Worker Safety Oversight Is Shared Between OSHA & Hawaii

The Governor of Hawaii, Neil Abercrombie and OSHA Regional Administrator, Ken Nishiyama Atha signed an agreement to temporarily share oversight for worker safety and health in the state. This was due to a need to bridge a gap in training and staff capacity and a 2010 Federal Annual Monitoring and Evaluation report issued by OSHA that questioned the state’s program. The agreement lists additional mandatory training opportunities for HIOSHA staff, temporary federal jurisdiction over some industries, and other elements aimed at returning the Hawaii state plan program to compliance with federal standards.

For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/stateprogs/hawaii.html.

New OSHA Training Institute Education Centers Are Announced

OSHA has recently announced the renewal of 24 existing OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Centers, along with four new ones. The purpose of the current training centers is to provide training courses on OSHA standards and occupational safety and health issues, and additional outlets for safety and health training with the new ones.

The OTI Education Centers program was created in 1992 and have been providing nationwide training to private sectors and federal personnel from agencies outside of OSHA. By the end of fiscal year 2012, more than 40,000 people were trained through this training.

The OSHA Outreach Training Program is assisted by the OTI Education Centers and serve as the principal provider of Outreach Training Program trainer courses including all train-the-trainer topic areas that certifies them to teach 10-hour or 30-hour courses. During fiscal years from 2010 to 2012, more than two million people were trained through this program.

"This year, we have seen record numbers of requests for occupational safety and health training from the private sector and federal agency personnel," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health. "The renewal of OTI's Education Centers and the addition of four new centers will help OSHA to meet this demand and deliver life-saving training to our country's employers and workers."

It's important to note that the OTI Education Centers courses are not mandatory by OSHA and does not meet training requirements for any OSHA standards. OSHA doesn’t provide funding to the OTI Education Centers, as each location supports its training through tuition and fee structures.

To view the list of the current and new OTI Education Centers, visit http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES&p_id=23058.

For more information on OSHA 10-hour general industry or construction certification, call us at 407-353-8165 or visit us at https://safetylinks.net/index.php/training/osha-msha-courses.

Floridians: Are You Familiar With Pedestrian Laws?

Most people in the state don’t realize that as a driver, you are required to yield to pedestrian in all instances. This is an interesting read that talks about different pedestrian laws in the state of Florida:

To read the article, visit http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/os-ed-pedestrian-safety-myword-092712-20120926,0,1815246.story.

Pipeline Safety Guidelines Update Released by the DOT

In efforts to improve pipeline safety issues caused by recent disasters and report finding to the public, the U.S. Department of Transportation has recently launched a new webpage, Pipeline Safety Update, which includes guidelines on regulations, safety issues, and stakeholder information in it.

Links to programs such as the National Pipeline Mapping System, a pipeline safety page with checklists, links, One-Call Centers and 811 are listed on the page that will be useful for reference before any excavation.

Any input or documents that will help inform the stakeholder communities are welcomed when sent via email at pipelineforum@dot.gov.

To view the page, visit HERE.

Hiring Your Next Safety Professional

Here is a great article titled “EHS Recruitment: It’s Not Just About Filling the Seat” from EHS Today. It lists and explains some of the best key hiring practices used by big corporations such as BP, Shell, and Johnson & Johnson to recruit the best environmental and Health Safety professional for their company. If you are in the recruiting process for your next safety professional, here are four important points to consider:

Tap the Small Pool of A-Player Talent – This explains how providing a reliable internal team of employees to their manager with an external liaison can improve a hiring decision that they may overlook.
Include Culture Alignment in Your Search Process – A new employee’s sense of belonging in a new environmental can sometimes be the key factor on whether he or she will be successful in their new position, despite how great their abilities and qualifications may be. Never underestimate the process of a candidate’s character evaluation to make sure they fit your culture.
Develop High-Potential Talent – According to the Harvard Business Review, a small number of early-leadership-level workers will represent the new generation with 15 years of experience five years from now. Meaning, it is wise to invest in your lower-level talent as it can help align their career development and opportunities with your company.
Succession Planning – Establishing a written succession plan is highly important in case of an emergency or simply for future use.

To view the original article, visit http://ehstoday.com/safety/ehs-recruitment-it-s-not-just-about-filling-seat?page=1.

Safety Tip Presentation – Respiratory Protection

Safety Tip - Respiratory Protection

Do you know if your respirators and their components are NIOSH tested and certified?

The standards require employers to establish or maintain a respiratory protection program to protect their employees. Whether you use air purifying or atmosphere supplying respirators, learn how to effectively select a fit for you, maintain, and properly wear your respirators needed.

WATCH NOW:

Respirator Selection

Selecting a respirator is a very difficult task to accomplish. Under protecting your staff can lead to injury or illness while over protecting staff can be uncomfortable and very costly.

To select a respirator you must first assemble the necessary toxicological and safety information for each respiratory hazard. This typically starts with a walk through survey and an MSDS review. To determine the potential level of exposure the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that air sampling be conducted. While air monitoring is obviously the best option, a good industrial hygienist or safety professional will likely use a combination of air sampling and exposure modeling to make reasonable estimates of exposure.

After the potential exposures have been determined the next step is to compare the results with allowable levels of the particular contaminant (s). For comparison purposes you should consider using the NIOSH-REL’s, OSHA-PEL’s, and ACGIH- TLV’s, just to name a few.

Now comes the hard work! Based on the potential or measured exposures you’ll have to determine if your staff requires an air purifying respirator, or an atmosphere supplying respirator; whether they will need a full mask, half mask, or other type of face piece; whether they will need filters cartridges or some combination of the two. Finally you’ll have to ensure that a full respirator program has been instituted including medical evaluations, fit testing, training, cartridge change out schedules, etc.

Although this may seem difficult with some guidance along the way you will be able to ensure your staff is adequately protected! For more information on respirator selection visit the new NIOSH Respirator Information Page or contact Trevor Reschny, CSP at Safety Links Inc.

What do you do if someone contacts a live electrical wire?

If you see a person come into contact with indoor electrical wires, do not touch the person. Attempt to switch the power off, if possible. If you cannot shut off the power, use a non-conductor (dry wood, rope, board, broom handle) to separate the person from the current.

If the person has come into contact with outdoor wires call 911 and then the power company immediately.

Do not attempt to touch the person or to try to free the person from the wires. Stay at least 100 feet away from any downed wires at all times.

After the person has been separated from the electrical source, you should:

Check his breathing. If the person is not breathing, start CPR.
Treat the victim for shock. Keep him lying down. If the victim is unconscious, lie on his side to allow drainage of fluids. Cover him enough to maintain body heat.
Do not move the victim if you suspect neck or spine injury.
Treat burn by immersing in cold water. Do not apply grease or oil. For severe burns, cut away loose clothing and cover the burned area with a sterile dressing.

To inquire more about general safety, contact us at 407-353-8165 or email us at info@transportins.net

Remembering 9/11

We dedicate this day to all the vicitims, our troops, rescue teams and their families affected by this tragedy eleven years ago.

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