Two papers published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (JOEH) address noise hazards in sports venues. Noise controls are often enforced only when workers have been exposed to noise levels beyond recognized standards, and only in workplaces and industries known for frequent noise exposure, such as manufacturing and construction. However, high noise levels in any workplace put employees at risk for noise-induced hearing loss, including nontraditional fields such as sports arenas and venues. The two articles appear in the January issue of JOEH.
The research revealed that a significant number of workers and attendees within the arenas were exposed to harmful noise levels. The research may provide a foundation for noise control implementation in indoor sports arenas.
Researchers conducted a survey regarding officials’ exposure to whistle noise and subsequent symptoms of hearing loss and tinnitus. Findings from the survey and related study suggest that whistle contributes to hearing loss among sports officials.
“These two papers describe a health hazard—high noise levels causing permanent hearing loss—that is prevalent but pretty much unappreciated in the world of sports,” said JOEH Editor in Chief Mark Nicas, PhD, CIH. “While severe traumatic injuries and degenerative brain disorders due to concussive blows are recognized as severe hazards among athletes, exposure to high noise likely affects far more individuals (spectators and referees), and the resulting permanent hearing loss decreases the quality of life of those affected. We hope these papers will alert the sports world to explore preventive measures.”
JOEH is published jointly by the American Industrial Hygiene Association® (AIHA?) and ACGIH?. JOEH enhances the knowledge and practice of occupational and environmental hygiene and safety. It provides a written medium for the communication of ideas, methods, processes, and research in the areas of occupational, industrial, and environmental hygiene; exposure assessment; engineering controls; occupational and environmental epidemiology, medicine, and toxicology; ergonomics; and other related disciplines.
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OSHA Issues Inspection Plan to Reduce Injuries and Illnesses at High-hazard Workplaces
OSHA has issued its annual inspection plan under the Site-Specific Targeting 2012 program to direct enforcement resources to workplaces where the highest rates of injuries and illnesses occur.
The SST program is one of OSHA's main programmed inspection plans for high-hazard, non-construction workplaces that have 20 or more workers. The SST plan is based on data collected from a survey of 80,000 establishments in high-hazard industries.
"Through the SST program, we can prevent injuries and illnesses, and save lives by focusing our inspection resources on employers in high-hazard worksites where workers are at greater risk," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health David Michaels.
As part of the SST-12 program, OSHA is conducting a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the program based on 1,260 randomly selected establishments.
For the 2012 SST, OSHA's Nursing and Personal Care Facilities National Emphasis Program will conduct programmed inspections of nursing and personal care establishments, unlike previous years when these inspections fell under the SST program.
In addition to the SST program, OSHA implements both national and local emphasis inspection programs, which include programmed inspections, to target high-risk hazards and industries. OSHA currently has 11 National Emphasis Programs that intensify inspections on hazards or industries such as lead, silica, shipbreaking, trenching/excavations, and process safety management, and approximately 140 Regional and Local Emphasis Programs.
OSHA Cites Plastic Systems after Worker Injured when Struck by Forklift
OSHA has cited Plastic Systems, LLC, in Kenton, Ohio, with five safety violations after a worker was injured when struck by a forklift. The September complaint inspection has resulted in proposed penalties totaling $89,000.
"Employers are responsible for ensuring workers are properly trained in the operation of equipment and that equipment, such as forklifts, are maintained in good working order," said Kim Nelson, area director for OSHA in Toledo.
A willful violation was cited for failing to remove unsafe forklifts from service. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.
Three serious violations were cited for failing to complete forklift inspections, retrain workers in forklift operations following an incident where an injury occurred, and operate a forklift in a safe manner. 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.
Plastic Systems also has been cited with one other-than-serious violation for failing to have name and capacity plates on forklifts. 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.
Plastic Systems, headquartered in Romeo, Michigan, creates custom plastic molds and employs about 300 workers company-wide and about 100 at its Kenton facility. The company also operates facilities in Swartz Creek, Michigan, and El Paso, Texas. Both the Kenton and El Paso facilities have been previously inspected by OSHA and issued citations for failing to remove unsafe forklifts from service in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
OSHA Cites Texas Battery Manufacturer with Eight Serious Health Violations
OSHA has cited Marathon Norco Aerospace, Inc., with eight serious health violations following a July inspection for exposing workers to hazardous materials, such as nickel and cadmium, at the company's facility on Imperial Drive in Waco, Texas. Proposed penalties total $41,220.
OSHA's Fort Worth Area Office cited the employer for failing to ensure that cadmium contaminated trash cans containing used personal protective equipment and other contaminated, discarded items were properly labeled; provide effective hazard communication training regarding the dangers of exposure to nickel nitrate and sulfuric acid compounds to new employees; provide proper respiratory protection, such as self-contained breathing apparatus; provide required machine guarding; and repair electrical wiring deficiencies.
"This company exposed its workers to health hazards associated with cadmium dust, which can result in serious respiratory illnesses," said Jack Rector, OSHA's area director in Fort Worth. "It is the employer's responsibility to provide a safe and healthful working environment for employees."
Cleveland Granite & Marble Fails to Maintain a Hearing Conservation Program
OSHA has cited Cleveland Granite & Marble for 21, including three willful, health violations for failing to maintain a hearing conservation program and other hazards following a complaint inspection initiated in August. Proposed penalties total $98,000.
The three willful violations involve failing to maintain a hearing conservation program and to train workers who operate powered industrial trucks and perform daily and monthly crane inspections to ensure the equipment is in safe working order.
A total of 15 serious violations involve failing to provide personal protective equipment; maintain clear exit routes; develop and implement a lockout/tagout program for energy sources; properly guard pulleys and saws; develop and implement a hazard communication program; provide electrical cords, cables, and ground fault circuit interrupters suitable for use in wet areas; and train workers in safety and health matters.
Three other-than-serious violations were cited for failing to develop and implement a respiratory protection program, including medical evaluations, fit-testing and training, and to inspect powered industrial trucks and clearly mark a pendant control box for a crane.
"Employers, such as Cleveland Granite & Marble, have a responsibility to implement health and safety programs that protect workers from known hazards," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "Taking proactive measures, such as requiring the use of personal protective equipment and performing equipment inspections, can prevent serious injury in the workplace."
Prior to this inspection, Cleveland Granite & Marble had been inspected seven times since 1996.
OSHA Cites COL-Pump Co. for Exposing Workers to Noise Hazards
OSHA has cited COL-Pump Co., Inc., with 10 health and safety violations, including two willful, for failing to monitor workers' exposure to noise hazards above 85 decibels at the Columbiana foundry. Proposed fines total $56,880.
OSHA initiated an inspection on September 14, after receiving a complaint that alleged the lack of an effective hearing protection program. The two willful violations involved failing to establish a baseline audiogram within six months of an employees' first exposure to noise above the action level of 85 decibels and to provide annual audiograms to workers exposed to noise levels at or above allowable levels.
"Failing to reduce noise exposure and ensure that a worker's hearing proficiency is documented and monitored demonstrates a lack of concern for the safety and health of workers," said Howard Eberts, OSHA's area director in Cleveland. "OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially when employers fail to do so."
One repeat violation was issued for failing to implement administrative and engineering controls to lower exposure to noise in the grinding area of the facility. 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. A similar violation was cited at the facility in 2009.
Two serious violations involved failing to maintain ladders in a safe condition and ensure machine guarding was affixed to a sand mixer system.
Prior to the September 14 inspection, OSHA had inspected the company eight times, most recently in 2009 when seven citations were issued.
OSHA Fines Zamastil Exteriors in Wonder Lake for Lack of Worker Fall Protection
OSHA has cited Zamastil Exteriors, a roofing company in Wonder Lake, with seven safety violations, including one willful and one repeat, following two separate inspections in July and in October 2012 for failing to provide and ensure workers use proper fall protection while conducting roof work on a multicomplex apartment building. Proposed fines from both inspections total $87,010.
"When working from heights, such as roofs, ladders, and scaffolds, employers must plan projects to ensure that the job is done safely, provide the proper equipment and train workers," said Kathy Webb, OSHA's area director in Aurora.
A repeat violation with a fine of $10,780 was cited for the July 2012 inspection for failing to provide fall protection. A similar violation was cited in October 2011.
The October 2012 inspection began when an OSHA inspector witnessed violations of an aerial lift, which resulted in Zamastil Exteriors being issued a willful citation for again failing to provide proper fall protection equipment.
Five serious violations were cited for overloading and improperly using an aerial lift and failing to provide proper lanyard tie offs to workers in the aerial lift. The company was also cited for exposing workers to electrical shock by failing to provide proper ground fault protection and using a ladder that did not extend 3 feet above the landing surface. The October 2012 inspection resulted in a fine of $76,230.
OSHA Cites Tejas Underground Utilities for Exposing Workers to Excavation Hazards
OSHA has cited Tejas Underground Utilities, LLC, with one willful and one serious violation for exposing workers to excavation hazards at its work site in Houston. OSHA's Houston North Area Office began an investigation on December 4 at the company's work site on Center Street under its National Emphasis Program on Trenching and Excavations. Proposed penalties total $59,290.
A willful violation was cited for failing to provide workers replacing a damaged 12-inch storm line in an excavation with sloping, shoring, or shielding to protect them from a possible cave-in.
A serious violation was cited for having excavated materials, such as dirt and rocks, within 2 feet from the edge of the excavation, material, which can fall on workers. Additionally, the extra weight at the edge of an excavation could cause an unprotected excavation wall to collapse.
"An excavation site can quickly turn into a grave when an employer fails to implement OSHA's standards to prevent cave-ins," said David Doucet, OSHA's area director at its Houston North office. "It is fortunate in this case that no one was injured."
OSHA Cites Massachusetts Contractor for Excavation, Other Safety Hazards at Nashua Work Site
OSHA has cited a Dracut, Massachusetts, contractor for alleged willful and serious safety violations at a Nashua, New Hampshire, work site. DeFelice, Inc., faces a total of $55,660 in proposed fines for excavation and other hazards at the 15 Prospect St. work site.
Inspectors from OSHA's Concord Area Office observed a DeFelice employee working in an inadequately guarded excavation that was more than 8 feet deep. OSHA standards require that trenches or excavations 5 feet or deeper be protected against collapse. The absence of such protection in this case resulted in OSHA issuing DeFelice, Inc., one willful citation with a $38,500 fine.
"An inadequately protected excavation can collapse in seconds, resulting in severe or fatal consequences for any employee in the excavation," said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's New Hampshire area director. "For the safety of their workers, employers must ensure that effective cave-in protection is in place at all times at all work sites."
OSHA's inspection also found that the excavation lacked a ladder or other safe means of exit, and the workers in the excavation were not protected against being struck by material falling into the hole. Additionally, a damaged and uninspected steel-chain sling was used to lift and move materials, an employee working in the traffic zone lacked a reflective vest, and employees at the site were not trained to recognize and address hazards. These conditions resulted in the issuance of seven serious citations with $17,160 in fines.
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