Our postings will be taking a small Holiday break. We will resume posting January 12, 2010. Thanks to our readers for their loyalty!
We wish you and your family Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Stay Safe!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Small Holiday Break
Our postings will be taking a small Holiday break. We will resume posting January 12, 2010. Thanks to our readers for their loyalty!
We wish you and your family Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! Stay Safe!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Falls in the Construction Industry- The Necessity for Skylight Screens
Existing OSHA standards require the guarding of skylights and other roof openings. OSHA Regulation 29 CFR 1910.23 (Guarding Floor and Wall Openings and Holes) states "Every skylight, floor opening, and hole shall be guarded by a standard skylight screen or fixed standard railing on all exposed sides." OSHA construction standards also state that "Wherever there is a danger of falling through a skylight opening, it shall be guarded by a fixed standard railing on all exposed sides or a cover capable of sustaining the weight of a 200 pound person [29 CFR 1926.500(b)(4)]." OSHA regulates these standards and enforces them during and after construction is completed. NIOSH data shows that through 1980-85 there was a total of 28 deaths that resulted from falls through skylights, and 39 deaths resulted from falls through roofs or roof openings. "The recent increase in the use of smoke-vent skylights in new construction has increased the exposure of workers to these hazards (NIOSH Alert)." The lack of durability of 
skylights is one of the mains reasons OSHA requires fall protection for skylights.
The construction industry leads other major industrial classifications in the rate of injuries and illnesses due to falls. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1993, the industry rate for lost work days due to falls was double the national average. Falls in the construction industry result in much longer absences than they do in the private industry as a whole. Disabling falls in the construction industry have an average of 14 days away from work, which is double the 7-day average reported nationwide (bls.gov). Statistics from the Bureau of labor indicate a scary fact- in 1994 the construction industry accounted for over half of the 577 American workers who fell from heights to their deaths.
A company's fall protection program should implement and enforce standards requiring the guarding of skylights and any roof openings. For some reason, many companies tend to overlook skylights and many don't realize that it requires fall protection. A skylight screen or guard can prevent, if not eliminate, most accidents. This past Sunday (December 20) a construction worker fell through a skylight and died. He was walking on the roof when the accident occurred. No details have yet been released on whether or not he was wearing fall protection equipment.
For more information on skylight screens or fall protection equipment, don't hesitate to call us 1-800-642-0775 or send us an email info@hysafetech.com
Sources:
bls.gov
osha.gov
cdc.gov/niosh/
Staff Reports. "Construction worker killed in Newbury Park accident." Vcstar.com. Web. 21 Dec. 2009.
skylights is one of the mains reasons OSHA requires fall protection for skylights.The construction industry leads other major industrial classifications in the rate of injuries and illnesses due to falls. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 1993, the industry rate for lost work days due to falls was double the national average. Falls in the construction industry result in much longer absences than they do in the private industry as a whole. Disabling falls in the construction industry have an average of 14 days away from work, which is double the 7-day average reported nationwide (bls.gov). Statistics from the Bureau of labor indicate a scary fact- in 1994 the construction industry accounted for over half of the 577 American workers who fell from heights to their deaths.
A company's fall protection program should implement and enforce standards requiring the guarding of skylights and any roof openings. For some reason, many companies tend to overlook skylights and many don't realize that it requires fall protection. A skylight screen or guard can prevent, if not eliminate, most accidents. This past Sunday (December 20) a construction worker fell through a skylight and died. He was walking on the roof when the accident occurred. No details have yet been released on whether or not he was wearing fall protection equipment.
For more information on skylight screens or fall protection equipment, don't hesitate to call us 1-800-642-0775 or send us an email info@hysafetech.com
Sources:
bls.gov
osha.gov
cdc.gov/niosh/
Staff Reports. "Construction worker killed in Newbury Park accident." Vcstar.com. Web. 21 Dec. 2009.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ANSI Announces Expanded Scope as Accreditor
ANSI's website states "In an effort to facilitate cross-border trade of telecommunications products between Japan and the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is pleased to announce that the scope of its accreditation program for Telecommunications Certification Bodies (TCBs) was recently expanded to include recognition of telecommunications requirements issued by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications."
ANSI became a recognized accreditation body of product certifiers that test equipment such as radio transmitters, telephone handsets, and more to determine whether they satisfy FCC regulatory standards. Under this scope expansion, test results and product certification by U.S. TCBs for this equipment will be accepted in Japan without the need to re-test the product.
This scope expansion makes Japan the fifth country to be included in the scope of ANSI’s TCB program, which already includes the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
To read the full release click here http://bit.ly/6hP8dP
ANSI became a recognized accreditation body of product certifiers that test equipment such as radio transmitters, telephone handsets, and more to determine whether they satisfy FCC regulatory standards. Under this scope expansion, test results and product certification by U.S. TCBs for this equipment will be accepted in Japan without the need to re-test the product.This scope expansion makes Japan the fifth country to be included in the scope of ANSI’s TCB program, which already includes the United States, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
To read the full release click here http://bit.ly/6hP8dP
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Miner Safety- Black Lung on the Rise
In the past couple of years, new measurements and regulations have been passed to protect miners. Although this is true, a new frightening trend has immersed. Recent date has shown that rates of black-lung disease are growing- advanced and serious cases are on the rise especially in young miners. As an article in The Wall Street Journal states, this new data is "reversing decades of progress and prompting more federal scrutiny and calls to lower exposure to coal dust." The extraction and transport of coal in mining operations can generate significant amounts of airborne respirable coal dust (cdc.gov). Coal mine dust can cause lung diseases such as coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP), emphysema, silicosis, and bronchitis—known collectively as black lung (osha.gov). Black lung can lead to lung impairment, permanent disability, and even death. Currently there is no cure for black lung.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also states "The increase, which federal mine safety officials attributed in part to longer work shifts and companies' uneven dust-mitigation practices,
could put a further strain on the industry-financed trust fund set up to compensate disabled miners and their families." The Black Lung Disability Trust has paid out about $44 billion in benefits over the past 40 years to miners totally disabled by black lung or to their widows. "The fund had a deficit of $10 billion in 2007, before a law was passed to eliminate the debt by issuing bonds (WSJ)." The Black Lungh Disability Trust is funded by a tax on coal companies. One reason for the rate increase could be the advancement in production (equipment)leading to the potential to generate larger quantities of respirable coal and silica dust increases (niosh.org). These advancements call for the improvement of control technologies to protect the health of miners. Another contributing factor could be that since most of the easily accessible coal has been mined, workers have to cut through rock, which creates more dust, to access thinner coal seams.
Roughly 9% of workers with 25 years or more in mines tested positive for black lung in 2005-2006, the latest published data, up
from about 4% in the late 1990s (WSJ). According to the WSJ article, the rates also doubled for people with 20 to 24 years in mining, including many in their 30s and 40s(date from NIOSH). Surprisingly, black lung accounts for more deaths than do mine accidents, including explosions and cave-ins. Mine accidents have claimed the lives of 400 workers compared to 10,000 minters dying from black lung. During 1900-2006, a total of 11,606 underground coal mine workers died in 513 U.S. underground coal mining disasters (niosh.org).
The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act), which amended the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, was drafted to improve safety, health, preparedness, and emergency response in U.S. mining. The new regulations were sparked by three underground coal mining incidents, that drew national attention, that resulted in the deaths of 19 miners during a 5-month period in 2006. These three accidents also caused the National Mining Associate to create an independent commission of mining and safety experts.
Sources:
To read the full Wall Street Journal article: http://bit.ly/7fzSTY -December 15
osha.gov
niosh.org
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) also states "The increase, which federal mine safety officials attributed in part to longer work shifts and companies' uneven dust-mitigation practices,
could put a further strain on the industry-financed trust fund set up to compensate disabled miners and their families." The Black Lung Disability Trust has paid out about $44 billion in benefits over the past 40 years to miners totally disabled by black lung or to their widows. "The fund had a deficit of $10 billion in 2007, before a law was passed to eliminate the debt by issuing bonds (WSJ)." The Black Lungh Disability Trust is funded by a tax on coal companies. One reason for the rate increase could be the advancement in production (equipment)leading to the potential to generate larger quantities of respirable coal and silica dust increases (niosh.org). These advancements call for the improvement of control technologies to protect the health of miners. Another contributing factor could be that since most of the easily accessible coal has been mined, workers have to cut through rock, which creates more dust, to access thinner coal seams.Roughly 9% of workers with 25 years or more in mines tested positive for black lung in 2005-2006, the latest published data, up
from about 4% in the late 1990s (WSJ). According to the WSJ article, the rates also doubled for people with 20 to 24 years in mining, including many in their 30s and 40s(date from NIOSH). Surprisingly, black lung accounts for more deaths than do mine accidents, including explosions and cave-ins. Mine accidents have claimed the lives of 400 workers compared to 10,000 minters dying from black lung. During 1900-2006, a total of 11,606 underground coal mine workers died in 513 U.S. underground coal mining disasters (niosh.org).The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act), which amended the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, was drafted to improve safety, health, preparedness, and emergency response in U.S. mining. The new regulations were sparked by three underground coal mining incidents, that drew national attention, that resulted in the deaths of 19 miners during a 5-month period in 2006. These three accidents also caused the National Mining Associate to create an independent commission of mining and safety experts.
Sources:
To read the full Wall Street Journal article: http://bit.ly/7fzSTY -December 15
osha.gov
niosh.org
Friday, December 11, 2009
Dept. of Labor's Regulatory Agenda- 2009
The Department of Labor's (DOL) 2009 Regulatory Agenda released on December 7 states that their mission is to protect workers by improving working conditions, advancing opportunities for employment, protecting retirement and health care benefits, helping employers find workers, and strengthening collective bargaining. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis's vision is to ensure good jobs for everyone. The Department of Labor outlined 12 strategic outcomes; for the first time DOL hosted an online web chat discussing these outcomes and issues impacting America's workers everyday.
Through a video message by the Secretary, she states that "Protecting wages and working conditions is the key mission of our department. Insuring workers have a voice on the job is also vital….We are committed to ensuring that workers are paid a fair wage and have a voice in the workplace." Concerning worker's wages, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis also states that the Department will "foster more openness and transparency by demonstrating employers’ compliance with minimum wage and overtime requirements to workers."
As mentioned, one of the goals of the agenda is to produce greater openness and transparency as an integral part of the Department's compliance strategy. The Department believes that this greater transparency will
encourage and lead to compliance by the regulated community. Part of this transparency will include a proposed rule that would update the rules covering employers’ payroll record keeping requirements and the rights of workers to access those records. Other proposed rules directly dealing with transparency include The Mine Safety and Health's Administration proposed rule of Notification of Legal Identity and proposed regulations on Notification of Employee Rights and OSHA's modification of its Hazard Communication Standard. New rules on combustible dust and airborne infectious diseases such the H1N1 virus and improvements to the cranes and derricks standard are in the works for 2010. These new rules are expected to improve communication of hazards to American workers, reduce exposure and ultimately lead to a significant reduction in occupational illnesses and fatalities.
Sources:
For the full agenda: http://bit.ly/6WN75G
http://www.dol.gov/
Hall, Mike. "Labor Department Says Focus is on Worker Safety, Fair Wages." Aflcio.org. 10 Dec. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2009.
Through a video message by the Secretary, she states that "Protecting wages and working conditions is the key mission of our department. Insuring workers have a voice on the job is also vital….We are committed to ensuring that workers are paid a fair wage and have a voice in the workplace." Concerning worker's wages, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis also states that the Department will "foster more openness and transparency by demonstrating employers’ compliance with minimum wage and overtime requirements to workers."
As mentioned, one of the goals of the agenda is to produce greater openness and transparency as an integral part of the Department's compliance strategy. The Department believes that this greater transparency will
encourage and lead to compliance by the regulated community. Part of this transparency will include a proposed rule that would update the rules covering employers’ payroll record keeping requirements and the rights of workers to access those records. Other proposed rules directly dealing with transparency include The Mine Safety and Health's Administration proposed rule of Notification of Legal Identity and proposed regulations on Notification of Employee Rights and OSHA's modification of its Hazard Communication Standard. New rules on combustible dust and airborne infectious diseases such the H1N1 virus and improvements to the cranes and derricks standard are in the works for 2010. These new rules are expected to improve communication of hazards to American workers, reduce exposure and ultimately lead to a significant reduction in occupational illnesses and fatalities.Sources:
For the full agenda: http://bit.ly/6WN75G
http://www.dol.gov/
Hall, Mike. "Labor Department Says Focus is on Worker Safety, Fair Wages." Aflcio.org. 10 Dec. 2009. Web. 11 Dec. 2009.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Workers slide off icy roof at Cowboy Stadium- Are your workers prepared for icy conditions?
Two workers had to be rescued Thursday morning at the Cowboys Stadium. The two workers slid 50-75 feet before stopping at the gutter at the edge of the icy roof. Considering that the stadium is the largest domed stadium in the world, it rises some 300 feet off the ground, the accident could have been a lot worse. To make matters worse, the workers were not wearing fall protection gear. Arlington Assistant Fire Chief Don Crowson said that typical fall protection gear, used properly, would not have allowed the men to slide more than about six feet. If 
the workers would have gained more momentum, the outcome could have been tragic.
We can't emphasize how important fall protection is at all times. Especially in the winter, rooftops can become very icy and slippery. This can increase accidents and decrease the worker's agility on rooftops. Weather, in particularly winter weather, can alter working conditions, making it more dangerous than usual. Rooftops are generally colder and windier than ground level conditions. Workers don't tend to react as quickly as they do in room temperature. Regardless of a person’s experience and motivation, any manual work becomes extremely difficult below -40° F and construction equipment also is rarely operated (ENR.com). The effect of snowfall and wind velocity can greatly impact anyone that's working in cold weather. Manual tasks take 2.2 times longer than usual and equipment operations 1.3 times longer when the temperature is 20° F, the wind is 20 mph, and there is moderate snowfall.
Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said that training and safety gear is required for workers throughout the stadium based on the type of work they were doing. If this is true, it is possible
that the workers were wearing fall protection equipment but they failed to attach themselves to the appropriate lifeline. Workers must also bear some of the responsibility for their safety on the job. "Always be aware of your conditions, especially weather conditions when you're outside, and always use your safety gear," said Crowson.
On the positive side, the rescue team was well prepared. Crowson said the technical rescue team has been visiting the stadium since construction started and has often trained there. "Just about every aspect of rescue in the stadium we have covered," Crowson said. "It's very important to know all the features of the building. If there is a rescue that needs to occur, we want to do it safely." The rescue took about 30 minutes.
"Since work began on the $1.1 billion stadium project in April 2006, 175 incidents have been reported through May 2008 (Star-Telegram.com)" Those incidents included minor scratches, broken bones, and eye irritation.
Schrock, Susan, and Domingo Ramirez. "2 workers injured in falls from Cowboys Stadium roof." Star-Telegram. 03 Dec. 2009. Web.
the workers would have gained more momentum, the outcome could have been tragic.We can't emphasize how important fall protection is at all times. Especially in the winter, rooftops can become very icy and slippery. This can increase accidents and decrease the worker's agility on rooftops. Weather, in particularly winter weather, can alter working conditions, making it more dangerous than usual. Rooftops are generally colder and windier than ground level conditions. Workers don't tend to react as quickly as they do in room temperature. Regardless of a person’s experience and motivation, any manual work becomes extremely difficult below -40° F and construction equipment also is rarely operated (ENR.com). The effect of snowfall and wind velocity can greatly impact anyone that's working in cold weather. Manual tasks take 2.2 times longer than usual and equipment operations 1.3 times longer when the temperature is 20° F, the wind is 20 mph, and there is moderate snowfall.
Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said that training and safety gear is required for workers throughout the stadium based on the type of work they were doing. If this is true, it is possible
that the workers were wearing fall protection equipment but they failed to attach themselves to the appropriate lifeline. Workers must also bear some of the responsibility for their safety on the job. "Always be aware of your conditions, especially weather conditions when you're outside, and always use your safety gear," said Crowson.On the positive side, the rescue team was well prepared. Crowson said the technical rescue team has been visiting the stadium since construction started and has often trained there. "Just about every aspect of rescue in the stadium we have covered," Crowson said. "It's very important to know all the features of the building. If there is a rescue that needs to occur, we want to do it safely." The rescue took about 30 minutes.
"Since work began on the $1.1 billion stadium project in April 2006, 175 incidents have been reported through May 2008 (Star-Telegram.com)" Those incidents included minor scratches, broken bones, and eye irritation.
Souces:
Carlton, Jeff. "2 workers hurt during fall on Cowboys Stadium roof." Azstarnet.com. The Associated Press, 03 Dec. 2009. Web.Schrock, Susan, and Domingo Ramirez. "2 workers injured in falls from Cowboys Stadium roof." Star-Telegram. 03 Dec. 2009. Web.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
South Dakota: Workplace fatalities go up, Contrary to National Date
The following are key facts derived from ArgusLeader.com. According to preliminary data from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, South Dakota workplace fatalities increased. Workplace fatalities increased to 30 in 2008."There was an increase of eight over the year," he said. "However, 2007 was a year in which there were few fatalities in the workplace."
Tom Slattery, manager of occupational safety and health with the South Dakota Safety Council, said "Based on a worker base of about 400,000 people, South Dakota has a death rate of about 7.5 per 100,000, or twice the national rate for workplace fatalities." He also added that highway-related deaths and falls are always the top causes of death while working.
One interesting fact mentioned in the article was that South Dakota is the only state in the entire nation that doesn't have an OSHA office. This is a big contributing fact in OSHA enforcement being pretty low in the state. South Dakota's increase is contrary to national data. The number of workplace fatalities fell 10 percent nationwide in 2008 to 5,071. Rhode Island had the least amount of workplace fatalities with six, while Texas had the most with 457 deaths.
For the full article click here http://bit.ly/8lRkqX
Tom Slattery, manager of occupational safety and health with the South Dakota Safety Council, said "Based on a worker base of about 400,000 people, South Dakota has a death rate of about 7.5 per 100,000, or twice the national rate for workplace fatalities." He also added that highway-related deaths and falls are always the top causes of death while working.
One interesting fact mentioned in the article was that South Dakota is the only state in the entire nation that doesn't have an OSHA office. This is a big contributing fact in OSHA enforcement being pretty low in the state. South Dakota's increase is contrary to national data. The number of workplace fatalities fell 10 percent nationwide in 2008 to 5,071. Rhode Island had the least amount of workplace fatalities with six, while Texas had the most with 457 deaths.
For the full article click here http://bit.ly/8lRkqX
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