Suggested Read: Focus on Worker Safety- "The worst one-day construction tragedy in Toronto since 1960"

"Focus on Worker Safety" is an article posted by thestar.com. Although the website is Canadian, it can be applied to the construction industry in the United States.

The article uses the example of a recent scaffolding accident that occurred on Christmas Eve and claimed the lives of four workers. The fifth worker was taking to the hospital in a critical condition with extensive head injuries. Toronto News states that the five construction workers were perched on an elevated scaffolding fixing several balconies of a residential high rise. They were 13 stories off the ground when the structure collapsed. There are conflicting reports on whether the workers were wearing safety equipment at the time of the fall. Construction industry officials are calling the accident the worst one-day construction tragedy in Toronto since 1960. The workers were employed by a contracting company and had been working most of the day on the south side of the 18-storey building, reinforcing and repairing balconies (thestar.com). Residents say they were preparing to go home when the scaffolding collapsed.

Thestar.com states that a provincial safety inspector had just given the contractor a clean bill of health and, just one week later, the four workers fell off the scaffolding to their deaths in an accident that clearly showed safety regulations were being ignored. "That suggests our workplace protection system is in need of a review." The article also states,"We need to examine the underground economy because even the best-intentioned laws won't protect workers employed by businesses that operate outside the legal framework." Qualifications of safety inspectors is another topic that the article discusses. Both safety inspectors and safety managers should be qualified and looked as important assets to companies. Many tend to underestimate this position and few recognize their value. It's important that business also do their part in enforcing worker safety laws.

The short article brings up a very good point. It states, "There has been speculation that some of the workers who died in the scaffolding accident were working illegally in Canada. But it is not just illegal workers who are vulnerable to unsafe working conditions; any worker who desperately needs his $20an hour job is not likely to speak up and risk losing it." Any worker, regardless of their social or financial standing, can be intimidated to ask for better working conditions or refuse to work due to unsafe conditions. This is more likely to happen now in our current economy. Many fear that by asking for safe(er) working conditions or refusing to work due to unsafe conditions they're risking their job.

To read the full article from thestar.com click http://bit.ly/95bJK4

Sources:
Aulakh, Reveena. "4 migrant workers die in plunge from highrise." Thestar.com. 25Dec. 2009. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.
"Focus on Worker Safety." Thestar.com. 29 Jan. 2010. Web.
"Investigators probe Christmas Eve work accident." Ctv.ca. 25 Dec. 2009. Web. 29 Jan. 2010.

Are you compliant? New ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code Standards

The Industrial Safety & Hygiene News recently posted a quick Question and Answer in their January 2010 edition regarding the new ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code Standards. We found it to be helpful and to the point. The following takes into account some of the Q&As and some general information on the new standard.

The original ANSI Z359 was first introduced in 1992 and revised in 1999. It was intended to be a first in a series of standards to address fall protection for improved worker safety. These updates offer significant improvements and will help lead to a safer work environment (dbisala.com).

Q: What do these new standards mean to me and what do I need to to to be ready for them?
A:The ANSI Z359.6 was developed for engineers designing active fall protection systems such as travel restraint systems and vertical and horizontal lifeline systems. The standard covers manufacturing requirements for design, performance, testing and markings of snap hooks. The standard might be the most significant and might directly affect most employers and users of personal fall protection. The standards has established new requirements for the design and performance of energy-absorbing (EA) lanyards.

Q: How can ANSI deviate from the OSHA standard stating that a shock absorber must be 42 inches and not exceed 900 lbs. of force on the worker, and will I be in violation with OSHA?
A: No, you will not be in violation with OSHA by following the new ANSI Z359.13 standard. OSHA has a policy of issuing "de minimis" notices to employers who comply with more current versions of consensus standards, to the extent that the more current version are at least as protective as the older versions. The OSHA "de minimis" notices allow consensus standards, such as ANSI, to develop standards with new technologies that advance safety in the workplace. (http://www.dol.gov/federalregister/Search/GetHtml.aspx?DocID=10157)

Q: Why did ANSI increase the deceleration distance from 42 to 48 inches?
A: Through extensive testing, advances in engineering and improvements in testing equipment of the ANSI Fall Protection Code committee has discovered that the past energy absorber requirements are not as effective as one thought. Through re-engineering the EA materials and subjecting these material to a battery of dynamic tests, a new standard was developed. This new standard will decrease the deceleration forces, to approximately 900 lbs in a six foot free fall and fall arrest, particularly in the upper reaches of the weight range where the previous standard fell short.

Q: Do I have to throw out my old EA lanyards and replace them with new EA lanyards after November 16, 2009?
A: The new standard is a voluntary standard, so you are not required by law or OSHA regulation to replace your existing equipment. However, many companies might want to take a pro-active approach and update their fall protection immediately to the standard of greatest consequence. At the very least you will to replace your equipment, as it is removed from service, with the EA lanyards meeting the new ANSI standard.

Sources:
To read the entire Q&A: Conover, Mark. "ANSI Z359 Fall Protection Code Standards." Industrial Safety & Hygiene News Jan. 2010: 46-47. Print.
http://www.capitalsafety.com/

For more information on fall protection please contact us at 800-642-0775 or visit http://www.hysafe.com/ Email: info@hysafetech.com

OSHA schedules meetings on combustible dust hazards

OSHA has scheduled two informal stakeholder meetings to solicit comments and suggestions on combustible dust hazards in the workplace. OSHA will use comments from these meetings in developing a proposed standard for combustible dust. The meetings are scheduled for Feb. 17, 2010, 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., at the Marriott Perimeter Center, 246 Perimeter Center Parkway, Atlanta, Ga., 30346.

Since 1980, more than 130 workers have been killed and more than 780 injured in combustible dust explosions. A Feb. 7, 2008, explosion at an Imperial Sugar Co. plant in Port Wentworth, Ga., killed 14 people and resulted in OSHA issuing nearly $8.8 million in penalties. OSHA is holding the meeting in Atlanta to make it easy for victims' families and others with relevant information about this deadly incident to attend.

"Fourteen people were killed in a combustible dust explosion that was preventable. The deaths need to stop," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. "Information gathered from these meetings will help OSHA move ahead on this urgently needed standard and prevent more deaths from combustible dust explosions."

Combustible dusts are solids ground into fine particles, fibers, chips, chunks or flakes that can cause a fire or explosion when suspended in air under certain conditions. Types of dusts include metal (aluminum and magnesium), wood, plastic or rubber, coal, flour, sugar and paper, among others.

Those interested in participating must register by submitting a notice of intent to participate by Feb. 3. Notices can be submitted electronically by registering at https://www2.ergweb.com/projects/conferences/osha/register-osha-stakeholder.htm. Submissions can also be faxed to 781-674-2906 and label it "Attention: OSHA Combustible Dust Stakeholder Meeting Registration," or mailed to ERG, Inc., 110 Hartwell Avenue, Lexington, Mass., 02421; Attention: OSHA Combustible Dust Stakeholder Meeting Registration.

For general and technical information, contact David Wallis, OSHA, Office of Engineering Safety, at 202-693-2277. Press inquiries should be directed to Jennifer Ashley, OSHA, Office of Communications, at 202-693-1999.

Sources:
Directly from osha.gov

NH industrial explosion injures 4 workers

According to the New York Injury News, an industrial explosion probed by fire officials injured four workers in Nashua, NH. "The industrial explosion sent four people to the hospital for burns and injuries, on Saturday morning, January 23. Police reported that workers were welding inside the factory as part of building maintenance on an empty holding tank when the blast happened. The explosion severely burned two of the workers, who were flown via trauma helicopter to Boston hospitals to be treated by doctors and nurses. Two other people who sustained injuries in the blast were taken to local hospitals to be treated. Their identities and condition were not disclosed."

To read the full article click here: http://bit.ly/969nlh

A series of leaks and a worker's death leads to DuPont investigation by OSHA & CSB

Both federal OSHA and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) are investigating a series of incidents at a DuPont Co. plant in West Virginia, including a chemical leak that resulted in the death of a longtime DuPont worker. After discovering three leaks in just two days, the company was forced to shut down. One leak, which released about 1,900 pounds of hazardous methyl chloride, went unnoticed for 5 days.

Roger Hess, DuPont's spokesman, said Monday that officials decided to temporarily cease operations because "we had three incidents that happened in succession." Hess also added that the decision to cease production was made so workers and management could review operating and safety procedures. Production at the company won't resume until the review is complete.

One of the leaks resulted in 58-year-old Carl Fish's, a 32-year DuPont employee, death. He was exposed to the chemical phosgene on Saturday and passed away on Sunday. "Phosgene is used to make plastics and pesticides, and can damage the respiratory system (abc.com)." The chemical was used as a weapon during World War I and caused the large majority of deaths from gas warfare in that conflict, the Centers for Disease Control said on its Web site. Reports indicated that the other two leaks at the DuPont involved a methyl chloride leak and a sulfuric acid leak.

Leni Fortson, a spokeswoman for OSHA, said OSHA initiated an investigation Monday following the three chemical leaks in quick succession at the DuPont site in Belle, W.Va. Fortson also said that although investigators are initially focusing on the recent leaks, the investigation could expand the scope of their inquiry to examine conditions at the entire plant. The Chemical Safety Board is also sending a four member team to investigate the accidents. "The chemical board said DuPont told its investigators that a braided steel hose connected to a one-ton capacity phosgene tank ruptured, exposing Fish to the chemical (delawareonline.com)." The CSB also noted that the board is aware of six earlier leaks at the DuPont plant since 2006 (abc.com).

Sources:
Eder, Andrew. "DuPont plant faces inquiries." DelawareOnline.com. The News Journal, 26 Jan. 2010. Web.
"W.Va. DuPont Worker Dies After Phosgene Exposure." ABC News. The Associated Press, 25 Jan. 2010. Web.

Suggested Read: Safety myths- Are you guilty of believing them?

The following article discusses various myths that a lot of us can easily fall into believing. Although the article targets logistics and transport bosses, it's a good article that can benefit any worker in the industry.

The three myths are:
1. Health and safety is just about common sense: This is correct to a degree, but modern workplaces can pose more risks than common sense will protect against. Employers must make suitable risk assessments to ensure any risks to employees are minimised and managed.

2. As the employer, I have to make sure the business complies with health and safety: Yes employers have a duty of care to employees, but your staff must also work safely and co-operate with your health and safety procedures.

3. Complying with health and safety is expensive: There is the small cost of training and complying with laws. However the cost of an employee being hurt or killed at work is huge. Apart from the sick pay, you may be fined, have to pay legal costs - and of course you will have to put right whatever caused the accident in the first place.

To read the full article click here: http://bit.ly/7VNnce "Health and safety myths logistics and transport bosses must ignore in 2010"

Kudos to @AEMStore from Twitter for the article!
Follow Hy-Safe on Twitter: Username: FallNoMore

Guntown Explosion Victims in Critical Condition- 3 injured in plant explosion

There was a plant explosion in Guntown, Mass. The latest update is that one of the three injured is in the hospital in critical condition.

(Directly from the article:) "He is the second person to be sent to the Med following the "industrial explosion" at Columbian Rope Company in the Guntown area. Both were initially taken to North Mississippi Medical Center with head trauma. A third person was injured, but it's unclear if that person was taken to the hospital."

To read the full update, click here: http://bit.ly/6nNRwS

Article: Companies avoid prosecution for workplace accidents

This is an interesting article posted by Courier Mail (from Australia). The headline reads "DOZENS of Queensland companies have escaped prosecution for serious workplace accidents after cutting "plea bargain" deals with the State Government."

A spokesman for Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Cameron Dick has come foward and to defend the practice of handing out enforceable undertakings rather than prosecuting errant companies."These undertakings are legally binding agreements that require the employer to carry out a range of safety measures that extend well beyond the original breach," he said.

The article discusses one of the cases- Sea World. The incident involved a runaway jet ski that was hurtled into a crowded grandstand at the Gold Coast theme park in 2002, badly injuring several patrons. The maximum penalty consisted of two years' jail and more than $1 million in fines. The case was eventually thrown out after Sea World agreed to spend almost $300,000 on safety improvements.

The article also discusses the case of electrical contractor Stowe Australia, where one of their workers was left a paraplegic after a 2007 industrial accident. The worker was helping unload a switchboard at the Southport Sharks AFL Club when the equipment fell on him, causing severe spinal injuries. Instead of being prosecuted the company agreed to improve its health and safety standards, publish an article on the incident and provide funding to the Spinal Injuries Association.

Click here to read the full article: "Companies avoid prosecution for workplace accidents" http://bit.ly/72HKNK

What are your thoughts on this article? Does the implementation of safety improvements justify industrial accidents? Is it "enough" to do this?

Department of Labor and OSHA schedule conference on Latino Worker Safety and Health

In 2006, fatal work injuries involving Latino workers increased, reaching 990, the highest ever recorded for Latino workers. The fatality rate for civilian foreign-born Hispanic workers in 2006 was 6.0, or 50 percent higher than the rate of all workers. In 2008, some progress was seen- there was a decline in fatal work injuries among Hispanic or Latino workers- primarily involved foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers. Fatalities among foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers were lower by 24 percent (from 634 in 2007 to 480 in 2008), but among native-born Hispanics, the decline was only 3 percent. The good news is that Department of Labor and OSHA recognize that these statistics exist.

The Department of Labor and OSHA will be hosting a National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety, April 14-15 at the Hilton Americas Hotel in Houston. The event is also being co-sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

The conference will bring together workers and representatives from employer associations, labor unions, the faith community, community organizations, the medical community, safety and health professionals, educators, government officials, Consulates, the entertainment community and other non-traditional partners.

Construction will be the primary industry targeted. Latino immigrant workers comprise almost one quarter of the construction industry workforce and suffer the highest rate of construction-related deaths. The conference will also target other high-risk industries that employ large numbers of Latino workers.

"Far too many Latino workers have needlessly lost their lives just trying to earn a living and it must stop," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels. "At the summit, we will shine a spotlight on the hazards and challenges faced by this vulnerable sector of the nation's workforce so that we can begin crafting new, badly needed strategies to prevent thousands of injuries and deaths every year."

The conference will also showcase innovative partnerships, demonstrate successful education and training strategies, and develop effective enforcement and communication strategies. Those interested in attending can register online at www.osha.gov beginning Wednesday, January 13.

Sources:
www.osha.gov
www.bls.gov

OSHA cites company following triple fatality

OSHA began investigating S. Dahan Piping and Heating, a recycling company, following a triple fatality of two employees and the company's owner. An employee of S. Dahan Piping and Heating Company was fatally overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas while cleaning a dry well at Regal Recycling Company Inc. The owner of S. Dahan Piping and Heating, who was also the worker's father, and a Regal Recycling employee were killed while trying to rescue him from the dry well.

According to OSHA'S inspection, S. Dahan Piping and Heating, out of South Ozone, N.Y, should have monitored the air quality in the dry well to determine if there was a lack of oxygen or the presence of another breathing hazard before any of its employees entered the dry well to perform their duties. If a hazard was found, protective measures would need to have been implemented prior to employee entry. A previous post of ours discusses more in detail the dangers of confined space: http://bit.ly/49N7ES "Confined Space: Do you recognize the dangers and hazards?"

Kay Gee, OSHA's area director for Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn stated, "Unfortunately, this incident was a classic example of a multiple-fatality event where would-be rescuers are themselves overcome in their attempt to save the initial victim." She added "Many deaths in confined spaces occur because people who are attempting to rescue someone else are neither trained nor equipped to do so." Following the incident, OSHA cited S. Dahan Piping and Heating for confined-space hazards and for not having a respiratory-protection program. The other company, Regal Recycling Company was also cited $79,000 in a serious citation for the absence of warning signs and for failure to abate notices for not correcting unrelated respiratory protection and guardrail hazards cited after a January 2009 OSHA inspection.

"This family has already paid an incalculable price with the loss of two of its loved ones," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York. "Nothing can restore their lives, but it is our hope that employers will heed these findings and take effective action to prevent future confined-space tragedies."

Sources:
"OSHA Cites Employers Following Confined-Space Deaths." Workerscompensation.com. Compnewsnetwork, 12 Jan. 2010. Web. 14 Jan. 2010.

Forklift punctures cargo with explosive compound

"Nine drums filled with an explosive compound were punctured by a forklift early Tuesday as they were being unloaded at the state port in Morehead City, prompting officials to close the port (WRAL.com)" It was reported that the 50-kilogram drums contained pentaerythritol tetranitrate. The material, also known as PETN, is used in plastic explosives and as a drug to treat heart conditions. The New York Times (Dec. 27) states that "PETN is in the same chemical family as nitroglycerin and among the most powerful of explosives." PETN doesn't easily detonate, a shock wave from a blasting cap or an exploding wire detonator is usually needed to set off PETN (NYT).

WRAL News also states that "Colorless PETN crystals are used in detonating cords for industrial explosions, and the compound also was a component of the explosive that Richard Reid, the convicted "shoe bomber," used in 2001 to try to blow up an airliner. A Nigerian man charged with trying to blow up a Detroit-bound flight on Christmas told authorities he had PETN in his underwear."

Fortunately there wasn't an explosive; "it was fortunate that the PETN was in smaller drums and not one large container, which would have made an explosion more likely." Although no injuries were reported, the incident is being considered an industrial accident. Residents in the area within half a mile, were urged to leave the area. The port was expected to reopen this morning even though the cleanup wasn't completed- the spill was considered to be contained at the port.

To read the full article click here: http://bit.ly/8KedYT

Sources:
Chang, Kenneth. "Explosive on Flight 253 Is Among Most Powerful." The New York Times. 27 Dec. 2009. Web. 13 Jan. 2010.
Charbonneau, Mike, and Erin Hartness. "Crews work to clear explosives spill at Morehead City port." WRAL.com. 12 Jan. 2010. Web. 13 Jan. 2010.

Deadly gas, hydrogen sulfide, leads to death of worker

A report has just been released that Johnny Mills, 65, died just before noon Monday after he was exposed to hydrogen sulfide while working in an oil field in Texas. Mills and his fellow coworker were exposed to the gas when they opened a valve on top of a tank battery early Monday. When emergency services arrived, they found Walters had fallen off the tank and Mills unconscious on top of the tank. Mike Moore and Ernie Hicks were also on site at the time of the accident. They were both transported via ambulance to a local hospital; both are believed to be in stable condition. Two of the workers were employed by Cat Construction out of Big Spring and two by Sheridan Enterprises out of Garden City. Although an official cause of death won't be announced until after an autopsy is completed,hydrogen sulfide is a powerful and deadly gas that could have a big factor in Mill's death.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a highly toxic gas; OSHA describes it as a
“flammable, colorless gas that is toxic at extremely low concentrations.” At low concentrations, this gas can cause dizziness, headache, nausea, and irritation of the respiratory tract. At high concentrations, hydrogen sulfide can cause unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and death within minutes. The gas is formed by the decomposition of organic materials, so it is found in natural gas and oil, in mines, wells, fertilizers, sewers, and cesspools. It is possible for hydrogen sulfide gas to accumulate in any low or enclosed area, such as a gas venting system, mud system, cellars, pits, and tanks. The gas can quickly make you lose your sense of smell; making it more dangerous to identify warning signals.

OSHA states that "active monitoring for hydrogen sulfide gas and good planning and training programs for workers are the best ways to prevent injury and death." It is imperative that companies conduct a process hazard analysis and implement engineering controls to avoid exposure to any deadly gas. OSHA requires that appropriate respiratory protection be in place.

WorkSafeBC provides an excellent slide show/video of the dangers of hydrogen sulfide gas. To view it, click here http://bit.ly/8IuLEi


Sources:
osha.gov
niosh.com
Staff Reports. "Breaking News: Industrial accident leaves one dead." MyWestTexas News. 11 Jan. 2010. Web. 12 Jan. 2010.

And........we're back!

Our postings will officially begin again after a brief holiday break.

Thanks again to all of our readers. We hope you had a great New Years! Here's to a new SAFE year!

We will continue this year to update you on important safety news in the industry. Please feel free to check us out on Facebook http://www.bit.ly/1c17sk or Twitter Username: FallNoMore