November 2006
Monthly Archive
Tue 28 Nov 2006
Posted by Allan under
OSHA ,
SafetyNo Comments
The new TOP 10 most cited violations are out again. Listed in (), will be what place the violation was in 2005, not much has changed. As they use to say on Hill Street Blues…’Let’s Be Careful Out There.” You can use this list to help direct you training for next year.
1. (1) Scaffolding 1926.451 Failure to provide fall protection 1926.451 (g)(1)
2. (2) Hazard Communication 1910.1200 Failure to develop and maintain a written program 1910.1200 (e)(1)
3. (3) Fall Protection 1926.501 Failure to provide/residential construction 1926.501 (b)(13)
4. (4) Respiratory Protection 1920.134 Failure to establish a program 1910.134 (c)(1)
5. (5) Lockout/Tagout 1910.147 Failure to develop and utilize procedures for the control of potentially hazardous energy 1910.147 (c)(4)(i)
6. (6) Powdered Industrial Trucks 1910.178 Failure to ensure each powdered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely 1910.178 (L)(l)(i)
7. (7) Electrical - Wiring 1910.305 Failure to effectively close conductors entering boxes, cabinets or fittings and to protect from abrasion 1910.305 (b)(1)
8. (8) Machine Guarding 1910.212 Failure to provide one or more methods of machine guarding 1910.212 (a)(1)
9. (10) Ladders 1926.1053 Failure toextend ladder side rails at least 3 feet about the upper landing surface to which the ladder is used to gain access 1926.1053 (b)(1)
10. (9) Electrical - General Requirements 1910.303 Failure to install and use electrical equipment to factory instructions 1910.303 (b)(2)
Next Week will present Top 10 Willful violations and Top 10 Serious violations
Mon 27 Nov 2006
Cold Case Files
The season for cold injuries is just around the icy corner; outdoor workers should approach it with caution.
by Ronnie RittenberryThe arctic winter air sweeping across the country within the next few months brings hazards most workers do not have to face the rest of the year. Slips and falls, road accidents caused by ice and snow, and carbon monoxide poisonings from faulty furnaces and automobiles all have elevated incident rates during the winter. In addition, multiple levels of injuries can result from exposure to the cold itself.
Any number of cold injuries can affect workers without adequate and dry protective gear. Chilblains, a condition in which skin repeatedly exposed to a dry cold can start to itch, turn reddish-blue, swell, and blister, is a common type of cold injury. “Trench foot,” or immersion injury, can develop with exposure to a wet cold, usually when a glove or sock becomes damp, resulting in symptoms similar to but usually more serious than chilblains because the blisters are deeper, resembling those that form after a burn.
Although body parts affected by either chilblains or trench foot may afterward be very sensitive to the cold, neither injury is caused by tissue actually freezing, and usually neither results in permanent damage. The same cannot be said for hypothermia and frostbite. While workers can and do commonly suffer and recover from mild versions of both these injuries, under the wrong circumstances both can become severe, life-threatening medical emergencies. (more…)
Mon 27 Nov 2006
Winter Car Kit
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, about 70 percent of winter deaths related to snow and ice occur in automobiles. When driving in such conditions is necessary, the agency recommends traveling in daylight and not traveling alone, keeping others notified of your schedule, and staying on main roads. In addition to winterizing your vehicle mechanically and keeping its gas tank full, FEMA advises carrying the following items in the vehicle’s trunk:
- Shovel
- Windshield scraper
- Battery-powered radio
- Flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Water
- Snack food
- Mittens
- Hat
- Blanket
- Tow chain or rope
- Tire chains
- Bag of road salt and sand
- Fluorescent distress flag
- Booster cables
- Road maps
- Emergency flares
- Cell phone or two-way radio
Source: FEMA
Wed 22 Nov 2006
On Nov. 9, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) voted to approve a report stemming from a two-year investigation of the hazards of combustible dust in industry, calling for new federal regulations to prevent dust explosions and fires.
The investigation was initiated in 2004 following explosions the previous year in Kinston (West Pharmaceutical Services), Corbin, Ky. (CTA Acoustics), and Huntington, Ind. (Hayes-Lemmerz). These accidents, each of which the CSB investigated, resulted in a total of 14 deaths and 81 injuries.
The explosions, which happen when fine particles of combustible material are ignited, occur in many industries including rubber and plastic products, chemical manufacturing, primary metal, lumber and wood products, and food products, the CSB found. The CSB identified 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that killed 119 workers and injured 718, and extensively damaged industrial facilities. Injuries or fatalities occurred in 71 percent of the incidents.
CSB Chairman Carolyn W. Merritt stated, “Combustible dust fires and explosions are devastating, preventable and often fatal tragedies. Dust explosions often cause loss of life and terrible economic consequences. While some programs to mitigate dust hazards exist at the state and local levels, they form a patchwork of adapted and adopted voluntary standards that are challenging to enforce. New federal standards are necessary to prevent further loss of life.” (more…)
Tue 7 Nov 2006
Posted by Allan under
SafetyNo Comments
How often do we perform a common job without realizing we are creating a potential danger? Such a situation occurred when a janitorial assistant was mopping a set of stairs just before coffee break. This seemingly simple task was actually creating a situation where many people could potentially slip and fall on the wet surface. Fortunately, an observant coworker took action to post signs, and a potentially dangerous situation was averted.
An unguarded wet floor is only one of the many causes of accidents. Approximately 13 percent of all workers’ compensation cases are due to injuries sustained from falling or slipping on the job. It is important to spot unsafe conditions that may lead to slips and falls and prevent them before they happen. (more…)
Mon 6 Nov 2006
Posted by Allan under
SafetyNo Comments
I recently wrote an article about New Guidance To Help Small Businesses Comply With Hexavalent Chromium Requirements. Then the questions came in, What really is hexavalent chromium and what are they used for? As a chem minor in college, I hope I can shed some light.
OSHA defines hexavalent chromium as “Chromium hexavalent (CrVI) compounds, often called hexavalent chromium, exist in several forms. Chromates are often used as pigments for photography, and in pyrotechnics, dyes, paints, inks, and plastics. They can also be used for stainless steel production, textile dyes, wood preservation, leather tanning, and as anti-corrosion coatings.”NIOSH considers all Cr(VI) compounds to be potential occupational carcinogens. In addition there is a whole list of other potential affects to humans.Remember the academy award-winning movie Erin Brockovich? The residents of Hinckley, California suffered from the effects of hexavalent chromium in the water. This stuff is bad, but it is used in many industries. Safety professionals need to make sure every precaution is taken to protect the worker and the environment