Return to Safety & Health

New program targets silica

OSHA has announced a new National Emphasis Program (NEP) to target worksites where employees are at risk for developing silicosis -- a disabling, nonreversible and sometimes fatal lung disease caused by breathing in a large amount of crystalline silica. According to OSHA, exposure to silica threatens nearly two million American employees annually.

The NEP compliance directive builds on policies and procedures instituted in the 1996 Special Emphasis Program and includes:

• an updated list of industries commonly known to have overexposures to silica
• detailed information on potential hazards linked to silica
• information about current research regarding silica exposure hazards
• guidance on calculating the Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for dust containing respirable crystalline silica in the construction and maritime industries
• guidance on conducting silica-related inspections.

Also included in the directive are an evaluation procedure for recording reductions of employee exposures to silica, as well as information on outreach programs, partnerships and alliances with employers to share resources and training to reduce employee exposures.

OSHA budget to increase

President Bush has requested $501.7 million for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in fiscal year 2009, a boost of nearly $15.7 million over last year.

OSHA says it will increase resources by more than $11.3 million to support enforcement programs, and $5.2 million to provide compliance assistance to employers, especially small businesses. The agency also has plans to conduct 37,700 workplace inspections during FY 2009 and will focus its efforts on the most serious hazards and dangerous workplaces and on industries with high rates of injuries and illnesses.

Compliance directive on hexavalent chromium standards

OSHA has issued a new compliance directive for occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)).

Highlights of the new Cr(VI) directive include: procedures for reviewing an employer's air sampling records to determine exposure levels; guidance on how employers can implement effective engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain exposure below approved permissible exposure limits; requirements for employers to provide hygiene areas to minimize employees’ exposure to Cr(VI); guidelines requiring employers to maintain exposure and medical surveillance records; and a requirement that agency Compliance Safety and Health Officers evaluate Portland cement wherever it is being used.

The Cr(VI) standards took effect on May 30, 2006, and apply to general industry, construction and shipyards (Sections 29 CFR 1910.1026, 29 CFR 1926.1126 and 29 CFR 1915.1026, respectively). Employers with 20 or more employees were given six months from the effective date to comply with most of the provisions. Employers with fewer than 20 employees were allowed 12 months from the effective date to comply with most of the provisions. All employers were given four years from the effective date to install feasible engineering controls.

The standards reduce the permissible exposure limit for hexavalent chromium to 5 micrograms of Cr(VI) per cubic meter of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average. Hexavalent chromium compounds are regularly used in the chemical industry in pigments, metal plating and chemical synthesis. Significant health effects associated with exposure to Cr(VI) are lung cancer, nasal septum ulcerations and perforations, skin ulcerations, and allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.

Good night’s sleep is good for safety

Too little sleep can affect job performance and safety, yet only 12% of workers get the 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night that’s recommended by sleep experts.

In an online survey by the publisher Business & Legal Reports (BLR), 31% of workers said they get the recommended amount of sleep almost every night (4 to 6 nights per week), 30% said only sometimes (2 or 3 nights per week), and another 18% said almost never (only 1 night per week). Nearly one-tenth (9%) of the workers reported that they never get the recommended 7 to 8 hours.

For tips on training employees on how to avoid sleep deprivation, visit

http://safety.blr.com/display.cfm/id/104839

Upgrades made to small biz assistance Web site

OSHA has unveiled an enhanced Office of Small Business Assistance (OSBA) Web site, with a new Spanish Language Safety link and an improved "Safety Pays" eTool.

The site has been redesigned to highlight categorical pages, or tabs, for easier navigation and data access. The new format showcases focal points, new products and links. In addition, the site provides a wide variety of safety and health tools, products, and information for small businesses.

The new Spanish Language Safety link contains Spanish-language compliance assistance resources and tools developed by OSHA's State Consultation programs. The page provides small businesses with access to Spanish-language safety cards, booklets, and posters.

The updated "Safety Pays" eTool helps employers estimate the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses and the estimated impact on a company's profitability. This Web-based application allows businesses to identify the direct and indirect costs of injuries and calculate the sales needed to make up for these losses. Advantages of the "Safety Pays" tool include:

• no downloading
• access to updated loss-injury figures
• automatic results after entering data in the appropriate fields
• the option to create and print additional forms online.

OSHA inspections up in FY ‘07

According to recently released annual enforcement statistics, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted 39,324 total inspections in FY 2007, a 4.3% increase over its goal of 37,700. Total violations of OSHA’s standards and regulations were 88,846, a 6% increase from FY 2006. The agency cited 67,176 serious violations, a 9% increase from the previous year and a more than 12% increase over the yearly totals of the past four years. The number of cited repeat violations also rose from 2,551 in FY 2006 to 2,714 in FY 2007.

Fatality and injury and illness rates have continued to decline to record lows. The injury and illness incidence rate of 4.4 per 100 employees for calendar year 2006 was the lowest ever recorded by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workplace fatality rates were an all-time low in CY 2006 with 3.9 fatalities per 100,000 employees.

DHS awards millions to first responders

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded $33.7 million to pay for equipment and training for first responders across the nation.

The awards are part of the fiscal year 2007 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP).

Since the program’s inception in 2005, DHS has provided roughly 5,800 direct assistance awards worth more than $103 million to reduce hazards in smaller jurisdictions.

Eligibility for CEDAP is limited to law enforcement and other emergency responder agencies with specific financial and capability needs in five categories: personal protective equipment; thermal imaging, night vision and video and surveillance tools; chemical and biological detection tools; information technology and risk management tools; and interoperable communications equipment.

This direct funding equips first responders with technology and training to complement local resources, says DHS, and helps communities develop tools and capabilities that they may not otherwise be able to afford.

Proposal on new respirator protocol  

OSHA has issued a proposed rule for a new fit-testing protocol—the Abbreviated Bitrex Qualitative Fit-Testing (ABQLFT) protocol — under Appendix A of the agency’s Respiratory Protection standard. Public comments will be accepted through Feb. 25, 2008.

The proposed rule adds the ABQLFT as an alternative to the four existing OSHA-approved qualitative fit-test protocols. The new fit-test method would shorten the duration for each of the seven fit-test exercises from one minute to 15 seconds.

The proposed protocol would apply to employers in general industry, shipyard employment, and the construction industry.

Interested parties may submit comments at http://www.regulations.gov, the federal eRulemaking portal or by sending three copies to the OSHA Docket Office, Room N-2625, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20210. If the written submission is 10 pages or fewer, it may be sent by fax to 202-693-1648. All comments must include the docket number “OSHA 2007-0006.”

AAA targets roadside injuries

The American Automobile Association (AAA) has joined first-responder groups in launching a year-long national campaign to reduce deaths and injuries among roadside workers and stranded motorists.

The effort has two primary components:

• Enactment in all 50 states of “Move Over” laws that cover tow trucks and other roadside assistance vehicles, fire trucks, law enforcement vehicles and ambulances. These laws require motorists to change lanes to provide an empty travel lane between their vehicle and emergency vehicles along the roadside, or to slow down while approaching a traffic incident if moving to another lane is not possible.
• A public awareness initiative to include public safety and other announcements featuring testimonials from NASCAR driver David Ragan.

According to AAA, approximately 200 roadside workers are killed in crashes each year. Another 800 deaths occur among motorists in highway work zones or in locations where motorists are being helped.

Study: Obesity lowers productivity

Moderately to extremely obese employees are less productive on the job than their counterparts, even when compared with overweight or mildly obese workers, reports a study in the January Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Researchers measured various aspects of productivity among a group of 341 manufacturing workers. Most were overweight or obese, including a 23% rate of mild obesity (body mass index [BMI] 30 to 34.9) and a 13% rate of moderate to extreme obesity (BMI 35 or higher). Another 43% of the workers were classified as overweight but not obese (BMI 25 to 25.9).

Moderately or extremely obese workers experienced the most health-related work limitations, specifically regarding the time they needed to complete tasks and their ability to perform physical job demands. These workers experienced a 4.2% health-related loss of productivity, 1.8% more than all other employees. Based on an average hourly wage of $21, this equates to an additional $500 annually in lost productivity per worker.

The study’s results support other research findings that indicate a weight loss of 10% can yield substantial health and economic benefits, say the journal’s researchers. Even modest weight loss could result in hundreds of dollars of improved productivity costs per worker each year.

• Don’t miss CBIA’s 2008 Health, Wellness & Safety Conference, with keynote speaker Amy J. Khan, M.D., M.P.H., national medical director, Wellness TotalCare, Concentra.Thursday, March 27, at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.

SBA recognizes OSHA

OSHA is one of six federal agencies being recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for service and responsiveness to small businesses coping with regulatory enforcement issues.

The SBA praised OSHA’s dedication to providing small businesses with the regulatory tools they need, as well as working with the SBA’s Office of the National Ombudsman to address fairness in enforcement. Congress created the national ombudsman in 1996 to help small businesses experiencing excessive federal regulatory enforcement actions.

Other federal agencies acknowledged were the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Commerce.

Confined spaces proposal

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing a rule to better protect construction employees working in confined spaces.

Under the proposed rule, employers would follow a step-by-step procedure to self-classify spaces by the type of hazards they present and then implement protections tailored to the particular classification. The rule details four classifications: isolated-hazard confined space; controlled-atmosphere confined space; permit-required confined space; and continuous system-permit-required confined space.

The proposal would also require controlling contractors to coordinate confined space operations among a site’s multiple employers.

Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the proposal by Jan. 28, 2008.

MSHA unveils escape system

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has introduced a new rescue approach to help miners evacuate an underground mine quickly and safely during an emergency.

The “Great Escape” rescue system was developed by the agency’s Office of Technical Support. The prototype demonstration system consists of concrete pipe measuring roughly 42 inches in diameter and accessible at various points along the pipe. Doors and vents are installed in the unit’s access points and end caps Actual escape system installations may be able to use smaller diameter pipe and may be installed between the mine’s working sections and an escape shaft or, depending on the mine layout, run completely to the surface.

The system would be fitted with a communication and tracking infrastructure and battery-powered personnel carriers to transport miners to the surface. A fan situated at the surface would pump in breathable air through a borehole connected directly to the escape pipe.

MSHA says that minimal training is required to use the system. The agency’s next steps will be to evaluate feedback from industry stakeholders, and to continue to test the prototype system and make overall system improvements.

Final rule on National Consensus Standards

OSHA has issued a final rule that will update the agency’s standards based on National Consensus Standards.

The rule addresses welding definitions; abrasive wheel specifications; floor and wall openings, railings, and toeboards; marking of portable compressed gas cylinders; and spray finishing. It also deletes several references to consensus standards that have requirements that duplicate or are comparable to other OSHA rules.

Interested parties may submit comments on the final rule by Jan. 14, 2008. The rule will become effective on March 13, 2008, unless significant adverse comments are received.

Survey: Many sick calls fake, but … creative

 Thirty two percent of workers say they called in sick when they were well at least once in the past year, according to CareerBuilder.com’s annual survey on absenteeism.

The survey also found that 27% of workers consider their sick days to be equivalent to vacation days and 10% admitted to playing hooky three times or more even though they were feeling well. More than half (52%) of employers said that Monday is the most popular day for employee absenteeism.

Here are the Top 10 most unusual excuses, according to employers:

• A groundhog bit the employee’s car tire, causing it to go flat
• Employee wasn’t feeling well and wanted to rest up for the company’s holiday party that night
• Employee said her psychic told her to stay home or something awful would happen to her
• Employee said he was crabby and it wouldn’t be good for business
• Employee was up all night because her favorite “American Idol” contestant was voted off
• Employee got whiplash from brushing her hair
• At her sister’s wedding, the employee chipped her tooth on a Mint Julep, bent over to spit the tooth out, hit her head on a keg and was knocked unconscious with a mild concussion
• Employee claimed to have met a movie star and was spending the day with him
• Employee was injured while getting a haircut
• Employee tasted some dog food because the dog was not feeling well and now the employee is sick

While most employers (75%) said they typically believe the excuses used by their employees, 35% reported they have checked up on an employee who called in sick and 16% said they have fired a worker for missing work without a legitimate excuse. The survey included 5,989 workers and 2,929 hiring managers and human resource professionals.

Although some employers are more skeptical of certain absences, the survey showed that other employers are incorporating more flexibility into their sick-day programs. Sixty-nine percent said they allow their employees to use sick days for mental health days.

OSHA’s new publications page

OSHA has unveiled a new publications page on its Web site that allows visitors to more easily access the agency’s resources.

The publications page is one of the most popular pages on OSHA’s Web site, receiving more than 300,000 visits per month.

The agency undertook the redesign to give the publications page a more user-friendly look and feel, and to make the page the comprehensive resource for the agency’s extensive number of safety and health products. Visitors may now search by the publication number or keyword; from an alphabetical listing; by industry or topic; and by type of publication. In addition to new releases, the revamped page highlights publications “Recommended by OSHA” and “Most Frequently Viewed OSHA Publications.”

The new design is based on feedback from OSHA customers. Visitors may order up to 25 copies of up to five publications using the new ordering capability. This feature is similar to “shopping carts” found on commercial Web sites and helps visitors keep track of the publications they are ordering and the number of copies.

Holiday fire safety

According to the United States Fire Administration (USFA), each year fires occurring during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 people, injure 1,650 more, and cause over $990 million in damage.  Visit USFA’s Web site for some simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday.

New ergo modules from OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has added two new modules to its “Ergonomics Solutions for Electrical Contractors” e-Tool.

Developed with input from the Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc., the modules include safety and health information for installation and repair, and prefabrication processes.

The Installation and Repair module describes hazards often encountered by employees who dig trenches and pull and feed wire. It includes information about potential tendon and nerve problems that may result from using hand tools such as pliers, crimpers, and side cutters. The module also provides solutions to help industry professionals reduce the risks associated with electrical installation and repair.

The Prefabrication module discusses ergonomics-related hazards including heavy manual lifting, repetitive movements, and awkward or stationary positions. It lists possible ways to reduce these hazards related to such activities as bending conduit, cutting and spooling wire, and welding and assembly.

DHS publishes “chemicals of interest” list

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released Appendix A of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), a critical element of its chemical security efforts.

The appendix contains a list of chemicals that, if possessed by a facility in a specified quantity, trigger a requirement to complete and submit an online consequence assessment tool called a Top-Screen.

Using the information gathered through the Top-Screen, the department will be better able to make a preliminary determination as to whether a facility presents a high security risk and is therefore required to comply with the substantive requirements of CFATS.

To determine the type and quantity of chemicals that will be subject to the preliminary screening process, DHS examined three security issues:

• Release – quantities of toxic, flammable or explosive chemicals that have the potential to create significant adverse consequences for human life or health if intentionally released or detonated

• Theft and diversion – chemicals that have the potential, if stolen or diverted, to be used or converted into weapons

• Sabotage and contamination – chemicals that, if mixed with other readily available materials, have the potential to create significant adverse consequences for human life or health

Appendix A lists approximately 300 chemicals of interest and includes common industrial chemicals such as chlorine, propane and anhydrous ammonia as well as specialty chemicals such as arsine and phosphorous trichloride. Facilities that possess chemicals of interest at or above the listed screening threshold quantities must complete the Top-Screen within 60 calendar days of the publication of Appendix A in the Federal Register or within 60 days of coming into possession of the listed chemicals.

Feedback needed on trucker health survey

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is requesting public comment on the proposed content for a national survey on truck drivers’ safety and health. The goal of the survey is to collect information on sleep disorders, fatigue, working conditions, and non-fatal injuries.

An estimated 1.6 million U.S. workers are employed as heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, says NIOSH, with an on-the-job fatality rate 11 times the rate for the general worker population. Previous studies have shown truck drivers to be at increased risk for low-back pain, heart attack, hypertension, ulcers, several types of cancer, and premature mortality. Fatigue and sleep apnea among truck drivers have been associated with truck crashes and may contribute to stress and chronic disease.

NIOSH pans to conduct the survey at 40 truck stops across the U.S. Read the proposed survey content and comment . Comments may be submitted through Jan. 2, 2008.

OSHA issues combustible dust instruction

OSHA has issued a new safety and health instruction that details the agency’s policies and procedures for inspecting workplaces that handle combustible dusts and those that may have the potential for a dust explosion.

Combustible dusts are often either organic or metal dusts that are finely ground into very small particles, fibers, chips or flakes. These dusts can come from metal, wood, plastic and organic materials such as grain, flour, sugar, paper, soap and dried blood. Dusts can also come from textile materials. Some of the industries in which combustible dusts are particularly prevalent include agriculture, chemical, textile, forest, and the furniture industry.

The instruction provides detailed information on OSHA’s inspection scheduling, resource allocation, inspection resources, and procedures. According to the agency, the information is particularly useful in educating businesses on how to achieve compliance with OSHA requirements in advance of any inspection.

WCC updates info packet

The Workers’ Compensation Commission has posted its newly revised Information Packet. The packet, which carries a revision date of Oct. 25, 2007, includes comprehensive “plain-English” information about Connecticut’s workers’ compensation system, its benefits, and procedures, and contains a number of fillable and sample forms.

Worker deaths decline in Connecticut

Work injuries were the cause of 38 deaths in the state during 2006, the Connecticut Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CONN-OSHA) reports. The figure represents the second consecutive decline in the number of work-related fatalities, and it brings the number below the state’s annual average of 41.

Connecticut also had a fatality rate of 2.2 deaths per 100,000 workers, well below the national average of 3.9 deaths per 100,000 workers.

Other highlights from the CONN-OSHA data:

• Transportation accidents resulted in 15 deaths in 2006 and accounted for the largest percentage of workers—about 40%—who lost their lives on the job. This includes automobile accidents, construction zone workers struck by vehicles, and workers struck by tractors or other equipment.
• Assaults and violent acts accounted for the lives of 10 workers, with the number evenly divided between homicides and suicides.
• In Connecticut men accounted for 84% (32) of the work-injury fatalities. Nationally, men accounted for 93% (5,275 of 5,703)
• Wage and salary workers accounted for 74% of the fatalities. The remaining 26% were among the self-employed.
• Approximately 34% of the fatalities involved workers between 45 and 54 years of age. The next highest percentage of deaths, at 26%, involved workers in the 25 to 34 year age range.

Are you ready for a hazardous waste inspection?

Representatives of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have been conducting inspections at manufacturing companies to determine compliance with hazardous waste regulations. These inspections have resulted in the issuing of notices of violations, consent orders, and significant fines. Is your company prepared? Don’t miss CBIA’s Hazardous Waste Inspection Workshop, Wednesday, Dec 5, the Connecticut Grand Hotel in Waterbury.

New guidance on slings

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued new guidance to help employers select and use the appropriate slings for handling and moving materials.

The current general industry standard was adopted more than 30 years ago, and OSHA has since made only minor corrections. The new guidance document will aid users in the safe selection and use of slings, including synthetic round slings, which are not covered in the standard, says the agency, as well as the newer grades of materials being used in alloy steel chain and wire rope slings.

Improper selection or use of slings can result in sling failure or load slippage, which in turn can lead to injuries or death. OSHA’s accident data for the years 1994 through 1966 show that there were four fatalities in general industry involving the misuse or failure of slings.

Lawsuit over medical release policy

One of the world’s largest auto parts suppliers has been accused of illegally asking its employees for personal medical information and retaliating against those who objected.

In a lawsuit filed in federal court, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims that Delphi Corp. has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act since at least 2004 by requiring workers returning from sick leave to sign releases allowing the company to access medical information.

An employee said he was fired when he missed two days of work and refused to sign a release that would have let his employer check with his doctor. The employee said he agreed to let the employer verify that he had been unable to work, but would not allow disclosure of his specific medical condition.

The lawsuit asks that the company be ordered to refrain from making disability-related inquires that are not job-related and to provide back pay and other compensation to those affected by the medical release practice.

Directive OKs slide locks

In a change of position, OSHA has issued a compliance directive allowing the use of

slide-locks to control hazardous energy on machinery.

The agency’s lockout/tagout standard requires machine shutdown and isolation, which includes the use of energy-isolating devices that physically prevent the transmission or release of energy.

In a 1998 standard interpretation letter to General Motors, OSHA prohibited the use of slide-locks to replace safety blocks on mechanical power presses. Citing improved technology, the agency decided to cancel the letter and issue the new directive.

The directive establishes performance criteria for the use of slide locks on machines as well as enforcement policies and inspection procedures. The appendix includes a set of best practices related to the design, installation, use, inspection, testing and maintenance of slide-locks.

Employers that meet the directive’s performance criteria will be considered meeting the energy-isolating device definition in the lockout/tagout standard.

OSHA takes aim at gun makers

Two military and commercial firearms manufacturers are facing a total of $223,000 in proposed fines from OSHA.

The manufacturers were cited for 50 alleged violations of safety and health standards following OSHA inspections of their West Hartford worksites. According to the agency, the citations encompassed a cross-section of chemical, electrical and mechanical hazards that can result in serious injuries if not promptly and fully addressed, according to the agency.

One manufacturer was issued 25 serious violations, with $76,500 in proposed fines, and four repeat citations, with $75,000 in fines. The other manufacturer was issued 21 serious citations, with $71,500 in proposed fines.

A serious citation is issued when death or physical harm is likely to result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known. A repeat citation is issued when an employer previously has been cited for a substantially similar hazard and that citation has become a final order.

Americans get ‘F’ for fat

Adult obesity rates rose in 31 states last year, according to a report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), a nonprofit health promotion organization.

The fourth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America found that 22 states experienced an increase in obesity for the second year in a row; no state had a decrease.

Mississippi topped the list with the highest rate of adult obesity in the country for the third year in a row, and is the first state to reach a rate of over 30% (at 30.6%). Colorado was the leanest state again this year, although its adult obesity rate increased over the year (from 16.9% to 17.6%).

Ten of the 15 states with the highest rates are located in the South. Rates of adult obesity now exceed 25% in 19 states, an increase from 14 states last year and 9 in 2005. In 1991, none of the states exceeded 20%.

Rates of overweight children, ages 10 to 17, ranged from a high of 22.8% in Washington, D.C. to a low of 8.5% in Utah.

There has been a breakthrough in terms of drawing attention to the obesity epidemic, but now a breakthrough in terms of policies and results is needed, says TFAH. Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are robbing Americans of their health and productivity.

The F as in Fat report also contains a review of federal and state policies aimed at reducing or preventing obesity and TFAH’s recommendations for combating the problem.

Preparing for the flu

Each year, 36,000 Americans die from influenza or complications of influenza. In addition, each year there are an estimated 200,000 hospital admissions due to influenza. Each year 5%-20% of the population will get influenza . The best way to prevent the flu is getting an influenza vaccination between October and March.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that U.S. businesses could save up to $12 million dollars annually by providing influenza vaccinations to their employees. The savings come in reduced health care costs and reduced absenteeism.

The CDC identifies the following groups as priorities for influenza vaccination:

• Children age 6 months to their 5 th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age or older
• People of any age who visit a health care provider on a regular basis because of chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and heart disease
• People living in nursing homes or other long term care facilities
• Household contacts to anyone in the above groups
• Household contacts and out of home care givers of children less than 6 months of age (children less than 6 months of age are too young to receive an influenza vaccine)
• Health care workers

Sponsoring a flu vaccination clinic in the workplace is as easy as picking up a phone. Providers come to your site and bring all the necessary supplies. You set aside space and help promote the clinic. The provider will bill insurance companies, your business or the employee who gets vaccinated. The state Department of Public Health has prepared a folder with all the information you need to sponsor the clinic, including a list of agencies that will come to your site and a “recipe for planning an employee influenza vaccination clinic.”

This year the CDC has designated Nov. 26- Dec. 2 National Influenza Immunization Week. Gov. M. Jodi Rell has proclaimed that week as Influenza Immunization Week in Connecticut.

To obtain a folder, or if you have additional questions, contact: Debbye Rosen, Adult Immunization Coordinator at the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health at 860-509-7729 or debbye.rosen@ct.gov. You can also visit the Department of Public Health’s Web site at www.ct.gov/dph and find out more information under “seasonal influenza” in the “featured links section”. It’s not too late to vaccinate.

New online thermoforming module

A new thermoforming module has been added to the Plastics Machinery section of OSHA’s Web-based Machine Guarding eTool. The module reviews potential hazards associated with thermoforming, a manufacturing process using a thermoplastic sheet or film that is fed into an oven and then heated, formed and trimmed.

The new Web module details the various stages of the thermoforming process, including loading a roll of plastic onto a roll-fed thermoformer machine and threading the plastic into it through end-feed rollers. It also examines the forming, trimming and stacking process and how employers and employees can avoid the hazards associated with these processes.

The thermoforming module was developed with input from the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) Inc. as part of the OSHA and SPI Alliance.

Upcoming PPE hearing

OSHA will hold an informal public hearing regarding the agency’s plan to update its personal protective (PPE) design standards and is inviting the public to present testimony. The hearing is set for Tuesday December 4 at 9 a.m., at the Department of Labor’s Frances Perkins Building in Washington, D.C.

The agency is proposing to revise the PPE sections of its general industry, shipyard employment, longshoring and marine terminals standards on the use of eye and face protective devices and head and foot protection. A notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the May 17, 2007 Federal Register and the public was given until July 16 to submit comments.

Those desiring to testify at the hearing must notify OSHA of their intent in writing no later than Oct. 1. Those seeking more than 10 minutes for their presentations at the hearing and those who want to present documentary evidence must submit the full text of their testimony and all documentary evidence no later than Nov. 1. More details about these submissions.

DHS on emergency supply kits

When preparing for a possible hurricane or other disaster, an essential step is to put together an emergency supply kit. According to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready America campaign, a basic emergency supply kit should include the following items:

• Water -- one gallon of water per person for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered and hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First Aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps

NIA’s Spanish language Web site

Accurate, up-to-date information on health issues affecting Hispanic seniors is now available online in Spanish from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

The Web site includes material on a wide range of health topics, including diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer and diabetes, as well as tips on choosing a doctor and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The site also offers free publications in Spanish and links to other health-related Spanish language Web sites such as Medicare and MedlinePlus.

NIA says that making health information available to minority seniors is a vital part of the agency’s outreach to older adults. The older population in the U.S. is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of older Hispanic adults in the U.S. is expected to increase from 6% in 2003 to 11% by 2939.

Free chemical reactions video

The Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released a new safety video concerning the dangers of uncontrolled chemical reactions. The video features computerized animations and descriptions of four major reactive chemistry accidents investigated by the CSB, as well as commentary by two chemical process safety experts. It was released simultaneously with the CSB’s report on an accident that killed one worker and injured 14 others in North Carolina on Jan. 31, 2007.

The presentation begins with news footage of the Bhopal reactive chemical accident of 1984, which killed thousands. Much progress has been made in chemical process safety since Bhopal, says the CSB, but deaths and injuries continue to occur from uncontrolled chemical reactions in this country. The agency hopes the chemical industry will find the video useful in promoting prevention of these types of accidents.

Reactive Hazards: Dangers of Uncontrolled Chemical Reactions marks the 13 th safety video produced by the CSB. They can be viewed online in the Video Room of the agency’s Web site. Free DVD copies may also be obtained by filling out an online request form.

Lyme disease on rise

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reported cases of Lyme disease have doubled since 1991 when it became a nationally acknowledged disease. The CDC findings also show that 93% of reported cases are concentrated in 10 states, with Connecticut among that group

The jump in reported cases is most likely the result of both a true increase in the frequency of the disease and better recognition and reporting through enhanced detection of cases, says CDC. Approximately 20,000 cases are now reported each year, compared with fewer than 10,000 in 1991.

The early signs of Lyme infection are fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash. Left untreated, the disease can affect joints, the heart and the nervous system. Steps to reduce the risk of infection include daily self-examination for ticks, selective use of acaricides and tick repellents, use of landscaping practices that reduce tick populations in yards and play areas, and avoiding tick-infested areas.

The other states with high numbers of reported cases include: Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Online help for health care employers

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has added a health care industry module to its Compliance Assistance Quick Start, the agency’s Web-based tool that helps employers find free online compliance assistance.

The health care module offers step-by-step guidance on OSHA requirements for health care employers; other hazards at health care facilities and how to survey for them; finding information about specific health care sectors; developing a comprehensive safety and health program; training employees; recordkeeping, reporting and posting.

The Quick Start tool also includes modules for general industry, construction and Hispanic outreach.

Protecting rescue recovery workers

Rescue and recovery operations associated with the bridge collapse in Minneapolis highlight the rigors of such operations and the need to protect rescue and recovery workers from potential hazards, says the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Generally, rescue and recovery operations involving work among structural debris and in or under water can pose risks for physical injuries, heat stress, and other hazards.

Preventing work-related injuries and illnesses at rescue and recovery sites involves strategic planning to anticipate potential hazards, and strategic management of operations based on conditions at the site, says NIOSH. Disaster sites pose a multitude of health and safety concerns. The hazards and exposures are a function of the unstable nature of the site, the potential of hazardous substances being present and the type of work being performed.

Accurate assessment of all hazards may not be possible because they may not be immediately obvious or identifiable. Rescue personnel may select protective measures based on limited information. In addition to the hazards of direct exposure, workers are also subject to dangers posed by the unstable physical environment, the stress of working in protective clothing, and the emotional trauma of the situation.

NIOSH suggests these measures to manage potential occupational hazards at rescue and recovery sites:

• Develop a work plan for operations, and periodically review and update the plan as more information about site conditions is obtained.

• Develop a checklist for the site that assigns responsibilities for safety management and describes needed safety and health duties.

• Designate a field team leader and develop a checklist to help the team leader oversee the preparation, training, and deployment of volunteers, enforce site control, enforce the buddy system, and notify the site safety officer or supervisor of unsafe conditions.

• Identify and manage potential hazards from debris and unstable work surfaces, noise, respirable dust, heat stress, confined spaces, chemical exposures, traumatic stress, electricity, carbon monoxide, contaminated water, and other potential hazards that may exist at the emergency site.

Further information and resources from NIOSH on emergency response are available at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/emres/natural.html or from the NIOSH toll-free information number at 1-800-356-4674.

BLS reports drop in work fatalities

There were 5,703 fatal work injuries in the U.S. in 2006, down slightly from the revised total of 5,732 fatalities in 2005, according to the annual Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The overall rate of fatal work injuries in 2006 was 3.9 per 100,000 workers, the lowest since the fatality census was first conducted in 1992. The fatality rate for 2005 was 4.0 per 100,000 workers.

Other key BLS findings:

• Coal mining industry fatalities more than doubled in 2006 due to the Sago Mine disaster and other multiple-fatality coal mining incidents

• The number of workplace homicides was a series low and reflected a decline of more than 50% from the high reported in 1994

• Fatalities among workers under 25 years of age fell 9%, and the rate of fatal injuries among these workers was down significantly.

• The 937 fatal work injuries involving Hispanic or Latino workers in 2006 was a series high, but the overall fatality rate for Hispanic or Latino workers was lower than in 2005.

• Fatalities among self-employed workers declined 11% and reached a series low in 2006

• Aircraft-related fatalities were up 44%, led by a number multiple-fatality events including the August 2006 Comair crash.

Of the 5,703 fatal work injuries in 2006, 5,202 occurred in private industry. Service-providing industries in the private sector accounted for 47%, while private goods-producing industries accounted for 44%. Government workers accounted for 9% of fatalities in 2006. The fatality rate for goods-producing industries was unchanged in 2006, while the fatality rate for service-providing industries and for government were both lower.

Construction accounted for 1,226 fatal work injuries, the most of any industry sector and an increase of 3% over 2005. Fatalities among specialty trade contractors rose 6%, from 677 fatalities in 2005 to 721 in 2006, due primarily to higher numbers of fatal work injuries among building finishing contractors and roofing contractors. Fatalities in building construction and in heavy and civil engineering construction decreased in 2006.

Twenty-seven states reported higher numbers of fatalities in 2006, and 23 states and the District of Columbia had lower totals. Texas recorded the highest number of fatalities of any state (486), followed by California (448) and Florida (355).

BLS says the reported numbers are preliminary and will be updated in April 2008.

Easy riders: Take it easy

While new figures show the lowest traffic fatality rate ever recorded, the motorcycle death rate is up for the ninth straight year, says the National Safety Council (NSC).

According to NSC, the increase is due in large part to failure to wear helmets. Currently, only 20 states and the District of Columbia require helmets for bikers on the road.

Another contributing factor is more people owning motorcycles, with a 48% increase in motorcycle registrations since 1955 and a steady rise in buyers.

Last year 4,810 motorcyclists were killed. Nonfatal motorcycle injuries increased by 30,000 in the past decade and fatalities rose 104%. The most shocking increase in fatalities is among the 40-plus age group, says NSC. In 2005, 47% of deaths were riders aged 40 or older; by contrast, in 1995, 50% of motorcycle deaths were among riders 30 or younger.

EPA recognizes green power purchasers

The Environmental Protection Agency has updated its Top Green Power Purchaser list highlighting organizations committed to purchasing green power. The National Top 25 list of Green Power Partners accounts for more than 6 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) per year of green power purchasing, says EPA, reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 700,000 vehicles.

Among the EPA’s National Top 25 list are two of Pepsi’s three independent bottlers at Number 4 and 13. Kohl’s Department Stores increased its green power purchases to raise its ranking to eighth nationally.

The Pepsi bottler purchase demonstrates that a group of companies, tied together by a supply chain, can help protect the environment by buying green power. The total aggregate purchase of the three independent bottlers is nearly $629 million kWh per year.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership, launched in 2001, works with more than 750 partner organizations that voluntarily buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use and to promote the development of new renewable generation resources nationwide. Overall, EPA Green Power Partners are buying more than 10 billion kWh of green power annually, an increase of nearly 163% since January 2006. Green power is generated from eligible renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and biogas, as well as low-impact hydropower.

Module on working in storage tanks

 A Storage Tanks Module has been added to OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics page. The new module addresses the requirements and solutions for working in permit and non-permit-required confined space in above ground storage tanks.

It is imperative that employers and employees learn proper safety techniques for working in that environment, due to the potential hazards that storage work entails, says OSHA. The module provides examples of hazards and possible abatement methods as well as other useful information relevant to the petrochemical industry.

The module was developed jointly by OSHA, the American Petroleum Institute, the National Fire Protection Association, and the Steel Tank Institute.

OSHA/EPA chemical database

OSHA and EPA have launched the Occupational Chemical Database, a new Web-based reference tool for the occupational safety and health community.

The database includes information from several government agencies and organizations. Visitors to the site can search by chemical name in two separate ways – through an exact match search, which searches only the “chemical name” field, and a default search, which searches the “chemical name” and “synonyms” fields.

Available database reports include: “Physical Properties,” “Exposure Guidelines,” “NIOSH Pocket Guide,” and “Emergency Response Information,” including the DOT Emergency Response Guide. An all-in-one “Full Report” is also available.

Targeted inspection plan for ‘07

OSHA has announced that its 2007 Site-Specific Targeting (SST) Plan will focus on approximately 4,150 high-hazard worksites for unannounced comprehensive inspections in the coming year.

     For the past nine years, OSHA has used a site-specific targeting inspection program based on injury and illness data. This approach lets the agency focus its enforcement efforts on workplaces with the highest numbers of injuries and illnesses.

     This year’s program (SST-07) stems from the agency’s Data Initiative for 2006, which surveyed approximately 80,000 employers to obtain their injury and illness numbers for 2005. The program will initially cover worksites that reported 11 or more injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work, restricted work activity, or job transfers for every 100 full-time employees (known as the DART rate).

     The list of targets will also include sites based on a Days Away from Work Injury and Illness (DAFWII) rate of 9.0 or higher. Employers who reported DART rates of between 7.0 and 11.0, or DAFWII rates of between 4.0 and 9.0, will be placed on a secondary list for possible inspection. The national incident DART rate in 2005 for private industry was 2.4, wile the national incident DAFWII rate was 1.4.

     OSHA will inspect nursing homes and personal care facilities, but only the highest 50% of rated establishments will be included on the primary list. Inspections will focus primarily on ergonomic hazards relating to resident handling; exposure to blood and other potentially infectious materials; exposure to tuberculosis; and slips, trips and falls.

     The agency will also randomly select and inspect approximately 100 workplaces (with 100 or more employees) nationwide that reported low-injury and illness rates for the purpose of reviewing the actual degree of compliance with OSHA requirements. These establishments are selected from industries with DART and DAFWII rates that are higher that the national rate.

     Finally, the agency will include on the primary list some establishments that did not respond to the 2006 data survey.

Defining “on site in one location”

OSHA has issued its official interpretation of the phrase “on site in one location” as it relates to the agency’s standard on Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals.

     The interpretation should help provide additional clarity to an earlier Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the threshold quantities of highly hazardous chemicals, says OSHA.

     The agency interprets “on site and in one location” to mean that the PSM standard applies when a threshold quantity of a highly hazardous chemical (HHC) exists within an area under the control of an employer or group of affiliated employers. It also applies to any group of vessels that are interconnected, or in separate vessels that are close enough in proximity that the HHC could be involved in a potential catastrophic release.

      The meaning of “on site in one location” was at issue in a recent case before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. In that decision, the Review Commission asked whether that language was meant to limit, in some way, the applicability of the standard to a highly-hazardous chemical process. The Review Commission decided it could not determine whether the cited activities were both “on site” and “in one location,” and requested that OSHA clarify its interpretation.

Revised guide on amputation protection

OSHA has issued a guide to help employers identify and managing common amputation hazards associated with the operation and care of machines.

     Safeguarding Equipment and Protecting Employees identifies eight mechanical motions and eight hazardous actions that present possible amputation hazards. The revised guide also sets forth steps employers can take to reduce these hazards.

     The material is appropriate for anyone responsible for the operation, servicing or care of machines or equipment—employers, employees, safety professionals, and industrial hygienists. Topics covered include hazard analysis, safeguarding machinery, awareness devices, and hazardous energy (lockout/tagout).

     The guide is available on OSHA’s Web site at or by calling (202) 693-1888.

Updated electrical installation standard

OSHA has published a final rule for an updated electrical installation standard, the first changes to the standard in 25 years.

     The revised standard strengthens employee protections, says the agency, and adds consistency between OSHA requirements and many state and local building codes that have adopted updated National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and National Electrical code provisions.

     Changes to the standard focus on safety in the design and installation of electrical equipment in the workplace. The updated standard includes a new alternative method for classifying and installing equipment in Class I hazardous locations; new requirements for ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and new provisions on wiring for carnivals and similar installations.

      The final rule updates the general industry electrical installation requirements to the 2000 edition of the NFPA 70E, which was used as the foundation of the revised standard. The final rule also replaces the reference to the 1971 National Electrical Code in the mandatory appendix to the powered platform standard with a reference to OSHA’s electrical installation standard.

Hexavalent chromium guidance for small businesses

 OSHA has issued guidance to help small businesses comply with the agency’s new hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) requirements for general industry, construction, and shipyards.

     The guide describes the steps that employers are required to take to protect employees from hazards associated with exposure to Cr(VI). It is divided into sections that address the major provisions of the standards and follows the same organization as the corresponding paragraph of the standards.

     Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL), exposure determination, regulated areas, methods of compliance, respiratory protection, protective work clothing and equipment, hygiene areas and practices, housekeeping, and medical surveillance, are the major topics included in the guide.

     Hexavalent chromium compounds are widely used in the chemical industry as ingredients and catalysts in pigments, metal plating, and chemical synthesis. Cr(VI) can also be produced when welding on stainless steel or Cr(VI)-painted surfaces. The major health effects associated with exposure to Cr(VI) include lung cancer, nasal septum ulcerations and perforations, skin ulcerations, and allergic and irritant contact dermatitis.

© 2003 Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA). All rights reserved.

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