Safe Workplace and Safety News

In response to what continues to be a safety concern for hundreds of workers, OSHA explained the requirements for protective clothing during the oil spill cleanup operations along the Gulf in a press release issued last week.

OSHA Assistant Secretary of Labor Dr. David Michaels issued the following statement:

"If someone is at a beach that has been impacted by the oil spill, they may see workers wearing protective clothing to prevent their skin from coming into contact with weathered oil. Skin contact with weathered oil can cause dermatitis.

"Workers who are on the beach, but are not going to come in direct contact with weathered oil, are not required to wear protective clothing. Any individual not wearing protective clothing should avoid coming in contact with the weathered oil.

"For workers involved in beach cleanup operations where solid tar balls or tar patties are being removed using shovels, rakes, buckets, etc., OSHA only recommends the use of gloves, boots and long pants, but not coveralls. In these cases, when such coveralls are not necessary, OSHA does not recommend using disposable coveralls because of concerns for heat stress.

"However, in other operations such as removal of oiled debris, cutting oiled vegetation, and mopping up liquid oil mouse, using chemical protective coveralls is warranted. These operations have a greater risk of skin contact with weathered oil; therefore, a greater level of protective clothing is necessary.

"OSHA has received reports that some workers have requested to wear the disposable coveralls not to protect their skin, but to protect their clothes from getting dirty. Individuals on beaches may not be able to differentiate between workers wearing coveralls to prevent clothes from getting dirty, such as cotton coveralls, and chemical protective clothing, such as Tychem or Tyvek, because they may look the same."

For more information, please visit: http://www.osha.gov/oilspills/oil_ppematrix.html

Labels: oil spill, OSHA, osha information, PPE, protective clothing, workplace safety

OSHA has cited American Seafoods International LLC for 15 alleged willful and serious violations of safety and health standards at its New Bedford, Mass., processing facility. The seafood company faces a total of $279,000 in proposed fines, chiefly for deficiencies in its process safety management program.

A PSM encompasses a detailed set of requirements and procedures employers must follow to proactively address hazards associated with processes and equipment that use large amounts of hazardous chemicals. In this case, the chemical was anhydrous ammonia in the Bedford plant's refrigeration system.

OSHA's inspection found that the plant's PSM program was incomplete, lacked operating procedures and did not provide for adequate inspections of process equipment. These conditions resulted in the issuance of three willful citations with $195,000 in proposed fines. OSHA defines a willful violation as one committed with plain indifference to or intentional disregard for employee safety and health.

"The requirements of OSHA's PSM standard are stringent and comprehensive because an ammonia leak could have a severe or catastrophic effect on the plant's workers," said Brenda Gordon, OSHA's area director for Boston and southeastern Massachusetts. "In this case, American Seafoods International knew that aspects of its PSM program were incomplete or inadequate and did not take steps to address those deficiencies. It is imperative that this employer scrutinize, update and properly maintain each element of the process to minimize hazards and protect its workers' safety and health."

The inspection identified other PSM hazards that resulted in 12 serious citations, with $84,000 in proposed fines. These conditions included failing to update process safety information, conduct an incident investigation of a January 2001 ammonia leak, certify or evaluate the PSM program every three years as required, establish and implement procedures to maintain changes in the process, and provide and document employee training. OSHA issues serious citations when death or serious physical harm is likely to result from hazards about which the employer knew or should have known.

American Seafoods International has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, meet with OSHA or contest the citations and proposed penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Information about OSHA's PSM standard is available online at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/processsafetymanagement/index.html.

Labels: Hazardous Chemicals, OSHA, OSHA Fines, Process Safety Management Hazards

If you live in the Indianapolis, Ind. area, you're in luck.

On July 30, free grain bin safety training sessions are being held at Richards Elevator located in Columbus, Ind., just a short, 45-minute drive down I-65 from downtown Indianapolis. The free grain bin safety training is designed to teach grain elevator operators, FFA groups, local farmers, fire departments and the general public about how to prevent grain bin accidents and fatalities.

Grain bin safety is of imminent importance in 2010 for residents of the Midwest because agriculture experts predict the number of grain bin accidents and deaths will rise this year. The reason? Columbus' local paper, The Republic, reports that "last summer’s unusually wet weather led to greater levels of crop mold, which create dangerous crusts in storage bins."

Follow the link to find out more about free grain bin safety training in Indiana.

Labels: Grain Bin Safety, Safety Training

Angela Sparkman, reporter for WKYT News in eastern Kentucky, reported this week on the KEMI Mine Safety Competition and Training in Pikeville, Kentucky organized in a response to recent mining disasters. The 500 coal miners came from seven states around the country to practice mine rescues and compete against 50 teams "to see who is the best and fastest."

Read what the miners' had to say about their experience in Kentucky and watch some recorded footage from the event in an article posted Wednesday on WKYT News' Web site. Click here.

Coal mine disasters have made big headlines already this year, underscoring the need for such mine safety training events. In early April, the U.S. suffered its worst mine tragedy in four decades when a huge, underground explosion rocked the Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, West Virginia killing 29 coal miners and leaving no survivors (a 1970 explosion killed 38 at in Hyden, Kentucky). A string of separate coal mine disasters have killed scores throughout China in 2010. And just one month ago on June 17, the San Fernando coal mine disaster in Columbia killed 73 trapped miners.

Coal mining safety has come to the forefront of OSHA's agenda as it seeks to promote the Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010.

Labels: Mining Safety, workplace fatalities, workplace safety

The Dallas Morning News has published a story about two Dallas-area trash collectors who, because they followed safety procedures during a routine job, ended up saving a young boy hidden in trash along the side of the road. The story, written by Daniela Bermea, can be read here.

Safety stories often describe something that went wrong due to complacency, hefty fines from OSHA due to non-compliance, etc. But The Dallas Morning News got this one right by showing the positive side of safety, and this story serves as a reminder to all workers about the urgency of strictly adhering to all safety policies and procedures no matter how mundane they might seem.

Labels: workplace safety

The following is a press release from Dantherm Filtration.

OHSA estimates that at least 30,000 U.S. facilities and hundreds of types of processes may be at risk for a combustible dust explosion. By recent estimates, on average 2 to 3 dust explosions occur in various manufacturing facilities in the U.S. every day. Dantherm Filtration's Explosion Isolation Flap is a fast-acting mechanical barrier designed to isolate the hazardous effects of an explosion in a dust collector or other equipment.

It also insures that no flames or explosion pressure are spread back through your duct to endanger your employees and other vital equipment. It is robustly constructed and certified as a protective system in accordance with ATEX Directive 94/9/EC. Contact the experts at Dantherm to learn more about how to stay safe from combustible dust explosions. Call 800-533-5286 or visit combustible dust explosion.

Combustible Dust Worries? Ask Dantherm a leader in dust collection.

Dantherm Filtration held its first symposium on Combustible Dust at its N.C.. headquarters this spring. Over fifty attendees learned about the causes and how to prevent combustible dust fires and explosions. They also learned about how NFPA requirements are applied to dust collection equipment and how to avoid being fined by OSHA. "As a leader in the manufacturer and maintenance of dust collection equipment, we believe it is our responsibility to educate industrial users about combustible dust hazards and show them how to protect their employees and facilities", says Dantherm Filtration President, Tom Ballus. Dantherm will also be offering this symposium at their plant in Reno, NV this summer. To learn more, contact them at 1-800-533-5286 ext. 887 or visit us onlline.

OSHA's first line of enforcement is the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1). It can be very broadly interpreted and requires employers to take measures to control the dangers of specific hazards to protect employees in the workplace.

The U.S. government gave OSHA authority to enforce NFPA standards. They also tasked OSHA to make its own laws in the future to prevent combustible dust explosions in U.S. manufacturing facilities. NFPA publishes a great number of standards relating to combustible dusts.

The main standards are: NFPA 654 - Standard for the Prevention of Fire and Dust Explosions for the Manufacturing, Processing and Handling of Combustible Particulate Solids (a revised, more comprehensive NFPA 654 will be issued in June of this year); NFPA 69 – dealing with explosion/deflagration prevention; and NFPA 68 – relating to vent of deflagrations to force that hazard to a safe area.

ATEX – Testing & Certification

As OSHA is gathering information to determine what it will develop for future laws relating to combustible dust, one thing being looked at is Europe's closest equivalent to NFPA standards – ATEX. ATEX stands for ATmosphere EXplosive. It is the law in the European Union for dealing with combustible dust and potentially explosive concentrations of gas, vapor or mist in the air.

There are two main ATEX directives: ATEX 1999/92/EC, which concerns the safety and health of workers potentially at risk from exposure to explosive atmospheres; and ATEX 94/9/EC, which concerns the testing and certification of equipment and protective systems used in potentially explosive atmospheres.

In the countries of the European Union, only ATEX certified equipment is allowed in locations where there is potential for combustible dust explosions. Although there is currently no testing certification required in the U.S., American manufacturers are seeing the benefits of equipment that has been explosion tested and has achieved ATEX certification. For equipment manufacturers, in addition to providing “tested” equipment to their U.S. customers, they are also able to sell into the European market and to U.S. based European companies that require their equipment to meet the more stringent European standards.

While ATEX is currently only required in Europe, it could well become the International standard (including the U.S. - as ISO 9000 did years ago. Contact your dust collection experts to learn more.

Labels: combustible dust, hazard prevention