Safe Workplace and Safety News

Research has shown that when an emergency occurs, workers often do not get the information they need to take appropriate action. Important information about incidents is either not communicated effectively or not at all to those affected by the event.

The NIOSH "Emergency Communication Triangle" safety talk focuses on the content of emergency warning messages. It presents a procedure using mental cues that can be used by senders and receivers of emergency warnings. The talk includes graphics for use during the presentation, as well as references for more information.

The NIOSH Technology Notes #507 describes the NIOSH safety talk and the Emergency Communication Triangle.

The material was developed for use in short safety training sessions such as start-of-shift safety talks. The information can be presented in about 15 minutes. Although the illustrations were taken from the underground coal mining industry, the training can be tailored to any work setting by substituting appropriate examples.

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NFPA Issues Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide For People With Disabilities
New OSHA Combustible Dust Web Page

Labels: Emergency Planning, NIOSH, Safety Training

Former OSHA head Edwin G. Foulke, Jr has an article in last Friday's edition of Manufacturing.NET, a manufacturing news publication. However, it's an article that applies to any workplace. The article is called "Catastrophic Workplace Accidents: It Could Happen To You."

The article discusses advance planning and preparation for catastrophic events in the workplace, and the importance of anticipating each workplace emergency before it happens. Here is how hesummarizes his article:

"In summary, employers can effectively deal with workplace fatalities and catastrophic accidents, but only through proper planning and execution. It is virtually impossible for an employer to deal with all the competing audiences which assemble during a catastrophic accident or fatality without proper planning. In fact, effective planning may help reduce the pain and suffering suffered by the surviving family and co-workers, while at the same time allow the employer to resume normal operations quicker and reduce the financial and potential legal burdens placed on the company."

You can read the entire article here.

Related Past Posts
Planning For A Workplace Emergency
NFPA Issues Emergency Evacuation Guide For People With Disabilities
What To Do When Responding To A Fire

Labels: Emergency Planning, hazard prevention, safety, Safety Training

1910.151(b) states, "In the absence of an infirmary, clinic, or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees, a person or persons shall be adequately trained to render first aid. Adequate first aid supplies should be readily available."

Is meeting the above adequate? An article in today's Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle reveals that it may not. Curtis South, an executive with Thermal Ceramics Inc., had a serious heart attack at work. The type of heart attack he had is called sudden cardiac death. Co-workers used CPR and an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to revive him. The article reports that: "If five minutes had passed without help, he would have died. 'It's uncommon to survive,' Mr. South said. 'I'm very lucky.'"

You can read the entire article at the Augusta Chronicle.

Labels: Emergency Planning, First Aid

On February 7th a dust explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery killed 12 workers and critically injured 11 others, making this the deadliest industrial explosion in the United States since 1980. The following provides links to articles that summarize what is happening in this area.

Occupational Hazards Magazine reports that on Wednesday this week OSHA Administrator Edwin Foulke Jr. stated in congressional testimony that OSHA would consider new rule making on combustible dust a "strong option" only if its investigation of the Feb. 7 explosion and an inspection of existing standards show that existing standards are not adequate.

Safety Business and Legal Reports (Safety.BLR.com) published an article yesterday titled: "OSHA Reissues Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program". This article states that OSHA is taking action. The article states:

"OSHA reissued its Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP) Instruction. The NEP will increase enforcement activities and focus on specific industry groups that have experienced frequent combustible dust incidents. 'Combustible dust fires or explosions can pose significant dangers in the workplace,' said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Edwin G. Foulke Jr. 'With this new Combustible Dust NEP, the Agency will increase its activities in outreach, training, and cooperative ventures with stakeholders, as well as enhance its enforcement activities.'"

You can read the Safety.BLR article at: http://safety.blr.com/display.cfm/id/105965

Meanwhile Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John W. Oxendine announced new tougher state regulations to improve safety in workplaces that "produce flammable dust in their manufacturing processes." An article in the Peachtree Corners Weekly reports:

"Oxendine said the new rules will require all industries in Georgia that produce combustible dust to draw up emergency plans, practice implementing the plan, and train employees in evacuation techniques."

In addition:

"At Oxendine’s request, the International Fire Code Committee has approved for their final action hearings, requirements for factory fire emergency evacuation procedures and drills for the 2009 edition of the International Fire Code."

Labels: Emergency Planning, OSHA, safety regulations, workplace safety

OSHA Press Release:

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA issues multiple safety citations against two Milwaukee companies for blast that took three lives

MILWAUKEE -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed $56,000 in fines against industrial gear manufacturer Rexnord Industries and $16,800 against J.M. Brennan Inc., both based in Milwaukee, for alleged serious violations of federal workplace safety standards following a gas explosion last year that claimed three lives.

A large explosion and fire occurred Dec. 6, 2006, at the Rexnord plant at 3001 W. Canal St. in Milwaukee during an operational test of a back-up propane gas system. An underground leak allowed gas to escape and ignite. OSHA's investigation resulted in eight serious violations of safety standards issued to Rexnord pertaining to employee and emergency training and response, failing to protect underground liquid propane piping from corrosion, and failure to conduct a site analysis to identify hazardous conditions and minimize employee exposure to explosion hazards.

OSHA also issued three serious violations to J.M. Brennan Inc. for its improper installation of underground liquid propane piping at the facility, as well as training and emergency response deficiencies.

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The above press release shows the importance of emergency planning.

In many cases an emphasis is placed on workplace safety and preventative measures. This is good, but there is more to safety. Should a major accident or natural disaster happen, a sound contingency or emergency plan will greatly reduce damage and injuries.

OSHA regulations regarding contingency plans can be read at: http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=9726&p_table=STANDARDS

Every employee should be trained on and be familiar with the emergency response plans for a facility. When there is an emergency plan, in many cases a fire is the only emergency scenario considered. However, other emergency situations can arise that include communication shut downs, power outages and chemical leaks. Different types of emergencies may require different emergency responses.

Equipment used during emergencies should also be tested regularly. This may include smoke detectors, backup power systems and PA systems. Failure of emergency equipment such as a simple flashlight could result in catastrophic consequences.

Organizations change over time. The number of employees may increase or decrease, office furniture may be rearranged, new equipment is installed, and additions may be added to a building. This means emergency plans must change also. An outdated emergency plan may not only be ineffective, it could result in additional injuries or damage. For example, something as simple as rearranging cubicles in an office may result in the relocation of fire extinguishers and changes to escape routes. This means, for example, that informational signs and labels must also be updated.

Labels: Emergency Planning, OSHA Citations

A new Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities was developed and issued this month by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The document provides general information to assist in identifying the needs of people with disabilities related to emergency evacuation planning.

According to the U.S Census Bureau, nearly 49 million Americans had one or more disabilities in 2000. The guide addresses the need for evacuation plans to include everyone, and highlights the needs, criteria, and minimum information required to incorporate appropriate planning strategies for people with disabilities into these plans.

"Other than preventing an emergency before it happens, having a plan and practicing it is the best way to prepare ourselves for the unexpected," said James M. Shannon, NFPA’s president. "NFPA developed this guide as a resource for creating an all-inclusive evacuation plan that considers everyone's needs for evacuation, including the needs of people with disabilities."

The Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities is available for download at no cost from NFPA’s Web site, www.nfpa.org/evacuationguide.

The document is a valuable resource for people with disabilities as well as employers, building owners and managers, and others involved in developing emergency evacuation plans. Critical information on the operational, planning, and response elements necessary to develop a well-thought-out plan for evacuating a building or taking other appropriate action in the event of an emergency are covered.

Five general categories of disabilities covered in the guide include mobility impairments, visual impairments, hearing impairments, speech impairments, and cognitive impairments. Four elements of evacuation information needed by occupants are: notification, way finding, use of way, and assistance. Basically, in the event of an emergency, a person would need to be notified of the emergency; identify a way out; assess if they can get out on their own, with the help of a device, or with assistance; and identify and express if assistance is needed and what that would involve.

Materials include a personal emergency evacuation planning checklist that building services managers and people with disabilities can use to design a personalized evacuation plan.

Labels: Emergency Planning, workplace safety

We've added new content to our web site and re-arranged the menus so that topics are grouped together in a more logical way.

The new content includes a long page on the topic of Workplace Emergency Planning. Based on an OSHA booklet, it provides a complete overview of how to get prepared for the unexpected. Trying to figure out how to respond to an emergency, while you are in the middle of the emergency, is not the best approach, and it could lead to unnecessary injury, death or damage to your facility. This article describes how to create a complete emergency response plan.

We have also added the OSHA VPP Fact Sheet to our web site. This is a PDF document put out by OSHS that describes VPP. We left it in the PDF format so that, if needed, you may print good quality copies of this fact sheet.

Labels: Emergency Planning, Safety Training, VPP