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.

Working with different companies, I am often asked about Hazmat plans.  How do I know if I need a plan, is a common question.  My answer is almost always the same, IF YOU HAVE MSDS SHEETS, YOU HAVE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ON-SITE, and you need a plan according to OSHA 29CFR part 120.   So what do you need to do?  Here is a starting point:

• Develop a statement of purpose.
• What does the scope of your plan include?
• Identifying whom within the organization has authority for the plan.
• Contact local professionals (fire department hazmat commander) to help develop plan.
• List all known hazards in the facilities covered by the plan, and their location(s) in your facility.
• Describe appropriate emergency procedures, including a worker alert/evacuation system.
• What is needed to outfit first responder?
• How any incident is to be reported.
• Necessary training for first responders, and all employees.
• How and when to practice evaluation plan.
• Revise your plan as new hazardous materials enter your facility.

If your local hazmat team response time could be delayed, your employees should have HazWoper training (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response).  Your first responders should have a minimum of 24-hours HazWoper training.  All employees should be trained on your emergency response plan. 

Be aware that many common materials are now classified as hazardous materials.  This link provided may give you some common hazardous materials you are not aware of.

How often have you considered you power-operated hand tools [OSHA 1926.302 (b)] a lethal weapon?  The is an increasing number of incidents with the use of pneumatic power tools, especially nail guns.

Nail guns are tools used in place of hand-held hammers to drive nails into various types of construction materials (such as wood or masonry). There are generally two types of nail guns that are frequently used on construction sites. High velocity nail guns typically utilize an explosive cartridge to “fire” nails whereas low velocity guns utilize a piston-style mechanism activated by either an explosive cartridge or compressed air. Nail guns have been used for many years on wood-frame residential construction sites and have increased worker productivity dramatically. Now, it is rare to hear a hammer pounding a nail at a residential construction site, as it has been replaced by the rapid-fire sound of the pneumatic nail gun.

Nail guns have the capacity to fire several nails per second at a velocity over 1,000 feet per second.  Although these physics will allow a nail gun to fire a projectile almost 4 inches into fully stressed concrete, when accidentally applied to the human body, the resulting damage can be severe. Although extremity injuries (such as those to the hands and feet) are most common, severe injuries to more critical areas of the body, such as the head, neck, and chest may occur. A recent study of construction workers in three states showed that 97% of all puncture wounds in residential construction were caused by nail guns and that two-thirds of all nail gun injuries occurred as a result of a safety device (i.e. a bumper or trigger safety) being by-passed or disabled.

The following guidelines can help you reduce your risk of nail gun injuries when working on construction sites:
1. Always wear safety glasses when operating pneumatic tools including nail guns. Ensure that others in the area are wearing safety glasses as well.
2. NEVER dismantle or bypass safety devices such as triggers, guards, or bumpers.
3. Be aware of the location of air hoses, especially when working at heights, as they may pose a tripping hazard.
4. Do not press the trigger unless the nose is firmly pressed against the working material.
5. Never point the tool at a person and always assume it is loaded and ready to fire.
6. Always point the gun away from you when nailing materials. NEVER BACK-NAIL MATERIALS with the tip of the gun pointing toward your body.
7. Always disconnect the air hose or power supply before clearing jams or adjusting the tool.
8. Always nail top to bottom for vertical walls, in a forward direction for horizontal areas, and from the eaves to the ridge for roof sheathing.
9. Never use bottled gas in place of compressed air to operate pneumatic tools and never operate them around flammables.
10. Review the operator’s manual with all employees to ensure that the tool will be used appropriately and within manufacturers specifications.

Information extracted in part from Oregon OSHA and reports from the Washington State SHARP program (Baggs,
Cohen, Kalat, and Silverstein, 2001) and the Duke University Medical Center Division of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine (Dement, Lipscomb, Epling, Desai, Li, and DeLarco, 2001)

Tired of showing the boring videos which no one takes seriously?  Try this cute Safety Work video.  It makes the point, is short (2 minutes) and holds your attention.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=z0MikKqAtc8

You will still need more information to fill you safety meeting time. You can use the information from this PPE previous article or search for other articles at www.thecrcenter.com revelant to your topic.  Use the search area near the bottom of the right pannel.

NFPA National Study Finds Some Improvement, Yet Ongoing Needs Persist In America’s Fire Departments

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced on March 15 the results of a second comprehensive study examining the needs and response capabilities of the nation’s fire service and accompanying reports on each state in the country. The studies, completed for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), also compared the needs reported from the first assessment, conducted in 2001, with the resources requested under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program and looked to see if the needs identified in the first survey had been substantially reduced as a result of the special funding.

“NFPA was pleased to conduct these follow-up studies as a way to illustrate not only the challenges facing today’s fire service, but what steps can be implemented for safer and more effective responses,” NFPA President James M. Shannon said. “The reports show only slight improvement and that is simply not good enough. The Fire Act grants have been well targeted, as the studies show, but they are dwarfed by the size of the needs. It is essential we provide the nation’s fire service with the tools to protect themselves and all of us in both traditional and extraordinary situations.”

Homeland Security Preparedness

The survey asked whether the fire department’s responsibility included a building collapse scenario and a scenario involving release of chemical or biological agents, each with a defined number of casualties or occupants in need of rescue. If the answer was yes, the survey asked whether the department could address such emergencies with local trained personnel and specialized equipment and whether the department had a written agreement to coordinate any non-local resources that might be needed in response.

• None of the homeland security related equipment needs showed marked improvement, nor did any of the personnel needs related to those situations.
• There was improvement in the existence of written agreements to coordinate the use of outside personnel and equipment in a homeland security response.
• The overall percentage of departments with written plans for a building collapse scenario increased by 7 percentage points (from 19 percent to 26 percent).
• The overall percentage of departments with written plans for a biological or chemical agent scenario increased by 9 percentage points (from 21 percent to 30 percent).

Safe and Effective Firefighting

Many of the estimated needs for personal protective equipment — self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), personal alert safety system (PASS) devices, and personal protective clothing – were reduced but there continues to be a need for additional personal protective equipment.

• The percentage of departments without enough SCBA to equip a shift declined by 8 percentage points (from 36 percent to 28 percent).
• The percentage without enough PASS devices to equip a shift declined by 13 percentage points (from 42 percent to 29 percent).
• The percentage where not all firefighters have personal protective clothing was 8 percent, but nearly 100,000 firefighters serve in those departments.
• The majority (53 percent) of departments that provide structural firefighting have not provided formal training to all their personnel involved in structural firefighting, and 42 percent of U.S. firefighters serve in these departments.
• Formal training also has not been provided to all involved personnel in the majority of departments providing emergency medical service (53 percent), hazardous material response (71 percent), wildland firefighting (74 percent), and technical rescue (88 percent).
• Despite modest progress, three-fifths to three-fourths of the nation’s fire departments still do not have enough fire stations, or the firefighters to staff them, to achieve widely recognized response-time guidelines and lack key equipment, prevention programs and training. More specifically, the estimates are 61 percent of fire departments protecting communities of 50,000 to 99,999 population do not have enough fire stations, as do 65 percent to 75 percent of fire departments protecting communities of 0 to 49,999 population or 100,000 to 499,999 population. For the small number of fire departments protecting communities of 500,000 population or more, the estimate is that 82 percent to 92 percent of those fire departments do not have enough fire stations.

Regardless of the type of need — equipment, training, apparatus or personnel — the needs are greater in smaller communities and are greatest in rural America (communities under 2,500 population).

The full national reports “Four Years Later — A Second Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service” and “Matching Assistance to Firefighter Grants to the Reported Needs of the U.S. Fire Services” — and individual state reports are available at www.nfpa.org/needsassessment. The Website also has information on NFPA codes and standards of use in homeland security preparedness and the assurance of firefighter health and safety.