Safe Workplace and Safety News

Electronic tools helping small businesses evaluate workplace safety and health management programs was among the topics presented at a recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) forum "Challenges Small Businesses Face in Complying with Regulations."

Nicholas Owens (right), Small Business Administration national ombudsman, said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration "provides helpful, easy to use resources that help small businesses be in compliance with OSHA's standards." Owens was joined by Vincent Santoro (center), vice president of Ideal Jacobs Corp., and Elyce Biddle, a senior economist at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health during presentations at OSHA's Office of Small Business Assistance 'Business of Small Business' forum. It was the ninth event in the series that has included topics on teen summer job safety and maritime safety and health issues.

The ninth in the "Business of Small Business Series," these forums provide another venue for small businesses to obtain safety and health management information. Topics ranging from teen summer job safety to lean manufacturing are presented to an average of 40-50 attendees. Speakers from government agencies and private industry share guidance, resources and best practices to help small businesses implement and improve on their safety and health management systems.

Speaker Nicholas Owens (see photo), national ombudsman for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), discussed the role of the SBA as a liaison between small businesses and regulatory agencies. Fairness in enforcement, Owens said, was a major concern as it relates to small business compliance with regulations. He acknowledged OSHA's commitment to regulatory fairness and noted the tools and resources the agency provides to make compliance easier and more business-friendly.

The message that OSHA offers small businesses a helping hand with regulatory compliance was emphasized by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) senior economist Elyce Biddle. She discussed a series of electronic tools that businesses can use to determine costs associated with implementing safety and health systems. Included was OSHA's "$afety Pays" program that helps employers estimate the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses. Biddle said this tool is one of the resources OSHA offers to minimize challenges small employers face with regulatory compliance.

Compliance with federal regulations was less complicated for the Ideal Jacobs Corporation, a screen printing manufacturer. Vincent Santoro, vice president of global manufacturing, acknowledged his company benefitted from OSHA's On-site Consultation Program addressing worksite hazards that were identified and subsequently corrected.

As a member of OSHA's Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), Santoro said, "Customers look at a company differently when they see it takes safety seriously. SHARP made us think about everything from a different perspective. Is what you're paying for safety worth it? Of course, it's always worth it," he said.

SHARP recognizes small employers who operate an exemplary safety and health management program. Businesses accepted into the program are considered models for worksite safety and health.

The above is a press release from OSHA.

Labels: osha information, Safety Training

Paper mill chemical recovery boilers are dangerous. They burn black liquor to recover the chemicals used in pulp digesters. The black liquor burns in a pile in the bottom of a water cooled furnace, with smelt running off through openings near the bottom of the furnace. Water and smelt is an explosive mixture. It only takes a small amount of water getting into the furnace to produce a huge explosion. Since the furance walls are made from tubes filled with water, there is always water close at hand. As a result following proper start-up procedures is critical.

Here is the OSHA press release:

OSHA investigation followed May explosion that killed an employee, injured 22 others

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited International Paper Co.'s Vicksburg Mill in Vicksburg for workplace safety violations following an investigation into the May explosion of a recovery boiler during a start-up where 23 employees were injured, one fatally.

"The fines reflect the company's failure to establish procedures for a re-start of the recovery boiler without the power boiler being on-line," said Clyde Payne, OSHA's area director in Jackson, Miss. "Employees were exposed to a fire and explosion because the employer failed to develop written boiler set-up and operating procedures."

International Paper received one alleged willful and one serious violation. The willful violation is for failing to start the recovery boiler without adequate steam and not developing safe procedures to start up the recovery boiler when the primary power boiler is off-line. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

The serious violation is for failing to have written procedures to determine that an adequate amount of odorant was being added to the natural gas supply line coming into the power plant. A serious violation is one that could cause death or serious physical harm to employees and the employer knew or should have known of the hazard.

For these citations, OSHA is proposing $77,000 in penalties against the company.

International Paper, headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., is a paper and packaging manufacturer operating throughout the world. About 300 employees work at the Vicksburg site.

Labels: OSHA Citations, OSHA Fines

The Alberta Employment and Immigration department has released a series of web-based safety videos targeted at teen workers. They are graphic (bloody) but they get their point across. At the end of each video a set of buttons provides additional information. The six buttons are:

Prevent This - how the incident in the video could have been prevented.

Real Stories - a real-life story about someone who experienced what was shown in the video.

Real Stats - statistics about the frequency of workplace injuries

Play Again - view the video again

Play Another - view another of the six videos

Send To A Friend - send an email

Here is their press release:

A new public awareness campaign has been launched to remind young working Albertans that injuries and fatalities can be only moments away.

“Anybody who loses focus for a moment is at risk of making a mistake on the job, and our young workers heading into the work force are the most vulnerable,” said Hector Goudreau, Minister of Employment and Immigration.

The campaign focuses on specific questions young workers should ask their employers to avoid a workplace injury or death. Based on extensive research and testing, the campaign focuses on 15 to 19-year-olds and emphasises that workplace incidents can be very real with lasting consequences. It includes transit ads, video productions for movie theatres, posters, Internet banner ads - all of which encourage young workers to visit www.bloodylucky.ca.

“We find that every workplace incident uncovers several unfortunate choices that were made that led to the tragedy; there are no accidents,” says Dr. Michael Alpern of the Job Safety Skills Society, a member of the Young Worker Provincial Advisory Committee. “Research shows that young workers have a higher injury rate than their workplace peers. We see it first hand and we endorse any program that might save a life or limb.”

The campaign is part of Work Safe Alberta, a unique partnership between industry, labour and government. An integral part of the initiative is promoting workplace safety by increasing public awareness.

Labels: safety statistics, Safety Training, safety videos