OSHA has announced a final rule on employer-paid personal protective equipment (PPE). Under the rule, all PPE, with a few exceptions, must be provided at no cost to the employee. OSHA anticipates that this rule will have substantial safety benefits that will result in more than 21,000 fewer occupational injuries per year. The rule was published in the Federal Register on November 15.

“Employees exposed to safety and health hazards may need to wear personal protective equipment to be protected from injury, illness, and death caused by exposure to those hazards,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. “This final rule will clarify who is responsible for paying for PPE, which OSHA anticipates will lead to greater compliance and potential avoidance of thousands of workplace injuries each year.”

The final rule contains a few exceptions for ordinary safety-toed footwear, ordinary prescription safety eyewear, logging boots, and ordinary clothing and weather-related gear. The final rule also clarifies OSHA’s requirements regarding payment for employee-owned PPE and replacement PPE. While these clarifications have added several paragraphs to the regulatory text, the final rule provides employees no less protection than they would have received under the 1999 proposed standard.

 The rule also provides an enforcement deadline of six months from the date of publication to allow employers time to change their existing PPE payment policies to accommodate the final rule.

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.”

The BIG show is almost here.   The National Safety Council’s Congress & Expo is scheduled for October 15, 16, & 17 in Chicago.  This is the largest Safety & Health expo in the world.  There will be about 140 educational sessions, 32 professional development seminars, and over 800 exhibitors.  Many companies send their safety teams to attend the educational seminars and then have their annual safety meeting afterwards.  It is also a great place to network and look for jobs.  My favorite part has always been the people I have met.  Safety and Health professionals from all over the world.  Click here for a link to the keynote speakers. 

If you have the opportunity, come and check it out, you won’t be sorry.

IN an effort to help prevent injuries, illnesses and property damage, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) offers the following safety tips for businesses to use following a disaster. Although there is no one-size-fits-all program, these tips may help. First, businesses should do a hazard evaluation and assessment performed by a safety professional. Please note the following tips suggested to be done following a catastrophe such as a hurricane:

Structural Security: Have the structural integrity of the building or facility validated by qualified professionals before anyone enters the facility.

Safe Entry: Contact the proper government agencies to get approval to resume occupancy of the building. Do not enter a facility or building unless the proper clearances have been attained.

Cleanup Safety: Implement your cleanup and business resumption processes in a safe and healthful manner. You will accomplish nothing if your employees are injured or killed during the post-disaster phase-in period. Provide training in proper selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) for your employees and yourself such as eyewear, gloves and dust masks/respirators for cleaning, and where appropriate in other operations.

Air Quality Assessment: Make sure the atmosphere in the workplace environment is tested for asbestos and other chemical/toxic agents. Air quality is an issue businesses may wish to pay careful attention to when restarting business operations.

Ventilation: Have vents checked to assure that water heaters and gas furnaces are clear and operable. Dust and debris can stop or impede airflow decreasing its quality and healthfulness. Safely start up heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, which include prior inspection of lines before energizing and pressurizing of the systems. Test your systems now after inspection or have a qualified specialist do so. Blow cold air through HVAC systems first, as opposed to warm air, as it will help prevent the growth of mold in duct systems.

Interior, Exterior Exposures: For interior spaces, ensure no wall or ceiling materials are in danger of falling. If such exposures do exist, the work environment is not ready for occupancy. Check for cracked windows and outside building materials, as these could fall onto pedestrians at any time — now and in the future.

Protection Equipment: For fire and smoke alarms it is important to assure that these have been cleaned and tested before allowing occupancy of the building. If such systems are wired into other systems, ensure that they are still compatible and work in an efficient and effective manner. Thorough inspection of firefighting systems such as sprinkler and chemical equipment functions is a must do item.

Electrical Safety: Have checks made of electrical systems, computer cables and telecommunications’ equipment to ensure that they are still safe and there is no danger of exposure to electricity. Wiring inspections should be conducted from the outside in to ensure all wiring and connections are not in danger of shorting out due to water damage from rain or fire-fighting efforts.

Use Existing Federal Guidelines: Utilize existing start-up guidance materials provided by government agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), http://www.fema.gov, and NIOSH, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh.

Health/Sanitation Issues: The general facility sanitation systems with the facility should be inspected and tested to guard against potential employee exposure to toxic agents. Food sanitation should also be an issue. Any unused foodstuffs should be discarded. If the workspace has a kitchen, inspect oven hoods and other ventilation devices to ensure they are not clogged and are working efficiently.

Office Furniture: Inspect the furniture to ensure it can withstand expected loads and usages. Ensure that binder bins (storage devices screwed or bolted to railing systems on walls and panels) have not become unstable due to water damage or shaking due to explosions. Inspect office equipment to ensure it is level, stable, and cannot tip over.

Lighting: Make sure there are adequate illumination levels for employees. Emergency lighting should be checked to ensure it operates and functions in the correct manner.

Emergency Planning: Ensure that there is a clear path of egress for the emergency evacuation of employees, that the fire extinguishers are still operable and that checks for damage and serviceability are made to see if any fire extinguishers’ facilities were used during the disaster. If damage is found, they should be replaced immediately.

Solid/Hazardous Waste Removal: Broken glass, debris or other materials with cutting edges should be safely gathered and disposed immediately. Ensure that such materials can be disposed of before collection to avoid creating even bigger hazards for both employees and the public. Solid waste disposal will be an issue, especially if hazardous waste is involved. Evaluate waste disposal issues prior to beginning clean-up operations to ensure it can be properly disposed of. ASSE’s free “Hazardous Materials Safety Information Guide” has key info on this and is available by contacting customerservice@asse.org.

Power Checks: If there is no access to electricity on the site, do not use fueled generators or heaters indoors. Ensure that there are no gas and sewer leaks in your facility. You will need to check with your local utilities for information regarding power, gas, water, and sewer usage.

Check Mainframes: If your facility has mainframe computer applications, see that lines and cabling for chiller systems are checked to avoid chemical leak out.

Emergency Procedures: Create a new emergency plan and distribute it to employees as soon as they return to work. In case of emergency, designate a place for employees to gather once out of the building or a phone number they should call following the emergency so that all can be accounted for. Frequently update the emergency contact list of names and phone numbers.

Machine Inspections: Inspect the condition of drain, fill, plumbing and hydraulic lines on processes and machines. It would be prudent to have plumbing lines evaluated and tested in order to detect any hazardous gases.

Surfaces: Make sure flooring surfaces are acceptable and free from possible slips, trips and falls — the second leading cause of on-the-job deaths in the United States. ANSI standard A1264 - protection of floor and wall openings is a good starting point.

ASSE, AIHA Host Chicagoland Safety & Health Conference at NIU
July 26 2007
The American Society of Safety Engineers and the Chicago section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association will co-sponsor the 19th annual Chicagoland Safety & Health Conference at Northern Illinois University in Naperville, Ill., Sept. 24-28. The event will feature three keynote speakers and more than 45 sessions on safety and health issues. Presented in association with OSHA, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the National Safety Education Center, and NIU, the conference is for employers, employees, and all parties interested in SH&E and emergency preparedness, ASSE says. Continuing Education Credits are available.

Keynote speakers include Debra J. Zubaty, OSHA Columbus area director; Bob LoMastro, former U.S. Army Green Beret and Navy Hospital corpsman, currently president of LoMastro & Associates, Inc.; and VPP/SHARP guest speaker Richard Hawk. Educational sessions will cover topics in industrial hygiene, safety in construction, safety in general industry, environmental safety, safety management, and OSHA’s Voluntary Protection and Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Programs.

For registration and CEU information call 815-753-6902 or visit the Chicagoland Safety & Health Conference Website at www.chisafetyconf.org. Early registration discounts are available until August 24. The exhibit area is free to participants, their clients, and the public.

Tips: Power Tool Safety from Oncor.com

THE same yard tools that help us trim, edge, weed and mow can pose outdoor hazards if safety is ignored.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported that 8 percent of accidental electrocutions in the United States each year are related to small appliances. Another 7 percent are attributed to power tools, and 4 percent are linked to lawn, garden and farming equipment.

Oncor Electric Delivery offers tips to help people avoid injury while making the most of labor-saving yard and gardening equipment. Before flipping the “on” switch, a basic inspection is in order to see that:

• The tool is intended for outdoor use and is certified by a recognized testing lab. A tag or label on either the tool or the power cord will indicate that the equipment was designed and manufactured in accordance with established safety standards.
• Cords, plugs and wiring are in good condition.
• Extension cords are intended for outdoor use. Extension cord gages should match the amperage rating of the power tool.
• Safety guards or shields on mowers, saws and other outdoor tools are in place. Never remove the safety guard from an electric-powered tool or appliance.

Once tools and accessories are inspected, the following safety rules will help protect you as well as children, pets, and other bystanders:

• Carry power tools by the handle, never by the cord.
• When using an electrical device, hold it by the insulated gripping surface to avoid electrical shock.
• Turn off and lock appliances when installing attachments such as mower baskets or saw blades.
• Never leave a power tool unattended, even temporarily. If there is a key, remove it. Put the tool where children cannot misuse it.
• Keep the power cord and extension cords out of way — not draped over a hedge or in the path of the mower, for example.
• Wear safety goggles or other protection when mowing, trimming or edging. Avoid loose clothing or jewelry that could get caught in moving parts.
• If an appliance cord becomes hot, or if the power tool has tripped a protective device such as a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), avoid using it until it has been checked by an authorized service provider or professional electrician.

Visit http://www.oncor.com/ for more electrical safety tips.