CDC Warning About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning,

Thursday, February 17, Newsday published the following news story; "Cops: Accident kills couple in their beds."  The news story is about a Garden City couple being poisoned by carbon monoxide from their car that they left running in the garage.  This tragedy could have been prevented if the carbon monoxide detector was working in the couple's home.  Image via WikipediaCarbon Monoxide (CO) is a deadly killer that kills more than 400 people in the U. S. every year.  CO is found in fumes produced by portable generators, stoves, lanterns, and gas ranges, automobiles, or by burning charcoal and wood.  CO from these sources can build up in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces.  People and animals in these spaces can be poisoned and can die from breathing CO.

The most common symptoms of CO poisoning are headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. People who are sleeping or who have been drinking alcohol can die from CO poisoning before ever having symptoms.

Important CO Poisoning Prevention Tips:

• Change the batteries in your CO detector every six months.  If you don't have a battery-powered or battery back-up CO detector, buy one soon.
• Never use a gas range or oven to heat a home.
• Never leave the motor running in a vehicle parked in an enclosed or partially enclosed space, such as a garage.
• Never run a motor vehicle, generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine outside an open window, door, or vent where exhaust can vent into an enclosed area.
• Never run a generator, pressure washer, or any gasoline-powered engine inside a basement, garage, or other enclosed structure, even if the doors or windows are open, unless the equipment is professionally installed and vented.  Keep vents and flues free of debris, especially if winds are high. Flying debris can block ventilation lines.
• Never use a charcoal grill, hibachi, lantern, or portable camping stove inside a home, tent, or camper.
• If conditions are too hot or too cold, seek shelter with friends or at a community shelter.
• If CO poisoning is suspected, consult a health care professional right away.

CO poisoning is entirely preventable. You can protect yourself and your family by acting wisely in case of a power outage and learning the symptoms of CO poisoning.  For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/co.

Related articles

• Tips to avoid carbon-monoxide poisoning (nydailynews.com)
• 4 dead of apparent carbon monoxide poisoning in CA (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• South Brunswick workers are treated for carbon monoxide poisoning (nj.com)
• Health Update: Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (harlemworldblog.wordpress.com)
• Official: Carbon monoxide sickens 54 at Colorado hockey game (cnn.com)
• Carbon monoxide danger from indoor burning (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Carbon monoxide poisoning at Lynnwood apartment (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Indoor Environment Connections Discusses Fungal Infection

Air Ducts Are the Lungs of the Building

In the October 2010 issue of Indoor Environment Connections (page 14), Mr. Paul Cochrane, President of Cochrane and Assoc., discusses his experience regarding a fungal infection of his lungs that at first made him think he was having a heart attack.  It is an excellently written story I suggest you read it to help you become more aware of the symptoms and problems occupants face when encountering infections.  Being in the indoor air quality industry and reading this story, allows me to better anticipate what an occupant may experiencing.  Hope it helps you, too.

Related articles

• Mother Nature's toxic little secret (mnn.com)
• Species loss could ramp up infections (holykaw.alltop.com)

Asthma Control Study Indicates a Home Visit Strategy is Successful.

Image via WikipediaIn a study published in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology (Volume 23, Number 2, 2010) called “Home Is Where the Triggers Are: Increasing Asthma Control by Improving the Home Environment” by James Krieger, MD, MPH discusses effectiveness of a home visit strategy. A home visit strategy should include an environmental component that addresses multiple triggers. Visitors assess home environmental conditions, tailor education on how to eliminate triggers to the client’s sensitization status and exposures found in the home, provide trigger reduction resources (eg, vacuums, cleaning supplies, bedding encasements and referral to smoking cessation), help with cockroach and rodent integrated pest management, make minor repairs and provide social support. An important part of the strategy is that visitors build trusting relationships with clients, thus enhancing their effectiveness in motivating behavior changes. These home visits reduce exposure to triggers, decrease symptoms and urgent health-care use, and increase quality of life. Home visit program cost per client ranges from $200 to $1500 based on the type of home visitor and the intensity of the intervention. However, a cost-effectiveness analysis concluded that these home visits have a return on investment of 5.3 – 14.0 and a cost of $12 - $57 per symptom-free day gained. It is important to note that the annual cost of inhaled fluticasone (220ug) is approximately $1567. The study discusses the Seattle-King County Healthy Homes program as an example of a successful program.


The study also talks about the strong evidence that links exposure to allergens commonly found in homes such as those derived from dust mites, cockroaches, rodents, molds, and pet dander, to sensitization and subsequent asthma incidence and morbidity. Exposure to indoor allergens is widespread, with >92% of homes containing sufficient concentrations of at least one allergen in dust to cause symptoms in sensitized individuals and 46% with exposure to three or more. In addition to allergens, other indoor asthma triggers include tobacco smoke, nitrogen oxides from combustion devices, irritants from volatile organic compounds, and fungi.

Related articles

• Allergic Asthma (findmeacure.com)
• Doubts over mild asthma treatment (bbc.co.uk)
• Occupational Asthma (respiratorytherapycave.blogspot.com)
• Fall and winter asthma triggers (respiratorytherapycave.blogspot.com)

NYC Schools In The News Again for PCBs.

Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reported that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found three more schools in New York City with leaking polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) lighting ballasts.  The agency took 14 samples from light fixtures at an East Harlem School complex consisting of P.S. 206, P.S. 37 and P.S. 112 and found that 12 were above the regulatory limit. The three schools are located at 508 E. 120th St, Manhattan.  This is the fifth school site testing positive for PCBs, other sites included Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Bronx.  According to Metro, New York City Department of Education spokeswoman Marge Feinberg said they’ve replaced all the toxic lights found by the EPA thus far, but the estimated cost for checking and/or replacing all the lights in public schools throughout the five boroughs is $1 billion, which NYC does not have.  EPA has been studying this problem for years and has produced a website covering the "Proper Maintenance, Removal, and Disposal of PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts".  The purpose of this website is to provide information to school administrators and maintenance personnel on the risks posed by PCBs in light ballasts, how to properly handle and dispose of these items, and how to properly retrofit the lighting fixtures in your school to remove the potential PCB hazards.  The website covers the following areas:

• Why Should I Be Concerned about PCBs in My School?
• What Are the Health Effects of PCBs?
• Do My Fluorescent Light Ballasts Contain PCBs?
• Should the Light Ballasts in My School Be Removed?
• What Should I Do if My Fluorescent Light Ballasts Contain PCBs?
• Is It Really Necessary to Retrofit the PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts in My School?
• What Are the Risks and Potential Costs of Not Replacing the PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts in My School?
• Are Students and Teachers in Danger if There are Leaking PCB-Containing Light Ballasts in Their School?
• What Are the Special Procedures for Cleanup and Decontamination after a Ballast Leak or Fire?
• How Do I Retrofit the PCB-Containing Fluorescent Light Ballasts in My School?
• What Type of Waste Will Be Associated with a Retrofit and How Do I Handle It?
• What Are the Cost Savings Associated with a Retrofit?
• What if a Retrofit Is Not Feasible in My Current Budget?

As EPA continues its investigation of NYC schools,  we are sure we will continue to see headlines like these well into the future. 

Related articles

• Green: PCBs 5, New York 0: School Tests Continue (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
• 3 More NYC Schools Found With Elevated PCBs (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• Letter: Ridding Schools of PCBs (nytimes.com)
• Toxic PCBs Leaking into NYC Schools (inhabitat.com)
• Parents Seek Action on Toxic PCBs in New York Schools (news.change.org)
• EPA Inspection Finds PCBs In Another NYC School (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• PCBs Found in Another School During EPA Spot-Check (wnyc.org)
• EPA Issues Guidance On PCB-Containing Fluorescent Lights (environmentalleader.com)
• EPA warns of PCB-laden school lights (news.cnet.com)

 

Asbestos Worries Close Saint Louis Park Schools

Image by angelogarciaiii via FlickrThose of us in the asbestos industry will find the above news story very interesting (find the original news story at StarTribune.com).  The officials of St. Louis Park schools in Minnesota were worried that asbestos floor tiles (approximately 10% asbestos) were being worn down, by tracked-in salt and sand, and could be releasing dangerous asbestos.  The officials decided to close the city's junior and senior high schools on Monday, February 14, 2011.  The schools will remain closed Tuesday as state and school officials work to assess the hazard and determine if other schools face similar problems.  Asbestos floor tile was commonly installed in hundreds of 1960s-era schools across the metro area, but it remains unclear how many could still have the asbestos tile or how much risk St. Louis Park students faced, said one expert at the Minnesota Department of Health.
Quoted in the article was Diedra Hudgens, senior project manager at Brooklyn Park-based Institute for Environmental Assessment, or IEA.  Her company tested the two St. Louis Park schools for asbestos Monday and Tuesday and will be "taking a closer eye" on the 60 other Minnesota schools it works with.  "We're definitely going to be informing our clients -- other school districts -- about what we found, and we'll definitely be taking steps to monitor it," said Diedra Hudgens.  "Every district has an elementary school or something this vintage."
So what started this concern of salt and sand releasing asbestos?  St. Louis Park school staffers complained late last week about dust outside a school nurse's office, prompting IEA tests on Saturday.  A protective wax layer had been worn down by salt and sand tracked in from roads and sidewalks, dulling the floor.  As a precautionary measure on Monday, school was dismissed for additional testing at both the high school and the nearby junior high -- which has similar flooring.  These tiles were removed from the high school and Monday the school was tested by IEA crews in full protective gear.
What makes this interesting is that the article does not discuss the results of any of the testing done nor does it discuss what type of testing was done?  We can only assume that the results must of indicated a need to do something because the schools were closed and the tiles were removed.  Since Long Island had alot of snowfall this year, and I'm sure we used more salt and sand this year then in the past, this news story implies that there is an increase potential for the release of asbestos from floor tiles that are subjected to tracked-in salt and sand.  It will be interesting to see if and how this story plays out or if it just dies on the vine.

Related articles

• Asbestos experts help with Yasi clean-up (news.theage.com.au)
• Housing Firm Fined after Plumber Exposed to Asbestos (first4lawyers.com)
• Come clean on asbestos in classroom (mirror.co.uk)
• Condo Covered In Asbestos Dust in Virginia Beach, VA (futureenv.blogspot.com)

AIHA Registry Programs Launches New Program For XRF Field Measurement Registry

Peeling lead-based paint is an indicator that lead dust may be on the floor and surfaces

The American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Registry Programs LLC officially launched on January 18, 2011 a new registry program for X-ray fluorescence (XRF) Field Measurement.  The XRF Field Measurement Registry (FMR) program allows participants to use their registration status for in-situ XRF measurements.  This registry program does not address accreditation required for recognition by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) as required at 40 CFR Part 745 for environmental lead analyses.
The FMR program is designed to recognize organizations and their affiliated operators that perform in-situ XRF measurements of lead paint surface coatings in the field.  The program maintains minimum standards of conduct for all FMR participants through adherence to the programs policies and registration process.
The FMR program will provide:

• Connections – clients, customers, and employers can find or hire the right kind of professional
• Consistency -- standardization of processes and methods across state lines and country borders
• Continuous improvement – a venue for collaboration and sharing of best practices

The FMR program will raise the competency bar through recognition of high quality organizations and their affiliated operators.  Registries help assure a level of quality among professionals and confidence among regulators and consumers who are looking to identify and then properly control or remove potential health hazards to workers and occupants of buildings.
Registered organizations and enrolled operators perform in-situ field measurements of lead surface coatings utilizing an XRF.  Registered organizations have met the qualifications for inclusion on the registry: personnel training, adherence to an established and documented quality system that is based on the most current version of the FMR Policy.  All enrolled operators must be affiliated with an FMR Registered organization that oversees the Quality Assurance and Quality Control program that monitors the operator and be properly trained and licensed for the work to be performed.
For general information and information detailing the registry program and processes, please visit the web site: http://www.aiharegistries.org/.  For specific inquiries, contact the AIHA Registry Program at info.RegistryLLC@aiha.org.

Related articles

• AIHA Survey Indicates Issues That Concern Industrial Hygiene Profession (futureenv.blogspot.com)
• A Mom Tests Toys for Toxins, Helping to Get the Lead Out (health.change.org)
• BESI Offers First X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Certification for Gypsum Products (pr.com)

Steven Mancuso Is Barred From Practicing Law By Federal Authorities.

 

Image via Wikipedia

Asbestos fibres - a single fibre is believed to cause mesothelioma

As we have discussed in our asbestos refresher classes, and previously in our blog, the Mancuso family is in the news again.  This time it is Lawyer Steven Mancuso of Utica, New York being disbarred from practicing law upon his conviction for conspiring with his brother, Paul Mancuso, to cover-up illegal asbestos removal operations.  Steven, Paul and their father, Lester Mancuso, were sentenced to three years in federal prison last June. 

An attorney since 2002, Steven Mancuso was found guilty in a federal trial for wrongfully aiding his brother in the creation of fraudulent partnerships and submission of false legal documents in an effort to conceal the illegality of Paul Mancuso’s asbestos business.  Steven Mancuso denied the charges, yet U.S. District Court Judge Frederick Scullin ruled that he had used his legal skills in the furtherance of his brother’s criminal conspiracy.  “When an attorney used his law license to commit crimes and to aid another in the commission of crimes, the appropriate sanction is disbarment,” stated the December 30th ruling.  Reports said that Mancuso is currently in the process of appealing to the court, saying that the prosecutors failed to properly handle a variety of legal issues. 

Related articles

• Paul Mancuso of Utica New York Ordered to Pay $17,972 to EPA (futureenv.blogspot.com)
• Asbestos Contractor Who Violated Environmental Laws Should Pay Compensation, New York Asbestos Lawyer says (prweb.com)
• Scam-artist asbestos inspector gets jail time (nydailynews.com)

OSHA Respirator Safety Video

This Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Respirator Safety Video is a very good introductory video on respirator donning and doffing.  Probably will add this to our training classes since it is a very good entry level and refresher video.  The video is available in spanish, too.

Related articles

• OSHA Log Form 300A Posting Due February 1, 2011. (futureenv.blogspot.com)
• N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks (cdc.gov)
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• OSHA Construction Safety Video: OSHA Fall Protection Standards (ehssafetynews.wordpress.com)

Condo Covered In Asbestos Dust in Virginia Beach, VA



Asbestos Pipe Insulation in a Crawl Space

 This news report and video from WAVY-TV10 In Virginia Beach, VA illustrates the importance of knowing what materials contain asbestos before performing any work in an area where the materials are suspected of containing asbestos.  A Virginia Beach family moves out of their condo after building maintenance activities may have caused the release of asbestos.  After the owners of the condo discovered that building maintenance activites had left a fine dust behind, they had the dust tested and the laboratory tests indicated the dust was asbestos dust.  It would be interesting to determine the procedures used since sampling dust is still a controversial issue in the asbestos industry.  The collection of the dust should follow the American Society of Testing Material (ASTM) Standard D5755-09 or D5756-02(2008).  However, what do you compare the results to?  The neither ASTM standard set a level for safety.  There is currently no standard under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for a safe level of asbestos dust.  Some laboratories will give you guidelines, again these are not standards or regulations.  In addition, there are few published studies on what would be a safe level.  Is there a safe level or is the presence of any asbestos dust mean that the area is contaminated and hence it is a danger.  Most asbestos inspectors probably would say that any asbestos dust makes the area unsafe and hence the area is contaminated.  Meaning some type of removal/cleanup is necessary.  Which brings up the next question how clean is clean and can you clean porous items?  According to New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) Industrial Code Rule 56 (ICR56), the asbestos regulation governing NYS, porous items would need to be cleaned and disposed of as asbestos containing materials.  Asbestos dust sampling is one of the most difficult issues to deal with in the asbestos industry, I don't envy the Virginia Beach condo association trying to deal with this issue.

Related articles

• In a Town Called Asbestos, a Plan to Restart the Industry That Made It Prosperous (nytimes.com)
• How is asbestos dangous (wiki.answers.com)
• Come clean on asbestos in classroom (mirror.co.uk)
• Que. group slams asbestos exports (cbc.ca)
• Teachers may strike over asbestos find (news.theage.com.au)
• Asbestos Controversy in Troy New York. (futureenv.blogspot.com)

NIOSH Seeking Comments On The Draft Recommendations For Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance

Image via WikipediaThe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) today invited public comment on a draft document titled, "Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance."  This document was developed by a consortium of federal agencies, state health departments, and volunteer organizations, headed by the NIOSH with the goal of proposing a more comprehensive and systematic approach to worker safety and health for all emergency responders.

The set of guidelines and recommendations described in the document is the result of the collaborative efforts of the workgroup.  When final, it is expected that this document will serve as an interagency resource that is intended for review and possible publication by the National Response Team. 

"The gaps in our ability to ensure the safety and health of all workers involved in large scale and complex emergency responses have been documented through our responses to the World Trade Center disaster, Hurricane Katrina, and most recently, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill," said NIOSH Director John Howard, M.D.  "This document is the result of our shared learning from these events and our combined commitment to protect those workers who respond in times of need."

This draft document proposes a new framework for ensuring responder safety and health by monitoring and conducting surveillance of their health and safety during the entire cycle of emergency response, including the pre-deployment, deployment, and post-deployment phases of a response.  The proposed system is referred to as the "Emergency Responder Health Monitoring and Surveillance (ERHMS)" system, and includes a guidance section describing the principles involved in ensuring optimal responder safety and health, as well as tools which can be utilized to help facilitate the execution of these principles during an actual response.

The draft document is available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docket/review/docket223/ for written public comment until April 4, 2011.

Related articles

• NIOSH's Role in the Deepwater Horizon Response (cdc.gov)
• NIOSH Seeks Input on Direct Reading Exposure Assessment Methods (D.R.E.A.M.) Workshop (cdc.gov)
• The Business Case for Safety and Health (cdc.gov)
• Making the Business Case for Prevention through Design (cdc.gov)

Save The Date For PACNY's 15th Annual Environmental Conference

Image via Wikipedia

Table-level view of Live Poker at Turning Stone.

The Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) has announced a save the date of March 10th & 11th, 2011 at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, NY for their 15th Annual Environmental Conference.  Visit their website at: http://www.pacny.org/conferences.asp for conference and sponsorship information.  This annual event is always a pleasure to start the year off.  See our previous posts regarding our attendance at past events.  We look forward to seeing you there.
2010 Environmental Conference
2009 Environmental Conference
2008 Environmental Conference

EPA & GE Agree On Next Phase of Hudson River PCB Cleanup



Image via Wikipedia

Dredging Boat in Bangladesh

On December 17, 2010, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented General Electric (GE) with the requirements for the next phase of the cleanup of the Hudson River.  The second phase of the cleanup should begin in May 2011.  This second phase would require GE to remove far more contaminated sediment from the river before sealing or "capping" any remaining polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).  On December 23, 2010, EPA commended GE for agreeing to conduct the second and final phase of the Hudson River cleanup .
In the first phase of the cleanup, nearly 37% of the area was capped due to the continued presence of contamination, despite multiple dredging passes that removed the great majority of the PCBs.  Capping in 15% percent of the area was unavoidable because of physical barriers in the river, leaving 22% percent capped in areas without these barriers.  While fish and other aquatic life are not exposed to the contamination in the capped areas, the EPA has determined that it is necessary in Phase 2 to set a stringent limit on what percentage of the total project area can be capped if dredging does not meet the cleanup goals.  This limit will be set at 11% of the total project area, not counting those areas where capping is unavoidable.  This limit represents a significant improvement from Phase 1 and will require GE to employ considerably more rigorous dredging procedures.

Dredging during the second phase will go deeper into the sediment and, by relying on better information and lessons learned during the first phase, will remove more contaminated sediment in fewer passes.  Phase two will require GE to remove an estimated 95 percent or more of PCBs from the areas designated for dredging.

Related articles

• GE Hudson Cleanup Must Release Fewer Toxins, EPA Says (businessweek.com)
• Green: River Advocates Fret That PCBs Will Linger in Hudson (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Rules Tightened for GE's Hudson River Cleanup (online.wsj.com)
• EPA Issues New PCB Hudson River Dredging Rules For GE (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• E.P.A. Sets Tighter Rules for Hudson River Cleanup (nytimes.com)
• Timesunion.com: PCB rules tighten for GE (timesunion.com)
• Time for GE to Cut the Spin, Commit to a Full Cleanup of Its Toxic PCBs from the Hudson River (switchboard.nrdc.org)

Big Businesses Causing More Problems For The Economy.




Like water flows, a business' cash must also flow steady & strong

 The New York Times article "Big-Business Deadbeats" highlights one of the biggest problems with the economy that, as far as I am concerned, is not reported about enough.

The article discusses how Cisco Systems announced..."effective March 31, 2010, Cisco announced to its small business suppliers that as a rule Cisco would wait sixty days after receipt of an invoice — or net 60, in business jargon — before cutting a check. The reason Cisco gave for this new policy was not that it was hard up: the company has nearly $39 billion of cash on its balance sheet, and in the third quarter of 2010 alone it spent $2.7 billion to repurchase its own shares. Rather, the corporation explained that it had been “benchmarking against our technology peers” and found a precedent for “new payment terms.” In other words: Everyone is doing it, so we are too."

As a small business owner myself, the issue of payment terms and how it efffects our cash flow cannot be emphasized enough.  In the consulting business the time it takes to get paid is the hardest part of being in business.  You perform a service and then have to wait 45 to 60 to 120 days to be paid for that service.  During that period of time you had to pay your employees, if you got good terms you may have had to pay your suppliers and the overhead (phones, office space, etc.) is owed every month on the dot.  How do you pay for all of these things without payment from the client?  Which brings me to the second biggest problem with the economy - the lack of small business loans to handle this cash flow crunch.  The big banks got a bail-out but they were not forced to maintain the credit lines to the small business owners that were running their business on these credit lines.  Many of these credit lines were closed and shut down forcing businesses to use non-traditional sources as their credit lines (credit cards with high interest rates, etc.).  I am not an economist, but in running my business if I don't have the flexibility to smoothen out the cash flow problems I face, then I can not hire someone even if I need to hire someone.  If the government wants small businesses to start hiring again, then they need to address the lack of small business loans that are available for small businesses.  They need to force banks to reduce the standards they are setting to get a loan.  In addition, the government wherever possible should reduce the time period it takes to pay their suppliers, consultants, providers, etc.  Reducing this time period would increase the cash flow to small businesses helping these businesses better handle the current economy and possibly allow them to start hiring.

Related articles

• Big-Business Deadbeats (economix.blogs.nytimes.com)
• You're the Boss: This Week in Small Business: Hu, Health Care and Why We're (Still) Not Hiring (boss.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Meet the Cash Kings of Oil (fool.com)
• Obama's Entrepreneur Problem (thedailybeast.com)
• "Net 60" is the increasingly common standard in big business (robbiz1978.blogspot.com)

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)

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)

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:

• 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.

Means of addressing these hazards can include:

• 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.

Information on hazards and safeguards associated with cleanup and recovery activities after a storm or other major weather events is available online in English and Spanish at http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/hurricaneRecovery.html.

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EPA Removes Saccharin As A Hazardous Waste

Saccharin 2-D Formula

In December, 2010 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) amended its regulations regarding saccharin as a hazardous waste.  Saccharin, an artificial sweetener in the form of a white crystalline powder, is 300 times sweeter than sucrose or sugar.  It is typically an ingredient in diet soft drinks, juices, sweets, and chewing gum.  Saccharin can also be found in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

EPA amended its regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to remove saccharin and its salts from the lists of hazardous constituents and commercial chemical products which are hazardous wastes when discarded or intended to be discarded.  In addition, EPA amended the regulations under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to remove saccharin and its salts from the list of hazardous substances.  EPA responded to a petition submitted by the Calorie Control Council (CCC) to remove saccharin and its salts from RCRA and CERCLA, EPA will no longer list these substances as hazardous on the above mentioned lists.  EPA granted CCC’s petition based on a review of the evaluations conducted by key public health agencies concerning the carcinogenic and other potential toxicological effects of saccharin and its salts.  In addition, EPA assessed the waste generation and management information for saccharin and its salts, concluding that the wastes do not meet the criteria for hazardous waste regulations.

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