Last April, The Compliance Resource Center reported that NIOSH, OSHA and NHCA (National Hearing Conservation Assoication), recently signed and agreement  to help prevent work-related hearing loss.
Now researchers at NIOSH’s Pittsburgh Research Laboratory have developed QuickFitWeb, an online tool to allow users to check their hearing protection in a minute or less. The site notes that ear muffs, ear plugs, and other hearing protection devices can reduce the risk of hearing loss, but only if the wearer gets a good fit and wears them properly. The NIOSH sound player tool allows users to perform a quick test of whether they are getting at least a minimal 15 decibel (dB) level of protection.

The test sounds are bands of random noise with a center frequency of 1000 Hz. This is the same type of sound used in standard hearing protector ratings including the “American National Standard Methods for Measuring the Real-Ear Attenuation of Hearing Protectors” (ANSI S12.6). Both tracks are the same, but the second track is 15 decibels (dB) louder than the first. Most hearing protectors will block or “attenuate” sound by more than 15 dB if they are the right size and shape to fit the ears and are worn correctly. A sound that is barely audible at a worker’s threshold of hearing without hearing protection should be inaudible though hearing protection even if it’s boosted by 15 dB.

To use the tool, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/topics/hearingloss/quickfitweb.htm.

OSHA recently fined a roofing company over $200,000 when an employee was killed when he fell 16 feet through a skylight. OSHA issued eight willful citations to the company for its failure to provide fall protection in hoisting areas and on low-sloped roofs; failing to cover skylight openings to prevent falls; and not training employees about fall hazards. Seven of the citations allege per-instance willful violations of three OSHA requirements. A willful violation is defined as one committed with an intentional disregard of, or plain indifference to, the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and regulations.

Falls are the #1 cause of worker’s death in the construction industry.  The Compliance Resource Center reported on (ANSI)/ASSE Z359.2 fall protection in May of 2007.  Fall protection must be provided at four feet in general industry, five feet in maritime and six feet in construction. Here are some Fall Protection Tips from OSHA:

Fall Protection Tips
• Identify all potential tripping and fall hazards before work starts.
• Look for fall hazards such as unprotected floor openings/edges, shafts, skylights, stairwells, and roof openings/edges.
• Inspect fall protection equipment for defects before use.
• Select, wear, and use fall protection equipment appropriate for the task.
• Secure and stabilize all ladders before climbing them.
• Never stand on the top rung/step of a ladder.
• Use handrails when you go up or down stairs.
• Practice good housekeeping.  Keep cords, welding leads and air hoses out of walkways or adjacent work areas.

According to Prevent Blindness America, 90 percent of all eye injuries are preventable simply by wearing the proper eye protection. The organization has designated March as Workplace Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month to encourage workers in all industries to protect their eyes now to ensure healthy vision in the future.

“Our vision is something that so many people take for granted until it’s damaged,” said Daniel D. Garrett, senior vice president of Prevent Blindness America. “We hope to encourage employers and employees to make sure that eye protection is on the ‘to do’ list every day.”

Most eye injuries occur in production, transportation and service industries. OSHA requires employers to provide a safe work environment. In fact, the group states that eye and face protection must be provided whenever necessary to protect against chemical, environmental, radiological or mechanical irritants and hazards. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that eye injuries total more than $300 million annually in lost production time, medical expenses and worker compensation.

“Not only does practicing eye safety at work make good business sense, most importantly, it is integral in ensuring the health of employees, which is any company’s most valuable asset,” Garrett said.

Prevent Blindness America recommends the following tips to promote safety in the workplace:
Safety eyewear must have “ANSI Z87″ clearly marked on all glasses or goggles and should be worn at all times whenever eye hazards are present.
Workers should know where the nearest eyewash station is at their job site and how to use it.
Employers should be notified immediately if safety hazards are discovered.
Employees should have regular eye exams to make sure their vision is adequate to do their jobs safely.
Those who already have reduced vision should ask their employers if prescription glasses or goggles can be provided.

Prevent Blindness America offers several free fact sheets and brochures to safety managers and consumers. Employers may also request information on the Wise Owl safety education program by calling 1-800-331-2020 or visiting the workplace section of http://www.preventblindness.org/

I have frequently been asked about ANSI and ANSI standards.  New people in safety want to know what is ANSI, and experienced safety people ask about certain standards and where can they get the standard. 

ANSI is the American National Standards Institute.  The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector: from acoustical devices to construction equipment, from dairy and livestock production to energy distribution, and many more. ANSI is also actively engaged in accrediting programs that assess conformance to standards – including globally-recognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000 (quality) and ISO 14000 (environmental) management systems.

ASSE will often partner with ANSI to help develop safety standards such as ANSI/ASSE Z359, Fall Protection Code.  Organizations such as ANSI, ASSE, and other for-profit companies sell ANSI standards.  So now you know what ANSI is and where to find any standard you are looking for.  Have a safe day!

OSHA Eye Protection Regulations
According to OSHA regulations on eyewear, it is the responsibility of the owner or employer of the company to investigate, and guarantee that employees comply with OSHA regulations. The full details of the rules are described in the OSHA regulation 29 CFR 1910.133.

29 CFR 1910.133 (a)(1) states the hazards to the eye, such as chemical gases, acid, or light radiation.

29 CFR 1910.133 (a)(2) is more specific and describes regulation to enforce employees with eye prescriptions be given prescription safety glasses.

The rest of the 29 CFR 1910.133 regulations address compliance with ANSI Z89.1-1989 - “American National Standard Practice For Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection.”

New OSHA guidance will help employers select and use the appropriate slings when handling and moving materials. The document, Guidance on Safe Sling Use, was recently released by the agency.

“OSHA’s current general industry standard is more than 30 years old,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, Edwin G. Foulke Jr. “This guidance document will aid users in the safe selection and use of slings, including synthetic round slings, which are not covered in OSHA’s standard, as well as the newer grades of materials being used in alloy steel chain and wire rope slings.”

OSHA adopted its general industry sling standard on June 27, 1975, based on ANSI B30.9-1971 Slings standard. OSHA has since made only minor corrections. OSHA issued its construction industry sling standard on Feb. 9, 1979, and its sling standard for shipyards on April 20, 1982.

Improper selection or use of slings can result in sling failure or load slippage, which in turn can lead to injuries or death. OSHA accident data for the years 1994–1996 show that there were four fatalities in general industry involving the misuse or failure of slings.

OSHA intends to format the final product for use on the Web. With the document in web format, a user can quickly get information on the type of sling being used without having to look through material that is not relevant to the workplace.

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.

I was recently walking through a company and noticed the sprinkler system overhead,  but there were no emergency evacuation plans (OSHA 1910.38) posted on walls. When I asked where these maps were, I was told “we have a sprinkler system.”  My next question was what does your sprinkler system protect? The answer given was “everyone and everything.” WRONG ANSWER.

Fire alarms and smoke detectors save lives, sprinkler systems save property.  We started to talk about this facility.  My first recommendation was for the company to write policies and procedures and an emergency action plan.  The basics of the plan should include, but not limited to, the following:

• Means of egress including MANY well placed maps
• Emergency alarms and lights (Check every quarter)
• Sprinkler System
• Extinguishers
• Fire drills
• First responders
• TRAINING

Most home and business alarm systems are now both security and fire alarm detectors.  When writing your emergency plan companies/organizations also have to also be aware of the American Disabilities Act. Remeber the first part of a good fire response plan is keep everyone safe.  It will cost a lot less to replace property than have people injured or worse.

Louisiana resident and President of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Donald S. Jones Sr., P.E., CSP, offers the following business resumption safety tips. These include preparation tips, a disaster safety checklist, mold information and resources to assist businesses of all sizes before, during and after a disaster.

“This is important information that helps us throughout the year. We urge everyone to take stock of their existing contingency plans — whether at work or at home — now to reduce injury and destruction should a disaster occur,” Jones said.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for business resumption following a disaster. Following a disaster, all businesses should do a hazard evaluation and assessment performed by a safety professional which would include the following: (more…)

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.