Industrial Safety & Hygiene News articles from January 2008

Industrial Safety & Hygiene News archives from January 2008

Why take the chance? The enigma of human nature.(Editorial)
January 1, 2008... "Brothers Concerned About Scaffold, Relative Says," ran the headline in The New York Times on December 9, 2007. Two days before, the brothers fell from the sky, plunging 47 stories along with their scaffold from the roof of a sleek, black glass...

Workplace accident videos making impact on YouTube.(news SCAN)
January 1, 2008... A first-of-its-kind video program created by WorkSafeBC in British Columbia, Canada, is showing a new media-savvy generation of workers the horrible consequences of accidents by posting incidents from real life on YouTube, the Vancouver Sun...

BP case: judge steps aside: victims seek $2 billion fine.(news SCAN)
January 1, 2008... The federal judge presiding over BP Plc's Texas refinery blast prosecution stepped down after victims attacked a U.S. plea agreement as "shockingly lenient" and accused the judge of a conflict of interest, according to Bloomberg.com. The...

105 confirmed dead in China coal mine blast.(news SCAN)
January 1, 2008... An investigation confirmed that 105 people died in a coal mine gas blast Dec. 5 in north China's Shanxi Province, the official Xinhua News Agency reports. The gas explosion occurred at Xinyao Coal Mine, a village-run coal firm, while 128...

CSB commends revised NYC fire code.(news SCAN)(U.S. Chemical Safety Board)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said it is encouraged by a draft that revises New York City's fire code to include new provisions controlling hazardous chemicals. It's the city's first comprehensive fire code revision since 1918. Following...

OSHA proposes rule for construction confined spaces.(rules & REGS)
January 1, 2008... OSHA proposed a rule in late November designed to protect construction industry employees from the hazards resulting from exposure to confined spaces. The agency is accepting public comments on the proposed standard until January 28, 2008. ...

Trade groups contest: ANSI ergo standard.(rules & REGS)(American National Standards Institute)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Five trade groups representing U.S. residential and commercial builders filed an appeal on Nov. 9 of an ergonomics measure adopted by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), according to Bloomberg.com. There is no penalty if employers...

Bath Iron Works.(OSHA Penalty Box: a summary of recent fines/citations)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine Proposed penalties: $441,500 (issued 11/30/07) Shipbuilder was cited for 59 alleged repeat, willful and serious violations involving mechanical, electrical, chemical, fire, fall and exit access hazards. Twelve...

Gen-Cap Industries.(OSHA Penalty Box: a summary of recent fines/citations)
January 1, 2008... Gen-Cap Industries, Bronx, N.Y. Proposed penalties: $382,500 (issued 12/5/07) OSHA initiated follow-up inspections of fireproof door manufacturer in May to verify that hazards from a November 2004 inspection had been corrected. Company was...

Atlas Health Care Linen Services LLC.(OSHA Penalty Box: a summary of recent fines/citations)
January 1, 2008... Atlas Health Care Linen Services LLC, Watertown, N.Y. Proposed penalties: $163,200 (issued 12/11/07) Industrial laundry company was cited for alleged repeat and serious violations of safety and health standards, and for failing to correct...

The power of our intentions: how to get more from your New Year's resolutions.(PSYCHOLOGY of safety)(Personal account)
January 1, 2008... Last semester, I started the first day of my two sections of Introductory Psychology as follows. After introducing myself, I asked each class of 500+ students to imagine my 50-minute lecture was over. "Now, please rate the learning experience...

What is an e-forklift fast charge? This advanced technology has many EHS benefits.(MANAGING BEST practices)
January 1, 2008... The Dana Corporation facility in Toledo, Ohio, helps keep the nearby Jeep assembly complex running smoothly by providing just-in-time suspension modules. Moving materials efficiently at the Dana facility from receiving, throughout production...

EHS State of the Nation 2008: exclusive results from ISHN's 24th annual White Paper Survey.
January 1, 2008... SAFETY PROFESSIONALS Taking a sounding of safety pros in 2008, based on responses from readers with full-time safety jobs. Professional Life (past 12 months) Increased Decreased Same EHS...

Foot protection: assess your needs to see if steel toe overshoes are the right safety option.(PPE)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In many industrial settings, when it comes to foot protection, oftentimes only toe protection is required. This is where the steel toe overshoe can be a safe and cost-effective choice. However, because the safety toe...

Stay warm, stay safe: how to "gear up" for a cold workday.(PPE)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Winter is here, and that means cold weather. Whether working at an outdoor construction site or inside a cold, drafty industrial plant, you need to stay warm. Warmth equals comfort. And comfort equals safety. For...

1 Flat roof system.(PRODUCT UPDATE: FALL protection)
January 1, 2008... CIRCLE 251 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fall-Ban from Garlock reduces or eliminates the need for contractors to tie-off when working on a roof. It attaches to the building's edge and works on almost any building or roof--flat, parapet or...

2 Arc-rated harnesses.(PRODUCT UPDATE: FALL protection)
January 1, 2008... CIRCLE 253 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Miller arc-rated products are designed to protect workers from falls caused by electric arc-flash and arc-blast exposure when working at heights or in confined space applications near energized...

3 Retractable horizontal lifeline.(PRODUCT UPDATE: FALL protection)
January 1, 2008... CIRCLE 250 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EZ-Line[TM] from DBI Sala features a built-in retractor device to ease the stress of installing, recoiling and removing horizontal lifeline systems. The entire 60-foot system is designed to be easily...

4 Retractable lifeline.(PRODUCT UPDATE: FALL protection)
January 1, 2008... CIRCLE 254 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SafeWaze ReLoad[TM] combines innovative engineering, material enhancements and quick-turn maintenance capabilities for a highly advanced retractable lifeline. ReLoad's modular design allows fast...

Self-retracting lanyard.(PRODUCT UPDATE: FALL protection)
January 1, 2008... CIRCLE 252 No photo Gemtor's cast aluminum FLW-11 self-retracting lanyard is designed to handle the rigors of everyday use. The unit's lightweight and rugged housing make it ideal for almost all applications. An external energy adsorber...

5 Multi-gas monitor.(PRODUCT UPDATE: GAS detection)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CIRCLE 259 GfG's new intrinsically safe G460 is a rugged, compact instrument for simultaneous detection of up to six gases. Sensor options include infrared (CO2) and PID (VOC). The unit offers automatic...

6 Area monitor.(PRODUCT UPDATE: GAS detection)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CIRCLE 256 The BM25 Multiguard multi-gas area monitor measures from one to five gases through diffusion or sample draw. It offers the benefits of a fixed-system area monitor in a rugged, transportable unit. With...

7 CO2 detector.(PRODUCT UPDATE: GAS detection)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CIRCLE 258 The Gasman CO2 detector from Crowcon detects concentration levels from 0-5.00 % v/v. Should CO2 be detected, Gasman displays the concentration and alerts the user with audible and visual alerts and an...

8 Multi-gas detector.(PRODUCT UPDATE: GAS detection)
January 1, 2008... CIRCLE 255 GasAlertMicroClip multi-gas detector measures H2S, CO, O2 and combustibles. The rugged, compact, lightweight unit features one-button operation; a standard datalogger (16 hours) and event logger (10 events); and a durable,...

9 Photoionization detector.(PRODUCT UPDATE: GAS detection)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CIRCLE 257 MiniRae Lite, the third in a series of third-generation photoionization (PID) detectors, is a non-intrinsically safe instrument that uses standard alkaline AA batteries or optional rechargeable...

What electrical safety gear do you need? Match PPE to your electrical measurement environment.(INSTRUMENTS)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Any work near live electrical circuits poses its share of risk, and electrical measurement jobs are no exception. In commercial and industrial settings today, electricians commonly work with circuits up to 600 V....

Keys to implementing and validating a cleanroom arc thermal & flame-resistant apparel program.(PPE)
January 1, 2008... The task of creating compliance to multiple, divergent standards (cleanroom standards, sterilization standards and safety standards) can be daunting. The implementation and execution of a cleanroom compliant apparel program requires the...

Keeping your eye on safety: best practices to prevent eye injuries.(PPE)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each day about 2,000 U.S. workers have job-related eye injuries that require medical treatment, according to labor statistics. About one-third of these injuries are treated in hospital emergency departments and more...

A review of what's new in the ANSI Z359-2007 fall protection code.(PPE)
January 1, 2008... The new ANSI Z359-2007 fall protection code, which affects many U.S. employers, workers, safety professionals and manufacturers, took effect on November 24, 2007. This brief overview will help get you up to speed on the changes Z359.0 through...

Gas detection tips when working in confined spaces.(INSTRUMENTS)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] They're small, tight and have limited ventilation or air movement. As a result, confined spaces provide a dangerous gathering place for gases and vapors to accumulate. If you're not careful, such accumulation can...

Pollution control: specifying the right thermal oxidation system & media can cut costs over time.(INSTRUMENTS)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs) and other types of thermal oxidation systems have proven to be a highly effective and energy-efficient method of abating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other pollutants...

Respiratory protection: keys to keeping the air clear for welders.(PPE)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Welders regularly deal with a difficult work environment--heat; dirty, dusty air; and smoke from welding rods. The smoke from melted metal, also called welding fumes, contains tiny particles of metal thrown off...

Is your hex chrome safety strategy working?(PPE)
January 1, 2008... We've all known for years that breathing welding fumes can't be good for our health. In 2006, OSHA made that abundantly clear regarding hexavalent chromium (CrVI) when it published the Hex Chromium standard for General Industry 1910.1026,...

Leverage line supervisors: your pivotal link to employee attitudes & actions.(training STRATEGIES)
January 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Line supervisors are your link to workers. They know the triggers that workers respond to and generally have detailed knowledge of the work, equipment and processes with which the workers are involved. Further, the...

Events.(Brief article)(Calendar)
January 1, 2008... february 3rd Annual Industrial Fire, Safety And Security Conference & Expo, Feb. 5-8, Houston, TX, TradeFair Group, (832) 242-1969, www.ifssevent.com Certificate Preparation Workshops, Feb. 17-23, Tampa, FL, American Society of Safety...