
After a preliminary investigation, fire officials, members of the Freeport Building Department and the county's hazardous materials team determined that the deadly gas came from hanging gas-fired heaters in the building, McManus said.
Mark Stuparich, an assistant chief for the Freeport Fire Department, said it was unlikely the building was equipped with a carbon-monoxide detector. "The thing would have been going off all morning," he said. Assistant Chief Stuparich said readings of indoor air showed upward of 500 parts per million (ppm) of carbon monoxide. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), normal indoor levels are 5 ppm or less. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the permissible exposure limit is 50 parts per million or less in an eight-hour period.
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- Carbon Monoxide May Be Greater Threat in Winter (nlm.nih.gov)
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- Carbon monoxide sends 31 to Sask. hospital (cbc.ca)
- Carbon monoxide detectors to be mandatory in all Manitoba homes: report (thestar.com)
- Carbon-monoxide fumes likely killed 5 teens in motel (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- 5 dead in Florida motel room carbon monoxide poisoning (ctv.ca)
- Fire officials urge carbon monoxide detectors (ajc.com)
- Health Update: Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (harlemworldblog.wordpress.com)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
AIHA Survey Indicates Issues That Concern Industrial Hygiene Profession
Image via WikipediaThe American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) conducts a biennial public policy survey of its members to determine concerns for the industrial hygiene profession in 2011-2012. The survey was conducted on-line in October, 2010. The AIHA uses the survey to list the top public policy issues of concern to AIHA members and the occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) profession over the next two years. AIHA will review existing white papers and position statements, as well as draft new position statements, to determine the appropriate response to each of the issues.
Overall the Top Issues for 2011-2012 are:
Overall the Top Issues for 2011-2012 are:
- Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) – Updating The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) PELs are consensus-based limits that indicate how long an individual can be exposed to a particular substance without experiencing harmful effects. The occupational health and safety profession considers PELs to be one of the most basic tools needed to protect workers. However, many PELs have not been updated since the 1960s and 1970s. Science in this area has matured, but the PELs have not. AIHA continues to work with OSHA, Congress and others to reach a consensus on the best way to update the PELs.
- Injury and Illness Prevention Program (I2P2) - OSHA is developing a rule to require employers to establish and maintain an Injury and Illness Prevention Program. It involves identifying and controlling hazards as well as planning, implementing, evaluating and improving processes and activities that protect employee safety and health. AIHA has been providing leadership in the development of OHS management science and practice since its inception. AIHA supports the need and importance in defining effective occupational health and safety programs and the acceptance in the IH and safety community that hazard assessment and implementation of a written safety and health program are parts of minimum acceptable professional practice on any work site.
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) / Globally Harmonized System (GHS) AIHA supports efforts to improve the accuracy of MSDS and supports efforts to improve hazard communication for employers and employees. Such efforts are also a crucial element in protecting workers and others in case of national emergencies. A major part of improving hazard communication is adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). AIHA supports adoption of the GHS.
- Professional Recognition/Title Protection - This issue continues to appear in the top public policy issues for AIHA, as it has since 1993. Professional recognition/title protection allows industrial hygienists and others who have met minimum educational and experience requirements (such as certified industrial hygienists and certified safety professionals) to be legally defined and recognized as competent to perform certain work without the need for additional requirements. One area of concern is the continued influx of specific occupational health and safety titles that are awarded by non-accredited bodies and the attempt to recognize these titles in various policy making activities. AIHA continues to educate federal and state policymakers about the importance of recognizing those professionals who have received education and certification from nationally recognized and accredited organizations.
- OSHA Reform and NIOSH Recognition - Each year Congress introduces and considers legislation to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This legislation addresses many parts of the OSH Act, including criminal penalties, whistleblower protections, expansion of coverage, and the Voluntary Protection Program. AIHA supports efforts to review and amend the OSH Act if changes provide added protection for workers. AIHA also supports efforts to protect the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) from attempts to diminish the importance of the Institute and its research. AIHA supports appropriations to adequately fund both OSHA and NIOSH.
- Laboratory Accreditation - Accredited laboratories are the best way to ensure that test samples of potential workplace hazards are analyzed correctly. AIHA continues working to see that the AIHA laboratory accreditation program is internationally recognized and noted in federal and state legislation and regulation as one of the programs with recognition and acceptance.
Related articles
- AIHA Top Public Policy Occupational And Environmental Health And Safety Issues (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- Review of Northeast Industrial Hygiene Conference and Exposition (futureenv.blogspot.com)
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