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The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (NPG) is intended as a source of general industrial hygiene information on several hundred chemicals/classes for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals. The NPG does not contain an analysis of all pertinent data, rather it presents key information and data in abbreviated or tabular form for chemicals or substance groupings (e.g. cyanides, fluorides, manganese compounds) that are found in the work environment. The information found in the NPG should help users recognize and control occupational chemical hazards.
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Web Site Displays Corporate and Site-specific Worker Injuries
á You can search for a company, industry category, or geographically via state or zip code. The site allows you to compare injury rates for companies within 100 miles of a designated zip code. It also identifies companies that it says have exported jobs to foreign countries. Search the site to see whatÆs listed for your company.
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OSHA Seeks Comments on Safety Product Certification Proposal
OSHA is asking for comments to help the agency determine the best way to proceed on a proposal to permit certain manufacturers to self-approve their own products. A request for information (RFI) on the proposal will be published in tomorrow's Federal Register. OSHA is seeking information and comments on a proposal from the Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC) to permit the use of a "Supplier's Declaration of Conformity" (SDoC) as an alternative means of approval for information technology equipment in lieu of product approval from Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTLs). OSHA currently requires this equipment to be approved by NRTLs-independent facilities that are recognized by OSHA to perform independent safety testing and product certification. An SDoC is a written statement -- produced by an equipment manufacturer or supplier -- that a product meets or conforms to a specified test standard or a set of requirements. SDoC is an internationally recognized term for manufacturer's self-approval of products. The RFI will gather information on the workings of existing SDoC systems and operations, plus a number of areas related to the ITIC proposal, such as the safety of products in SDoC systems and possible benefits or disadvantages for workers, employers, or OSHA if the agency were to allow SDoC product approval. The RFI will be used as a basis to determine what steps, if any, the Agency will take. Written comments on the RFI must be submitted in triplicate by February 13, 2006 to the Docket Office, Docket NRTL03-SDOC, Room N2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW, Room N2625, Washington, D.C., 20210; telephone (202) 693-2350. (OSHA's TTY number is (877) 889-5627). Comments of 10 pages or fewer may be faxed to the Docket Office at (202) 693-1648, provided that the original and one copy are sent to the Docket Office immediately thereafter.
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OSHA Special Emphasis Program Focuses on Kansas Auto Body Shops
OSHA announced the start of a statewide local emphasis program aimed at reducing workplace health hazards in the auto body shop industry in Kansas. Workplace hazards are prevalent in the auto body repair industry. During fiscal year 2004, OSHA inspected 110 auto body shops nationwide and issued a total of 428 citations. Safety and health standards most frequently cited for violations in the industry cover spray finishing, using flammable and combustible materials; respiratory protection; handling, storage and use of flammable and combustible liquids; and hazard communication. Health hazards often found in auto body work include exposure to solvents, such as isocyanates and other particulates. Under the local emphasis program, OSHA's Wichita office will randomly select for comprehensive health inspections auto body shops in Kansas involved in grinding, painting and sanding. The agency's goal is to reduce employee exposures to these hazards through education and increased awareness. Training and outreach opportunities will be coordinated by the Wichita OSHA office. Employers, workers, professional associations and labor organizations may request information on the program by contacting the Wichita OSHA office at (316) 269-6644, or toll-free in Kansas at 1-800-362-2896.
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DonÆt Touch That Wire
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Winter brings ice and snow storms that can result in downed power lines. You can avoid injury and/or death by remembering a few simple rules when you encounter downed or low-hanging wires:
- áááááááá Do not assume that a downed conductor is safe simply because it is on the ground or it is not sparking.
- áááááááá Do not assume that all coated, weatherproof or insulated wire is just telephone, television or fiber-optic cable.
- áááááááá Low-hanging wires still have voltage potential even if they are not touching the ground. So, ôdonÆt touch them.ö Everything is energized until tested to be de-energized.
- áááááááá Never go near a downed or fallen electric power line. Always assume that it is energized. Touching it could be fatal.
- áááááááá Electricity can spread outward through the ground in a circular shape from the point of contact. As you move away from the center, large differences in voltages can be created.
- áááááááá Never drive over downed power lines. Assume that they are energized. And, even if they are not, downed lines can become entangled in your equipment or vehicle.
- áááááááá If contact is made with an energized power line while you are in a vehicle, remain calm and do not get out unless the vehicle is on fire. If possible, call for help.
- áááááááá If you must exit any equipment because of fire or other safety reasons, try to jump completely clear, making sure that you do not touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Land with both feet together and shuffle away in small steps to minimize the path of electric current and avoid electrical shock. Be careful to maintain your balance.
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OSHA Cites Contractor for Cave-In Hazard at Boscawen Jobsite
R. D. Edmunds & Sons, Inc. faces $50,750 in OSHA fines for allegedly failing to supply cave-in protection at a New Hampshire jobsite. During an inspection of a sewer line excavation, an OSHA inspector observed an employee working in a six to seven-foot deep trench that lacked cave-in protection. The inspection also found that sections of the excavation wall had begun to pull away and had not been scaled off to prevent loose soil from dropping into the excavation. OSHA standards require that all excavations five feet or deeper be protected against collapse before employees work inside them. "The walls of an unprotected excavation can collapse suddenly and with great force, stunning and burying workers beneath tons of soil and debris before they have a chance to react or escape," said Rosemarie Ohar, OSHA's New Hampshire area director. "Protection can be provided by shoring the trench's sidewalls, sloping the soil at a shallow angle or by use of a protective trenchbox; none of these protections were in use at the time of the inspection." As a result, OSHA issued one willful citation, with a $49,000 proposed penalty, for failing to supply cave-in protection and one serious citation, with a $1,750 proposed penalty, for the condition of the excavation wall. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations. A serious violation is a condition where there is a substantial possibility that death or serious physical harm can result to an employee from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
OSHA Establishes Alliance with the American Chemistry Council
OSHA formed an Alliance with the American Chemistry Council that aims to promote high levels of safety and health performance and improved dialogue through OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) and the ACC's Responsible Care initiative. "VPP sites improve worker safety and health and save millions of dollars each year because their injury and illness rates are more than 50 percent below the averages for their industries," said Jonathan L. Snare, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "We are excited about the potential this Alliance brings to greatly expand participation in the programs and markedly improve workplace safety and health across the country." "Through this partnership, ACC and OSHA share an exciting opportunity to further our common commitment to workplace health and safety," said ACC President and CEO Jack Gerard. "ACC members already have achieved a worker safety record that's four and a half times better than the average of U.S. manufacturing companies and twice as safe as the business of chemistry overall. We expect the efficiencies gained in this partnership to result in continued improvement in health and safety performance and cost savings among our members and Responsible Care Partners." The Alliance members will develop training and education programs for VPP evaluators (including VPP Regional staff) and Responsible Care auditors, and provide expertise in developing ways of communicating the information. The organizations will participate in forums, round table discussions, and stakeholder meetings. A team of OSHA and ACC representatives will meet at least three times a year to develop an action plan, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. OSHA will also encourage state plan states and consultation projects to participate in the Alliance.
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OSHA Renews Alliance with Abbott
Workers in the health care industry are the continued focus of a renewed Alliance between the OSHA and Abbott, the agency announced. "Our Alliance with Abbott has helped increase the awareness of how safety and health impacts health care management issues," Snare said. "The continuation of our collaborative efforts is important as we work to increase access to training resources that will advance the safety and health of employees throughout the industry. We are delighted that Abbott wants to continue working with us." "Abbott is proud to renew our alliance with OSHA," added Robert D. Morrison, divisional vice president, Global Environmental, Health, Safety & Energy, Abbott. "The renewal of this alliance demonstrates our continued commitment to the safety of our employees, customers and the communities in which we operate." OSHA and Abbott, in concert with Georgetown University's Center for Business and Public Policy -- another Alliance program participant -- have developed case studies for business school curricula to communicate the business value and competitive advantage of an effective safety and health program. Additionally, OSHA and Abbott teams are exploring opportunities to integrate these case studies into MBA-level executive education seminars. Implementation team members have also delivered presentations at the 54th Annual Illinois Health Care Association Convention and Trade Show in Springfield, Ill.; OSHA's 2004 Compliance Assistance Training Sessions; and the Illinois Nursing Home Summit follow-up in Des Plaines Ill. OSHA and Abbott will continue to identify opportunities to work with stakeholders in the nursing home community to develop practical programs and processes for reducing injuries and illnesses. The renewal also calls for a continued focus on developing case studies that illustrates the business value of safety and health. Those materials will be developed for inclusion in business school curricula. The OSHA-Abbott Alliance will include exploring opportunities to update and develop several safety and health compliance assistance resources, such as OSHA's eTools and Safety and Health Topics pages.
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Entergy Operations Lafayette Service Center Achieves OSHA Recognition
Entergy Operations Lafayette and Jennings Service Centers have earned membership in the prestigious "Star" Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) of the OSHA. "Entergy has demonstrated excellence in effective safety and health management," said OSHA Regional Administrator John Miles in Dallas. "Their outstanding efforts include maintaining an illness and injury rate below the national average for their industry." The rates were 51% below the national average at Lafayette and 100% at the Jennings Service Center.
OSHA's Voluntary Protection Programs recognize and promote effective workplace safety and health management. Companies in the VPP achieve average injury rates 50 percent lower than other companies in their industry. About 1,300 work sites throughout the U.S have earned OSHA's highest recognition as participants in the VPP. More than 280 industries are represented within the programs.
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OSHA Recognizes Five Nebraska Meat Processing Facilities for Safety
Farmland Foods in Crete and two Omaha Steaks facilities at 96th St. and "F" St., Omaha, will receive awards for continued reductions in injury and illness rates below the national industry average between 2002 and 2004. Albion Lockers and Hausman & Son's Processing, in Pickrell will be recognized for having zero accidents while in partnerships with OSHA that began in 2000. "Farmland Foods, Omaha Steaks, Albion Lockers and Hausman & Son's Processing are outstanding leaders in reducing injuries and illnesses in the meat processing industry," said OSHA Regional Administrator Charles E. Adkins, CIH. "Their achievements are testimony to the cooperative efforts of employers, workers and OSHA to build a culture of safety." The Nebraska partnership, OSHA's only partnership with the meat processing industry in the country, began in 2000. The partnership's focus has been to reduce hazards associated with ergonomics, equipment maintenance, confined spaces, machine guarding and high noise levels. OSHA and the Nebraska meat processing industry teamed up to share expertise, technical knowledge and best practices. The partnership group meets bi-monthly for training to address identified hazards. Other groups involved in this partnership include: Nebraska Workforce Development, Nebraska State Consultation, and the National Safety Council.
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OSHA Alliance Seeks to Promote Safety of New England Workers during Disaster Recovery
Providing employers with information that will help enhance worker safety and health during emergency preparedness and disaster recovery operations is the goal of a newly-signed alliance between the OSHAÆs New England regional office and the New England Disaster Recovery Information X-Change (NEDRIX). OSHA health and safety alliances are part of the AgencyÆs ongoing efforts to improve the health and safety of workers through cooperative partnerships with employers, trade associations and labor. NEDRIX is a voluntary non-profit organization for disaster recovery and business continuity planning professionals from the six New England states. It also operates NEDRIX Notify, an e-mail system that provides real-time notification of events, such as severe weather alerts, cyber threats and evacuations, to business continuity professionals across New England. Under the alliance, OSHA and NEDRIX will work together to develop and communicate information on emergency preparedness and reducing and preventing workers' exposure to occupational hazards during disaster recovery operations. They will share information among OSHA staff and safety and health professionals regarding best practices, effective approaches and the NEDRIX Notify system, and will participate in forums or stakeholder meetings on homeland security issues. "This alliance will allow us to work jointly with NEDRIX to educate ourselves and New England's employers about our respective roles and services in emergency preparedness and disaster response," said K. Frank Gravitt, OSHA's deputy regional administrator for New England. "Our goal is to supply the region's employers with vital information that will help them protect their workers during times of crisis and recovery."
OSHA Aligns with the Precision Metalforming Association
OSHA and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) have formed an Alliance to promote worker safety and health by reducing and preventing amputations and ergonomic related hazards. "This Alliance is an important step in reaching out to PMA members and workers in the metalforming industry to provide them the training and education that will help keep them safe on the job," said Jonathan L. Snare, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "We look forward to a successful working relationship with PMA and improving worker safety and health throughout the industry." "Safety is of utmost importance to the metalforming industry," added PMA President Bill Gaskin. "PMA looks forward to working closely with OSHA through this Alliance to provide the industry with information and access to training resources that will help protect employees." OSHA and PMA will provide workers in the metalforming industry with guidance and access to training resources to help protect employee's health and safety, particularly in reducing and preventing exposure to ergonomic related hazards and addressing press safety issues such as machine guarding and lockout/tagout to prevent amputations and other injuries. Through the Alliance, OSHA and PMA will develop workplace safety and health curricula and materials on the recognition and prevention of amputation and ergonomic-related hazards, and provide expertise in communicating the information to employers and employees in the industry. The organizations will participate in forums, round table discussions, and stakeholder meetings. The Alliance also calls for the promotion and encouragement of PMA members' or worksites' participation in OSHA's cooperative programs such as the Voluntary Protection Programs, the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. A team of OSHA and PMA representatives will meet at least three times a year to develop an action plan, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. OSHA will also encourage state plan states and consultation projects to participate in the Alliance.
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Pesticide-Related Illness and Injury Surveillance: A How-To Guide for State-Based Programs
á The primary target audience is State health departments with planned or established pesticide poisoning surveillance programs. Other target audiences include agencies (e.g. local agencies, other state and federal government agencies, and international agencies), and members of the public interested in pesticide poisoning.
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Pesticide poisoning is a complex condition for surveillance. It encompasses many illnesses and injuries created by single or mixed exposures to pesticide products. Pesticide products are often mixtures composed of pesticides and other ingredients that may have adverse human health impacts. The complex nature of pesticide poisoning, and technical resources needed for case investigation, warranted the development of this manual. Guidelines for surveillance program development, case investigation, data collection, outreach, and education can be found in the manual. The manual will be most useful when read in sequence - Chapter 1 through Chapter 9 and appendix G - before implementing surveillance. Additional information that will be useful both in the initial phases of developing a surveillance program and the ongoing implementation of the surveillance system is provided in the appendices. The manual is also designed to address issues of capturing pesticide-related illnesses and injuries in workplace and non-workplace settings.
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The manual (which provides the case classification scheme, severity index, and sample data collection forms in the appendices), along with the standardized variables and the SENSOR-Pesticides Incident Data Entry and Reporting (SPIDER) software, are intended to simplify and streamline the surveillance system development process. Note that many of the tools and techniques covered in this manual can be generalized for surveillance of other occupational and environmental injuries and illnesses.
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Survey Shows Minnesota Workplace Injuries Continue to Drop
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A recent Minnesota workplace survey shows the state's injury and illness rate decreased by 3.6 percent in 2004, following an 8.3 percent decrease in 2003. A total of 105,500 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses were reported in Minnesota's private-industry and public-sector workplaces during 2004, resulting in a rate of 5.3 cases per 100 full-time-equivalent (FTE) workers, according to the annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. The 2003 injury and illness rate was 5.5 cases per 100 FTE workers.
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The number of nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses dropped by 5.5 percent from the 2003 total of 111,600 cases and is 12.4 percent below the 2002 total of 120,500 cases.
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The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) collected 2004 injury and illness records from approximately 4,900 Minnesota employers. State agencies and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) gather the survey data, which is the primary source of workplace injury and illness data nationwide.
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Nationally, there were 4.3 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported in private-industry workplaces during 2004, resulting in a rate of 4.8 cases per 100 FTE workers. In 2003, there were 4.4 million private-industry cases reported nationally, with a rate of 5.0 cases per 100 FTE workers.
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Other information from the Minnesota survey results includes:
- áááááááá An estimated 52,300 cases in 2004 resulted in days away from work, job transfer or restrictions. The rate for these injuries was 2.6 cases per 100 FTE workers. In 2003, there were 57,100 cases, with 2.8 cases per 100 FTE workers. The rate of days-away-from-work cases was 1.5 per 100 FTE workers in 2004 and 2003.
- áááááááá The rate of cases with job transfer or restriction was 1.2 per 100 FTE workers in 2004, compared to 1.3 cases in 2003.
- áááááááá Industry divisions with the highest total injury and illness rates per 100 FTE workers were similar to previous years:á construction (8.6); agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (8.6); and transportation and warehousing (7.6).
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Upcoming Speech by OSHA's Acting Assistant Secretary
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Safety Links
