Safe Workplace and Safety News

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services, Occupational Safety and
Health Division (Oregon OSHA) has fined Americold Logistics a total of $740,400 for extensive safety and health violations found during a Sept. 16, 2009 inspection at the company’s Milwaukie facility. By not having proper safeguards in place to contain ammonia, the company was putting workers in serious danger of injury or death due to a major chemical release or explosion, Oregon OSHA found.

"Ammonia carries significant risks to workers, particularly in large quantities," said Michael Wood, Oregon OSHA administrator. "Due to the size of this facility, there is the potential for a large-scale release."

Oregon OSHA cited Americold Logistics, a national refrigerated warehouse operation, for 10 willful violations, four serious repeat violations, and 22 other serious violations of the Oregon Safe Employment Act. The bulk of the violations are related to the company’s system for handling the hazardous chemical anhydrous ammonia, which is common in commercial warehouses and can be explosive. Ammonia can also cause severe alkaline chemical burns to skin, eyes, and the respiratory system. If a chemical leak occurs, ammonia released from such a system will expand rapidly, making it difficult to contain.

Among other issues, the inspection identified excessive ice build up, creating the potential for system damage and in some cases encasing valves, making it difficult, if not impossible, to close them in the event of an emergency. The inspection also identified significant corrosion of pipes and missing drain valve plugs, making ammonia release more likely.

Oregon OSHA previously conducted an accident investigation at the Milwaukie location in 2007, after two employees were sent to the hospital following an ammonia compressor explosion. As a result of that inspection, which was limited in scope, 18 violations were issued.

"Protecting workers from highly hazardous chemicals should be the result of a credible program of inspections, hazard identification, and preventive maintenance to ensure the system's integrity," Wood said. "The safety of the facility’s workers must not be left to chance."

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Labels: OSHA Fines, safety

The National Safety Council invites businesses around the world to apply for the 2010 Robert W. Campbell Award, the world's pre-eminent award recognizing excellence in business performance, employee safety and health, and environmental stewardship. The 2010 winners will be announced at NSC's Congress & Expo, Oct. 3-8 in San Diego.

"The Campbell Award recognizes companies that demonstrate that environmental, health and safety (EHS) management is an essential element in achieving operational excellence and financial success," said Janet Froetscher, president & CEO of NSC. "Campbell Award winners prove that integrated EHS systems reduce workplace injuries and deaths, improve the bottom line, and motivate and inspire others."

Awards are presented in two categories: Businesses with more than 1,000 employees and businesses with less than 1,000 employees. Winners are selected by an international panel of experts in academia, government, labor and management. These experts provide each applicant with a written evaluation report for further improvement. Winning Campbell case studies also are discussed in boardrooms and classrooms worldwide.

Past winners include Noble Corp., Johnson & Johnson, Alcan Inc., DynMcDermott Petroleum Operations Co., The Bahrain Petroleum Co., Fluor Hanford, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. and Schneider Electric North America.

The Campbell Award is named for Robert W. Campbell, an early safety advocate and the first president of NSC. The award is sponsored by NSC and underwritten by ExxonMobil Foundation.

To download an application packet, please visit www.CampbellAward.org. Final submissions must be postmarked by May 31, 2010.

Labels: NSC, safety

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

OSHA is issuing 30 safety and health citations carrying proposed penalties of $189,000 against Kopac International Corp., which does business as Southeast Pallet and Box in Montgomery, AL.

The penalties follow inspections in January 2009 that uncovered numerous workplace violations including two willful violations resulting in $99,000 in penalties. The company is alleged to have failed to establish a testing program for noise exposure and to implement controls to reduce the level of exposure. The agency defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

Three repeat violations with penalties of $20,000 are being proposed against the company for exposing employees to unsanitary conditions, hazards from unguarded conveyor belts and electrical hazards. OSHA issues repeat violations when it finds a substantially similar violation of any standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facilities in federal enforcement states.

Two serious health and 22 serious safety violations were identified with penalties totaling $70,000. The company failed to implement a monitoring program to excessive noise exposure and did not institute a training program on the hazards of noise exposure. Employees were exposed to hazards related to crushing, tripping, struck-by, amputations, falls and fire hazards. One other-than-serious safety violation with no penalty is also being proposed against the company for failing to implement a hazard communication program. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

"This company has been told in the past that it has worker safety and health issues and has even received assistance from the state's on-site consultation program, so its continued inaction demonstrates gross indifference to employees' well-being," said Kurt Petermeyer, OSHA's area director in Mobile, AL.

The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director in Mobile or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The site was inspected by staff from OSHA's Mobile Office.

Related Past Posts
OSHA Citation Includes LOTO and RTK
Federal Government Sues Firm For $1,000,000 In Penalties
OSHA Issues Citations In Connection With NYC Crane Collapse

Labels: OSHA Citations, safety

The Handies video contest gives you a chance to win big and raise the bar on hand protection.

The following is a press release from Superior Glove.

Hands - and the gloves that protect them - are the subject of a video contest with a first prize of $5000. Superior Glove Works announces the 'Handies', a video contest about Hand Safety in the Workplace.

Hands are our most valuable asset. They contain more bones and moving parts than most other areas of the body and separate humans from the rest of the species. In the work environment, protecting them is the number-one challenge faced by companies where employees must wear gloves.

Despite efforts to increase awareness about the importance of taking care of them, approximately one-quarter of lost-time work injuries involve the hand because workers aren't wearing their gloves when they get injured.

It's time to change how messages about safety are delivered since cuts, burns and fractures continue to sideline workers. Even though safety organizations strive to educate the public about hazards, often trying to scare workers into doing the right thing, they still have a hard time reducing injury numbers.

It's human nature to want that spoon-full-of-sugar instead of vinegar when it comes to changing habits, which is part of the inspiration behind the video contest. Superior Glove president Tony Geng is hoping someone out there with a yen to be a filmmaker plus a deep appreciation of our hands can help get a new, revitalized - and more memorable - message across, perhaps by reinforcing how amazing hands are, so that taking care of them becomes second nature.

Enter the Handies Video Contest or click on the contest link on the Superior Glove website. Video submissions must be under three minutes long, and the contest is open to Canadian and U.S residents with no entry fee, a limit of three entries per person and a deadline of Oct. 5th 2009. The top five videos selected (four runners-up each receive $100.00 cash) will be presented for viewing in Orlando, Florida, on Oct. 25th, 2009, at the National Safety Congress 2009 .

Labels: safety

Fifteen years ago the Springfield/Clark County (Ohio) Safety Council (SCCSC), seeking a showcase event that would advance its’ ability to reach out to its’ membership, started a Forklift Rodeo competition. This year's event, which has received international recognition, will be held October 30 & 31st.

Originally this was just a county-wide event, designed to, "promote the safe and efficient operation of forklifts in a fun, competitive environment." It was a modest success conducted out of doors on a parking lot. The second was rained out and postponed. Ever since it has been conducted indoors in a 35,000 sq. ft. Clark County Fairgrounds facility.

Under the direction of The Higgins Group, Inc., (HGI) the Rodeo’s innovator and facilitator, the SCCSC Rodeo has grown in popularity from a single county event, to a multi-county event, to an Ohio and regional event. It has grown from a one day to a two day (Fri – Sat ) event to enable increased participation. In 2006 it was renamed the "U.S. Open Forklift Rodeo," and it became an international competition.

Last month a regional rodeo, "SafeMOV Portugal," was conducted in Lisbon utilizing the HGI "how to" rodeo manual. The result was a huge success and they intend to send their two-person team to the SCCSC 2009 U.S. Open Forklift Rodeo. Meanwhile the Chesapeake Region Safety Council (Baltimore, MD) is preparing for an July 18th Forklift Rodeo with the assistance of HGI . They plan to send their championship team to the "U.S. Open Forklift Rodeo." A third rodeo using the SCCSC / HGI format also appears possible in Great Britain.

What are some of the features of the U.S. Open Forklift Rodeo?

1. Individual competition in conjunction with the two-person team element. Every operator is in the running for individual recognition as the "Top Gun" with the trophy and cash prize.

2. Two division levels, Master Operator & Championship which opens up the competition individual opportunity. Top Championship Division operators earn Master Operator qualification, cash prize, a jacket and they can compete in the Master’s Division in the future.

3. Top Teams (the combination of the two members scores, both divisions) earn a trophy.

4. A 25 question quiz taken from a Master Question File adds a knowledge element to the competition.

To learn more visit the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce website www.greaterspringfield.com.

For additional information about the U.S. Open Forklift Rodeo contact The Higgins Group at +1 937.325.7858 or info.higginsgroup@yahoo.com

Washington State also runs a Forklift Rodeo. This summer they will hold their 12th annual Forklift Rodeo at three locations around the state, with the finals being held in October in the Tacoma Dome.

Labels: safety, Safety Training, Transportation Safety

The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), in partnership with four business and labor organizations, began an advertising campaign on Monday to raise awareness about the importance of workplace safety in Washington state.

Television, radio and Internet ads in Western Washington will spread the message that the most important reason for making your workplace safe is not at work at all. Instead, workplace safety is important as a means of sustaining relationships with family and friends outside the workplace.

The centerpiece ad, called Homecomings, shows people coming home from work to their loved ones, juxtaposed against one boy who is worried that his dad isn't home from work yet. The ad concludes with a reminder that, on average, two people die every week in Washington from on-the-job injuries and illnesses. The ads call attention to WorkSafe.Lni.wa.gov web site and resources for making workplaces safer.

L&I purchased licensing rights to an award-winning workplace-safety campaign developed in Australia, saving creative and development costs. The ads were repurposed for Washington residents, including voice-overs to eliminate the Australian accent.

In Australia, surveys showed that about 85 percent of viewers thought the ads were quite or very effective. Also, 24 percent of employers and 18 percent of employees said they had personally taken action as a result of the campaign. This was considered a very strong result in a low-interest category such as occupational safety and health.

About $450,000 in TV and radio airtime and Internet space has been purchased. The money comes from dedicated workers' compensation funds, which can't be used for purposes other than workers' comp and workplace safety.

Labels: safety, safety and the media

A New Jersey cast iron pipe manufacturer, Atlantic States Cast Iron Pipe Co. (a division of McWane Inc.) and four company officials were found guilty of committing flagrant abuses of environmental and worker safety laws, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency announced today. The charges include, among others, the regular discharge of oil into the Delaware River, concealing serious worker injuries from health and safety inspectors, and maintaining a dangerous workplace that contributed to multiple severe injuries and the death of one employee at the Phillipsburg, N.J., plant.

After approximately six days of deliberations, the jury returned guilty verdicts against five of six defendants: Atlantic States; plant manager John Prisque; maintenance supervisor Jeffrey Maury; finishing superintendent Craig Davidson; and former Atlantic States human resource manager Scott Faubert—each of whom face prison time for the convictions. One defendant, Daniel Yadzinski, formerly the engineering manager at the plant, was acquitted on three counts.

U.S. District Judge Mary L. Cooper, who presided over the nearly seven-month-long trial—the longest environmental crimes trial prosecuted by the Justice Department—scheduled the sentencing for the corporation and individual defendants for Sept. 7, 2006.

"As a multiple offender, McWane has time and again shown a disturbing indifference towards the health and safety of their workers and a blatant disregard for the natural environment we all share," said Sue Ellen Wooldridge, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "Today's conviction shows that the Department of Justice takes seriously its responsibility to enforce the nation's environmental laws. And when companies or individuals break them with such shocking regularity, they will be vigorously prosecuted."

"The conviction of Atlantic States and its managers after a trial of unprecedented length sends a clear message: neither EPA nor the public will tolerate knowing and rampant environmental misconduct," said Granta Y. Nakayama, EPA's assistant administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "This manner of 'doing business' injures workers, the public and our environment, and EPA will continue to deter such flagrant disregard of pollution laws by vigorously pursuing not only corporations, but also the culpable individuals regardless of their position within the organization."

The 34-count indictment charged Atlantic States, a subsidiary of McWane Inc. of Birmingham, Ala., and the named managers, with conspiracy to violate federal clean air and water regulations and laws governing workplace safety, as well as obstruction of criminal and regulatory investigations by the EPA and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The company and the four managers were each convicted on Count One of the 34-count indictment, charging that they and the company engaged in an eight-year conspiracy to pollute the air and Delaware River in violation of the federal Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, expose its employees to dangerous conditions and impede federal regulatory and criminal investigations. For the individual defendants, the conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $500,000 for the company.

Atlantic States was named in all counts of the indictment, and was also convicted on five counts of making materially false statements to state and federal environmental agencies and the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA); four counts of obstructing OSHA investigations; 22 counts of violating the federal Clean Water Act and one count of violating the Clean Air Act.

In addition to the main conspiracy conviction, the verdicts for the individual defendants were as follows:

• John Prisque, of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania:

– Guilty of three counts of obstruction of an OSHA investigation, and one not guilty of obstructing OSHA.
– Guilty on one count of violating the Clean Water Act.
– Guilty on one count of violating the Clean Air Act.

• Scott Faubert, of Easton, Pennsylvania:

– Guilty on one count of making false statements to OSHA.
– Guilty on two counts of obstructing an OSHA investigation.

• Jeffrey Maury, 36, of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania:

– Guilty on one count of making false statements to the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety and the FBI.
– Guilty of obstruction of an OSHA investigation
– Guilty of seven counts of violating the Clean Water Act

• Craig Davidson, of Nazareth, Pennsylvania:

– Guilty on one count of making false statements to the NJ Department of Law and Public Safety and a NJ Department of Environmental Protection emergency responder.
– Guilty on 16 counts of violating the Clean Water Act.

The privately held McWane Inc. and its divisions are among the largest manufacturers in the world of ductile iron pipe with more than a dozen plants in the United States and Canada. McWane's products are used primarily for municipal and commercial water and sewer installations.

Assistant Attorney General Sue Ellen Wooldridge of the Environment and Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie credited Special Agents of the U.S. EPA, under the direction of William V. Lometti, special agent in charge of EPA's Criminal Investigation Division in New York; staff of OSHA's Avenel, N.J. office, under the direction of Patricia K. Clark, OSHA regional administrator in New York; the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, under the direction of Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson; the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice, under the direction of Attorney General Zulima Farber; and the Phillipsburg Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra, Jr., Assistant U.S. Attorney Norv McAndrew, Andrew Goldsmith, Senior Trial Attorney and Assistant Section Chief in the Environmental Crimes Section, and Senior Trial Attorney Deborah Harris in the Environmental Crimes Section of the Department of Justice in Washington.

Labels: Nuclear Power Safety, safety, workplace safety

This is from the Florence, Alabama Times Daily.

In 1993 Patrick Hayes died in a grain silo accident while working in an area for which he was not trained. The Times Daily article reports describes what happened.

"Sixty tons of corn had collapsed on him," Ronald Hayes [his father] said. "When they called and told us about the accident, we thought there had been a mistake in identifying who it was. He didn't work in the silo. He was a warehouseman. As it turns out, someone had quit the previous day, and Patrick was ordered to walk the corn."

Ronald Hayes' response was to do something good.

The article reports:

"Hayes formed the Fight Project in 1996. The effort helps families receive reports ranging from autopsies to OSHA investigations. The project also gives families the option to speak with other families who have had loved ones killed or injured at work."

"Since 1996, the agency has helped more than 500 families."

"Not one person in any family has ever called me and said, 'I'm going to sue the company,' " Hayes said. "Those who end up suing do so because they can't get the company to cooperate, but all they want is for this never to happen again to anyone else."

Labels: safety, Safety Training

A report in Japan's The Daily Yomiuri brings to light a new explosion hazard. Recycling facilities in Japan have been experiencing explosions as copy machine toner cartridges are processed. The article reports that:

"Two explosions that occurred earlier this year at recycling plants in Kanagawa Prefecture were found to have been caused by photocopier toner particles that chemically reacted with oxygen in the air, according to police. In the technological competition to achieve clearer printing, manufacturers are developing finer toner particles, increasing the risk of dust-induced explosions. "

Leftover toner in old cartridges mixes with air, reacting with the oxygen to create an explosive mixture.

Read the complete article: Copy Toner Explosions

Labels: printers, safety

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.

Labels: safety, safety management, Safety Training

The Fort Meyers (FL) News-Press reports on a free safety program offered by the University of South Florida. The article states:

"Even owners of the best-run small businesses will admit they'd like to reduce workplace accidents, lower workers' compensation insurance costs and comply better with regulations from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Fortunately, online resources combined with a free University of South Florida program are here to help.

You apply to the program and receive consultations, usually at your business. You can find out about potential workplace hazards, improve health management methods and qualify for an exemption from routine OSHA inspections.

The free, federally funded services are confidential and separate from OSHA's enforcement efforts. The gains far outweigh any drawbacks."

You can read the complete article at the Fort Meyers News-Press web site.

Or visit the University of South Florida web site.

The program described here is for small businesses in Florida, but seems like one that could be implemented in other states.

Labels: safety, Safety Training

Developing a way to reward safe behavior, without rewarding underreporting of accidents and injuries, is a goal may strive for. The U.S. Navy South East Region has developed the Safety Buck program. Here is how is it described in the Kings Bay Periscope:

The purpose of the program is to increase safety awareness throughout Navy Region Southeast installations by rewarding safe acts that go beyond normal day-to-day operations. It uses an immediate reward as the incentive to good safety deeds.

All base employees should apply safe work practices in their daily operations. Recognition should be given to individuals and departments for attaining an excellent safety record and providing and supporting the Voluntary Protection Program.

Behaviors that are acceptable for an award of an MWR Safety Buck include: identification of unknown hazards in the workplace, providing additional safety guards that enhance a job, taking initiatives to correct a known hazard such as a broken guard or any other good deed is determined by the Safety Buck distributors.

You can read the entire article at: Safety Bucks Program Kicks Off

Labels: safety, Safety Training, workplace safety

With all the "news" about OSHA not doing their job properly, and the need for OSHA reform, I've wondered why no one has taken a look at the actual numbers. What have the real-life results been? There will always be problem areas that need attention, but overall has the approach to safety that has been taken by OSHA resulted in an increase or decrease in the number injuries?

The following is summarized from the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site. 2006 is the most recent year for which data is available.

WORKPLACE INJURIES AND ILLNESSES IN 2006

The total recordable case (TRC) injury and illness incidence rate among private industry employers in 2006 was the lowest since the SOII was first conducted.

Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2006 occurred at a rate of 4.4 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers—a decline from 4.6 cases in 2005. Similarly, the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses reported in 2006 declined to 4.1 million cases, compared to 4.2 million cases in 2005.

Key findings of the 2006 Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII)

• Incidence rates and numbers of cases for injuries and illnesses combined declinedsignificantly in 2006 for most case types, with the exception of cases involving job transfer or restriction only.



• The number and incidence rate of injuries both declined significantly in 2006 compared to 2005. The number declined by 3% and the incident rate declined by 5%.



• The number and incidence rate of illnesses declined significantly in 2006 compared to 2005—mainly the result of declines among hearing loss and all other illness categories.



• The size of the data set was increased. Estimates were tabulated for more than 70 additional industries in 2006.



• TRC rates declined among 9 of the 19 private industry NAICS sectors in 2006 and
  remained statistically unchanged in the remaining 10 NAICS sectors.



• TRC rates in 10 of 43 states (including the District of Columbia) for which SOII
  estimates are available were lower in 2006 compared to a year earlier; TRC rates in 32 states remained relatively unchanged; and the TRC rate in 1 state was higher in 2006.

Altought there was a 2% increase in the number of hours worked, the injury and illness rate declined for nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses among private industry employers in 2006. Similarly, for goods-producing industries as a whole and for service-providing industries as a whole the number of hours worked rose two percent while the number of cases declined three percent. This resulted in rate declines for total recordable injuries and illnesses in both of these industries in 2006

Mining experienced the lowest incidence rate in 2006 among goods-producing industry
sectors—3.5 cases per 100 full-time workers.

Fourteen industries, each having at least 100,000 injuries and illnesses combined,
accounted for more than 1.8 million cases (45 percent) of the 4.1 million total. General medical and surgical hospitals (NAICS 6221) reported more injuries and illnesses than any other industry in 2006—more than 264,300 cases.

Selected Industry Sectors at a Glance

Construction. Similar to private industry, incidence rates for all case types, with the exception of cases with job transfer or restriction, were lower in construction in 2006 than in 2005. These declines resulted from a six percent increase in hours worked while the number of cases of all types remained statistically unchanged.

Manufacturing. The rate of total recordable injury and illness cases in manufacturing declined significantly in 2006—from 6.3 to 6.0 cases per 100 full-time workers.

Transportation and warehousing. The number of injury and illness cases and the rate at which they occurred decreased significantly in this industry sector in 2006, with the TRC rate falling from 7.0 to 6.5 cases per 100 full-time workers.

Utilities. A 12 percent decrease in the number of injury and illness cases reported among establishments in this sector resulted in a decline in the TRC rate from 4.6 to 4.1 cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.

Health care and social assistance. The number of industries for which estimates were
tabulated in this sector was greatly expanded in 2006. The number of injuries and illnesses and the rate at which they occurred in 2006 remained relatively unchanged in this sector.

Labels: safety, safety and the media

Hard hat policy spurs debate between safety and religion.

International Forest Products Ltd (Interfor) in Delta, BC (Canada) put a new safety policy in place that required all sawmill workers to wear hard hats. This caused a problem for two employees who practice the Sikh religion. OHS Canada reported yesterday that:

"Since early last November, Sikh sawmill workers Mander Singh Sohal and Kalwant Singh Sahota have not been permitted to work at Interfor's Acorn Mill in Delta because they refused to wear hard hats over their turbans. For many Sikhs, it is considered a religious requirement to not cover their turbans."

You can read the complete article at: OHS Canada

Negotiations are in progress. Interfor will enforce the new safety policy, and they plan to offer alternative work to the Sikh employees.

Labels: employment, safety, safety regulations, workplace safety

The National Post in Canada reported today that "A Quebec paving-stone manufacturer is set to appear for a sentencing hearing today after becoming the first company in Canada to be convicted of criminal negligence causing death as the result of a workplace accident."

This case results from the death of laborer Steve L'Ecuyer who was crushed in 2005 as he tried to clear a backlog of stones on a production line. This is the first conviction under the Canadian Federal Criminal Code that was amended in 2004 to make it easier to prosecute employers for health and safety code violations.

You can read the entire article at: http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=334374

In other news from Canada, The Lawyers Weekly reports today on a story they've titled "Creative Sentencing Gains Ground For Occupational Safety Violations". It describes a different approach to penalties for workplace safety code violations. The article states:

"Creative sentencing involves replacing the traditional justice system process with an agreement by all parties as to how violators will be dealt with — and how communities will benefit. 'It's an efficient way to do things. Issues get settled quickly,' Dianne Whalen, minister of transportation and works in Newfoundland and Labrador, said in an interview."

Creative sentencing is seen as a way to give back to the community. The article describes the creative sentence given to Crosbie Industrial as the result of an explosion that injured two workers.

"In this case, that agreement called for Crosbie Industrial to pay $10,000, which was divided among the three closest high schools to where the incident occurred and which offer what is called the Workplace Safety course. The amount of funding each school received is proportional to the number of students attending the course."

You can read this article at: http://www.lawyersweekly.ca/index.php?section=article&articleid=628

Labels: Industrial Safety, safety, workplace safety

Today's edition of the Patriot Ledger newspaper (South of Boston) reports on the results of quarterly inspections of the Quincy Massachusetts schools by the fire department. In some cases schools are repeatedly failing on the same issues, such as uninspected fire extinguishers and emergency lighting not working, for three or four inspections in a row.

The tone of the article seems to be that the fire department is being too harsh on the schools. For example, when one inspector found exit doors in a high school blocked by construction material and one chained shut. He wrote in his report: ‘‘Current conditions of the egresses need to be corrected before someone dies!!!’’ However, Fire Chief Timothy Pettinelli called this comment "outrageous".

Was such a strongly worded comment outrageous or appropriate?

To me blocked emergency exits and chained exits bring to mind fires in nightclubs in which hundred's died. But, what do you think?

Read the article at: http://www.patriotledger.com/articles/2007/10/30/news/news01a.txt

Labels: safety

The OSHA Strategic Partnership Program provides an opportunity for OSHA and employers to work together to provide a safe workplace. The following describes a OSHA Strategic Partnership that was recently announced:

OSHA teams with The United Illuminating Company and Black & Veatch Energy on the Middletown-Norwalk Project

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has entered into a cooperative partnership agreement with The United Illuminating Company (UI) and Black & Veatch Energy (B&V) to reduce hazards and enhance employee safety during the construction of UI's portion of the Middletown-Norwalk Transmission Project currently underway in Stratford and Bridgeport, Conn.

The partnership will emphasize preventing workplace injuries, illnesses and fatalities through the implementation of effective safety and health management systems, increased training, use of best work practices, and compliance with applicable OSHA safety and health regulations. B&V is the construction manager for UI's portion of the Middletown-Norwalk Transmission Project, which includes the erection of the new Singer Substation in Bridgeport and approximately six miles of an underground concrete encased duct line in Stratford and Bridgeport.

"Though construction can be a high-hazard industry, effective measures will be taken to minimize and preempt its dangers on this project," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "This agreement will involve thorough, rigorous steps on the part of UI and B&V to aggressively identify, address and eliminate potentially hazardous conditions before they harm employees."

The partnership requires all project contractors and subcontractors to implement effective safety and health management systems to include written safety and health programs. All employees will receive a site-specific construction safety orientation. Daily safety audits will be conducted as will monitoring for toxic substances. An aggressive fall protection program and effective environmental monitoring, hearing conservation, electrical safety and machine guarding programs and procedures will be implemented and followed.

UI and B&V also will establish a system to collect, analyze and disseminate to subcontractors data on injuries, illnesses, accidents and "near-misses"; conduct a comprehensive monthly safety audit; and hold weekly jobsite safety meetings. OSHA will provide technical assistance, review the monthly reports, participate in the monthly meetings, and provide safety and health resources.

The partnership was signed today at UI headquarters in New Haven by Foulke, OSHA New England Regional Administrator Marthe Kent, UI President Anthony J. Villillo and B&V President Dean Oskvig.

A Strategic Partnership does not exempt worksites from routine inspections. OSHA allows exemptions from routine inspections only for VPP and SHARP participants. The benefit to the employer is assistance from OSHA in improving workplace safety.

Labels: safety, Safety Training

We talk about safety first, but do we really mean it?

In the early 1900's the Delaware & Hudson Coal Company placed a sign at the entrance to the Baltimore No. 2 tunnel in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The sign said, "Safety First" in large, white letters. At 6:40 AM on June 5, 1919 an explosion in the Baltimore No. 2 tunnel killed more than 90 miners and injured many others.

The online edition of Plant Safety Magazine has an article that points out that safety is more than lip service. I'm sure you've already heard this said many, many times before. We all know that if we don't walk-the-talk, then our words are meaningless. What I like about this article is that it provides real-life examples of safety problems and solutions. It's a safety article that provides practical, hands-on useful information, illustrating how both management and employees must walk-the-talk.

You can read the article at: http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2007/189.html?page=3

What happened on June 5, 1919 to cause that tragedy? The Fort Wayne News and Sentinel reported the workers had just entered the mine on a train:

"The train was drawn by a motor. The rear car carried 12 kegs of black powder used for blasting loose the coal in the chambers. The trolley wire snapped when the train had gone about 200 feet from the entrance to the mine. The wire sputtered and the sparks it emitted touched off the powder.

There was a roar and in an instant every man and boy on the train was either dead or dying. Mangled bodies were found everywhere by the rescue crews which instantly rushed into the mine. Firemen quickly put out the flames which followed the blast. Violation of mine laws of the state caused the loss of life. One of the most drastic provisions of the anthracite mine code is the section forbidding the transportation of men on a car or train which carries explosives. Yet the train of little cars conveying its freight of miners had attached to its rear a car with a dozen kegs of powder."

Labels: Industrial Safety, safety

In scanning blogs this morning I ran into a post on a wood working blog that has good advice about respirator selection and use. Even though the blog seems to be targeted at home shops, this posting has advice that applies to us all:

You can read the blog post on the Popular Woodworking Blog

Labels: safety

Employers and employees involved in working in and around above ground storage tanks will benefit from a new fact sheet, a product of the Safe Tank Alliance with OSHA.

The fact sheet, titled Fall Prevention for Above Ground Storage Tanks, describes how to ensure employee safety by recognizing fall hazards, developing prevention priorities, and using protective equipment. In addition, the fact sheet highlights safe climbing practices, specialized training, and other safety and health tips.

Labels: OSHA, safety, workplace safety