Safe Workplace and Safety News

Falls, Electrical, Scaffold And Rigging Violations Are Top Cited Hazards In NYC

2008-10-09T16:16:00.000-07:00

Fall hazards were the most frequently cited violation found at New York City construction sites by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) during a two-week enhanced enforcement effort this past summer.

As part of its New York City construction safety task force, OSHA detailed 12 inspectors to conduct 96 safety inspections at 46 construction sites throughout the city from June 23 to July 3. The sites were randomly selected to encompass a cross-section of high-risk construction activities including tower cranes, high-rise construction, poured-in-place concrete operations, steel erection, gut-rehab and other high-risk construction activities.

Citations were issued to 60 contractors for 129 violations with a total of $247,400 in proposed fines. The major categories of violations cited included fall hazards (39), electrical safety (29), scaffolds (17), cranes and rigging (13), welding/gas (10) and 20 other categories covering personal protective equipment, tools, material handling, concrete, hoists, stairs and ladders.

"These violations are consistent with the types of hazards we find on far too many jobsites and cannot be written off as the inevitable by-products of an inherently dangerous profession," said Richard Mendelson, OSHA's area director in Manhattan. "OSHA will use this information to further hone its inspection targeting, so we can direct our resources to those areas where we can have the most impact."

On Aug. 7, OSHA conducted a construction stakeholder safety meeting with industry representatives in which the agency analyzed trends in construction safety violations and recommended that all parties involved in New York City construction work to "raise the bar" on safety.

The meeting and the task force are among several OSHA efforts planned or underway to enhance construction safety in the city. These include an ongoing cross-training alliance with the New York City Department of Buildings and sending copies of citations to project owners, developers, employers' insurers, workers' compensation carriers and union training funds to raise awareness of occupational hazards found on city jobsites. In addition, OSHA will conduct a second round of concentrated construction inspections in the future.

"These findings reinforce the need for all parties - employers, developers, building trades, unions and employees - to work aggressively, effectively and continuously to minimize construction hazards," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York. "An effective approach is implementing and maintaining an effective safety and health management system through which employers and employees work together to identify and eliminate work-related hazards."

OSHA Launches National Initiative On Cranes And Derricks

2008-10-09T16:14:00.000-07:00

To coincide with the proposed rule on Cranes and Derricks in Construction, published in today's Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has initiated a National Crane Safety Initiative to address safety hazards during construction crane operation.

The Crane Safety Initiative also builds on a number of steps taken by OSHA earlier this year to raise awareness on crane safety and increase enforcement of the current standards, including launching local emphasis programs in a number of regions to inspect high-rise construction, stakeholder outreach and additional training on crane safety.

"Three important features of this initiative are that it will provide information and outreach to the construction industry and other stakeholders, offer enhanced resources to OSHA inspectors who address crane safety and implement a National Emphasis Program on Crane Safety," said Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported the 2007 fatality rate was the lowest in recorded history, including a reported five percent reduction in fatalities for the construction industry. This initiative builds upon this successful record."

Through its agency partners in the construction industry, OSHA will increase awareness of and provide information on how to avoid crane hazards. The agency's compliance safety and health officers will receive enhanced resources on crane safety. Additionally, the National Emphasis Program will incorporate increased targeted inspections of construction worksites to identify crane hazards and promote compliance with workplace crane safety requirements.

OSHA's proposed rule on cranes and derricks addresses the key hazards associated with construction cranes and derricks.

Read Them, Heed Them

2008-10-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

I mostly go to the same places over and over, year after year. Some are exciting and far away, such as an annual trip to Russia. But most are close to home. Today, however, I had the opportunity to visit a paper mill I had not been in for 18 years.

I was surprised, not much had changed. The main office building was closed and I had to check in at the front gate. That was different. But the refiners were the same, the paper machines the same, the storage tanks looked the same. The boilers I had inspected 18 years ago were worn out and were just now being replaced, but everything was pretty much the same except...

...there were labels and signs everywhere. 18 years ago labels and signs were not used nearly as much.

But here is what really caught my eye...

Most mills have banners exhorting employees to improve safety or productivity. Here the maintenance shop had a banner I loved: LABELS, Read Them, Heed Them.

It's an important safety message.

This is obvious to us. Pay attention to labels. Although after 18 years the contrast was noticeable to me, for those who work there (in any industrial environment) it is easy for the labels and signs to become a part of the background. We need a constant reminder to pay attention to the labels and signs in our work place. And we also need to have labels and signs that clearly communicate their message. Effective visual communication is critical to safety.

Labels, Read Them, Heed Them... it's a message to pay attention to.

For more information about labels:
Pipe Markers
RTK Labels
Arc Flash Labels
Wire Markers

New On Demand Web-Based Training for OSHA Required Certifications

2008-10-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

SoBran Inc. announced their new online safety certification training website yesterday. Here is there press release:

To counteract ever-increasing travel and educational costs, SoBran Inc. has inaugurated an advanced online training Website, www.SoBranTraining.com, initially focused on optimizing HAZWOPER 8-hour recertification training.

"As fuel prices have soared, online education has become an increasingly viable option. The time is right for classroom-based courses delivered online," said Soma Martin, SoBranTraining.com Marketing Executive. "For more than 10 years, SoBran has been in the forefront of offering the HAZWOPER 8-hour training for people who need a yearly recertification. Our new online offering is convenient, easy to use, and affordable for employers and individuals who need a compliant, computer-based training solution."

Working with SRP Environmental, a full-service environmental, health, and safety consulting firm, SoBran has developed a media-rich format that focuses on government regulations that apply to industries and businesses handling hazardous materials. "We have consulted with the best people in the industry," continued Martin. "Our customers loved our classroom system; we kept the essence and updated it to capitalize on the greater potentials of the online format."

SoBran Training draws on the company’s extensive experience in hazardous material
management and corporate safety policies to develop the unique interactive training program.

The company’s employees routinely work in environments that expose them to a wide variety of biological, chemical, nuclear, radioactive and explosive (CBRNE) threats. Safety is a top priority that has translated into comprehensive and effective online training products.

The convenient online HAZWOPER annual recertification course combines text, animation, graphics, voice, and music to create virtual environments and real-life problems. Learning by experiencing helps students retain more content and prepares them to react safely on the job.

Interactive quizzes assess training progress and help reinforce the lessons. The course's eight one-hour modules cover:

- Welcome and introduction
- Health and safety overview
- Health and safety planning
- Personal protective overview
- Confined space entry
- Drum and container handling
- Site characterization and hazard assessment
- Safe working practices and hazard recognition

SoBran's Web-based program delivers effective training that complies with OSHA requirements and is available on demand, anywhere, 24/7. Students work at their own pace and have toll-free telephone technical support in English and Spanish.

For employers, SoBran Training's HAZWOPER 8-Hour Annual Recertification Course offers a cost-effective, easily managed process for ensuring your employees are properly trained and certified. Using SoBran Training minimizes your efforts through:

- Volume discounts
- Automatic reminders of recertification deadlines
- Immediate feedback on student's progress
- Easily managed reporting features
- Immediate employee certification upon passing evaluation test

SoBran has also developed progressive training programs for workers in demanding technical specialties, including biochemical defense, environmental and weapons remediation, mail screening and security, and biomedical research support in Biosafety Level (BSL) 1-3 environments.

About SoBran, Inc.
SoBran is an established technical and professional process outsourcing company, serving government and industry for more than 20 years. We partner with our customers to complete critical missions in national defense, homeland security, biomedical research, logistics support, environmental protection, and national energy policy. ISO 9001:2000-certified and experienced in real-world challenges, SoBran brings a skilled professional staff, process orientation, and rigorous quality standards to all of our projects.

Headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, SoBran has major offices in Fairfax, Virginia; Burtonsville, Maryland; and Jacksonville, Florida, with additional field offices providing direct support for federal and commercial clients. We offer services through the GSA IT, PES and LOGWORLD schedules and several GWAC contract vehicles.

Whether the job requires chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) protection, operating a research vivarium, or managing some of the region’s largest warehouses, SoBran has the trained personnel and proven programs to efficiently achieve your goals. For more information, including opportunities to join the SoBran team, please visit www.sobran-inc.com or call (301) 476-9077.

New Videogame Designed to Teach Forklift Safety

2008-10-08T06:33:00.000-07:00

Etcetera Edutainment has released NSC Safetyworks™ Lift Truck, a 3D game-based training simulation designed to improve the effectiveness of forklift safety training by making it an immersive experience.

NSC Safetyworks Lift Truck combines Etcetera Edutainment’s videogame technology and game design techniques with OSHA forklift safety regulations to deliver an engaging forklift safety training experience suitable for new or experienced forklift operators. The product launched at the 2008 National Safety Council Congress and Expo and is now available for pre-order. The product will ship at the end of October.

“Improving safety is now a key objective at the executive level of many companies,” says Jessica Trybus, CEO and President of Etcetera Edutainment. “Our unique approach to reinforcing best safety practices helps companies achieve their safety objectives and rely less on on-the-job-training as the sole means of applying what has been learned in traditional classroom and online settings. Our lift truck safety product is the first in a series of industrial safety products that leverage videogame technology and design to increase retention of safety concepts and decrease risk of accidents and mishaps in the workplace.”

NSC Safetyworks Lift Truck allows trainees to drive in a virtual warehouse environment, guided by a series of task-based practice lessons focused on key forklift safety concepts. With each lesson trainees immediately apply what they have learned as they execute everyday tasks and respond to commonplace obstacles and conditions. Drivers receive feedback on their actions in real-time, thereby increasing their awareness of personal performance compared to best safety practices. This real-time feedback loop is powerful and is a key to the game’s effectiveness in increasing safety awareness. After completing the practice lessons, the driver goes on to complete a cumulative final exam where their safety performance is tracked and recorded; qualified trainees receive an NSC training certificate.

“My team tested the Beta version of Etcetera’s game-based forklift safety product,” said Jamie Carnevale Mackay, Alcoa, Environmental Health and Safety Manager. “The software allows trainees to learn, practice and test their forklift safety knowledge, proving competence in safety principles before going back out on the loading dock floor. I think the program is very engaging, easy to use, and is divided into manageable lessons. I look forward to playing the final product.”

Etcetera Edutainment developed NSC Safetyworks Lift Truck as a cost-effective complement to traditional forklift safety training. The training videogame is intended for a broad audience and is designed to run on commonly available PC configurations; no special hardware is required.

Trainees control the game using a standard keyboard. Optionally, an off-the-shelf steering wheel may be purchased independently to create an even more realistic experience.

About Etcetera Edutainment
Etcetera Edutainment is a leader in developing 3D games and simulation products for industrial and workplace safety. Etcetera Edutainment’s proprietary game engine, Crucible®, in combination with extensive experience in game and instructional design, is the foundation of powerful simulation products for safety training to increase knowledge retention and decrease the risk of accidents and mishaps in the workplace.

OSHA Cites Pepsi-Cola and National Brand Beverage Ltd. For Machine Hazards

2008-10-07T06:42:00.000-07:00

OSHA has cited Pepsi-Cola and National Brand Beverage Ltd. of Pennsauken with $195,000 in proposed penalties for alleged workplace safety and health violations.

OSHA initiated its investigation on April 1 in response to a complaint alleging that employees were exposed to hazards when clearing jams on the machine used to stack and transport pallets. As a result of the investigation, OSHA issued three willful citations.

The willful violations include the company's failure to provide training on lockout/tagout procedures, which prevent the inadvertent start-up of machinery or the release of hazardous energy, failure to apply lockout/tagout procedures when machines were being serviced and failure to properly guard machinery. OSHA issues a willful violation when an employer exhibits plain indifference to or intentional disregard for the law.

"The machine hazards identified at this facility pose a serious safety threat to employees if left unabated," said Gary Roskoski, director of OSHA's Marlton, N.J., area office. "A proven way of ensuring future abatement of all serious hazards, compliance with OSHA regulations and the prevention of employee injury, illness and death is for Pepsi-Cola and National Brand Beverage Ltd. in Pennsauken to establish an effective safety and health management system."

The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Marlton Area Office; telephone 856-396-2594.

Updated OSHA eTool For The Healthcare Industry

2008-10-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

Employers and employees in the healthcare industry stand to benefit from the new sonography and updated surgical modules featured in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Hospital eTool, posted to OSHA's Web site last Friday.

OSHA's eTools are stand-alone, Web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics. OSHA developed these eTool modules with input from the following Alliance Program participants: Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Association of Occupational Health Professionals, American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Laser Institute of America, American Biological Safety Association, Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, and the Joint Commission and Joint Commission Resources.

"These new and updated modules are examples of the many resources developed through our Alliances that address common hazards in the healthcare industry," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "We will continue our mission of providing useful information to ensure employees remain safe and healthy while on the job."

Employees face many occupational safety and health hazards while working in a hospital. OSHA originally developed the Hospital eTool with modules describing common hazards and possible solutions for tasks performed in administration, central supply, clinical services, dietary, emergency, engineering, heliport operations, housekeeping, laboratories, laundry, pharmacy, the intensive care unit and the surgical suite.

The sonography module provides guidance on how sonographers—medial professionals who use high frequency ultrasound to create diagnostic images—can reduce their risk of musculoskeletal disorders. The surgical module now features updated information on bloodborne pathogens, waste anesthetic gases, laser safety, and other topics related to workplace safety and health in surgical suites.

CSA Launches New Electronic Access To Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Standards

2008-10-03T06:36:00.001-07:00

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA), a leading developer of standards and codes, is today launching a two-year pilot project to increase accessibility to CSA Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards by offering users access to online viewing. The View Access initiative has been developed in collaboration with federal, provincial and territorial OSH governmental agencies. It will allow registered users to access OHS standards referenced in various Canadian jurisdictions and view the full content through CSA's website www.ohs.csa.ca

"Appropriate occupational health and safety practices can mean the difference between life and death," says Suzanne Kiraly, President, Standards, Canadian Standards Association. "This initiative will especially help small and medium-sized organizations improve workplace safety. By making these documents available we hope that companies will know and apply occupational health and safety standards."

CSA is a not-for-profit, membership-based association that develops standards and provides education and training to ensure standards are applied. This collaboration with government representatives for Labour is the first of its kind in CSA's history and is driven by the pressing need to improve workplace safety.

"Every year more than 1,000 Canadians die as a result of workplace injuries and disease. We can and should do more to protect the lives of workers. We need information, best practices and safer products to make a difference. CSA believes this new project will serve to raise awareness of OHS products and services and will help reduce workplace injuries and fatalities in Canada," says Kiraly.

For more than 55 years, CSA has worked with the experts to develop occupational health and safety standards to help safeguard Canadian workers. View Access is a source for employers to learn more about their rights and obligations under the law related to OHS and it provides additional resources that can help employers understand and apply OHS standards. CSA believes this type of stakeholder collaboration is fundamental to the safety of working Canadians.

Federal, provincial and territorial OSH governmental agencies are funding the development and maintenance of the initiative as a two-year pilot project and will continue to monitor the overall usage and impact in cooperation with CSA over the project period. Users can now log into the View Access website directly at www.ohs.csa.ca

About CSA

Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is a membership association serving industry, government, consumers and other interested parties in Canada and the global marketplace. As a leading solutions-based standards organization providing standards and codes development, application products, training and advisory services, CSA aims to enhance public safety, improve quality of life, preserve the environment and facilitate trade. The Canadian Standards Association is a division of CSA Group, which also consists of CSA International, which provides testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information visit www.csa.ca

Free Online Small Business Safety Training

2008-10-01T06:35:00.000-07:00

North Carolina State University offers a six part online course in Safety and Health Management Systems for Small Businesses. This self-instructional training program on can help implement an SHMS that is the following:

Easy to develop
Inexpensive
Can usually be done in-house
Reflects your way of doing business
Based on specific needs of your workplace

The course, funded by an OSHA-sponsored Susan Harwood grant, includes the following six sections:

1. Introduction to Safety and Health Management Systems

2. Management Leadership

3. Worksite

4. Hazard Prevention & Control

5. Safety & Health Training

6. Post-Assessment

The online course is available at: http://www.ies.ncsu.edu/safetyhealthmgmt/#

OSHA Sets Public Hearing On Personal Protective Equipment and Employee Training Requirements

2008-09-26T09:24:00.001-07:00

OSHA) will hold a public hearing Oct. 6 and 7 to receive comments on its proposal to clarify the remedies available for violations of its personal protective equipment (PPE) and employee training requirements. The hearing will be held at the U.S. Department of Labor's Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Ave. N.W., Conference Room C-5320 #6, in Washington, D.C.

OSHA encourages all interested members of the public to participate. A notice of hearing is available at http://federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-21852_PI.pdf and includes instructions for submitting a required notice of intention to appear by no later than Sept. 26.

The proposed revisions are to implement OSHA's longstanding position that its PPE and training standards impose a separate compliance duty to each employee covered by the PPE or training requirements. An employer who violates one of these provisions commits a separate violation for each employee who is not trained or does not receive the proper PPE.

In this proposal, OSHA seeks to amend its PPE and training standards to clarify the nature of the employer's obligation to each employee and to conform with the language that the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has approved as the basis for per-employee citations. More information about the proposal may be found in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Aug. 19 edition of the Federal Register (73 FR 48335).

Members of the public with questions about the hearing may contact Veneta Chatmon at 202-693-1999.

OSHA publishes an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Tree Care Operations

2008-09-26T09:21:00.000-07:00

OSHA has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) addressing tree care operations, including hazards, fatalities and control measures. OSHA is requesting data, information and comments on effective measures to control hazards in tree care operations and prevent injuries and fatalities.

"This rulemaking will assist us in determining effective measures to control hazards and prevent employee injuries and fatalities," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "Input from the public is important as we proceed in our efforts to protect the safety and health of the men and women working in tree care operations."

The ANPR includes several questions for public comment related to current employer practices, along with tasks, tools, equipment, machines, vehicles, processes, controls and procedures involved in tree care operations. Additionally, OSHA requests comment on regulatory alternatives to reduce injuries and fatalities, as well as what requirements a standard addressing hazards in this industry should include and the potential costs and benefits of such a standard.

Comments must be submitted by Dec. 17, 2008. To submit electronically, visit http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal and follow the instructions. If your comments do not exceed 10 pages, you may fax them to 202-693-1648. If submitting by mail, hand delivery, or messenger/courier service, send three copies of your comments and attachments to the OSHA Docket Office, Docket No. OSHA-2008-0012, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Room N-2625, Washington, DC 20210; telephone 202-693-2350. Please include the docket number on all submissions.

Safety@Work Awards - The Cleaner

2008-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

Completing their school's sweep of the animation awards, students of Nanyang Polytechnic also won the Bronze Award for animation. This safety video is called "The Cleaner."

Safety@Work Awards - Falling Bricks

2008-09-26T06:58:00.000-07:00

This year's Silver Award for animation also went to students from Nanyang Polytechnic, Yeo Hui Xuan & Teo Yan Bing. This video is called "Falling Bricks."

Safety@Work Creative Awards - Take The Lead

2008-09-26T06:54:00.000-07:00

Students of Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore also took the First Place Prize for animation work with this video called "Take The Lead."

Safety@Work Creative Awards - Safety Harness

2008-09-26T06:46:00.000-07:00

The Safety@Work Creative Awards is a film and poster competition for students in Singapore.

Jointly organized by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council and Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering) in collaboration with Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the Safety@Work Creative Awards showcases students’ creative talents in advocating the importance of safety at the workplace. The theme for this year competition is Safety@Work, with specific focus on Fall Preventions.

Four posts today will provide four of the award winning videos. This first video, from students of Nanyang Polytechnic, received the Judges' Choice Award. It is called "Safety Harness".

OSHA To Issue Proposed Cranes and Derricks Construction Standard

2008-09-19T06:49:00.001-07:00

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced that a proposed rule for cranes and derricks in construction will be published shortly in the Federal Register.

A current copy of the proposed standard is available on OSHA's Web site at http://www.osha.gov/doc/proposedrule/Cranes_Derricks_Proposed_Rule.html for the public to review. The public comment period on the proposed rule will only begin after the proposal has been formally published in the Federal Register.

"The cranes and derricks proposed rule comprehensively addresses the hazards associated with the use of cranes and derricks in construction, including tower cranes," said Edwin G. Foulke Jr., assistant secretary of labor for OSHA. "This draft rule will both protect construction employees and help prevent crane accidents by updating existing protections and requiring crane operators to be trained in the use of construction cranes."

The cranes and derricks proposed rule would apply to the estimated 96,000 construction cranes in the U.S., including 2,000 tower cranes. The proposed standard addresses key safety issues associated with cranes, including ground conditions, the assembly and disassembly of cranes, the operation of cranes near power lines, the certification and training of crane operators, the use of safety devices and signals, and inspections of cranes. It significantly updates existing tower crane requirements and more comprehensively addresses tower crane safety, with respect both to erecting and dismantling, and to crane operations.

The proposed standard would establish four options for the qualification or certification of crane operators:

(1) certification through an accredited third-party testing organization
(2) qualification through an audited employer testing program
(3) qualification issued by the U.S. military
(4) qualification by a state or local licensing authority.

This proposed rule was developed through negotiated rulemaking by the Cranes and Derricks Advisory Committee (C-DAC). The federal Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health subsequently recommended that OSHA use that document for developing its proposed rule. Since then and as required by law, OSHA has conducted a regulatory flexibility analysis, small business review and paperwork burden analysis of the proposed rule. In addition, OSHA was required to write a preamble to the regulatory proposal that explains in detail the purpose and application of the proposed standard. That preamble is almost 1,000 pages. The members of C-DAC were sent an advance copy for review as part of their role in the negotiated rulemaking.

OSHA has improved workplace safety and health over the past 37 years. This success is reflected in the latest data showing the lowest national fatality and injury and illness incidence rate that the Bureau of Labor Statistics has ever recorded.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA’s role is to promote 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.

OSHA Proposes More Than $41,000 In Penalties Against Beeline Store

2008-09-16T15:00:00.001-07:00

MOBILE, Ala. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing $41,650 in penalties against Ganapatibapa Inc. for one willful and two serious safety violations found at its Ozark, Ala., Beeline Store.

The willful violation, which carries a proposed penalty of $38,500, stems from the company's failure to provide a standard guardrail or its equivalent on an open-sided platform four feet or more above the ground. The agency defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

Ganapatibapa Inc. had been told about this violation in December 2007. After announcing that it would no longer utilize the platform, the company resumed its practice of requiring employees to use the platform to change gas pricing signs without modifying the structure to conform to OSHA safety regulations. Instead, the company supplied employees with a full-body safety harness but did not instruct them on its use.

"OSHA will not tolerate the practice of employers agreeing to correct safety hazards and then failing to make the required changes," said Clyde Payne, OSHA's acting area director in Mobile.

Ganapatibapa Inc. is also being cited for two serious violations with $3,150 in proposed penalties for exceeding the weight duty limit of a portable ladder and failing to provide appropriate training to employees.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to contest them and the proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The site was inspected by staff from OSHA's Mobile Area Office, 1141 Montlimar Drive, Suite 1006; telephone 251-441-6131.

OSHA Citations Issued In Connection With Fatal NYC Crane Collapse

2008-09-16T14:56:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK -- The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued citations to three contractors with proposed penalties totaling $313,500 for alleged violations of safety standards after investigating the catastrophic March 15 collapse of a tower crane in New York City that killed seven people. The accident took place at 303 E. 51st St. in midtown Manhattan.

Cited were Rapetti Rigging Services Inc., the crane's erector; Reliance Construction Group, the project's general contractor; and Joy Contractors Inc., the project's concrete and superstructure contractor. Rapetti was cited for alleged problems associated with rigging the crane and lack of fall protection, while Reliance and Joy were cited for lack of fall protection, fire protection and other hazards unrelated to the crane collapse.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. said, "This case illustrates in stark terms that failure to follow required procedures can have wide-ranging and catastrophic consequences."

Rapetti Rigging has been issued three willful citations with penalties totaling $210,000 for allegedly failing, among other things, to comply with the crane manufacturer's specifications and limitations when erecting and raising the tower crane, to protect synthetic rigging slings from damage, to inspect the slings for damage or defects before use, and to remove a defective sling from service.

"Ultimately, the crane collapse was a failure to follow basic, but essential, construction safety processes," said Richard Mendelson, OSHA's area director in Manhattan.

Rapetti also has been issued five serious citations, with $10,000 in proposed fines for fall hazards. Employees working on the crane’s mast and at the edge of the 18th floor level and other areas lacked proper fall protection. Penalties proposed against Rapetti total $220,000.

Joy Contractors has been issued one repeat and 14 serious citations with proposed penalties totaling $74,000. The repeat citation alleges the lack of fall protection for employees working 180 feet above the ground. OSHA cited Joy in March 2007 for a similar hazard at a Mt. Pleasant, N.Y., worksite. The serious citations allege failure to train employees in jobsite hazards, unsafe work area debris, fire hazards, fall hazards, unsafe material storage, and hazards created by the eccentric loading of concrete shoring and formwork.

Reliance Construction Group has been issued 11 serious citations with a total of $19,500 in proposed penalties. The citations allege failure to train employees in jobsite hazards, unsafe work area debris, fire hazards, fall hazards, and hazards created by the eccentric loading of concrete shoring and formwork.

This inspection was conducted by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office; telephone 212-620-3200. OSHA’s inspection of the May 30 crane collapse at 91st Street and First Avenue in New York City is still ongoing.

Department of Labor Settles Whistleblower Case

2008-09-10T07:15:00.001-07:00

The following is a press release from OSHA:

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The U.S. Department of Labor has entered into a settlement with Encore Management Co. in Arlington to resolve findings by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that the company illegally terminated an employee because she complained about safety and health issues.

OSHA whistleblower investigators found that Encore Management terminated the employee, who served as the community director at one of the apartment complexes it managed, after discovering she filed a complaint with the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) regarding possible asbestos exposure.

"Employees should be free to exercise their rights under the law without fear of termination or retaliation by their employers," said Dean W. McDaniel, OSHA's regional administrator in Dallas. "This settlement underscores the Labor Department's commitment to vigorously take action to protect those rights."

The employee expressed concerns to her supervisor that a renovation project at the complex was exposing workers to asbestos. When Encore Management failed to address the employee's concerns, she filed a complaint with DSHS, which conducted an inspection and found the apartment complex had not performed sufficient asbestos testing prior to beginning its renovation and had hired an unlicensed contractor to remove known asbestos material.

After being terminated, the employee filed a whistleblower complaint alleging she had been fired by Encore Management in retaliation for filing the complaint with DSHS. OSHA investigated the complaint and determined that Encore Management's termination of the employee was in violation of the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act.

The company entered into a voluntary settlement after OSHA referred the case to the Labor Department's Solicitor's Office for enforcement. Pursuant to the terms of the settlement, Encore Management paid the complainant $25,000 for lost wages, job seeking expenses, out of pocket medical expenses and a year of future lost earnings. The company also agreed to provide the complainant with a neutral job reference and remove derogatory information related to her termination from her personnel file.

Encore Management, headquartered in California, provides property management services to several apartment complexes throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, area.

OSHA enforces the whistleblower provisions of the OSH Act and 16 other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various trucking, airline, nuclear power, pipeline, environmental, rail and securities laws. Detailed information about employee whistleblower rights, including fact sheets, is available online at: http://www.osha.gov/dep/oia/whistleblower/index.html.

Award Winning Chinese Safety Video

2008-09-09T15:50:00.000-07:00

A very different safety video made in the Republic of China (Taiwan) won first first place at an international film festival. You can view the video on the web site of the International Social Security Association. I don't feel this video will deliver a strong safety message in the typical American workplace culture, but it may be useful when training workers from Asian cultures.

The following is a press release announcing the award:

The Republic of China Institute of Occupational Safety and Health won first place at the International Film Festival in Seoul, Korea during the XVIII World Congress on Safety and Health at Work: A Global Forum for Prevention, Safety and Health at Work: A Societal Responsibility. The International Film and Multimedia Festival attracted 115 films and 50 multimedia applications from 25 countries, and brought a wide range of topics, new and old, to the attention of the Juries.

The Nick of Time, produced by the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs in Taiwan, Republic of China, was awarded a first prize for a very different approach. Taking the concept that "Death is watching", the film uses animation to present the many risks and dangers facing workers, and how their attitude to safety is critical in avoiding injury. The Jury commended the excellent quality of the film, and applauded the original approach.

You Can't Win

2008-08-22T06:35:00.000-07:00

Laws, codes, rules and requirements sometimes conflict such that to obey one you most likely will break another. You can end up in a situation in which there is a potential for a lawsuit no matter what you do. Finding the middle ground can be difficult, or impossible.

Last Wednesday's Houston Chronicle has a good example. An employee of an Animal Health Clinic became pregnant. When her employer became aware of the pregnancy they took actions to protect the employee's health. The article states:

"Lisa Davila [the clinic manager] said she went through all the chemicals to identify which ones were dangerous, changed the employee's work duties to eliminate exposure to radiation or cat litter, and checked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Web site to make sure the clinic in College Station was taking the necessary precautions to keep its employee safe."

The result of Ms. Davila's actions was a lawsuit and a settlement to the employee of $15,000.

What went wrong? The manager may have violated the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, which states that you can not treat a pregnant woman any different than anyone else... even if you are trying to protect the health of that person or the baby.

You can read the article at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/sixel/5956708.html#none

I suggest also reading the comments at the end of the article. Hare2share has a reasonable suggestion for how this situation might have been handled better. Although I still think the door would have been open for a lawsuit or OSHA fine.

2007 Has Lowest Annual Workplace Fatality Rate Ever Reported

2008-08-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported yesterday that a total of 5,488 fatal work injuries were recorded in the United States in 2007, a decrease of 6 percent from the 5,840 fatal work injuries reported for 2006. While these results are considered preliminary, this figure represents the smallest annual preliminary total since the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) program was first conducted in 1992. Final results for 2007 will be released in April 2009.

Thirty States reported lower numbers of fatal work injuries in 2007 than in 2006, 19 States and the District of Columbia reported higher numbers, and one State was unchanged.

Based on these preliminary counts, the rate of fatal injury for U.S. workers in 2007 was 3.7 fatal work injuries per 100,000 workers, down from the final rate of 4.0 per 100,000 workers in 2006, and the lowest annual fatality rate ever reported by the fatality census.

The four occupations with the highest fatality rates were:

Fishers and related fishing workers with a fatality rate of 111.8 per 100,000 workers

Logging workers (86.4)

Aircraft pilots and flight engineers (66.7)

Structural iron and steel workers (45.5)

Key findings of the 2007 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries:

The number of fatal falls in 2007 rose to a series high of 835--a 39 percent increase since 1992 when the CFOI program was first conducted.

Transportation incidents, which typically account for two-fifths of all workplace fatalities, fell to a series low of 2,234 cases in 2007.

Workplace homicides rose 13 percent to 610 in 2007 after reaching a series low of 540 in 2006.

The number of fatal workplace injuries among protective service occupations rose 19 percent in 2007 to 337, led by an increase in the number of police officers fatally injured on the job.

Fatal occupational injuries incurred by non-Hispanic Black or African American workers were at the highest level since 1999, but fatal work injuries among Hispanic workers were lower by 8 percent in 2007.

More information is available on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics web site at: http://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm

OSHA's Proposed Rule On Remedies For Violations of PPE and Training Standards

2008-08-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

OSHA announced yesterday in the Aug. 19 Federal Register that it is accepting public comments on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and training standards. The proposal clarifies that when an OSHA standard requires an employer to provide PPE, such as respirators, or training to employees, the employer must do so for each employee subject to the requirement. Each employee not protected may be considered a separate violation for penalty purposes.

"We want employers to understand the importance of complying with OSHA’s PPE rule for each and every one of their employees," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. "Without question, providing PPE for all employees will reduce costs, save money and, most importantly, save lives."

The proposed rule affects OSHA’s general industry, construction, and maritime standards. In many cases, OSHA combines separate violations of a single requirement in a standard into a single penalty. However, under the instance-by-instance penalty policy, OSHA may propose a separate penalty for each specific violation where the employer demonstrates a flagrant disregard for safety and health.

The proposed rule makes clear that failure to provide appropriate PPE or training may result in per-instance penalties in appropriate cases. The proposed rule does not add new compliance obligations, nor are employers required to provide any new type of PPE or training. The amendments merely clarify that a separate penalty may be assessed for each employee not provided the required PPE or training.

The agency will accept public comments on the proposed rule until Sept. 18. Interested parties may submit comments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, the Federal eRulemaking Portal; by sending three copies to the OSHA Docket Office, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-2625, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-2625, Washington, DC 20210; or by FAX at (202) 693-1678 if the comments and attachments do not exceed 10 pages. Comments must include the Agency name and Docket Number for this rulemaking (Docket No. OSHA-2008-0031).

ASSE Submits Comments on Proposed Combustible Dust Legislation, Urges Caution

2008-08-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), representing 32,000 occupational safety, health and environmental professionals, provided a statement for the record to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions’ Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety for their hearing held July 29 titled “Dangerous Dust – Is OSHA doing enough to protect workers?” ASSE urged caution in moving ahead to address hazardous dust risks legislatively without developing a deeper understanding of current Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards, their enforcement by OSHA, and the approach taken through national consensus standards.

The ASSE statement said, following the February 2008 combustible dust explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, that killed 13 workers and injured 40, it understands the urge to find a legislative solution, as reflected in the “Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008” (HR 5522) introduced by House Committee on Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller. ASSE supports much in Chairman Miller’s approach, including the bill’s assurance that any new OSHA rule concerning combustible dust will not be less effective than the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) voluntary consensus standards.

Several other issues related to managing combustible dust should also be addressed by the legislation, ASSE said. Most important is the lack of adequate OSHA’s resources to conduct inspections, which contribute to missing dangerous workplaces by OSHA and can result in inspections that are hurried or done without an adequate basis in training. ‘If only 50 of OSHA’s 1029 inspectors had “extensive dust training,’ as Assistant Secretary for OSHA Edwin Foulke, Jr., told 60 Minutes recently, ‘then a bill requiring more standards without the adequate capability to enforce them will not be adequate to address this hazard when workers’ lives are at stake.’

Further, ASSE advised that, due to the complex technical and policy issues involved, Congress should require OSHA to address the issue through negotiated rulemaking, which mirrors the voluntary consensus-building process used by industry and the occupational safety and health community to address combustible dust.

ASSE also expressed concern over setting unrealistic dates for OSHA to issue an interim final standard within 90 days of enactment followed by a final standard within 18 months. The complexities posed by the current statutory obligations under the Administrative Procedure Act, the Small Business Regulatory Fairness Act (SBRFA) and the required regulatory and economic impact analyses lead ASSE to conclude that completion of a final rule within 24 months is a more realistic goal. Reasonably more time would allow Congress working with OSHA and the occupational safety and health community to address what may be the key underlying difficulty with the current regulatory approach to combustible dust. With 17 different OSHA regulations impacting combustible dust risks, it is reasonable to expect difficulties in employers’ efforts to establish a cohesive and effective combustible dust hazard management program in a workplace.

ASSE noted the 17 existing OSHA standards in place to address combustible dust hazards in addition to Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act (General Duty Clause) : 1910.22, housekeeping; 1910.38, emergency action plans; 1910.94, ventilation; 1910.119, process safety management; 1910.132, personal protective equipment; 1910.146, permit-required confined spaces; 1910.157, portable fire extinguishers; 1910.165, employee alarm systems; 1910.176, handling materials – general; 1910.178, powered industrial trucks; 1910.263, bakery equipment; 1910.265, sawmill operations; 1910.269, electric power generation, transmission, and distribution; 1910.272, grain handling facilities; 1910.307, hazardous (classified) locations; and 1910.1200, hazard communication.

While no simple answer to the complexities involved in managing combustible dust exists, a more organized, comprehensive approach by OSHA is needed to facilitate compliance. ASSE’s primary concern is that an answer to the current difficulties involving combustible dust risk management be based on sound science and done in a way that affords all stakeholders due process, without any undue delay.

Founded in 1911, the Des Plaines, IL-based ASSE is the largest and oldest professional safety organization and is committed to protecting people, property and the environment.

Risky Jobs: Communication and Occupational Safety

2008-08-18T06:49:00.000-07:00

Research published in the latest edition of Communication Currents has found that:

"The availability of safety information and the willingness of individual workers to seek it out play an important role in safety. In the workplace, employees have to believe that there is reliable and useful safety information available before they can be expected to seek it and act on it. This is important because workplace injuries and fatalities have many ramifications beyond individual suffering."

The articles points out ways that organizations can effectively communication safety information:

1. Organizations should make the safety information personal by using first-line supervisors to deliver safety-related messages, both in word and by example.

2. Safety messages should be simple and to the point.

3. Positive safety behaviors should be encouraged and safety messages should focus on how to initiate safety behavior.

4. Safety messages should be delivered through more than one medium.

The complete article is available on the Communication Currents web site.