A team of researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) has calculated the death toll due to the use of chemical substances. In 2004, environmental pollution by chemical substances and their use in human activities caused 4.9 million deaths (or 8% of total mortality). If we take account of disabilities, the number of years of life lost, adjusted in light of disability, reached 86 million (5% of the total). Singlehandedly, asbestos was the cause of 107,000 deaths in 2004; lead apparently caused 143,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases.
It concludes that the figures quoted relate only to the known impact of chemical substances, and that the unknown impact might be considerable.
How to Prepare for OSHA Adoption of the GHS for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals
It is expected that in August, OSHA will announce U.S. employers must begin to adopt the GHS.
This means that virtually every chemical label, MSDS (soon to be called “safety data sheet”), and written hazard communication plan must be revised to meet the new standard. Worker training must be updated so that workers can recognize and understand the symbols and pictograms on the new labels as well as the new hazard statements and precautions on SDSs.
Theses dramatic changes will also impact other OSHA standards such as Flammable and Combustible Liquids, Process Safety Management (PSM), Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER), Fire Prevention and Protection, Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, and many of the chemical-specific OSHA standards such as the Lead Standard.
At this live webcast, you will learn:
- GHS standards OSHA is adopting
- How the new standards differ from current requirements
- How to implement the changes
- Expected timetable for GHS implementation
Advertising Opportunities Available
Environmental Resource Center is making a limited number of advertising positions available in the Safety Tip of the Week™, the Environmental Tip of the Week™, and the Reg of the Day™.
Faces of Distracted Driving Video
DOT Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the release of the latest video in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s “Faces of Distracted Driving” series.
A student at the University of California at Berkeley, Eric was killed when his bike was struck by a truck traveling at 60 MPH. Cell phone records indicate that the driver was texting just prior to the collision.
Since their son’s death, Bob and Eilene Okerblom have become advocates against texting and cell phone use behind the wheel. Bob Okerblom is currently cycling cross-country to honor his son’s memory and raise awareness about distracted driving.
“I applaud Bob and Eilene for all of the work they are doing to raise awareness about the deadly consequences of distracted driving,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I hope that everyone who hears about the loss of their bright and talented son Eric will remember to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel.”
“My message is as personal as it can get: my son is dead because a driver was not focused on the road,” said Eilene Okerblom. “All I can do now is stand up for the protection of other lives.”
“We all have a responsibility, to ourselves and to each other, when we get behind the wheel,” said Bob Okerblom. “Eric did not have to die that day.”
It features people from across the country who have been injured or lost loved ones in distracted driving crashes. In 2009, nearly 5,500 people died and half a million were injured in accidents involving a distracted driver. The series is part of Secretary LaHood’s effort to raise greater awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.
California Proposes Reference Exposure Levels for Caprolactam and Nickel
The documents comprise two items:
OEHHA is required to develop guidelines for conducting health risk assessments under the Air Toxics Hot Spots Program [Health and Safety Code section 44360 (b) (2)].
These RELs were developed using the current non-cancer REL guidelines, including application of the revised methodology to protect infants, children and other sensitive subpopulations. A previous version of the document describing the proposed RELs for Caprolactam was discussed by the SRP at the last meeting on January 21, 2011. A revised version incorporating revisions to address the SRP’s comments is now under consideration by the panel. Proposed values for the 8 hour and chronic RELs are 10 µg/m3 (2 ppb), and 4 ?g/m3 (0.8 ppb), respectively; a value for the acute REL is not being proposed at this time.
An earlier draft of the document describing the nickel RELs was presented on June 4, 2010 for public comment, and OEHHA has reviewed the comments received and prepared responses, as well as revising the REL document where appropriate. The nickel REL document, along with the public comments and OEHHA’s response to these comments, will now undergo review by the State’s Scientific Review Panel on Toxic Air Contaminants (Health and Safety Code section 39670 et seq.). Proposed values are: Acute REL 1.1μg Ni/m3; 8-Hour REL 0.08 ?g Ni/m3; Chronic REL for Nickel and Nickel Compounds except Nickel Oxide (NiO) 0.014 ?g Ni/m3; Chronic REL for NiO 0.02 ?g Ni/m3 and Chronic oral REL for Nickel and Nickel Compounds 0.011 mg Ni/kg-day.
When finalized and adopted, these RELs will be added to the compound-specific toxicity reviews and summary tables which appear as appendices to the Technical Support Document for the Derivation of Noncancer Reference Exposure Levels.
$132,000 Fine for Process Safety, Machine Guarding, Other Serious and Repeat Violations
OSHA has cited CTI-SSI Food Services LLC of Wilder, Idaho, with 15 serious, one repeat, and one other-than-serious violation after an inspection of its facility identified a potential release of anhydrous ammonia and other workplace hazards. Proposed penalties total $132,000.
OSHA’s area office in Boise began an investigation last year as part of a national emphasis program on chemical facilities.
“This employer disregarded industry-recognized hazards and exposed workers to the threat of serious injury or death associated with the potential release of anhydrous ammonia,” said Dean Ikeda, OSHA’s regional administrator in Seattle. “Additionally, OSHA identified serious electrical, lockout/tagout and fall hazards.”
The serious violations involve inadequate process safety management, failing to provide fall protection and failing to provide electrical guarding protection. In addition, the employer did not require use of locking devices to make equipment safe during maintenance procedures. A serious violation occurs 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.
A repeat citation was issued due to the lack of an employee alarm system that was audible or recognizable over other workplace noise. The company was cited for the same violation on March 7, 2008. A repeat violation exists when an employer previously has been cited for the same or a similar violation of a standard, regulation, rule or order at any other facility in federal enforcement states within the last five years.
Finally, the company was issued one other-than-serious citation for failing to monitor airborne chromium exposure. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.
OSHA Fines Trax Development $115,000 for Trenching and Other Violations
OSHA has issued three safety citations to Trax Development LLC, of Northport for exposing workers to cave-in and struck-by hazards while installing sewer lines at 10077 Brose Drive in Vance, Alabama. Proposed penalties total $115,000.
Two willful citations, with a proposed penalty of $112,000, were issued for failing to provide employees a safe means of entering and exiting a trench that measured 11 feet deep by 200 feet long, and for failing to provide workers with cave-in protection. A willful violation exists when an employer has demonstrated either an intentional disregard for the requirements of the law or plain indifference to employee safety and health.
Trax Development also received one serious citation with $3,000 in proposed penalties for exposing employees to struck-by hazards from loose rocks and equipment while not wearing head protection.
“A trench can become a grave in seconds. Disregarding workers’ safety by leaving them unprotected from potential cave-in and struck-by hazards is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Roberto Sanchez, OSHA’s area director in Birmingham. “It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the safety and health of its workers.”
OSHA standards mandate that all excavations 5 feet or deeper be protected against collapse.
OSHA Fines Tyson Foods $45,000 for Safety Hazards
OSHA has issued Tyson Foods of Jefferson, Wisconsin 10 safety citations for failing to comply with general industry occupational safety regulations. The company faces penalties totaling $45,000 as a result of an OSHA inspection conducted in October 2010.
“Employers are responsible for knowing what hazards exist in their workplaces and ensuring that workers are not exposed to risks that could result in injury or death,” said Kimberly Stille, OSHA’s area director in Madison.
Tyson was issued nine serious citations after inspectors noted a lack of fall protection; deficiencies in Tyson’s process safety management program, respiratory protection program and control of hazardous energy lockout/tagout program; and a lack of proper maintenance of powered industrial trucks.
Tyson also received one other-than-serious citation for failure to conduct a personal protection equipment hazard assessment.
OSHA Cites RBC-West Trenton for Safety Hazards
OSHA has cited RBC-West Trenton with 19 serious and two other-than-serious violations for exposing employees to a variety of workplace safety hazards. Proposed penalties total $88,200.
OSHA initiated an inspection in November 2010 as part of its Site-Specific Targeting Program, which focuses on industries with high injury and illness rates.
The serious violations include failing to conduct a hazard assessment, provide employees with chemical splash goggles and safety goggles, develop a lockout/tagout program for energy sources, perform required inspections on powered industrial vehicles, perform required inspections of hoist chains and hooks, properly guard machinery, properly mount electrical equipment, and label a chemical drum with a required warning.
The other-than-serious violations are for failing to properly complete the OSHA 300 log of work-related injuries and illnesses, and for using light fixtures that were energized but lacked bulbs and covers, creating a safety hazard.
“Many of the identified violations leave workers exposed to hazards that can cause injury and possible death,” said Paula Dixon-Roderick, OSHA’s area director in Marlton, New Jersey. “It is vital that the company abate these hazards as soon as possible to ensure a safe work environment for its employees.”
RBC-West Trenton, a division of Roller Bearing Co., manufactures bearings for industrial and aerospace industries and employs 112 workers at its Trenton, New Jersey facility.
OSHA Fines Dubose Construction Co Almost $47,000 for Cave-in Hazards
OSHA has cited Dubose Construction Co. LLC of Mt. Meigs, Alabama primarily for exposing workers to potential cave-in hazards while relocating a water valve on Perry Hill Road in Montgomery, Alabama. Proposed penalties total $46,970.
The company is being cited for one willful safety violation with a proposed penalty of $46,200 for exposing workers to cave-ins while working in an unprotected trench more than 7 feet deep.
Dubose Construction also has received one other-than-serious citation with a $770 penalty for not certifying the OSHA 300 log of work-related injuries and illnesses in 2008.
OSHA Cites Volvo Aero Connecticut with 17 Serious Safety Violations
OSHA has cited Volvo Aero Connecticut for 17 alleged serious violations of workplace safety standards at its Newington, Connecticut manufacturing plant. The airplane engine parts manufacturer faces a total of $83,400 in proposed fines for a cross section of hazards identified during a comprehensive OSHA inspection.
“Our inspection found employees exposed to a range of hazards that could result in potentially serious or fatal injuries if not promptly and effectively corrected,” said Paul Mangiafico, OSHA’s area director in Hartford. “Workers at this plant face the risks of falls, fires, explosions, electrocution, struck-by injuries, chemical exposure and being caught in unguarded operating machinery. For the safety and health of its workers, the company must address these issues so that they do not occur again.”
Specific violations cited by OSHA included workers being hoisted on the load hook of an overhead crane; an improperly designed combustible dust collection system; a lack of personal protective equipment; uncovered containers of flammable liquids; improper disposal of combustible rags; failure to conduct air monitoring to determine employees’ exposure to hexavalent chromium; unguarded milling machines, belts, pulleys, and grinders; and failure to re-evaluate workers’ ability to safely operate fork trucks and provide operators with refresher training.
In addition, the company was cited for several electrical safety violations. These included electrical equipment unapproved for a Class II (combustible dust) location, flexible cords used in lieu of permanent wiring, defective electrical equipment, a lack of an electrical safety-related work practices program, and failure to provide such training to maintenance employees.
OSHA Cites Buckeye Radiation Oncology for Failing to Protect Workers from Lead and Cadmium
OSHA has issued Buckeye Radiation Oncology, an outpatient radiation therapy treatment facility in Columbus, Ohio 14 serious safety citations for failing to ensure employees who worked with lead-cadmium alloy were protected from respiratory, ingestion, and absorption hazards. The company faces penalties of $58,200 as a result of a December 2010 inspection.
“Employers have a responsibility to ensure employees have safe working environments, which includes taking all necessary precautions to protect them from exposure to hazardous materials such as lead and cadmium alloy,” said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA’s area director in Columbus. “OSHA is committed to protecting workers, especially when employers fail to do so.”
The violations for which the company has been cited include failing to implement a written respirator program with specific worksite procedures; provide protective work clothing and equipment to prevent potential lead and cadmium contamination of employees and their clothing; provide for the cleaning and laundering or disposal of protective equipment and clothing exposed to lead and cadmium; inform, in writing, employees and those who clean protective clothing of the harmful effects of exposure to lead and cadmium; maintain all surfaces as free as practicable of accumulations of lead and cadmium; and use effective vacuum and filtration methods to remove lead and cadmium dust to prevent their re-entry into the workplace.
The company also was cited for failing to accurately record air monitoring for these substances, and to have a training program for employees educating them on the hazards of potential exposure to cadmium and lead.
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