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 This health, safety and environment electronic update comes from Chip Dawson and the Rochester Business Alliance as a service to member organizations. |
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 Don't Wait! Take Hazard Communication Training Now! I'm sure you all know that the deadline for employee training under the revised HazCom 2012 OSHA standard is December 1, 2013-17 months away. If you're on a "just in time" schedule, that target is a long way off and at the bottom of your "to do" list. But, there's a catch-and it's a big, tricky catch.
You can use the old standard and/or the new standard during the transition period. However, your people must be trained in the system(s) you are using. So, if you are already receiving SDS and labels from vendors and suppliers of chemicals in the new GHS format, it is mandatory that everyone know how to read and fully understand them. In all likelihood, you do not have 17 months to get in line-you're already out of compliance and facing potential compliance action from OSHA.
We've got a solution. Sign up for the next RBA class on Chemical Hazard Communication with GHS. It runs on Tuesday, July 31, from 8:30 to noon and will give you all the information you need to set up and deliver your in-house hazcom training program. If you can't make that class, others are offered on Aug. 23 and Sept. 26 and throughout the fall and winter. By the way, participant critiques are all coming back with 5 out of 5 rankings! Register with Michele Hefferon at Michele.Hefferon@rballiance.com. |
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 Safety on the Loading Dock
Quite often, I bring you information from the IRSST, a Quebec non-profit organization that conducts research on the prevention of industrial accidents and occupational diseases. They do some terrific work and their research reports and documents are extremely well done. This month, they have reported on loading dock safety and published a companion fact sheet for loading dock workers. You can get a PDF copy by clicking here. |
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 NIOSH Releases Nanomaterials Safe Practice Manual
A new NIOSH document contains recommendations on engineering controls and safe practices for handling engineered nanomaterials in laboratories and some pilot scale operations. The guidance was designed to be used in tandem with well-established practices and the laboratory's chemical hygiene plan. To download a PDF, click here. |
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 Creating Safer Parking Lots
Put lots of vehicles and lots of pedestrians together on the same surface and there are bound to be conflicts. In a recent on-line discussion group, one participant asked how to make a safer parking lot and got some interesting and helpful responses. If you'd like to check out some of the sources available to help in the process, go to Yahoo search and enter "parking lot + design + pedestrian". |
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 Contingency Planning Symposium in Victor Sept. 19
This is a good deal-and it's free. The Eastern Great Lakes Association of Contingency Planners holds a day-long annual conference in a central location and invites contingency planners, emergency managers, safety staff and anyone else looking for an update on the contingency planning process. I went last year and, as an emergency manager, I found the discussions very interesting. This year the program will include coordination between public and private agencies, what to expect in an event, cloud environments, small business recovery and severe weather trends in Upstate New York. The program takes place at the Ravenwood Golf Club and runs from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. I'll let you know when registration opens. |
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"Circle of Safety" for Drivers
There is a utility company that requires drivers to do a "circle of safety" before moving a parked vehicle. Essentially, the requirement is to walk around the entire truck looking for anything that could be a problem. During one such circle, the driver found a small child caught in the wheel well, crying and scared. He had apparently pushed himself into the space and could not get out. The same company reports that children have been found in the bed of the trucks. Imagine how badly one of your drivers would feel driving off with a child stuck in the well? Seems that a "circle of safety" is a pretty good idea. |
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Low-Key Handling of Burns Results in Death, Fines
In another head-shaking situation, managers at the Raani Corporation in Bedford Park, IL decided to send an employee on a 30 minute ride to an occupational health clinic in a co-worker's vehicle after he was scalded by high-temperature solution of water and chemicals. He died three weeks later of his injuries. After the hot water solution splashed from an open tank hatch, the company failed to call 9-1-1, failed to utilize a safety shower and generally took a very relaxed approach to the emergency. The OSHA citation covered failure to utilize available emergency care, failure to train on chemical hazard communication and failure to provide PPE for a total of 14 violations, six willful and fines of $473,000. In an interesting twist, the Raani Corporation manufactures health care items. To see the OSHA press release on this issue, click here. |
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 Getting High in Sydney
The folks at WorkSafeVictoria in Australia have found a construction worker who is able to better the thrills offered by Nik Wallenda on a tightrope over Niagara Falls. Wallenda, you see, calculated all the risks and still wore a harness. Our high walker in the photo upped the ante by doing his walk without planning, training and fall protection. Note, however, that he is wearing his reflective vest so a dump truck won't hit him when he lands in the street 30 floors below. |
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Energy Control Q&A
I was asked the other day if there is any difference in how a long term lock-out situation is handled vs. a short-term. From an OSHA perspective, there is no difference. All the requirements of 1910.147 apply whether the lock-out is in place six minutes or six months. From a practical standpoint, the long-term disabling of a piece of equipment would usually be done by a supervisor and should include a note or tag explaining that the equipment is out of service for a specified time, but that's just good business practice. |
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 Ecopark Taking Electronic Waste
A growing problem in the Rochester area is electronic waste (TVs, computers and components) left at curbside. The waste is being collected by pickers who strip copper and other metals of value and then dump the carcus back into the waste stream. But, coming to the rescue is Ecopark, the new Monroe County waste facility at 10 Avion Drive (off Paul Road). A huge number of materials that were previously considered to be trash are now accepted at Ecopark, including electronic waste. To see the list of acceptable items, click here.
While Ecopark is not yet ready to accept business and industrial waste, all your employees who are Monroe County residents can use the facility-and should be encouraged to do so. For more details, click here. |
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