Don't miss the largest networking event of the year!
180 Businesses will showcase their
products and services this Thursday, June 6th at the SUNY Field House. Join
us from 10 - 5 to learn what area businesses can do for, enter to win
hundreds of prizes, and make new business contacts.
Admission is $5. Or, Like the North
Country Chamber on Facebook TODAY for Free Admission. The VIP
List will be printed tomorrow - so be sure to Like us Today and you will be
on the list for free admission. Click
for more info
|
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.
Search This Blog
Showing posts with label Plattsburgh OSHA training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plattsburgh OSHA training. Show all posts
Monday, June 03, 2013
Future Environment Designs Will Be Exhibiting at Plattsburgh Business Expo
We are looking forward to our annual exhibit at the 25th Annual Business Expo on this Thursday, June 6, 2013 at the Plattsburgh State University Field House. Join us from 10 AM to 5 PM and we can discuss the various training courses we provide in the area. We hope to see you there! In addition, if you "Like" the North Country Chamber on Facebook you can get Free Admission. Follow the link below:
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Filtering Facepiece Respirator or Dust Mask. Which is it?
Well the answer to the question in the title is similar to you saying tomatoe or tomato. They are two ways of saying the same thing. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) a dust mask is a filtering facepiece respirator. For those involved in the safety and health field that is not news. However, for everyone else it is. In fact, we would argue that the average worker doesn't even consider the dust mask a respirator. We recently ran into this miscommunication between an employer who was providing filtering facepiece respirators on a voluntary basis and assumed when the OSHA compliance safety and health officer was asking about respirators they were talking about the ones used in the paint booth. Paint booth respirators were required, but the filtering facepiece respirators were not. You could imagine the conversation.
Muster einer Atemluft-Einwegmaske (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
|
What is the consequence of such a miscommunication? Well once you require the wearing of filtering facepiece respirators in the workplace, these respirators must follow all the requirements of 1910.134 the OSHA respiratory protection standard. Which means the workers must be medically cleared to wear the respirator, fit tested with the respirator to ensure it fits, and trained on the use of the respirator. However, if the filtering facepiece respirator is being used voluntarily, all you must provide is Appendix D of standard "Information for Employees Wearing Respirators When Not Required Under The Standard." A big difference in requirements. So be very careful when answering this question during an OSHA workplace inspection.
Another problem with dust masks is illustrated by the photo above in an article about Suffolk County's plan to spray pesticides. What is wrong with the picture? Well if this worker is spraying pesticides he is wearing the wrong respirator. Filtering facepiece respirators (dust masks) only protect from dust or particulates. They do not protect against chemicals that are in the form of mists, vapors, or gases (which is the form that the worker in the picture is spraying). These forms of chemicals would penetrate through the mask or worse will be absorbed into the filter and potentially concentrate the chemical or allow the chewmical to sit on worker's face.
The only reason for wearing a filtering facepiece respirator (dust mask) is for nuisance dusts (i.e., wood dust, pollen, grass clippings, etc.). Though this respirator is very comfortable, and lighweight, in our view, it is very dangerous because it is readily available, many people are using it improperly, and many people believe it can do more than it was designed to do. Use this resapirator very carefully and again only for nuisance dusts, nothing more. Be safe out there!
Related articles
- Worker Health Advocates Say 9/11 Mistakes Repeated in Sandy Clean-up (inthesetimes.com)
- City contract workers exposed to asbestos while on the job: "I'm scared" (khou.com)
- Safety is missing from productivity debates (safetyatworkblog.com)
Monday, January 14, 2013
What Out-of-State Employers with Employees Working in New York State Need to Know.
We received a recent newsletter from Dan Borgna at the Dale Group. The newsletter discussed the Workers Compensation/Disability requirements for out-of-state contractors. We found it very interesting with permission from Mr. Borgna of the Dale Group (Thank you for allowing us to reprint it) here is the newsletter post:
As part of the 2007 Workers' Compensation Reform Legislation, all out-of-state employers with at least one employee working in New York State will be required to carry a full statutory New York State workers' compensation insurance policy. The workers' compensation insurance policy must be effective no later than the first day you have employees working in NY State.
Misconception - "I have all states coverage listed in section 3.c of my home state workers compensation policy".
Reality- As part of the reform, having "all states" in section 3.c is no longer valid. "NY" must be specifically listed in section 3.a of the workers compensation declarations page or endorsement.
Penalties - Failure to maintain this coverage can result in the following:
If you have one or more employees for 30 days in a calendar year, you are required to obtain NYS disability benefits insurance coverage. Such insurance must be effective no later than four weeks after the 30th day you have employees.
Penalties under the Disability Benefits Law
http://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/forms/oc923.pdf
If you have no office location in New York, but have employees on
site in NY, this article is important to your business.
WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
New York State workers' compensation insurance covers employees
for work-related accidents, injuries or illness. As part of the 2007 Workers' Compensation Reform Legislation, all out-of-state employers with at least one employee working in New York State will be required to carry a full statutory New York State workers' compensation insurance policy. The workers' compensation insurance policy must be effective no later than the first day you have employees working in NY State.
Misconception - "I have all states coverage listed in section 3.c of my home state workers compensation policy".
Reality- As part of the reform, having "all states" in section 3.c is no longer valid. "NY" must be specifically listed in section 3.a of the workers compensation declarations page or endorsement.
Penalties - Failure to maintain this coverage can result in the following:
1. Failure to carry Workers' Compensation
Insurance for more than 5 employees within a twelve month period is a class E
felony and is punishable by a fine not less than $5,000 nor more than $50,000.
2. For 5 or less employees within a twelve
month period, it is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not less than $1,000 nor
more than $5,000.
3. Subsequent convictions within a 5 year
period shall constitute a class D felony and fines not less than $10,000 nor
more than $50,000.
4. Any employer who fails to maintain a
workers' compensation policy when it is required or owes a fine or assessment
to the Board may be issued a stop-work order, meaning the business must shut
down all activity until the order is lifted.
5. A penalty in the sum of $2,000 for each
ten-day period of non-compliance or a sum not in excess of two times the cost
of compensation for the period of such failure may be imposed
DISABILITY BENEFITS INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
NY State statutory disability benefits (DB) insurance coverage is
totally different from and is not included in NYS workers' compensation
insurance coverage. Statutory NY State disability benefits insurance covers
employees for off-the-job accident, injury or illness. If you have one or more employees for 30 days in a calendar year, you are required to obtain NYS disability benefits insurance coverage. Such insurance must be effective no later than four weeks after the 30th day you have employees.
Penalties under the Disability Benefits Law
1. Failure to carry Disability Benefits
Insurance is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $100 nor more
than $500 or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, with increased
monetary penalties for second and third or subsequent violations, and
2. Where an employee of a non-insured
employer is disabled due to an off-the-job injury or illness, the noninsured
employer will be responsible for payment of the amount of benefits to which the
employee is entitled or for payment of 1% of his/her payroll for the period of
non-compliance, whichever is greater. And
3. Where an employer fails to carry
Disability Benefits Insurance, the Chair will impose a penalty not in excess of
½ of 1% of the employer's weekly payroll for the period of non-compliance and a
further amount not in excess of $500
Employees traveling through the State not stopping for deliveries,
pick-ups, or other work are not deemed to have worked a day here. An employer
that has reason to know that it will meet these criteria in the current year,
even if it has not done so in the prior year, must obtain the required
coverage.
For a complete description of the Form and Regulation, please
visit the following link at the New York State Workers Compensation Board.http://www.wcb.ny.gov/content/main/forms/oc923.pdf
If you are concerned that your company may not be compliant,
please contact Dan Borgna at Dale Group (973)437-9664 or danb@dalegroup.com who
will be happy to discuss the matter with you.
Related articles
- Does your business need workers' compensation insurance? (hiscoxusa.com)
- Workers Compensation back-and-forth (timesunion.com)
- Evidence exists of productivity benefits of OHS but no one is using it (safetyatworkblog.com)
Monday, December 31, 2012
Happy New Year - 2013
Future Environment Designs would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year! May it be a healthy, safe, and prosperous one, for all of us. It is usually a tradition for companies and people to make resolutions for the new year. At Future Environment Designs we resolve to honor our clients who have supported us for what will be 25 years in business in 2013. To start meeting that resolution, we proudly announce our referral program.
Future Environment Design's Referral Program - we set this up to honor those clients who have referred training and indoor air quality/OSHA compliance consulting work to us. Any client who refers training and/or indoor air quality/OSHA compliance consulting work to us will receive a 5% discount on their training/indoor air quality/OSHA compliance consulting work. This would be in addition to any other discounts given. So a client who has attended training with us before would be discounted 15% for loyalty and 5% for referring work to us, for a total discount of 20% off. Future Environment Designs relies on word-of-mouth to maintain our level of revenue. We feel this is a way to reward our clients who typically refer work to us and spread the word about our company.
Happy New Year!
Happy 2013 - May it be Healthy, Prosperous, & Safe! |
Future Environment Design's Referral Program - we set this up to honor those clients who have referred training and indoor air quality/OSHA compliance consulting work to us. Any client who refers training and/or indoor air quality/OSHA compliance consulting work to us will receive a 5% discount on their training/indoor air quality/OSHA compliance consulting work. This would be in addition to any other discounts given. So a client who has attended training with us before would be discounted 15% for loyalty and 5% for referring work to us, for a total discount of 20% off. Future Environment Designs relies on word-of-mouth to maintain our level of revenue. We feel this is a way to reward our clients who typically refer work to us and spread the word about our company.
Happy New Year!
Related articles
- Merry Holidays! (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- Chamber Set Challenging Agenda for 2013 (sbmonthly.com)
- OSHA Forecast: Developments to Watch For In 2013 (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)
- Most Popular 2013 New Year's Resolution (poetryman69.typepad.com)
- Welcoming A Better 2013 By Making New Year Resolutions Achievable (idostartup.com)
- Small Business: Making New Year's resolutions stick (newsday.com)
Thursday, March 22, 2012
OSHA Quicktakes Announces HAZCOMM Standard Revision
The March 22, 2012 (Volume 11, Issue 7) of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) "QuickTakes" anounced "OSHA Aligns HazardCommunication Standard with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System ofClassification and Labeling of Chemicals." This announcement has been awaited by the environmental, industrial hygiene, and safety industry for some time now. The QuickTakes discusses the March 20 press teleconference hosted by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis joined by Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels announcing the final rule updating OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard.
The purpose of the revision is to align the standard with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals. The standard should better protect workers and help American businesses compete in a global economy.
Assistant Secretary Michaels explained that OSHA's revised Hazard Communication standard (HCS), which will be fully implemented in 2016, benefits workers by reducing confusion in the workplace, facilitating safety training, and improving understandings of hazards, especially for low-wage and limited-literacy workers. The harmonized standard will classify chemicals according to their health and physical hazards, and establish consistent labels and safety data sheets (SDS) for all chemicals made in the United States or imported from abroad. For more information, listen to an audio-recording of the press conference and see the press release.
Employers must train workers on the new label elements and SDS format by December 1, 2013. Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers must comply with all modified provisions of the final rule by June 1, 2015. However, distributors may ship products labeled by manufacturers under the old system until December 1, 2015. By June 1, 2016, employers must update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication programs as necessary, and provide additional worker training for new identified physical and health hazards. During this transition period, all chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers may comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final standard), or the current standard, or both.
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) pictogram for corrosive substances (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Assistant Secretary Michaels explained that OSHA's revised Hazard Communication standard (HCS), which will be fully implemented in 2016, benefits workers by reducing confusion in the workplace, facilitating safety training, and improving understandings of hazards, especially for low-wage and limited-literacy workers. The harmonized standard will classify chemicals according to their health and physical hazards, and establish consistent labels and safety data sheets (SDS) for all chemicals made in the United States or imported from abroad. For more information, listen to an audio-recording of the press conference and see the press release.
Employers must train workers on the new label elements and SDS format by December 1, 2013. Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers must comply with all modified provisions of the final rule by June 1, 2015. However, distributors may ship products labeled by manufacturers under the old system until December 1, 2015. By June 1, 2016, employers must update alternative workplace labeling and hazard communication programs as necessary, and provide additional worker training for new identified physical and health hazards. During this transition period, all chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers may comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200 (this final standard), or the current standard, or both.
Related articles
- OSHA Quick Takes - SPECIAL ISSUE: OSHA Aligns Hazard Communication Standard with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (ehssafetynews.com)
- US Department of Labor's OSHA revises Hazard Communication Standard (prnewswire.com)
- Workplace Safety and Law Development Expected in 2012 (unitedallianceservices.typepad.com)
- Global Harmonization: What You Need To Know - and Do (ehssafetynews.com)
- Gov't requires new labels for hazardous chemicals (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
- Gov't requires new labels for hazardous chemicals (news.yahoo.com)
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Study: Number of NYC Construction Industry Workers Falls in 2011 | ENR: Engineering News Record | McGraw-Hill Construction
Study: Number of NYC Construction Industry Workers Falls in 2011 | ENR: Engineering News Record | McGraw-Hill Construction
Interesting study showing the number of construction industry workers fell from 2009. However, more interesting is the fact that 55% of construction workers are doing without health insurance. That is up from 53% from 2009. Another interesting statistic is that Black non-Hispanics were up 2% from 2009; and Asian workers were up 12% from 2009. Though these statistics indicate what most of us already knew, that the economy is significantly hurting the construction industry. We hope the New Year will bring new projects into construction industry.
Interesting study showing the number of construction industry workers fell from 2009. However, more interesting is the fact that 55% of construction workers are doing without health insurance. That is up from 53% from 2009. Another interesting statistic is that Black non-Hispanics were up 2% from 2009; and Asian workers were up 12% from 2009. Though these statistics indicate what most of us already knew, that the economy is significantly hurting the construction industry. We hope the New Year will bring new projects into construction industry.
Related articles
- Will the Construction Industry Rebound in 2012? The Debate Rages On (constructionlawva.com)
- The Best States For Construction Workers (larrysconstructionblog.com)
- Green Jobs Make Up One-Third of Construction Workforce: McGraw Hill (ibtimes.com)
- How Much Does A Construction Worker Make? (celebritynetworth.com)
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
New OSHA Website For Winter Storms
Just before the holidays, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a new website regarding Winter Storms. Even though the northeast got snow on halloween, so far this year it has been tame regarding winter storms. Last winter was a different story, which is probably the reason OSHA has published this informational site to assist employers in proteecting workers from the anticipated hazards
associated with winter storm response and recovery operations that
workers are likely to conduct.
The site provides information in preparing for a winter storm, response and recovery, and additional resources. Preparation includes such things as listening to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio or going to the NOAA Watch website for information on the storm, winterizing your car, preparing and carrying an emergency kit. Response and recovery includes information regarding the different hazards workers may face, such as driving/vehicle accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia and frostbite, exhaustion, dehydration, back injuries and heart attack, slips and falls, electrocution, burns, being struck by falling objects, roof collapse, and lacerations or amputations.
The site is a very good source of information for preventing the hazards discussed above. In particular the winterizing your car part is very helpful in getting yourself ready for the winter storms that are only a matter of time before they get here.
The site provides information in preparing for a winter storm, response and recovery, and additional resources. Preparation includes such things as listening to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio or going to the NOAA Watch website for information on the storm, winterizing your car, preparing and carrying an emergency kit. Response and recovery includes information regarding the different hazards workers may face, such as driving/vehicle accidents, carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia and frostbite, exhaustion, dehydration, back injuries and heart attack, slips and falls, electrocution, burns, being struck by falling objects, roof collapse, and lacerations or amputations.
The site is a very good source of information for preventing the hazards discussed above. In particular the winterizing your car part is very helpful in getting yourself ready for the winter storms that are only a matter of time before they get here.
Related articles
- OSHA Winter Storm Preparedness Tips & Guidelines (ehssafetynews.com)
- Read The Preamble, To Better Understand The Standards (futureenv.blogspot.com)
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)
Monday, August 15, 2011
Future Environment Designs Sponsors Mycobacterium tuberculosis: TB Video.
Image by Microbe World via FlickrFuture Environment Designs is proud to sponsor a new informational video on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This video is designed as a public service awareness video on the topic of Tuberculosis (TB) which is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Related articles
- New WHO guidelines call for more evidence on drug-resistant TB (eurekalert.org)
- Scientists explain unique activity of TB drug pyrazinamide (eurekalert.org)
- Many TB Tests Lead To Misdiagnoses, Warns World Health Organization (meridiannurse.wordpress.com)
- Weekly Dose Post: Tuberculosis (nursingadream.wordpress.com)
- Future Environment Designs sponsors Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax Video (futureenv.blogspot.com)
- March 24th was world TB day (jepoirrier.org)
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Major Recall of Shock Absorbing Lanyards Under Way
Petzl America Inc. of Clearfield, Utah, has voluntarily recalled about 375,000 Scorpio and Absorbica shock-absorbing lanyards that have been sold since 2002, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced July 12. Some of the lanyards are missing a safety stitch on the attachment loop, which could cause the lanyard to separate from the climbing harness, the posted announcement states.
Related articles
- Recall news (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Thursday, July 07, 2011
North Country Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo a Success
FED Booth at the North Country Business Expo |
The 186 exhibitors ranged from Champlain Vally Hospital, AT&T, to a local pharmacy. Some interesting included Nova Bus, Lake City Fire Equipment, and the Wild Center. Lake City Fire Equipment (www.lakecityfireequipment.com) does training, service, sale, and inspection of fire extinguishers. While The Wild Center (http://wildcenter.org/index.php) is a not-for-profit organization located on a 31-acre site in the Town of Tupper Lake, NY near the geographic center of the Adirondack Park. The Wild Center is dedicated to understanding the Adirondack Park, and is committed to helping people explore not a small collection, but one that lives and breathes across the entire expanse of the Adirondacks.
Though the venue was very hot and stifling at times, we had a great event and made several new contacts. We set several goals for the Business Expo to assist our business (primary goal was to increase the contacts we had in the area), and we feel these goals were accomplished, making this a very worthwhile event.
Related articles
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Chrysotile Asbestos Banned? More Like Certain Conditions of Use Will Be Eventually Banned!
Many of you, as did I, read about the " Ban of Chrysotile Asbestos " and rejoiced over something long overdue. However, after rea...
-
… … … This debate regarding asbestos floor tiles started at the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York's ...
-
We attended the Environmental Information Association (EIA) 2022 National Conference and Exhibition in Phoenix, Arizona from March 20, thro...
-
Every year at this time the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers with 10 or more employees to post the O...