Over a one-year period, OSHA investigated ten preventable fatalities and more than 20 preventable injuries resulting from a variety of incidents involving scissor lifts. OSHA’s investigations found that most injuries and fatalities involving scissor lifts were the result of employers not addressing fall protection, stabilization, and positioning.
OSHA Targets High Hazard Facilities in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri
The increased likelihood that workers in high-hazard manufacturing industries—such as food, furniture, fabricated metal, nonmetallic mineral, machinery, and computer products—will be injured on the job is leading federal safety and health inspectors in three Midwestern states to increase its focus on industry outreach and inspections to reduce injury and illness rates.
Each begins with a three-month period of education and prevention outreach activities to share safety and health information with employers, associations and workers. OSHA encourages employers to use this period to bring their facilities into compliance with federal safety and health standards, if they are not already.
“Workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths are preventable when employers train workers and provide a safe and healthy work environment. This region-wide emphasis program provides 90 days of outreach and education to assist employers in high-hazard industries to eliminate hazards that can cause worker injuries and illnesses,” said Marcia Drumm, regional administrator for OSHA. “The program will also re-direct OSHA’s resources and increase the probability of inspections at establishments in high-hazard industries with more than 10 employees and those that have not had a comprehensive inspection since 2011.”
OSHA prioritizes general industry inspections using the most recent BLS “Days Away, Restricted or Transferred” rates and its “Days Away From Work Injury and Illness” rates. Hazards related to lifting and other ergonomic stressors will also be evaluated.
The emphasis program focuses on manufacturing industries where injury and illness rates exceed the average for the private sector. Included are manufacturers of the following products: food, furniture, fabricated metal, nonmetallic mineral, machinery, and computer products as well as printing and related support activities.
This three-state emphasis program ends September 30, 2016, unless extended. OSHA area offices will continue to open inspections in response to complaints, hospitalizations and fatalities.
New Exclusions for Solvent Recycling and Hazardous Secondary Materials
EPA’s new final rule on the definition of solid waste creates new opportunities for waste recycling outside the scope of the full hazardous waste regulations. This rule, which went into effect on July 13, 2015, streamlines the regulatory burden for wastes that are legitimately recycled.
The first of the two exclusions is an exclusion from the definition of solid waste for high-value solvents transferred from one manufacturer to another for the purpose of extending the useful life of the original solvent by keeping the materials in commerce to reproduce a commercial grade of the original solvent product.
The second, and more wide reaching of the two exclusions, is a revision of the existing hazardous secondary material recycling exclusion. This exclusion allows you to recycle, or send off-site for recycling, virtually any hazardous secondary material. Provided you meet the terms of the exclusion, the material will no longer be hazardous waste.
Learn how to take advantage of these exclusions at Environmental Resource Center’s live webcast where you will learn:
- Which of your materials qualify under the new exclusions
- What qualifies as a hazardous secondary material
- Which solvents can be remanufactured, and which cannot
- What is a tolling agreement
- What is legitimate recycling
- Generator storage requirements
- What documentation you must maintain
- Requirements for off-site shipments
- Training and emergency planning requirements
- If it is acceptable for the recycler to be outside the US
Bring your questions to this live webcast.
Dallas RCRA and DOT Training
Nashville RCRA and DOT Training
San Jose RCRA and DOT Training
How to Implement OSHA’s Globally Harmonized Hazard Communication Standard (GHS)
OSHA has issued a final rule revising its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations’ globally harmonized system (GHS) for the classification and labeling of hazardous chemicals. This means that virtually every product label, safety data sheet (formerly called “material safety data sheet” or MSDS), 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 safety data sheets.
NIOSH NPPTL Releases Documents for Respiratory Protection in Healthcare
This toolkit was developed to assist hospitals in developing and implementing effective respiratory protection programs, with an emphasis on preventing the transmission of aerosol transmissible diseases to healthcare personnel. NIOSH Publication 2015-117.
The Respiratory Protection Webkit includes a 10-module Respiratory Protection Course and accompanying resources. The course is ideal for the occupational and environmental health professional who wants to learn more about OSHA’s Respiratory Protection Standard and the role of the Occupational Health Nurse (OHN) as the Respiratory Protection Program Administrator. The training includes numerous resources for the OHN which are provided here in the Webkit. The course is free and runs approximately 90 minutes. It includes numerous online links to external respiratory protection resources. It is self-paced and you can do it anywhere, anytime. If you need to log out while using the course, you may login and return. Upon completion of the training and the accompanying evaluation tool, you will be awarded 1.5 CNE. The survey, education and resources are brought to all OHNs at no cost thanks to a NIOSH Grant.
Protecting workers from exposure to all types of respiratory hazards is an important issue for hospitals and other healthcare organizations. In order to address this often overlooked danger, The Joint Commission and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) collaborated to develop a new educational monograph designed to assist hospitals in implementing their respiratory protection programs. The monograph features examples, strategies, new resources, and a variety of implementation approaches which were solicited from the field and vetted through an eight-member Technical Expert Panel. The monograph is part of a cluster of research activities spearheaded by NPPTL/NIOSH around respiratory protection programs and is intended to be a companion document to the other CDC/NIOSH/NPPTL respiratory protection publications and resources. This monograph was developed by The Joint Commission under a project supported in part by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
OSHA Certifies New Jersey Occupational Safety and Health Plan for State and Local Government Workers
OSHA recently certified New Jersey’s State Plan for protecting the safety and health of state and local government workers. The New Jersey Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health State Plan covers more than 530,000 state and local government workers. The New Jersey State Plan was initially approved in January of 2001 and certification became effective on January 22, 2016.
Certification documents the satisfactory completion of all structural and developmental aspects of New Jersey’s approved State Plan. This certification attests to the fact that New Jersey now has in place all those structural components necessary for a State Plan covering state and local government workers.
“This is a major milestone for New Jersey public employees, as well as the development of the state’s occupational safety and health program,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “We applaud them for their ongoing commitment to protecting the safety and health of government workers who support the vital services that make New Jersey a viable place to live and work.”
New Jersey—along with Maine, Illinois, Connecticut, New York, and the Virgin Islands—is one of six states and territories that administer safety and health programs for state and local government workers only, and are committed to maintaining programs that are at least as effective as federal OSHA. There are also 22 State Plans that cover private sector, as well as state and local government workers. Twenty-four states still do not provide any federally-approved workplace safety and health protections for its public workers.
The plan is administered by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and continues to provide coverage to all state and local government workplaces, including state, county, and local government agencies, state and local government authorities, fire departments, and school districts under the authority of the New Jersey PEOSH Act. Certain responsibilities are delegated to the New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) in the implementation of the PEOSH Act. Private sector and federal government workers in New Jersey remain under federal OSHA jurisdiction.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act of 1970) and 29 CFR Part 1956 allow states and territories to establish plans that cover only state and local government workers—those workers who are excluded from federal coverage. Once a State Plan is approved, OSHA funds up to 50% of the program’s costs.
Under the OSH Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces. OSHA’s role is to ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and providing training, education, and assistance.
Exposure to High Levels of Small Particle Air Pollution Associated with Higher Risk of Preterm Birth
Diesel exhaust particles make up a substantial portion of particulate matter in urban areas. The size of particles is linked to their potential for causing health problems. Smaller particles have greater potential to be inhaled into the lungs and can cause serious health problems, including several heart and pulmonary diseases.
“We estimate that decreasing the amount of particulate matter in the air below the EPA’s standard threshold could decrease preterm birth in women exposed to high levels of small particulates by about 17 percent, which corresponds to a 2.22 percent decrease in the preterm birth rate in the population as a whole.”
The researchers studied birth records in Ohio between 2007 and 2010. The population included nearly 225,000 singleton (not multiples) live births. Of these, more than 19,000 births were preterm. The birth records were linked to average daily measures of fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less in width. These measures were recorded by 57 EPA network air-monitoring stations across the state. The vast majority of births, 97%, occurred in very urban areas, where most monitoring stations are located and exposure levels likely to be highest.
Preterm birth rates were higher among mothers exposed to high levels of airborne particle pollution above the EPA standard, as well as among mothers 40 or older, black mothers, and women with no prenatal care or with lower education level.
In 2015, Dr. DeFranco published a study in the journal PLOS One showing that exposure to high levels of particulate matter in the third trimester of pregnancy was associated with a 42% increased risk of stillbirth.
Also last year, the American Lung Association named the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville statistical area as the nation’s 8th most polluted by year-round particle pollution. The Cleveland-Akron-Canton area ranked 10th.
Dr. DeFranco’s study in Environmental Health was supported by a grant (22-FY 13-543) from the March of Dimes for the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center Ohio Collaborative.
Pyrotechnics Explosion Leads to Worker Fatality at Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation Inc.
OSHA initiated an inspection on July 31, 2015, following a fireworks explosion at the Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Canyon, Texas, after a 21-year-old worker was fatally injured while taking an inventory of the pyrotechnics for an outdoor musical production. Proposed Penalties total $42,000
“A 21-year-old worker, with three months of work experience under her belt, lost her life because Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation failed to provide appropriate training and protective equipment to workers handling pyrotechnics,” said Elizabeth Linda Routh, OSHA’s area director in Lubbock.
NSF International Publishes Consumer Guide to Certified Water Filtration Devices for Lead Reduction
NSF International has published an easy-to-use consumer guide to water filters that have been tested and certified by NSF International to reduce lead in drinking water. This guide also explains the NSF standards and the process by which NSF International verifies a filter’s ability to reduce lead in drinking water.
The guide lists the water filters certified by NSF International for lead reduction along with the proper replacement cartridge (element) that should be used with each system. It includes information about the different types of NSF certified water filtration systems to help consumers know which system best fits their home or business. Additionally, the guide includes information about the importance of replacing filter cartridges (elements) and NSF International’s robust testing and certification process. The guide will be updated when new products have been certified.
NSF International issued a reminder that it is important to change the filter regularly, according to the manufacturer’s recommended filter capacity, in order for the filters to continue to reduce lead and other contaminants for which they are certified.
TimkenSteel Worker Severely Injured in 40-Foot Fall from Crane
A 39-year-old worker suffered multiple broken bones after he fell more than 40 feet while conducting maintenance on a crane at TimkenSteel’s Faircrest Plant. The August 7, 2015, injury was the second life-threatening injury at a TimkenSteel plant since May 2015.
TimkenSteel faces $129,500 in fines as a result of OSHA’s investigation. Investigators found crane maintenance workers were exposed to falls due to lack of guardrails, and protective equipment.
“TimkenSteel needs to fix their safety program immediately,” said Howard Eberts, OSHA’s area director in Cleveland. “OSHA will monitor these plants until the company makes protecting workers a priority. No worker should die or suffer life-altering workplace injuries because their employer fails in its responsibility to protect their employees.”
In May 2015, another TimkenSteel worker was severely injured when a crane’s safety latch failed and 1,000 lb of equipment fell on him at its Gambrinus plant. The company has contested those violations.
TimkenSteel was spun off from The Timken Company in 2014. Prior to this inspection, the three plants and corporate offices now operated by TimkenSteel had been inspected by OSHA 29 times since 2005, resulting in the issuance of 76 violations. The manufacturer of large steel bars and seamless mechanical tubing was mostly recently cited by OSHA in November 2014. Its Harrison steel plant melts, rolls, produces and finishes steel, and its Gambrinus plant performs cold steel finishing.
Ziggy’s Roofing Fined $115,500 for Exposing Workers to Dangerous Falls
“Ziggy’s Roofing continues to ignore OSHA standards and is failing to protect its employees on the job,” said Angeline Loftus, OSHA’s area director for the Chicago North Office in Des Plaines. “OSHA will continue to monitor this employer for compliance, and do everything in its power to keep workers safely out of life-threatening working conditions.”
On July 29, 2015, an OSHA inspector observed four employees doing residential roofing work in Chicago without fall protection, such as guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall prevention devices. The workers were at risk of falls of more than 14 feet. On the ground below, employees were working without head protection and using nail guns without eye protection.
Less than a month later, OSHA inspectors observed two employees exposed to similar fall hazards as they worked on a two-story residential roof at a Schaumburg job site on August 17, 2015.
OSHA has inspected Ziggy’s Roofing four times since 2003 for exposing workers to fall hazards at Chicago area construction sites.
The page provides fact sheets, posters, and videos that illustrate various fall hazards and appropriate preventive measures. OSHA standards require that an effective form of fall protection be in use when workers perform construction activities 6 feet or more above the next lower level.
Blocked Exits Endanger Dollar General Employees
Federal safety inspectors found a 5-foot high, 15-foot long pile of trash between employees at a Missouri Dollar General store and an emergency exit, one of nine safety violations that put workers at the O’Fallon location at risk.
OSHA initiated its inspection after an employee alleged that upper management ignored repeated requests to remove the hazards. Since 2010, the agency has cited Dollar General for more than 100 safety and health violations at stores across the nation.
Proposed penalties total $163,000.
“Blocked exits can be the difference between life and death in an emergency. Carelessly piling up trash and debris is also unsanitary,” said Bill McDonald, OSHA’s area director in St. Louis. “Dollar General needs to immediately address hazards found in O’Fallon and at its stores nationwide.”
OSHA investigators also found:
- Workers exposed to fall hazards because stairs lacked railings
- An exit sign posted at a door that was not an exit
- An unlit exit way and emergency exit lighting that did not work
- Circuit breakers were not labeled
- Electrical panels blocked by miscellaneous material
- Workers were not trained in fire extinguisher use
Citations have been issued for similar violations at Dollar General stores in Georgia, Arkansas, Texas, and Illinois.
Based in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Dollar General operates more than 12,000 stores in 43 states and employs about 100,000 workers.
Worker Loses Part of Finger While Clearing Machine Jam
The agency initiated its inspection after a 58-year-old worker suffered the partial amputation of his right ring finger on August 19, 2015. The injury occurred when his finger was pinched while unjamming a reel on a wood veneer machine.
Inspectors found the company failed to:
- Train workers in machine safety procedures
“Goodman Veneer and Lumber knows that an injury like this one is preventable when companies install machine guards and train workers on safety procedures. Following the injury, the company took immediate action to review and change its machine safety procedures to prevent injuries in the future,” said Robert Bonack, OSHA’s area director in Appleton.
Proposed Penalties total $76,000.
Whole Life Construction LLC Faces $48,000 in Fine for Exposing Workers to Fall, Scaffold Hazards
These employees faced falls of more than 20 feet and 26 feet, respectively. The rooftop employees had not been trained in fall protection. The scaffold was not properly erected and braced, and employees were not trained to recognize scaffold hazards. Finally, employees faced electrocution hazards while working too close to energized power lines. OSHA had previously cited Whole Life Construction for similar hazards at work sites in New Haven and Danbury.
The program focuses on recalcitrant employers that endanger workers by committing willful, repeat or failure-to-abate violations. Under the program, OSHA may inspect any of the employer’s facilities if it has reasonable grounds to believe there are similar violations.
Proposed penalties total $48,400.
“This employer has again deprived its employees of required, life-saving protections. That is unacceptable. Whole Life Construction’s workers risked deadly and disabling injuries from potential falls, scaffold collapse and electrocution. It is the employer’s responsibility to take and maintain effective corrective action and provide its employees with safe working conditions at all its job sites,” said Robert Kowalski, OSHA’s area director in Bridgeport.
Failure to Address Hazards Leads to Amputation
On August 10, 2015, SNS Lawn & Landscape Services, Inc., doing business as The Ground Guys notified the agency that an employee suffered a double toe amputation when he lost control of the lawn mower he was operating on a wet grassy slope, prompting an investigation. The amputation occurred less than three months after OSHA investigated another rollover incident in which an employee sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized.
OSHA inspectors determined the company failed to ensure that workers were using a rollover protective system and seat belts when operating the zero-turn mower, and issued a willful citation.
The company was also cited for failing to prepare a written workplace hazard assessment. Proposed penalties total $42,000
“This amputation and the incident that preceded it could have been prevented if The Ground Guys had only used the mower’s protective system,” said Kevin Kulp, director of OSHA’s Harrisburg Office. “By ignoring this vital safeguard, the company is taking unnecessary risks with the safety of its employees, which is unacceptable.”
DDP Roofing Services Inc. Continues to Expose Workers to Fall Hazards
The company has been cited eight times since 2008 for similar hazards.
Proposed penalties total $41,580.
“DDP Roofing Services has been cited multiple times previously for failing to provide fall protection, and for exposing employees to other fall-related hazards at worksites in the greater Philadelphia metro area, Maryland and New Jersey. By failing to ensure its employees have and use fall and other safety protections to reduce the potential hazards commonly found in commercial construction work, DDP Roofing Services does not make worker safety a priority. That has to change,” said Jean Kulp, director of OSHA’s Allentown Area Office.
Pennsylvania Companies Fail to Protect Temporary Workers from Potential Trench Collapse
Construction contractor Kinsey Corp., was contracted to install sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and other underground utility lines at the Settlers Pointe housing development in Pittsburgh. Kinsey contracted Gillmann Services to provide temporary employees for pipe installation work.
Gillmann Services was cited for one serious violation.
OSHA issued a willful citation to Kinsey for failing to take measures to protect company employees and one temporary employee in a trench as deep as 18 feet. The agency also identified serious violations related to safety hazards that endangered employees as they installed a storm sewer and related structures.
Proposed penalties total $37,600 for Kinsey Corp., Inc., and $7,000 for Gillmann Services, Inc.
“Both Kinsey Corp., and Gillmann Services failed to provide the required training and take necessary precautions to protect their workers from the serious dangers associated with trenching and excavation. Without proper protection, a cave-in or collapse with these people working 18 feet below ground could have been catastrophic. These workers could have been crushed and buried beneath thousands of pounds of soil,” said Christopher Robinson, director of OSHA’s Pittsburgh Area Office. “Host employers and staffing agencies are jointly responsible for maintaining a safe work environment for all workers; this includes ensuring that OSHA’s training requirements are met, especially when you consider two workers die each month nationally in trench and excavation incidents.”
OSHA Schedules Meeting of the Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health in February
The tentative agenda includes updates on the:
- Presidential Initiatives that focus on workplace safety and health in federal agencies, and returning federal workers to work after on-the-job injuries/illnesses
- Status of the 2014 report to the President on federal agencies’ occupational safety and health programs, and the agency request for information for the 2015 Report
- Construction safety and health stand-down
- Proposed OSHA safety and health management system guidelines
- FACOSH subcommittees
The committee will meet from 1–4:30 p.m. in Rooms C-5520-6, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20210. Some committee members may participate by teleconference. The meeting is open to the public. Due to recent winter storm, the Federal Register notice announcing the meeting was published one day short of the required 15 days advance notice.
Submissions of comments, requests to speak and requests for special accommodation to attend the FACOSH meeting are due February 11, 2016.
This includes providing advice on how to reduce the number of injuries and illnesses in the federal workforce and how to encourage each federal executive branch department and agency to establish and maintain effective occupational safety and health programs.
National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health Schedules Third Meeting of the Emergency Response and Preparedness Subcommittee
OSHA’s National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health will hold a meeting of the Emergency Response and Preparedness Subcommittee on February 24–25, 2016, in Washington, D.C.
Among other issues, the subcommittee will discuss potential elements of an emergency response and preparedness proposed rule, such as medical evaluation and fitness requirements, facility and equipment preparedness, vehicle preparedness and operation, pre-incident planning, emergency incident standard operating procedures, post-incident analysis, and program evaluation.
Both meetings will be held 9 a.m. –5 p.m. in Room N-4437 at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20210. The meetings are open to the public.
OSHA to Hold Public Stakeholder Meeting on Draft Updated Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines
The meeting is set for Thursday, March 10, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C.
Attendees can choose from several levels of participation in the discussion, which will cover the guidelines in general plus key issues that were raised in public comments.
First published in 1989 to help employers establish their own safety and health programs, the guidelines are being updated to reflect changes in the workplace and modern safety practices. They should be particularly helpful to small- and medium-sized businesses, and also provide approaches that multiple employers at the same worksite can use to coordinate their efforts to protect all workers.
OSHA Extends Public Comment Period for Updated Safety and Health Program Management Guidelines
The current comment period was announced on November 16, 2015, and was to close on February 15, 2016. OSHA is extending the comment period by one week to allow interested parties more time to provide feedback on the draft Guidelines. The comment period will now close on February 22, 2016.
The guidelines are advisory only and do not create any new legal obligations or alter existing obligations created by OSHA standards or regulations.
OSHA, Industrial Truck Association Renew Alliance to Reduce Hazards Associated with Powered Industrial Trucks
During the five-year agreement, the alliance will focus on tip-over and struck-by hazards.
Through the alliance, participants will develop resources and provide training on recognizing and reducing workplace hazards related to the operation of powered industrial trucks. Additionally, the alliance will promote OSHA campaigns on preventing falls and heat illness, implement projects that protect temporary workers, and encourage a culture of safety, particularly to small businesses and workers with limited- and non-English speaking skills.
“Many workers suffer serious injuries or die from being crushed, struck by or falling from forklifts,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “Our continued alliance with ITA will help us promote awareness of the dangers of this equipment and provide valuable information and training to protect the safety of workers.”
ITA has represented industrial truck manufacturers and suppliers of component parts and accessories for more than 60 years. Its membership comprises manufacturers of lift trucks, tow tractors, rough terrain vehicles, hand-pallet trucks and automated guided vehicles.
The purpose of each alliance is to develop compliance assistance tools and resources, and to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities. Alliance Program participants do not receive exemptions from OSHA inspections or any other enforcement benefits.
OSHA and Crane, Hoist, and Monorail Partners Renew Alliance to Prevent Worker Exposures to Electrical, Fall, and Struck-by Hazards
During the five-year agreement, the alliance will address preventing worker exposures to electrical shock, electrocution, falls from elevation, and being struck-by moving equipment.
Through the alliance, participants plan to develop best practice fact sheets and training resources that address electrical hazards, falls and struck-by incidents, and new technology used in the crane, hoist, and monorail industry. The alliance will promote cooperative program initiatives including the National Safety Stand-Down and protecting temporary workers. Additionally, the alliance will encourage a culture of safety within the industry including among small businesses and non- and limited English-speaking workers.
“Our alliance with CHM has been invaluable in helping to reduce and prevent serious or fatal incidents in the material handling industry,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels. “We will continue to focus on efforts and resources that implement best industry practices that help keep crane, hoist, and monorail operators safe and healthy.”
CHM Partners consist of Crane Manufacturers Association of America, Hoist Manufacturers Institute and Monorail Manufacturers Association. These organizations are members of the Material Handling Institute, which was established in 1945 and is the nation’s largest material handling, logistics, and supply chain association. The Institute serves 800 member companies, their customers and the industry.
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