As you know, I usually don’t promote or endorse products on this site, but this product may be useful to anyone who has hazardous materials on-site.  Employees, First Responders or anyone needing hazmat information, can simply press a button and the information about a specific hazardous material (MSDS) will be verbally given to them

 EPA Hazardous Waste Site

Hazardous Waste Spill Reports [40 CFR 265.196]

There are several requirements for reporting releases of hazardous waste, which differ depending on whether the release came from a tank or a container, the quantity released, and whether the release came from a large or small quantity generator of hazardous waste. Moreover, some states have reporting requirements that are more stringent than the federal EPA requirements. According to 40 CFR 265.196(d), releases to the environment from hazardous waste tanks must be reported to the EPA regional office within 24 hours of detection, unless the release is less than one pound and it was immediately contained and cleaned up. However, if the release amount is at least its Reportable Quantity per 40 CFR 302.4, it must be reported immediately to the National Response Center. Reporting to the National Response Center satisfies the 40 CFR 265.196 reporting requirement.  (more…)

The Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG2004) was developed jointly by the US Department of Transportation, Transport Canada, and the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico (SCT) for use by firefighters, police, and other emergency services personnel who may be the first to arrive at the scene of a transportation incident involving a hazardous material. It is primarily a guide to aid first responders in (1) quickly identifying the specific or generic classification of the material(s) involved in the incident, and (2) protecting themselves and the general public during this initial response phase of the incident. The ERG is updated every three to four years to accommodate new products and technology. The next version is scheduled for 2008.

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Er-Go-Nom-Ics

by Allan Kaufman, Director, The Compliance Resource Center

Er-go-nom-ics or human engineering is an applied science that coordinates Ergonomics or the design of devices, systems, and physicial working conditions with the capacities and requirements of the worker.  70% of the workers in the US think they know what the Ergonomics mean.  However, only about20% actually get it right.

 What do some experts say?  I have taken some classes with Bill Brough of Washington Ergonomics.  Bill looks at Ergonomics as an engineering problem and with and engineering solution.  The Ergonomics Society defines Ergonomics as, “Ergonomics is the appliaction of scientific information concerning humans to the design of objects, systems and environment for human use.”  Because of my Sports Medicine background, I look at it as a medical problem with an engineering and medical solution.  There is no right or wrong answers, just different approaches to the problems.

What we do know is that Ergonomic injuries occur more often then they are reported. OSHA has a four-prong guideline under the general duty clause.  The Department of Labors’s enforcement plan for Ergonomics focuses on industries and employers with known high injury and illness rates related to Ergonomic hazzards.  OSHA coordinates inspections with a legal strategy designed to target prosecutable Ergonomic violations.  Seroius Ergonomics hazards will be addressed using Section 5(a)(1) of the OSHA Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause.   Ergonomics inspection teams work closely with DOL attorneys and experts to successfully bring prosecutions uder the General Duty Clause.

The best was to understand your workplace’s Ergonomic issues is to get and Ergonomic audit.  Whether you have and office, warehouse, or manufacturing facility, Ergonomics are often a issue,  No matter how you define Er-Go-Nom-Ics, the problems can be solved.

Emergency Eye wash stations and Emergency Showers Although the OSHA standard for eyewashes and safety showers at 29 CFR 1910.151(c) is brief, it clearly states when this equipment is necessary:
Where the eyes or body of any person may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials, suitable facilities for quick drenching or flushing of the eyes and body shall be provided within the work area for immediate emergency use.
OSHA accepts industry consensus standards, such as ANSI Z358.1 as a means of compliance with this rule.
The ANSI standard Z358.1-2004 “Emergency Eye Wash and Shower Equipment” includes the following requirements: 

Eyewash squeeze bottles or personal eyewash units are considered secondary units that can supplement plumbed and self-contained stations, but cannot replace them. They are portable and permit initial first aid by providing for immediate flushing of contaminants or small particles. However, eyewash bottles are very difficult for the user to handle, especially when alone and when both eyes have been exposed. (e.g., holding the eyelids open while handling the unit is awkward). Also, one bottle cannot flush both eyes simultaneously. Since the fluid supply lasts for only a short period of time, the bottle may not able to wash the eyes sufficiently. The main purpose of secondary units is to supply immediate flushing. Once accomplished, the user should proceed immediately to a self-contained or plumbed eyewash and flush for the required flushing/ rinsing period.
Keep a copy of the safety shower or eye wash manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure that the equipment is installed, tested, maintained and used in accordance with these instructions. Also, refer to MSDSs to identify which chemicals are corrosive and how to respond to accidental overexposure. Of course, it’s best to prevent eye injuries in the first place. Click here for OSHA’s suggestions.

Disaster Preparedness Resource Available
    Employers and employees involved in cleanup and recovery efforts following natural disasters will benefit from a new “tool” developed by OSHA and the Gulf Coast Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). The 2006 Disaster Preparation Resources CD features a compilation of resources from OSHA, ASSE, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on ensuring safe and healthful response and recovery operations. The CD will help employers review, develop and update their emergency preparedness plans. E-mail ASSE’s Sarajenie Smith at ssmith@asse.org for a copy, or call (847) 699-2929.

Tips: Chemical Safety

As seasons change it is important to address the possible hazards associated with the chemicals, every day products, in your home as one does in the workplace. The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) notes that in every home the cleaning and other chemicals that sit side by side in cupboards, the garage, the bathroom, the basement and the attic, could be extremely harmful to you and your family if you mix them or use them incorrectly.

“Working safely with chemicals in the home is really no different than working with them in the workplace,” said ASSE member Pam Ferrante, CSP, CHMM, of Pittsburgh, Pa. “Sometimes the chemicals used are more hazardous and we use larger quantities, but the safety principles are the same. We urge everyone to be cautious.” (more…)

Employees don’t just slip and fall because they are careless. Hidden risks exist at all work sites.  Slips and falls are complex events. If you focus on just one part of the problem, such as a cracked tile or slippery floor, the risk will still exist. Instead, attack the whole problem with a systems approach that analyzes your organization and pinpoints areas needing attention.
Taking Control
Same-level slips and falls are the second-leading cause of disabling workplace injuries. They cost private industry more than $5 billion in direct costs alone each year. The indirect costs for hiring and training replacement workers, increased absenteeism, and decreased productivity are estimated to be three to five times higher. But slips and falls are not unavoidable “acts of God” due to employee carelessness or bad luck. You can control them. Here’s how.Same-level slips and falls are the second-leading cause of disabling workplace injuries. They cost private industry more than $5 billion in direct costs alone each year. The indirect costs for hiring and training replacement workers, increased absenteeism, and decreased productivity are estimated to be three to five times higher. But slips and falls are not unavoidable “acts of God” due to employee carelessness or bad luck. You can control them. Here’s how.First, secure management buy-in. Employees don’t just slip and fall because they are careless. Hidden risks exist at all work sites. You can demonstrate to managers the cost and the cause of slip-related injuries with photos of potential hazards, qualified worker observations, and slipperiness measurements from work sites. Managers often don’t realize that a leading portion of their loss comes from preventable slips and falls; by illustrating the negative impact on the bottom line and the potential positive outcome from a system approach, you will get management buy-in. (more…)

OSHA’s New Fact Sheet Focuses On Fall Protection