Safe Workplace and Safety News

Researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and two other institutions have described a major step toward creating a universal personal decontamination system for almost any toxic or hazardous chemical.

(In the photograph to the right LLNL chemical engineer William Smith holds a decontamination system currently used by the military -- called Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion -- in the green packet and a sponge from the system. LLNL's Forensic Science Center evaluated 30 different decontamination materials for removing gross chemical contamination from surfaces, including the nonwoven dry wipe material with an activated carbon core sandwiched between two absorbent layers shown in the plastic package.)

The scientists have reported on the development of a layered wipe that can be used to rapidly decontaminate people and equipment exposed to a wide range of military and industrial chemicals, including the blister agent sulfur mustard. These wipes could assist in saving the lives of soldiers and civilians.

Their research results are described in an article slated for online publication today in the American Chemical Society journal, Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, a bi-weekly publication.

Under a study conducted by LLNL’s Forensic Science Center, researchers evaluated 30 different decontamination materials for removing gross chemical contamination from surfaces.

The study results showed that a nonwoven dry wipe material with an activated carbon core sandwiched between two absorbent layers turned in the top performance. It is designed by researchers at The Institute of Environmental Health and Human Health (TIEHH) at Texas Tech University.

The decontamination system currently used by the military – called Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion (RSDL) – is effective for a small subset of industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents.

However, according to LLNL chemical engineer William Smith, one of the study’s co-authors, “By combining the existing military decontamination system with this wipe, there is promise for treating nearly every chemical. You’re in much better shape using both technologies than with either one alone.”

The Lab’s Forensic Science Center evaluated existing and novel materials for their chemical decontamination capabilities. They looked at the ability of the combined system – the TIEHH-developed layered wipe followed by use of RSDL -- to absorb sulfur mustard, a toxic liquid that causes skin blistering, as well as four other chemicals – sulfuric acid, nitric acid, methylparathion and phosphorous trichloride.

The Forensic Science Center studies found:

* The newly developed fabric exhibits excellent resistance to corrosive chemicals and minimizes vapor hazards after decontaminating toxic chemicals;

* The layered wipe can absorb a large volume of most liquids, while maintaining its integrity;

* The fabric is flexible so that it conforms to the surface being cleaned

The next steps for advancing the decontamination system, in Smith’s view, are to conduct field trials of the wipe and RSDL used in conjunction to evaluate their usability, and to test the two systems’ efficacy with other chemical agents and industrial chemicals.

The project was funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2004 and has been managed by the Technical Support Working Group, a joint venture between the U.S. State Department and the military.

Other LLNL researchers who co-authored the study include chemists Carolyn Koester and Adam Love, and former Laboratory employee Garrett Keating.

Labels: hazard prevention, hazardous materials, Industrial Health, PPE

This morning's Daily Item reports from Lynn, Massachusetts that the Lynn Chamber of Commerce reported that "two men recently tried to scam the organization by insisting the government workplace safety posters they were selling for $30 each were mandatory for businesses.

JoAnn Power, the chamber's communications director, said the pair were selling state and federal labor law compliance posters from a company called Compliance4Less and warned that businesses failing to purchase the items could be fined up to $17,000 by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)."

This type of misleading sales of OSHA posters has been going on for a long time. The following is an OSHA press release from 2001:

WORKPLACE POSTERS ARE AVAILABLE FREE - DESPITE MISLEADING ADVERTISING

Advertisements suggesting that OSHA workplace posters must be purchased from private companies to avoid fines may be misleading employers. OSHA reminds employers that its official posters are available free for the asking.

The official OSHA poster was redesigned last year to make it easier to read and understand. The new poster, called "It's the Law!" is available in English and Spanish. Employers need not replace older posters with the new ones, if they prefer to use them. Employers are required to display one of the two posters in a prominent location.

The OSHA poster informs workers of their rights to a safe and healthful workplace, how to file a complaint, report an emergency, and seek OSHA advice, and advises them of their right to confidentiality. It also lists the toll free number for OSHA, 800-321-OSHA, as well as phone numbers for regional OSHA offices around the country.

For a copy of OSHA's poster, visit OSHA's website at http://www.osha-slc.gov/Publications/poster.html. For the Spanish version, see http://www.osha-slc.gov/Publications/poster2.html. Employers can order multiple copies online by visiting www.osha.gov, then Newsroom, then Publications. Complete the order form online, and fax your request to Publications at (202) 693-2498. You can also call (202) 698-1888 or write to: U.S. Department of Labor/OSHA, OSHA Publications, P.O. Box 37535 Washington, D.C. 20013-7535.

Labels: OSHA, rtk labels, safety regulations, safety signs

OSHA issues final rule on clarifying employers' duty to provide personal protective equipment and train each employee.

The final rule on Clarification of Employers' Duty to Provide Personal Protective Equipment and Train Each Employee was published in Friday's Federal Register. The rule revises OSHA standards to clarify that, for employers to be in compliance, they must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and hazards training for each employee covered by the standards.

Each employee not protected may be considered a separate violation and penalties assessed accordingly. This revised language is consistent with language in other standards for which per-employee citations have been upheld.

The final rule amendments do not add new compliance obligations. Employers are not required to provide new kinds of PPE or hazards training or use a different approach than what is already required. Additionally, employers are not required to provide PPE or training to employees not already covered by existing requirements.

"This technical correction to the PPE standard brings it in line with other OSHA safety and health standards," said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Thomas M. Stohler. "By making this change, those few employers who egregiously violate the OSHA PPE standard can be held fully accountable for violations affecting each employee who is not provided proper PPE. This kind of vigorous enforcement is a vital component of OSHA's balanced approach to workplace safety and health."

Labels: OSHA, osha information, PPE

Here is an excellent reminder coming from Construction Contractor magazine:

"Victorian building sites must be well secured before the annual Christmas / New Year shutdown, WorkSafe has warned.

WorkSafe’s Construction and utility program director, Chris Webb said although building sites could be an adventure playground for children, they could also be extremely dangerous."

Read the entire article here.

Labels: Construction Safety, Department Of Labor

It is often the things we don't think about that get people hurt. For example, what happens when an aerosol can is exposed to high temperatures....?

The is a quote from Daily Record in Dunn, NC:

"Teen Burned In Fryer Accident Still Critical

An Erwin teen injured in an accident at Andy's in Dunn Sunday remains in critical condition at UNC Hospitals' burn unit in Chapel Hill.

Corbett Hicks, an employee at the Andy's in Harnett Crossing Shopping Center, was severely burned last Sunday afternoon as he was cleaning one of the restaurant's deep fryers. Corbett turned 19 Saturday, according to his mother.

Corbett's mother, Teressa Hicks, said her son was in critical condition and has been sedated since the accident.

"It burned his face, his chest, his stomach, both arms front and back and his left thigh to the knee," Mrs. Hicks said. "He will respond when I speak to him, but as far as talking to him, I've not been able to.

Unconfirmed reports say the accident occurred around 4 p.m. Sunday when an aerosol can of cooking spray fell into a grease-cleaning machine and exploded."

(Read the entire article at: The Daily Record)

Would you have been able to anticipate this and established a procedure or guidelines to prevent this incident? If you were the safety director for this restaurant, what would you have done (before this happened) that might have made a difference?

Labels: fire safety, workplace safety

A Buffalo metal fabrication shop faces an additional $75,000 in penalties from OSHA for failing to fully correct hazards cited during a prior OSHA inspection.

In May, OSHA cited ATECH-S.E.H. Metal Fabricators Inc. for serious violations of safety standards after two employees at the company's 103 Norris St. plant lost parts of their fingers when a mechanical power press they were setting up for operation unexpectedly activated.

OSHA found that the power press had not been de-energized and physically locked out as required under OSHA's hazardous energy control, or lockout/tagout standard and that the employees had not been adequately trained in lockout/tagout procedures. ATECH-S.E.H. subsequently paid $6,000 in penalties and agreed to correct all cited hazards.

However, a follow-up inspection by OSHA to verify compliance determined that unsatisfactory corrective action had been taken. OSHA found that the lockout/tagout training was incomplete and lockout/tagout procedures were not followed, including one instance in which another employee was injured by the unexpected startup of a power press. As a result, OSHA issued the company two failure to abate notices, which carry $75,000 in new penalties.

"The sizable penalty proposed in this case reflects both the severity and recurrence of these hazards, and the employer's failure to properly correct them," said Arthur Dube. OSHA's area director in Buffalo. "Partial measures don't get the job done. Proper lockout/tagout training and procedures must be implemented and maintained completely, effectively and continuously to safeguard employees against possible injuries."

"In addition, one means of maintaining a safe workplace is to establish a safety and health management system through which employers and employees work together in a systematic and effective manner to evaluate, identify and eliminate hazardous conditions before they cause injury or illness," said Dube.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its failure to abate notices to meet with OSHA or to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

Labels: LOTO, OSHA Citations, OSHA Fines

"A recent survey conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional found that 89% of safety professionals polled have observed workers failing to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when they should have been. This is the third consecutive year that the Kimberly-Clark survey has revealed a high rate of PPE noncompliance. In 2007, 87% of respondents said they had observed PPE noncompliance in the workplace, while 85% answered yes to this question in 2006."

The above is from the blog for Today's Facility Manager magazine.

The following is the press release from Kimberly-Clark:

U.S. workers are risking workplace injuries by not complying with important safety procedures, according to a survey released today by Kimberly-Clark Professional. The survey found that 89 percent of safety professionals polled at the 2008 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress have observed workers failing to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when they should have been.

"We find it disheartening that people continue to put themselves at risk by failing to wear PPE when undertaking hazardous tasks," said Randy Kates, general manager of the safety business for Kimberly-Clark Professional. "Despite the importance of PPE, there is still an unacceptably high rate of noncompliance in the workplace."

This is the third consecutive year that the Kimberly-Clark survey has revealed a high rate of PPE noncompliance. In 2007, 87 percent of respondents said they had observed PPE noncompliance in the workplace, while 85 percent answered yes to this question in 2006.

Given the high rate of noncompliance over the past three years, it is not surprising that when asked to name the top workplace safety issue in their facilities one third of respondents cited worker compliance with safety protocols. Next was insufficient management support and/or resources for health and safety functions (27 percent). Under-reporting of workplace injuries and illnesses was third (14 percent), followed by training a multilingual, multicultural workforce (7 percent) and escalating worker compensation costs (5 percent).

Is the Economy a Factor?

One potential explanation for continuing problems with compliance could be the economy. Thirty-four percent of respondents said the economy had affected worker safety training programs or resources. Fifty-nine percent said it had not. Of those who said the economy had impacted safety training or resources, the survey found that:

• 63 percent said it had led to less money for education and training.
• 42 percent said it had resulted in reduced personnel to handle safety training tasks.
• 33 percent said the faltering economy had led to business concerns taking precedence over safety concerns.

This year’s survey also polled safety professionals about the steps they have taken or intend to take to encourage greater PPE compliance. The top response was "improving existing education and training programs," followed by "purchasing more comfortable PPE." Increased monitoring of employees was third, followed by tying compliance to individual performance evaluations and purchasing more stylish PPE.

"Work-related injuries in the U.S. cost more than $50 billion a year," said Kates. "Our research has shown that comfort and style are major drivers for compliance with PPE protocols. In the current economic climate it is more important than ever to invest in PPE that workers will want to wear."

Focus on Environmental Sustainability

The environment was another topic covered in this year’s survey. Fifty-nine percent of respondents reported that their companies had formal corporate sustainability goals, while 22 percent said they did not. (Twenty percent said they did not know the answer to this question.)

Respondents from companies with corporate sustainability goals were asked what their facilities were doing to become more environmentally responsible. The top choice was reducing the waste generated by a facility’s processes. It was followed by:

• Reducing energy consumption.
• Reducing the waste associated with supplies and other items that they purchased.
• Reducing water consumption.

All respondents were asked what their facilities had done to encourage or require suppliers to assist them in becoming more environmentally responsible. The top selection was increasing the amount of recycled content in the products supplied to them (39 percent). Tied for second place were: reducing packaging materials for the products supplied to them and having suppliers "demonstrate or state/warrant that they have environmentally responsible business practices" (29 percent). Close behind was delivering more products at one time to reduce fuel usage (27 percent).

Only 6 percent of respondents said environmental responsibility was not a major concern for their organizations. (For this question, respondents were allowed to select more than one answer.)

Health Concerns

When asked if they were concerned about the potential health and safety issues for their workers posed by oil, grease, heavy metal residues or toxic elements on re-usable rental shop towels, 63 percent of respondents answered yes. This compares with 73 percent of respondents answering yes to the same question in 2007.

When asked what might encourage them to switch from re-usable rental shop towels to
disposable wipers, the survey found:

• 35 percent of respondents cited concerns about the health and safety issues
mentioned above.
• 28 percent chose a closed loop solution for disposable wipers, in which used wipers
are recycled or converted to energy and diverted from landfills.
• 10 percent were concerned about water pollution from laundering re-usable rental
shop towels.
• 29 percent said they did not use rental shop towels.

Safety Philosophy

This year respondents were asked to describe their personal safety philosophy from a list of choices. Two responses tied for first place: "Safety doesn’t cost it pays" and "Organizations must create safety based cultures" (43 percent each). Only 10 percent selected the statement "Safety begins and ends at the top" and just two percent chose "Safety is a pain, but so is my boss."

"These results did not surprise us," said Scott Gaddis, global safety leader for
Kimberly-Clark Professional. "Workplace safety must be managed like every other strategic business objective that is important to an organization’s success."

Survey Methodology

The survey was undertaken at the NSC Congress in Anaheim, Calif., on September 23,
2008. The survey questionnaires were filled out by 153 safety professionals who reported being responsible for purchasing, selecting or influencing the purchase or selection of, or compliance with, PPE. The respondents included safety directors and managers, industrial hygienists, environmental managers and purchasing professionals. For full survey results, visit www.kcprofessional.com/us/mkt/2008nscpressrelease .

Labels: Industrial Health, Industrial Safety, safety management, Safety Training, workplace safety

ABC News in Australia had a short news article last Friday that was interesting. It reports that people involved in protesting logging in the Southern forests of Tasmania may be prosecuted under workplace safety laws because their actions are endangering themselves as well as workers.

Read the article here.

The article states:

"Workplace Standards Tasmania has warned the tactics being used by some forest protesters are putting lives at risk. It is so concerned about the issue it has launched an investigation into whether protesters in the southern forests are breaching workplace safety laws. The investigation could lead to the prosecution of protesters if workplace health and safety has been compromised."

Labels: workplace safety