OSHA Revises Hazard Communication Standard Regulation to Align With Global System
     To better protect workers from hazardous chemicals, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has revised its Hazard Communication Standard, aligning it with the United Nations' global chemical labeling system. The new standard, once implemented, will prevent an estimated 43 deaths and result in an estimated $475.2 million in enhanced productivity for U.S. businesses each year.
     The Hazard Communication Standard, being revised to align with the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals, will be fully implemented in 2016 and benefit workers by reducing confusion about chemical hazards in the workplace, facilitating safety training and improving understanding of hazards, especially for low literacy workers. OSHA's standard will classify chemicals according to their health and physical hazards, and establish consistent labels and safety data sheets for all chemicals made in the United States and imported from abroad.
     The revised standard also is expected to prevent an estimated 585 injuries and illnesses annually. It will reduce trade barriers and result in estimated annualized benefits in productivity improvements for American businesses that regularly handle, store and use hazardous chemicals, as well as cost savings of $32.2 million for American businesses that periodically update safety data sheets and labels for chemicals covered under the standard.
     During the transition period to the effective completion dates noted in the standard, chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers may comply with either 29 Code of Federal Regulations 1910.1200 (the final standard), the current standard or both.
     GHS implementation dates are:

• Dec. 1, 2013 All employees must be trained on the new label elements and the new Safety Data Sheet format.
• June 1, 2015 Chemical manufacturers and distributors must comply with all modified provisions.
• Dec. 1, 2015 Chemical distributors must comply with new label requirements
• June 1, 2016 OSHA begins enforcement of the GHS provisions.

     In the interim Chemical manufacturers and distributors can begin to use the labels and Safety Data Sheets.

For more information.

From the NIOSH Science Blog - Getting Closer to Understanding the Economic Burden of Occupational Injury and Illness
     A recently published landmark paper makes a significant contribution to understanding the economic burden of occupational illness and injury. The paper entitled “Economic Burden of Occupational Injury and Illness in the United States” shows that the annual direct and indirect costs are at least $250 billion. This amount exceeds the individual cost of cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. The costs of injury, illness, and death from these other diseases are generally easier to assess because they require a small number of primary data sources, typically 1 to 4. In contrast, estimates of the burden of occupational injury and illness are more difficult to accomplish because they rely on far more primary and secondary sources of data on more than 18 diseases and a substantial number of injury types. More than 40 data sets were used in conducting this rigorous analysis.

For the complete report.

Time To Post Those OSHA Injury/Illness Summaries For 2011
     Employers who are required to keep the OSHA Form 300 Injury and Illness log must post OSHA's Form 300A from Feb. 1 to April 30, 2012 in a common area wherever notices to workers are usually posted. The summary must list the total numbers of job-related injuries and illnesses that occurred in 2011. All establishment summaries must be certified by a company executive. Copies of the OSHA Forms 300, 300A and 301 are available for download on the OSHA Recordkeeping Web page. See OSHA's Recordkeeping Handbook for more information on posting requirements for OSHA's Form 300A.

For more information.

Illinois OSHA Training Institute Reaccredited As An Authorized Continuing Education Provider
     The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Directorate of Training and Education (DTE) has been reaccredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) to continue providing Continuing Education Units (CEU's) for work-related injury and illness prevention training. DTE, which includes the OSHA Training Institute, offers a wide selection of courses and programs to help workers and employers broaden their knowledge of how to recognize, avoid and prevent safety and health hazards in their workplaces. OSHA also offers training and educational materials to help businesses train their workers and comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Act.  To achieve Authorized Provider accreditation, the OSHA Directorate of Training and Education completed a rigorous application process. IACET is the only standard-setting organization approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) for continuing education and training. The ANSI/IACET Standard is the core of thousands of educational programs worldwide.

OSHA Seeks Comments On How To Prevent Worker Injuries and Deaths From Vehicle Backovers and Reinforcing Concrete Activities
     The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) that seeks comments on how to prevent injuries and deaths from reinforcing concrete activities in construction, and from vehicles and mobile equipment backing into workers in construction, general industry, agriculture and the maritime industry. OSHA will use the comments received to learn more about how workers get injured and what solutions exist to prevent injury and death, including possible regulatory action.
     Workers in the concrete industry use reinforcing methods to strengthen concrete. These workers face potentially life-threatening hazards including impalement, collapsed walls, and slips, trips and falls. OSHA data indicate that more than 30 workers died while performing these activities from 2000-2009. Safety issues relating to these operations were brought to OSHA's attention in a 2010 petition from the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental & Reinforcing Iron Workers and an industry coalition of stakeholders including the Concrete Steel Reinforcing Institute, the Western Steel Council, and the Center for Construction Research and Training.
     Workers also face fatal injuries when struck by vehicles backing up or when caught between backing vehicles and an object, such as a loading dock. OSHA found that about 360 workers died from backover incidents from 2005-2010. OSHA's request for information is consistent with other agencies' regulatory actions, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requiring cameras in certain vehicles under 10,000 pounds to prevent people from getting backed over.

For more information.

OSHA Seeks Applications For $1.2 million In Safety and Health Training Grants
     The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is soliciting applications under the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program to fund training for workers and employers in recognizing workplace hazards and control measures, and understanding their rights and responsibilities. A total of $1.2 million is available to nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations; employer associations; labor unions; joint labor/management associations; and colleges and universities. Two types of safety and health training grants will be awarded through this announcement: targeted topic training grants, and training and educational materials development grants.

For more information.

  Glove Kits - Perfect For The Plant Electrician

Now available - Voltgard Glove Kits with everything needed for working on energized lines and equipment in plant - up to 480 volts AC.

Key features

• class 00 rubber insulating gloves tested at 1000 volts AC for working up to 500 volts AC (class 0 gloves also available for working up to 1000 volts AC)
• leather cover gloves made of flexible goatskin to help protect the rubber insulating gloves from scrapes and snags
• durable canvas carrying/storage bag
• personal size Voltgard Gluv-Eze glove talc powder

For more information and prompt shipment.

News You Can Use

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
     Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on America's roadways. In 2010 alone, over 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving crashes. Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving.All distractions endanger driver, passenger, and bystander safety. These types of distractions include:

• Texting
• Using a cell phone or smartphone
• Eating and drinking
• Talking to passengers
• Grooming
• Reading, including maps
• Using a navigation system
• Watching a video
• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

     But, because text messaging requires visual, manual, and cognitive attention from the driver, it is by far the most alarming distraction.

For more information

Also more information from ASSE

Source: Iowa-Illinois Safety Council and www.distraction.gov
 

Bullying: Tips for Taming Disruptive Behavior at Work
     Bullying does not disappear with age. People don’t grow out of bullying. Bullies, in fact, can be very intelligent, get good grades and get hired by companies based upon their knowledge and skills. They often are quite skilled at hiding any signs of bullying during the interview process and for months after they’re hired. Once they complete the probation period and become a permanent member of the work force often is the time when the bully comes out of the closet seeking a victim, or pairs up with another bully at work to seek victims.

For the full report.

Source: EHS Today Magazine

Do You Know A Teen Worker?
     You’re earning your own money. You’re making new friends. You’re learning new things and becoming independent. Work can be a fun, rewarding, and an exciting part of your life. But did you know that your job could harm you?
     Every 9 minutes, a U.S. teen gets hurt on the job. These teens are young people like Emily, who was working alone at a sandwich shop when a robber with a gun attacked her. And they’re like Joe, a construction helper who was electrocuted on his job.
     This guide gives you the facts you need to stay safe and healthy at work. It also shows you what jobs you can (and can’t) do, and it teaches you about your rights and responsibilities as a young worker. (Farm jobs aren’t covered here, because the laws for farm work are different.) The Resources will give you ideas about where to go for help if you have a health or safety problem at work. Don’t be afraid to speak up!

Download a copy.
 

Can Enough Zzzz’s Prevent Disease?
     Scientific evidence is growing that adequate sleep is critical in working safely and maintaining optimal health. The National Sleep Foundation states most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each day. Adequate sleep is associated with a lower risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart attacks, as well as reduced risk for injuries and errors. A recent study warns that a growing number of Americans are not getting enough sleep. This trend for shorter sleep is likely linked to global competition on businesses, cost of living increases pushing workers to work longer hours, as well as personal choice to spend time on other activities besides sleep because of a lack of knowledge about the importance of sleep.
     Inadequate sleep has critical negative impacts on the workplace. The risks from fatigued workers are broad reaching and extend from workers to employers and society. Risks to employers include reduced productivity and increases in worker errors and incidents ranging from medical errors to industrial disasters. Fatigue is a recognized risk factor for vehicle crashes and has been implicated in well-known disasters such as the 2009 Buffalo jet crash and the 2005 BP Texas City explosion.

For the full report.

Too Much Sitting Can Kill You
     Adults who sit 11 or more hours per day have a 40 percent increased risk of dying in the next 3 years, compared with those who sat for fewer than 4 hours a day, according to a study led by the University of Sydney. This was after taking into account their physical activity, weight and health status. Researchers showed physical activity still is beneficial: inactive people who sat the most had double the risk of dying within 3 years than the active people who sat least. And among the physically inactive group, those who sat the most had nearly one-third higher chance of dying than those who sat least.

For the full report.

Source: EHS Today Magazine
 

Plan, Train, and Maintain for Safety Success
     Safety discussions often lead to conversations about which rules and regulations will drive us to a zero-injury workplace. The issue is that many workers know the rules and regulations, yet do not know how to apply them to achieve the goal that nobody gets hurt. If we measure safety success by how many injuries occur, it could be, as King Solomon stated, "We are just chasing the wind." Numbers are elusive. Many companies attempt to reach some industry benchmark such as "top quartile" or "best in class." The difficulty is in the comparison; many groups spend much effort making sure they are using the same types of measurements. In reviewing work teams, divisions, and companies that have the lowest number of injuries, as well as an overall safety process, we found that they measure their success around three areas that can be measured and improved: planning, training, and maintaining.

For the full report.

Source: Occupational Hazards Magazine

1. SEE NO EVIL - Protective eyewear comes into the 21st century with wrap-around styles that are fashionable, comfortable, and in full compliance with ANSI Z87.1 as required by OSHA.
2. HEAR NO EVIL - Put hearing protection where the noise is.  Many styles of earplugs are now available in bulk dispensers that can be placed virtually anywhere.
3. SPEAK NO EVIL - Full facepiece respirators include a speaking diaphragm for clear and easy communications. 
4. STEP ON IT  - Anti-fatigue matting helps relieve back and leg fatigue.  Many materials and sizes available, including matting with colored edges that identify hazards in accordance with OSHA 1910.144.
5. JUST THE RIGHT TOUCH - Disposable gloves are available in a variety of materials and thicknesses for the best combination of sensitivity and durability.

Want more information on any of this month's Saf-T-Tips?  E-mail us for a prompt reply.

Industrial Strength Disposable Gloves

Now available - new Industrial Strength Ambi-Gard nitrile disposable gloves for superior hand protection, including chemical splash, without sacrificing comfort. 

Key features

• reversible to fit either hand 
• textured finger-tip grip 
• totally powder-free 
• inherently static-dissipative 
• black color  
• no natural rubber latex  

Ideal for auto service, law enforcement and public safety, janitorial and maintenance work, and anywhere that superior, disposable hand protection is needed,

For more information and prompt shipment.

Put Visitor Spectacles Where the Visitors Are

New Visi-Gard ® dispensers hold 12 pairs of clear lens visitor safety spectacles and are convenient, economical, and practical.  Locate dispensers wherever visitors enter your facility - this sends a positive message that you are committed to safety.  Mounting tab on the back makes positioning easy.  AND are true safety spectacles in full compliance with ANSI Z87.1 specifications as required by OSHA. 

Order now for immediate shipment.