Heat Stress Safety

When the body is unable to cool itself by sweating, several heat-induced illnesses such as heat stress or heat exhaustion and the more severe heat stroke can occur, and can result in death.

Factors Leading to Heat Stress

High temperature and humidity; direct sun or heat; limited air movement; physical exertion; poor physical condition; some medicines; and inadequate tolerance for hot workplaces.

Symptoms of Heat Exhaustion
Headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting.
Weakness and moist skin.
Mood changes such as irritability or confusion.
Upset stomach or vomiting.
Symptoms of Heat Stroke
Dry, hot skin with no sweating.
Mental confusion or losing consciousness.
Seizures or convulsions.

Preventing Heat Stress
Know signs/symptoms of heat-related illnesses; monitor yourself and coworkers.
Block out direct sun or other heat sources.
Use cooling fans/air-conditioning; rest regularly.
Drink lots of water; about 1 cup every 15 minutes.
Wear lightweight, light colored, loose-fitting clothes.
Avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, or heavy meals.

What to Do for Heat-Related Illness
Call 911 (or local emergency number) at once. While waiting for help to arrive:
Move the worker to a cool, shaded area.
Loosen or remove heavy clothing.
Provide cool drinking water.
Fan and mist the person with water.

Visit this link for more heat stress safety training programs.

Back Injuries - U.S. #1 Safety Problem

Preventing back injuries is a major workplace safety challenge. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than one million workers suffer back injuries each year, and back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries or illnesses. Further, one-fourth of all compensation indemnity claims involve back injuries, costing industry billions of dollars on top of the pain and suffering borne by employees.

Moreover, though lifting, placing, carrying, holding and lowering are involved in manual materials handling (the principal cause of compensable work injuries) the BLS survey shows that four out of five of these injuries were to the lower back, and that three out of four occurred while the employee was lifting.
No approach has been found for totally eliminating back injuries caused by lifting, though it is felt that a substantial portion can be prevented by an effective control program and ergonomic design of work tasks.

To prevent back injuries OSHA recommends training workers so they can safely perform lifting tasks and developing engineering controls so a task becomes less hazardous.

Suggested administrative controls include:
- Back safety training that trains employees to utilize lifting techniques that place minimum stress on the lower back.
- Physical conditioning or stretching programs to reduce the risk of muscle strain.

Suggested engineering controls include:
- A reduction in the size or weight of the object lifted. The parameters include maximum allowable weights for a given set of task requirements; the compactness of a package; the presence of handles, and the stability of the package being handled.
- Adjusting the height of a pallet or shelf. Lifting which occurs below knee height or above shoulder height is more strenuous than lifting between these limits. Obstructions which prevent an employee's body contact with the object being lifted also generally increase the risk of injury.
- Installation of mechanical aids such as pneumatic lifts, conveyors, and/or automated materials handling equipment.

In one study it was determined that at least one-third of compensable back injuries could be prevented through better job design (ergonomics).
Other factors include frequency of lifting, duration of lifting activities, and type of lifting, as well as individual variables such as age, sex, body size, state of health, and general physical fitness.

Respirator Selection

WASHINGTON -- Assigned Protection Factors (APF), a new guidance document published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), provides employers with vital information for selecting respirators for employees exposed to contaminants in the air. OSHA revised its existing Respiratory Protection standard in 2006 and on April 1, 2009 has released this mandatory document to assist employers with proper selection of a respirator.

"Proper respirator selection prevents exposure to hazardous contaminants and is an important component of an effective respiratory protection program," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Donald G. Shalhoub. "This guidance document serves as another useful resource for protecting the health and safety of workers at risk for respiratory illnesses."

The Respiratory Protection standard requires fit testing, medical evaluations, specific respirator safety training and proper respirator use. The standard applies to general industry, construction, longshoring, shipyard and marine terminal workplaces. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthy workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. Visit this website for free OSHA information.

New OSHA Administration

Until the new Obama Administration has the opportunity to place all of its appointees, the actions of OSHA will somewhat follow those of the past administration. However, here is a brief update for what is happening in these first days of 2009.

As the Obama administration took office, OSHA published two proposed rules in the Federal Register. OSHA’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl was published in the Jan. 21 issue of the Federal Register. In addition, that issue of the Federal Register includes a proposed rule for revised fit tests for respiratory protection. In addition, a Bush administration rule on worker exposure to toxic substances was blocked. The rule caused concern, because safety experts explained that it would require a longer time frame for determining hazards.

The diacetyl ANPR seeks public comments on the following issues:

• The relationship between exposure to diacetyl and the development of adverse health effects
• Methods to evaluate and monitor exposure
• Methods to control exposure
• Employee training
• Medical observation for adverse health effects related to diacetyl exposure

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on respirator fit testing includes two revised fit test procedures under OSHA's Respiratory Protection Standard.

The current rules incorporate two categories of respirator fit tests. Some tests expose wearers to airborne agents to determine if they can detect them and other tests use a machine to measure how much of a test agent leaks into a respirator. The proposed revisions would allow certain machine-based fit tests to be conducted more quickly and increase the required score for passing them.

To submit comments on either the diacetyl or respiratory protection standards, visit http://www.regulations.gov, and follow the online instructions.

Compliance duties owed to each employee

I hope the title does not sound too complicated, but as I was looking through OSHA's website, found the "What's New" page and read the following entry. I thought it was interesting and might just be an additional incentive for an employer to comply with the OSHA regulations.

29 CFR 1910.9(a)

Personal protective equipment. Standards in this part requiring the employer to provide personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators and other types of PPE, because of hazards to employees impose a separate compliance duty with respect to each employee covered by the requirement. The employer must provide PPE to each employee required to use the PPE, and each failure to provide PPE to an employee may be considered a separate violation.

29 CFR 1910.9(b)

Training. Standards in this part requiring training on hazards and related matters, such as standards requiring that employees receive training or that the employer train employees, provide training to employees, or institute or implement a training program, impose a separate compliance duty with respect to each employee covered by the requirement. The employer must train each affected employee in the manner required by the standard, and each failure to train an employee may be considered a separate violation.

The basic summary of these two regulations is that there are two basic obligations that employers have to EACH employee. Therefore, to meet these regulatory obligations employers must evaluate each individual employee's need for PPE and safety training and then make sure each individual employee receives the needed PPE and safety training.

If an employers fails to meet an employee's need for PPE or OSHA required safety training, then that employer could be issued a violation and fine for each employee who did not receive proper PPE or proper safety training.

For more information, please feel free to comment on this blog.

Cell Phone Use & Driving Safety

Cell phone use has risen to be the number one cause of distracted driving.

Distracted driving is a factor in 25 to 30 percent of all traffic crashes. With hectic schedules and roadway delays, many employees feel pressured to multi-task just to keep up with their personal and work-related responsibilities. More time on the road means less time at home or at work but “drive time” can never mean “down time.” Since drivers make more than 200 decisions during every mile traveled, it's critical for employers to stress that when driving for work, safe driving is their primary responsibility.

The National Safety Council notes results of several studies specifically related to cell phone use while driving, including:

• Drivers using a cell phone are at a four times greater risk of a crash
• Cell phone use contributes to 6% of all crashes, and
• The annual financial toll of cell phone-related crashes is estimated at $43 billion.

NSC admits other in-car activities are more dangerous than using cell phones. However, cell phone use has become so prevalent, it has become more dangerous overall.

Also, studies show that hands-free devices don’t make cell phone calls safer while driving safe.

What’s the difference between talking on a hands-free phone and speaking with someone else in a car? Unlike the passenger sitting next to you, the person on the other end of the call is oblivious to what’s happening around the driver on the road. The passenger provides another pair of eyes and can help keep the driver alert.

In summary, we can learn that driving safely requires drivers to remain focused on driving at all times. Whether it is a cell phone or other distraction, remind your employees about their workplace safety obligations.

Steps to Workplace Driving Safety - part 2

In previous posts about Workplace Driving Safety we introduced a 10-step plan for a workplace driving safety program. In this post we will elaborate on the last 5 steps of the plan.

Step 6: Vehicle Selection, Maintenance and Inspection
Selecting, properly maintaining and routinely inspecting company vehicles is an important part of preventing crashes and related losses.

It is advisable that the organization review and consider the safety features of all vehicles to be considered for use. Those vehicles that demonstrate “best in class” status for crash-worthiness and overall safety should be chosen and made available to drivers.

For the latest information on crash test ratings and other important vehicle safety information, visit www.safercar.gov. To report a concern about a defect or problem with your vehicle, contact the NHTSA Auto Safety Hotline at: 1-888-DASH-2-DOT.

Vehicles should be on a routine preventive maintenance schedule for servicing and checking of safety-related equipment. Regular maintenance should be done at specific mileage intervals consistent with the manufacturer's recommendations. A mechanic should do a thorough inspection of each vehicle at least annually with documented results placed in the vehicle's file.

Personal vehicles used for company business are not necessarily subject to the same criteria and are generally the responsibility of the owner. However, personal vehicles used on company business should be maintained in a manner that provides the employee with maximum safety and reflects positively on the company.

Step 7: Disciplinary Action System
Develop a strategy to determine the course of action after the occurrence of a moving violation and/or “preventable” crash. There are a variety of corrective action programs available; the majority of these are based on a system that assigns points for moving violations. The system should provide for progressive discipline if a driver begins to develop a pattern of repeated traffic violations and/or preventable crashes. The system should describe what specific action(s) will be taken if a driver accumulates a certain number of violations or preventable crashes in any predefined period.

Step 8: Reward/Incentive Program
Develop and implement a driver reward/incentive program to make safe driving an integral part of your business culture. Safe driving behaviors contribute directly to the bottom line and should be recognized as such. Positive results are realized when driving performance is incorporated into the overall evaluation of job performance. Reward and incentive programs typically involve recognition, monetary rewards, special privileges or the use of incentives to motivate the achievement of a predetermined goal or to increase participation in a program or event.

Step 9: Driver Training/Communication
Provide continuous driver safety training and communication. Even experienced drivers benefit from periodic training and reminders of safe driving practices and skills. It is easy to become complacent and not think about the consequences of our driving habits.

Step 10: Regulatory Compliance
Ensure adherence to highway safety regulations. It is important to clearly establish which, if any, local, state, and/or federal regulations govern your vehicles and/or drivers. These regulations may involve, but may not necessarily be limited to the:

• Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
• U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)
• National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)
• Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
• Employment Standards Administration (ESA)

The last post in this series on driving safety will be about cell phone use while driving.