Safe Workplace and Safety News

A new International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) draft standard for chemical protective clothing has begun the consensus review process, and is now available for public review and comment (see comments). Draft ANSI/ISEA 103-200x is designed to help users select the appropriate protective apparel for a variety of chemical hazards, providing minimum performance classifications and labeling requirements.

Members of ISEA Protective Apparel Group developed this standard to present a testing philosophy based on garment category and performance level. This approach was modeled after activities ongoing within the European (CEN) and international (ISO) standards communities, and represents one of the first attempts at harmonizing testing and labeling of chemical protective clothing worldwide. Garment categories (e.g., US Category 1, gas-tight) are defined by matching the expected chemical exposure scenario with various material swatch and finished garment item test requirements. This standard uses multiple performance levels (e.g., three levels of performance for permeation testing) for the majority of properties. Thus the standard will provide the end-user with a tool that helps define adequate protection by matching a unique exposure scenario to a specific garment configuration (category) and a minimum level of performance (level).

According to ISEA technical director Janice Comer Bradley, CSP, "This standard will fill a gap in that's existed since OSHA issued its regulations for personal protective equipment." OSHA requires employers to conduct documented hazard assessments in the workplace, and select personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to the hazard. "Although OSHA provides references to performance-based standards for certain types of PPE such as eye and face protection, until now there has been no consensus standard for the majority of chemical protective clothing worn by the US workforce," Bradley said.

The ANSI/ISEA 103 standard is applicable to the vast majority of chemical protective clothing used within industry including, but not limited to, the following applications: agricultural, chemical processing, hazardous materials redemption, pharmaceuticals operations, paint spraying, tank cleaning, laboratory operations, cleanroom operations, petrochemical operations, waste collection/recycling, general manufacturing, bulk chemical transfer/handling operations, general maintenance and clean-up, etc. It would not apply to hazardous materials or emergency response operations covered by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.

To obtain a review copy of the draft standard contact Cristine Fargo, ISEA manager of standards programs. There is a $30 charge, payable by check or credit card.

Labels: PPE

The Arkansas City Traveler reports that GE's two plants in Arkansas City and Winfield, Arkansas have achieved VPP Star status. The article states:

"The local GE plants are two of about 1,700 OSHA sites nationwide that have earned VPP status, Freeman said. That may not seem like such a big deal except that there are about eight million workplaces that OSHA regulates."

"The two local GE plants have worked off and on for about a decade to become a VPP site, said Tami Norwood, environmental health and safety manager in Winfield and Arkansas City."

Labels: VPP

The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) has challenged a U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed rule to regulate the use of safety eyewear and hard hats, and offered an alternative approach that ISEA says would maintain worker protection.

In comments submitted July 16, ISEA said OSHA's May 17th proposal to change the way it recognizes product performance standards for personal protective equipment (PPE) could potentially reduce the level of protection for workers and make compliance with the rule more difficult for employers.

Current OSHA regulations require that eye and head protection devices meet product performance standards issued under the banner of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI standards are voluntary, but they are widely accepted in the United States and are recognized by OSHA and numerous other regulatory agencies.

OSHA adopts specific product performance standards. Those standards may go through several revisions before OSHA is able to update its rules to incorporate the newer versions. Under the OSHA proposal, however, references to these standards would be replaced with a requirement that PPE meet “good design standards,” an approach that ISEA says offers no assurance of a minimum level of protection.

ISEA’s alternative would maintain the reference to the current version of the standard, and include a method by which OSHA could evaluate standards that offer equivalent protection and allow employers to use products meeting those standards.

This approach “maintains the level of performance of PPE that meets the consensus standard in the current regulation, so that worker protection is not compromised,” according to the ISEA submission. It gives employers the flexibility to select PPE that best meets their workers’ needs, based on hazard assessment. And it gives OSHA the flexibility to update references to consensus standards when they are revised, and add new product standards as they are issued without a lengthy and laborious regulatory process.

“We fully appreciate what OSHA is trying to do in this rulemaking,” said ISEA President Dan Shipp. “They aren’t able to keep up with revisions to the product standards they reference in their regulations, and they’re searching for a way to keep the rules current without having to go through a full rulemaking every few years for each standard.

“But to take those references out of the regulation, and replace them with the requirement that PPE comply with some vaguely defined good design standard shows a lack of understanding of the role of performance standards and their use in regulation.”

In its comments, ISEA points out that there are hundreds of PPE product standards around the world that might qualify as good design standards, but that they are not equivalent to the ANSI standards that have been part of the regulation. Without the reference to a specific standard in the regulatory text, OSHA would provide no baseline performance requirements for PPE, ISEA said.

“If the rule is published the way OSHA is proposing it, the ANSI standards would still be the baseline, and OSHA would include them in an appendix as examples of what makes a good design standard,” Shipp said. “But what happens in the future?”

The proposed requirements for a good design standard are that it incorporate safety, that it is recognized as providing an adequate level of protection, and that the standards-developing organization use an open process that considers the views of a broad constituency.

“There’s nothing in this proposal that says the standards recognized in the future have to be as protective as standards recognized today,” Shipp said. “That’s why we’re trying to convince OSHA not to take the reference to a specific standard out of the regulatory text.”

ISEA asked OSHA to convene an informal public hearing to discuss all the aspects of this proposed rule.

Labels: PPE

The most prominent safety news related to yesterday's earthquake in Japan concerns the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant, which is located nine miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. There were some problems, but none that have been reported as resulting in a health hazard.

An article at news@nature.com reported:

"An earthquake off the western coast of Japan yesterday hit a nuclear plant with more than twice the jolt that the plant was expected to have to handle. The shock seems to have done little immediate damage, but has raised concerns about whether Japan's nuclear plants are designed to withstand the kind of shaking they are likely to experience."

The news@nature.com article also reports that the quake caused a small fire that was quickly extinguished.

Mainichi Daily news reports today:

"Water containing a small amount of radiation leaked into the sea from a nuclear power station, where four reactors were automatically shut down after a powerful earthquake jolted Niigata Prefecture on Monday, government officials said.

This is the first time in Japan that radiation has leaked from a nuclear power station because of the impact of an earthquake, officials said. It will unlikely to adversely affect the heath of people or the environment."

The outcome appears to be that, although the quake caused stresses that were twice what the facility was designed for, Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant performed well and no safety or health hazards resulted.

Labels: Nuclear Power Safety

The July 14th edition of the Central Kitsap Reporter announces an upcoming Summer Health and Safety Expo:

"With health and safety forever ingrained in the mind, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility and Voluntary Protection Program are hosting the third annual Summer Health and Safety Expo on Wednesday."

This seems like an excellent, proactive way to promote a culture of safety and health, improve safety practices, and get safety and wellness to become a part of the lifestyle of employees and their families.

The article reports:

“The summer months are historically the time when we experience the highest number of injuries,” said PSNS & IMF Public Affairs Specialist Katie Eberling. “This expo gives us all an opportunity to stop, take a deep breath, and reaffirm our commitment to safety at home as well as at work.”

Labels: Safety Training, VPP

Stratham, NH--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--The rate of U.S. Hispanic employment has grown exponentially in recent years, particularly in the building and construction sector. In fact, according to the Pew Hispanic Center, in 2006 two thirds of all new construction jobs were filled by workers of Hispanic descent, many of whom are Spanish-dominant or bilingual. This has highlighted a need for greater workplace safety information and education, in both Spanish and English, that is readily accessible and that can help mitigate on-the-job injuries.

In 2004, Hispanic workers’ fatality rate was higher than the injury rate for all U.S. workers. Safety experts estimate that 25 percent of Hispanic work related fatalities are linked to language and cultural barriers. Consequently, the need for greater bilingual education and training is particularly important for Hispanic workers.

In response, Timberland PRO, an industry leader in protective footwear, has developed a list of important safety tips for workers to consider while on the job.

"As a safety footwear manufacturer, our first priority is to develop work boots that are safe, comfortable and durable," said Bob McCarthy, senior product manager, Timberland PRO. "However, we are also concerned about the total safety and well-being of workers and about preventing all types of on-the-job injuries – both in our own workplaces and among the populations we serve."

Overall, workers should be well-informed about their specific working environment and should be properly trained on all equipment before performing a job.

Timberland PRO advises workers to consider the following:

1. Proper Training. Take advantage of training programs provided by your employer, union, and safety society. It's important to know your equipment, so make sure you have a full understanding of how to use all power tools and machines. To further protect yourself, inspect tools to ensure protective guards are in good condition.

2. Protect Your Head and Face. To prevent head injuries, workers should wear hard hats to protect against falling objects and/or contact with electrical hazards. Hard hats should be replaced after a heavy blow or electrical shock, and should be routinely inspected for dents, cracks or deterioration. And protective glasses or goggles are a must. Shop around for a pair you like and will wear.

3. Foot Protection. Your feet are the tool you use, uninterrupted, for the entire 8-10 hour workday, so it's important to select the right work boot for the job. When looking at safety footwear, carefully consider the external environment in which you'll be working and the specific tasks you'll be performing. You want a style that is durable, comfortable and lightweight, but the specifics can vary. Consider elements like an appropriate traction pattern, a protective toe cap and a protective toe overlay of rubber or another abrasion-resistant material.

4. Proper Lifting. Many injuries in construction (and other occupations) result from over-exertion due to improper lifting. To avoid back injuries, place your feet eight to 12 inches apart and bend your knees to grasp the load. When carrying a heavy object, plan your route in advance to minimize the risk of injury. And most importantly, if it’s too much to bear, stop and ask for help.

5. Falling Objects. You are at risk from falling objects whenever overhead work is being performed. Here, danger is especially high as activities like pushing, pulling, or prying, may cause objects to become airborne. To prevent injuries, use toe boards, screens or guardrails on scaffolds to stop falling objects. Use debris nets, catch platforms or canopies to deflect falling objects.

6. Ladders and Scaffolding. Each year, falls consistently account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry. According to the National Safety Council, 17,700 fall-related deaths occurred in 2005 – many of them from ladders and scaffolds. Protect yourself by ensuring scaffolds and ladders are inspected before each shift – look for any defects, including structural damage, split/bent side rails, broken or missing rungs/steps/cleats and missing or damaged safety devices.

7. Don't Shock Yourself. It may seem obvious, but before you start working on electric equipment, make sure the power is turned off. Reports from the Electronic Library of Construction say that people responsible for installing or maintaining electrical equipment often fail to turn off the power source before beginning to work on it. Here are a few other quick tips for power tools: Don’t carry a tool by the cord, never yank the cord to disconnect it from the receptacle, and always wear fitted gloves when using electric tools.

8. Avoiding Dangerous Toxins. Watch out for asbestos, lead, and other hazards in older homes and buildings. Ask your employer for tips on how to spot dangerous substances. If you think you may have come across one of these hazards on the job, ask that the material be sent to a lab for analysis. Take preventative measures – wear personal protective gear at all times.

9. Be Careful. Safety off the job site is just as important as it is on-site. In fact, motor vehicle crashes constitute 40 percent of unintentional injuries among workers, especially when workers are fatigued or unfamiliar with maintenance procedures for the vehicle. Wear seat belts at all times and only allow other workers to ride with you when seat belts are available for all parties. Drive vehicles or equipment only on roadways or grades that are safely constructed and maintained.

10. Be Informed. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) law requires employers to provide a work place that is safe and free from hazards – familiarize yourself with OSHA standards so you can easily spot unsafe conditions. Visit http://www.osha.gov/as/opa/spanish/index.html for further information.

Disclaimer: These safety tips are provided for general informational purposes only. They are not meant to replace safety rules or measures applicable to specific individuals or situations.

About Timberland PRO
Building on the Timberland (NYSE: TBL) heritage of craftsmanship and quality, Timberland PRO is recognized as an industry leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium-quality footwear, apparel and accessories for working professionals who require the best comfort and protection on the job. Timberland PRO embraces the company’s commitment of “doing well and doing good” – forging powerful partnerships among employees, consumers and service partners to transform the communities in which they live and work. To learn more about Timberland PRO please visit http://www.timberlandpro.com. To learn more about Timberland, please visit http://www.timberland.com.

Labels: workplace safety

OSHA recently added a Storage Tanks Module to its Oil and Gas Well Drilling, Servicing and Storage Safety and Health Topics Web page. The module is a product of the Safe Tank Alliance between OSHA, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Steel Tank Institute. The module features requirements and solutions for working in permit- and non-permit required confined spaces in aboveground storage tanks.

Labels: OSHA, osha information

OSHA issues Quincy Casting Inc. $220,620 in proposed fines for safety and health violations.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $220,620 in fines against Quincy Castings Inc. (Quincy, Ohio) for alleged multiple willful, serious and repeat violations of federal workplace safety and health standards.

OSHA discovered the violations at the iron foundry business, which employs 80 people, through an investigation under the agency's Site-Specific Targeting Initiative, which targets the nation's most hazardous workplaces based on their histories of having high numbers of injury and illness cases.

"Iron foundries are potentially dangerous workplaces," said Jule Hovi, director of OSHA's area office in Toledo, Ohio. "Employers must remain committed to keeping the workplace safe and healthful or face close scrutiny by OSHA."

OSHA has issued citations for three willful, 24 serious and four repeat violations. The willful citations allege failure to provide guarding around sand preparation machinery to protect employees from rotating equipment, improperly regulating compressed air used for cleaning, and failure to have adequate engineering controls for overexposures to crystalline silica, thus overexposing multiple employees.

The serious safety citations include alleged failure to use flame retardant clothing and protective gear while pouring molten metal, a lack of capacity markings on pouring ladles and spreader bars, absence of safety latches from hoist hooks, lack of machine lockout procedures to prevent accidental start-ups of equipment, failure to remove a defective forklift from service, a lack of functioning brakes on and daily inspections of a bridge crane, and blocked fire exits.

The serious health citations include alleged failure to provide medical surveillance for employees overexposed to crystalline silica; failure to have an effective respiratory protection and evaluation program; failure to provide proper respirator training, failure to properly fit employees for respirators; and allowing employees to have facial hair, which interferes with the sealing of respirators.

The four alleged repeat violations are for failing to apply lockout devices, not properly training employees on lockout procedures, unguarded pinch point hazards and a defective fire exit sign.

OSHA opened its latest investigation of Quincy Castings Inc. in January 2007. The agency previously had inspected the company on 13 occasions since 1979, issuing a total of 80 citations.

OSHA's mission is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by preventing injuries, illnesses and fatalities. The agency has a vigorous enforcement program, having conducted more than 38,000 inspections last year and exceeding its inspection goals in each of the last seven years. In fiscal year 2006, OSHA found nearly 84,000 violations of its standards and regulations.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Labels: OSHA Citations, OSHA Fines

OSHA recently launched a database of information on more than 800 chemicals commonly found in the workplace. The OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database allows users to quickly and easily retrieve information on chemicals such as their physical properties and exposure limits. The database compiles information from several government agencies and organizations, including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the Department of Transportation.

Labels: hazardous materials, OSHA

OSHA has a guide to Personal Protective Equipment available free online.

Hazards exist in every workplace in many different forms: sharp edges, falling objects, flying sparks, chemicals, noise and a myriad of other potentially dangerous situations. Controlling a hazard at its source is the best way to protect employees. When engineering, work practices and administrative controls can’t protect employees, employers must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to their employees and ensure its use.

PPE is equipment worn to minimize exposure to a variety of hazards.

The OSHA guide to PPE helps employers and employees do the following:
• Understand the types of Personal Protective Equipment.
• Know the basics of how to conduct a "hazard assessment" of the workplace.
• Know how to select the appropriate PPE for a variety of circumstances.
• Understand what the training that is needed for the proper use and care of PPE

You can download the OSHA guide OSHA 3151-12R - Personal Protective Equipment

Labels: PPE