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NIOSH issued the first two certificates of approval for air-purifying escape respirators (APER) with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protection. Approval was granted on Oct. 24, 2005, to Mine Safety Appliances Company for the Safe Escape CBRN APER and on Oct. 28, 2005, to ILC Dover for the SCape CBRN APER. These respirators are air-purifying devices which use a chemical cartridge combined with a particulate filter to purify contaminated air.
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The approvals signify that the products are expected to protect the general working population in escape scenarios from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exposures that could be seen at a terrorist event. NIOSH based its determinations on positive results from rigorous laboratory tests, evaluation of product specifications for the devices, and assessment of the manufacturerÆs quality control procedures.
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The action allows the manufacturers to label the approved devices as NIOSH-certified for occupational use. It does not constitute a commercial endorsement of the product.
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NIOSH tested and evaluated the devices under criteria announced in October 2003 for certifying escape respirators for use by the general working population against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents. The CBRN criteria built on NIOSHÆs existing program for certifying respirators for occupational use in traditional workplace settings such as factories, construction sites, and healthcare facilities. Development of the escape respirator program involved broad national support and collaboration by many agencies, organizations, and stakeholders.
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NIOSH is continuing to test and evaluate other escape respirators submitted by manufacturers for certification under this program. It also is developing similar criteria for approving other types of respirators, such as powered, air-purifying devices, for use by emergency responders.
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OSHA Fines Albany Nightclub Following Worker Electrocution
The June 17th electrocution death of a worker at an Albany nightclub/restaurant/bar could have been prevented with a combination of training and proper work practices, OSHA reported.
JBC of Albany, NY Inc., also known as Jillian's, was cited for two alleged serious violations of workplace safety standards following an OSHA inspection begun June 18. The employee, a maintenance worker and door host, was electrocuted when he came in contact with an exposed 230-volt electrical contact while attempting to fix a leak in a commercial dishwasher. OSHA's inspection found that, in addition to the exposed live electrical part, the dishwasher had not been deenergized prior to beginning the repair work, and the worker had not been trained in working with or around live electricity. As a result, OSHA issued two serious citations and proposed $5,000 in fines for these conditions. A serious citation is issued when death or serious physical harm are likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
"This accident need not have occurred," said John Tomich, OSHA's Albany area director. "It's vital that workers be properly and effectively trained before working with electricity. This is a textbook example of what can happen when workers are not trained so they can recognize and prevent potentially deadly hazards."
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OSHA Cites Bridgeport Contractor Following Fatal Cave-In at Shelton Site
OSHA reported that the death of a worker in a Shelton trench collapse could have been prevented if the excavation had been properly guarded against collapse.
On June 18, employees of Edwardo Osello Masonry, LLC, a Bridgeport contractor, were installing rebar inside an unprotected 11-foot deep trench when a section of the trench wall collapsed, burying a worker. OSHA's inspection found that the trench lacked any form of cave-in protection. "OSHA standards are clear. All excavations five feet or deeper must be protected against collapse," said Robert Kowalski, OSHA's Bridgeport area director. "Options are available to employers, including shoring the excavation or using a protective trench box, but none were in use at this site." In addition, OSHA determined that the trench lacked a safe means of entry and exit; stairs leading to a deck adjacent to the trench were not protected against collapse; workers in the trench lacked head protection and were not protected against stones falling into the excavation; and daily inspections of the trench and the adjacent area were not conducted to identify unsafe conditions. OSHA issued seven serious citations and proposed $20,100 in fines against Edwardo Osello Masonry, LLC for these conditions. OSHA defines a serious violation is a condition where there is a substantial possibility that death or serious physical harm can result to an employee.
" about trenching safety is available in English and Spanish.
OSHA Aligns with International Carwash Association
OSHA and the International Carwash Association (ICA) have formed an Alliance to further protect the safety and health of members in the professional car wash and car care industry, including small businesses and non-English or limited English speaking employees. The Alliance will focus on reducing and preventing exposure to workplace hazards associated with slips, trips and falls, and addressing hazard communication issues and vehicle operation safety. "This Alliance is a perfect opportunity to expand our efforts to provide important guidance and training to those in the car wash and car care industry," said Jonathan L. Snare, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. "The areas addressed in this Alliance are highly important and we are pleased to join with the ICA to help make this industry as safe as possible." "Helping car wash operators maximize worker safety and health is a priority," added ICA Executive Director, Mark O. Thorsby, CAE, "and a collaborative relationship with OSHA will allow our organization to share safety and health information and be a valuable resource throughout the car care industry." OSHA and ICA will encourage ICA's members and others in the car wash/car care industry to participate in OSHA's cooperative programs such as compliance assistance, the Voluntary Protection Programs, and the Consultation Program and its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program. The Alliance calls for the two organizations to share information on best practices or effective approaches and publicize the results through outreach by ICA and through OSHA or ICA developed materials, training programs, workshops, seminars, and lectures. OSHA and ICA will work to provide expertise in developing industry specific materials on the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards, including slips, trips and falls, and communicate such information to employers and employees in the industry in order to help forge innovative solutions in the workplace. Formed in 1955, the ICA has 3,000 members representing 22,000 car wash and detail shop operators and 400 car care industry suppliers, manufacturers and distributors. A joint team of representatives from the ICA and OSHA will meet regularly to develop an action plan, identify goals and objectives, and track and share information on activities and results of the Alliance.
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Lockout/Tagout Standards
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Serious injury or death can occur during equipment service and maintenance when standard lockout/tagout procedures are not followed.á If you do not have proper procedures in place and/or if you do not enforce those procedures, you are putting your employees at risk.á
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Some of the most critical requirements of the standards are listed below:
- áááááááááááááá Develop, implement, and enforce an energy control program.
- áááááááááááááá Use lockout devices for equipment that can be locked out. Tagout devices may be used in lieu of lockout devices only if the tagout program provides employee protection equivalent to that provided through a lockout program.
- áááááááááááááá Ensure that new or overhauled equipment is capable of being locked out.
- áááááááááááááá Develop, implement, and enforce an effective tagout program if machines or equipment are not capable of being locked out.
- áááááááááááááá Develop, document, implement, and enforce energy control procedures. [See the note to 29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i) for an exception to the documentation requirements.]
- áááááááááááááá Use only lockout/tagout devices authorized for the particular equipment or machinery and ensure that they are durable, standardized, and substantial.
- áááááááááááááá Ensure that lockout/tagout devices identify the individual users.
- áááááááááááááá Establish a policy that permits only the employee who applied a lockout/tagout device to remove it. [See 29 CFR 1910.147(e)(3) for exceptions]
- áááááááááááááá Inspect energy control procedures at least annually.
- áááááááááááááá Provide effective training as mandated for all employees covered by the standard.
- áááááááááááááá Comply with the additional energy control provisions in OSHA standards when machines or equipment must be tested or repositioned, when outside contractors work at the site, in group lockout situations, and during shift or personnel changes.
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How to Protect Water Well Drillers from High Noise Levels
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Water well drillers are exposed to high levels of noise while working. NIOSH researchers have found that water well drillers are exposed to levels above 85dB(A) while performing certain tasks during a typical drilling job. Noise levels consistently over 85dB(A) during an 8-hour work shift are hazardous and can lead to hearing loss in workers. Finding ways to reduce noise exposure is difficult because of many factors. The work environment is constantly changing due to the location of jobs and environmental factors. The types of drill rigs required for drilling are expensive. Equipment can range from new to used (10 to 30+ years old). Drillers and owners can work together to prevent noise-induced hearing loss, and measures can be taken to reduce exposure to hazardous noise.
NFPA, NIOSH to Help Each Other on Emergency Responder PPE
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The National Fire Protection Association and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory have entered into a memorandum of understanding that focuses on emergency responder safety and protective clothing and equipment.
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This includes all protective clothing and equipment used to respond to all emergency incidents, including fire; technical rescue; hazmat; emergency medical; special operations; and terrorism incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive hazards, as well as the development of standards for emergency responder organizations and personnel concerning the safety, deployment, operations, and protection of emergency responders. In 2001, NIOSH was charged by Congress to create a new protective technology program and the NPPTL was established. The laboratory provides world leadership for the prevention and reduction of occupational disease, injury, and death of workers relying on personal protective technologies. The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and later threats to the United States have made the testing, evaluation, and certification of emergency responder CBRN personal protective equipment a national priority.
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NPPTLÆs emphasis has been on the development of new performance criteria, testing methods, and certification standards for respiratory protective equipment and for protective ensembles for response to terrorism incidents involving CBRN.
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NPPTL also has an active role in the NFPA standards development process for emergency responder protective clothing and equipment that provide protection from physical, chemical, biological, thermal, inhalation, and dermal hazards encountered during emergency medical, law enforcement, hazardous materials, technical rescue, firefighting and special operations during terrorism incidents.
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Together, NIOSH and NFPA will strive to provide the research and technology so that NIOSH regulations and NFPA standards can give leadership for protective clothing and equipment to aid the protection of emergency responders.
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As part of the partnership, NIOSH-NPPTL will:
- áááááááá Collaborate with NFPA on technical information and performance standards concerning performance, testing, validation, use, care, and maintenance of emergency responder personal protective equipment
- áááááááá Collaborate with NFPA on emergency responder and emergency responder organization issues concerning safety, deployment, and operations
- áááááááá Use the NFPA standards development system and process, when appropriate, for any standards for emergency responders or emergency responder organizations that would supplement NIOSH regulations
- áááááááá Use NFPA standards for personal protective equipment evaluations conducted by the NPPTL to determine compliance with NFPA standards
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As part of the partnership, NFPA will:
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- áááááááá Formally recognize NIOSH-NPPTL as the primary federal agency for emergency responder and emergency responder organization personal protection technology issues
- áááááááá Recognize and use NIOSH regulations for emergency responder PPT as an integral baseline for NFPA codes and standards
- áááááááá Provide technical expertise and guidance to NPPTL on its long-term technology development programs related to emergency responder organizations and the emergency responders
