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This Fall: New series for Connecticut safety pros
CBIA’s 2008-2009 Safety and Health Roundtable opens Thurs., Oct. 9. It's a series of fast-paced meetings designed to give you up-to-the minute information on safety management. And it's a great opportunity to network with other safety and health pros. More details

Don’t wait until an OSHA compliance officer is in your lobby to address health and safety issues in your workplace. Employee safety is a priority for all employers. Find out what laws apply to you.

Working safe in summer heat

The hot days of summer are here, and employees who work outdoors could face the potential dangers associated with overexposure to heat.

The most serious heat-related disorders are heat stroke and heat exhaustion, says OSHA. Symptoms include confusion; irrational behavior; loss of consciousness; hot, dry skin; and abnormally high body temperature. A person can reduce the effects of working in summer heat by drinking cool water, reducing physical exertion, wearing appropriate clothing and taking regular rest periods in a cool recovery area.

OSHA has several free resources that offer advice on how to stay healthy while working outside:

• Protecting Workers from the Effects of Heat is a fact sheet explaining heat stress and how it can be prevented.
• Working Outdoors in Warm Climates provides recommendations on how to protect employees from exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV) and offers information on insect-caused illnesses such as West Nile Virus and Lyme disease.
• Protecting Yourself in the Sun is a pocket-sized card addressing skin cancer, describing its varied forms, and suggesting ways to block UV rays.

These resources and others can be downloaded from OSHA’s Publications Page or ordered from the agency’s publications office at 202-693-1888. For more information on heat stress, visit the Web sites of The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

NIOSH seeks asbestos comments

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has issued for public comment a revised draft strategic research document, Asbestos Fibers and Other Elongated Mineral Particles: State of the Science and Roadmap for Research.

The new draft substantially revises an earlier version issued in 2007. Its purpose is to identify major areas of controversy about occupational exposure and toxicity issues related to asbestos fibers and other EMPs and to recommend a research framework for resolving those areas. The revised draft does not include any new recommendations for exposure limits or other policy issues.

Specifically, NIOSH is seeking comment on the following changes to the draft document:

• A discussion of particle characteristics (e.g., dimension, chemistry) and their potential influence on biological responses (Sections 1.6.1, 1.6.2, 1.6.3, and 1.6.4)
• Toxicological research on EMPs (Section 2.2)
• Epidemiological studies of workers exposed to EMPs (Section 2.3.3)
• Capabilities and limitations of analytical instruments used to identify EMPs (Section 2.4.2).

Also of special interest to NIOSH are comments on the new content in the document:

• A rephrasing of the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) for asbestos and related EMPs (Section 1.8.2)
• The inclusion of how the proposed research could lead to the development of improved public health policies for asbestos and other EMPs (Section 2.5)
• Discussion of clinical issues (Section 1.4); and 4) and recommendations for clinical research (Section 2.3.4).

Comments should be sent by Sept. 30, 2008 to NIOSH via e-mail; by fax to the NIOSH Docket Office at 513-533-8285; or by mail to NIOSH Mailstop: c-34, Robert A. Taft Laboratory, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226.

OSHA sends more inspectors to NYC

OSHA is taking new steps to combat the rise in construction fatalities in New York City, where 20 employees have died in construction-related accidents since January.

The agency is bringing a dozen additional inspectors into the city for two weeks to inspect high-rise construction sites, cranes and other places where serious accidents have been occurring. OSHA will review its findings to gauge the impact of the additional inspections and determine what other measures might need to be taken to address what it calls a “deadly trend.”

OSHA says regulators, employers, employees, unions and trade associations alike reject the idea that these lost lives are simply a byproduct of work in a dangerous industry. The agency asserts that all involved must commit to maintaining safety as the No. 1 job priority every day.

In addition to enforcement activities, OSHA is pursuing other ways to emphasize to employers, employees and the construction industry the importance of safety. Since May, the agency has been sending copies of violation citations issued to employers on city construction sites to the employers’ insurance and workers’ compensation carriers, and to construction project owners and developers, in order to raise their awareness of occupational hazards. Citations involving training violations at union sites will be sent to the unions representing the workers and to their training funds.

OSHA also says it plans to hold outreach meetings with unions and the construction industry to get their feedback on construction safety issues.

Have a safe trip

Packing up the kids and heading out on the open road for vacation is a yearly ritual for some families. For others, this summer’s vacation may be a first-time adventure. Either way, says the National Safety Council (NSC), safety needs to be a priority before even pulling out of the driveway. Here are suggested tips:

• Thoroughly inspect your vehicle to make sure it’s safe and in good working condition. Replace worn parts and belts, check all tires, make sure all lights work. Pack a flashlight, flares and first aid kit. Stash a pair of sunglasses, a road map, and a pen or pencil in a handy spot.

• Inspections shouldn’t stop when you go on the road. When stopping for gas, take a few minutes to check your vehicle’s tires and fluid levels.

• Be sure you are in good working order as well. Get plenty of rest before embarking on your journey. Don’t be tempted to push ahead when it’s time to take a break. If you’re traveling with small children, be prepared to make numerous stops along the way.

• Be sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up appropriately. According to NSC, when used correctly, lap and shoulder safety belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers by 45% and reduce the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50%.

• Stay alert and drive defensively. Reduce speed when approaching interchanges and construction areas. Be aware of activity in toll plazas and work zones.

For more information safe driving, visit NSC’s Web site at

http://www.nsc.org/weekly_articles/road_trip_safety.aspx

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The articles, forms and other materials available through this Web site are for informational purposes only. They are not intended as legal advice or as a solution to an individual problem. You are encouraged to consult with appropriate legal counsel prior to relying on the materials in whole or in part.