May 2007
Monthly Archive
Wed 30 May 2007
Study Evaluates Asbestos Removal Technology
On May 15, EPA announced the release of a draft report that evaluates an alternative demolition process for buildings containing asbestos. Scientists and engineers from EPA’s National Risk Management Research Laboratory and the Dallas regional office compared the current process of demolishing a dilapidated, asbestos-containing structure with a new method called the Alternative Asbestos Control Method (AACM).
The first demonstration project was successfully completed in Fort Chaffee, Ark. Preliminary findings show AACM procedures to be protective for the cleanup of many asbestos-containing buildings.
Two similar buildings containing similar types and quantities of asbestos were demolished in April 2006. One demolition used the alternative method, and one employed the standard National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) method. As the buildings were demolished, environmental emissions were monitored to determine if the alternative protected the environment as well as the NESHAP method.
The current NESHAP process involves removal of some asbestos materials prior to demolition of a structure. This process can be time-consuming and expensive. After demolition, the removed asbestos and the demolished structure are both disposed of in approved landfills.
Similarly, the alternative method removes some friable (capable of becoming airborne) asbestos materials, but some asbestos-containing materials are allowed to remain. The structure is then wetted with amended water to control asbestos fiber release prior to and during demolition. Demolition debris and several inches of affected soil from the AACM process are disposed of as asbestos-containing debris at an approved landfill.
Data from the evaluation demonstrated lower than expected levels of asbestos and reduced potential for worker exposure. The cost and time savings for the first study also were found to be significant.
A select panel of experts has released the draft report for public comment and for peer review. The public is invited to review the draft report at http://www.epa.gov/region06/6xa/asbestos.htm. Comments are due by June 11
Tue 29 May 2007
The OSHA standard for ForkLift is 29CFR 1910.178 (Powered Industrial Trucks). Every driver is required to be trained and competent [1910.178 (l)].
Below is easy to answer forklift quiz.
Forklift Quiz
1. It is very easy to tip over on ramps and sloped surfaces whether the forklift is loaded or unloaded.
a) True b) False
2. When driving on ramps with a grade of 10 percent or more with a loaded forklift, you must always keep the load uphill, even if it means driving in reverse down the ramp.
a) True b) False
3. Because a forklift weights more, it is much easier to brake to a stop than a automobile
a) True b) False
4. A forklift driver must always look…
a) In the mirrors
b) Around his/her load
c) In the direction of travel
d) Forward
5. What should you do when you approach an intersection?
a) Slow down and sound the horn
b) Check for hazards by leaning out of the cab
c) Turn slowly and smoothly
d) Get through as quickly as possible
6. To lift people using a forklift, the operator must…
a) Lift people with bare forks
b) Use a pallet to provide a platform
c) Move a truck near a wall for fall protection
d) None of the above
7. When forward visibility is obstructed or blocked…..
a) Look around the load
b) Proceed forward slowly and with due caution
c) Drive in reverse
d) None or the above
8. Never enter a trailer or railroad car unless….
a) The watchman is present
b) The forklift’s fuel tank and battery are fully charged
c) The trailer or railcar is locked in place with the wheel chocks
d) There is a spotter inside the trailer or railroad car
9. A forklift operator’s first concern should be….
a) Increasing the speed of loading and unloading
b) Making sure the vehicle is in safe working condition
c) Checking shift changes for load/unload schedule
d) Stabilizing the forks on all trucks used in a shift
10. Which of the following is a warning sign that the forklift may need to be taken out of service and repaired?
a) Leaks for the fuel system
b) A brake pedal that feels spongy
c) Exhaust fumes that make you feel sick
d) All of the above
Forklift drivers should get 100% on this quiz. Any score below 10 correct may open the door to possible incidents, injuries or death.
ANSWERS WILL BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK
Tue 22 May 2007
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US DOTNo Comments
Many businesses today have some form of compressed gas on-site. As a scuba diver, one of the incidents we fear the most is a blown valve on a scuba tank. The blown valve will let 3000 pounds per square inch of compressed gas come out a hole, the size of a dime. The tank will become a torpedo. The US DOT’s PHMSA considered any compressed gas a hazardous materials, even a fire extinguisher. OSHA has safety standards (1910.101) when dealing compressed gases. Even Homeland Security is developing new standards to deal with the threat of compress gases such as chlorine gas. Compressed gas safety can prevent serious injury or death.
If your company transports compressed gases in commerce, the company must comply with US DOT shipping requirements and training, and if you use compressed gas on-site, such as acetylene, you must comply with OSHA standards and training. (more…)
Fri 18 May 2007
An early look at air quality and emissions data for 2006 shows continued improvement in the nation’s air quality over the long term, EPA reported on April 30. Emissions of six key pollutants have dropped by more than half since 1970, and the national average concentration for each criteria pollutant is below the level of its air quality standard.
“The data is in and the trends are good — our nation’s air continues to improve because of the Bush administration’s innovative clean air policies,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. “By tackling tailpipes and smokestacks, EPA is clearing the air, and all Americans are breathing easier.”
Total emissions of the six key pollutants dropped 54 percent between 1970 and 2006, the agency stated. During the same time period, the U.S. gross domestic product increased 203 percent, vehicle miles traveled increased 177 percent, energy consumption increased 49 percent, and U.S. population grew by 46 percent. In addition, emissions of air toxics in 2002 were 35 percent lower than 1990 levels, the agency stated.
Under the Clean Air Act, EPA sets national air quality standards for six key pollutants: nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), carbon monoxide (CO) and lead (Pb). Each year, EPA examines the levels of these pollutants in the air and the emissions from various sources to see how both have changed over time and to summarize the current status of air quality. While national average concentrations of the six key pollutants are below national standards, results vary by site. Annual pollution levels at some monitoring sites do remain above one or more of the national air quality standards, with ozone and particulate matter remaining as the most persistent problems.
The day after EPA’s announcement, the American Lung Association (ALA) issued its annual air quality report card, finding that Americans in the eastern United States are breathing more soot, while stricter local and state controls have dropped air pollution in West.
“The increased (particulate matter) pollution in the East is a particularly troubling trend, because exposure to particle pollution can not only take years off your life, it can threaten your life immediately,” said Terri E. Weaver, PhD, RN, ALA chairperson. “Even in many areas EPA currently considers safe, the science clearly shows that the air is too often dangerous to breathe, particularly for those with lung disease. Protecting Americans from potentially deadly air pollution means we need more protective federal standards, so that every community in the United States can have truly clean air.”
Higher soot levels in the East are linked to an increase in electricity generated by heavy polluting power plants, according to ALA. In the West, by contrast, soot levels continue to drop even in areas that rank historically high in particle pollution. California showed the most improvement with 32 counties dropping their year-round particulate matter pollution levels.
To review EPA’s national air quality and emissions trends, go to http://www.epa.gov/airtrends/econ-emissions.html. To view the “American Lung Association State of the Air: 2007″ report, visit http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2007.html.
Tue 15 May 2007
According to 49 CFR 107.601, anyone that ships the following hazardous materials must register with the Department of Transportation:
Federal law (49 CFR part 172.704) requires that all person involved with the shipping OR RECEIVING or hazardous materials be trained. This training MUST be done every 3 years for ground shipping and every 2 years for air and/or ocean shipping. The training MUST include:
- General Awareness Training
- Function Specific Training
- Safety Training
- Security Training
- In-depth Security Training if shipping certain materials or quantities
Failure to provide training is one of the most fined area by US DOT PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Adminsitration).
Contact The Compliance Resource Center for customized on-site Hazmat training at infor@thecrcenter.com
or 847-372-3063.
Fri 11 May 2007
ACCORDING to a new study, the number of nonfatal ladder injuries treated in emergency rooms jumped by 50 percent between 1990 and 2005, and the popularity of home improvement may explain the spike in injuries.
The exact reasons for the increase are unclear. Still, the findings suggest that there needs to be more education about ladder safety, said study co-author Lara Trifiletti, Ph.D., a researcher with the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Columbus Children’s Hospital in Ohio.
“It’s a little bit alarming that the numbers are so high and that they’ve increased over time,” Trifiletti said. “We need to really think about some prevention strategies and interventions that would reduce these numbers.”
Trifiletti and colleagues examined federal statistics on nonfatal ladder injuries that sent people to emergency rooms. They reported their findings in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
The researchers found that 2,177,888 people suffered ladder injuries from 1990 to 2005, and their ages ranged from as young as one month to as old as 101 years. Three-quarters of the injured were male. An average of 135,000 people sustained ladder injuries each year.
The actual number of injuries per year rose by about 50 percent over the 15 years. On the bright side, injured ladder users only required hospitalization or transfer to other hospitals 10 percent of the time.
Some reports included information about where the injuries occurred. Ninety-seven percent of those cases happened in what Trifiletti calls “non-occupational” settings like homes and farms.
“Maybe a lot of people are doing do-it-yourself home repairs,” Trifiletti said. “That may be one explanation why we see such a high rate in homes.”
The study did not look at fatal ladder injuries.
“Most people like to think of a ladder as a fairly benign piece of equipment, but the injuries that result are very serious,” Trifiletti said. “We should treat ladders like a potentially dangerous tool, like a power saw or razor-sharp plane.”
Michael Mello, M.D., director of Injury Prevention Center at Rhode Island Hospital, said the findings appear to be valid. According to him, ladder injuries should not be taken lightly.
Wed 9 May 2007
FORT MYERS, FL — The American Society of Safety Engineers recently announced the approval of the new American National Standard Institute (ANSI)/ASSE Z359.2-2007 standard.
The standard, Minimum Requirements for a Comprehensive Managed Fall Protection Program, recognizes the need for organizations to protect workers from fall hazards in the workplace. It is the first in a series of five standards that have been sent to ANSI for approval.
ANSI/ASSE Z359.2-2007 standard is the first approved standard in a series of standards that focus on fall protection and related systems. It was approved by ANSI on April 23, 2007. The standard establishes guidelines and requirements for an employer’s managed fall protection program including policies, duties and training; fall protection procedures; eliminating and controlling fall hazards; rescue procedures; incident investigations; and evaluating program effectiveness.
The purpose of the standard is to help organizations develop and implement a comprehensive managed fall protection program that identifies, evaluates and eliminates, or controls, fall hazards through planning, proper training, proper installation and use of fall protection and rescue systems, and implementation of safe fall protection and rescue procedures.
“The committee is very excited about the recent approval of Z359.2-2007, which is the first in a family of five standards that have been sent to ANSI for approval,” said Z359 ASC Chair Randall Wingfield. “This is an important development in fall arrest protection because there has been no change to the fall arrest/protection consensus standards in 20 years, yet falls remain one of the top four causes of on-the-job fatalities. The current approved standard, the four additional standards sent to ANSI for approval and the 12 additional fall protection standards in process make up the framework for a future comprehensive fall protection code.”
ASSE serves as the secretariat for the Z359 Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) on fall protection and related systems. There are currently four additional Z359 standards submitted to ANSI for approval: Z359.0, Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest; Z359.1, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components; Z359.3, Safety Requirements for Positioning and Travel Restraint Systems; and Z359.4, Safety Requirements for Assisted-Rescue and Self-Rescue Systems, Subsystems and Components. The Z359 ASC is also currently working on a comprehensive fall protection code that will include 12 additional standards for release sometime in 2008.
Mon 7 May 2007
The University of Washington School of Medicine recently published a free short course on CPR training. While these illustrated guides and videos are a good introductory step, indiviuals still need a practical classroom session. These sessions will not provide a certificate of completion needed for employee training records.
The Compliance Resouce Center can provide First Aid/CPR/AED on-site training.
Wed 2 May 2007
April, 26 2007
Kennedy, Murray, Woolsey Relaunch the Protecting America’s Workers Act
By Sandy Smith
This article appeared in Occupational Hazards
Despite an almost-certain veto by the Bush administration should the legislation make it to the White House, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, along with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chair of the Health and Safety Subcommittee, on April 26 reintroduced the Protecting America’s Workers Act in the Senate, while U.S. Reps. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., and Phil Hare, D-Ill., launched identical legislation in the House of Representatives.
“Since the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1970, thousands of lives have been saved. But too many people still die at work and millions more become injured or sick,” said Woolsey, chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. “This administration has a dismal record on health and safety. OSHA has fallen down on its job and turned its back on workers. With this bill, we can make OSHA mean something again and can further the most important goal: to ensure a safe and healthy workplace for all workers.”
Saying the Bush administration “has weakened OSHA to the point that is almost obsolete - scrapping ergonomics standards and planned rules on cancer causing substances, reactive chemicals, and infectious diseases,” Hare, a member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, added that “OSHA regulations are more than just words - they are often the only protection employees have from workplace hazards that can injure, sicken or kill them.”
Noting that April 28 is Worker Memorial Day, Hare added, “…there is no more appropriate time to reintroduce this bill to strengthen OSHA and increase penalties for employers who refuse to play by the rules.” (more…)