Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from April 2006

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from April 2006

Lock it out! Follow proper procedures to control hazardous energy.(Cover story)
April 1, 2006... OSHA's lockout/tagout regulation, found at 29 CFR 1910.147, is a standard we all can live with. The regulation covers the servicing or maintenance of machines or equipment in which the unexpected release of stored energy or equipment start-up...

How OSHA lost its mojo: new hex chrome rule follows an old script.(EDITORIAL comments)(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
April 1, 2006... mojo (mo-jo) n.--captivating influence, magical spell, mysterious mastery After the dust-up over the hexavalent chromium standard in late February, OSHA lifers on Pennsylvania Avenue must feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. You...

Manufacturer to pay back wages, punitive damages to whistleblowers.
April 1, 2006... A Ransomville, N.Y., tool manufacturer and its president have been ordered to pay two workers a total of $35,800 in back wages and $10,500 in punitive damages for terminating them from their jobs after the men filed a complaint with OSHA,...

Mine evacuation: emergency standard addresses.(rules & REGS)
April 1, 2006... The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to improve protection of miners during and after underground coal mine accidents and evacuations. "This year's tragic mine accidents in West...

OSHA fines demolition for companies for lead exposure.(rules & REGS)
April 1, 2006... SHA has proposed fining two Michigan demolition companies more than $380,000 for not protecting workers from lead exposure at a former battery plant in Kansas, according to the Kansas City Star. The agency last month cited WSI Industrial...

Critics of new OSHA hex chromium standard plan to sue again.(rules & REGS)
April 1, 2006... A new OSHA standard lowers the agency's permissible exposure limit (PEL) for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), and for all Cr(VI) compounds, from 52 to 5 micrograms per cubic meter of air as an 8-hour time-weighted average. Published in the...

Confirmed: Foulke will lead OSHA.(rules & REGS)(Occupational Safety and Health Administration appoints Edwin G. Foulke, Jr.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The U.S. Senate confirmed Edwin G. Foulke, Jr. as assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced Mar. 15. A native Pennsylvanian, Foulke was nominated by President Bush in...

OSHA reports findings at Boy Scout Jamboree.(rules & REGS)(Occupational Safety and Health Administration)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A federal OSHA report released last month suggests an Alaska Boy Scout troop official was responsible for placing a tent too close to an overhead power line at the 2005 National Scout Jamboree. The report also states 0SHA would have issued...

Chromium industry: withheld data on lung cancer, report says.(news SCAN)
April 1, 2006... Worried about stricter workplace regulations, the chromium industry withheld and manipulated data showing that workers exposed to hexavalent chromium had an increased risk of lung cancer, according to a paper published Feb. 23 in Environmental...

More than 36,000 workers need time off for eye injuries.(news SCAN)
April 1, 2006... A total of 36,680 American workers suffered eye injuries on the job in 2004 and required time off work to recuperate, according to a recently released U.S. Department of Labor study. The Bureau of Labor Statistics report also showed that...

No surprise: anger increases odds of injury.(news SCAN)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A recent study published in the Annals of Family Medicine reports that being angry more than quadruples a person's odds of being injured, and being hostile increases those odds sixfold. Not surprisingly, the study also reports that being angry...

New ANSI standard steers workers to safe driving.(news SCAN)
April 1, 2006... Designed to help reduce roadway crashes and the high costs associated with them, the new ANSI 71 5.1 Safe Practices for Motor Vehicle Operations was approved in February by the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), secretariat of the Z15...

Install safeguards to prevent workers' comp fraud.(REPORT)
April 1, 2006... Workers' compensation fraud has grown to become a multi-billion dollar a year problem, says a report on MaineToday.com. According to the report, the American Insurance Association estimates workers' comp fraud losses at $3 billion a year, while...

Benefits of a behavioral approach: reflecting on often overlooked basics.(PSYCHOLOGY of safety)
April 1, 2006... Last month I scrutinized the apparent focus on positive reinforcement in behavior-based safety (BBS). I specified critical distinctions between positive reinforcers and rewards, and pointed out flaws in the standard training protocol for...

Gaining from experience: the "lesson learned" process.(MANAGING BEST practices)
April 1, 2006... It's important we learn from experiences, and make corrections or improvements to avoid repeating mishaps or mistakes in the future. The president and CEO of International Coal emphasized this point this past January when he said the owners...

Just what is "the right stuff"? Three defining core competencies.(POSITIVE SAFETY cultures)
April 1, 2006... Jim is a safety professional with 12 years of experience. He's technically very competent, probably the best in the whole corporation. Jim tends to be low-key, private and introverted, a bit hard to "read." He doesn't initiate a lot of contact...

Hex chrome hazards: even with lower limits, welders need to use caution.
April 1, 2006... For workers in the welding industry, the new lower OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for hexavalent chromium should be good news. "Hex chrome," a known human carcinogen, can be produced when welding on stainless steel or some painted...

Lockout/tagout: keys to maintaining a periodic inspection program.
April 1, 2006... Since the inception of the Control of Hazardous Energy standard in 1990, complying with the periodic inspection requirements has been a challenge for many employers--especially those large-scale operations with hundreds of assets to manage. To...

Intrinsically safe radio headset.(PRODUCT UPDATE: COMMUNICATION solutions)
April 1, 2006... 1 INTRINSICALLY SAFE RADIO HEADSET CIRCLE 251 Peltor's self-contained, intrinsically sale PowerComPLUS I.S. two-way radio headset is specifically designed for hazardous environments requiring explosion-proof radio transmitters. The...

Rechargeable radio muffs.(PRODUCT UPDATE: COMMUNICATION solutions)
April 1, 2006... 2 RECHARGEABLE RADIO MUFFS CIRCLE 253 QuieTunes Rechargeable FM Radio Earmuffs from Elvex offer an NRR of 25dB and feature a built-in FM stereo radio. Electronic control limits the sound produced inside the headset to 82-85dB....

Electronic muffs.(PRODUCT UPDATE: COMMUNICATION solutions)
April 1, 2006... 3 ELECTRONIC MUFFS CIRCLE 255 Supreme Pro Earmuffs from MSA provide optimum protection with high amplification, AUX input and a watertight battery, compartment. Two separate, well-shielded microphones offer optimum stereo effect and...

Two-way communication system.(PRODUCT UPDATE: COMMUNICATION solutions)
April 1, 2006... 4 TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM CIRCLE 254 The CavCom two-way communication system for high-noise environments uses "'Talk Through Your Ears" technology to provide radio users with superb clarity in conjunction with any PPE including...

Radio earmuffs.(PRODUCT UPDATE: COMMUNICATION solutions)
April 1, 2006... 5 RADIO EARMUFFS CIRCLE 252 Bilsom[R] has upgraded its Radio and Electo[R] radio earmuffs to include both AM and FM capability. An external switch makes it easy for users to select the desired frequency band. The Electo model,...

Full transceiver communication.(PRODUCT UPDATE: COMMUNICATION solutions)
April 1, 2006... 6 FULL TRANSCEIVER COMMUNICATION CIRCLE 250 RidgeLine's Pro-Tekt Industrial Line protects users from dangerous noise levels while still allowing full awareness of surroundings. Dynamic Level Sound Compression (DLSC[TM] protects hearing...

Down on the farm: emergency response is a growing concern.
April 1, 2006... Since farming literally all takes place in the "field," preparations for safe operations and responding to an emergency are doubly challenging. Remote operations force farm managers to sacrifice much of the control that is available in...

Safety 2006: previewing the professional development conference of the American society of safety engineers.
April 1, 2006... Schedule of key events Monday, June 12 General Session Keynote Presentation Stan Slap "The Seven Deadly Sins of Strategic Implementation" Stan Slap is a cutting-edge corporate strategist and consultant who develops explosive...

Just chillin': how to choose the right personal cooling garment.
April 1, 2006... Today more than ever, workers have a wide range of personal cooling technologies from which to choose. With the summer months just around the corner, let's look at five cooling garment options that can help your work crew beat the heat. As you...

Solving the glove selection dilemma: is the European CE Standard a blueprint for the U.S.?
April 1, 2006... Buying a pair of gloves is usually considered to be no big deal. But if you're a safety officer required to provide hand protection for numerous employees against specific or even multiple hazards, your job has become considerably more...

Suspension trauma relief.(fall PROTECTION)
April 1, 2006... 1 SUSPENSION TRAUMA RELIEF CIRCLE 258 Miller's Relief Step[TM] Safety Device helps a worker suspended in a full-body harness to avoid the effects of orthostatic intolerance, or suspension trauma. This unique, patent-pending device can be...

Tie-back-lanyard.(fall PROTECTION)
April 1, 2006... 2 TIE-BACK-LANYARD CIRCLE 259 The WrapBaxt[TM]2 tie-back lanyard eliminates the need for time-consuming anchor straps, utilizing easy-to-use hook action that is standard on all DBI-SALA patented snap hooks. Featuring 5,000-pound strength...

Fall protection training.(fall PROTECTION)
April 1, 2006... 3 FALL PROTECTION TRAINING CIRCLE 263 Hy-Safe offers a range of tall protection training courses, including a free one-hour course that provides an introduction to fall protection and covers OSHA requirements and harness use. Other courses...

Safety harness.(fall PROTECTION)
April 1, 2006... 4 SAFETY HARNESS CIRCLE 261 VERTYTRAC from Tractel is a range of professional fall prevention devices designed for the requirements of a wide range of industrial sectors. Harnesses in the VERTYTRAC line include the HT22 for use as personal...

Full-body harness.(fall PROTECTION)
April 1, 2006... 5 FULL-BODY HARNESS CIRCLE 260 Designed primarily for utility and maintenance workers, the ArcSafe Harness from MSA meets the requirements of ASTM F887 for arc-flash protection. Back Kevlar web loop reduces overall harness weight and...

FP railings.(fall PROTECTION)
April 1, 2006... 6 FP RAILINGS CIRCLE 262 OSHA-compliant KeeGuard[R] fall protection railings are corrosion-resistant and install easily without welding, drilling or penetrating roof membrane. Modular KeeGuard systems fit any flat or low-sloped roof...

Tie-back lanyard.
April 1, 2006... 7 TIE-BACK LANYARD CIRCLE 257 The Ty-Rite lanyard from North Safety features a quad-locking carabiner rated for tie-back use. The fully adjustable, shock-absorbing lanyard is designed to be tied back onto itself. Heavy-duty sling webbing...

"Cutting" costs & injuries: bi-metal blades offer a safe utility knife solution.
April 1, 2006... If you don't think utility knives and blades make a major impact on your plant's productivity and safety record, think again. According to statistics from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 39 percent of the 330,000 medically treated...

Confined space training: follow these 17 key steps.(training STRATEGIES)
April 1, 2006... Training is critical to safe confined space entry operations. A well-trained crew can, to an extent, compensate for inadequacies in other areas of your confined space process. The reverse is not true--a poorly trained crew is in constant danger...

Working together: strategies for fielding a winning safety team.(incentives & RECOGNITION)
April 1, 2006... The "Team Approach"... a popular trend in industry today. The philosophy is to pull a group of employees together to work on projects, sharing the load, and empowering them in order to solve problems or perpetuate processes. Sounds simple, but...

An invisible threat: 9 ways to protect your skin from UV radiation.
April 1, 2006... Employees face risks every workday. The operation of heavy equipment, electrical lines, chemicals, and even traffic can make a workplace hazardous. Yet one of the most consistent, insidious and dangerous occupational exposures that threatens...

The International Society of Respiratory Protection (ISRP) announces open registration for its 13th Biannual International Conference on Respiratory Protection for Health Care Workers, First Responders and Emerging Hazards.(EDUCATION)
April 1, 2006... The International Society of Respiratory Protection (ISRP) announces open registration for its 13th Biannual International Conference on Respiratory Protection for Health Care Workers, First Responders and Emerging Hazards. The conference will...

The American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI) and St. John Ambulance Canada have formed an alliance dedicated to global life-saving solutions including CPR, first-aid and automated external defibrillation (AED).(ASSOCIATIONS)
April 1, 2006... The American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI) and St. John Ambulance Canada have formed an alliance dedicated to global life-saving solutions including CPR, first-aid and automated external defibrillation (AED). The alliance will provide health...

Frogg toggs, manufacturer and marketer of waterproof, breathable, protective weather apparel, has acquired Kappler's Retail Division.(BUSINESSES)
April 1, 2006... frogg toggs, manufacturer and marketer of waterproof, breathable, protective weather apparel, has acquired Kappler's Retail Division. The acquisition includes Kappler's DriDuds apparel line of rain gear. Kappler's VP of retail sales, Kevin...

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.(REFERENCES)
April 1, 2006... Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (www. wiley.com), Confined Space Entry and Emergency Response is a thorough reference that provides a step-by-step approach for confined space entry and explains basic components of rescue. The 486-page...

International Safety Equipment Association.(REFERENCES)
April 1, 2006... The American National Standard for emergency eyewash and shower equipment (ANSI Z358.1-2004) is now available from the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) in a Spanish-language version, as well as in English. The 27-page...

Industrial Scientific Corp.(REFERENCES)
April 1, 2006... A new 74-page color catalogue from Industrial Scientific Corp., Gas Detecting and Monitoring Equipment, Vol. 5, is available free of charge upon request. The catalogue and reference guide features portable and fixed gas detectors, as well as...

Events.(industry: BRIEFS)(Calendar)
April 1, 2006... may ASSE Continuing Education, May 1-3, ASP Workshop; May 4-6, CSPWorkshop, Des Plaines, IL, American Society of Safety Engineers, (847) 699-2929, www.asse.org ASSE Executive Program in Safety Management Seminars--Delivering A...

"What's in it for me?" five factors determine the effort expended on safety.(petersen's page)
April 1, 2006... What an employee, supervisor or manager does for safety or anything else is determined by his o1" her perception of "'what's in it for me?" Five factors determine how much effort employees put into safety (or any part of their jobs): 1)...