OSHA Safety

Heat Stress Safety

2009-04-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-06T19:22:00.000-07:00

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

2009-02-06T07:09:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-29T08:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-28T08:52:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-27T08:47:00.000-08:00

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.

Steps to Workplace Driving Safety - part 1

2009-01-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

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 first 5 steps of the plan.

Step 1: Senior Management Commitment and Employee Involvement
The safety of an organization's employees as they drive for work and to and from work is so important that it requires the attention of top-level management. Senior management can provide leadership, set policies, and allocate resources (staff and budget) to create a safety culture. Actively encouraging employee participation and involvement at all levels of the organization is a good practice and will help the effort to succeed. Workers and their representatives must be involved in the initial planning phase.

Step 2: Written Policies and Procedures
A written statement emphasizing the commitment to reducing traffic-related deaths and injuries is essential to a successful program. Create a clear, comprehensive and enforceable set of traffic safety policies and communicate them to all employees. These are the cornerstones of an effective driver safety program. Post them throughout the workplace, distribute copies periodically, and discuss the policies at company meetings. Offer incentives for sticking to the rules, and point out the consequences of disregarding them. A customizable written driving safety plan can be obtained as part of the Driving Safety Program from National Safety Compliance.

Step 3: Driver Agreements
Establish a contract with all employees who drive for work purposes, whether they drive assigned company vehicles or drive their personal vehicles. By signing an agreement, the driver acknowledges awareness and understanding of the organization's traffic safety policies, procedures, and expectations regarding driver performance, vehicle maintenance and reporting of moving violations.

Step 4: Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Checks
Check the driving records of all employees who drive for work purposes. You must screen out drivers who have poor driving records since they are most likely to cause problems in the future. The MVR should be reviewed periodically to ensure that the driver maintains a good driving record. Clearly define the number of violations an employee/driver can have before losing the privilege of driving for work, and provide training where indicated.

Step 5: Crash Reporting and Investigation
Establish and enforce a crash reporting and investigation process. All crashes, regardless of severity, should be reported to the employee's supervisor as soon as feasible after the incident. Company traffic safety policies and procedures should clearly guide drivers through their responsibilities in a crash situation. All crashes should be reviewed to determine their cause and whether or not the incidents were preventable. Understanding the root causes of crashes and why they are happening, regardless of fault, forms the basis for eliminating them in the future.

The next 5 steps of a workplace driving safety program will be discussed in the next post.

Workplace Driving Safety Program

2009-01-25T08:31:00.000-08:00

This 10-Step Program provides guidelines for what an employer can do to improve traffic safety performance and minimize the risk of motor vehicle crashes. Following these steps helps employers ensure that they hire capable drivers, only allow eligible drivers to drive on company business, train them, supervise them, and maintain company vehicles properly. Adherence to these 10 steps can also help to keep your motor vehicle insurance costs as low as possible.

Senior Management Commitment & Employee Involvement
Written Policies and Procedures
Driver Agreements
Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Checks
Crash Reporting and Investigation
Vehicle Selection, Maintenance and Inspection
Disciplinary Action System
Reward/Incentive Program
Driver Training/Communication
Regulatory Compliance

These steps are from the NETS Traffic Safety Primer: A Guidebook for Employers.

In the next two posts National Safety Compliance will discuss these steps in more detail.

Safe Driving Practices

2009-01-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

Promoting Safe Driving Practices Helps Your Bottom Line

Motor vehicle crashes cost employers $60 billion annually in medical care, legal expenses, property damage, and lost productivity. They drive up the cost of benefits such as workers' compensation, Social Security, and private health and disability insurance. In addition, they increase the company overhead involved in administering these programs.

The average crash costs an employer $16,500. When a worker has an on-the-job crash that results in an injury, the average cost to their employer is $74,000. Costs can exceed $500,000 when a fatality is involved. Off-the-job crashes are costly to employers as well.

The real tragedy is that these crashes are largely preventable. Recognizing the opportunity that employers have to save lives, a growing number of employers have established driving safety programs in their companies. No organization can afford to ignore a major problem that has such a serious impact on both their personnel and the company budget.

Employee Driving Safety

2009-01-23T08:13:00.000-08:00

Driving safety is an issue that affects everyone. If we drive safely, then there is always "the other person" who does not.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death and injury for all ages. Crashes on and off the job have far-reaching financial and psychological effects on employees, their coworkers and families, and their employers.

Every 12 minutes someone dies in a motor vehicle crash, every 10 seconds an injury occurs and every 5 seconds a crash occurs. Many of these incidents occur during the workday or during the commute to and from work. Employers bear the cost for injuries that occur both on and off the job. Whether you manage a fleet of vehicles, oversee a mobile sales force or simply employ commuters, by implementing a driving safety program in the workplace you can greatly reduce the risks faced by your employees and their families while protecting your company's bottom line.

You need a driver safety program:

To save lives and to reduce the risk of life-altering injuries within your workforce.
To protect your organization's human and financial resources.
To guard against potential company and personal liabilities associated witd crashes involving employees driving on company business.

Your program should work to keep the driver and those with whom he/she shares the road safe. And, if necessary, the program must work to change driver attitudes, improve behavior, and increase skills to build a “be safe” culture. By instructing your employees in basic safe driving practices and then rewarding safety-conscious behavior, you can help your employees and their families avoid tragedy.

Employees are an employer's most valuable asset. Workplace driver safety programs not only make good business sense but also are a good employee relations tool, demonstrating that employers care about their employees.

Over the next few days we will be discussing the steps for building a driver safety program in your workplace. These steps will be useful to any organization regardless of size of the organization, type of traffic encountered, number of vehicles involved, or whether employees drive company or personal vehicles for work purposes.

Eye Safety & Protection In The Workplace

2009-01-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

Every day an estimated 1,000 eye injuries occur in American workplaces. The financial cost of these injuries is enormous -- more than $300 million per year in lost production time, medical expenses, and workers compensation. No dollar figure can adequately reflect the personal toll these accidents take on the injured workers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is determined to help reduce eye injuries. In concert with efforts by concerned voluntary groups, OSHA has begun a nationwide information campaign to improve workplace eye protection.

Take a moment to think about possible eye hazards at your workplace. A survey by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of about 1,000 minor eye injuries reveals how and why many on-the-job accidents occur.

WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO EYE INJURIES AT WORK?

-- Not wearing eye protection. BLS reports that nearly three out of every five workers injured were not wearing eye protection at the time of the accident.

-- Wearing the wrong kind of eye protection for the job. About 40% of the injured workers were wearing some form of eye protection when the accident occurred. These workers were most likely to be wearing protective eyeglasses with no side shields, though injuries among employees wearing full-cup or flat-fold side shields occurred, as well.

WHAT CAUSES EYE INJURIES?

-- Flying particles. BLS found that almost 70% of the accidents studied resulted from flying or falling objects or sparks striking the eye. Injured workers estimated that nearly three-fifths of the objects were smaller than a pin head. Most of the particles were said to be traveling faster than a hand-thrown object when the accident occurred.

-- Contact with chemicals caused one-fifth of the injuries. Other accidents were caused by objects swinging from a fixed or attached position, like tree limbs, ropes, chains, or tools which were pulled into the eye while the worker was using them.

WHERE DO ACCIDENTS OCCUR MOST OFTEN?

-- Craft work; industrial equipment operation. Potential eye hazards can be found in nearly every industry, but BLS reported that more than 40% of injuries occurred among craft workers, like mechanics, repairers, carpenters, and plumbers. Over a third of the injured workers were operatives, such as assemblers, sanders, and grinding machine operators. Laborers suffered about one-fifth of the eye injuries. Almost half the injured workers were employed in manufacturing; slightly more than 20% were in construction.

HOW CAN EYE INJURIES BE PREVENTED?

-- Always wear effective eye protection / safety glasses. OSHA standards require that employers provide workers with suitable eye protection. To be effective, the eyewear must be of the appropriate type for the hazard encountered and properly fitted. For example, the BLS survey showed that 94% of the injuries to workers wearing eye protection resulted from objects or chemicals going around or under the protector. Eye protective devices should allow for air to circulate between the eye and the lens. Only 13 workers injured while wearing eye protection reported breakage.

Nearly one-fifth of the injured workers with eye protection wore face shields or welding helmets. However, only six percent of the workers injured while wearing eye protection wore goggles, which generally offer better protection for the eyes. Best protection is afforded when goggles are worn with face shields.

Better eye safety training and education. BLS reported that most workers were hurt while doing their regular jobs. Workers injured while not wearing protective eyewear most often said they believed it was not required by the situation. Even though the vast majority of employers furnished eye protection at no cost to employees, about 40% of the workers received no information on where and what kind of eyewear should be used.

-- Maintenance. Eye protection devices must be properly maintained. Scratched and dirty devices reduce vision, cause glare and may contribute to accidents.

Employers should also make sure appropriate first aid kits and/or eye wash stations are available for employee use in emergency situations.

Hard Hats & PPE On Construction Sites

2009-01-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Employers commonly inquire about when hard hats or other PPE is required by OSHA on construction sites or other workplaces. I will attempt to answer that question based upon OSHA construction industry regulations (29 CFR 1926) and OSHA's interpretations of its own regulations.

In 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart E (Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment), §1926.95 (Criteria for personal protective equipment) states:

(a) Application. Protective equipment, including personal protective equipment for eyes, face, and head, and extremities, protective shields and barriers, providedshall be, used, and maintained...wherever it is necessary by reason of hazards of processes or environment, chemical hazards, radiological hazards, or mechanical irritants encountered in a manner capable of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through... physical contact. [Emphasis added.]

Section 1926.100 (Head protection) states:

(a) Employees working in areas where there is a possible danger of head injury from impact, or from falling or flying objects, or from electrical shock and burns, shall be protected by protective helmets. [Emphasis added.]

Under these standards, an employer must initially evaluate the activities of its employees and determine whether these hazards are reasonably foreseeable. Such employees must use appropriate PPE. Please also remember that commonly on construction sites there are multiple sub-contractors working. Each employer is responsible for providing PPE for its employees, even if the hazard is created by a different employer. Here is an example...Company A has employees on the jobsite doing outdoor work that would not normally require a hard hat. However, Company B has employees (wearing PPE) on the same jobsite that are using a crane to lift materials into place. If the employees of Company A are potentially exposed to the hazard of a falling object from the crane, then Company A must provide its employees hard hats and require them to be used.

On construction sites, employers must constantly be aware of new or changing hazards created by all persons or conditions on the jobsite. OSHA requires employers to keep their employees safe. If this means the use of PPE, then the employer must provide that PPE at no-cost to the employee and require them to properly wear that PPE while exposed to the potential hazards.

Also, note that OSHA standards set minimum safety and health requirements; they do not prohibit employers from adopting more stringent requirements.

Please note that employees should always receive appropriate construction safety training regarding work on construction sites and PPE safety training for those items they use.

Back Injuries and Safe Lifting

2009-01-08T12:24:00.000-08:00

BACK INJURIES - NATION'S NUMBER ONE WORKPLACE SAFETY PROBLEM

Moreover, though lifting, placing, carrying, holding and lowering are involved in manual materials handling (the principal cause of recordable 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 back safety training and control program and ergonomic design of work tasks.

Suggested administrative controls include:

- Training 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 recordable 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.

IMPROVING WORKPLACE PROTECTION FOR NEW WORKERS

2009-01-08T12:18:00.000-08:00

IMPROVING WORKPLACE PROTECTION FOR NEW WORKERS NEW WORKER, HIGH RISK!

If you are new at your job, your risk of injury is much greater than for more experienced co-workers. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has reported that 40% of workers injured have been on the job less than one year.

Why are new workers more likely to be hurt? BLS studies show that employees injured at work often lack one vital tool to protect themselves: information. Take a look at the following data gathered by BLS in various surveys:

-- of 724 workers hurt while using scaffolds, 27% said they received no information on safety requirements for installing the kind of scaffold on which they were injured.

-- of 868 workers who suffered head injuries, 71% said they had no instruction concerning hard hats.

-- of 554 workers hurt while servicing equipment, 61% said they were not informed about lockout procedures.

In nearly every type of injury BLS researchers have studied, the same story is repeated over and over. Workers often do not receive the safety information they need--even on jobs involving dangerous equipment where training is clearly essential. In one BLS study of workers injured while operating power saws, nearly one of every five said no safety training on the equipment had been provided.

WHAT EMPLOYERS CAN DO

-- Make safety training an essential part of your workplace routine. OSHA standards require safety training for workers in many types of hazardous work. A comprehensive safety training program will assure compliance and can also pay off in reduced absenteeism, lower insurance costs, and increased efficiency.

For OSHA safety training resources, including videos, DVDs, posters and books, please visit National Safety Compliance.

OSHA Under Obama Administration

2008-12-31T18:15:00.000-08:00

At 2009 begins and the new President Barack Obama takes his position as President, many people are wondering how his administration will effect OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration). The answer is not a simple one. There are many factors including the economy and the pressing other administration issues that may take priority, however, I think one idea is clear.....change may be slow at first, but OSHA will eventually see a new vigour under the administration of President Barack Obama.

Here is an excerpt from an Obama campaign news release
"Improve Resources for Federal Workplace Safety Efforts: As president, Barack Obama will assure that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) — our long-neglected agencies charged with making workplaces healthy and safe — are led by people dedicated to their vital missions and have the staff and resources they need. He understands the necessity of breaking the political impasse between the White House and Congress that has starved those agencies of the resources they need to protect workers. Barack Obama will assure that OSHA and MSHA have state-of-the-art tools and strategies needed to safeguard workers facing a wide range of hazards: from mine tunnel collapses to crane accidents, and from exposures to dangerous chemicals to severe back strains. Obama will assure that those federal agencies—whose enforcement budgets have not changed in real terms in over a decade despite the growth in the number of workers exposed to workplace risks—finally receive the resources they need to improve health and safety conditions."

The clear idea behind this statement is that the previous Republican administration has not focused resources on workplace safety and the new administration has plans to refocus on workplace safety and OSHA.

No matter what changes the new President has in store for OSHA, it is always a good idea for employers to protect worker health. Employers that place an emphasis on worker safety consistently lower their cost of doing business through lower incidence of lost productivity and lower workers compensation insurance rates. Safety truly does pay....and in more than one way.

An effective safety program always begins with management and includes:

a thorough workplace hazard analysis
effective hazard elimination and hazard controls
effective employee safety training
continued analysis of the safety program

For more information about OSHA please visit this link for Free OSHA Information.

If you have any comments or questions about the new Presidential Administration or OSHA, please feel free to comment on this blog.

OSHA Violations & Inspections

2008-12-31T08:22:00.000-08:00

As we move into the new year it might be a good time to discuss OSHA inspections, fines, and their most frequently cited violations.

The following were the top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards in fiscal year 2008:

1. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
2. Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
3. Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200)
4. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
5. Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134)
6. Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305)
7. Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
8. Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053)
9. Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)
10. Electrical systems design, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.303)

The following are the standards for which OSHA assessed the highest penalties in fiscal year 2008:

1. Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501)
2. Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451)
3. Electrical, hazardous (classified) locations (29 CFR 1910.307)
4. Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147)
5. Excavations, requirements for protective systems, construction (29 CFR 1926.652)
6. Machines, general requirements, general industry (29 CFR 1910.212)
7. General duty clause (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act)
8. Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.178)
9. Walking-working surfaces, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.22)
10. Process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals (29 CFR 1910.119)

What’s the penalty for violating an OSHA standard?

OSHA penalties range from $0 to $70,000, depending upon how likely the violation is to result in serious harm to employees. Other-than-serious violations often carry no penalties but may result in penalties of up to $7,000. Serious violations may have penalties up to $7,000. Repeat and willful violations may have penalties as high as $70,000. Penalties may be discounted if an employer has a small number of employees, has demonstrated good faith, or has few or no previous violations.

Preparing for an OSHA Inspection.

There are four basic steps to preparing for an OSHA inspection:

1. Be in Compliance
2. Assign and train primary and backup individuals to oversee inspection with the OSHA Inspector.
3. Train “first contact” personnel, such as Counter clerks; Receptionist; Secretary. Have a list of people for them to contact, in order of priority. Teach them to be courteous and professional. Tell them to speak very little, but make it clear they cannot lie or mislead an inspector.
4. Have the assigned responsible primary or backup person:
- Ask for credentials (if not offered)
- Ask for specific reason and scope of the inspection
- Request opening conference (if not offered)
- Have a digital camera ready (to take photos of anything the inspector takes photos of)
- Be familiar with company history (any previous inspections; the OSHA 300 log; workers comp. claims, etc., etc.).
- Write down all suggestions and comments by inspector (make immediate corrections if possible).
- Do not offer any information that is not requested!
- Do not lie of mislead the inspector in any way!
- Stay with the inspector at all times. Never leave them alone in your facility!

Remember the best way to avoid citations, penalties and fines, is to get into compliance and stay in compliance.

For more information about OSHA please obtain the free workbook and DVD program entitled "Introduction to OSHA."

Free OSHA Workbook

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Many employers find the OSHA regulations difficult to understand and especially difficult to implement. National Safety Compliance has endeavoured to make OSHA compliance easier. NSC has produced a DVD and workbook program that will make understanding workplace safety an easier task.

This free program contains a DVD program that gives introductory information about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration by speaking about when they were established, how they operate and how to comply. The program also contains a 70+ page workbook that is designed to give basic information and a checklist about the most common OSHA safety topics. The main goal of the workbook is to help employers determine which regulations are applicable to their workplace and then give them basic information and resources to meet those regulatory requirements.

The program is entitled, "Introduction to OSHA" and is available FREE from National Safety Compliance. NSC only asks that you pay for the cost of shipping. If you want to avoid the shipping charge, then the complete program may be downloaded FREE at the following link:

FREE Introduction to OSHA Program

For additional information or if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us toll-free at 1-877-922-7233.