It employs less than 1% of the US workforce, but in the past five years it has had more than 10% of all workplace fatalities from fires and explosions.
Transportation of Infectious Substances by Ground and Air
Because pathogens can cause widespread danger, the requirements for the shipment of infectious substances are significantly different than those that apply to other hazardous materials. Infectious substances are found not only in hospitals, clinics, labs, and universities, but are also found at many industrial facilities where regulated medical (red bag) waste is generated.
In this live webcast, which will be held on November 6, you will learn the unique requirements for the transportation of infectious substances, including how to:
- Classify the different types of infectious substances
- Determine when you must triple-package infectious substances, and how to package these materials in accordance with the latest regulatory requirements
- Mark, label, and document infectious substances for shipment by ground and air
- Protect yourself and coworkers from the hazards of infectious substances
- Comply with both DOT and IATA regulations for infectious substances shipped by ground and air
A special offer is available for sites with multiple attendees: after the first two attendees pay the full price, each additional attendee will attend at half price.
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.
Raleigh Area DOT and IATA Training
San Diego RCRA and DOT Training
Williamsburg RCRA and DOT Training
OSHA Provides Direction for Inspecting Cranes and Derricks on Construction Worksites
OSHA published the construction crane and derrick rule on August 9, 2010, and most of its provisions became effective November 8, 2010. The rule was revised to replace decades-old standards and address the significant number of fatalities associated with the use of cranes and derricks.
Guide for Public Transportation Pandemic Planning and Response
. The guide provides information, tools, tips, and guidance on where to find up-to-date recommendations from federal agencies and other resources, prior to, and during, a pandemic.
Are Airlines and Laundries Doing Enough To Protect Cleaning Staff From Ebola?
Secretary of Labor Renews Charter of National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health
Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez has renewed the charter of the National Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. The charter will remain in effect until October 7, 2016.
NACOSH consists of 12 members representing workers, employers, safety and health professionals, states, and the public. NACOSH holds two to four meetings per year, which are open to the public.
Central Transport Fined $145,420 for Forklift, Fall Hazards
"Central Transport has been repeatedly cited for unsafe conditions and equipment," said Angeline Loftus, OSHA's area director for the Chicago North Office in Des Plaines. "Companies that repeatedly violate basic safety standards consistently put their employees at risk of serious injury and death."
This LEP was implemented to reduce fatalities and injuries caused by these vehicles, which have been the source of 105 occupational fatalities during fiscal years 2005 through 2013 in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ohio.
OSHA issued one willful violation for failing to remove forklifts from service that needed repair. 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.
Five repeat violations were issued and included failure to have platform guardrails in place on platforms, which exposed workers to falls of more than four feet, and maintain terminal dock and bay floors clean and dry. Additionally, the company failed to train workers on chemical hazards before assigning them to work with the substances, did not provide eye-drenching facilities for areas where corrosive chemicals were in use and failed to maintain the yard and terminal roadway free of potholes and hazards.
In September, the company was cited for similar violations at its Rock Island terminal that involved defective powered industrial vehicles and lack of fall protection, with proposed penalties of $108,020. The company has contested those violations.
Central Transport was cited in 2009, 2010, and 2013 at locations in Georgia, Ohio, and Mississippi for similar violations. 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.
Two serious violations were issued for failing to have handrails on stairs with four or more risers, not installing slip-resistant treads on stairs, and failing to guard the floor opening on a pit to prevent falls. 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.
Central Transport based in Warren, Michigan, employs about 4,300 workers at 170 locations nationwide. The Hillside terminal has about 100 employees.
The company has contested the findings and will appear before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Quest Specialty Coatings Fined $132,800 for Willful, Repeat Safety Violations
A May 1, 2014, inspection conducted after a complaint alleging three separate fires at Quest Specialty Coatings has resulted in the issuance of eight safety violations. OSHA cited one willful, two repeat, and five serious safety violations at the aerosol paint and coatings manufacturer. Proposed penalties total $132,800.
"Quest Specialty Coatings has a responsibility to ensure the safe operation of its plant by making sure employees are trained in the hazards of manufacturing paints," said Chris Zortman, OSHA's area director in Milwaukee. "Workers should not be put at risk because this company failed to implement required protections."
OSHA issued one willful violation for failing to conduct necessary inspections and tests on emergency fire control, bypass and relief valves to ensure they were mechanically sound and not dangerous to operators. The company failed to follow recommended inspection timetables for pumps and motors.
The company was issued two repeat citations for failing to develop complete and accurate operating procedures and compile necessary process safety information. The company was cited for similar violations in 2012 at this same facility.
Quest Specialty Coatings failed to address the potential for static accumulation and discharge and train employees in the equipment processes and emergency shutdown procedures for the machines they were operating. The company did not ensure that procedures to maintain mechanical integrity were performed, such as inspecting valves and pipes. In addition, the company failed to inspect procedures and train workers on the hazards of servicing and maintenance, resulting in five serious violations.
Ensign United States Drilling Continues to Expose Workers to Potential Injury or Death
Ensign United States Drilling (S.W.), Inc., was cited with two repeat safety violations by OSHA for exposing workers to possible hazards during oil well explosions. The repeat violations were cited for failing to correct deficiencies found during a 2011 investigation. Proposed penalties total $65,000.
OSHA's Houston North Area Office initially conducted an oil and gas inspection in November 2011 and cited the employer in January 2012 for an obstruction in the path of the emergency escape line. Also known as the Geronimo Line, it is a zip line that runs from the top of the oil well to the ground and allows workers to quickly evacuate a well in emergency situations. The company was fined $13,000 for those violations.
"Ensign United States Drilling failed to abate previous violations while continuing to expose its workers to oilfield injuries or possibly death from hazards that could be easily corrected. This obvious disregard for their workers' safety and health is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," said David Doucet, OSHA's area director in Houston North.
The repeat violations were cited for obstruction of, and damage to, the Geronimo Line, which was blocked by a rack of pipes and contained four knots that could stop workers' full slide to safety during a fire or explosion.
As part of this program, OSHA investigated the deaths of 162 upstream oil and gas industry workers who died while performing duties, such as drilling, exploration, and servicing, from 2007 to 2012 in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and those worksites in New Mexico that are under federal jurisdiction. Because OSHA has no national programs dealing with this industry, this regional program was designed to address issues regarding fatalities and catastrophes in the aforementioned states.
Worker Injury Leads to $63,700 in Fines for ShayCore Enterprises
A 30-year-old painter was hospitalized after he received second and third degree burns when his ladder came into contact with overhead power lines. As a result OSHA cited ShayCore Enterprises with five safety and health violations. ShayCore Enterprises was subcontracted to paint the exterior of Total Office Solutions furniture and warehouse on Emerson Street in Jacksonville.
"The employer recognized the hazards associated with working near power lines, but failed to take action to ensure workers were protected and equipped with the proper tools to perform the work safely," said Brian Sturtecky, OSHA's area director in Jacksonville. "The employer's inaction nearly resulted in a worker losing his life."
A willful citation was issued for allowing employees to use aluminum ladders near power lines.
OSHA issued serious violations for exposing workers to falls up to 27 feet and for not providing employees with a fall protection system; failing to train employees on how to recognize hazards associated with using aluminum ladders around electrical lines; and not ensuring the ladder used to access the roof extended 3 feet above the roofline. Another violation involves not implementing a written respiratory protection program.
ShayCore Enterprises is a licensed general contracting and construction management firm with three separate divisions: residential, commercial, and industrial. Proposed penalties total $63,700.
Stafford Transport Inc. Fined $43,000 for Repeat and Serious Safety Violations
Stafford Transport, Inc., a solid waste removal trucking company, has been cited by OSHA for five safety and health violations following an inspection at the company's Mableton facility.
"This employer continues to disregard the safety and health of its employees by putting them at risk of serious injury or death," said Christi Griffin, director of OSHA's Atlanta-West Area Office. "It is the employer's responsibility to protect workers and eliminate workplace hazards before an OSHA inspection or incident."
The company received citations for these same violations in 2012.
OSHA cited the employer for one serious violation for failure to train workers to operate a forklift. The citation carries a penalty of $3,000. Other violations include failing to conduct an annual review of the written bloodborne pathogens program and not training employees on the new labeling requirements.
OSHA last inspected Stafford Transport in 2011. The company was issued serious citations for failure to conduct an annual inspection of procedures to protect workers from moving machine parts during service or maintenance and to protect workers from bloodborne pathogen hazards.
AW Transmission Engineering Receives Renewed MIOSHA Recognition for its Workplace Safety and Health Excellence
AW Transmission Engineering USA, Inc., (AWTEC) in Plymouth recently received renewal of its prestigious Michigan Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (MSHARP) Award certification from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA). MIOSHA established the MSHARP Award to recognize employers that have achieved workplace safety and health excellence far beyond their peers. The MIOSHA program is part of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
“The management and employees of AW Transmission Engineering have once again proven their commitment to workplace safety and health excellence,” said MIOSHA Director Martha Yoder. “We are pleased to recognize them as an MSHARP worksite—a designation which they have held since 2011—and look forward to their continued participation in this cooperative program.”
MSHARP targets small manufacturers to help them develop, implement, and continuously improve the effectiveness of their workplace safety and health management system. The program provides an incentive for employers to emphasize accident and illness prevention by anticipating problems, not reacting to them.
The MIOSHA Onsite Consultation Program within the Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division operates the MSHARP. MSHARP worksites earn an exemption from "programmed" MIOSHA inspections on a yearly basis.
On-site consultants work with employers to help them become self-sufficient in managing occupational safety and health. The MIOSHA review team consisted of George Zagresky, senior safety consultant and D.W. Johnson, industrial hygienist. The site manufactures automatic transmissions and car navigation systems for its parent company, Aisin AW. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for AWTEC is 33635.
"MSHARP requires a comprehensive consultation visit and the correction of all serious workplace safety and health hazards," said Yoder. "AWTEC has developed an exemplary safety and health program which provides the utmost protection for its workers."
The facility has an excellent system in place, which incorporates each of the seven required elements: hazard anticipation and detection; hazard prevention and control; planning and evaluation; administration and supervision; safety and health training; management leadership; and employee participation.
Some of AWTEC’s new improvements include:
- Installed safety railings where forklift and pedestrian traffic converge
- Posted new PPE/Emergency Action signs in the work area
- Installed E-Stop cables along all powered conveyors
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